Artorius cuts a dashing figure as he stands on the command deck of the bridge. He is slightly above average height, has dark well maintained hair that is normally hidden beneath a large wide brimmed hat his clothes probably cost more than most crew are paid in a year, a gold watch sits in a pocket of his dark blue vest. A white silk shirt and black pants complete his current garb. He has a plasma pistol holstered on his right side and a sheathed power sword on his left. He is holding a wooden walking cane that has a silver eagle handle.
"Master Astropath did any images come with this text?" he turns slightly "Vox master, hail the indomitable will , ensure my uncle and his ship survived the passage intact."
He turns again "Helm, where exactly have we exited warp. Anything immediately concerning I should be aware of?"
The warp dances around me, caressing my flesh. Twisted things dance around me and press against the thin field that clothes me in the realms of chaos. They are old companions and friends, though I know they would twist me and kill the crew that scurries through me given the slightest chance; somehow, I think that they already have. The mutants who guide me in this realm prod me and the passage to the realm in which I was born opens before me. As we flash into the space of laws the old skin is shed and a new skin emerges, where one protects me from the claws of my old friends and the other from the lancing hate of new enemies. My hands, my claws, are filled with power and my eyes open and cast out. The voice of another touches my ears and I let my crew know their attention is desired. My master awakens and moves to the bridge, purpose in his step. I want to speed him along, carry out his desires, fulfill his dreams. For, I am his WILL.
Gaius stirs in his bed, stretching the rigors of the night away. He sits up and looks at his companion of the previous night, a slight smile creasing his too young, rejuvenat touched face. She yet sleeps and it would be such an unkindness to wake her. Edging from the bed he lets the young woman rest and draws a warm bath infused with perfumed oils for himself. His body is fit and tall, but quite lean, the body of a scholar who keeps fit rather than any true warrior or athlete. When he is done bathing, he stands at a millennia old mirror. Gaius is greeted by his own sparkling blue eyes and golden hair, a strong jaw and high, prominent cheek bones make his smile stand out.
Entering his wardrobe, Gaius selects two rings for each hand, simple in design but with exquisite craftsmanship. A white silk shirt goes under his black bodyglove, which itself is concealed beneath finely worked carapace armor. A hand-tooled grox leather holster is attached at his right thigh and the plasma pistol within hums to life as he thumbs the safety. His left hip hangs more heavily, a thin-bladed rapier with the telltale wiring of a power field generator running along its length rests there. Last, he affixes his cloak with a small golden pin, the cloak itself made of the hides of myriad xenos.
Leaving his apartments, the rogue trader is immediately flanked by a pair of his armsmen bearing shotguns. The walk to the bridge is short, only the navigator's quarters are closer. A few menials greet him as he ascends the throne and receives the morning's reports.
"Hmm, seems that my nephew reached the system first." Gaius speaks more to himself than the vox officer at his side, "Augers, check and see who else is in system. Vox, hail Victus Rex and send Artorius my regards. Weapons officer, maintain power until Active Augury is done. And would someone please get the master of the tech priests, my bodyguards, and my chief advisers to the bridge? I should not be the only one up here."
Through the elevator shaft - no cabin in sight, so he must have been climbing the emergency latter - emerges a big, green ape-light creature with long arms the size of a battletank's main barrel, glowing-red eyes and a heavy chin. All of the body is covered in scars and in various degrees of healing - mostly from burns. He wears black leather jacket and matching trousers and boots. But nether the scars nor the clothes is the main focus of the somewhat shocked bridge crew who stars at the Xeno in their midst. One half of the crew stars at the ridiculously large axe strapped to his left side which seems to be extensively modifies with cables and metallic straps running along the blade and shaft in a crazy zig-Zack. The other half stares shocked at the clearly xeno, clearly non-Ork part that is obviously bolted to the right side of his head - and the sparks emitting cables connecting the device and the back of his head. With some fantasy the device could once have been the helmet of a tau battle suit.
After that the crew quickly returns to their work at hand and the bully turns to the captain sitting in the mid of the bridge.
