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Tristan takes a sip of his drink as he approaches, waving the three men to continue their conversation with a charming smile, hoping to make a good impression and play up Eli in their eyes.
Please, carry on gentlemen. Eli is my most capable commander and it would be rude of me to interrupt your talk, i'll merely listen in.
Commander Kage nods an acknowledgment to the Lord-Captain as he walks over before returning to his conversation. It sounds like the city is in good hands. We'll thin out this horde as best we can before you face it. Perhaps, with luck, you can break them upon your walls. His tone indicates he doesn't think this will happen.
Jarrion was glad to see the High Factorum. He really craved the void right now and to take his frustrations at his lack of social graces out upon some one,maybe one of the whore of maybe he would just space one of those adapts, hardly worth him training the new ones.
"As you say lord captain I am ill at ease upon the ground, without the deck platting beneath my feet. However Duty call that I be here, among both my peers and those beneath me. After all if the orks make land fall we can hardly bleed the locales dry now can we?" He says with the most charming smile he can manage.
Charm(38)
Jarrion seems to have managed to finally make a good impression, but not so much to Lady Orleans. She has made he feeling clear and cannot go back on them without seeming weak. However, the feelings of the various lesser guests politely listening to the back and forth between two such powerful individuals has subtly changed. Whereas before they laughed on cue at the Rogue Trader's insults, now they seem slightly uncomfortable at her somewhat crude impoliteness. As a result, she is eager to move the focus to Havelock
"Are you here merely to enjoy a last night of relaxation, or do you seek to discuss matters of defence away from that damnable council"
"Do not be so quick to dismiss the fortifications, commander. They have been tested in the past - Damaris has not always been peacefully unified."
There's a sudden surge of laughter some distance away and Blitz delivers a punchline. The General scowls before turning to Tristan.
"I am pleased you have joined us, Lord-Captain Casimir."
He seems more courteous than he was with Eli - probably due to the respect the Void-master's tactical insight has earned your dynasty.
"I want to talk to you both frankly. I know the governor invited you to join the 'defence council' but really it's an ill-conceived idea. He needed re-enforcements, and sort to draw you in with promises of authority. An now look at the mess it has become. The fact of the matter is this. Rogue Traders and their crew are exceptional individuals. You can, as necissary, be emissaries, generals, warriors, merchants and so on. However consider this. In all the time you have been honing this multitude of skills myself and Orran have been learning one thing and one thing only: How to protect Damaris."
Pride begins to creep into his voice
"Between us we know every inch of this system. There is nothing the enemy can do that we have not considered and planned against. We have both bled for our homeworld and our men know this and respect us for it. And we will fight all the harder because unlike you we have nowhere to run. If you truely care for the fate of this world, you will accept our authority and become auxillaries to the Highland Levy for the duration of this crisis. The people of this world deserve nothing less."
Those last thoughts are saturated with fear
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Sarvus manipulates the key-lock's control pannel and the servants door swings quietly open. Beyond, you see a huge, darkened kitchen. All the staff are presumably working at the Banquet Hall. There is a small door on the wall to your right and a large pair of double doors at the far end. On the heavy table at the center of the camber the carcuss of a rare quilled grox lies defrosting.
You slip into the kitchen and shut the door behind you. The faint electric glow of fly-lanterns is the only illumination.
"Between us we know every inch of this system. There is nothing the enemy can do that we have not considered and planned against. We have both bled for our homeworld and our men know this and respect us for it. And we will fight all the harder because unlike you we have nowhere to run. If you truely care for the fate of this world, you will accept our authority and become auxillaries to the Highland Levy for the duration of this crisis. The people of this world deserve nothing less."
I agree that your expertise is valuable. And again, I don't much care who takes over here as long as someone does. I'll leave the convincing to the Lord-Captain. He nods to Tristan as he speaks.
But here is my sole concern: How long have you had to organize your forces? And yet they remain in disarray. You are both well-versed in leading men who follow you out of respect and duty. It is another to command the likes of Rogue Traders and members of the Imperial Fleet. Some fight for money, or glory, or even for the thrill of it. If you had the ability to control them, my guess is that you'd have done it by now. Eli shakes his head. No, what Damaris needs is someone who acknowledges your particular skills and knowledge, but can also handle the likes of Captains like Blitz there.
An opening, just a hairs width, time to crack it open so wide I can drive a baneblade through it.
