C3D-R1K stood and threw back his cloak reveling an assortment of mechadendrites and tools which quickly moved aside and produced the stock of what looked like the body of a las gun "I might be able to assist in the field of auspex." he said as he let out a quick, though fairly loud, blurt of what sounded like white noise which caused the mechanical beast next to him to raise up on all four of it's leg and moved to extremely close by his side a mechadendrite slipping from under his robe into a port near the base of the beasts skull "Kappa-Ultima-Jonta-Zero here is equipped with an auspex array as well as an olfactory auspex array, I could see if I could modify the second slightly to how do I put this identify a scent that shouldn't be." He said all the while screwing the cane he had onto the body of the las gun before producing a scope from a mechadendrite up his sleeve leaving him with a completed Long-Las "Oh and apologies I forgot to introduce myself to the rest of you." He said turning to the rest of the group "I am Charlie-three-Rohm-one-Kappa, but if that is to much a mouthful for you feel free to address me as Cedrik, that is what the Arbiters I work with on occasion call me amoung other things when they think I am not or can not hear them. Here is a tip, I am always listening." He said and though his voice remained that robotic monotone and his face was completely devoid of any features, human or otherwise, that would devolve what emotions he was feeling it almost sounded as though he smiled as he spoke those last words.

The muscular woman, noting Adela's difficulty and that none of her cell were offering to help her, came over, introducing herself with a jerk of her thumb towards her impressive cleavage. "Lydia." She tugged on straps and adjusted buckles until the kit rode comfortably, demonstrated the use of the jaw lever "here talk far, here talk normal" and of the visor "here see night, here see day".

Nodding satisfaction, she moved on to the others, checking their fit.

C3 you may make a tech-use roll if you wish with Lydia's close proximity.

"Well come along Cedrik, we have work to do." Aoife says over her shoulder at machine-man "Perhaps one of your machines will find this neverborn before it is taken apart"

"Adela. Thanks."

There wasn't much more than that as she repeated the instructions to herself for confirmation's sake. She didn't seem slow or stupid by any measure but it was clear she had been brought up in a world that did not have these things beyond the most primitive of apparatus or artifice. A gun came easily, it's care and maintenance were simple things even in the form of the more finicky automatics but communication tech, proper seals of vacuum equipment and other such... novelties of technology were not quite so familiar or easy in their details. That thought alone brought with it a certain chagrin that she crushed beneath sheer force of will.

"We can only hope, I'd feel better if we had some notion of the omens that came before it's arrival. We might be able to know, in some way, what's waiting there...."

Beyond death, anyway. she thought to herself and left that particular connotation without voice to it but any Dusker knew such beings were among the worst that could be conjured up in the nightmares of the wilderness.

Aurelius shook his head ruefully, "My apologies, I am Aurelius Valerianus Illyovich, 132nd in line to the head of House Illyovich by way of labyrinthine marriage contracts that bypass my scion status by birth for their carefully calculated choices in future marriages and power conflicts...my eventual Ecclesiarchial choice put me a bit further down the proverbial totem pole.  Seeing as we don't need any mouthfuls while hunting daemons or daemon-kin just call me Val while we are busy here.  In the same vein of things Charlie-three-Rohm-one-Kappa I'll stick to Cedrik for this jaunt."

Looking over to Lady Harkonnen he nodded, "By your lead m'Lady."

He followed the woman letting out a moment of a strange burst of audio which caused his companion to follow "Believe me, your flesh will break before machines do." He said as he continued to follow her pausing a moment as he leaned down to check his companions equipment.


23:49, Today: C3D-R1K rolled 57 -- 1 degree of failure using the Warhammer Test system with a target number of 44.  Tech Use (Fate Reroll).

23:49, Today: C3D-R1K rolled 57 -- 1 degree of failure using the Warhammer Test system with a target number of 44.  Tech Use.

What are the odds? I feel like I almost did something wrong when rolling to get the same number twice in a row on a d100.

Pearl didn't comment on C3's choice, simply scooping up the drugs and fitting them into slots on her armor and telling him "vox channel Aleph-4-1." she looked around and nodded. "My Lord, goodfolk, move out!" she called as she headed out the door.

Two strides out of it, she halted, her pistol appearing nearly magically in her hand to level itself at the figure that steps out of the shadows, a man in full Guard armor.

You have a chance to react, then I will carry on.

Having switched to the appropriate vox channel Aurelius followed Pearl out of the room.  When she 'magically' had her pistol in hand it caused him to flip his visor over to thermal and go to a knee.  Aiming the overly large combat shotgun not directly at the man but covering another portion of the darker passageway where she wasn't aiming and others could be hiding as he searched for additional targets...

As the man walks from the shadows Aoife draws the steel burner and aims it at the man and waits to see what pearl does.

Action: 1/2 Draw gun, 1/2 aim

Val detects many warm bodies (40+) in the corridor. Blocking shows that they are armored, and probably armed.

