Archibald issues the next batch of orders, seeming to have decided on his course hours ago and exuding confidence.
Commander von Bastillion, conduct a aerial survey of the terrain around the signal. As soon as you locate a suitable landing site and confirm no hostile AAA, forwaed the coordinates on to Commander Merkham.
Commander Merkham, standard scouting and survey procedures as of now. But keep your eyes open and your drop ship engines hot. This could still be a trap.
Rising Sun crew, maintain Condition 2.
The commander snaps to attention and salutes, then he hesitates and waits for a chance to speak privately before going on.
"Are you planning on claiming the planet or whatever it is on it Lord Captain Militant? As your charter allows you to do so, but only if you are the first person to set foot on the surface.
It is an archaic rule, but if someone were to find out, and the undisciplined rabble are sure to spread such a rumour, and the Van Stahlfuchers are SURE to use it against you."
Archibald nods and thinks a moment. Thank you, my friend. It would have been easy for you to keep this from me. I truly appreciate it.
Archibald turns from the quiet corner near the exit and says to the rest of the command crew, I will be with Commander Markham in the lead shuttle. The first boot prints upon the surface will be mine. Commander von Bastillion, we await your coordinates.
He then turns and strides into the hall beyond the thick bridge doors.
On his way down to the craft Archibald summons a Remembrancer and whichever other adepts you might need to make sure this is properly documented and recorded for posterity.
Having completed the augury as best he could, and relayed the coordinates, he unclips his flight helmet and fastens his flight suite, already on his way out the bridge.
"Of course, Captain.
I will go in and do a close reckon with the 1st Hawks.
I shall have number 5 be ready to escort your landing party."
Making his way down, he feels giddy to finally get back behind the steering sticks of the "Fire Hawk" and the hot touch of its temperamental machine spirit he so has come to like, while most others cannot stand it.
He quickly drops by the pilot's quarters to relay the orders for the fifth fighters to prepare for take off as soon as the he and the Lord-Trader gives the signal. Then he gets his personal attack wing, the 1st Hawks and gets them up and running.
He feels the very same excitement pulsing within them as in his own arteries, much like a well-maintained plasma drive on full burn.
"Make ready for some low-altitude flying, Hawks.
The Captain wants some close ups to go with his account of first landing and we are the ones to make damn sure he gets those instead of a nasty surprise of AA fire of whatever kind."
He tells them - mostly needlessly considering they are the 1st for a reason - on their way down to hangar 2.
Once arrived, they split up to get to their Fury's, their crews already waiting and the engines already checked and idling at a low grumbling.
That would soon change.
Once all are seated, their massive fighter vehicles are towed onto the magrail launch tubes by massive winches.
A metallic *clank* ensures everyone that the craft is properly sunk into the rail then all deckhands well retreat until a light turns from red to green.
Not that the pilots are actually able to see that for more than a few microseconds, as they and their craft are shot out of the Rising Sun by the truly massive force of the magrail accelerated launch tubes.
Heinrich has all long since accumstomed to the thrilling sensation of being launched into the void like macrocannon shell.
One instant: the hangar.
The next: the deep, soundless depth of voidspace.
It was glorious.
He allowed himself a few seconds of enjoying the feeling and sight of this new, unfamiliar system from the tight confines of his cockpit, and even a small roll before banking about hard and points the "Red Hawk" down at the microplanet.: Time for the mission.
Satisfied, he notices the 1st Hawk getting into position around him, just as he had trained them to.
Close enough to cover each other easily.
Not too close that one casualty or over-enthusiastic dodge would risk a collision.
Those were the best fighter pilots of the Rising Sun - but not (yet!) nearly as good as some of the battle-hardened veterans he had the honor serving beside.
Over vox, he coms "his" squadron to explain the approach he has come up with.
<<Alright, Hawks, this is how we will do this:
First, we will do a high altitude fly-by of the target.
If we go unchallenged, we continue past the pint of direct LOS to ground zero, then go down low, split up and approach the target from north and south in a coordinated, low attitude pass.
