40K Dark Heresy: The Danse Macabre

[Hotfoot]

Quartermaster's Office

"Captain Greis, eh? Hold on, I got something for you," The man reached down behind his desk and pulled out a box, roughly half a meter on two sides and a good meter and change on the long side. "You never saw this, y'git me?"

[Academia Nut]

Raising an eyebrow, Quintos nods and says, "Of course."

Leaning in carefully, Quintos flips open the lid to see what's inside.

[Hotfoot]

Quartermaster's Office

"Now if you are needing anything else, come back another time. I charge goin' rate for any of the normal stuff, and double for anything hard to find," With that, the Quartermaster moved the box through the exchange gate and walked off, muttering to himself.

[Raj Ahten]

Not finding anything worth "borrowing" Lazarus went up to Quintos. He was curious to see what was in the box as well.

[Academia Nut]

Opening up the box, Quintos finds inside a collection of comm-beads, filtration plugs, lamp backs, pict recorders, magnoculars, keys to lockers, with instructions on finding the lockers, and a note reading, "Some things I thought you would need but would be too stupid to get left to your own devices. Let this be a lesson. I expect all of this back."

Shrugging, Quintos turns to Nixios and asks, "Would you care to have a look over all of this stuff?"

[Raj Ahten]

"Quartermasters"

Lazarus's opinion of the Captain had just gone up a couple of notches.

We may actually have a chance ewith this mission after all.

Lazarus queitly spoke to Quintos,
"Maybe we should get that back to the barracks. Someone might come by."

[Academia Nut]

Nodding, Quintos says, "Aye, sounds like a good idea. Nixios?"

[DPDarkPrimus]

Outside the barracks

"You get the details of your plan figured out and then let me know what I need to do. I'm going back inside to clean my weapons and pray for our lives."

[Losonti Tokash]

Quartermaster

Nixios had been lost in thought examining the equipment. "Yes, yes. A good point." He then replaced the items in the box and picked the box up, waiting for one of the guardsmen to open the door for him.

[Academia Nut]

"Back to the barracks it is then. I wonder what the others have been up to while we were out and about?" Quintos says while opening the door for Nixios.

[RIPP_n_WIPE]

Elsewhere

The Arbitrator had little trouble finding the precinct. An adept at the desk looked up at an officer quizzically as Octavius introduced himself. The officer grunted and looked at the lesser Agent. "Interesting, I wonder which transport you came in on," as the Officer spoke, the Adeptus scanned Octavius' ID and nodded. "It is good to see our brothers from across the stars, but I wonder, what is it you wish to speak of here? It's not common that we have a lone agent coming unannounced and so forcefully asking for information."

"I apologize for any rudeness on my part" Octavius quickly answered. "I was summoned to this planet by a member of the local guard unit to be his body guard. However apparently someone higher up wanted me to be with him." the lie felt vicious on his lips. He was betraying his brethren but the boot grunt captain had told him not to mention Skane and to stick to his story about being a body guard. "Personally," he began to weave it into a tale that the adept might believe "I think he might be under investigation and perhaps who ever sent me to be with him might have thought that had local arbites been involved the investigation their opinions might have been ignored or viewed as biased due to your apparent animosities toward one another. Whoever summoned me apparently wanted an outsider who had no attachments to local arbites or the guard." he finished his falsity and then returned to the truth. "I wanted to speak to some of the arbites here to find out why there might be trouble between the guard and the arbites and to find out who this captain really is. Not being from this world I would naturally want to seek out my brethren in arms first before mingling amongst the guard, whom I doubt would be helpful to an arbites be he offworlder or not, considering the situation between local arbites and the guard."

[Raj Ahten]

"Back to the barracks it is then. I wonder what the others have been up to while we were out and about?" Quintos says while opening the door for Nixios.

Quartermaster

"Who knows. At least now we have some proper gear for the sort of operation we are going to run. We'll have to see what's in the lockers those keys are for."

Lazarus turned to ask Nixios a question.
"Um ah, Honered Techpreist? I'm not as familiar as I should be with this equipment. Would you be able to tell me and the others the proper way to care for their machine spirits?"

[SylasGaunt]

Quartermaster

Havelock was waiting for them as they exited, nodding to the two men. "Greetings fellow travellers. I see you've not come away from the quartermaster empty handed." The priest said jovially. "I was wondering perhaps if you knew if he had a pair of pants in my size?"

[Feil]

outside

The conversation having wrapped up, Liza set off towards the quartermaster. In a Guard base like this, ammunition was probably a lot more available than back home, and she had to meet the cleric. She'd offered to help protect him - and, what's more, she needed to confess.

