Maxi arrives if possible with Vern or Silon.

The rest of the group arrives to wherever it is Haxtes has called them - presumably a fairly secure location, but not a Inquisition safehouse? There are no refreshments save those that each person brought with him. Shoddy service...

"You all made it at last, good for you. There is a problem that needs seeing too. Our masters have just had a bit of success, it seems the whole mess with the choir worked out just they way old Globus wanted too. Well apart from the sad demise of its new forgiven leader that is...... cant win them all " "For Strophes it did not work out and there is a lesson there for you - Strophes has worked with loyalty and honor for the Inquisition for decades and all he gets when he needs them is a 'sorry' - if that - and to see his family's murderers go free because they are bigger assets to Globus than his house is. Enough about others." "I said there is a lesson for you here and it is. This worked out good for all, all but Venus. We have served far shorter and with far less honor than Strophes, we have seen just how far the gratitude of our masters go. If we don't get that anti-toxin who will? Someone needs to get that from the The Serrated Query if we don't do that for our girl who will?"

"If this kind of thing is not your cup of recaff, you walk out the door and don't speak of this to our masters."

"You speak harsh words, more true than I would like. But your words and reasoning are heretical and treasonous, you question and guessing ours betters motives. You dare to slander the Holy Ordos and think we would cross our oath. I will follow you many places Agent, but never away from the All-seeing Vision and Guidance of our Immortal Emperor. What's your motive?"

Haxtes looks at maxi and smiles " If you don't want too be a part of this, I understand. Just stand up and walk out the door. Its easy to walk away Maxi, you have your betters in the Ordos to think for you. I hope they protect you more than they protected Venus when your time comes " After Maxi takes his leave: "Now lets get down too business, we know the he Serrated Query is behind this. We know they deal in Xeno tech, but we don't know how they make money day to day. What is their power base? How do we hit it hard until they give us the anti toxin? Ideas on this all?"

Odessa: "If we are going to do something about Venus then we have to do something creative and quick - I've been in telepathic contact with Xerza recently and she informed me that Venu's body is being packed and made ready for transportation to the Lathes Mechanicus (i.e. the primary AdMech stronghold in Calixis Sector). I didn't understand exactly what was wrong with her, but Sand has concluded that her system is all fried and that he can't revive her, but they are hoping the Mechanicus might be successful." Vern: "Well, the Mechanicus probably wants to retrieve whatever data her mind contains, but I don't see how they would be overly concerned with reviving her. As a psyker she is pretty much anathema to them."

Jarra: "Count me in." Silon: "I guess...whatever...count me in as well." Ignace: "You getting soft Haxtes? I gotta see this. I'm in."

"Venus will be put on ice by those creeps over our cold dead bodies, so that's not happening. Silon and Vern you are on info snooping in public record big I, local government and Adepta. Get in how you can and get what you can. Vern I'll need a study on how we can if we run out of time extract Venus and what we need to get together to keep her going until we find an anti-toxin. Ignace, Odessa you work under world and mutant contacts, find what you can how you can, we will count bodies and blood another day. Jarra, you and I are going to the other hive and kick up a little shit storm in the hood. I know an ex-enforcer turned thug who is dying to help us get access to all he knows. Questions?"

Maxi: Did Maxi actually leave or was it just Haxtes mouthing of as usual? The rest of the team depart the meeting to pursue their tasks. Jarra and Haxtes returns to Haxtes' old haunt to have word with a certain ex-Magistratum officer.

A couple of days later Haxtes and Jarra returns from their trip to Hive Sibellus. Mr. Severus, the Green Coat officer turned drug dealer, had proven most cooperative. Unfortunately he didn't have anything substantial to add - he knew of the Serrated Query by hearsay only. Turned out it's sort of a bugaboo organization among both enforcers and criminals. Once you reach a certain level of importance you get to hear about the Query...but you never really get to interact with them. At least not in Severus' case. But in all honesty he was small fry. And you really didn't have time to work you way up his drug-dealing organization.

well , thats all good, he knowns nothing. But he knows a name one step up. This is for one of us our sister and he better have a name or he dies non the less

(OOC: Sorry for my late response.) Maxi did actually leave as Haxtes was mouthing of.

Mr. Severeus is most cooperative - he's former Magistratum you know, so he's got no integrity. No need to do any killing (unless you really want to) at the moment as he readily coughs up a name. But there are time issues that prevent you from following up on that lead - you have to head back to Tarsus to meet the others.

Ignace and Odessa have pursued their own line of inquiry (in Tarsus) and come up with much the same as Haxtes and Jarra - the name 'Serrated Query' is known on the street, but it's not something that you talk about. Rather is more of the criminal organization equivalent of the bogeyman - the big bad secret organization that you know is hiding in your cupboard or beneath your bed (even though you've never really seen it). They have, however, also come up with something with a little more promise - as you work your way upwards in the underword the Query suddenly becomes something tangible. They've found several underword groups that they thing are paying the equivalent of protection money - not directly to the Query, but rather to other organizations that may be forwarding money to these secret masters. If they had more time and resources this lead could be worth following.

