Jeb: Grist is too old at this game to start trusting a new customer; but he's not above doing some business with you. After all he must take what opportunities present themselves - he can't wait forever. So if you want some narcs - or are in need of having something smuggled onto the island...Grist is your man.

Haxtes will need hes full kit; swords, pistols, shield, armour, poisons...well the works.

Maxi haven't planned to stay awake for 25 hours, so some kind of watch shift are arranged between him and most likely Azhmut. That would leave Jax and his more personal cadre to roam free as needed.

Haxtes/Jax: Everything is packed and brought along for the trip. Including your long-las (if you want it; it looks like just another travel case when stowed). Are you bringing additional armsmen from the special platoon? It would look odd to take all of them, but a handful could be quite useful for standing guard and stuff.

yes we will bring our best squad

An ordinary escort squad of say eight guards would give the semi important look suitable for the occasion. "Jax Guiliman R-T, We have prepared 1 squad of your maidens finest to be available at your leisure."

Jebediah arranges to have something with a little more punch available on the island. Not any heavy weapons, but a shotgun or an autogun (with caseless ammunition) would be handy. As for additional men, it stands to reason that one or two could take on a role as bodyguard alongside Jeb. Or how about some fellows to lug about all his purchases? Does the Island provide that. Of course being ex-military Jebediah believes in the old proverb of shooting sparrows down with cannons - the more men the merrier (and preferably with big guns too). But he has a feeling that Haxtes and Maxi will disagree with him.

... or not :P

You should definitely bring some servants; no R-T would go to such a meet without. Brining one of your three astropaths could be useful (but you need to consider the risk to them - they are quite valuable).

So then we have something like this: - Haxtes as Jax the Rogue Trader. He can wear most of his kit if he wants to; he's a R-T after all. - Jeb as his bonded bodyguard, accompanies Jax at all times when he's not in his quarters. - A squad (the best) of armsmen from the special platoon. Two will be with Jax at all times, the rest guard the rooms/gear and/or rest. - Venus as Jax' valet/whatever. She can also double as his female escort as needed (for formal dinners for example). - A handful of servants; they report to Venus of course. They do boring tasks and stay out of sight. - Maxi is the master-at-arms; he's not a bodyguard, but is in charge of overall security. - Azhmut is the local ship's chief tech-priest. He's brought along some tools, and three servitors - one gun-type, one archivist and one multi-task. - Parsifal is along as the R-T's personal spiritual counselor. - An astropath (if you want to bring one).

Maxi brings his personal retainer. He will be occupied with catering for the troops and as messenger boy.

We will bring Venus' gun drone as well. It will pose as a multimedia player following the RT, playing music and projecting soothing holograms.

Haxtes: Like a floating home entertainment center, only with concealed guns. Sounds very James Bond :) That's about it then? No eight-woman orchestra? Ship's cat? The God-Emperor's grandmother?

Grandma is allways welcome and her cooking is the best :)

To Maxi: Vymer and Quill, the two persons you singled out in the brief, are definitely from Malfi. They are well trained in voice modulation, but as a native of that world it's hard to trick you. Of course the reverse applies as well - they know that you know that they are Malfians. You can't be sure about it, but you're pretty certain (in the order of 95%) that they are Malfian Bloodsworn; that being a guild of bounty hunters/mercenaries/assassins working out of Malfi. If that is true they are almost certainly here to either kill someone or to seize a particularly elusive target that they think will surface during the auction. It is logical.

To Haxtes: After the ship has put out from dock and you've all had the chance to settle in you are invited to dine at the captain's table. There is no reason not to accept, so your bring your valet and your guards (she gets to sit, Jeb gets to stand behind you, and the other two guards just lounge around keeping a low profile). Captain Elias Shadrack must once have been a very powerful man; he still is, although his body betrays the signs of a lack of exercise. His eyes are flat and cold. The eyes of a man that has seen too much, but not given in. He is like Haxtes in that regard! He still wears his old Guard Lieutenant's uniform; pinned to his chest are medals and ribbons enough for any general. Including a Margin World Crusade Service Ribbon with three stars and the Star of Valor. There are several other guests at the captain's table: Lanus Cisten, a young (30ish) scion of a minor Solomoni guild house (they make soaps, detergents, toothpaste and other cleaning-related products for consumption by Guard units - apparently there is a good profit to be had). He's going to the auction to 'purchase a piece of legend' as he puts it. Turns out he's spent his meaningless life in academia - studying the House of Haarlock. Haxtes finds himself wishing Vern was here to take care of the man. Octavia Nile is the representative for some undisclosed cartel. She affects the appearance of a young and attractive female, but of course she isn't. She's probably quite old and quite skilled at whatever it is she does; her body has been paid for and forged anew in the flesh-foundries of Ixaniad Sector. Haxtes finds himself somehow disgusted by her near-perfect flesh - its is simply too good to be true and so the illusion of humanity is broken. She talks endlessly about the item catalog - clearly she is trying to gauge Jax' interest in various items. Then there is Abbot Tamas of Shale. A mountain of sweaty flesh, annoying little anecdotes and poorly hidden puns directed at his own faith. He's charming enough, but he is everything Haxtes doesn't like about priests. You gather that he's really only interested in one item - the Gilded Widow - one of the major auction items; a clockwork doll that is said to have prophetic powers. He feigns disinterest, but Haxtes can see through his little lies. Octavia Nile also does, and she seems pleased; so it is likely she is NOT after the Widow.