The bridge door of the Victus Rex slides open. A bent in half figure, dressed in a wide black robe stands there, leaning heavily on a staff of ancient, warped wood. The figure makes its way towards the captain's chair, raising its head half-way to nod at a console operator. A face resembling a raisin appears from under the keffiyeh, with a small flicker of metal on the right side, and a toothless smile greets the Rogue Trader as Khalid pulls an unassuming and horrendously plain wooden seat from behind the captain's throne and sits on it, pulling out a small thermos and two cups.
"Oh-ho-ho.", he says, grinning toothlessly once again at Artorius. "I haven't been to Footfall since before your uncle was born!", he giggles. "Tea, waladi"?, he asks, offering a small clay cup to Artorius, ancient writing barely visible from the obvious wear and tear. "How is young master Gaius these days? Kept telling his parents, he's full of hidden strengths, that one." He sips from the cup with the sound of an old vacuum pump, putting the thermos back in the inscrutable contents of his worn black robe. As he does so, a pistol is seen for a brief moment, the barrel warped from the intense heat of melta fuel.
It always seemed pointless to remain at the helm while the Victus Rex was traveling through the Warp. At that time, the fate of their thousand souls were in the hands of the Navigators, those touched with the ability to direct a vessel through the Infinite Beyond. And by the Emperor's Blessing we've made it through again... As the ship slips out of warp and returns to reality, Wraxus looks across the myriad of controls, scanners, and reports echoing out before him. "Captain Artorius, it would appear both the Victus Rex and the Indomitable Will have reached the Koronus Expanse successfully. At the moment we are just outside orbit of Lucin's Breath's third moon. If we are to divert to Footfall as our agents have signaled, it would be but a brief journey."
Before even hearing Artorius' reply, he orders the junior helmsmen to make course for Footfall, taking care to send the approach vectors across to the Indomitable Will. "Always best to coordinate our movements, we do not know what lies ahead..."
"Now, I am going to go check to ensure none of our smaller craft were damaged in transit."
Rising from his seat, Wraxus adjusts his double breasted, knee length uniform coat. Though similar to an Imperial Navy uniform, it has several distinct differences. First, it is dark grey, akin to the barrel of an ancient autogun, with black detailing. It also lacks the overly high collar of the Imperial uniform, as well as the tasseled shoulderpads. In short, it is clearly utilitarian, and given the interwoven mesh armour and interior holsters, is equally functional.
While shipboard, from his hip hangs a short, heavy bladed power sword, a classic bolt pistol, and his signature aviator's helm. On Kurdran III, pilots are viewed among the highest of the warrior castes and the helmets they wear echo back to ancient warrior cults of the system. They fully cover the face, and are more akin to something a cyber-gladiator might wear than any imperial helmet.
Wraxus is rather small for the vat-born of Kurdran III. Most are nearly 2 meters tall and rather bulky, yet Wraxus was an anomaly, barely surpassing 1.5 meters and being comparatively thin, though still densely muscled. He sports a spidered scar on the right side of his face, a not-so-subtle reminder of a mistake made by another aviator cadet early in his career. He wears his medium length gray hair slicked back, though whether it is actually through his effort or the frequent use of his helm remains to be determined.
Tyboris squeezes through the entrance to the command bridge followed by a servo skull, but it's barely visible behind the hulking frame of the Explorator. Robed in crimson, he towers over the crew and stands tall next to the Ork. His face covered mostly, he speaks loudly, his voice carrying throughout the bridge.
Forgive my delay Lord Captain, the machine spirits were upset once again by our Ork companions soothing touch the intended sarcasm lost in his monotone voice. A large tool belt wraps around his waste, full of tools he often finds necessary to repair and secure the ship's systems. On his back a boltgun is slung around over his chest, but it too is only visible from behind, his frame eclipsing even his potentia coil from the front. Not one for sitting, he merely stands in silence and begins to commune with the machine spirits of the ship, monitoring all vital systems with his MIU, overseeing subsystems and the slow approach to the core, ready to report anything of significance before anyone stationed could speak. The crew knew better than to pay him much unnecessary attention or to question Tyboris, he had little patience for ignorance and idleness. Even conversing in Gothic seemed to test his patience, much preferring the logic and preciseness of binary.
