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"Alright, if we're splitting up again I think we should go in at least teams of two. Varnius, perhaps you and Camilla could go together, or do you all typically operate alone? Gelt pick your man, I guess. I'd prefer to keep the rest of the team on standby somewhere, get the boss's take before we do a recon on the spaceport or anything like that."

And get myself some sleep.

"About Verum. I don't like the idea of leaving a man behind, regardless of whether he is an asshole or not. Our masters will deal with him as they see fit. Besides I don't think we want him regaining consciousness and spouting more bullshit to get us in trouble while we are gone."

"I should enter the base alone," said Varnius. "In doing so, I'm violating Geis's orders and so is anyone who comes with me. I'll take an escort to the base, but we should only risk one man. It's my idea, I should take the risk."

Raj Ahten wrote:"About Verum. I don't like the idea of leaving a man behind, regardless of whether he is an asshole or not. Our masters will deal with him as they see fit. Besides I don't think we want him regaining consciousness and spouting more bullshit to get us in trouble while we are gone."

"If we're walking into a trap," said Cyrine, "we don't want to be doing it carrying a stretcher, kennit. And if Grim is telling the truth, then we're not really leaving him behind. We should leave him.

"I'm willing to be that escort to the base, Varnius."

"I'll be happy for the company," said Varnius. "We should see if we can get the map copied and then translated before we leave. I'm going to guess that Grim's going to hold the latter over our heads to make sure we steal the weapons for him."

"Acording to him, he's not stealing but smuggling. As outrageous as the story is, we can't dismiss it without proof of some kind." Gelt rubbed his eyes and sighed. "Remember, even if he wasn't specific, Grim's man did try to warn us that the tunnels were dangerous. He might be trying to use us and spend our blood, but at least he and his men seem pretty tight when it comes to spending the Emperor's Coin."

Blunts, thought Varnius. How many times did he have to be proven right before they listened? "He told us a story that got you thinking about doing it. That's what we know. We need more information and we need instructions from our control. It is also essential for them to believe that we are onboard and their moderately willing patsies. I'm going to catch another couple of hours of sleep and then head back to the base."

"If we're sleeping around here, we best do it near an exit. We better have a hell of a watch set up for it."

No need to tell Gelt more about what I think of Grim and his crew. He already knows what I think, and there is no need to antagonize the man, as he's pretty much agreed to the plan as it is. He's been pretty solid, and our group has been fractious enough as it is. I also know what sort I’m dealing with for sure here. If I’m inconvenient, my team will leave me behind.

"I saw a good spot about 20 meters from our last spot. It may be a burnt out shop, but it is a lot closer to the tunnels. It'll do in case Grim decides to turn on us."

Lazarus really needed sleep, but figured he couldn't risk more than 3-4 hours for it.

Verum’s fucked if he can’t get mobile in that time, otherwise he’s staying here whether I like it or not.

Camillia pulled out the map that had been sitting in her coat pocket this entire time. Examining it again, she said "I guess I'll talk to him about this. And while I'm there, I'll see about getting us that loot from last night. Maybe I can get some more information out of him too."

Camillia took a picture of the map using the pict-recorder, making sure that all the markings were clear. She then turned to the rest of the group and asked "Is anyone planning on going to check out the spaceport?"

Hawkwings wrote:Camillia pulled out the map that had been sitting in her coat pocket this entire time. Examining it again, she said "I guess I'll talk to him about this. And while I'm there, I'll see about getting us that loot from last night. Maybe I can get some more information out of him too."

Camillia took a picture of the map using the pict-recorder, making sure that all the markings were clear. She then turned to the rest of the group and asked "Is anyone planning on going to check out the spaceport?"

"I wouldn't plan on asking Grim about loot right now. He just lost a man, not to mention his ear. We'd be lucky to get away from this place without him deciding to slit our throats while we sleep. As for the starport I said we should probably check it out, so I'll go with that team. It would placate Grim and we could find out for ourselves just what is going on over there, but after we here from the boss or fail to make contact with him. And that ain't happening until Varnius ges some sleep, which I could use some of myself."
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Havelock nodded as the group fired suggestions back and forth, considering things and trying to figure out where he could best serve the Imperium. Priests could be found almost anywhere so he didn't worry about standing out, at least not in that way. However if this smuggling business went south it would reflect poorly on the Ecclisiarchy.

"I'll go back with the team to report. Perhaps if we find our path blocked by bureaucracy a bit of religious fervor could help us bully by."