Should we still go unchallenged and have no visual of any danger or other POI, we will adopt a standard circling pattern and give the Lord Captain the signal to commence landing operation.
Any questions?>>
As you breach the upp atmosphere you find your sights slightly obscured by a thin layer of clouds, but you quickly breach them and...find yourself somewhat disappointed.
Though you knew already that the planet was small, and that it appeared to be lifeless, it's still boring to look down on that grey, dead rock.
Your first cycle, high up reveals nothing, the second one is almost as dull, until one of the pilots point out a small rock outcropping near where the signal is, there seems to be an opening into the rocks, probably leading underground.
Meanwhile, in the landing shuttle, a certain ill tempered old navy man is haranguing the landing party to the point of stopping just short of spittle flying from his lips.
"Listen up you damn maggots! When this shuttle sets down and those doors open, I want the opening possibly BRISTLING with guns in every direction and eyes peeled for anything, even a damn beetle!
And you! He rounds on the Rememberancer, you'll take the damn pict of the Lord Captain Militant fast and efficiently, get it doen, get it right and do it first time!
As soon as that pict is taken, the rest of you fan out and secure the area!"
Is the sight of bare rock and jagged hills crowned with clouds a little disappointing. Sure. But this is a micro-plant. Archibald isn't sure how it's even holding onto its atmosphere, but he won't voice that concern quite yet. He can't help but feel a rush of EXCITEMENT. Bare rock though it may be, it was very possibly HIS bare rock, and for the low-low cost of stepping on it!
The shuttle's roar picks up as gravity asserts herself and the shuttle's velocity drops. Archibald feels the landing gear deploy and the adrenaline hits. He feels like he's about to jump out of the craft instead of step. Once the rumbling has died down and the all clear is given he pushes up out of his seat like it's just another chair, taking note of the lighter gravity and instantly (and subconsciously) compensating for it. Several of the greener soldiers misjudge the low gravity and go stumbling about for a moment and earn a verbal beatdown from the commander in the process.
WHAT ARE YOU, TODDLERS! Get your feet under you, grunts!
Archibald ignores the old sourpus' griping, secretly thanks his Voidborn heritage for saving him from looking like a fool on this auspicious occasion, and sets his eyes to the door.
When you're ready, Remembrancer. he says.
The remembrancer is a truly ancient man with an ocular implant similar to Archibald's and two mechadendrites with vid capture and audio. He positions himself about half way back, handling the low gravity with the ease of experience. He frames the Rogue Trader, power sword in one hand and folded flag in the other, against the dropdoor of the shuttle and a few of the soldiers with the commander at his right side. He makes some adjustments (mainly switching a young boy who looks like he's about to vomit with a scarred man who looks like a veteran.
My Lord, Action! he says, and the drop door triggers.
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The dropdoor cracks with a boom and gravelly dust swirls into the cabin kicking Archibald's white and golden xenos fur cape (a lion pelt from somewhere called Chogoris) into a dramatic swirl. First seen are the clouds, white and wispy, blanketing a startling, glittering display of stars. The wan light of the small, yet close by sun warms the skin. The atmosphere is remarkably clear, doing very little scattering of the redder light of the star. It smells crisp and cool. The horizon is jagged and mountain peeks stretch for kilometers into the sky. God rays cut through the dust as Archibald steps out onto this virgin world, leaving several deep, brave boot-prints. He turns, surveying his new domain, head lifted in noble appraisal. Then he focuses on the Remembrancer.
I, Archibald Benedict Thunderblossom, of the Rogue Trader House Thunderblossom, do claim this world in the name of the Imperium and the God-Emperor of Mankind upon Holy Terra as a possession of the Imperium and my House forever. May His light fall upon this place as I, his faithful servant, fold it into the might of his everlasting Domain. Ave Imperator! Gloria in excelsis Terra!
Archibald drives the folded flag into the ground (assisted by tiny las drill on the end) and the Sigil of House Thunderblossom unfurls into the gentle breeze. I designate this world Fundamentum. May it be the first step toward a lineage that is worthy of the greatness of Him on the Throne!
