40K Dark Heresy: The Danse Macabre

Academia Nut · Post by **Academia Nut** » 2008-03-27 11:58am

Quintos was glad for the filtration plugs in his nose having kept out the worst of the burning stench. He was still shaking slightly, but at least he was free of that horrid place. Slinging his lasgun, he bent over and picked up his duffle bag and the heavy stubber. The weight was considerable, but he expected that he would be able to manage until they got back to the Grimlochs' base.

"I might be able to get a little more ammo in the bag, but I don't know, it's pretty heavy already," Quintos tells the others. "Either way we had better get moving soon."

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2008-03-28 03:47pm

As Gelt prepared to firebomb the armoury and the the team made their way to the exit, lazarus mulled things over in his head.

Well, as little as I'd like to be teamed up with Octavious, he looks like the only one who I'll be able to get. Fuck it, I can work with him.

Adressing said arbite Lazarus said,
"The idea ain't to kill them. Yet anyway. We'd be set up in a hidey hole to take pictures so we can put them on a purge list. But, if an oportunity presents itself, I wouldn't mind putting some rounds in the leader of the heretics."

If there are 50 fucking heretics I ain't taking a shot at fucking anything though.

This plan requirdd the team to split up in unfamiliar territory.
Lazarus increased his pace and drew along side Diver. Lazarus asked him,
"You got a map or directions to get back to your base from here? We might want to leave a rear guard in case these bastards try and follow us."

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2008-03-28 04:15pm

Back at the overwatch point, Diver grinned. "Look mate, if they try to follow us, they're going to have one hell of a wound to lick, trust me," his tone turned serious, his hard eyes staring at Lazarus. "Look, tell your mates to hurry up. I've got a real bad feeling that we need to be out of here, now. You follow?"

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2008-03-28 06:23pm

Xerxes activates his com. "Gelt, I was at the armory a moment ago- everything looked ready to blow. Just set the charge and get the hell out."

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2008-03-28 10:04pm

Hotfoot wrote:Back at the overwatch point, Diver grinned. "Look mate, if they try to follow us, they're going to have one hell of a wound to lick, trust me," his tone turned serious, his hard eyes staring at Lazarus. "Look, tell your mates to hurry up. I've got a real bad feeling that we need to be out of here, now. You follow?"

"Oh, we'll be leavin' in moments; everyone's on their way now. Don't worry about that."

Pretty damn stupid to think he'd help out in giving directions. He'd probably take that as a sign we're out to kill him.

Lazarus stepped out of easy earshot from the ganger and softly spoke into the comm,
"Look, I'm going to stay for a few hours and try and identify the gang leader if he comes in, get photos of the bastard. I need someone to leave marks in the tunnels so I can find my way back when this business is over. I can take one or two men with me on this, any more than that will just fuck things up."

Huh. Can hardly believe I am volunteering myself for this shit. No way those fucking ganger scum are going to pay otherwise though.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2008-03-28 10:26pm

"Dealing with the gangers is not our mission. It's high time we got back to base and got our facts sorted."

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2008-03-28 10:35pm

DPDarkPrimus wrote:"Dealing with the gangers is not our mission. It's high time we got back to base and got our facts sorted."

"That is correct. But these assholes have to pay, and if we don't do anything, they get to fucking walk. Besides, its not like I know shit about shit for the damn analysis anyway. I'm just a grunt, and all I'm doing is takin' pics so the arbites or whoever know who to go after. Now is anyone going to leave me some marks or not?"

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2008-03-29 12:44am

"The ones who attacked you are dead, Lazarus. Personal grudges should not be held above the wishes of the Imperium."

Academia Nut · Post by **Academia Nut** » 2008-03-29 01:16am

Shaking his head sadly, Quintos says, "You were not down there Xerxes and this is not petty revenge this is..." Quintos shuddered before making the sign of the aquila in warding. Once he had some composure again he said, "Those mutants we killed? After seeing what was down there I am not certain that they started life as abominations, or that they were willing. These gangers are involved in heresies and blasphemies we cannot comprehend, that we do not want to comprehend. Our duty to the God Emperor, blessed be His name, will lie in stopping him."

Turning to Lazarus, Quintos says, "But not today. Today we make our escape. These scum were getting their equipment from somewhere, and they will need more. We can still track them after today if we follow the money and ammo."

