Afan looks around for anything that would fit his particular needs.
Let's give it a try.
"While we're waiting, we may as well try to track the xenos now. I'm game."
Vasyl begins to look for choice pieces to assemble into a apparatus for that very task.
"I wont be of much aid with regards to that but once we know their locations we can start rooting them out."
Afan can see a number of weapons, many of which would be a joy to use in the emperor's name. The finest is a long rifle that seems to have been based on the principles of the Nomad, meaning it will likely be extremely expensive, in the thousands of thrones range, and requires an uncommon size of ammunition not commonly seen, but has extraordinary range and armour piercing to make up for it.
Another, more likely to be an affordable weapon, is a modified Absolution Rifle. It's equally accurate to the Nomad, and almost as long-ranged. Its long barrel contains a silencer already, and a quality scope is already mounted. It also contains a fire selector.
There are boxes of ammunition of all kinds stored neatly against the far wall, of any kind typically found without the need for a Forgeworld or a Priest.
Vasyl is able to find the pieces he needs to jack into the comms device. It's relatively simple to assemble, really. The struggle will likely come in forcing the corrupt, vile Alien machine spirit to betray its decadent masters and reveal what you need.
Lazerus pauses in his labours and calls to the group.
"Anyone else have any tech expertise? I could use a hand here"
It needs to be done.
Vasyl states:
"I'm ready to help."
The artificer looked...unhappy with the idea, but added, "I won't touch the thing, but I will aid you with tools. May the Red Priests never find out my crimes."
Not in the darkest fens of Fenksworld they wouldn't.
"Not a word from us."
"I have no experience at placating machine spirits but I have unfortunately encountered these foes and their tools to some degree prior to this."
With some help Lazerus is able to make better progress on the device.
Afan ignores the others as they work, slowly looking over the armaments for the discerning marksman. At the sight of the long rifle, some stir of emotion was felt in his cold dead soul.
Lazerus, with the aid of Lothar and Vasyl, is able to force the vile machine spirit of the Eldar device to submit by crushing it with raw processing power. The slipper machine attempted to burn itself out, but was broken by the Mechanicus' device.
The next problem was understanding enough of the corrupt text the machine was sending.
Afan found the rifle impressive and it's ammo to hand.
Jene studied the data, she was schooled in language.. specific ones, secret ones - but more importantly, the blocks that made up language. Patterns.
It was just an foreign, an alien puzzle. It is not mine to judge, only to dechiper...
The Eldar tongue is nothing like Gothic, High, Low or corrupted. The rules, syntax, grammar are all vastly different. But there are at the very least a few things that are the same. Word variety and rariety is one. As an addition, a handful of terms have been borrowed from Gothic. Jene is able to get a list of two dozen locations around the planet, but there is no clue yet as to what each one is - a target? A depot? A stronghold?
Can we overlay these positions in a map? It map give us a better visual and tactical understanding. These could be bases,targets, depots, lairs, strongholds.
Can anyone correlate these "glyphs" here with any meaning they may have come across in their travels? She looks to Lothar and Lazarus.
"My expertise are in less .... mundane matters"
Vasyl does his best to help clean up the mess of xenos data.
Vasyl's aid is enough to reduce it to nine possible targets.
Lothar tries to add some further insight but although he has some experience with xenos it is hard earned and does not involve diplomacy. "Are there any of the locations in areas under the control of the noble house we are targeting? Attacks on those locations might yield more information."
"These locations cross referenced with who controls them gives us an idea of some of the locals at least partially corrupted if not fully under their sway... or targets they are going to strike at soon. With a little more detail I suspect we should make an update."
"If they're shipping produce basic laws of storage and transport still apply. Lets see if I can narrow it down"
Between those principles and permits recuired by authorities. You could be on to something. Jene taps away at her data slate.
The Acoyltes work studiously, applying their areas of expertise in excellent and unusual ways to narrow down the targets. Eventually, only three remained - one a Manse within the Hive itself, one a PDF base within half a day of the city and one deep below the ocean.
"The manse can work within our cover story. The PDF base could be problematic but the one in the ocean would hopefully be far enough away not to have prying eyes... but launching an assault there could be problematic."
Bewildered by any technical rites more complex than those to maintain and service her weapons, Callidia leaves the others to their work and wanders the shop. As she does, she begins to softly sing one of the many hymns of worship from her days as a novice in the Adeptas Sororitas.
After a time she returns to the workshop in the back, her song trailing off to silence as she does. When she hears the last couple of comments she speaks up for the first time since completing her purchase, "Which House controls the Manse you have identified?"
"The Manse is looking to be our best bet for an assault, for reasons Lothar has touched on."
Let's see what the shop owner has to say about the noble house.
