40K/Inquisitor RPG. The Line of Damnation.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-18 08:01am

"Good. You seem like a reasonable woman captain. You provided valuable assistance in the battle. You reported a possible chaos contact. What the hell did you do to make Jolan send me here and go through everything with a find toothed comb?" Inwardley, Severa winced. She should have called him Inquisitor Gix.

GeneralTacticus · Post by **GeneralTacticus** » 2004-12-18 08:04am

"Yes, that would certainly make my job a lot easier. I'll have the Stormtroopers investigate as much as they can, anyway; something might come up. It's probably about time to ask Sergeant Desmet what she's found, if anything."

Flicking on his vox unit, he asked a few questions, but mainly kept silent while the Sergeant delivered her report. When she was done, he clicked the vox off, and opened a line to Pater. His voice was grim.

"Well, this isn't looking good. One medicae was found dead right next to Xerxes' bed, syringe in hand, with his throat torn out; the others had apparently been attacked shortly after entering the room. They were hacked apart with a power sword... and Xerxes' equipment was missing."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-18 08:06am

And she could tell full well that Uschi caught that little slip, too. "Sergeant Margarte was in a protective stance when Inquisitor Gix and Sergeant D'eckor were in the office. She was... involved with the captain and on the station when he died, and then involved in the shootout earlier today, and as per standing procedures everyone who comes aboard ship is treated as a potential threat. Inquisitor Gix took exception to this and from that came to the conclusion that we had something to hide."

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-18 08:06am

"Brilliant. I'll go around fully armed, I think."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-18 08:14am

Severa raised an eyebrow. "Protective stance. Funny that's not the way I heard it. Sergeant Hethor is considerably less euphamistic in his descriptions. I don't particularily like the way he chooses to say things, but his does have the virtues of being honest and reliable."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-18 08:19am

"Protective stance as in being in the position to best protect the captain of this vessel. To be blunt, she was standing at attention in a position from which she could have potentially utilized her agonizer whip on both Inquisitor Gix and Sergeant D'eckor, who I gather she assessed to be the greatest possible threats to my person if, Emperor forbid, some sort of fighting broke out." Uschi stated flatly. "Is that honest enough for you?"

GeneralTacticus · Post by **GeneralTacticus** » 2004-12-18 08:23am

"That sounds like a good idea. I'm off to start questioning Xerxes' men."

----------

A few hours later, as the last of the Arbites left the Chief Judge's office, Adivan leaned back in his chaiur and gave a sigh of relief. The questioning had been exhausting, but with a combination of skill and some deft application of his abilities to determine the right lines of inquiry, he had some answers. Nearly every trooper serving with Xerxes had witnessed him, during the Blessing of Arms ceremony, screaming "By the Emperor, you will not have me!" and shouting for a Chaplain. Questioning the Chaplain indicated an attempt at possession; according to the Judge, it had not succeeded, but if it had, surely the power controlling Xerxes would have sought to conceal itself...

And yet he fought bravely against the Traitor Marines, when he could very possibly have turned the battle against us if he chose. Is he true to the Emperor? Or is this simply part of some twisted scheme by the Changer of the Ways?

Or... And here, he knew, he was going rather beyond the bounds of his expertise, Perhaps he fought off one attempt, only to fall to a second. Well, this is Pater's specialty, not mine; I'll see what he thinks.

Opening the vox-line to Pater again, he relayed the fruits of his efforts, and his suspicions, and waited for the other Inquisitor's assessment.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-18 08:31am

Severa twitched. "Yes, it explains a lot. Gix either doesn't notice it or brushes it off. Hethor, on the other hand, takes his position seriously. He notices and it rings all sorts of the wrong kind of bells. Which it should. Everyone hates inquisitors, Gix knows that, but to have someone standing by ready to kill one means secrets. Digging up secrets is what inquisitors do. So he starts rooting about for them. Since you've already displayed guilt. But he starts off easy, because up until that moment you've been model citizens and he doesn't want to do any damage he have to. So you stand up to protect your crew and give all the wrong kinds of answers. Because he's gone easy, both of you are glaring daggers at me instead of gibbering in fear on an excruciator."

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-18 08:34am

Pater sucked the inside of his cheek. "It's pretty obvious that Chaos singled him out for some reason. Possibly because he had no method of resisting their advances, like us. I'd say that they planted the seed in his head the first time and then capitalised on it in a moment of weakness.

I've narrowed my search cone down to the Sewage System on deck #203. If I don't check back every 10 minutes, assume the worst."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-18 08:38am

Uschi nodded reluctantly. "Because this whole affair started when we reported an event that we could have gotten well away from before it even remotely got tied to us." She took a deep breath. "Honestly, I don't believe Synnove even gave any conscious thought to her positioning, and the overwhelming majority of people we deal with would have not even noticed. She lost the man she loved two days ago, and as a consequence is taking her duties even more seriously than normal. I think you can understand well what excesses protecting the people... or person... you care about may take you to, lieutenant Severa."

