Days and weeks have passed since the information on the Emperor’s Bounty was bought by Sarvus Trask. Nathon's research into the vessel, has shown that she is (was?) a Lathe-class, Light Cruiser. She would make a rich prize indeed, if she were to be salvaged.

Nathan's extortions, and supplications to the Administratum have taken all of this time, and the Writ of Claim pertaining to this discovery, has at last been recieved.

You now officially have permission to reach, and rescue the ship, and strip her down of anything of value, only one stipulation applies. Sarvus Trask must be the first man to set foot on the vessel.

Now you travel the Warp to your destination, a sector of space some 300,000km in diameter, the Battleground was the scene of some forgotten epic battle, and sits just outside the normal trade routes that criss cross through the Maw, itself a passageway linking the Calixis Sector, and the Koronus Expanse.

The trip is tipified by your ship, the Sovereign Venture having to drop out of the Warp, as it is buffetted by warp tides, it's geller field (the intense energey field that protects the ship from harm in the Warp) being strained to it's maximum. It is obvious that this trip will be a dangerous one, even for an experienced Captin.

Trask speaks into his micro bead. "Bridge, what's our status? How far are we from our destination?"

Trask adjusts his sword as he looks at his reflection on the ship's viewport. He then turns around too look at his closest confidants.

"Nathan, Dominic, Lorayne and Brother Malakai, whatever happens we shall be first to set foot on that ship. Now make your preparations."

Can we have some information on the capabilities of the ship we're using? Does it have weapons? Tractor beams? Teleportation chambers? Assault pods? Fighter ships? Sensor arrays?

For Nathon

For Dominic

"I cannot speak for Nathan as to what we are going to be able to salvage from the Bounty, but I can say for sure we are going to need some repairs after this trip is through. This is one of the worst warp trips I have seen."

Dominik will turn around from one of the control panels near the forward view port, sporting something resembling a grin. He's obviously enjoying the bumpy ride, and despite the grim words, his voice is more excited than fearful.

"I just hope we get paid well."

For Sarvus

"Dominic, do not worry about the money. There shall be plenty. But you are right though. We must not risk any further damage to our ship lest we increase our cost and decrease our profit margin."

Trask speaks into his micro bead. "Bridge, what's our status? How far are we from our destination?"

Trask adjusts his sword as he looks at his reflection on the ship's viewport. He then turns around too look at his closest confidants.

"Nathan, Dominic, Lorayne and Brother Malakai, whatever happens we shall be first to set foot on that ship. Now make your preparations."

Can we have some information on the capabilities of the ship we're using? Does it have weapons? Tractor beams? Teleportation chambers? Assault pods? Fighter ships? Sensor arrays?

For Nathon** spoiler omitted **

You are effectivly on a city ship, owned by the House of Trask. There are probaly in excess of 100,000 people on board, with the same number of various servitors, but of these, only a handful are fighting men. (i.e. you can expect *some* backup to be available, but not much) The ship has a short range craft, called a gun-cutter, that is used for planetry landings, and short range missions too. The ship has an assortment of weapons, and tractor beams, but we can cover that sort of stuff as and when you need.

For the moment, get to know each other, and wait.

"Bridge, report any sensor contact of any kind to me immediately."

"And prep a gun cutter."

Trask pulls out a decanter of fine amasec, "Anyone in need of some refreshments?"

Dominik stands and stretches, rolling his massive shoulders.

"If it sits okay with you, Sarvus, I will go see to the cutter myself. I hate piloting anything I did not check over personally, if you understand my meaning."

Trask nods his assent as he downs some amasec, the clear amber liquid burning away all distraction from his mind.

Just one glass. No more.

Sarvus' microbead switches channel to a stream from a Servitor, reporting an alomost constant account of micro-meteors and other debris. As they group stands in front of the viewing window of the main bridge, the ship translates to real space for the last time, and the view port slowly opens.

Off to the right, a class G sun illuminates the Battlefield from a distance of maybe 2AU, giving everything you can see a dull red glow.

The scene is one of complete distruction, old ships and armaments, worn and scratched from micro-metiors and the corroding effect of the void of space drift aimlessly as far as you can see, occasionally crashing together in a storm of small parts.

As you watch, one of your ships heavy bolt cannons fires off to the left, silently destroying an incomming heavy mine.

The stream in Savrus' ear increases in volume, pitch and rate, indicating the huge amount of sensor information, and it's high sensor priorety. Another anonymous voice cuts in, "Captain, as you can see the debris field is extensive, this is as close as we can safely get. I would rather we were a few clicks further back. Our gravity well is already attacting debris.