The Remembrancer stops recording and gives a nod to the Commander. The soldiers immediately flood from the transport and hurry to form a perimeter as the scolding brands of the old goat drive them on. He comes to stand beside Archibald.
You enjoyed that, didn't'cha. he grumbles.
Archibald smiles. You bet your beard I did.
Now that you can see your "prize" more clearly, you notice a couple of things.
First is the fact that the air is quite thin as the auspex showed.
It doesn't take long before most of you are all breathing a fair bit deeper and heavier than normal.
It's not likely to be a problem outside of strenuous activity, or prolonged periods.
Second is that the light from the nearby star paints the surface in a reddish tint, making everything look just a little more sinister.
Now that the Remembrancer has done his work, he retreats to the shuttle to call it in so the Astropaths can send the message on to be properly registered by the Adeptus Ministorum.
Ahead of you, the opening to whatever mystery lies below beckons.
Archibald calls Heinrigh on the vox, <<Heinrich, do you want to come on down and join the Magus and I, or are you having too much fun?>>
Iota does his own recording of the the spectacle the Lord Rogue Trader is staging using his memorancer implants. Not many notice he even has those since they are wired to the optical nerves of his still very human eyes. Just like his cortical implants are entirely subdermal unlike that clicking whirring nonsense most more orthodox tech priests use.
He however is much less impressed than the old Remembrancer. Murmering "Damn. He didn't use to be that pompous back in the day. Did that warrant somehow infuse him with the power of pomp?"
Of course he makes sure not to be loud enough for _anyone_ to hear him. They both go way back but that's not something the crew would understand. They should and want to venerate Archibald.
Iota can finally start working once the public performance of "claim this rock" is over. He sends a signal to Variable, his servo skull, and gets it to patrol in circles around them with its Auspex tuned to both metal constructs and lifesigns
"Right!" Solonius turns on one of the squads with you.
"You five, secure the opening! if nothing rears it's ugly head, you two will stay at the entrance, and you three will advance, but don't advance further than the ones remaining can stil see you. SNAP TO IT!"
The flustered crewmen jump to carry out the orders given.
Solonius then turns on the other squad.
"You give are on rear guard duty. You'll follow behind the lord Captain Militant, keeping him in sight at all times, but not too close."
He then salutes Archibald.
"Whenever you're ready lord Captain Militant."
Archibald nods and makes another vox call, <<Yeager, we're about to enter the crack. Send down a second security detail, a med team with extra O2, and as many archeotech adepts as you can in a second shuttle. The air is kinda thin down here. And make sure you keep your eyes up.>>
<<Acknowledged, my lord.>> comes the professional and rather bored reply.
With that done he takes in a nice, deep, worryingly unsatisfying breath, and nods. Let's do this thing, Commander. I give you operational command... as soon as we get there. He winks and strides forward toward the crack only allowing the forward scouts enough space to prevent his Master at Arms' spontaneous combustion. But, true to his word, as soon as he approaches the crack, he stands aside and lets the actual professional lead the way.
Ar hibals gets a response on a private channel, at the same time as the screeching sound of an arriving fighter at alarming speed is nearly drowning out any other sound.
<< If you like to have someone nearly as uncertain on a piece of floatsome as yourself, then sure, I will get down.
Although this is a lot of fun, you know.
After all those weeks in transit...>>
Heinrich Sets down Red Hawk a dozen steps beside the shuttle in a way that its fixed hull mounted lascannon arrays point at the entrance of the tunnel leading whoknowswhere.
He gets out of the cockpit and quickly retrieves his kitbag from the main shuttle - the most important piece his solo-pattern bolt rifle. A neat, highly precise if slow firing variant he discovered in one of the Sun's armories.
He then jogs over to the assembled party and gives Archibald a nod.
"Alright. Let's get even deeper than dirtside.
What even is the next level?
Core side?"
Caveside, my friend! Time to Spelunk!
You enter the tunnels, ahead you can see the two troopers slowly moving forward, the troopers they are following are beyond your sight however.
The tunnels slope slowly downwards into the darkness, though the lights from the lasguns of the forward team still flicker at the edge of your sight.
