The Pious Lament is again at action stations as it prepares to change orbit and investigate the artificial construct that is casting a  shadow over Gelron and there is a great deal of activity on the bridges below the red neon of the Nixie display as it counts down towards the departure time.
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Gregory has changed into his armor and is busy assigning men to shuttles as he reads through Tesla's report on the disk.

"So much for vacation time, ladies. Standard boarding procedures; Breacher 1 takes point while a company of armsmen backs them up. We don't anticipate any violent resistance, but if there is, take cover and only fire when explicitly ordered to. That means smoke grenades for everyone!"

The Navigatrix, for her part, was as she always seemed to be. Her true features hidden behind the exquisite mask and every centimeter of her frame obscured in fine garments, behind expertly made xeno-mesh, or yet further beneath anchored dermal carapace of exquisite quality. For all such trappings of power, however, she seemed frail and weak as she leaned on her staff and watched the myriad displays that festooned the navigator's station on the deck. A stubborn, pointed patience apparent as she awaited any and all tasks that might be asked of her... Right alongside a burning curiosity to see this disk and, perhaps, gleam a little wisdom from her own garnered understandings of technology.

Though such was as much through legend and myth as it was through first hand experience.

Sitting on the bridge she taps out a series of commands across her console "As soon as we are within sensor ranges I want complete scans, standard and ethereal of the disk, then find us somewhere to land that seems important. When we have co-ordinates we send shore teams aboard once we know more information." she orders across the room as they get to work.

Faith isn't sure if she's needed for the disk expedition, but she reports to the bridge all the same. Fortunately, the astropath's station at the left of the captain's seat (and beside the Navigatrix's) has been neatly maintained during her absence and she has little to do besides check the logs of received messages.

Gradually, curiosity overcomes her, and she turns to Cennet, regarding her with a curious eye. Unfortunately she has no idea how to strike up a conversation, and so, after some thinking, she asks, "Have you had an apple before, Lady Navigatrix?"

The ponderous bulk of the Pious Lament shudders along its length as the drives begin to slowly push it towards the disk, scanners and optical sensors working overtime and feeding data to banks of cogitators and servitors who compile a composite image for the primary tactical display. The result is surprisingly dull, what the display depicts is just a disk, it is black and composed of million upon million slab like structures each twenty by ten by two meters, featureless on the flat sides but with arrays of leatching points and manoeuvre jets around the edges. A line of these slabs, widely but equally spaced dots its way back to the manufactorum which is calculated to be launching one every 200 minutes, as each approach it veers of towards a location somewhere around the edge of the construct, manoeuvres into position and latches on.

There is very little technical data as active scans are mostly absorbed returning very little information. The one feature that does stand out is the vast size of the thing, although only two meters thick it is around a thousand kilolitres, (600 mils ish) across.

.]
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This message was last edited by the GM at 07:57, Sat 02 Sept 2023.

Cennet Melek Shiraishi was not a creature that could easily be caught of guard but her fixation upon the task given to her by the Lady Captain was enough to draw all the attention she might share between her trio of eyes from her physical surroundings and into the depths of the Endless Sea. It was only fortunate that her wretched, treacherous musculature lacked the true power to have her start in anything more appreciable or rapid than a mere straightening of her back and a slight turn of head towards the woman now beside her.

There was a terrible, unnatural weight to that glance even as her far more natural eyes sharpened and focused on Faith. The survey of the disc and it's peculiar prismatic shielding left for a moment to ponder the question. Even her aide, a dour and focused man in the grey robes of the Administratum was pulled from his studies and notations for just a moment as he quickly banished one data set for another before delving deeper into the many pouches.

"I suspect the word may have a different value or meaning to what... I might know. My kin and I are, as you might imagine, well travelled but we're often only met by the most high aboard our eternally wandering home or in isolated palace estates..." the Navigatrix paused, considering the question and Faith again. "Which... I suppose doesn't quite address the question. I've had things called apples but if you could be more specific, Lady Astropath?"

There was a hint of amusement, polite consternation, and even an impression of divided focus... Which given the circumstance was not so outlandish a thing as her head turned back towards the great disk. A hand falling to the controls of the navigator's terminal to move with deliberate, agonized care as she balanced herself upon the solid moorings of her staff of office. The Lady Captain soon had an in progress report of what could be gleamed through the lens of her third eye and the shimmering field that surrounded the mega-structure.

Faith studies Cennet as she turns to face her, not in the manner of a child gawking at a circus freak, but an impartial observation of a fellow colleague. She understands that Homo navigo is a mutation, but a sanctioned and valued one, and while both she and Cennet deal with the warp, the relative worth of their respective skillsets is about as far apart from each other as ceramite would be over mud bricks.