"I do not...relax until after the business at hand is completed. Once the xeno fall to our might I shall, until then I will not let down my guard."
Iacton does his best to affect a forceful yet polite personality.
"You have the look of someone like me, this gathering is not a mere social thing, you see...opportunity here."
Turning to the Tech-Priest beside him, Lucius whispers "I don't suppose you would be able to get ahold of a floor plan? Or at least directions to the data-vault?"
Lucius hears servos moving within the cowl of Sarvus' hood.
"I need a terminal for that:: It will leave a trail::"
"The small door to start::"
Reynolds cringes at this, and interupts
"Remi, you cannot seriously be suggesting dismissing the largest ship ship we have and the fastest ship we have? Second largest ship, sorry. I know we are resigned to letting the Orks through, but there is a point when bending with an attack becomes being helplessly brushed aside"
The General scowls briefly but does look to Tristan
"Ok, I concede that was an ill conceived remark. Well, how about this. You, Lord-Captain, convince Orleans and Blitz to fall into line on my behalf?"
It doesn't take expert scrutiny to realizes he knows that request to be unreasonable
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Sarvus, you reason that a networked terminal would be used to track stock, and the small door would lead to a storeroom. Sure enough, it opens and you find yourself in a high-ceilinged room lined with shelves. The are mostly empty. A large metal door lies at the far end- probably a walk-in refrigerator. And, sure enough, there is a terminal on an iron table next to you (it was a +10 logic test).
As you activate it, you recognize the machine spirit residing within - it will summon guards if agitated, rather than merely bar your entry.
While nothing changes in Iactons facial expression, inwardly he smiles.
"I fear you are flying by outdated astro charts, as my honourable comrade might put it. Honourable lady, I fear I must inform you that captain Blitz seems to have had a change of heart...more accurate might be to say that his heart was changed FOR him."
Not a baneblade yet, but a Chimera at least...the scumball is in your part of the courtyard, let's see you pitch it.
Iacton is quite pleased, his show of false strength has been well received, and she has virtually fed him another line.
However, in this situation it is best not to get ahead of oneself, let her do most of his work for him. How will she react now that her primary backer has sided with another player?
Iacton suspects that if he tips the scales just a little further...
"Indeed, after careful negotiations with the governor, it seems MY lord Casmirre plan has the backing of the home-grown forces as well..."
I have played an emperor and an Aquila so far, and hopefully I have given away the impression of having at least one more emperor in my hand...
Iacton makes sure to stress the word "my", as to make it seems like it is actually the man behind the throne that really came up with the plan, after all, she did not want to talk with anybody lower than that.
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Hmm... This will require some delicate handling. Damn but Eli has done well here so far, this commander's a difficult sort.
Raising an eyebrow at the bluntness of the General's request, Tristan approaches the matter delicately- trying to assess why the General was being so unreasonable.
Sir, Blitz and Orleans' ships are indeed vital to the war effort. With full access to the planet and with complete air supremacy the Orks will be nigh-unstoppable, my Commander would have told you this I am sure. Blitz, Bishop Arint and Goveror Kapak have already given me their vote on the Defence Council, and Orleans will either fall in line or be outvoted. I am a good man Sir, with a capable crew of senior officers. The other Rogue Traders will not follow your leadership nor can we afford to do without them; you were all at an impasse when we arrived here, an impasse we are already so close to resolving.
Your allowing your pride to cloud your reason- I can see you care deeply about this world, but your very dismissal of the forces that have arrived to help you could doom the planet. The expertise you and your leutenant have in defending Damaris at a planet level will indeed be tremendously valuable; but that is only half the war. I expect to call upon your expertise and carefully consider your council on this half of the war, but its clear that you have little experience of battles in the air; why would you with no warp capable vessels? With our knowledge of the air and your expertise on the ground; together we stand the best chance of keeping this glorious planet alive. I may be a stranger to your world but I care deeply for its survival, its testament to the will of man to endure even in such a hostile place as the Koronus Expanse. We will make our stand here along such fine men as yourselves; and if Damaris falls, so do we. Under my supreme command, we can finally unite every element of Damaris and face the Orks as one, united force to match their own.
Tristan glances at Eli, smiling a little.
We have them.
Sarvus moves over to the cogitator and attempts to access the system without setting off any alarms.