A wicked grin escapes over Quintos' face as he suggests, "Maybe we could even pull a sting by trying to sell them their own guns back!" His laughter was dry and forced, still rattled as he was from the dome, but there was a sense of actual humour in there.

Vehrec · Post by **Vehrec** » 2008-03-29 01:21pm

"We'll find them again. Don't worry, they won't escape for what they've done." Serghar took the incendiary in hand, turned and sprinted to the armory like a man 10 years younger. A last few items found their way onto his person, Autopistols were shoved into pockets, long guns slung over each shoulder. And then he carefully placed the firebomb in the pile of guns and made sure he had a clear shot at the door before pulling the pin and sprinting out of there like a shot. "Less standing around jabbering, more arson and escaping, all of you!" was what he barked over the combead, hustling back to the tunnel entrance.

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2008-03-29 09:56pm

Speaking over the comm bead, Lazarus tried one last time to pitch his plan.

"Look, we have no idea if we'll ever be here again. We operate on our bosses say so. We can't say we will catch up to them again, we got no basis for that shit. We have no idea how these gangers are actualy supplied; no real evidence, and no garuntee that we will ever get any. All I am asking for is a couple of men for less than a day. It's low risk. For once I want something to go the way it's supposed to be fucking done for once, with the right assholes getting punished. We get pics of the bastards we will know who is involved, instead of having to piece it together later. Then somebody, not us even, can burn the fuckers alive. That said if the leadership says no on it, I'll let this operation die."

Academia Nut · Post by **Academia Nut** » 2008-03-31 02:28pm

Shaking his head, Quintos says, "Look, I want to gut these bastards too, but when they get here and see the mess we made, they're going to send out every scout they have in all directions to try and catch the guys who did this, namely us. Plus we don't even know how long it will take for their leader to get here. A single guy could just as easily come back and tell the others that their base has been blown up, in which case they fall back to some other point. You're risking your life, and thus your future service to the Emperor, on something that might not happen. The risk is high, the pay-off minimal. We all need to get going now."

RIPP_n_WIPE · Post by **RIPP_n_WIPE** » 2008-03-31 06:57pm

Joining in over the comm Octavius began to add.

"We can not allow these crimes to go unpunished! It is obvious heresy! There is no leeway by which we can give them room to reorganize. We can not wait for other arbites to act. We should supply them with what we have, they might know of this heresy, but these people are so foul and insidious I can not allow myself upon the honor and dignity of a servant of the Will to let them not pay. Indeed we should express caution and use a strategy but we musn't allow them to regroup and reorganize. Kill who we can, capture their leaders, and bring them to justice!"

Vehrec · Post by **Vehrec** » 2008-03-31 08:27pm

Gelt frowned as he spoke into his combead. "This isn't like some uphive vice nest that you can bust in one op. There could be little tendrils of this corruption all over the hive. But these ganger's won't just disappear. They'll have to go somewhere and we'll be ready for them. And when they reorganize they'll need to call in favors and allies. Which we can use to identify more heretics. The wheels of the Emperor's Justice turn very slowly, but they grind even the foulest heretics into a fine dust. We cannot afford to rush blindly ahead when there are so few of us. We must understand the scope of this heresy and those who committed it if we are to end it. For now, we must gather our own allies and secure a base from which we may operate in safety."

SylasGaunt · Post by **SylasGaunt** » 2008-03-31 08:32pm

"We should go."

Havelock kept his voice steady with an effort of will. He was just as enraged as many of the others, but he had kept the big picture in mind.

"We need to retreat for now Octavius. These crimes will not go unpunished but at the bare minimum we will need to get reinforcements.. perhaps we can convince our.. allies, to help us crush this foul lot in a single, decisive strike rather than an ambush or attack that we may or may not be able to prosecute. Even if we can destroy the rest of the gang unaided we lack the manpower to block attempts at escape. What would you prefer, to strike now and let some of them escape unpunished, or wait for a time and insure that far more will suffer the only punishment befitting their heresies?"

The priest said this on the run. He wasn't sure how much ammo and explosive was in that armory and he had no intention of being any closer than he had to be.

"Besides.. with this kind of material and personnel loss they will have to replenish their numbers and supplies, something we can watch for and hunt for."

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2008-03-31 10:29pm

How are we suppossed to fucking target these assholes when we know nothing about them?. Why couldn't they just up and disapear on us? And as far as their recruitment goes, what are we going to do, infiltrate them? Fuck that shit. Setting up an OP is far less dangerous than that.

