Dominik nods at Sarvus and takes up a place behind him, gun still in hand though not aimed at anyone. He'll gesture to Lorayne to watch behind them.
"Yes sir." Nathan joins Sarvus and the other man at the table.
"So what can you tell us which is of mutual benefit and interest?"
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"So what can you tell us which is of mutual benefit and interest?"
The man frowns at Sarvus's harsh attitude, but takes his seat and pours a small amount of a clear liquid into two makeshift contains, taking a sip, he shudders, and then continues. "I can't tell you the whole story, I only know what the few of us let have pieced together from what we've seen.
"We were traveling back from the Expanse, with a full cargo, and a lot of nice tales, when in the middle of the night, the alarums sound. It appears that something happened to our navigator. None of us knew him well, but he's served with the captain for some 16 years before this. Anyway, it seems that whatever happened, he managed to get to some control panel somewhere and vent the atmosphere of about two thirds of the ship. After that, well, who knows what happened up there, but I'll be those puppets were involved. Looks like you've encountered the puppets?" at this he looks at you with a knowing eye, noting the rips and tears in your suits. "Well we guess he used those to take over the bridge, not long after we came to a stop, and all central power was shut down."For some reason, these sections of the ship have remained relatively intact, and free of the puppets, and we've been working none stop to get the engines back up. As you can see, we are starting to be successful, but we have a long way to go before we can get that damn psycher off the ship."
"How far is this place in relation to the bridge? Perhaps there is a range, a limit to the psker's powers? Hence, the reason this section remains free of the psyker's influence."
"Also if there is a range why would it not come nearer to this area, unless there is something preventing it from doing so. Perhaps the source of power of the psyker is in the bridge. Tell me have you or any of your shipmates taken something unusual prior to the psyker's usurpation of this ship?"
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"How far is this place in relation to the bridge? Perhaps there is a range, a limit to the psker's powers? Hence, the reason this section remains free of the psyker's influence."
The man cocks his head to one side, "Eye, there could be something in that."
"Also if there is a range why would it not come nearer to this area, unless there is something preventing it from doing so. Perhaps the source of power of the psyker is in the bridge. Tell me have you or any of your shipmates taken something unusual prior to the psyker's usurpation of this ship?"
Ah, I see where you're coming from sir. Best we can tell, we were all just in the right place at the right time, or rather, not in the wrongest place, if you catch my drift. Most of us were in these engine compartments, and they seal themselves off at the first sign of trouble, so maybe that is what did it for us. Only one that was anywhere else on the ship was the young un up there, Hawk. He was on the bridge, and has a story to tell you may want to hear. He managed to drop down a vent shaft into one of the cleaning rooms on this level, and then found his way to us. He says the Navigator has some contraption, metallic it is, covering his third eye.
As the man says this last, Hawk speaks up, That thing's controlling him, I'm sur, he was nice, the Nav, before all this started, and when he walked into the bridge that day, with those things following, he had a swagger like a fragging mer.. he tails off as he realises just what your group most probably are, "fragging mercs".
"That's how we got out of there too. Anyway, we're planning on using explosives to open a hole in the bridge's hull, sucking him out into the void. Would that work, in your opinion?"
"Without damaging beyond recovery this very valuable piece of equipment and... oh... endangering the passengers, myself included."
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Hawk grins at the image of these burley, smooth men, sliding down the ducts like cloths for a laundry, but keeps his thoughts to himself.
The old man takes another swig, pouring again right away. "To be sure, it should work, depend how well he's lashed into the control throne I suppose. I'm an engineer myself, and I hate to think what it would do for the structural integrity of the ship. She should hold for long enough for you to scavenge her, but I doubt she'd be resale-able as a ship for you.
"I'd wonder too what the Ordo Mallus may think too, if they were ever to find out. Letting a rogue psyker escape into the void. It appears to control dead bodies, the Emperor only knows what it can do with it's own body in the void.
"As for why it hasn't got us down here, well I've been thinking about that, how much to dyou know about how these engines work?"
"Well then, it's a good thing we're sanctioned by the Emperor himself then."
"I know you've said there's not currently anyway to route deadly substances into the control room now...But could we reroute some pipes or anything down here, or externally to do the trick Sir?"
"That's it, the Gellar Field! As long as the engines are running it's going to stay up and the Navigator literally can't affect this portion of the ship! Why didn't I think of this earlier?"
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"That's it, the Gellar Field! As long as the engines are running it's going to stay up and the Navigator literally can't affect this portion of the ship! Why didn't I think of this earlier?"
The old man grins, and nods at Nathan, "That's my thought. That's why I'm working so hard to get the engines running fully again, apart from the need to find help."
Without taking his eyes off the other survivors, Dominik will say, "In that case, what is required to restart the engines? It seems prudent for all of us to work together in freeing the ship."