Risk factor unacceptable:: Disciplinary action necessary for such lack of skill::
The banquet hall is lined with plate glass windows that afford impressive views of the capital. General Dante looks out of one of them for a few second - far more than a mere glance. You notice his hand has come to rest on the hilt of his ceremonial sword and, perhaps unconsiously, his thumb runs over the Damaris crest etched on it's hilt. Finally, he turns back to Tristan
"So be it. So be it. Lord Captain, the Highland Levy are yours to command. I don't need to tell you the scale of the honour I am bestowing. Know this, however. If you fail us, and the greenskins take the captial, I will personally ensure you do not escape while the planet dies. We're all in this together now."
He and Reynolds salute Eli and Tristan...
...just as Havelock finishes his pitch
"Indeed, after careful negotiations with the governor, it seems MY lord Casmirre plan has the backing of the home-grown forces as well..."
Orleans glances around the room at the saluting Damarian commanders, the Bishop nodding in approval, the two astropaths engaged in silent discussion and Blitz loudly declaring a toast to Lord Casimirre.
"Well, Havelock. I said in the council meeting that I can call on a panel of experts equal to those of Tristan. I think that remark was premature. It is clear now that the Casimirre dynasty are the best option Damaris has, and the surest route to profit for all of us. You can count on my support"
She turns to Jarrion
"Mr Nostravi, I am sorry for my remarks earlier. Looking back they were an overly crude way of testing one's character. I look forward to working with you."
As the tension of negotiations ebbs away you realize for the first time that the music has started. Orleans apparently does too.
"Care for the next dance, Havelock?"
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Lucius, there is an alarm switch on the wall of the room. As Sarvus goes about his arcane work, you see a digital timer below it light up and begin to count down from five...
four...
three...
two...
Sarvus continues, oblivious.
one...
You reach for you lasgun when the timer stops a few fractions of a second off zero. It winks out. Sarvus, you are none the wiser. All you know is you've accessed the palace's internal archive and have a floorplan.
Using the floorplan you are able to make your way descretely to the elevator enterence. You meet nobody along the way. You stop at the top of the spiral staircase leading down to it. You know that in the dimly lit room below are two Skitarri tech-guard and a door to the elevator shaft leading down to the data vault.
Sarvus turns to Lucius.
"That uniform is no longer required:: There will be monitors in the vault: we do not wish to have you recorded in it::"
Only years of hard discipline, gained from bounty hunting and dedication to whatever task is set before him stops Iacton from Cringing.
I got the baneblade through, unfortunately, it is heading straight towards me.
Steeling himself he affects a smile, bows and offers lady Orleans his arm.
"My pleasure my lady, shall we?"
The emperor protects, but he makes demans as well.
With a quick statement of "Very well," Lucius strips and quickly changes back into his official uniform before hiding the scavenged uniform and weapons, and re-arming himself with his own weapons. Turning to the Explorator, he asks "Are you ready? Do you have a cover for us being here?"
"My rank will grant us access:: Disguising what we access will be more difficult:: I will convince the machine spirits of the vault to assist us with the Skitarri: and your weapon will be necessary if I fail::"
"Of coarse Lord Captain" Jarrion says with a smile, but he will recall the sub she gave him. Oh yes the winds of the void drifted in many, many ways. "I do believe that is our cue, after you Lord-Captain Orleans"
Havelock, ballroom dancing is something of a first for you. You are not an oaf, however. You are able to lead Orleans through the dance as well as she would expect of you. If you wish, however, you can make an agility test at +10 to do so impressively. There is both risk and reward involved in doing so...
"I do believe that is our cue, after you Lord-Captain Orleans"
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Lucius strips and quickly changes back into his official uniform before hiding the scavenged uniform and weapons, and re-arming himself with his own weapons
Sarvus can carry your hammer for you, but for your disguise ruse to work you will have to ditch your hellgun.
I think there is a little confusion as to what you could and couldn't sneak in whilst disguised. Because your disguise wasn't actually tested, I will allow you to spend a fate point to say Sarvus is carrying the hellgun as well (this would have been a problem had you been challenged).
Your uniform and enforcer light carapace, however, is safely hidden in the palace grounds. You can't wear one suit of uniform body armour over another suit of uniform body armour. You will have to make do with the clothing you have.
alternatively, a challenging (+0) concealment check will allow you to return to the grounds, retrieve your weapons and make it back to your current location without being detected. The gala really has made your job easier
Well done, Commander... Did you learn anything else of note?