If you have trouble envisioning the Martyr, try thinking of it as one of those old ocean liners from the early 20th century. It flies of course, but otherwise the analogy holds true. You are travelling 1st class of course. Then there are quite a few second class passengers they do not normally fraternize with you. There are also a share of 3rd class passengers (they are not going to the House, but to other ports presumably) that you do not even see. Plus cargo in the holds no doubt.

Jebediah does a decent impression of a carved statue, not looking at any one in particular, though he keeps the room and its occupants in sight - making sure they are always within his periphery. Like the Abbot, Jeb lets jokes and puns (that would normally make him laugh long and hard) wash over him without any sign of them affecting him. All in all he seems to have adopted his role as an upper class bodyguard quite well. ... By the way. If Haxtes wants to stand at the prow of the Martyr and scream about being 'the king of the world', Jeb's going to push him overboard - just saying.

Octavia Nile has a male Adept of Terra as her companion, plus her own bodyguard attending her. Of those two the Adept is by far the more dangerous one - he's got Haxtes-steady hands and movements (only he's not as adept at hiding his profession). The bodyguard is just a guard in a fancy suit.

There is another half-dozen guests at the captain's table, but those three mentioned are those who make an impression.

Regarding citizen Vymer and citizen Quill. Are they part of anyones retinue or are they traveling as "passengers vulgaris"? (plebs) They are at any rate on Maxi's alert list but he doesn't allocate any resource on them at this time. He's just mindful about their general location and habits. (OOC: Sorry for late post but this bloody workplace pops up bloody work. lol)

Vymer and Quill are plebs; they are travelling on 2nd class. SO far you've no reports of them doing anything in particular aboard his sky-ship. Keeping to their quarters mostly.

Haxtes listens and watches, noticing all he can about the others and keeps tabs on what the others are interested inn, keeping hes own feelings locked deep inside him. Small talk is fine, talks of trade is good, if the others want too talk about the action thats better.

Vymer and Quill are plebs; they are travelling on 2nd class. Good, then they doesn't mingle with first rate citizens. Note, Maxi is very helpful to point out anyone unknown to the ships crew/sec. If they are out of place (class) he complains and asks that they are removed. This is part of Maxi's high profile present. (The most disliked passenger profile.)

Maxi has no problem being most disliked passenger - its comes naturally to him :) There are always some 2nd class passengers that try and get too close, to bask in the glory of high society, but nothing that the crew can't handle with a little encouragement from Maxi. So all is silent.

The dinner doesn't really do much for Haxtes until the captain is more or less forced by his guests to tell a little about his military exploits. It must have happened before - with him wearing the uniform and all. He is proud of his achievements - but the memories are clearly not all that welcome. He seems to have been part of a few really large campaigns out there among the Margin Worlds. He remains a bit vague though, but none of the other passengers seem to notice - but then again they probably lack Haxtes' intimate knowledge of war.

Though he gives no outward appearance of it, Jeb listens closely to Elias Shadrack. The ex-merc might not know much or have a broad area of lore, but mercenaries do well to know a thing or two about past wars - a good way to keep track of the current or even future ones, and imperial military history just happens to be one of his few areas of interest. A bunch of anecdotes from an actual participant in some of the major ones is certainly an interesting prospect.

Parsifal returns from the lower decks. He's been down there slumming/spreading the Word. Preachers have been known to do that. He shares his concerns with Maxi; the steerage passengers seem troubled and restless. Reason seems to be Abbot Tamas' men trying to 'convert the wicked'.

The Margin Worlds Crusade is actually something Jeb has heard of before. Jeb was involved in breaking up a heretical ring of smugglers and currupt Adepts a while back; the group was siphoning off part of the supplies that were going to the frontline troops. The perps were quite angry when you caught them; they figured there was so much stuff that the little they took would not be missed. Nothing is too small to be missed. Not if it belongs to Him. The Crusade started back in the late 8th century M41 and has been grinding on for more than two centuries. Countless Guard divisions were raised in Calixis during the early decades, but nowadays most of the flesh seems to come from other sectors. Because during the course of his off-Iochantos career Jeb has not met a single Crusade survivor. Not one. So it figures that those that made it either settled on conquered world or went back to their distant homeworlds. From the tales you get there seems to be a lot of Xenos to be fought out there.