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That would be another
The old man looks at Dominik, "Good question, we reckon the mechanical work will be done in many be an hour or so. The problem is the machine spirit. It's still there, or the engines would be completely dead, but it needs to be awakened, and we have no one who could do that."
"Well, we technically do, but the Navigator isn't going to come down and do the ritual for us now, is he? Wait, couldn't we just get a line of communication back to our ship and get our Navigator to guide us through the ritual?"
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"Well, we technically do, but the Navigator isn't going to come down and do the ritual for us now, is he? Wait, couldn't we just get a line of communication back to our ship and get our Navigator to guide us through the ritual?"
** spoiler omitted **"Well, we technically do, but the Navigator isn't going to come down and do the ritual for us now, is he? Wait, couldn't we just get a line of communication back to our ship and get our Navigator to guide us through the ritual?"
"You know what, I think I remember the details of this ritual. It shouldn't be that hard, really."
"You are a tech priest?" Hawk says, incredulous. "Pull the other one."
The old man raises an eyebrow, but simply looks to Nathan for confirmation.
"I think it's obvious to everyone involved that I'm not blessed by the Omnissiah. Still, I've been training with our Magos, so I'm currently the person with the best shot at restarting these engines."
If he is allowed to, Nathan proceeds to the engines and begins the rites.
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Hawk just laughs. The old man smiles knowingly, and stands. "That's quite some claim boy. We shall see if you can fill those boots. I shall find you some place quiet to prepare your mind, and find the will of the Emperor, we shall prepare the engines and retrieve the scared oils from the stores.
"Captain, I expect this will take 6 to 8 hours. I expect you and your men will want to get some sleep, and any other preparation you may need to do. Even if we get the engines up, and even if it has the effect we anticipate. There will still be a rogue psyker up there..."
With that he calls a man over, and awaits Nathan and Sarvus' permission to proceed.
"That sounds like the best plan. If your people do not mind standing guard, we can rest and then Nathan can reawaken the machine spirit. After that, we can see about removing this psyker..." With a quick glance to make sure that the Captain agrees, Dominik will continue. "Where would you have us settle in, umm...I am sorry, I do not seem to have caught your name. I am Dominik Van Goren." Dominik will extend a hand towards the man.
"Now, if you could have one of your men show us to a quiet place, we should rest up before we see to the engines."
"I believe I could awaken the engine spirit Captain."
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"That sounds like the best plan. If your people do not mind standing guard, we can rest and then Nathan can reawaken the machine spirit. After that, we can see about removing this psyker..." With a quick glance to make sure that the Captain agrees, Dominik will continue. "Where would you have us settle in, umm...I am sorry, I do not seem to have caught your name. I am Dominik Van Goren." Dominik will extend a hand towards the man.
"The Name's Erert."The man old man says as he extends his hand. "You've met Hawk, and this man is Morden, he will get you all sorted while I go back to the repairs." and with that, he leaves your group.
"Now, if you could have one of your men show us to a quiet place, we should rest up before we see to the engines."
"We can't do too quiet," begins Morden as he leads you to one of the edges of the room, "but we can keep away from you, and keep the noise down as best we can. I'm sure you'll be able to get some rest."
"I believe I could awaken the engine spirit Captain."
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After Nathan is lead away the others are left to their own devices for a few hours to rest, sleep, whatever mercenaries do when alone and waiting. Weapons get cleaned, vulgar jokes made, and innumerable attempts to bed Lorayne are rebuffed.
Mean while Nathan is found a set of pristine robes of purest white, and the accouterments of the ceremony are found. After hours of contemplation and preparation, Nathan is ready, and leads the whole group to the center of the vast chamber which you are in.
Within the very center, behind a final set of plascrete walls is a fully hardwired servitor. The head and torso of some exalted engineer kept artificially alive to run the complex calculations required by the engines.
The equipment sits quiet, a scene of the mortuary abounds. Runes are dark, and no cogs whir.
Anyone got any words to say at this ominous moment? Nathan, you want to make the procedure up, or should I go full on description?
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"I need as many of your men as possible to be watching, please Erert. They must stay beyond this line though". Nathan begins, pointing out a line inlaid in the floor. "I must have absolute silence during the ceremony. The only exception will be my Brother Malakai, he knows his assigned task."
Erert went and gathered his men, cautioning them to silence as they collected beyond the ring made the mercenaries. Finally going compleatly quiet as the last finds a position.
Nathan lets long minutes drift by, calmly collecting himself in the silence, and allowing the tension, both physical and psycic gather around him. At last he steps forward, and as his foot falls, the room is cast into utter blackness. Out of the blackness rises a voice, Nathan's obviously, but with a rounder, deeper more mature sound, with the accent completely removed. As though a thousand generations of tech priests speak through his throat.