"Sensors a picking up a single faint signal, around 60,000 clicks into the field, that is our best guess for the target."

"Pull back the ship before we collide with something significant. And direct the servitor to stop these updates." Trask shakes his head in disgust and annoyance.

"Bridge, can we navigate through this field without endangering the ship?"

Roll for Pilot Space Craft 1d100=8

"I think I should go prep the cutter, then. Seems like we had best keep the Venture as far from the debris field as possible. You can call me on the micro-bead if anything pressing comes up, but prepping the cutter should go quick."

Dominik gives a quick nod to everyone present, then turns and ducks out the door. The faint sound of humming catches your ear just before the door slides shut, cutting it off abruptly.

"I agree."

"Bridge, transmit all available sensory data to the gun cutter."

Trask looks at his unfinished glass of amasec, "I guess I'll finish that once we get back."

"Everyone suit up and let's go to the hangar."

Malakai steps into the room

"Emperor's Blessing upon you Captain"

"It is good we have finally received this task, may we all prosper from this excursion."

there, that's a better avatar. I was in a hurry yesterday..also changed the avatar name to Brother Malakai instead, it sounded much better when Captain Trask said it

"I'm just in time for refreshments I see."

"Pull back the ship before we collide with something significant. And direct the servitor to stop these updates." Trask shakes his head in disgust and annoyance.

"Bridge, can we navigate through this field without endangering the ship?"

Roll for Pilot Space Craft 1d100=8

Sarvus:

Nathan takes a quick drink of amasec and looks out into the void. "Yes, lets go find out what's out there."

Once, we are at the hangar, Trask requests Brother Malakai to lead the group in prayer.

"Brother Malakai, the Emperor watches over us in whatever we do. But it is best that we invite His favorable disposition towards our endeavor, don't you agree?"

"Of course Captain, I would be honored to lead us in the Rites of Good Fortune, of course our tech-priest has already completed the Rites of Departure, thus I need not perform that Rite."

"Oh Shining God-Emperor, as Captain Trask leads us into the breech,
may you guide our weapons and shield our bodies, as we wade into the unknown in your name...Amenus"

"Amen."

"Amen." Dominik stands up from the kneeling position he took during the prayer and makes the sign of the Aquila, giving Brother Malakai a respectful nod.

"Amen."

I come walking out of my sleeping chamber, bolter in hand, casually checking the chamber, ensuring that my weapon doesnt have a bolt in the chamber (it doesnt) and in a respectful but sarcastic tone ask the most dreadful phrase that has passed through the eons...

HEY! SARVUS!! ARE WE THERE YET???

seeing the rites in mid swing, i blush a pretty red shade, flash the aquila sign over my breast, and sigh loudly as i walk into an open spot on the left.

After making the sign of the aquila, Trask hails Lorayne, "Good you are here."

"Dominik, are we ready to depart?"

"Now that everyone is here I believe so. Everyone should buckle up once we are on board. I may need to clear us a path through the debris with some of the weapons on the cutter, so this could be a rough ride."

Roll for Pilot Space Craft to get the cutter through the debris field 1d100=33

The guncutter sits on the launch deck, her engines already glowing, and as the Tech-priests perform their rites, runes begin to glow fiercly around the cockpit, and doors, indicating the craft's readyness.

The guncutter is a relativly small craft, with space for two piolets, two gunners, one on either side, and a carrying capacity split into two spaces, a cargo hold, and a passenger compartment, designed to hold six men.

As Dominik will be up front, flying the craft, this leaves space for two combat trained grunts to come along, which I am assuming they will.

The craft is obviously an ex-Catachan "gunship" and is marked with scars accross it's green painted, plascrete frame.

As Brother Malaki finishes his rite, the engines give a roar, and the main entry door begins to open. The tech-priests have completed their prep, and you are ready to leave.

i find a seat, strap myself in, ensure that my equipment is also on my person, and promptly fall asleep...

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Thanks mostly to Dominik's pioletting skills, and somewhat to the gunners for their constantstream of fire, taking out any of the junk that comes too close, the ship makes a relativly smooth journey to the co-ordinates transmitted to them from the Sovereign Venture.

Up close, the Emperor's Bounty looks distinctly worse for ware. There are large rents in the hull where debris has collided with the ship, and the solar radiation, and the void itself have taken their toll too.

