House of Dust and Ash - In transit after meet with ]I[ Marr

House of Dust and Ash - In transit after meet with ]I[ Marr

by M-A Maximilian

Timestamp: 5.035.998.M41

Location: Solomon system, Markayn Marches, Calixis Sector

Situation: Just finished meeting with Inq Marr

Body: "That must be ranking among the most successful dress rehearsal in the history of man." Maxi spits, stands up and gives a sad look at the team.

"R-T. Never talk to your cadre. Talk AT them, if you must address us, do it in conversation as third persons or as furniture. Better yet silences us with a gesture of your hand or a cane. We are in a lack of better word your K-9's and you are the pack leader."

"Jeb... sigh... where to begin... Your motivation is being a bodyguard. If the R-T snuffs it...the most certain thing in the universe is not that our holy emperor loves you. No, it's your immediate death. It may be debated who will be the next R-T. But the universe will in a blink of perfect harmony agree that a bodyguard with a dead body is an useless abomination most vile and must be dealt with most violently. Eyeball threats not your demented lusts. And more you are jewelry to be seen not heard. Speak UP or shut Down. No whispering."

Maxi passes Azemuth not bothering to talk to him.

"Parsifal, Loved your passionate priest-type. I can see you as the R-T's favorite butt-boy. Being shagged by him while reading holy scripture. Attaboy, keep it up."

Maxi lastly squats down in front of Venus.

"Your a V-A-L-E-T. While playing a maiden in distress is kinda cute if you have a loaded daddy, it's mostly sad when you are a perverts second favorite play toy. Butch up boy!"

Maxi stands up again.

"Of course the fail is all mine. I wanted a perfect failure in this meet to test our response and I'm ecstatic of our success. While we have perfected our covers we have forgotten our positions. Come on. WE KNOWS THIS. We have seen it countless times. Everyone else does it because it W-O-R-K-S !!! Why shouldn't we???!"

"Step ONE. I, the the most wasteful M-A go in first and take a quick survey.
Step Two. I, call in the Ship-Magos who scans the area and in conclusion with the M-A gives OK.
Step Three. GO TEAM."

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24 comments

Comment from:

" I`m for my part disappointed beyond words at the pathetic display we just gave the Inquisitor, I for one will think on this long and hard when I decide on who goes and who stays, for if this was our dress rehearsal then we are dead men walking when we hit the ground. I suggest you all think hard on our mission and on your preformenses today and come to me tomorrow with a few points of argument on how you intend to solve this mission and the part you see your self playing in it."

11/11/10 @ 10:29

Comment from:

Venus: "I am terribly sorry...but the jinx effect...I was unable to overcome it and it shut down all of my high-level systems...and the woman...it felt like my soul was on fire too. I...it will not happen again!"

11/11/10 @ 12:12

Comment from:

Jebediah arches an eyebrow and leans back in his seat. He spits a brown substance out of the corner of his mouth and shrugs at Maxi's words. "You're not telling me anything I don't know already, big boy. The reason I opted to be the bodyguard is because I've done that before. I do not need dress rehearsals or practice to do so. I already informed you all that I am not trained in deceit and how to be something I am not. Hence I choose to be the butch guy with the gun... because that's what I am, sure as sure. As for eyeballing things - I can assure you I'd rather hump a chairleg than that girl. She creeps me out with her aura of nothingness. But while you may think I did what I did for fun and giggles, I can inform you, that whatever that girl may be capable of, she was a most capable combatant. My venture into lewdness, and my "eyeballing", informed me as much. Old merc trick when opposing the unknown... I'm sure you arbites have a different oppinion." He grins. "I kinda liked the entire display in the study myself. I don't trust any man who believes he has something to fear from imperials, and if he has made an assumption of our capabilities and skills based on what he saw today chances are we will be a surprise." Chewing for a bit on whatever it is that flavours his spit brown, he continues. "Where told that theres respected Inquisitors who might work for this "Hairlock"-fellow and tell us to avoid exposing ourselves even to other Imperial agents we might meet here, while at the same time telling us he has other pawns in the field in case we die?" Spitting again, he whipes the corner of his mouth with two fingers. "He wants us to be wary of others? Well I say we start with Silas Marr, eh? Work our way from there..."