"Emperor; Your light has guided us from our most barbaric times. Your wisdom built the foundations upon which this engine is built. I call upon your aid." Nathan's prayer continued in the darkness, his form brushing past you occasionally as he moved in the complicated motion of the ritual. Eventually a rune lights on the floor, accompanied almost instantly by a wordless chant from Brother Malakai, and a raise in pitch from Nathan.
The ritual continues, Brother Malakai's voice harmonising with Nathan's. Every few minutes now, a rune lights on the floor, giving an eeiry red glow, and finally allowing you to see the motions made by Nathan, and with each rune, comes a rise in pitch.
Finally, Brother Malakai's voice ceases, unable to match the pitch of Nathans now inhuman voice "LICENTIUM STAUIS" he cried, as the set of runes finally changes from the deep red, to a light but bright blue.
From the darkness a beautiful, melodic, disembodied, woman's voice intones "Core Cogitator online. Completing final diagnostic. Critical systems off line. Bridge control unavailable. Chrono sync unavailable. Redirecting power systems. Rebooting remaining systems." At this point, the lights resume, blindingly after so long in the dark, new sounds begin, a rumble, and whirring. "Time gap found in main log. Confirmation required before further action may be performed. Tech Master, identify yourself."
"Nathan Tsanthos. Current time-stamp: 120-872-1643." Now that the ritual is nearing it's end, Nathan's shoulders begin to stoop slightly.
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"Nathan Tsanthos. Current time-stamp: 120-872-1643." Now that the ritual is nearing it's end, Nathan's shoulders begin to stoop slightly.
The voice rings out again, calm and sure, "Master Tsanthos. Your details are not on file. Calculations show your time stamp to be acurate to within accepted human parameters. There is a log-gap of 29 days, 3 hours, 43 minutes and 46.768543 seconds. This discrepancy must be explained. Protocol states that I deal directly with the captain in such a situation."
The voice rings out again, calm and sure, "Master Tsanthos. Your details are not on file. Calculations show your time stamp to be acurate to within accepted human parameters. There is a log-gap of 29 days, 3 hours, 43 minutes and 46.768543 seconds. This discrepancy must be explained. Protocol states that I deal directly with the captain in such a situation."
"The Captain has been slain by the Navigator. His replacement has yet to be chosen."
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"The Captain has been slain by the Navigator. His replacement has yet to be chosen."
"Verifying." The beautiful voice states. A few moments later, she continues.
"Verification impossible. Captains quarters inaccessible. Bridge inaccessible. Re-routing command down through chain of command. Would the highest ranking officer please make his presence known.
At this Erert steps forward. "Erert, ma'am. Technician, rank 4, all command officers are down. Request command be transferred to the Ranking officers of the mercenary ship Sovereign Venture.
"Command control temporarily passed. Renewed control will last for 4 hours, or until communication with the imperium central grid is established. What are your orders Master Tsanthos?"
"As a ranking officer on the Sovereign Venture, I defer to Captain Sarvus Trask for the next command."
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Sarvus looks taken a back, and more than a little distracted by the female voice. "Conginator, the ship has been taken over by a rogue Psyker. It must be destroyed, but some conneciont to the warp appears to make it invulnerable. My crew tell me that" at this he gives a sidelong glance at Nathan, silently saying, "this was your idea!" raising the gellar field will cut off the warp accesss and enable us to destroy the filth.
"Additionally, I have official writ of claim to this ship, once cleaned, it will be towed out of it's current languid state, and brought back into service for my profit. That is all. You will follow, Master Tsanthos' orders from this moment."[/b]
The voice comes back instantly. "structural damage, and evacuated sections indicate that what you say is true. Calculations show that the raising of the gellar field would have the desired effect. Field Raised."
"Well done Nathan."
"Nathan, are you sure that engaging the gellar field will reduce the psyker's power?"
"Or we might just succeed in imprisoning it with us here forever."
"Nathan, are you sure that engaging the gellar field will reduce the psyker's power?"
"Or we might just succeed in imprisoning it with us here forever."
"As sure as I'll ever be. Now let's get going. We shouldn't keep him waiting, after all."
Sarvus activates his power sword.
"For the Emperor! For House Trask!"
Like we need a plan beyond "walk up there and shoot that heretic scum right in his third eye".
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With weapons locked and loaded, the mercenaries move off from the spherical engine room, and begin to move forward through the ship. There is an eerie silence, although with the main lights re-enabled the place is starting to feel more like a real working ship again.
Passing an airlock, you see the Cogitator's attempts at fixing the ship taking shape, indicators on the door show air returning to the room, only for the external door to open, throwing the remaining undead lifeforms into the void.
Periodically, reports come from the ship as to the current status.
Eventually you make it to the boor barring the main bridge. This is still completely sealed.
Like we need a plan beyond "walk up there and shoot that heretic scum right in his third eye".
"Sounds like a plan to me Captain."
"Well, let's get this open again." Nathan attempts to force the door open again.