Character quirk of Maxi: Maxi actually has sympathy with the bottom filth, as he has loyalty with the uppermost caste. In a glass of dirty water you have clean water on top and solidified silt on the bottom. What disgust him is the brownish blend. The undecided. Those who don't know their place. (small mench) In conversation with Parsifal he suggest to arrange some sort of feast to the steerage passengers in Jax Guiliman G-T's name in a non offensive way. Some extra fine food and wine paid by the G-T's travelling fund. Maxi offers himself his retainer Bob (short for BOot Boy) to attend as escort in addition to the ship crew who brings the food.

Jeb will of course inform the others of his new-found respect for the ex-lieutenant. But it'll have to wait till they're somewhere private.

OOC: Why does Maxi call the Rogue Trader a G-T and not a R-T? Me is confused. The dinner winds down eventually. There will be some drinks and maybe some light entertainment in the librarium later in the evening, but for now the members of high society retreat to their quarters. Parsifal will see to a small feast; but he'll need help and the blessing of the crew. So perhaps Jeb might speak to the First Mate about it?

OOC: Why does Maxi call the Rogue Trader a G-T and not a R-T? Me is confused. Good question. It's probably a mutation of some sort that Maxi use indifferently most likely caused by the fixation of remembering Haxtes cover name. Guiliman is difficult to spell so the G have unintentionally contaminated the R in R-T. If the DM is nice I hope he judge it a typo and not an in game slur from Maxi. (It is unintentionally from me the writer and not a clever ploy of character, but Guiliman IS difficult to spell. I respect your fair ruling.)

One of the pursers stops by to inform you of stormy weather up ahead. Azhmut (not that he's an Officio Meteorologica expert, but he has that Mechanicus authority regarding things normal people don't understand) nods in assent.

Haxtes is named after the legendary Ultramarines Primarch Robute Guilliman, so his name should have a double 'L': http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Roboute_Guilliman

yea get it right or they send the whole chapter after you..... they be blue, they be bad.........or so they say

While Maxi (and Jeb) make arrangements for the steerage feast. First Officer Grist isn't hard to convince, after all he doesn't want a riot on his hands, and seeing as how the R-T is paying... Meanwhile Venus informs Haxtes that she's picking up bits and pieces of non-standard (i.e. non-Imperial) comm chatter.

To Maxi: "Get the boys ready, meet up at my rooms ready for counter boarding action...and Maxi, do it quiet like." To Venus: "See if you can unscramble the comms - I'd like to now what they are planing."

Maxi returns to the upper decks and readies the guards...real quiet like. Seriously. Jeb is there already - once he had arranged things with Grist he returned to his master's side. This leaves only Parsifal on the lower decks; he should be capable of handling himself if tempers continue to flare. Venus is not successful in deciphering the signals. She thinks she could make it, but the signals are rather faint and there aren't two many of them to work with. She's pretty certain that there is one transmitter/receiver point located in the 1st class area.

"Well Venus, my most favored, why don't you make a effort in finding it for me." Haxtes arms up and gets ready for a bit of sneaking and if the gods will it and he is lucky a bit of blood.

Back in the privacy of their rooms, Jeb does his usual routine check of his weapons. He looks to Haxtes. "If you're supposed to be arrogant and stuck up, Mister Rouge Trader, why not sort things out that way" He spits on a rag and uses it to wipe some dirt of his stubgun. "If we suspect that someone aboard is sending or receiving signals that might lure pirates closer, then inform our captain... only keep up the pretense of the haughty Jax Guilleman and complain and moan about some "weird signals" on "this and that frequency" that bothers your delicate "music-player"..." Jeb nods towards the floating gun drone. "Captain Shadrack is a decorated war-hero and soldier. He'll know how to deal with such things, and we don't risk our cover by nosing around."

Venus: The signal seems to be modulated for a short-range scenario, using settings most favorable for penetrating things like the walls and floors of a ship. If she is to pinpoint it more accurately she must get up and move about on the decks to try and triangulate.

Maxis BoBby stays and helps Parsifal downstairs. The troops are set on high alert but sit ready in their room except for the active duty guard. "Jeb's right. If you like He, your Valet or I could state a formal complain on your behalf. If Venus goes I and two guards can be her escort and she can move about."

"Precisely." Jeb says, favouring Maxi with a rare smile. "We could then offer to have Venus help them triangulate the signal, so it can be stopped and our dear master can listen to his soothing music without random chatter breaking through his favourite part of "The Hymns to the Lords of Terra" or such nonsense. Maxi, old boy, you've tried hard to be the one who points out any and all things that might inconvenience the Honourable Master Jax Guilleman's journey as a first class passenger. Coming from you this might just sound like another complaint in a long line of complaints - but I'll bet you that an ex-military lieutenant will catch up on such comm chatter and see it for the danger it might herald quickly. Just point out that your Master keeps hearing these random voices chattering in ways that interfere with the Musicplayer, and that we have someone who's pretty sure she could pinpoint the source aboard the ship. It'll give you and Venus a chance to look into it."