11/11/10 @ 12:15

Comment from:

Azhmut: "While I am no expert on such things it would also appear that the room was well protected by hexagramatic wards - and there may have been further seals and wards...protection from sorcery no doubt."

11/11/10 @ 12:24

Comment from:

Parsifal: "I do not trust this Marr either, but he has the authority of the God-Emperor. I do not see what could be gained by second-guessing his intentions."

11/11/10 @ 12:25

Comment from:

"Very good people, I'm not to worried about what we found out about old Marr. What concerns me is what he found out about us, we were mighty free with info on our capabilities, Jeb and Azmuth's little talk gave away every thing we know about his defenses and fields and whatnot. And Parsifal, you don't see what a good look at someones intentions can gain - well one idea from me is: we can survive a double cross if we plan for it, but that's just me. Not to mention maxi and me fucking around having a debate about everything, yep real pros the lot of us. But I'm sure we will be fine, no need to work too hard on our covers or have. Emperor forbid, a plan! Better to play it by ear, kick ass and conquer."

11/11/10 @ 12:51

Comment from:

Jebediah lifts his eyebrow again. "You have very good hearing to hear the whispering between myself and Azhmut, Haxtes. I'll have to remember not to crack jokes about you behind your back. He turns to Parsifal. "Not saying we should second-guess him, Parsifal ol' buddy ol' pal. I'm just reading between the lines here and taking my precautions." He pauses then looks to Azhmut. "What struck me as odd though, was your words, Azhmut. You called the tech-disrupting field an abomination, right? Fully functional in the room of a man who speaks at lengths about bad people hungering for the dark lore of the Age of Technology. A field that specifically targets the machine-spirit of weapons and equipment, but might leave Xenos-tech unharmed..." Jeb scratches at his stubble. "Granted the man might be paranoid and expect the men he himself is trying to hunt down to come after him, but it still strikes me as odd... and we can't really harm ourselves by being extra careful, now can we?"

11/11/10 @ 12:59

Comment from:

To Jeb: "Crack all the jokes you want, not hard to hear whispering from right behind you. And don't worry about what I hear or don't hear, think on what you told Marr if he had sound detector/amplifiers in that room." To all: "I see potential enemies in all I meet, but that's just me me, you can trust or not trust - that's up to you all, now arm up, rest up and then lets get this done."

11/11/10 @ 13:10

Comment from:

Jebediah chuckles. "Yes, well unless its made out of stapled cardboard-tubes, I do believe that nifty anti-technology field that almost caused Venus to have a seizure would prevent such things." He winks impishly at Haxtes. "I kind of get the feeling that augury-devices as those you mention is one of the main reason that field is there in the first place... to avoid people from knowing exactly what's going on when the Inquisitor has visitors over for tea and strumpets. But in any case, resting and getting down to the practical areas of our job sounds just about right for me. I've aired my suspicions, and I believe we will all be more alert for it."

11/11/10 @ 13:19

Comment from:

Having heard on the conversations Maxi speaks again. "We're not finished with this conversation. We walked into a trap and we lost half the team and that was my responsibility. The G-T his Bodyguard and Valet are a close knitted entity. You should know how to dance together and don't have to second guess each other. That's why I'm harder on you three. Work on your response at threats and other interactions. Azimuth, when can you present the briefing from our contact?"

11/11/10 @ 13:47

Comment from:

"Harder on the 3 of us are you Maxi? Start with your job get that right and then I'll let you get all hard on who or what you like. We will study the briefing personally, Azhmut has other duties and a mission to prep for, and so do you Maximilian Dante"

11/12/10 @ 10:40

Comment from:

"We all have a mission to get ready for so let's spend some time reading the brief and prepping gear, oh and since everybody and their dear mother keep telling us how dangerous this job is...feel free to make your peace with Him on Earth before we go, have a prayer and a bit of a confession if some feel the need for that."

11/12/10 @ 11:00

Comment from:

"Hear you." "I'll take a look at the island layout, our credentials and booking. Your Valet would he very helpful if she drops by."

11/12/10 @ 11:45

Comment from:

"Venus be a darling and help Maxi out."