The artificer peered at the Manse's location, and sneered. "House Alamar. It's hardly shocking that they're involved. There are rumours about them that would turn your hair white. Nearly half the Family and two thirds of there people died in the Inquisition cleansing. I'm amazed they have enough people left to do anything."
"So they lack morale fibre and are desperate." Lothar shakes his head.
"However if we go after all three I actually think we should be in the team deep in the ocean, so isolated as they are that would be the most likely place for the most xenos presence in place. As we have seen before as xenos they natural inclinations are those of the cowards. Relying on speed and perfidy, taking any underhanded advantage to compete with us." He laughs "They'll never see us coming."
The artificer nodded slowly. "It would be dangerous to hide in the Hive, and even the most corrupt PDF base would have someone loyal enough to report Xenos."
Afan just continues cleaning and reassembling his guns, they will do their job.
"We can take all three, and the ocean makes sense for hunting xenos. Let's do it."
The time rolled around slowly, giving the acolytes time to plan and acquire anything they needed for it - or perhaps, simply, sleep and rest. Sometimes the best thing that could be done was to do nothing and rest when you can.
The meeting is not at the family estate, but with discretion advised, a merchant meeting hall has been hired for the day. When the acolytes arrive the Mandre guard are already in place, eying the group and their armaments warily regardless of what the artificer said.
Inside the meeting hall a tall woman nods to you, and smiles warmly at the tired looking artificer. "Uncle Santino. You look like something that someone tried to feed to the dogs. And failed." She hugs the man regardless, then turns and addresses herself more fully to the acolytes. "I understand you have news that suggests the Hive is in danger, as is the planet. Something new, and not connected to the last purges. We have the central meeting room set up and ready, so you can display your evidence and ready the explanation. I'm sorry to put you through such a show, especially if Uncle thinks there is something to this, but I can't commit my people until I understand the threat."
"Once inside the meeting room the details will be relayed I assure you. I believe you will find the matter worthy of attention and discretion."
The woman nodded, and led the acolytes to the meeting room. Other the her Uncle and two additional guards in impressively heavy armour the room is clear. A data lecturn sits on your side, ready to accept your data.
"Present your case, please," she said as she took a seat opposite.
"Our investigations have uncovered a conspiracy with traitors at it's heart who debase themselves for the baubles of xenos corruptors. Xenos pirates, some of the most vile of the species known as Eldar, are providing narcotics to gain sway an influence over various factions on this planet. Their ships are in system."
"I have faced them before on the field of battle, deception and speed are in their nature. We have encountered and slain members of these xenos on this world. Locals have already died to cover their tracks. Its challenging to discern exactly who is on their side, for that we need to uncover more information but we're going to go over the details of their communication and network we have been able to identify so far."
You haven't mentioned the most compelling part.
If we do not present evidence that the Xenos threat has been discretely yet categorically eliminated, and soon...
...we are made to understand that naval forces will be in system to guarantee the threat does not spread beyond what remains of a charred world.
Jene pauses.
After meeting your uncle, and taking note of House Mandre it would seem your house is in a unique position to act in alignment and earn a place in history.
Status, bragging rights, call it what you will... your house shall flourish.
The woman sat very still, looking more and more grave. "Dangerous. Eldar raids are not unknown to us, on outer planets and space stations, but to think they would hatch a plot to assault a hive..."
She shook her head. "Proof. You said you had some?"
"Let us begin with the ledgers of their conspirators turned victims..." Lothar goes over the ledgers and the crime scene they were connected to.
"How did you become aware of such a crime?" She tapped her chin for a moment. "And why concern yourself over it?"
"In short, there were occult overtones which required further scrutiny and that is what our master directed us to investigate. That is enough for me."
"The local arbites are paying close attention to some of the related crime scenes. It's highly likely they are either co opted into the conspiracy or to some degree alerted to it as well. I'd rather wait for more information than find out the hard way."
"We've reason to come to you, after all. The xenos are fast, the xenos are stealthy, but the xenos are arrogant. They aren't expecting to be hunted."
This is going to get interesting.
"Hunting them," she said slowly. She clearly liked the taste of those words. "I can agree to that necessity. Do you have any evidence of direct Xenos involvement? And if I ask who your master is, will I get an answer?"
What evidence would move you?
As to Masters... the question is irrelevent. We will continue on our course with or without you. You will decide to act independently or help us.
Our best chance for success is working together against a common threat.
If we fail, we all die.
But, we are generous and willing to tell you exactly who we are and whom we work for, should we succeed.
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As the evidence is produced the woman's face goes pale. "Well. That is...convincing. Do you have a plan?"
We're getting places. Good.
"We don't know the house. But I'd wager that you know quite a bit about it. Filling us in on what you know would be very helpful."
"We have identified where we expect the highest concentration of xenos amongst the sites we've identified. We will be going there personally as is our duty."