Maxi looks puzzled for a brief moment. "Lords of Terra, hymns???". He regain stiff posture. "My complaints normally goes through this vessels Sec-chief or MAA by their crew. Any direct complains to the Captain is best delivered by the R-T's personal retinue. I'll be happy to tag along but it's bad protocol from me to go over my peers. Except from that your points are sound."

"We will deal with this ourselves. Venus, take Jeb and a few guards and find the signal source."

The little group moves out of the quarters and into the corridors - they are almost deserted. A few crew and servants scurrying about. The high-born are refreshing themselves before they meet with the captain for drinks in half an hour. Outside the storm has picked up quite a bit; the ship is shuddering a little now and again, but nothing major. In his quarters Haxtes is feeling slightly nauseous - there is something not right with this weather, a slight aftertaste of the other side. Not saying the storm is a warp storm of the Immaterium, it's a normal enough storm, but perhaps a psyker conjured it forth or is directing it. Something like that. And that psyker leaves a corrupt aftertaste not unlike some that Hates have experienced before. Meanwhile Venus is trying to get a fix on the signal source, but without much luck. There are very few 'packets' being 'transmitted' between 'nodes'. Whatever that means. Octavia Nile's adept passes you, presumably on his way back to her quarters. Venus gives up. Transmissions have ended.

A purser arrives to politely notify the Rogue Trader that the captain and certain (male) guests are meeting in the lounge for amasec.

The R-T goes for a drink.

Maxi keeps his attention on the extra alert guard we have initiated earlier. He especially double checks the windows and entrance points facing out bulk-side. He have asked the bridge for any estimates how long the storm will last. (Or how big it is.) He also vox Parsifal to check if they are Ok underneath. "If this transmittance is between passengers / crew on this vessel. I must bring those two Malfian citizen on second class as usual suspects in this."

The R-T have two guardsmen at his disposal if he wants them in his retinue. (In addition to Jeb and Venus.)

He does not want nor need them, if the R-T wants or needs his own troops you will be amongst the first to know, Maxi :-)

Maxi: You can't rule it out completely, but Vymer and Quill do not strike you as the type that carries around non-Imperial gear, let alone has the know-how and heretical mindset to use it. Also, you cannot at present reach Parsifal using your vox-set - it's a combination of hull interference and the storm's effect. Venus could maybe/probably get him using her stuff.

Haxtes: Does Haxtes wait for Jeb and Venus to return and take them with him?

No, he does not, he wants them here to fight boarders if they come or track down the signal and or source of transmissions.

Haxtes, who is already kitted up in his finest combat gear/haughty R-T stash, accompanies the purser to the lounge (without any incident). It's the same people that were present during dinner; save Octavia (she's a girl, this is gentlemen only) and a corpulent trade factor from Scarus Sector (the captain claims he's suffering from indigestion - Haxtes can tell he's lying, but not in any significant way). Lanus Cisten seems ill at ease. He claims its the horrible weather. He is either a very good liar or he's just not a lot more naive/honest than Haxtes is used to from people of his class. Abbot Tamas is in a festive mood, tossing back vintage amasec like there is no tomorrow.

Haxtes is in a fine mood, saying things like: Nothing like a bit of a gale too get the blood up. Keeping his focus on what the other say and do.

Maxi: Your man Arnald arrives from the lower decks. He is limping, bleeding from a cut in his scalp and his coat is smoldering. (he definitely doesn't look like he blongs up here) Two men from ship security are hot on his heels.

I'll loosen Sweetness for easy access and move towards Arnald.

The security men apologize profusely; they will be throwing this rascal in the brig. He got up from steerage you see - the scum down there are mighty restless. Its the storm that agitates them.

The captain seems a bit concerned. At first Haxtes thinks it might have to do with the missing man. Perhaps something has happened to him. Only it was jut a little lie. So what's the equivalent of indigestion? It takes a while for Haxtes to connect the dots...but once again the captain is forced to tell a little war-story...and then you realize how little a life is worth in Captain Elias Shadrack's world. The missing man is dead. Which is inconvenient for the captain. But not much more that a bout of indigestion. How very charming your host is! So no, its not the dead man. It's something else. Could it be the weather?

"No need. Citizen Arnald is part of Guilliman R-T's servants. He accompanied the R-T's personal spiritual counsellor downstairs. I thought we had informed the security about his mission of mercy in the steerage? Please inform you Officer on Duty about this offence. And call the med-bay this man needs some assistance. Arnald, where is Brother Parsifal?"

Arnald: "He is still down there, trying to sway the hearts of those travelling on 3rd class! But Abott Tamas has a following down there too - and they are none too pleased out our 'intrusion'. There was an incident with a young girl...and Parsifal took the head of the offender with his blade...and then violence erupted throughout the lowr decks. We could not raise you on comms so he bade me run here and tell you. Last I saw of him he was standing blade in hand, facing down a horde of Tamas-menn. I fear he may be dead by now."