The truth is, Cennet fascinates her, though she hopes the latter will not mistake her curiosity for mockery...

"I speak of the fruit," Faith whispers, as she produces an apple from a hidden pocket in her sleeve. "A little bird brought me a branch of them when we were returning from Gelron. "I tried one, and it was good; I hope it is to your liking."

The Navigatrix considered the offered fruit and considered the woman, the pause was palpable as the careful mathematics of social evaluation played out. It was, if she had to admit to herself, an utterly baffling set of circumstances. Frankly so far removed from the niceties of social interaction that she was used and the consequent power dynamics that she could help but spare a laugh. The sound pleasant, soft, and cultured as befit one of her breadth of education but strange all the same from a being regarded as so cursed yet so invaluable.

"Of course, whatever else might it've been. You'll, ah, pardon me if I don't partake here and now. The realities of my... conditions make it so that I don't care to eat outside the company of my kinfolk." Cennet said apologetically with a gesture towards her mask. The countenance beneath a vile and sadly persisting wound upon her mind and pride. A badge, if nothing else, of the betrayal she had committed and the imperfections of her own artifice. After all, even her face could not have been spared the insidious wasting cascade failure that was her musculature.

That same hand then extended to accept the fruit with a delicate touch. It, too, was encased in a material not unlike the mask she wore. Fine and black material spreading where exquisitely wrought ceramic plates could not cover regardless of how clever they might be designed.

"Get us to the sun side at a safe distance and lets see if there's any more information to gather from there" she orders the helm before heading to the Astropath and Navigatrix and listens in on the topic of exotic fruits. Not remaining hidden, but listening to the outward thoughts that these two had.

It takes several hours to move the Lament around to get a view of the sunny side of the disk, and once they achieve this, they find it is pretty much the same, a huge, flat plane of black. At first glance this is just disappointing but, on thinking about it, it is quite telling, there are no reflections here, almost all of the sunlight is being absorbed, and yet the temperature remains a constant 20°C, there is a heck of a lot of energy missing from this equation.
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The proximity of the Lady Captain earned a glance her way, that same palpable weight of the warp eye behind the Navigatrix's exquisite mask felt but... blunted. It was only polite, after all, to maintain awareness of one's peers and acknowledge them if they sought to... inch upon an ongoing conversation. As ever, her body language had a slow and deliberately calculated quality to it as if even such slight movements were exhausting or troublesome.

"If you've had a moment, Lady Captain... There is field of sorts that seems to deflect or otherwise redirect psychic energy on the disk. I'm not certain if it will have a real space effect but given all that's been learned thus far. It's an interesting development though I am most curious as to where this technique or technology may have arisen as it doesn't appear like a gellar field might."

"I felt it too," Faith adds. "The thought occurs to me that it might be a way to obscure warp energies... or to focus it. We would need to sew what was creating it, preferably in the company of the Tech-adepts."

"This is a currious development, do we require a closer look with some of Magos Tesla's subordinates or should we continue to scan from closer orbit until the Magos returns do you think" She asks the two women, their estroic powers beyond her but the sensor readings of a comfortable 20°C while facing the burning orb of the planet was odd in the extreme.

"I believe the Magos is already on the disk, so it might be good to ask him if he is detecting any unusual power draws or machinery similar to aetheric technology like the warp drives or the Gellar Fields. I am not opposed to heading over to the disk as well or to accompany the Lady Navigatrix if she should need my assistance."

 Every 'comm currently linked to the senior crew of the Pious Lament chimes in complex five-part harmony at the same time before Jak - apparently backed by a large chunk of local authority - puts everyone into a shared conversation.

 "Explorator Tesla, Speaking for the Manufactorum Expedition. Successful recovery of command authority has been completed. Successful recovery of high-level records revealing the course of events that have influenced recent Gelron history has been completed. This is not merely not the original sector to which Gelron was assigned, it is also not its original star. In 4.918.99.M40, stellar instabilities were identified in its local star and all local authorities were committed to the constriction of a planetary defence system utilising Pattern 133A 771 STC 33090/b7, a borderline accepted pattern which appeared to includes Empyric circuitry in its construction. Confirmation of this circuitry was to be found when Gelrons local sun indeed underwent catastrophic expansion, causing the shield to activate and displace Gelron and the Manufactorum to this location. Due to the extreme forces this event caused, extensive loss of manufacturing assets including, but not limited to pattern data, construction records, all psychic personnel, many human memories and a statistically significant number of human lives were suffered."