Silon and Vern have also gathered data - a preliminary sifting of the Arbites Central Archives have revealed numerous references to a shadow criminal organization labeled the 'Serrated Query'. There are several individual case files, as well as some now-terminated investigations into the group as a whole. The Arbites currently has the group tagged as a criminal organization, but not one that warrants Arbites attention. Magistratum archives are less rewarding. There are no real leads here, except for a sense that something is missing. Vern suggests that the Divisio Immoralis may be involved, but he doesn't have access to their systems and no time to arrange it either. The Inquisition has extensive files, but most follow-up work on Arbites/Magistratum reports from different time periods; the overall conclusion seems to be that the Query is neither as powerful as is supposed, nor that it represents a moral threat to the Imperium of Man (rendering it outside Inquisition jurisdiction - and more importantly, interest).

Then we wait for Vern and Silon, if they have nothing. Then we go directly to plan B. Get Venus out and at a safe location to minimize time issues

Vern also informs you that Venus is currently held in stasis in the Haegum medicae-bay, pending transfer to the Maiden of Golgenna which is scheduled to depart Scintilla for the Lathes within the next 48 hours. She is to have a small escort of Inquisition troopers to guard her. Tech-priest Azhmut has been assigned as liaison to Mecahnicus and Maxi and is in charge of the bodyguard. If you are to take physical control of her body it would have to happen after she leaves the Haegum; perhaps aboard the Maiden as you have some contacts there. That should only be done if there are no other options...what you really need is a bit more time to continue the investigation. Vern suggest that perhaps the Maiden could be diverted somehow - transporting a body in stasis is not a high-priority task, so if something else came up and forced the Maiden to detour?

"If you can make that happen Vern that's good, there is also the need to be sure that they don't use another ship. If we need to hit them we do it in the shuttle, gassing the compartment, that will knock them out, except Azhmut. Then we take Venus up to the maiden, and place the prisoners in the void room (Maxi and Azhmut in stasis). Then the maiden can take a long Sunday drive on the fringe of the system until we recall her, as far as all are concerned Venus and the maiden have left and Azhmut and Maxi have gone with her to Lathes."

"and Maxi and is in charge of the bodyguard." bodyguard???! I believe the correct term is "Escort team". I guess Maxi is leading the team because of his experience with boarding situation on the maiden and more importantly it's a low priority escort. Therefore his seniority is not an issue. If his orders and briefing are more than: "Guard, watch, pray, observe." Please elaborate.

Maxi: The Big I doesn't concern itself with Arbites naming conventions. "Guard, watch, pray, observe." Pretty much sums it up.

Haxtes: That should probably be you plan B; assaulting Inquisition troopers won't make you very popular, even if you're doing it some semi-altruistic reasons. Fortunately Vern comes up with a plan. It's rather on the complex side of things, but if it works you will only have bent the rules (a lot) rather than made an attack on the =][=. For some that's rather important. Vern has earned that your old acquaintance, Inq. Globus Varaak has requested priority transport from Scintilla to Iochantos, but been denied. Only now he's about to get an offer from the Haegum he can't refuse - to use the Maiden of Golgenna for the assignment. At the same time the transport of Venus will be retasked to another ship...only someone will forget to inform the shuttle crew and the bodyguard of the fact. So they meet up with the Maiden as planned and keep to their assignment - only now it will take a wee bit longer while the Maiden visits a world dozens of light-years in the wrong direction. That should give you more than enough time to work out the rest of the details regarding the Query and Venus' state - speaking of which there has been a slight development: Vern thinks there is a slim chance that Ghostfire Pollen extract might help Venus. The stuff is known to have semi-mystical properties (it's also an ingredient in some combat drugs, including Calixis-produced frenzon) and has a documented ability to revive deeply comatose patients. The stuff is - incidentally - harvested exclusively on Iochantos...which is why Vern chose the Globus angle. It's highly restricted though, supposedly 100% goes to Imperial brokers, but Vern figures that there must be some black marketing on the ground. That only leaves one minor item - someone should go along on the trip. To keep an eye on Venus and get the Ghostfire pollen, and to liaison with Globus' people. Vern needs to stay to continue his work and Odessa/Ignace are both needed to pursue the leads you already have. Leaving Haxtes, Jarra and/or Silon as possible candidates. Provided you buy Vern's plan at all.