It can of course be any number of things , important and trivial or both it is however quite hard to say after a rather short time with the captain, the important thing is that he is fretting individual and a liar.

Captain Elias Shadrac has quite the selection of amasec - including some rare brews that are not from this sector, probably not even this Segmentum. The weather is getting rougher and rougher. One of the men excuses himself, claiming he's feeling ill. Not very long after the captain has one of his pursers help Abott Tamas back to his quarters - he good and drunk. Eventually there are only seven of you left. Captain Elias Shadrac: "I'm so sorry about this weather. And it will only get worse. I just got off the horn with First Officer Grist and he says Orbital has announced a full tempest gale down to fifty feet. That's very rare. We'll have to cut speed and turn into the wind to lessen the wind-shear. But it is still going to be a rough ride and it will delay our arrival by many hours."

The captain speaks semi-privately to R-T Jax Guilliman after this. He would like to apologize for his earlier subterfuge, but he didn't want to alarm the other travelers. Paterno Novo, the sick man, isn't sick at all. He is dead. And Fist Officer Grist just informed him, along with the latest weather forecast, that he was murdered. At first they thought it might have been an accident, but it was not - he has been expertly assassinated. He's telling you because you are, after all, a Rogue Trader. And the dead man was also going to the auction and the House, so there may be a link here.

"Thank you Arnald. Now shape up, your appearance is a disgrace." Maxi faces the security men. "Gentlemen it seems that you have a riot on your hand. May I suggest non-lethal gas as the most effective means to calm it down. And R-T Guilliman is very found of his counselor so we would be very thankful for his safe return."

My dear captain I`m not worried and please let me tell you why and at the same time reassure you captain. If your man was expertly assassinated as you claim he was then you lot surely would never have found out about it... Now the war stories are good fun...I like an anecdote as much as the next man, but please don't try and make this dull trip into one of your most perilous adventures back in the day. Now if you have a security problem...shoot it. That's a tried and tested method in this fine Empire of Man and...I tell you it works, yes by the throne it does. So there's a good gentleman, have another dram and let's hear another of your fine tales my good captain :)

The squad of armsmen head down below to investigate the fate of Parsifal and maybe break up the riots.

Jeb inhales deeply when Venus states that the trace is lost. "Did you manage to narrow the search somewhat?" He asks her. "Can we exclude certain areas? If so we may still continue our search - otherwise we might as well head back..." He taps his vox-piece twice. "And perhaps try to contact the rest. I can't seem to get a clear signal."

The squad of armsmen head down below to investigate the fate of Parsifal and maybe break up the riots. I hope you mean the sec-forces squad, because the main objective of the R-T's own squads is to guard him and his baggage. Not to get bogged down in a internal riot downstairs.

To Maxi: Ah, I miss-read. Scratch that comment. The two men from ship security hurry back to their posts.

Venus to Jeb: "In the immediate area; within this portion of the upper decks. Which includes the quarters of several dignitaries. I cannot say for certain from which the signals originated. Not at this point. But I could set up a listening device in case the signals resume."

Captain Elias Shadrac looks thoughtful for a moment: "Ah, pardon med good Sir, I forget my place. I meant to say 'expertly as seen by the common people'. Undoubtedly you met better assassins in your life than I ever will - thankfully! But my may Grist knows a thing or two about dead people, so we are not completely provincial. But never mind; I will report it to the Munitorum Oversight Committee and they will sort things out no doubt." He unlocks one of the doors of this amasec cabinet and retrieves a gilded bottle of epic proportions. "This here might impress even a man of your stature master Jax. This here is amasec from Ultramaar. It was presented to me along with the Star of Valor back in the day...but I rarely partake...it is brewed exclusively for the Astartes and so contains several exotic essences that enhance the alcohol."

After giving a quick brief about Parsifal's situation to Azimuth or "other present". He also inform them that he's immediately going to see the sec-chief and watch their response. (He is not going down himself but he just wants to underline the sadness if R-T Guilliman's spiritual counselor gets lost to the sec-chief.)

Haxtes finds it highly unlikely that the captain should have had anything to do with the legendary Ultramarines. He fought in the Margin Worlds Crusade - that's out by the Halo Stars. Ultramar is, quite literally, on the other side of the galaxy. If Haxtes remembers correctly. The captain is a know liar of course...but if she he just got a lot better at lying!

Nothing like that captain, I just dont care if plebs die, they die by the millions every day, if you need help just ask, I make it a point of honor to help out a fellow captain.

Azhmut is the only other acolyte present. Maxi heads over to the security chief. Navigating this little boat is not a problem for a hive-worlder like Maxi. The security chief is a little rough at first but then he realizes who Maxi is and then he becomes politeness itself. He apologizes for his rudeness, but there is a 'situation' down below. Maxi doesn't take long to evaluate his responses; they consist of guarding the approaches to the steerage levels. He is not sending anyone down there to break things up.