"Forty plus contacts front," Val subvocalized to keep at a minimum how many heard his actual words.  He didn't feel that he needed to say more regarding their armed or armoured status...this guy looked to be so meaning everyone else was likely similarly ready.

Instinct, more than anything, guided Adela through the moment as she drew her own sidearm and set her shield at the ready toward the doorway. A quiet step shifting her weight and position just so as to be out of the way of line of sight while letting her see out just enough to draw bead.

OOC: half action to draw pistol, half action to ready shield if need and position myself.

Adela, if you have Two-weapon fighting(either) you may ready both with the same action. Otherwise, two half actions standard.

There was a lithe figure that detached itself from the shadows of compartment 3-171-b when the colorful group of newly inducted Acolytes had left to begin their mission. When fully revealed by the glow-globes of the hall, the figure was revealed to be a young woman. From the casual way that she walked, it was clear that she had not been intending to hide from observation. Perhaps it was simply an old reflex that she wasn't conscious of any more.

In truth, that was Drezla Mallus' way.

Drezla Mallus is a Hiver, there is no denying that. It would be impossible to mistake those eyes that have seen all the horrors of humanity, and the faint smell of too many unwashed bodies pressed together that Hivers can never fully wash off, for anything else. But unlike the countless wretches that make up the factories and reclamation centers of her native Volg, she is no malnourished waif. Hers is a body thick with muscle, and length of bone has given her some impressive height. The intimidating form of the Volgite is only enhanced by old scars that speak of countless back ally fights, and calloused hands that are used to violence. In a pragmatic move, her long brown hair has been gathered into a more manageable mass of dreadlocks.

Beyond the blessings of nature and proper nutrition, Drezla's choice of attire does nothing to dissuade her dangerous air. The simple ganger leathers she sports bear the scars of many firefights on its scratched surface. A dual hip rig holds a peculiar pair of knives that rest easily in their sheathes. The shorter weapons are perfect for the cramped tunnels of Underhives and labyrinthine decks of starships. These deadly tools are almost completely hidden by the heavy flak greatcoat that lays comfortably over her frame. On the heavy leather belt around her waist, she displays an old tin icon bearing the glorious form of the Golden Throne. This marks her as one of the faithful, which shouldn't be too surprising in a place like the Imperium.

When everyone began the pleasantries by introducing themselves, Drezla looked to each in turn, as if forming a dossier in her mind.

"Oi. The name is Drezla Mallus. People call me Drez. You can too if you want..." she shrugged casually by way of greeting.

While she was keying into the proper Vox channel, she noticed that Pearl had drawn her weapon. Without taking the time to see if there was any danger, or what form it might take, she drew one of those wicked-looking curved blades from her belt and held it at the ready. One didn't survive in Volg by asking too many questions when weapons started coming out. She crouched into a seemingly well-rehearsed fighting crouch, and eyed the man in armor closely.

"Well, hello there," Dezla said, flashing a fierce grin.

OOC Mechanics
Half Action: Ready Weapon
Half Action: Aim

Pearl holstered, straightening up. "Oh, it is you" she said, an edge of contempt in her tone. "What do you want Atreides?"
The Atreides, for he was indeed one as the red hawk on the breast of his IG uniform attested, moved forward well into her personal space. "What do I want? Oh, that is too simple my dear Lady Harkonnen, I want answers. I want to know what you are up to with this lot. Such an odd group. All the same dress, armed, and their faces hidden. Mercs, or is that what House Harkonnen wears when it is being plausibly deniable? I want to know why this ship has not jumped for the last day, and I want to know why the crew forms worried whispering clusters in the corners then break up and refuse to speak when confronted. I want to know what you have done! And since I am sure you don't want to give me any answers, I brought along a few friends to help jog your memory."

"Sergeant!"

From behind him, an IG platoon moves forward, their weapons not -quite- pointed at you.

Appropriate rolls: Lore: Imperium will tell you about the Houses, Lore: Nobility will give you deets, Lore: War will tell you about the troops, Scrutiny will give you the actual relationship beyond the faux politeness between the two.

Aurelius's eyes flicked over the troops thankful that the visor hid his face as well as where his eyes were looking over them.  He similarly didn't quite point the massive Arbite shotgun at the troops but the fact that they had just closed the distance into what most would call slaughtering range for a weapon like his he didn't really have to.  Of course there were over forty of them and only six on their side so the results wouldn't be good considering they needed to deal with a daemon and not some ignorant meat-sacks.

He was too focused on the potential need to suppress the platoon using his weapon to note anything of particular import but he knew that he should at least keep his mouth shut regarding their status as Inquisitorial agents...especially since this Atreides fellow seemed to believe she was just another noble but somehow responsible for what was going on.

Drezla glanced at the platoon as it moved in. She wasn't fool enough to think that she could overcome more then twenty men in close combat when they were well-trained and kitted out in military grade arms and armor. However, the fear of death had left her long ago, so if it came to it, she would take down as many of them as she could before they overwhelmed her. But since they hadn't raised their weapons yet, they were still in the talking phase. So the lithe young Hiver waited for Lady Harkonnen to do the talking. Drezla had many skills, but diplomacy wasn't one of them. She only hoped her new companions followed suit and didn't exacerbate the situation.