The air is growing a bit more stale here, but...you notice it's also a little less thin for some reason.
You're not exactly sure how long you've been descending, for some reason you feel disinclined to look at your chronos.
Maybe you don't WANT to know at this point?
Suddenly a call comes from the forward team.
"Lord Captain! We've found something, I think you'll want to see this!"
On my way
Archibald trots up to the forward men a few pieces behind Silenius.
Ahead of you, the area opens up into a much different one.
Instead of being in a rough stone tunnel, you find yourself standing in a large, clearly man made corridor.
The hall is large and decorated in faded imperial style, with the gothic motives somewhat intact in places.
You can see that there are even illuminators in many areas, seemingly only lacking power.
Everything is covered in dust and debris.
As you step in to look around better, you realise that the tunnel you entered through seems to be punched into the side of the corridor you now stand in.
And then it finally dawn on you, that little nagging feeling you had as you descended.
What had been at the back of your mind all this time was this.
The cave tunnel was clearly dug from below. Someone or something had tried to dig their way to the surface, from here...
Heinrich has kept towards the rear, covering the front rows as best he could with his solo bolt rifle - despite the fact that he barely saw anything whatsoever.
When the shout comes, he feels his pulse quicken and has to dry some sweat on his brow with the sleeve of his flight suite.
Onnce he enters the corridor alongside everyone else, he is loking stunned.
Then he whispers something that may or may not be meant as a joke.
"So.... someone's winter respite?"
Solonius takes a step further into the corridor, then he frowns and looks down.
"The floor is not level, it's on a little angle. Left side is slightly higher than the right."
One can hope. Archibald replies to Heinrich.
Ok, let's drop a marker here and proceed right. We need to know what this place is.
He voxes up to the others, << We've come into a constructed tunnel, but there is evidence whoever was here dug their way out, not in. This probably means any traditional entrance is either destroyed or barred. Deploy the second security team down here as soon as possible. We're going to go have a look around.>>
He then looks to Silenius. By your command.
You continue down the corridor, moving more or less in the same formation as before.
Eventually you make it to what is a T section, the left and right sides disappear into the darkness but you can see they both appear to end at a set of stairs.
Ahead of you is a large, imposing door, festooned with holy imperial symbols, though they are all of a very archaic sort, one most of you have only ever seen in old books.
Ok, clearly we are going to need more men to properly scout this place, but who can resist a nice door, eh?.
Archibald approaches and carefully tries to open it.
Sadly, Archibald's attempts seems to be in vain. The huge door resists any and all attempts to open it with force.
The door seems to have some sort of locking mechanisms, and there is some kind of console inside the human skull to one side of the door.
However, the console is dead, lacking power.
It's possible that a skilled tech user could possibly follow the power couplings back to the source and see if it's possible to do something there.
Ok, Magos, this one has you written all over it. It's clear to me that we need a much more substantial foothold here if we are to understand this place. I will return to the surface and oversee the transfer of more men and gear. Magos, you see to... that. He gestures to the old tech.
Heinrich, I need you to oversee a mapping effort of the planet. I want to know every rock and scree pile by the time you're done. I'm also going to order several shuttles worth of resources down here, so if you could supervise that, I'd be grateful.
Commander Merkham, I'd like you to head up scouting this place. Don't open any doors or anything, but I want a basic layout and survey as soon as you can.
He waits a moment for questions and then returns to the surface. <<Yeager, I need more resources down here. Recall these shuttles and deploy the entire platoon we have bit of already for security and survey duty with all necessary adepts and supplies. I also want at least one pre-fab medical space and an initial analysis lab down here. The atmosphere is going to reduce the amount of time we can work at once.>>
He arrives at the shuttle and calls to the Remembrancer. I know you came for filming duty, but there's something I want you to see. He leads the old man into the crack and down to the door to see what his take on it might be.
A project like this is no small undertaking, and it quickly becomes obvious that having had this extra week was a very good thing.
Perhaps it was the emperor giving you a little bit of a hand?
The scouting of the structure is a monotonous task, but not a difficult or even particularly dangerous one so far.