"It might be too late, but in case it continues, it would be nice, thank you Venus." Jeb taps a finger against his leg for a second. "We better get back to the others as well. I don't want to start a small war with some odd merchant, because I snooped around in his baggage..." he grins "... at least not without proper equipment."

Jeb/Venus: You get back to the cabin. Maxi has gone. Only Azhmut is there.

Haxtes: The drink is quite unlike anything you have ever tasted. It is rich and pure amasec, but tainted with trace elements of various drugs...not enough to knock you out, but certainly potent. One small taste is quite enough. You're sure the contents of the bottle are the real deal. He's not lying about that.

Maxi clicks his heels in Orlankan fashion when he greets the chief. "I heard about this 'situation' it's part of the reason I'm here. I must inform you that one of my masters entourage is in the centre of that 'situation'. I'm worried about his safety and wonder when you can get him out of it." "I see that you have your men waiting at the entrance to the steerage. Of curiosity which measures are you using before the enters and ends the 'situation'. Gas, fire hose, shut down air supply?"

I'm sure this is good captain's pride of Ultramar...

Maxi's presence convinces the security chief; he sends a squad of men down below to look for Parsifal. Normally the just ignore what happens down there as long as it doesn't threaten the ship (which it doesn't since there are no vital systems down there).

Jebediah is getting increasingly fidgety. A storm forcing a course-change... possibly taking the Martyr closer to pirate-infested areas? Non-imperial comm-chatter and the team spread out across the ship. Looking to Azhmut and Venus he rubs his nose vigorously. "Am I the only one feeling a slight tingling down the spine?" He glances about the room, one finger almost caressing the pistol at his side. "Venus, could you contact Maxi and our esteemed Rouge Trader? Just tell them that I have the feeling we are closing in on an ambush. Not that they haven't come to the same conclusion themselves, of course - but just in case." He goes over the layout of the VIP-section of the ship they are in in his head. "If anything - anything at all goes wrong, five will get you ten that we'll have a widescale panic and/or riot from the lower decks..." he pauses, then mutters a curse. "Azhmut, supposing there is someone on-board who is deliberately giving away our position, what's the odds that he or she would also attempt to sabotage the ships defenses? No, don't answer that, that's a rhetorical question. If I had someone on the inside, that's what I'd do..." He chews his lower lip for a second. "Can you or Venus do your magos-thing and see if there's been some tinkering of the Martyr's weapons? Screw the odd signal we've discovered... at least for now. If the defenses have been sabotaged we know we're in for a rough time."

Venus: "The weapons of the Martyr are not 'networked' or in any way associated by any high-degree machine-spirits. They are simple locally operated systems. Besides, the signals I picked up were not sufficiently strong to carry much beyond the hull of the ship. So your line of reasoning does not seem to support the data...a common human error...to fill in the blanks with suppositions. Maxi is on line 1, Jax on 2."

Maxi relates what he knows about the situation below; not much beyond that Parsifal may be in trouble and that security sent a squad down there not long ago.

Jebediah takes a deep breath. "Occupational hazard, I'm afraid - seeing ghosts everywhere. Or perhaps it's just that I feel naked without all my good friends..." he pats the gun " at my side. The lines are secure?" To Haxtes: "Master Guilleman, signal was terminated before I could discern the location. It did come from a specific area of this deck, however, which include the quarters of high class passengers. I have been kindly informed that the signal wouldn't be strong enough to go far beyond the hull of the ship, so whatever it was, it was most likely directed to someone aboard. To Maxi: "I have a bad feeling, but I can't quite pinpoint it. Making me somewhat jitterish I believe. Any news from Parsifal?"

Venus starts talking techno-gibberish, but then remembers who she is talking to and simply amends it to: "Yes, they are secure."

"Thank you Jeb, hold fast in our rooms until we can coordinate action."

"M-A Maximilian to Jebediah. We're waiting news from the steerage any minute. If we are lucky some of the vox panels downstairs works and can relay situation reports. I'll be staying with the chief for the moment if I'm wanted I'll be there asap. M-A out." Maxi turns back at the chief. "I apologize for this situation we have caused you Chief. Normally I agree with your response of letting it die out by itself in low valued zones but I value our Persifal. In a related note how experienced is your crew in breaking down riots and other high agitated situations?"

Chief: "Not very. The passengers are rarely up to any rioting - and if they are we usually just wait for them to cool down."

The captain has entertained Haxtes and the other remaining men with a truly heroic tale - about the defense of a distant world from a horde of ravening aliens that descended like a horde of locusts, seeking to devour all life. How he, as the sole remaining officer of his battered regiment not only held the line against the invaders, but when all hope was lost he led the survivors in a mad charge that somehow succeeded in disrupting the xenos command and control. What had one moment been a frightening hive acting in unity turned into a mass of uncoordinated individuals that could be butchered at the leisure of the Guardsmen. Moreover the charge had saved a group of Ultramarines who had been on a search and destroy mission - a mission aimed at taking out the enemy's 'synapse' creatures. Only the Marines had been ambushed and were on the verge of destruction when the mad charge of the 47th Provisional Guards Crusade Division/11345th Necromundan Regiment had accomplished their task for them.