 "The danger is now past. It will be possible to repurpose the Manufactorum and restore Gelron, but to do so will be a non-trivial task. A permanent Grand Magos will be needed to undertake the role. My recommendation is that the current Magos, who has spent significant time operating the station be raised to this position with Arius Draccius as his understudy and aide. My further recommendation is that Confessor Wells collaborate with other human-interface personnel on a broad announcement to local populations of the change in priorities only after a full assessment of what is needed to restore the system has been completed. I am standing by for alternative proposals."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:30, Sat 16 Sept 2023.

"I would not be opposed to accompanying an inspection but it seems that Magos Tesla may have extracted the majority of the desired details of the disk and it's particulars. Though, as before, I remain rather curious as to the exact nature and configuration of these aetheric emanations. If only to ascertain that they are, to borrow an ancient Terran term, Kosher." the Navigatrix offered with notes of curiosity and dutiful inclination in her soft, cordial tones. Her attention splitting now between the sundry details of the report and her own continued visual estimations of the disk. Her attendant, as ever, seeming to capture and record anything and everything around them that might be pertinent to the ongoing records of the Pious Lament and the small contingent of House Shiraishi.

It all made a certain sort of sequential sense as she considered what had been shared. It was the niggling point of it being a borderline accepted pattern that had her wondering as to where deviation may have occurred. She had spent enough time among Tech Priests and Explorators in her own career prior to this assignment to know that there were many daemons to be found in details. There were enough problems, after all, without the necessary considerations of possible... deviancy in matters technical or theological. Something, either way, that many of them had a sensitivity to but Madame Faith and herself more than any other.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:45, Wed 13 Sept 2023.

There is a lot of strange vox com activity this morning from Gelron Prime, an absence of regular civilian programming, long periods of jamming, appeals for calm and lots of stuff in codes.
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THe mention of coded transmissions intrigues Faith and she decides to bring a copy of the dispatches up to the bridge along with some of the junior astropaths so they may attempt to decipher them under the watchful eye of the Captain...

OOC: Faith will be rolling Scholastic Lore (Cryptology), with 2 helpers and maybe with the Captain's bonus from overseeing them?) Assuming a +20 bonus for having 2 helpers and +10 from the Kaptin's Exceptional Leader...

18:53, Today: Faith rolled 55 -- 2 degrees of success using the Only War system with a target number of 70.  Cryptology.

There are several hundred coded messages and Faith picks two at random.

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"The Magos is on the Manufactorum" She answers Faith before all the vox casters squeal out and she rips it out, relying on the nearby casters set into a console to relay the Magos' message. Shortly after she gets another private message.

"I think we need to return to the planet for the time being. Send a message back to the Magos, Inform him that Gelron Primary has had a coup d'état and there is a credible threat to the planets launcher system. We are returning at maximum speed to the planet, I want low orbit calculations for fire support plotted, I want all troops on this vesel prepared for oribtal drop into a contested zone and get me a direct line to the Northern Alliance and our agents within Manistee & Volt Mining." She orders across the deck and moves to her strategium getting Asgard to follow her as well as other officers who would be needed.

"Madam, we have deciphered a couple of the coded planetside transmissions..."


This message was last edited by the player at 02:09, Fri 15 Sept 2023.

Gregory begins barking orders rapidly to his subordinates; the breachers get an unexpected break while the assaulters are going back to Gelron.

Mr. Vanlen has already presighted all the major landmarks on the planet for orbital bombardment, which means when Gregory relays Serlait's request to stand by, the reply he sends back is "Which regions do you want me to focus on, ma'am?"

Gregory also contacts Wing Commander Laurel and Ravandio, both for dropship pilots and fighter cover thereof.

At almost thirty megatons it is no easy matter to turn the Pious Lament around and head it back the way it came and the fact that the Enginseer Prime is not onboard is very evident. It takes hours just to rotate the five-kilometre ship and only then can they fire up the drives to slow its momentum and start it moving in the opposite direction.

As Gregory makes his preparations, he learns that Ravandio has been tasked with planetary patrols in the Northern alliance territory.

Paklor Ank makes an announcement, ”my Lady, we have just detected a series of re-entry trails in the planets atmosphere, seven in all but close to the horizon and there may be more. We thing they are the salvation pods launched from the Emperor’s Glory just before it entered the warp.”
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A series of responses get shouted out across the bridge as different departments acknowledge her commands and start their missions she in turn listens to the various inputs she hears and responds first to Faith "Relay all relevant information on Gelron Primary troop movements to the military command of the Northern Alliance."