The crew comes across more than one of the large doors, also lacking power, thus not to be opened even if they didn't have orders to refrain in the first place.
The Explorator makes good use of his title, following the power lines easily, a trivial task for one of his skill.
They too lead to a door, and while this one ALSO lacks power, unlike the others, it is hooked up to an old redundant system, perhaps for blackouts like these?
After 8000 odd years, it is drained of juice, but it could be recharged from the outside by a skilled tech user.
It's been about 8 hours now, and it seems until some power is restored, you are at a standstill.
Thankfully, the camp is now set up, so there is a place to relax.
Meanwhile, the Rememberancer has taken careful notes of the door, made a pict recording and retreated to the surface to analyse what he has found.
Archibald sits behind his mahogany travel desk in a high backed velvet chair reviewing the latest scouting report in his small, 100 sq.ft. black and gold field tent. A large, durable carpet bearing the family crest has been spread over much of the space with a small area near the door reserved for dusting off and removing one's filthy shoes. Two plush couches straddle a dark coffee table in the center of the space and there are several short backed chairs before him. There is a quiet hum as a portable oxygen concentration machine keeps the atmosphere in the tent more comfortable. An empty plate is the only evidence of his dinner and he is now nursing a short glass of amasec and fruit juice as he absorbs the enormity of his discovery. Or rather, the enormous possibility of it.
Iota takes a look. Systems like these are basically made to be powered on by using some of his internal power supplied through the electoo in his hands.
There it is, a induction port for an emergency charge.
If everything is in at least moderately working order, one long spike of power will get the console working in emergency mode and pop that door right open.
Iota isn't exactly made of energy with his current implants but what use is having that energy if you don't use it when required?
This old tech is not to be feared but what lies behind it might be of concern: "I can rouse this venerable machine but it will immediatly open the door. I suggest you have the entrance covered before I unlock it"
Archibald receives Iota's report and orders three heavy weapons teams and two additional standard squads from the arriving reinforces down to support the Magos before heading down himself.
Can't be absent when we first crack the nut, now can we! he says to himself as he strides down into the half-lit halls.
The scouts left naught but lumen sticks behind them. The second wave and the Adepts, however, have begun seeing up suspended lumen lamps at intervals. It somehow makes the place simultaneously less and more creepy.
Well done, Iota! I knew you were the man for the job! he beams as he approaches the Magos' position. The two standard squads form flank lines around the three heavy teams: a lascannon squad, a pair of heavy bolters with loaders, and a two man heavy rocket team.
Good call on requesting the door coverage. With the contents of that message it's best to be on the safe side until we have this figured out.
Iota stands earily still while waiting at the power induction port for the troops to get into position. The only concession he makes is to turn very slightly towards Archibald to talk with him.
"I believe this door to house, or at least lead to, the power generators of this facility. I thus infer it has the highest chance of having guards stationed if there are any down here."
He pauses for a moment.
"Any updates on the machine that made the tunnel we came in? I believe it to at least be equiped with industrial meltas so it has the potential to be highly dangerous. If it is still around."
I have yet to receive report of one. Whoever was here dug their way out, so they could have taken such a machine with them. I'll put it the word of warning though. Thanks for the insight, Iota.
He addresses the soldiers, If something hostile comes out of this door, I want No Wild Shots, Please. If the Magos is right, and he usually is, the machinery behind this door is very delicate. I don't want to destroy our prize with hasty misses. This could be much ado about nothing, but we shall see.
With the soldiers properly in place and briefed by Archibald it is finally time to proceed.
"Well then, let us begin. I will start supplying power. The door will most likely not start up instantly but once a certain threshold of power is reached. Do not be alarmed if it takes a moment."
The first thing that happens thought is that his utility mechadendrites snake out and apply sacred unguents at key points of the power console. He then places his hand on the power inlet and starts supplying energy while chanting. First he speaks the words of wakening to rouse the machine from its long slumber, then the words of gratitude to thank the machine for its past and future service and lastly, once he estimates the power threshold should be close to being reached he speaks the words of activation.
There is a shudder in the area, enough to shake some dust loose from the walls. and as the doors begins to open, the structure appears to be vibrating.