The chief finally gets a vox-panel call from the squad he sent down; it's all garbled and frantic - the man on the other end is screaming into the mouthpiece, there is gunfire and bloodcurdling cries in the background, that sort of thing. But the essence of it all is that the Abbots men have all gone insane/been possessed/whatever and have turned the rest of the steerage passengers into mindless chanting goons. And, you've guessed it, they are heading up...

Meanwhile the captain finishes his story; touching briefly on the flight from the alien horde, his grievous wounds, the Ultramarines recommending him for a medal, the long flight back, the healing and the honorable discharge - which happened here, far away from his homeworld of Necromunda. Just as he is wrapping up there something hits the heavy glass of the viewing port. Whatever it was is swept away by the wind and the rain. But then it happens again. And again. Until the viewport shatters and the lounge is filled with wind and rain - and feathers and blood. Most of the creatures have been killed by the impact, but some survive - Haxtes immediately recognize them; the eyeless Shale Crows of Iochantos. They definitely do not belong here!

"M-A Maximilian to Jebediah: Go full alert. Situation downstairs are out of hand and up-coming. You know the drill. I stay open on vox with the chief. I'll be there shortly."

To chief: "If you need any assistance we may help. The R-T is usually very sympathetic with your cause. No R-T likes that the cargo turns against them." Maxi salutes and leaves and moves towards R-T's cabin. When Maxi has left the Chief's quarter he speaks on vox: Jeb relay to the R-T: "Singing choir. And get to him fast if you can. I'm moving towards our quarters."

Nothing like meeting up with old friends, Haxtes takes his leave of the others and moves back to his rooms.

Haxtes and the other guests beat a hasty retreat from the crow-filled lounge, leaving behind the captain to sort out the mess...which seems to involve a concealed laspistol firing at maximum cyclic rate. You think he'll do all right against some eyeless avians. Quite all right.

Haxtes finds his team all gathered together, kitted up and ready for heretic. Only Parsifal is - obviously - missing. They actually don't look too bad, not bad at all.

"Excellent Gentlemen, lets secure this corridor and hold our ground here, we will keep our cover and act like our ONLY priority is the safety of yours truly - me. So I'll stay in the middle with my shield up and snipe with my bolter and you cover me - now get ready and pile some stuff in the corridor."

"What good will staying here do us, if some riotous mob seizes the bridge, Guilleman?" Jebediah asks as he rams a clip home in a secondary pistol, before strapping it to his leg. "You're supposed to be a captain as well as a pompous arse, right? Wouldn't the obvious thing in such a situation be to ensure that some yokel from third class doesn't crash the ship with everyone inside it into some mountain? If we intend to baricade ourselves somewhere and wait this little 'event' out, I suggest we seek the protection of the captain of the ship... and what about Parsifal?"

"Running around like wet hens will get us nothing, ship troops will handle the mob first, if they take them down all is fine - if not then the captain asks for help and THEN we give it. Not before. It's bad manners between captains to step onto another's bridge uninvited. So Jebediah we stay with our covers and the plan until we have no other options. Tear-assing around the ship is what agents do, not RT guards" "As for Parsifal I hope he is ok, but we will not fuck this mission up over one agent, to make it plain for you: The mission is dangerous, we may all die. If it comes to that Jeb, well then we die, one or all, it matters not."

"You're the boss," Jeb says sardonically, as he slumps down on a couch and crosses his legs, a sour look on his face. He leans forward to snatch up a glass and raises it. "Here's to hoping that enough crewmen will be left to operate this floating pile of junk through a mad storm when, or if indeed, this thing blows over." He takes a sip and raises the glass again. "And here's to my friend Parsifal... and hoping that I will never find myself compromised in a situation where I might need the help of my 'team'."

"We have no sanctioned authority on this vessel so we are prone to hostile fire from everyone. So while we wait we should discuss a response plan. 1.) It was Abott Tamas people who started it and who are crazed. A quick peek at him is a possibility. 2.) This is most likely NOT a mutiny so guessing that the mob is acting irrational is a possibility. 3.) The target of the movement has yet to unfold itself. It could be us but I doubt it. Then again this mission is dangerous as stated earlier. Parsifal should be ok, it's only low-lives downstairs. Have faith in your brother their no match for him."

Haxtes looks over at Jeb with a look of disgust and pity. To Jeb: "Too bad you feel that way, but its mission first, if you can't be professional then just stay her and drink" To Maxi: "We will not discuss every plan and or event that happens I have given orders so BLOODY follow them or stand down and drink with Jeb. IF you think that Abott Tamas is behind this then say so and I will crawl down there and sneak kill the the holly fucker myself. Is it so?" To All: "Now grow up and get to work, this is the job. This is what we do. Barricades - now!"