To Asgard she tells him "I'm going to first try a show of force, a lance strike nearby the GP troops that are moving towards the launcher, enough to startle them into surrender hopefully and if not then directly into at least one unit of them and systemically hit them until they give up or die."

As Ank gives her information about saviour pods launched at the planet she tells him "Can you get me telemetry on landing sites, possible capacity and if they actually were saviour pods or some sort of stealthy lander vessels."

Openning a direct voxline to her forces on the planet she orders her vox to contact ++Master Rathnyr, I've received reports of possible saviour pods from the Emperor's Glory landing at the following co-ordinates, attempt a recce run, but priority is keep the bird as undamaged as possible, there has been a coup in Gelron Primary and we will be there as soon as possible and likely in combat stance++

Closing her direct input but leaving it open for response then openning another to the Manufactorum based crew ++Magos, Gelron Primary has had a change of leadership and we hear they are attempting to destroy the Launcher mechanism. I am attempting to get troops sent there from the Northern Alliance, I am aware that they possess a skitarii armoured regiment. If you could attempt to convince them to mobilise immediately and head to defend the launcher we are enroute as fast as we can to provide support. If the Manufactorum has any troops and a way to get to the surface that may be prudent. Our shuttles both on the surface and the manufactorum are at your disposal.++

Opening a third Voxlink she contacts agent Tungsten ++Abitrator as I am sure you have received information of a Coup attempt in Gelron Primary, as well there appears to be an attempt to destroy the orbital launcher as well as falling saviour pods from the Emperor's Glory. Any additional information you may have would be helpful while we make our way back++
This message was last edited by the player at 01:27, Sat 16 Sept 2023.

With the flurry of activity around the bridge, the Mavigatrix returned her attention to the displays above her station. Her form once more braced fully against and leaning heavily upon the staff as she began to manipulate course information and integrating useful stellar information for the gunnery teams. Once satisfied with what could be done from her particular skills given the once more martial footing, Cennet looked back to the Lady Captain.

"Is there anything my kin and I might do to assist in the matter, Lady Captain?" Cennet asked with the same soft, pleasant and controlled voice but raised to be heard over the din of frenetic activity. There was no great use for most navigators in matters of battle but any learned soul knew to be leery and concerned any time they might be glimpsed. The showing alone a fine means to lend gravitas to any declarations and more vigorous negotiations.

Faith relays the necessary information to Mr. Yorick, who proceeds to send a copy planetside, as well as to the Deck 10 Ops Room.

At the moment the Pious Lament is too far away to do much of what Searlait asks, there is no useful information about Gelron Prime troops to relay, they will need to achieve orbit before a lance strike can be targeted, Paklor Ank can provide no further information on the salvation pods, just a very general location that could be up to a quarter of the planet’s surface.
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The reply from Tungsten is more positive, ”My Lady, Manistee and Volt have been cooperating with us and have put together a small airborne force that they are willing to commit to the defence of the magrail orbital launcher but need you assurance that they will not be acting alone. With that assurance and your permission I will dispatch them immediately and we intend to accompany them and assist where we may.”

”In the meantime I am attaching a file that lists the last known dispositions of Gelron Prime forces but please bear in mind that there was a lot of troop pavement before and during the coup and also that it is known that not all the Gelron defence force took part.”
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The Northern alliance have monitored the re entry trails but did not know what they were, investigation is currently underway and they are able to provide the Captain with more accurate locations.
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"Lady Navigatrix if your people can keep an eye to the warp currents in case the Emperor's Glory attempts to return or some others, as well for other disturbances that may happen."

When the vox kicks in she listens then responds ++Agent Tungsten, we are rushing there as fast as possible and will provide support once we can, we are in contact with the Northern Alliance for military assistance but have no confirmation on support. We are also seeking assistance from Manufactorum forces but again, no confirmation as to additional forces. Recommend staying nearby but under cover in case we need rapid attack. I have a guncutter and Halo barge with minimal troops in the NA but may not be much help. If you can co-odinate with the NA on GP troop movements I'm going to try a little shock and awe before unleashing a full military strike on them. I'm sending you co-ordinates of possible saviour pods locations near the equator launched from the Emperor's Glory, if you can recce the nearest one to you and report that would be appreciated as well.++

Sending off the last vox she suddenly is struck with an idea and heads towards the chambers set aside for Tenvar and brings with her his armour, being carried on a grav sled and left slightly visible from the door and opens the door, two guards taking a space beside the door as she moves in "Greetings Tenver, how has the last few days aboard been?" she asks.