The bridge and this ship were one of the few places in the universe where he could let his guard down slightly, his paranoia often at the forefront of his thoughts, even now his mind raced in potential dangers that lay in this system. Having some Orks and questionable technology on board did little to alleviate his fears, but he trusted in the Lord Captain implicitly, and would tear down any man or machine on order. He often did not carry his axe, though he had been known to use it. He usually defaulted to dealing with insubordination bare handed. Underneath his skin and robes lay more than any one being could understand, including himself. So much unknown and yet to be discovered.
What do the active augers show? I want auger reports from the Victus Rex as well never truly trusting a single glance, always searching for some invisible threat he was convinced would befall them.
"Ahh Boss, see its da own fault of da spirit! If it just 'ad don its fing properly- me would not had ta hit it to made it work 'gain. Simpl as 'at. Same as wif da gretchin: 'ey will work properly if 'ey 'now tad 'eir boss will 'it 'em 'ard if they dont."
A pict screen on the bridge of the Victus Rex springs to life, showing a person in the rust red robes of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
At 1.9m tall Iota stands like the eye of the storm in the center of bustling tech-acolytes, a full head taller than most of them.
Not much can be discerned about him through the thick robes. A youthful face framed with short white hair gazes from underneath the cowl, one eye a light green, the other a bright red lense of an augmetic.
"My lord captain the rituals for optimization of the energy distribution for in-system flight have commenced. Ship operations shall be at 103.69 percent of nominal capabilities within 10 minutes if the Omnissiah wills it"
Nimina stands a pace behind Lord von Castmirre, trying to maintain an air of decorum, though she is clearly not comfortable on the bridge, her countenance having an equal mix of nervousness and boredom.
"Of course Khalid," Artorius says as he accepts the tea. "Why do you still refer to my uncle as young, he hasn't been a child for years."
"Helm, take us to Footfall, direct course, match speed with the Indomitable Will "
"Vox master inform my Uncle of our plan."
"Auspex master, I want to know of any concerns well before we reach them. I didn't spend a fortune on the best auspex money can buy for nothing."
"Magos I trust everything is working within optimal parameters? Make all adjustments you deem necessary for optimization."
"Ah, Nimina, I trust we didn't keep you too busy with exciting visitors during this voyage. I don't anticipate any need for your skills in the near future, but any earthbound mission can get interesting in moments. Ensure we have adequate security in place for a journey to the surface of Footfall. "
"As stated please note that we are currently operating at 3.69% above nominal optimum for tactical purposes. May the guidance of the Omnissiah provide more insight for further improvements."
With that the Pictscreen flickers and shuts down.
Greyish green skin. His body also covered in scars. But unlike Driva these were due to natural vegitation and the odd knife or bullet. Zoggit. Zoggit Hedchoppa. Slugga on one side, his very well made, well, according to Ork standards, choppa on the other. Hehas some form of cloth, you hope, aroundhis head. Looks like a bandana. And topped off by what looks like a helmet. Of what one cannot be sure. Cause its dented and banged from all sides to make it fit ontop of his head. Leathers. Once again. You hope its animal leathers, that cover most of his body. Patchwork. Probably putit together himself. He arrives. Rather quiet. Which is what bothers most people. A quiet Ork
"Zoggit reportin for da duty fing bozz man! Why I up here anyways?" he scratches his head. Then he sees ScruDriva
"Oi! You up here toos! Bozz must be angry... or he be needin fightin! Ya! Fightin! Or da eksplosifs. You make em! Zoggit plantz em! De we hear da big booms! Hahahaaaa!"
Khalid shows his toothless grin once more. "Oh, everyone in your family is young to me, Master Artorius!" He takes another long sip of the tea, then stands up slowly, but surely. He pretends to just have seen Numina. "Hello, dear. Looking well today.", he mentions to the young lady, then slowly thuds with his staff towards the vox-console. He reaches behind his ear, protracting a cable and plugging it into the console.
"This is the Victus Rex. Congratulations on the safe journey, young Master Gaius. The Emperor Protects.", a familiar voice sounds on the Indomitable Will "We're matching your speed and heading towards Footfall. Victus Rex out."