Fortunately, there is still a glow from the engines, and a brighter on from the bridge. The Plasma reactors cannot have entirely died.

The micro-bead clicks in your ears as Dominik comes on over the close range transmitter.

"The power is still on, which bodes well for our chances that life support is still working. I will find us a place to dock. Should not take long. How do you want to do this, Sarvus?"

Is there a way to scan the ship to see if there are any life signs or if the air is breathable?

Nathan looks out the viewport at the ship. "That's odd. That ship's been drifting for Emperor knows how long, but the engines are still running. I have to find out why that is.", he says as he writes on his data-slate.

Nathan looks out the viewport at the ship. "That's odd. That ship's been drifting for Emperor knows how long, but the engines are still running. I have to find out why that is.", he says as he writes on his data-slate.

quietly "Emperor, bless those fallen on that ship, may they rest in peace."

He then begins checking his weaponry, and performs the appropriate rites.

Sorry, I was going to ask if I could use Tech-Use to know how it's still running, but I forgot. Tech-Use: 1d100=20

Sorry, I was going to ask if I could use Tech-Use to know how it's still running, but I forgot. Tech-Use: 1d100=20

Dominik circles the ship once, seeing a few places where the innards are exposed to open space, and eventually finds an air lock. As the ship attaches there is a hiss of air, and runes around the inner door turn from a vivid red, to the amber that indicates not only a good seal, but a breathable atmosphere on the other side of the still locked door.

Brother Malakai performs the Rites of Docking

"After you Captain!"

Malakai states as he draws and primes his chainsword.

"That's very gracious of you. May the God-Emperor stand between us and harm in all empty places we must walk."

"Everyone has void breather."

Trask draws his pistol and his power sword and enters into the ship once docking rites are complete.

i as soon as the docking door is opened, i snap awake, bolter in hand, coolness emmenating from my body.
gentlemen, before we embark onto this ship, we should take a moment and set in a line formation, someone with a powerful weapon the second person on point, the navigator on point, savrus should be in the middle to direct us, and brother malaki, i recommend you watch our 6. we must ensure that our comm lines remain open to the ship at all times in case we need emergency evac. i cannot stress enough how this ship has been in the warp for who knows how long, let alone in deep space. we could face mutants, psykers, xenos, and there could be the potential of people in need of rescue. so remember trigger discipline, muzzle awareness, and weapon safety. lets do this right and everything will go smooth.
with the last word i rack back and release the bolt of my gun, slamming a round into the chamber.
give the word savrus

Alright who has the highest Awareness rating? He or she takes point.

skilled awareness

It looks like we all have about the same level of Awareness, so I'd suggest someone with a good ranged weapon and some skill at being stealthy.

i vote dominik up to the front. his weapon has the potential of keeping whatever we come up against pinned down until we come up on line to support him

Seems fine by me. The shotgun Dominik has is really only good up close and personal, so in the front is probably the best place for him.

"Ah, thank you Dominik for volunteering to go in first." Trask follows after Dominik.

For DominiK

"Captain, may I speak with you for a second?" Nathan glances at the others then begins. "Those plasma engines may never be turned off, but that doesn't mean they will run indefinitly without the proper rites. Whatever's in there, it won't be the usual mutant scum."

"So we face someone or something with brains and/or skill enough to keep the engines going. You suspect survivors?"

"In any event, ready your weapons."

"So we face someone or something with brains and/or skill enough to keep the engines going. You suspect survivors?"

"In any event, ready your weapons."

Nathan tucks his data-slate under one arm while keeping his other hand on his hellpistol.

"We should be so lucky to find the best case."

"Onwards then. Exercise extreme caution and stay within microbead range."

"Nathan, any other info about this ship or its ship class you would like to share with us?"

"Lets see, Lathe-class cruisers are usually..."

Common Lore(Imperium), Common Lore(War), and Tech-Use, do I know any more about the ship? 1d100=20, 1d100=17, 1d100=48

Can I use my special ability to improve Nathan's chances of recalling the correct info?

Nevyn, also a point of clarification - we already entered the ship with Trask the first one when we decided to form our marching with Dominik taking point, yes?

"Lets see, Lathe-class cruisers are usually..."

Common Lore(Imperium), Common Lore(War), and Tech-Use, do I know any more about the ship? 1d100=20, 1d100=17, 1d100=48

Tech-Use: 1d100=74 Uh, can Trask use his Commanding Presence ability on this test even though I already rolled? It's just so close...