11/12/10 @ 12:12

Comment from:

The dataslate contains some general information about Solomon (named after Solomon Haarlock, now a Munitorum fief), its decaying industrial hives (still important for the production of supplies and munitions), the Balemire Sea (over which you'll be flying), and the House of Dust and Ash (a smallish island about a score square miles, covered with all sorts of mausoleums). Also included are details about the Cygnan Martyr, the skyship that will take you to the House. It looks like lot like a flattened cylinder, with a handful of large circular repulsor coils running down each side of the vessel. It has a limited flight ceiling and maximum speed isn't much more than 200 km/h, but it an carry hundreds of passengers and volumes of cargo in relative safety. It is armed with two double autocannon (mounted prow and stern) and several heavy pintle-mounted autoguns for close-in defense. Seems there is a problem with pirate skyship clans operating on the fringes. The captain is one Elias Shadrack, a former Guard lieutenant who was honorably discharged after being critically injured in the Margin Worlds Crusade more than a decade ago. He is believed to be fairly law-abiding and honorable. Nahun Grist is the ship's first officer. A local Solomonite he is noted as highly religious - and superstitious. He may have ties to the criminal underworld. Captain Shadrack probably knows he's running a little on the side, but choses to ignore it. The rest of the 150-man crew is barely detailed at all, just a few names and short summaries for the more important ones. There is a passenger manifest of the 100+ people travelling with you to the House.

11/14/10 @ 10:08

Comment from:

Haxtes reads the brief and memorizes the important parts. After that he spends his time getting into his role as Jax.

11/14/10 @ 18:31

Comment from:

Jeb asks one of the savants (meaning Azhmut or Venus) to scan the manifest for any odd or out of place names. Like other offworlders, known fanatical suicide-bombers etc. Just to avoid in-flight surprises.

11/14/10 @ 19:43

Comment from:

There are only two who stand out as being potentially dangerous in this context; Adepts Vymer and Quill. Who are probably not Adepts of Terra at all, but some sort of bounty hunters or bonded agents.

11/15/10 @ 09:36

Comment from:

Anyone else wanting to make some special preparations? I'll add more info regarding the House when you get there; it's in the brief, but not relevant at this stage.

11/16/10 @ 14:06

Comment from:

Well, if possible Jeb wouldn't mind some kind of blueprint or layout of the auction-house (though if security is so tight as they say, that might not be easy to obtain). It may be part of the briefing or available in some other way, and if so memorizing the layout of the building gives the ex-merc something to do on the flight there. And perhaps play some cards or dice with First Officer Grist - see if he'll divulge some information on possible underworld contacts.

11/16/10 @ 14:41

Comment from:

I'll guess we have information about "dress code" so we won't have any boring conversation in the "wardrobe" among the line: "I'm sorry sirs and lady, but heavy-explosives and auto-cannons are not accessories we generally accept at this fine establishment." Maxi has studied formal protocol n'stuff. during the trip he keeps his eyes on any who moves around the corridors outside the cabin and not much more. (You know what I mean. If its one big room he keep watch over immediate area, if it's corridors and cabins read above.)

11/16/10 @ 15:27

Comment from:

You'll be allowed to bring personal sidearms to the island, but you're not supposed to bring any weapons to the actual auction hall. But security, while tight on the surface, is actually completely laughable - for the right coin you can get anything short of explosives and heavy weapons past the scrutiny of local security. Or you could probably smuggle something onto the island if you really wanted to, but that does seem a bit redundant. There are maps and blueprints of the island and the structures upon it - but many areas are not detailed or the images are dated or just inaccurate looking. You get a fair idea of the general layout of things. But the gritty details are not available to you.

11/17/10 @ 22:23

Comment from:

Once you've made your preparations you descend to the surface of Solomon again (I'm presuming you returned to the Maiden, but that's not strictly necessary) - time is up and if your want to go aboard the Cygnan Martyr you must be aboard before it leaves the sky-dock.

11/17/10 @ 22:25

Comment from:

Sweetness and the powered fun-stick as side arms. A smoke grenade and a flash bang grenade is tucked in good in my uniform. (only to deny easy access for pick pocketing, not as an attempt to hide them) His plan is to follow protocol or the "bended" protocol. He doesn't mind what other brings. But he would appreciate a head up if anything "exotic" however unlikely could show up in a sec-check. "Jax Guiliman R-T, Ready at your command."

11/17/10 @ 22:48

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