[Hawkwings]

Camillia stowed her own bags and sat down to meditate as everyone started discussing their plans. She opened up her awareness and drank in the spirit of the surroundings, listening but not showing herself.

There were a few other psykers in the facility. They may have already noticed her arrival, but it didn't matter too much. Psykers tended to not deal much with other psykers, except when it was necessary. It was part of their training: two psykers in one location made an even better target for horrors from the Warp. The other psyker in this little group, Camillia would trust him with her life and her soul, as he too knew the importance of both and the enemies that they both faced. However, she also trusted him the least out of anyone, as she knew what fate might befall him if something were to happen. She expected the same sort of attitude from him.

She noticed that the bounty hunter and the tracker had gone outside, and they were currently having a quiet conversation. She would join them a bit later. Out of the people in this group, she had become most familiar with them, and would enjoy their companionship.

She noticed that quite a few of their group were clustered together, excited about something. She would have to check on that as soon as she finished.

She noticed that one of the Arbites was walking around the room slowly, pausing often, as if searching for something. She decided that he was checking the room for any hidden dangers. It was considerate of him, she would have to thank him for it later.

She noticed the life of the hive. All those millions of people just in the close vicinity, and the background static from the billions on the planet. It was exhilarating to just ride the currents of life for a while, but also foolhardy and dangerous. One could never let the mind wander. She quietly intoned a chant to focus her mind and protect from temptation as she finished the grounding ritual.

Camillia opened her eyes and took a deep breath of the stale recycled air. Even that possessed the life of this planet, hinted at the secrets it might hold, and promised new things every day. She stood up and stretched, saw that the arbites had fallen asleep on the bunk next to hers, and pulled up the blanket a bit to better cover him. He grunted and rolled over. Camillia smiled.

Her mind now rested and focused, the psyker stepped outside to meet up with her associates, perhaps friends soon, that were examining the quartermaster's prizes.

[Block]

Verum, seeing the gathering across the drill field, decided to walk over to those outside the Quartermaster's office. Seeing the box being held by the Guardman, his eyebrows rose. "So I see you picked up some spare ammo? Perhaps we should go somewhere to distribute it?"

[Hotfoot]

Elsewhere

The Arbitrator eyed Octavius carefully. "I am afraid our files on visiting dignitaries are thin, so I suspect what you know of the man you are supposed to be guarding may be more than what I have heard. I assume you are talking about Captain Greis, from the Hellforged Legion. Word of his arrival spread quickly. All I know is that he has served the Emperor well over his long service. His glory in battle against our enemies is sadly not shown in his rank. Four campaigns against the Eldar, plus numerous other skirmishes. His being here is worrisome. Rumors are already spreading that he is here to recreate his legion. I doubt he can do it with the men in this unit, however. The lot of them are little more than gangers who joined the service to gain access to better weapons and training than what they could scrap together in the underhive. Have you ever tried to stop a gang war? Now think of a gang war fought with tools of the Imperium's war machine," He scowled, only his mouth protruding from his imposing helm.

"Most of the time, it is simple pubfights and brawls in the streets, but it is a constant problem. We have only just now gotten a wave of new recruits, something we desperately needed," As he talked, he lead Octavius to an office, motioning him in and closing the door behind him.

"I apologize for my brusque manner, but we've been very busy here for a long time due to our smaller numbers. The gangers have increased activity in the under and upper hive, the guard has become particularly rambunctious upon hearing that war hero was coming to see them, and we still haven't figured out how the gangers have been smuggling things through our security!” He shook his head and muttered a quick prayer to the Emperor for strength.

“I am afraid I do not think I can help you, Brother Octavius. If this Captain Greis is under investigation, this is the first I have heard of it, and frankly the thought turns my stomach. While I do not welcome his presence, as it implies less than savory fates, I had hoped that it was not all Imperial Guard who were as base as the ones that fill our cells on regular intervals, but if this is true...well,” he grunted, sitting down behind his desk. “Would that I could spare you the men or contacts to help you in your investigation, but our resources are stretched thin as it is. If there is an emergency, however, please send for me. My name is Kalimus, and while I cannot promise much, I will do whatever it takes to protect this planet, even if the citizens do not want our protection.”

[Raj Ahten]

Verum, seeing the gathering across the drill field, decided to walk over to those outside the Quartermaster's office. Seeing the box being held by the Guardman, his eyebrows rose. "So I see you picked up some spare ammo? Perhaps we should go somewhere to distribute it?"

"This is even better than ammo. The Captain hooked us up with comms and surveilence gear. It should help with the mission assuming we don't go around announcing our presence."

Lazarus was still more than a little upset by Verum's apparant lack of sense earlier by blabbing to the strange Lt.