If the other two men have moved away:
Both Commander Reynolds and General Dante seem competent. They have a good grasp of what we'll need to do to win this battle. Unfortunately, I had to do most of the talking, but the details of local defenses are beyond a conversation at a gala anyway. He goes on to explain the basics of the planetary defenses that he's learned.
alternatively, a challenging (+0) concealment check will allow you to return to the grounds, retrieve your weapons and make it back to your current location without being detected. The gala really has made your job easier
Correction, weapons and armour.
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Well done, Commander... Did you learn anything else of note?If the other two men have moved away:
Both Commander Reynolds and General Dante seem competent. They have a good grasp of what we'll need to do to win this battle. Unfortunately, I had to do most of the talking, but the details of local defenses are beyond a conversation at a gala anyway. He goes on to explain the basics of the planetary defenses that he's learned.
Your service is exemplary as always Eli. I'm going to go have a talk with Locke of the Imperial Navy... Perhaps talking with one you have more in common with will be to your liking? Would you accompany me?
Of course, Lord-Captain.
Jarrion is more then happy to let someone else handle the lord captain. He'll drink his wine while watching and listening and missing the feel of a good solid ships deck under his feet and away from all these ground pounders.
"Ah, Lord Captain Casimirre. Good to see you value your command crew enough for them to be attending at your side. Tell me, is the Steadfast the first ship you have guided into the expanse? I seem to recall a patrol frigate operating out of Port Wander was commanded by a Captain Casimirre around a decade ago."
"So you do know how to take centre stage when you wish to. You're a man of many talents, Seneschal. If we all live through this, we must arrange a private meeting. Perhaps we could share an endevour"
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Sarvus takes off the hellgun back pack and hands it back to Lucius. Lucius, you feel properly balanced again with the deadly laser strapped to your back. Below you the skitarri stand oblivious. You are certain that they won't be concerned by a palace guard with non-standard weaponry. In fact, they will probably approve of extra measures being taken to protect a tech-adept.
Seeing Lucius is ready to descend, Sarvus heads down to the skitarri. Standing before the imperiously he waits for them to acknowledge him and open the door to the data vault.
Eli hangs back during the conversation and lets Tristan take the lead. He stands and watches the initial introduction coldly.
Tristan's demeanor has changed slightly. Eli recognizes that he has moved from the dynamic explorer he presented to Blitz to a more hard-bitten war-captian.
"The very same, captain. I helmed the Watchman through an eventful enough career. There is something to be said for it, is there not? The power of a warship is one thing, but the responsibility of exercising it beyond the confines of formations and battlegroups so common back in the imperium is another step. The vaguries of the expanse can test a captain's mettle just as surely as a pitched battle"
"It is often harder to choose a destination than plot a course. In the blessed imperium the emporer's word is passed down through the chain of command, but out here we must interpret it for ourselves. Alas, everyone on the defence council has come to a different interpretation. Perhaps the imperial approach is what a world like this deserves. After all, it has gone to such lengths to match the standards of less isolated systems. Here we have a world worth defending. You reputation precedes you, captain. I know you are unmatched at ship level. It would be folly to distract you from your craft once the Orks are engaged."
Captain Locke seems as impressed by the Rogue Trader as everyone else at the gala.
"Wise words, Lord Casimirre. Wise words indeed. I can see why so many others have already fallen in behind you. I don't doubt your leadership skills, but I also know there is a reason you hold your advisors in such high esteem."
Some part of her must be slightly cautious of taking the Rogue Trader at face value. She turns to Eli.
"Commander Kage, am I correct? You may not wear the uniform but you are clearly a navy man through and through. You must be where Lord Casimirre draws is console on fleet matters. I don't mean to be little him, of course. I just know mastery of Naval combat requires every waking hour. A Rogue Trader does not have such time. Tell me. How best would a light cruiser such as the Aegis be utilized in the coming battle?"
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The cybernetically augmented voice of the Skitarri is grainy and course, betraying vocal augmentics designed for bellowing orders and filtering gas rather than holding conversation.