"Offer Grim a bigger share, or agree with his first offer if you talk to him about the things. Definately offer the man the first choice of what we brought back. We need to make sure he feels like he's getting compensated, although a few low grade guns won't go far in that department." He loooked around the group. "I think you can all agree that doing anything to put ourselves in a position where we might be worth more killing his enemies and bringing him weapons is more conductive than killing his men and witholding his share."

"We need to appear useful," said Varnius, "and formidable. So far we've bled to his profit. We haven't given him good reasons not to continue to use us as cannon fodder. Now I'm going to catch a little more sleep." He bedded down. "Try not to get anyone else killed in my absence."

I just wish our fucking bosses would give me a real mission instead of this bullshit. Then we wouldn't have problems trying to figure if and how we should appease some gang lord bastard who might have been an enforcer once.

"I better bed down before I fall down. I suppose we head out in a few hours. I'm pretty sure no one trusts Grim enough not to post a watch."

Lazarus then found a somewhat even section of floor and slowly went to sleep, his mind having a hard time slowing down.

Quintos had been very quiet, stewing in his own second judgements, but he finally piped up, "Unless you need another guard on the mission to contact Greis, I would like to assist in the inspection of the spaceport."

Gelt muttered a bit to himself, but nothing intelligable to the others. Then he turned to Varnius and said just loud enough to be auidible, "Well, we'll certainly look formidable if we come out of this next set up smelling sweet as a noble's backside." A thin smile flickered across his face, as he fell in with the others, and walked back with them to the hovel where they were sleeping, and found a place sitting against the wall. Within a few minutes, he was snorring gently, but his eyes were still half-open, and he seemed somewhat attentive to his surroundings.

As the group began to disperse, Camillia excused herself and walked back towards Grim's office, where presumably Grim was cleaning up. Camillia really could not recall how the fight had started, only that Verum had suddenly drawn his sword and charged at the gang leader. She figured that her spotty recollections were probably the result of disinterest in the conversation. She would have to pay better attention in the future, if only to avoid another similar incident.

As she approached the office, she saw that the body of the gunner they had killed was being moved away. Approaching carefully, Camillia knocked on the side of the open door, trying to avoid eye contact with any of the gangers.

Grim was in the process of re-organizing his desk, putting back all the things that had fallen off of it during the fight. As Camillia knocked, he looked up along with a few other gangers. "So, come to tell me what your lot's decided to do, or was there something else you wanted?"

Camillia entered, feeling very conscious of the damage she had helped do here. The fresh blood spatters and bullet holes fit with the local decor, but held much greater significance, especially concerning the acolytes' short-term survival.

As Camillia passed the headless body of the gunner, she said uneasily, "I believe our preacher would be willing to perform last rites for him, if you are so inclined."

Then getting down to business, she said "The group is still discussing, but in the meantime, we found something you should see."

Camillia pulled out the scrap of leather with writing on it that Varnius had found. "We found it off a dead ganger. Think maybe it's directions to someplace important."

"It'd do well to see him get proper rites, but I'm not sure how my men'd react to one of the lot that shot him up givin' him up to the Emperor. Tell him to do it loud enough for the Emperor, but quieter than can be heard."

"Now then, let's see what you've got here," Grim looked over what could only generously be called a map and let loose a deep sigh. "Right, that's a mess. It looks like some sort of directions, but it's leading down deep into the underhive, unless I'm reading it wrong. Nasty things down that way. I'll ask some of my men that have been down that way before, see if they've got any better ideas. Mind if I hang on to this?"

Camillia agreed with Grim's assessment of the probable ganger response. She said "I'll be sure to inform him of the special instructions."

Regarding the map, Camillia responded "Of course you can hold onto it, it's just that we'd like a copy of it back when you're done with it. Preferably translated into something readable, but I understand that may be difficult."

Grim nodded. "Right, I'll do what I can. If I can't get it figured out by tonight, come and see me, we'll discuss what needs to be done next."

Taking Grim's cue, Camillia excused herself from the office and went looking for Preacher Havelock.

Havelock was with the others, watching over their resting comrades. Upon seeing Camillia return, he nodded to her.

The rest of the group rested peacefully enough. Aside from some of the gangers giving the acolytes some dirty looks, nothing untoward interrupted the sleep of the exhausted team that had spent the better part of the night in the underhive.

Varnius got up, somewhat recovered from his ordeal in the tunnels. "Well, if Camilla would be good enough to return the map to me or provide me with one of the copies, I and whoever wishes to accompany me will be off."