40K Dark Heresy: The Danse Macabre

Academia Nut · Post by **Academia Nut** » 2008-04-15 01:01am

"Go ahead everyone, get some sleep, I was after all the one who pused that we find a safe place to rest," Quintos says, still smiling broadly and clearly falsely. Still, for the moment he would just grin and bear it.

First chance we get I say we cut these useless gangers free, maybe waste a couple of them as a parting gift. If I weren't dead tired from fighting this bastard's battles I would waste him right now. Frakker doesn't have any authority over me.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2008-04-15 09:46am

"I think everyone knows who we want," whispered Varnius, the stub automatic's grip cold in his hand. "Preferably alive." He eyed the number of gangers around. "Tracking him to others would be best, but we take him down rather than let him escape."

SylasGaunt · Post by **SylasGaunt** » 2008-04-16 04:16am

"Fortunately some of us know how to care for our weapons well enough Nixios, that will keep some of the burden off you."

Havelock had managed to get a reign on his anger now, saving it for later use.

"i wish to tender an apology Brother Grim. I breached the bounds of hospitality. Things were.. bad in the Balimek base. I have to ask.. did they take any of your people prisoner recently?" he tried to remember of any of them were wearing Grimloch colors... then suppressed it. He really didn't want to think about what was in that hole.

Vehrec · Post by **Vehrec** » 2008-04-16 08:02pm

"There are four of us. Let us assume that the emperor will bless our aim and our armor, that each of us is worth four of them. There will still be four of them left when we are all dead, not counting their leader. We have time for maybe one shot from hiding, and then it's time for us to run before they find the tunnel entrance." Gelt stood up and picked up the long arms that he had appropriated. "We don't have the time for this. We need to be gone five minutes ago. So we can report back with news, and not be caught and trussed up like those who we showed the Emperor's Mercy."

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2008-04-16 08:21pm

Grim grunted at Havelock. "My men do not get captured, they know better than that. Death or glory are all we know in battle, as it should be. We'll talk more about what you found down there later. For now, take the rest of your men and get some sleep, I'm sure you could use it." He pulled Diver close and whispered something in the other man's ear. Diver nodded and patted his side.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2008-04-16 11:10pm

"I'll try and track him," said Varnius. "Those gangers near the exits might spot me, so be ready to back me up if it blows up." He called upon the power of the warp to cloak him and drew his hand cannon [taking the focus action if time allows]. He then moved carefully out to shadow the departing heretic.

Hawkwings · Post by **Hawkwings** » 2008-04-17 12:42am

As the gangers led the rest of the party off, Camillia passed by Quintos and said quietly, "Be careful. We'll send someone to stay with you two, but watch your backs anyways."

A couple gangers led the acolytes to another part of the Grimlock base. One of them explained "You missed our meal, so you're on your own until breakfast. We'll feed you then."

Just great. They know we're depending on them, so they get to string us out whenever they want. Tomorrow we're leaving and the only way I'm coming back is with an Arbites raid or Guard company with me.

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2008-04-17 09:38am

As Varnius was leaving, Lazarus said to him,

"You going out alone? If you are going to go on a recon or some shit how the hell are the rest of us suppossed to get back? At least let some one tail you at a distance using the comm bad to stay in touch and relay the direction you're going in."

By someone, I really mean me. Not that I really want to do that type of shit, but if Varnius fucks up and gets captured or killed , we won't know shit except that he didn't come back. No one should do any damn thing alone down here. Not only is it fucking dangerous, ell if I am going to trust anyone out there by thmemselves. No telling what they could get into.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2008-04-17 12:38pm

"There are gangers by the exits and my stealth power covers only myself," said Varnius. "Of course I'm going alone. You'll have to trail at a distance. I'll keep you informed."

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2008-04-17 06:20pm

"All right. Watch your ass."

Lazarus prepared himself to follow Varnius, double checking his weapons. He planned to trail him around 500-600 meters behind the pysker as he radioed in the directions, around corners from the gangers and Varnius as the terrain allowed.

I can't believe I am doing this. At least I'm not dependent on some dumbass officer's plan to stay alive though.

Lazarus carefully made his way after the path Varnius had taken. He didn'y plan to show himself until the Pysker gave the all clear.

Losonti Tokash · Post by **Losonti Tokash** » 2008-04-20 05:47am

Nixios watched as the others were escorted from the room. The day's events were growing heavy upon him, and he was impatient to begin the maintenance rituals. While the two acolytes waited, the techpriest examined the room. A detailed recollection of the layout of the room and surrounding compound would likely be useful later. Too bad he didn't have a pictrecorder or even a way to use one without being caught.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2008-04-21 01:06am

The chamber where Quintos and Nixios stayed behind was simply the larger area that housed this section of the hive. While no place was "Outside" in the Lower Hive, this place was close enough. Gangers walked around on patrol, but it was clear that many of them were getting tired.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team was led to what could only generously be called a shack. Made up of ramshackle portions of scrap metal welded together in a most precarious way, there were bunks with tatters of rags on them. The guard barracks they had been in previously, while spartan, were clearly much more comfortable than what was available down here.

....At the Balimek Base....

Down Below, Varnius was able to sneak out during an opportune moment, his manipulation of the Warp keeping him shielded from the eyes of others, for now. Before long, he was on the edge of what was visible from the Overwatch point. Navigating the tunnels of the Underhive would have to be done in order to keep up with the direction Varnius was taking to track the strangely dressed man.