He steps away from the console, slowly making his way towards his small chair. "So, karim, do you have any suspicious as to why we're asked to go there?" He takes another sip from his tea. "That reminds me... The second time I was there, with your great-great-great-grandfather... I don't think you remember him, with a hold full of alien beasts.", he shares with a smile, before stopping himself. "I've told you this one already, haven't I..."
Nimina flashes Khalid a smile, before turning back to to Artorius, Of course my lord."
She backs away and gives Artorius some space. She preferred to be on the bridge when exiting the warp, in case they dropped into an ambush, but her men were already hand-picked and ready, the gear was checked, she simply awaited the show to start.
Emilio wakes up in his cabin. As he stretches, he hears the faint voice of people and xenos talking and walking. Throne, late again.
He slings his long-las on his back and puts his grox-whip on his hip, taking care not to damage himself. Emilio then walks to the bridge, squeezing through the forms of the others. Forgive me, Lord Captain, I am late. He bows deeply and rises. As he does, he glances at the orks.
"Emlo! Layt! Hah! Zoggit hapi tu help you get outta bed! Carry you if must!" he gives the latecomer an ork smile
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"Full spectrum Auspex scan, what system are we in? Are there any settlements on those moons?"
Tyboris informs the captain of the scans results: Augers from both ships confirm no habitable planets in the system. This system is not on our imperial charts. The Victus Rex has matched our speed and follows in optimal condition.
Artorius walks over to the vox, "Gaius recommend a course to investigate each planet. If even one contains rare or valuable resources we can pay for a new ship with that knowledge."
"Helm master belay my last order, give me optimal course for deep auspex scan of every planet and moon in this system. Remember an uncharted system that is worth colonizing will make all our fortunes."
"master Navigator, I need an exact stellar location of this system before we depart. Make sure you know how to get us back here."
Gaius eyes Hexa as he enters the bridge, bemusement in his eyes, "Combat, trading, bit of both, can never be sure out here. The message we received was quite cryptic. I'm kinda of hoping we get some dust up going, the Will is finally fully repaired and stocked since that warp storm and he needs to stretch his legs."
Gaius snapped his fingers and a menial brought over a glass of amasec as Tyboris entered the bridge. "No forgiveness required, Number One. The Will's got more xenos tech than most ships and I suspect it takes more than the average tender ministrations to coax him along."
Zoggit and Emilio enter shortly after Gaius lights a lho stick to accompany his amasec, "Not angry Zoggit, restless and wary. I'm half expecting an ambush. On that not, Emilio if you would be so kind as to relieve the weapons officer, he's been at his station for well over eight hours and needs to go get some recreation and sleep."
As Tyboris reports the auger readings Gaius has reached peak comfort with amasec and lho, "Hmm, looks like we're a little off course... No matter, just means money to be made. Looks like my nephew is moving to investigate these gas giants and intends to match speed with the Will, OK, we'll oblige him. Helm, keep the drives on a leash and set a speed that the Victus Rex can keep up with. We'll let him take the lead and if some nastiness arrives we'll jump out to deal with the problem. Tyboris, take the augers and give us a scan of the planets, keep an eye on our tail as well, no sense in being incautious." Gaius touched a stud on his command throne and opened a channel to the navigator's cocoon, [b]"Master navigator, I want a course for Footfall worked out before we're done checking the first world and I want it confirmed by the second. Thank you."[b]
"Off-Curse, eh? Did creepy-eye it again? Harharhar. We could catch some weirdboy an let hem plot our curses instead. Would at least be fasta! "
After the loud laughter ebbed down again, the green Xeno walks to one of the auspex Crew compartments and starts to flip seemingly at random at the controls and switches of the machine. - while talking to the crew who seems very uneasy at his presence.
"'ere an then set tha hortilort chain Ta da biggest an da zetrulitus circuit lowa - makes da looking-thing betta! Shuld relly 'now dat, boys. An somone shuld 'ave painded Ta thing red alredy tat it works fasta!"
"Ahh, betta. See it? Mek sure to remind 'at. Cant be 'ere all the time. Now lets look closy at da screens, da boss wanna 'now 'ere we are an wats down ere on dees ball of dirt."