GeneralTacticus · Post by **GeneralTacticus** » 2004-12-18 08:45am

"I will. Emperor go with you. I think I've learned about as much as I can from this place; I'll move to where I can back you up if I have to. And I'll see if I can find any more backup planetside."

With that, Adivan cut the connection, and tapped a few keys. The vox unit built into his armour was a fairly standard one, with a few alterations, and thise program was one of them. He heard a hiss in his ears as the vox transmited a stream of meaningless machine noises across a preset band of frequencies, and added a final set of verbal codes at the end. If any of his agents were on the planet below, they'd hear it, and with luck, they'd respond soon.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-18 08:47am

Severa's jaw muscle clenched and unclenched. "I suppose not," she finally said. "You talk a good line captain. Supposing my crews find nothing noteworthy, you'll be free to go in a few hours."

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-18 08:48am

Pater was staring at the beheaded corpse several minutes later. "Adivan, Novum. I think the shit's just hit the fan. Corpse, beheaded, Chaos insignia. Appears to be a NavSec officer. No ID. I need the info on all missing NavSec officers in my area, now."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-18 08:53am

Uschi nodded and didn't say anything else. She'd pushed the button. It was a gamble, but if it could inspire any leniency for Synnove on the part of this bitch of a naval lieutenant, it was worth it.

---------------
Prius looked at the medicae irritably. "And so they work now?"

"Colonel-Commissar, you were shot... with a shotgun... at relatively close range. By all rights, we should not be having this conversation. You should be at the side of the Emperor."

"He has deemed that it is not my time to join Him yet," Prius said, making the sign of the aquila and glaring at the medicae until he did the same.

"Several of your augmetics were damaged, and we had to replace two of them outright."

"And so they work now?" Prius asked again, displaying incredible patience for him. Perhaps all his infirmary time had taken some of his edge off.

"Yes, they do, but we still recommend at least a day's bed..."

Prius was already swinging his feet off the bed.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-18 08:54am

Xerxes flexed his shoulders. He felt stronger now, much stronger. His tongue ran over his lips. He could hear better now, for some reason. Yes, he could hear that whiny little man call out in the dark.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-18 08:58am

Adivan was on his feet and bringing a Stormtrooper squad with him almost immediately. "Novum, Adivan. There aren't many troopers missing in that sector; I'm coming right away."
"Adivan, Novum. The sooner the better. I'm going to have someone's head for this."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-18 09:04am

They had done some adjustment work on his leg while he was out, and it was working much more smoothly now. Nevertheless, the stabbing pains from his abdomen made him lurch a bit as he walked. He pulled on the utility coveralls they gave him to replace his ruined uniform, then pinned his commissariat rank and emblems on, as well as the Inquisition rosetta symbol, before picking up the shotgun and vox.

"Novum, this is Ristani. Enroute."

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-18 09:06am

"Ristani, Novum. I need you to arrange for all exits out of the Sewage System on deck #203 to be blocked; We have to sweep the area."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-18 09:07am

Severa spoke. "Captain, lend me your office. Your security officer and I need to talk."

------------------------------------------------------------

Xerxes moved quite as a ghost. Of course he didn't have to wade through sludge. He heard boots on the deck and smiled. Just a few more moments and things would be altered in his favour.

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » 2004-12-18 09:08am

Pater pulled out his Force Staff, closed his eye and concentrated.
It snapped open. "There you are."
He aimed upwards...

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-18 09:10am

Pater's bolt was characteristically devestating. Unfortunately, the target wasn't there. Or not quite there. To be more precise there was a floor and an stormtrooper between Pater and the bolt. The result was . . . .unfortunate for the Imperium.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-18 09:12am

"At once, Novum. Ristani out."

With his usual grace and decorum Prius began rounding up local armsmen and arbites, brandishing his emblems and his shotgun as a means of encouraging both compliance and haste.

-------------
Uschi swallowed then nodded, rising to her feet. As she walked to the door and hit the button, she was unsurprised to see Synnove standing at attention outside when it irised open.

"Lieutenant Severa would like to speak to you, sergeant," she said.

Synnove nodded. "Yes captain."

She stepped through the door and stood at attention in front of Severa. When the door finished closing, she spoke quickly before Severa could say anything.

"When you tell the captain that you've killed me, please tell her that I tried to assault you and that it was a matter of self defense."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-18 09:15am

Severa blinked in surprise. This wasn't what she expected. "I don't intend to kill you. What brought this on?"

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-12-18 09:19am

Synnove stared straight ahead. "Because Sergeant D'eckor decided that I am a threat to your inquisitor, and I saw the way you looked at me when you came in. Inquisitor Gix doesn't know what's going on, because he's not a harsh man at all, and the two of you are protecting him. I understand that very well, and if there's a price to be paid by the crew, I'm ready to pay it."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-12-18 09:24am

"I don't intend to kill you. If I was going to kill you, would have died 30 seconds ago when your captain tried to manipulate by using my feelings to her own advantage. I would have blown your brains out and then I would have shot her. Tell that bitch if she tries it again, I won't bother thinking about it. Both of you are only alive because I am still a Valin and I am still Navy. I know what a captain is supossed to do for her crew."