[Block]

"This is even better than ammo. The Captain hooked us up with comms and surveilence gear. It should help with the mission assuming we don't go around announcing our presence."

Lazarus was still more than a little upset by Verum's apparant lack of sense earlier by blabbing to the strange Lt.

"Thank you for informing the general public," he replied, looking at the two local Guardsmen walking into the Quartermaster's office.

[RIPP_n_WIPE]

Elsewhere

The Arbitrator eyed Octavius carefully. "I am afraid our files on visiting dignitaries are thin, so I suspect what you know of the man you are supposed to be guarding may be more than what I have heard. I assume you are talking about Captain Greis, from the Hellforged Legion. Word of his arrival spread quickly. All I know is that he has served the Emperor well over his long service. His glory in battle against our enemies is sadly not shown in his rank. Four campaigns against the Eldar, plus numerous other skirmishes. His being here is worrisome. Rumors are already spreading that he is here to recreate his legion. I doubt he can do it with the men in this unit, however. The lot of them are little more than gangers who joined the service to gain access to better weapons and training than what they could scrap together in the underhive. Have you ever tried to stop a gang war? Now think of a gang war fought with tools of the Imperium's war machine," He scowled, only his mouth protruding from his imposing helm.

"Most of the time, it is simple pubfights and brawls in the streets, but it is a constant problem. We have only just now gotten a wave of new recruits, something we desperately needed," As he talked, he lead Octavius to an office, motioning him in and closing the door behind him.

"I apologize for my brusque manner, but we've been very busy here for a long time due to our smaller numbers. The gangers have increased activity in the under and upper hive, the guard has become particularly rambunctious upon hearing that war hero was coming to see them, and we still haven't figured out how the gangers have been smuggling things through our security!” He shook his head and muttered a quick prayer to the Emperor for strength.

“I am afraid I do not think I can help you, Brother Octavius. If this Captain Greis is under investigation, this is the first I have heard of it, and frankly the thought turns my stomach. While I do not welcome his presence, as it implies less than savory fates, I had hoped that it was not all Imperial Guard who were as base as the ones that fill our cells on regular intervals, but if this is true...well,” he grunted, sitting down behind his desk. “Would that I could spare you the men or contacts to help you in your investigation, but our resources are stretched thin as it is. If there is an emergency, however, please send for me. My name is Kalimus, and while I cannot promise much, I will do whatever it takes to protect this planet, even if the citizens do not want our protection.”

"Thank you Kalimus. It is horrible to hear that my brothers here are no better off than my brethren at home. I do hope that thought what you say about Gries is true and he is indeed an honorable man. Indeed if you too need my or want my assistance I am here to help. I am regularly at the base in the company of the captain. Were there any investigations or inquiries you wished to have at the base I will provide you with any information on gang activity or smuggling that I can that you may better preserve order in this increasingly lawless world. Before I take your leave, I must ask two things. First, is there anyway I can contact you from the base or by other means? A private vox channel for arbites or something to that affect?" he paused stepping back "Also, as you can see I am not attired as one who is a local. Where could I find clothing that more closely resembles that of the hivers. I want to go to the bars and pubs and see if any of the soldiers from the guard have anything to say about the captain without attracting attention to myself. I still have to go back to the base and I wouldn't want one of them recognizing me when I am at the captains side."

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

The Base

Zakary shuffles over to the group by the quartermaster, poking his head around curiously in an attempt to glimpse what all the fuss is about.

[Losonti Tokash]

Irritated at the growing crowd outside their cabin, Nixios takes the box inside and begins to lay out the equipment on his bunk, carefully examining piece. He gradually grew more and more excited with each item, though it was of course difficult to read the techpriest.

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

Zak scurries after the cogboy, his own excitement much more visible. Resisting the rather childish urge to start picking things up and playing with them, he resigns himself to simply watching Nixios work.

[Raj Ahten]

"This is even better than ammo. The Captain hooked us up with comms and surveilence gear. It should help with the mission assuming we don't go around announcing our presence."

Lazarus was still more than a little upset by Verum's apparant lack of sense earlier by blabbing to the strange Lt.

"Thank you for informing the general public," he replied, looking at the two local Guardsmen walking into the Quartermaster's office.

At the barracks

Smartass. Those guys are over 20 feet away.

"You got a fucking point, or are you just trying to be annoying? I'm not the one dropping names in front of officers."

Lazarus then immediently went inside to talk to the adept and said,
"Zakaris. We got all we need now. You ready to do your thing?"

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

Zakary looks away from the gear being sorted with quickly-concealed disappointment. "Hm? Oh, yes, that errand we ought to run. Yes, I suppose we should be off. You wouldn't happen to be any good at navigating hives, would you? I fear I'm rather more used to ruins and razorwire."