And with that he occupies the most comfortable seat near the auspex screens and stares at it like he was at a staring contest, while his hands are fiddling with some scrap metal and wires no one has seen him carrying before.
Wraxus calmly maneuvers the ancient vessel through the ether of deep space, a slight twist of the wrist, a recalibration to account for seemingly minute variances in the ship's structural integrity. Plotting a course that will allow the scanning of several planets in one clean pass, Wraxus sits back satisfied. "Lord Captain, the Rex has been plotted for a route that will allow us to scan the nearest four planets, along with their moons and any tertiary satellites, at minimal cost in time."
Emilio watches, always alert for danger. Occasionally tapping a button or two. He keeps a close eye on the orks, nothing he notices is suitable to him yet.
After a complete day of motionless watching the augur screens, SkruwDriva finally rises again as most of the scans of the system are finally performed. The enormous muscles of the Ork emitting sounds like a highly stressed rope shortly before the breakpoint as he rises from the chair. He turns to leave but then looks down at something down at his hands - seemingly surprised. Then he turns around again and walks back to the captains chair. He sets down a crude model of the complete system - ioncluding the sun, its planets and all their moons - made from scrap metal stripes, shrapnels, dysfunctional connectors and wires, dismantled armor plates and a big red button as the sun at the center of the model - symbolizing the sun.
"'ere Boss. Take ownaship of yar system already, will ya? Im down at da gym fer throwin some punshes at somefin. Me muscels an blood 's scremin fer da smashin, ya 'now? Call me if we get ta da next 'Footfall', eh? "
The loud laughter seems to remain ringing through the bridge for some time, even as already has left.
"Im comin wif. Standin about is borin. An I tink me needs to fro sum punshus too wif you. Mayby punch you! Hah!" as Zoggit follows his green skin bruddah
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The doors to the bridge of the Victus Rex open once more exactly 30 minutes after entering the system, revealing Iota accompanied by an acolyte in rust red waving a censer. He strides directly towards the system control console only pausing to nod a greeting to the lord captain.
A short flash can be seen from his Hands before he places them on the console.
And gets thrown back a step with a burst of frustrated binary, sparks arcing between the console and his hands.
It takes a moment for him to recompose himself, then he motions the acolyte forward to douse the console in the holy smoke. A chatter of binary(prayer to the Omnissiah) can be heard as he applies sacred oils.
Making more sparks fly and the console itself starts to smoke.
Sigh, this is going to take a while to fix. while bringing up a Communication channel to the enginarium, another red robed acolyte answering him.
The Omnissiah decreed that the maintenance rituals for the system control console have been insufficent. Bring up the spare parts and send E498 through E503 equiped for replacement rituals.
After a few minutes more tech acolytes show up with servitors in tow carrying machine parts. They get to work on the console immediately, directed by Iota.
Assuring herself that nothing is going to happen while the ship is scanning planets Nimina retreats fully from the bridge and leave the ship-folk to it.
She heads to the find some food and perhaps see if anyone feels up to a little sparring.
Khalid returns from his usual trip up the Navigator's quarters and down memory lane to see the Tech-priest carrying out replacements on the console. "Oh. That's unfortunate... Magos, might I offer my services in the matter, whenever you need help with something you don't have the time to deal with? I'm not a member of the Cult, of course, but I nevertheless know the Rites better than most." tech-priests on this ship., he adds to himself.
Leaving the work to the acolytes for a moment Iota turns towards Khalid. Staring at him for a moment before his unaugmented eye betrays his displeasure.
Your offer is archived for when no ordained member of the cult is available, Seneschal. Also I shall ensure your complaint concerning the quality of the rituals are met with improvements, however I do hope that I shall not bear witness to your knowledge of rituals overstepping the bounds of the uninitiated.
Emilio gets up, and stretches. Joints crack, and he grimaces.
Throne. This hurts.
Tyboris and Hexa both watch intently as the auger reports stream in. Tyboris carefully archives and records anything necessary for their current mission, as well as anything that could be useful or demand further investigating. The trip to the core of the system to scan the major bodies is slow, but Tyboris doesn't leave the bridge, his body sustaining him beyond normal human limitations.