The plan is as good as we have, Haxtes will go him self as he knows a thing or two about the black marked. if Ignace is not needed to help vern \ odessa then he can come too to give us the right flavor of underground \ mutant hard men sendt to by drugs for the 'Serrated Query' :)

Ops; it should have read Odessa/Ignace needs to stick around and help Vern! But you're right in that would be a great asset to have along - so you could take him and leave Jarra and Silon to cover for him (they aren't nearly as good at skulking around the underworld as he is). So which is it? Bring Ignace or bring Jarra + Silon?

Maxi and Azhmut are of course blissfully unaware of this little plot...

Haxtes will go alone, its good for the soul too stand alone somtimes, cant get too dependent on the others. Another factor is that if they need too folow up on some of the clues there, then they have a full team in place. Haxtes will draw on globus`s lot if the shit hits the fan.

And let's not forget - you have Maxi around too! Arrangements are made - mostly by Vern, who isn't just good at reading up on stuff, but who is also very good at coordinating and remembering all the little details. He's a great asset if you can bear with his long-winded notes and the occasional preaching and wisdom-sharing. Haxtes is assigned as Haegum liaison to Globus' team and the Maiden is re-tasked to carry them to Iocanthos. You wonder a bit how they are managing to circumvent security (especially with Venus out of circulation). Better not ask. Soon he's on a shuttle headed for the waiting starship. So is Maxi's group - somehow the order to rendezvous with another ship has failed to reach them. And the Maiden's crew doesn't seem to have caught on either - or maybe they are in in the plot? Jax greets his brother as he comes aboard. Not exactly a warm familiar welcome, but a politely correct one. After the pleasantries you're informed that Interrogator Castilas would like to see you at your earliest convenience. Yup, had to be him. Last time you met he gave you this bad gut feeling. Now it's back with a vengeance. Maxi and the others also dock with the Maiden and go about their affairs. You are welcomed aboard. There is no mention of any change of plans.

Haxtes dear brother gets a nod and thats about it. Haxtes goes to see Interrogator Castilas. Haxtes is in batle gear but with hes helmet off too soften eny impresion he might give off too Castilas. "Interrogator you asked to see me, I`m now here "

"Merely a courtesy call to our liaison. That's all. Jebediah and Parsifal you already know." The big man just nods in recognition while young Parsifal actually gives you a hearty smile. "The last member of my team is new to you. This is Karen - formerly rogue psyker, now reformed and a honor graduate from the Scholastia Psykana." Karen is a short dark-haired woman of indeterminable age. You guess should would have been pretty if she had some more flesh on her, but now she's not much more than a walking pile of bones. She has big boobs though - definitely cosmetic work. The Psykana tattoo on her cheek gives her away as a sanctioned psyker. "I'm unsure how involved you are going to be in our mission, but I suppose that you'll at least be following us in to monitor. The short version of our mission brief is that there have been reports of psychic phenomena around an outlying settlement on Iochantos. Could be many reasons for that, but the most likely one is that the indigen witch-doctors are stirring up some low-level disturbances. There's a big cathedral being built on a local holy site - a focuse for the spread of the Creed - and such events have upset the indigens in the past. We have a man on the ground, not an acolyte, but a trusted agent nonetheless. He's request backup so as to be able to determine the cause of the disturbances - and put a definite end to them."

Haxtes smiles back and nods a greting to the others " If you need my help with your mission, I`m sure my master wont mind if I get involved. Apart from that I`l take some time planet side and see the sights"

Jebediah replies to that: "I know you're a man that can handle all sorts of stuff, but still...Iochantos is not a good place to be alone. By the Eye - it's not a good place to be in a group either. I would know - it's my home. Violence is very common, less so perhaps within the confines of Port Suffering (i.e. the only major Imperial settlement on the planet), but outside there is no end of people wanting to hurt or kill. You're no stranger to that yourself of course...but on Iochantos tempers flare easily over trifles...take care not to be swept along by that feeling."

A warning klaxon sounds. Followed by a feminine(?) voice over the intercom: "Attention all personnel. Detaching mooring lines in Five-Four..." There are several more such warnings - about engaging maneuvering thrusters and somewhat later about engaging sublight drives. Then the tech-heresy is silent again.

"I thank you for the warning and I will remember it well. "

The trip to Iochantos is not entirely uneventful - having Maxi and Haxtes on the same ship without having someone to babysit...no ship is big enough for that... Maxi and his guards are confined to quarters while Haxtes continues making contacts in Globus' cadre. Except for Castilas the team seems OK - Jebediah and Parsifal both seem dependable and both are skilled killers in their own way. Karen seems a decent sort for a psyker. Haxtes also makes a sort of peace settlement with the Maiden - now that she's been neutered by some well-placed charges she's less of a danger. When it turns out she has something of a interest in snubbing the Mechanicus Haxtes is able to enlist her aid in reviving Venus. Azhmut isn't going to help - but neither is he going to actively oppose an attempt at revival. He'll just turn a blind eye to the whole thing.