Adela kept her shield ready and to the front but otherwise kept the auto-pistol low and pointed away from any of the armsmen they found themselves staring down. The insidious feeling that she had gotten herself caught up in the squabbles of tribal chiefs with no idea as to who was aiming to be about what in whatever hierarchy existed aboard the voidship. The feeling brought with it a knot of tenseness in her stomach. Not quite fear but that readiness to act that slowly radiated outward as she just focused on the environment around her and her breathing. The only two things that really mattered at the end of it.

Aoife continues to maintain her aim at the leader until she gets told to lower it or all hell breaks out.

No applicable lores Im afraid.

Pearl leaned in until she was nearly kissing him, neatly reversing his intrusion into her personal space, and smiled like a shark. "Answers is it? Sorry, don't have any for you Atreides."
"Don't be stupid Pearl, I have forty men with me!"
"Forty-two actually, but that is not the point. You see Colin" Pearl replied, also switching to first names "I am authorized to go as overt as I need to on this one." She turned her head to look at the rest of the cell. "Put your pins on now."
Colin leveled a finger at her pin. "What? Inquisition! That can't be real."
"Oh, and am I faking this?" The corridor lit with the blue glow of her Rosette.
"I... You... ..."
"Move aside Colin."
"..."
Pearl waved a hand in front of his face. "Colin? Hmm, think I broke him. You! Sergeant! Do you recognize this?"
"Yes Inquisitor."
"Acolyte. Move him aside please."
"Yes Inquisitor. Jenkins, Hicks, help the Colonel to his quarters."
"Aco- Oh never mind." Pearl broke off as a trooper took each of the Atreides's arms and hustled him down the corridor.
"The rest of you, on me!" The IG made haste to follow.
Pearl smiled, then set off with a ringing stride.

A few steps later she stopped, muttering about inconvenient architects who messed up a perfectly good dramatic exit and revered course to follow the IG towards the main axial.

With Lady Harkonnen effectively 'pulling rank' on Atreides...since Inquisition trumped IG Command after all...he lowered his shotgun slightly further and when it was clear they were acceding to the authority without question he let the weapon go to rest and stood again.  He was glad he didn't have to use any violence against otherwise loyal Guardsmen...there was lots out there that needed them to fight and die for and make a difference rather than be wasted in a corridor on a voidship for no reason at all.  He kept his tiny smile well hidden when Pearl realized she was walking the wrong way and made sure to keep any thoughts well under lid while following.

While part of Drezla loved the thrill of a good fight, she was grateful that the fighting men had wisely chosen to stand down. She had no intention to die over some trivial pissing contest anyway, and shedding the blood of the faithful over a misunderstanding would have been a poor show of piety to the Emperor anyway. So, the knife disappeared back into its sheath with the same speed and dexterity that it had first appeared. When she fell in Lady Harkonnen, she had the wisdom not to say anything when the woman fouled up her own exit. It took an effort of will however, as a Hiver she was always quick with a sarcastic word.

Okay, I am not waiting on everybody for what is essentially a 'still here' post. Moving on.

Pearl proves to be a dab hand with a map, leading the cell easily through the maze of corridors (she only gets lost twice, something of a miracle) until an hour or so later you stand staring at a huge bulkhead marked 'Engeneerium 04 Beta. Pearl stares at it a moment, then shrugs. "Okay, wasn't expecting that I admit. Cedrik, how do we open that?"

He walked up and looked at it for a moment his ever present hound next to him "I would recommend carefully, Omnissiah only knows what could be waiting for us." He said pausing letting it sink in that he had just made a joke, a bad one at that, but a joke none the less "Give me a moment." He then said as he walked over to one side of the door looking for a panel that he could interface with, if he didn't find it on one side he would calmly walk to the opposite wall to look for it. Once had found it, or if he was forced to get more physical and cut his own panel out of the wall to gain access to the doors mechanics he would get to work "It should not take long to open all ships, save for vessels of rogue traders who I believe to be to paranoid for there own good, tend to run off the same means of bypass."

18:30, Today: C3D-R1K rolled 47 -- 1 degree of failure using the Warhammer Test system with a target number of 30.  perception(if needed).
18:31, Today: C3D-R1K rolled 2 -- 4 degrees of success using the Warhammer Test system with a target number of 44.  Tech Use.

Adela followed in silence, her shield and side arm at the ready as her will steeled itself against the horror they now hunted. Grim memories of her distant and benighted home resting heavily on her mind and that subtle twist of bitterness at the death of clan and home as she was plucked up and away for the gifts and talents that had taken root in soul and body. Their arrival at the bulkhead felt strange as Cedrik set to the task of opening the bulk head. Her mind running once more through the checklist of her weapons, the ammunition she had at hand, and the state of her equipment... unfamiliar as it is.