The Eldar stands as the Captain enters, and bows, ”your people have been most generous in looking after me, I lack nothing and am well content,” Searlait thinks perhaps he is not being entirely truthful but he’s Xeno, so she could be wrong, ”and you my lady, living in interesting times I think.”

"Indeed" she says "What would you know of small that would have been launched from the Emperor's Glory, and remember, your truthfulness will go a long way towards a comfortable stay and a quicker return of the stones still in our possession."

”Your threats are not necessary my lady, I am grateful for the favour you have bestowed on me and have vowed the be cooperative and helpful as I may, for as long as I am aboard I am at your service.”

”As to the question, I have not been aboard that ship so can only speculate but, I understand that the crew are badly treated there, kept in place by fear and cruel punishments, if salvation pods left just before a jump and were fired upon I would surmise that they were probably crew escaping the ship. There again, Captain Vexel has a devious mind and may have staged the event to make it appear so,” the xeno shrugs in a very human like gesture.

Just a reminder that Garu had previously informed you that a number of Vexel’s crew had jumped ship at Stone’s Throw, including the Astropath that was rescued and now serves in your choir.
This message was last updated by the player at 10:13, Thu 21 Sept 2023.

Searlait receives a message from General Peliaxe, head of the Northern Alliance armed forces in which he informs her that all mobile units and every other unit they can find transport for has been dispatched across the border to the orbital launcher, the first elements should arrive in about eight hours. He has also dispatched recognisance units to the area where salvation pods may have landed. He finishes with a statement that he has put all his faith in her and hopes she knows what she is doing.

Searlait also receives a message from Tungsten stating that she and most of her team are also on their way by air, supported by two hundred commandoes, ETA within the hour, other forces from Manistee and Volt are following overland. They have not been able to contact the facility but will report as soon as they have any further information.

Above the Mechanicus balcony the red neon numbers counting down the time to arrival in orbit around Gelron stand at twelve hours, thirteen minuets, eleven .  . ten .  . nine .  . eight seconds.

Small craft can be launched from here and will arrive much sooner.
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"Hm, this leaves me with the same thoughts as when I came down here. Thank you for your understanding as I navigate this flurry of information. As a symbol of my trust I bring you this" she says stepping aside as one of the guards pushes the sled inside and she unlocks the chest revealing the armour he was taken prisoner in "I return your armour to you, as it was taken. I'm afraid your weapons will be held for now, but I thought you would appreciate an additional barrier from our kind." she waits a moment to see if there's a response then departs and heads back to the bridge.

Once on the bridge she contacts Wing Commander Laurel and Asgard "I need to know when we are in effective range to deploy our remaining air wing to the surface in support of land operations. Full armoured support as well as troops, Herald of Armato's spirit was awakened hopefully we will not need to release its wrath."


++Tungsten, confirmed. General Peliaxe of the Northern Alliance has confimed full armoured mobilisation to the launcher, 8 hours estimate of arrival. Recommend either digging in once you get there and attempt defensive barricades. If you think the force is less capable of such actions pull outside of launcher and hold until reinforced. Our arrival is estimated as 12 hours, small craft will be launched as we close, time estimate will follow once flight maps are complete.++


Aware of mutinous crew Searlait is just untrusting of both Vexel and the eldar, who are know for their duplicitous nature. For her she thinks this could be an attempt to covertly land troops or special operations operators.

The Lady Navigator bowed her head as instructions were given and then turned with that same pain-staking and deliberate care back towards the console and Master Van Der Hilder. The conversation playing out quickly in the cant of her house and guild to prepare a rotation of herself and her peers for warp-watch... along with secondary instructions to begin drafting up charts based on local augury scans of real space to best pinpoint the ideal translation points for more... pointed monitoring to come.

"Special mind will have to be paid to some of the interference presented by our proximity to the Sink Hole. A truly clever navigator and helmsmen, with sufficient support of the blessed spirits of their vessel, could likely use it to mask translation or approach. We've had enough surprises as it is and I'd like to avoid any further ones with just a measure of foresight." the Navigatrix added, realizing the impropriety a moment later, in the common low gothic of the vessel. She leaned then on her staff for support, there was precious little she might do to avoid the agony inflicted by her treacherous muscles without dulling mind or wit. So it was she leaned again on her prodigious and tempered will to simply ignore the pain that spread across the breadth of leg, hip, spine, neck and clawed slowly into mind through the gate way of the temples and scalp.

"Aetherics, you wouldn't happen to have been able to trace the approach trajectory of the salvation pods? It's an academic curiosity but helps with the accounting of the situation." the Navigatrix concluded as she glanced towards the station and it's principle officers.