Just in case: Per 35, MIU＋10,
straight success
"You have the privilege of addressing Rogue Trader Artorius Von Castmirre, currently aboard the Victus Rex , I am accompanied by Rogue Trader Gaius Valerius metallus, who is aboard his vessel the Indomitable Will . May the Emperor's light shine on you this day and forevermore."
Gaius is in and out of the bridge during the exploration of the system, returning to his apartments at regular intervals. On each return he ensures that the bridge crew have had opportunity to eat and refresh themselves or have rotated out for their shifts rather than overworking themselves, even bringing Tyboris a cup of kaf himself. Gaius ensures that he is on the bridge when the Will emerges from the warp in Footfall space. Upon being hailed he smiles while lighting a quality lho stick, As Lord Artorius said, this is Rogue Trader Gaius Valerius Metallus Tenebrae of the Indomitable Will, under warrant of trade in the name of the Glorious Emperor of Man.
Bridge of the Victus Rex
Nimina arrives back on the bridge, realizes that little is happening as yet and hovers near the door and listens.
After a 4 hours sparring brawl with Zoggit which ended in a tie - as all 364 matches before - SkruwDriva went to a blackout-like sleep that lastet for over a complete day.
After a few days, the warp-warning bell sounds again, and the Ork makes his way to the bridge. He has put good use to these days: the weird Xeno-tech connected to his brain finally has started to work and he managed to use it freely. To show off his success, he had painted some red letters on the Xeno-steel wrapper of the Tau-core reading GLADOS - the name he has given the damaged Tau-AI that rests in the Core and that now is his personal calculator slave.
Upon entering the bridge, SkruwDriva makes his way to the left side of the Captain - wearing his weapons openly. "Ahhh, tis' finally Footfall, eh? Betta lade t'en neva weirdeye, no? "
During the shorter warp Transit, Wraxus steps away from the bridge to prepare their Aquila Lander for PlanetSide. He goes over his full PreFlight checks, ensuring the weapons and fuel are fully loaded, all systems are responding well, and the storage bins are stocked with a myriad of ammo, tools and equipment, and a wide array of Garb for all the senior crew members. Never know what we're going to get into down there, it would be so much more who has been more straightforward, something like quelling an Insurrection, or turning back xenos invasion.
After he is sure everything is fully prepped on the lander, he sets about his personal arms, disassembling, cleaning, and offering the rites engrained in all soldiers of the Imperium.
Returning to the bridge as the Victus Rex comes out of Warp, he takes his seat at the helm, preparing for their next move.
Once entering the system, Tyboris orders full auger sweeps of the system, paying close attention to any hiding spots for ships. This could be a trap. he thinks to himself as he pours over the readings, but then he felt that way about most things, and rarely even found comfort on the ship. His sanctuary was among his experiments and designs, those realized and those yet to be dreamed up. While his duties as First Officer took time away from his own pursuits, he found it suitable cover to conceal anything others might consider risky. He still commited himself to machinery and aided in maintaining the ship when time allowed.
|
Tyboris
Notwithstanding your paranoia that going to Footfall could be a trap, you notice that the old-timers are very much happy to be going to Footfall. You hear whispers of booze, drugs, gambling and fraternization suggest that Footfall has a different sort of snare prepared.
Hexa
As you exit the practice area, you notice men with flamers enter it.
"Hoooi, Boy look at 'ose! Need ta practise with da burnas! 'vry Ork can wield da burna! Harharhar! Do I know ya? Wif borda-reppellin unit u are in, eh? Im da boss of da arms on fis ship - answa me!"
Khalid's sitting on his chair, with a group of young men around him. He's got a small, low desk in front of him, and is penning various letters.
"This one would go to Magistrate Borse... Do ask him how his grandfather is doing, and whether or not he'd also be willing do deal with ourselves...", he says, handing off a letter to one of the men, before calling one of the others over. "This one is very important, try not to lose it. And if you were to start losing it, try your best to destroy it. Ask the recipient on the current situation with the... extralegal means of goods transportation, and what their fees are." He calls the next runner, handing off another letter from the pile.