"Your credentials are varified, explorator. You are allowed limited access to the data vault for purposes relating exclusively to prospecting within the Kronos expanse. Your visit will be reported at the onset of the next planetary cycle. You will be required to justify you recordings to the High Magos. A transcript of them will automatically be taken and made available to him"
In front of you, the lift door opens. Sarvus steps into it, and the Skitarri continues
"Guardsman, you may await here until the explorator's duties are concluded at which time you may resume your escort"
Eli frowns, You are mistaken Captain Locke. Lord-Captain Casmirre is well-versed in the ways of naval combat. It's true that normally mastery of such things would take a lifetime, but as a Rogue Trader, the Lord-Captain is not a common man.
As to how to properly use a Light Cruiser? Obviously, it should escort the Steadfast. We will be drawing considerable attention from the Ork fleet and a faster escort vessel will be required to counter the enemy's attack and finish off the larger vessels as the fight moves on. But any naval officer could have told you that. What is it you actually want to know from me, Captain Locke?
With a quick nod of his head and a crisp "Understood." Lucius stands at attention outside the door, staying attentive to everything going on around him.
Sensing that the lady's words have a deeper meaning, Iacton is however unable to truly comprehend exactly what she means. But in the interest of fostering goodwill and possibly help strengthen ties between the lady and his captain he nods and smiles politely.
"It shall be a pleasure lady."
Sarvus nods his head, all but imperceptible within the confines of his robe. Moving in to the data vault he will access the cogitators.
She may still sound unconvinced from her words alone, but her tone tells you that you both have all but convinced her you are worthy leaders of Damaris' defenders. All you need to do now is tell some war stories.
She moves away, leaving you and Jarrion to mingle
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Sarvus, you take a full minute to descend in the lift. The data-vault is lit only by ancient candles lit be a creaking servitor that makes that lurches into life as you enter the room. The vault itself is a large armoured core surrounded by grumbling generator gears and cogenitor arrays. There is dust pooled around it's single terminal, but the screen has recently been whiped clean.
Meanwhile, Lucius stands facing the Skitarri. To your surprise, one of them turns his cybernetic mask towards you and makes what sounds like an attempt at small talk:
"Are you aware which ship your charge hails from, guardsman?"
Eli snorts in response to Locke's answer, seemingly unimpressed. When the conversation turns towards war stories he begs his leave, The Lord-Captain is much more entertaining than I concerning stories of battle. We fought, we won, we moved on to the next. I'll leave you to it.
I will try to hide it. I'd rather not kill any guards if I can avoid it, we're going to need them all. If the Magos finds out then hopefully I'll be safely aboard the ship by then.
A bit suprised at the Skitarri guard speaking to him, Lucius turns to the guard that spoke, and in a crisp, professional manner, responds. "The specific ship? I am afraid not. I am fairly certain he is from one of the ones that responded to the Lord Governor's distress call, but other than that, I do not know, sir."
On you cue Eli, Tristan begins to spin a yarn about the victories of your dynasty. There are some exaggerations there but Locke doesn't seem to be interested in calling him out on them. It's clear you two have won her over.
The remainder of the party passes without incident. If none of you have any further actions you wish to perform, the gala reaches it's conclusion and the guests trickle away. The time has come to return to your lodgings and discuss the events of the night.
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Lucius, the two Skitarri turn to one another and exchange that strange scratching sounds you sometimes hear Sarvus produce.
Meanwhile, in the data vault, Sarvus coaxes the powerful machine spirit inhabiting the data vault to put right the mischief done to it. Sure enough, the scrambled data on the screen slowly reforms into the missing auger log. It's an automated report which has probably never been seen by human eyes. The gist of it is thus:
An Imperial-pattern transport ship identified as the Spectre exited the warp three months ago just within the bounds of the Frozen Reaches. It then lay at anchor for a week before promptly leaving. In that time, one ship passed within hailing range of it - Commander Reynold's flagship defence monitor. However, it apparently did not change course or respond to the idling ship in any way, despite the fact it would easily have detected it.
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Tristan's tales consisted of many victories in the Koronus Expanse as the captain of a long-range Tempest Class Frigate, in particular some victories against the hated Orks. He mentions a victory against a Chaos vessel, but seems hesitant to use the word 'victory' for a moment; glancing unconciously at Eli as he briefly remembers many experiences he usually tries to forget.
Interesting:: Information restored:: Factor in Captain's plans::
Having gained the information Sarvus will exit the chamber and gather Lucius before making his way back to the others.