Tenver responds to Searlait’s kindness with a bow and a few words in elder, he seems to visibly relax a little.

The Wing Commander informs the Captain that craft launched now would reach the planet three or four hours ahead of the Lament and Tungsten acknowledges Searlait’s instructions.

At the Navigators station Cennet prepares to withdraw and is told by Paklor that they could only calculate the trajectories of the salvation points, they were not recorded during their flights.

Levie enters the bridge from the stair way not from the Navis private blast door, he is on time but a little out of breath, ”I’m sorry Lady Shiraishi, your elevator is out of action, as are the stairs there, you will have to return to the quarters by the main corridor,” to his credit he does look genuinely dismayed.
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"Launch initial troop deployments, have Umbra 2 and 4 cover their movements and 3 & 5 on patrol around the ship. Ensure some sapper units are in the initial deployment to help fortify the launcher for any impending assault" she orders of Laurel & Asgard.

Umbra three and five launche imidiatly, there si a slight delay before the rest of the ships launch as some of the regular troops are swaped out for sappers but they are away within the nex five minuets.
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"Of course, of course." the Lady Cennet Melek Shiraishi replied with a calm and dutifully accepting note to her voice. The expression she might wear to accompany such words was an utter mystery thanks to the exquisite mask that hid her wretchedly wasted countenance... but it could be felt. A subtle, mild exasperation that was held in terrible check by her potent will.

"I presume, Master Levi, that this has been reported then? With all that's happened in so short a span... I find I'm rather tired of surprises." the Elder Navigator asked with soft, gentle notes to her voice as she leaned heavily upon her staff. The familiar pain clawing at the stability of her stance with the need for some measure of rest that could not be had whilst in the eyes of the bridge staff. Appearances, after all, was yet another aspect of her duty that she could not deny.

It was likely to the more skittish junior navigator that there was no malice, no accusation, no barb or dagger hidden among her words. Merely the sincere request for a report so that she might add such to her endless tasks or be assured that those who needed to know of such an issue were well aware.

Cennet only has to open the door at the back of her to see that the anti-chamber is full of mechanicus personnel and servitors of labouring to reinstate the elevator, to do so they have had to dismantle parts of the spiral stair caser that wraps around it to gain access to some of the working parts.

Cennet is offered a conveyance which will save here a twenty minute walk.
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Gregory is aboard the landers as they leave the bay, the only difference is that this time he really is loaded for bear. He heads over to the vox operator and requests a patch into the tac frequencies so he knows what's ahead of them.

No joint tactical frequency has been established at this point, the Lament's ships are all one channel, (including one gun cutter with Ravandio Rathnyr who is doing a recognisance flight for the Captain to the north of the planet and another at the manufactorum with Jak and Harmonia).  The Northern alliance forces and those with the Inquisition party can be contacted but on two different channels, Vormav may be contacted on a third.

Gregory has one gun cutter and six halo barges; please can you tell me who or what is loaded there.
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Gregory doesn't bother Ravandio right away. He's confident the man will comms him when he finishes the recce flight.

++Vormav, this is Asgard. What's going on down there? Getting reports of an uprising and the assistant chief astropath intercepted some planetside message traffic.++

The assistant chief astropath in question is in the guncutter's cockpit with him, while another choir member is on the bridge with the Lady-Captain. That way, at least someone will have astropathic comms in case all else fails.

OOC: IIRC the assaulters are all planetside with some penal troopers, so we have the ship's armsmen with us. That's 6 barges' worth of armsmen and a guncutter as his command craft. He's going to try and bring a chimera along for fire support but it might be best to rely on existing ground forces for that.

The vox crackles to life. It's a crisp clear signal delivered from a comfortable palace in the capital. ++Vormav to Asgard. I was not assigned to tactical for this sortie. Majority of my information has come from yourself and the captain. I expect I can bully my way around if anyone is being difficult. But as I understand it all potentially cooperative parties are falling in line. Advise as needed I'll pass anything I hear up the chain.++

Searlait retires to her quarters for several hours to rest up before the final hours to the assault on the planet, with notice to call her immediately should events change.

++Good to hear from you. GIve us a holler if anything comes up.++

Gregory spends his time trying to figure out the tactical situation on the ground. Everything's just too compartmentalized right now...

++Have arrived at orbital launch site. The facility is secure. Local Mechanicus personnel were not aware that they were under threat but are now aiding in the defence. No sign of opposition forces as yet.++

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This message was last edited by the player at 12:32, Wed 04 Oct 2023.