As you look into the large chamber, you see, in the dim illumination of the reserve power, what looks like two plasma engines.
You stare at what you see for some time, partially it's due to it taking you some effort to rummage through the recesses of your mind for an answer, and partially because your logical mind is somewhat rebelling against the conclusion you are coming to.
These are a Lathe pattern dual core mk 4 plasma drives.
A Cruiser class power core that's been out of use for over 5000 years since they were simply using up too much space aboard the Tyrant class light Cruisers they were made for originally.
Having no idea what he's seeing other than it bears a vague resemblance to the Rising Sun's plasma drive, Archibald waits for Iota to give the signal to sweep and secure.
"holy Omnissiah..." Iota is still stunned for a while even after finally feeling sure he knows what it is he is seeing.
"Those are Cruiser class plasma drives. Relic ones! Take utmost care those are absolutely priceless!"
On your word, Magos.
Men, weapons pointed at the ground. Sweep and secure. Do not risk damage to the drives!
He advances on point through the door, plasma pistol pointed firmly at the ground, but almost immediately lets the other troops file in and go before him to secure the space.
Iota does not follow right away, letting the security do its thing. But he does try to get a better picture of the situation from outside the door. Namely: The cables lead in there - are they actually hooked up as power generator?
Right into the midst of the awestruck silence comes the thrice relayed vox signal from Heinrich.
It is badly overlaid by the trumpets blaring for Battlestations and the high-pitched screaming of the Sun's engines flaring to sudden and violent life.
<< ... detected. Opposite side of
... bably trying to hide from us.
Taking the Sun to hunt it down.
Left two hawks... you.
Emperor prot...>>
Archibald's face goes very suddenly from awestruck to deadly serious. Magos, these men are yours to command until I return. I am clearly needed above. Do what you can to get some life back into this place. There are far too many mysteries here.
He turns on his heel, xenosfur cloak swirling, and struts quickly back up toward the surface.
Commander von Bastillion, report! He commands as soon as he get's a decent Vox signal.
Archibald has to backtrack a fair bit before his small vox bead gets a proper connection to one of the larger vox casters and the signal actually make it through.
As an experienced voids-man, he will immediately notice that small but telltale delay speaking of a considerable distance between sender and receiver.
Then at last, Heinrich's voice makes it back in a mostly understandable fashion.
<<Aye, Captain.
I have returned to the ship to perform the scans you ordered.
Doing so returned a contact just coasting the edge of Fundamentum.
I think there is a ship trying to hide from detected by keeping the mass of the planet between us and them.
And they became careless for a moment.
I decided to opt for speed in case the contact noticed its mistake and is staging a retreat just as we speak.
Thus, I ordered to break orbit and make fast speed to catch the lurker.
For your protection, I deployed two figter wings into a tight defensive formation around the landing site, Sir.>>
Iota raises one eyebrow as he turns to see Archibald stride away to the next issue. He hasn't had men at arms directly under him since his Xenos hunter days. And that fated meeting with Archibald. And he feels a pang of nostalgia at this.
Still - he is much more senior now than he was back then. No need to micromanage the troops.
"Sergeants. You have your orders from the Lord Rogue Trader. For everything else just follow your training. This is just a basic recon sweep except no accidental discharges may hit the generators. You may proceed."
Iota will stay clear of the room while the troops are at work, giving them room to do their own thing. Once, or if the clear is signaled he'll go in himself and check out the conditions of those ancient plasma drives - required maintenance, fuel level, connections, overload protection.
Also: are they coupled in a failover configuration or is there actually something on this station that needs enough power that two large spaceship engines must work together to supply the energy?
The sweep doesn't take long, in fact, it takes so little time the Sergeants insist on a second sweep, to make sure nervous troops didn't miss anything on the first run.
Eventually, it is declared safe, and the Explorator is capable of beginning to look for more detailed information.
Since most of the doors you've passed had either not been capable of being opened, or you simply elected to not open them, you are not sure how much of the facility is in working order, but by the read outs of the ancient drives, more than 80% of the drives energy had been taken into use previously.