Lazarus kept his negative thoughts on what the leaders had decided to himself. It was something he was used to doing from his years in the Guard. Besides, it wasn't like he was going to go scouting all by himself. Some Guardsmen could do that, but not Lazarus. Not yet anyway.

"I understand the situation. No intel operation to take pictures then; we return directly to base."

As if a base full of ganger scum is a good one. By the Emperor, what if the heretics go directly to our so called allies first? They are rivals right? Fuck me.

Hawkwings · Post by **Hawkwings** » 2008-03-31 11:26pm

Camillia headed for the exit as the rest of their team debated their next step. She would not take part in any sort of observation of the gangers, that much she was certain of. Her motivation right now was a meal and a bed, both of which were firmly in the direction of the Grimloch base.

Losonti Tokash · Post by **Losonti Tokash** » 2008-04-01 01:10am

Nixios shook his head, angry screeches and pops coming from his voicebox as he spoke. "There is no point to arguing this. We need to leave, else their friends return and find you meatbags still bickering about whether to commit suicide or not." With that, he turned and followed after the psyker to catch up with her.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2008-04-01 01:32am

As the ammo stores cooked off in the base, causing what sounded like a near unending stream of gunfire, Diver rolled his eyes at the yelling acolytes. "Look, get your lot together and let's get out of here. I'm leaving now, and I'm not leaving behind markings that lead back to where I sleep. Even if the Balimeks don't find these tunnels, other things than us use them." With that, he was off, not bothering to wait for the rest of the acolytes.

A chill washed over the acolytes, as though they had the sensation that somewhere in the galaxy, something terrible had happened.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2008-04-01 05:39pm

"What allies? What reinforcement?" Varnius said acidly. "These gangers are our clues. You want to crawl back now, now that we know that they are working with heretics? Go back on your knees with nothing? No. We know our prey and we know they will be back here. We hide, we watch, and we take them and we squeeze information out of them. Failing that, we bring back interrogation subjects."

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2008-04-01 06:04pm

Lazarus, about to move out after Diver, stopped when Varnius gave his support for further operations against the heretic gangers.

Well at least some people got the idea for further operations. But how are we going to decide this shit?.

The true strength of the acolytes ad hoc command structure looked like it was about to be tested. What would happen if neither side would back down? Lazarus looked over the rest of the group, trying to gauge their reactions.

Well Varnius, Octavious and me want to do something more here. Hopefully the other side won't shoot anyone to get their orders followed. That type of bullshit would be the last thing we need.

Vehrec · Post by **Vehrec** » 2008-04-01 10:08pm

"I'm not saying that we can't ever return here. I'm saying that we've done enough for today, and we can do more later. This hive is not some place where you can run and hide without being seen. Someone will know where these gangers go, and all we need to do is ask the right questions to follow them. But for all we know they could have a Chimera coming back here right now, and I for one say we follow our guide before we lose him entirely." Gelt sighed, and walked out of the darkness of the tunnel into the semi-darkness of the watch point. He looked Lazarus in the eye and continued. "Look. The Imperium wasn't conquered in a day. We have no support, no allies except the ones we make ourselves. Some days you win, and this is shaping up to be one of those days. Let's not risk making it into the other kind by taking on four or five times the number we just fought."

Academia Nut · Post by **Academia Nut** » 2008-04-02 09:53pm

Shaking his head, Quintos begins running and calls over the comms, "I say we get out of here before this whole place explodes and/or burns down. If you guys want to stay here arguing, go ahead, but personally I think getting out of here as quickly as possible is a good idea right about now."

Hawkwings · Post by **Hawkwings** » 2008-04-02 10:09pm

Camillia followed Diver as closely as she could, with her new stub automatic drawn and ready. The adrenaline from the sight of the wretches had just about run its course, and she was feeling a bit queasy as she half-ran through the underhive tunnels. She glanced back and saw that several other of the acolytes were following. It was good enough for her, so she continued on.

Hearing the continued argument over her commbead, Camillia said quickly "If you don't follow quickly, you're not going to be able to find your way back. We might come back for you if you decide to stay, but it's going to be a long cold night."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2008-04-02 10:27pm

"We can find them in the hive just be asking questions?" Varnius quoted in disgust. "What in the Emperor's name are you using for brain tissue? You have no conception of what a hive is if you're talking that kind of nonsense. We have proof of heretical activity, our only bloody lead at all, and you want to abandon our only connection to it?"