++I have located three salvation pods and recovered seven refugees from the Emperor’s Glory, they claim to be part of an organised attempt to jump ship. The search for other pods continues. Also, there is evidence of a large military formation crossing the border south of the Northern Alliance headquarters, somewhere around one hundred tracked vehicles, believed to be hostile.++
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The Navigatrix drew a soft breath in and released it from behind the mask. It was a practical offer, given from a place of pure logic and without malice but it nettled at her pride. She strove and pushed against the treacheries of her own anatomy to maintain her effectiveness as a matter of duty and, after a fashion, worship to Him on Terra. Still, the pain burned and for once she considered the offer without dismissal out of hand before finally bowing her head. There were greater tasks and matters to attend to then the slow, pained transversal of the vessel.

++Tungsten, confirmed, hold for update on potential enemy movements++

++Confirm is the military formation GP or NA forces, attempt vox communication if you can, inform them if they do cease advance once our ship is in orbit they will be targetted. Collect as much information of their forces, codify vehicle classes. As for the former crew, try to get them to rendevous at a safer location for collection at a less chaotic time, provide some resources that can readily be spared++

Tungsten repeats her message and is awaiting farther instruction.

Ravandio is out of th4e area searching for salvation pods, he will drop his refugees off as instructed and return to try and locate the military force, this might take an hour or so.

The conveyance provided for Cennet is very discreet, although quite tall it has a small footprint with a fat rubber tyre at each corner, the driver, a junior tech priest sits in a small, open cockpit at the front while the two-seat passenger compartment is fully enclosed behind one way glass windows. The vehicle, is clean and shiny and the luxuriously appointed interior smells faintly of furniture polish.

Cennet embarks without trouble and fonds the seat moderately comfortable, a voice over a hidden speaker informs here that the trip will take approximately five minuets and the vehicle sets off at a steady pace along the corridors and passageways of officer country.

Much of this will be new to Cennet and she is treated to a display of opulence and wealth as she trundles over soft carpets and observes ancient works of art, statues and trophies at every turn. Some parts of the trip are quiet but others busy with people, officers, servants, servitors and dozens of unidentifiable people going about their business.


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++Agent Tungsten, potential reports of GP forces headed to NA capital instead, Ravandio is dropping off recovered personel claiming to be deserters of the Emperor's Glory then performing a recce and potential harrassment actions. Please relay information to relevent on site personel.++

Still in her quarters Searlait gets a message from Mr Yorick, ++Sorry to disturb you my Lady, but I thought you ought to know that we have just lost contact with the Northern alliance capital city, it seems to be subjected to local jamming.
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”I shall pass that on my Lady, would you like us to redeploy to that location?”
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++Lady Tungsten, We are now receiving reports that communications to the NA captial are being jammed. Do you have ability to communicate with any friendly NA forces? Advise them of potential immediate attack. I will attmept to advise other forces++

++Magos Tesla do you have any update on the situation. We are now seeing potenial assault on the Northern Alliance capital and still several hours out. Vox is being jammed locally can your forces break through the interference and contact anyone in that vicinity++

The absence of pain was a new... troubling... even arguably alarming sensation. It had been a facet, a constant companion, for much of her adult life by this point and to think that the muscles that supported and moved her might be capable of anything other than that and wretched malice as well as betrayal was a new experience. A variable and sudden development that, despite her certainty in the strength of spirit and will, had her quietly assessing bother herself and her surroundings through the dread lens of her third eye. That so treacherous a portion of her anatomy and genetics might not torment her and remind her of her damned imperfections was inconceivable without the aid of chymistry, sorcery, and skilled physicians.

This was not to say that the journey was not necessarily lost on her. She was, after all, blessed with keen faculties that noted the different and far less private route to the abode of her clan aboard the vessel. That she was shielded from the eyes of the public was a blessing all it's own. Most, even among the void faring, were rarely so lucky as to catch a glimpse of such... necessities of space faring civilization. Such abundance of people, however, was not so unusual a thing. Segregation to the degree usually achieved on charters was impossible among the fleet borne home of her own house.

For much of the last little while, attempts to contact the Explorator have gone straight to one of his aides, but the most recent message is answered by a string of 'ping' chimes that indicate 'pending' and sees Tesla answer promptly.

++"At the present time, I have no information regarding events on the planetary surface. I have been emeshed in the command canticles of the Manufactorum and believe that I have managed to significantly reorient them towards addressing the problems of the local system. Please hold."++

A report comes in from Garu

The attack on the orbital launcher was a bluff intended to draw assets away from the target which was the Northern Alliance capital, specifically they are after Vormav. That city is surrounded by two entire brigades of troops with air support but they have not yet entered. They do have localise signal jamming to prevent anyone getting a message in or out.