RIPP_n_WIPE · Post by **RIPP_n_WIPE** » 2008-04-21 10:51am

The waiting was excruciating. The combination of fatigue, annoyance at his "team", and an itchy trigger finger prepared to kill the heretical scum were taking its toll on Octavius.

He decided to observe from his high position the gangers more closely. Maybe a target of opportunity might open up.

Vehrec · Post by **Vehrec** » 2008-04-21 11:14am

Gelt moved over closer to Octavius. Nothing to do for now, but wait, he wasn't about to go sneaking off in the tunnels and complicate things further. Everything worked best when you had a simple goal and moved towards it relentlessly in his experiance. Anyways, the other aribites had been running on full all out for most of the day, and he was getting worried about that. "When was the last time you got some sleep? I can take overwatch for you for a bit."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2008-04-22 01:59pm

Varnius continued to shadow the strange man. When he had a moment away from potential observers he relayed his movement path through his microbead at a whisper.

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2008-04-22 07:53pm

Lazarus moved out, following Varnius's instructions. He tried to stay back around corners from Varnius, and thus be even further from the gangers.

The Emperor protects.

Lazarus had his autogun up and ready as he patrolled through the dark tunnels.

Hawkwings · Post by **Hawkwings** » 2008-04-23 01:03am

Camillia tried not to show her disgust at the shack offered to them. In her years of service, though relatively few, she had slept in some very bad conditions before. The Guard trench-bunkers stood out as particularly bad, but at least they had complete sleeping slabs and basically complete walls. This was possibly the saddest excuse for a structure Camillia had ever seen.

Looking around, she saw that other structures were in a similar state, but none quite as bad as this one. It could have been the effect of the long day, the residual shock from the Balimek base, the hostility from Grim, or the lack of food, but Camillia was feeling distinctly irritated and angry at these gangers. It wasn't hard to conclude that they were intentionally being treated poorly, but she had never been great at distinguishing the motivations behind social interactions.

What she did know, however, was that she didn't want to be knifed in the middle of the night. They would have to keep a lookout, and also have someone stay with Quintos and Nixios to make sure they were safe. There were seven acolytes here. Leaving out Verum, who was severely injured, that meant three shifts of watches, with two people each. One of them could go stay with Quintos and Nixios, while one could stand watch outside their shack.

As the gangers left to go do their own business, Camillia explained her plan to everyone else, and offered to take first watch.

RIPP_n_WIPE · Post by **RIPP_n_WIPE** » 2008-04-23 09:19am

Vehrec wrote:Gelt moved over closer to Octavius. Nothing to do for now, but wait, he wasn't about to go sneaking off in the tunnels and complicate things further. Everything worked best when you had a simple goal and moved towards it relentlessly in his experiance. Anyways, the other aribites had been running on full all out for most of the day, and he was getting worried about that. "When was the last time you got some sleep? I can take overwatch for you for a bit."

The suggestion was just what he wanted to hear. "I've been doing this since the last group left. It would be fine with me for you to watch a while. I've been in need of sleep. Wake me if it is needed." He motions his hunting rifle to Gelt, staying as low as possible so as not to attract attention.

Academia Nut · Post by **Academia Nut** » 2008-04-26 01:03am

Quintos waited until it was just him, Diver, and Nixios before he sat down and lay the heavy stubber in front of him reverently. He then asked, "Good priest, would I go too far in presuming that the Rites of Maintenance for the heavy stubber are along the same lines as those for an autogun or other projectile weapon? I seem to recall seeing another man performing similar rites upon his own weapon, but I was at a distance at the time and more occupied with trying to ignore the flogging being given to the former care taker of the weapon for laxity towards the care of the weapon's spirit."

Brother-Captain Gaius · Post by **Brother-Captain Gaius** » 2008-04-26 02:51pm

Zak leaves his looted pistols with Quintos and Nixios before reluctantly relinquishing his trusty revolver as well, then scurries off with the rest of the team for some much needed rest.

Feil · Post by **Feil** » 2008-04-26 09:50pm

Cyrine relinquished her autogun. When Camillia suggested watches, though, she asked, "Why one with Quintos and Nixios? They can watch each other - and they have plenty of guns. Still, a watch is a good idea. I'd take third, if others can take the earlier ones."

SylasGaunt · Post by **SylasGaunt** » 2008-04-27 03:45pm

"I believe she thinks it a good idea because they're the most exposed out of us, plus they're going to be working on cleaning and checking weapons which will take much of their attention."

Havelock looked at the others.

"I'd say take a look at injuries, the most injured of us should take the first or last watch so they get the most uninterrupted sleep."

Losonti Tokash · Post by **Losonti Tokash** » 2008-04-27 11:32pm

Nixios gave Quintos the closest approximation he could of a quizzical look. "They are...related. But you must be cautious, as the subtle differences are of course magnified in the eyes of the machine spirit, and it may take offense."

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2008-04-28 05:47am

Xerxes lays his looted Autopistol down and then, after a moment's hesitation, also lays down his Lasgun and Shotgun. He leaves his Laspistol holstered. "Might I have a rack to sleep on now?" he asks.

Academia Nut · Post by **Academia Nut** » 2008-04-28 12:32pm

Nodding, Quintos says, "Of course. I do apologize for getting you dragged into this, but the welfare of our weapons is more important than any physical discomfort I might have, and unfortunately I would only consider attempting to placate a machine spirit without knowing the proper rituals of maitenance under the direst of circumstances. So how should the rite begin good priest?"