He has located Lady MaCregge, the Planetary Governor general, and also Sir Damion Ply-Morrison, Commander in Chief, Gelron Defence Arm, (GDA), both have gone to ground in Sir Ply-Morrison’s hunting lodge just outside the city, protected by a strong contingent of loyal assets from the GDA. The junta seems content to let them be and just block any signalling capability but seem to have overlooked the land line so communications are possible.

It is difficult to move about in the city as the junta are rather trigger happy in enforcing the curfew, but it can be done.

There is also a message from the Northern Alliance Defence force, who apologise but are concerned that they have lost contact with their Capital and are sending a large contingent back to check, the remainder will arrive at the orbital launcher in  four hours or so.

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This message was last edited by the GM at 20:47, Fri 13 Oct 2023.

Searlait takes in the report from Garu and curses under her breathe.

++Garu, attempt to remain free, use all the troops I left to keep you that way. I will attempt to have troops sent to you. Report as you can situation developments.++

++Lady Tungesten, can you use your craft to gather the deposed leaders of Gelron Primary, location is being sent to you, if possible, can you recover them and attempt to get them to decry the junta take over on a public display system or vox-net, perhaps we can cause some dissention within the ranks. Not they have a curfew in place and have displayed a willingness to shoot first and ask questions later, remote into the network if possible.++

++NA send 10% towards the Launcher, remainder should turn back and spearhead an attack from the rear of the GA troops, be know we are attempting to cause dissention within their ranks.++

Looking to the master Ligashar "What is our ETA to the planet and our strike force?"

++Master Asgard, there has been an update, the launcher assault seems to be a ruse, new location is the Northern Alliance capital, will update when I have more information.++

”As you wish my Lady, we will liaise with Mr Finnigan.” There is a pause before the Arbitrator continues, ”My Lady, I hesitate to offer advice but if you are having trouble contacting Vormav through the vox jamming, have you considered consulting your Astral Choir?”
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++ Acknowledged, Lady-Captain ++, came the brief reply, harsh with static, ++ We have secured some local assets, no more than thugs. I have a team aboard civilian transportation to the launcher, to assess the situation there ++

++I have not, but will get it attempted immidiately, thank you Agent++


Acknowledging Garu's response she wishes them the Emperor's luck and reminds him of their ETA and that Another agent has been there as well and is aware of the situation.

Next she sents a message to the astropatic choir to attempt to get a message through to Vormav to get a situation report.

++Understand, rerouting to NA capital now.++

He instructs the pilot and the lander fleet to redirect appropriately and informs Ravandio of his course change. He also lets Vormav know; the man deals in information and while Gregory strongly doubts the man didn't see it coming, you can't be too careful.

The slow return of her more typical state of being did little dispel or otherwise address her concerns as she dismounted with all the deliberate, all too calculated care of one in so crippled a condition as she was now. Any offers of assistance from her aide or the far less compassionate mechanicus waved aside as they both had done their due diligence and sped her return to the shared quarters of her contracted clan. With that same care, she passed the guards with polite nods of her head and into her domain. The gestures bringing with them fresh pain and new reminders of the eroded state of her treacherous musculature and the strains it placed on the bones beneath.

One day, she'd find a remedy or embrace the machine, as the Mechanicus put it, to obliterate the source of her pain once and for all. There was a certainty in the machine but that was a... particular risk. Too much replaced with such cybernetics and bionics and she ran the risk of fatal disruptions from the energies she was routinely exposed to... Or worse fates... Too little and she was no less a prisoner of her cursed form and genetics.

Ever mindful of her duty to the dynasty and the Throne upon distant Terra, Cennet pushed those thoughts aside and sought the last of her still able kin. The rotation and nature of their watch had no doubt already been shared but it was wise to confirm it if nothing else.

++Asgard, the vox-jamming appears to be coming from multiple sites nearby. If possible co-ordinate with Ravandio to locate the sources before engaging, if possible damage or destroy without risking too many casualties. Psychic communications is still possible should it be required. Should you be able to communicate with any Gelron Primary officers, inform them that on my arrival if they do not cease this assault and retreat to a non-combat distance I will remove them from the planet with the Pious Lament++

++Vormav, We have Ravandio running multiple ops in the area, are you able to contact contact him at all to secure exfil from the immediate area? Sit rep is GP made to move to attack the launcher then diverted to attack the NA, we were over the disk at the time and have made full steam back to orbit, ground troops en route, orbital support will arrive shortly after.++

Searlate relays her message to the Astoral Chior who passes it on to Vormav.
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