"Barricades are up, all entrance are battle ready."

"Sir, yes sir!" Jeb sneers, as empties his drink and grabs his gun, rising from his seat to stalk over to the side of the room, where he leans against the wall with nothing better do. "Will hurry up and wait, sir!"

Haxtes gets out of RT outfit puts on cloak to conceal his armour, then checks his weapons. "You hold here and keep up the cover, if the captain needs help give it to him, otherwise don't forget that you are not agents but secuerty for a RT hiding in his room. I'll be on comms as long as they are within range" To Tech priests: "Show me the fastest ducts down below or to the last sighting of Abott Tamas." Then Haxtes goes a hunting

Jebediah sulks a bit after Haxtes leaves, then pushes himself away from the wall. "My apologies to you, for having to witness that. Parsifal is a friend despite our differences, and it galls me to leave him alone among the wicked. I let that emotion take the better of me just then." He looks to Maxi. "You believe the Abbot to be the culprit of this? It's not that I do not endorse quick action, but if our defacto leader is going to assassinate an Imperial clergyman, we had better be certain of his guilt. Killing everyone to let the Emperor sort out his own seems a bit excessive if not."

"No I don't. But he is named by association. I don't think this situation has anything with our prime mission either. As for our dear leader, he's better briefed than us so his action may be justified. Anyway many have and will be killed in this uprising and the R-T has alibi so it won't stick to us. And no need for apologize, I wanted to use the calm before the storm to coordinate us. The R-T took it as a debate club on his orders and rightly so." Maxi shakes his head a bit. "If we're going to function together in this mission we have to act on orders first even if it happens automatically, then we can offer insights and information." Maxi reach out for Jebs glass and sips from it. "Here's to Guilliman, gotta love him..." the rest of the sentence Maxi speaks silently.

"Of course," Jeb remarks. "The Explicator is in lead in this operation, and I know that. I'd just rather not return to Globus and inform him that I stood idly by while the rest of the cadre was lost one after another... expendable or not." He grimaces. "Besides, if Parsifal goes down I'm left with all the paperwork and reports to write, and I really dislike paperwork."

"The paperwork is easy. Just write name, status and reference-code. In your case: 'Parsifal, MIA, 5.039.998.M41/Solomon system, Markayn Marches, Calixis Sector.' The secret of good paperwork is to let the paper do your work." Maxi speaks this matter-of-factly without a hint of humor. Maxi ask for status on each watch point. By vox if possible. After check-ins confirmed he turn back to Jeb. "This whole operation has so many "man" involved that it's just ridiculous. Your man has arranged with our man that this man wants us to talk with a local man. Sod it, it's almost more of them than there are of us." Maxi pauses. "You know, I don't want to talk about our premise on duty. We should talk when were back on the Maiden."

You've set up a nice defensive position around your rooms, including a nice kill zone in a corridor junction where you can fire from two different directions. You've got a good deal of firepower - Maxi and Jeb, plus the squad, plus some of the others could help out if need be. And there is always the gun drone - although you don't want it revealed unless you have to. Venus projects a holo of of the ship and its main thoroughfares and auxiliary accesses. It turns out that you don't really know where the Abbot is - he was last seen in the lounge before being helped back to his quarters. So he could well be there - unless you think he's down below directing the horde. Haxtes leaves, garbed in the grey robe of a junior adept...

Haxtes slips down to the lower decks using an unconventional route. Everything is quiet down there, save for someone singing hymns to the praise of Him of Earth - or at least trying to do so, the voice is clearly pained and from time to time it falls silent and is replaced by screams of pain, mocking laughter, and the sound of feathered wings beating the air. The faint tinge of corruption that Haxtes felt before is gone - to be replaced by something more foul and much more urgent.

Up on the 1st class deck you can feel it too. Something, a presence, that goes before the mad press of people scrambling up from down below. It feels like a dry desert wind, full of dust and the smell of blood - and the screaming of crows. One of the men soils himself - but to his credit he does not abandon his post. Seconds later the first men appear - a dozen or so steerage passengers, accompanied by a couple of the abbots men. They are screaming and chanting the lot of them - so its hard to tell which is which. You don't think it matters anyway - they all look stark raving mad...and out for blood. Oh yes, you suddenly realize what they are chanting: Ha-ha-haixteees...Ha-ha-haixteees...Ha-ha-haixteees...

Haxtes activates his pain glove and slips into the psi-shadows - whispering to himself: "I'll take the old man's advice and do this deed in your name Throne." - a smile filed with malaise and hate on his lips. Stalking after the sound of screams and pain - if it's Pars then he will rescue him if that is possible or else give a bolt of peace for old time sake - if not then he will kill all ecept one and ask him nice where the warp spawn is - then the hunt will begin :)

There are several dead people lying around - hacked down by a nice and sharp blade. Parsifal's work no doubt. You find young Pars in the steerage mess hall. He's standing on the floor with hit neck wrapped with loops of heavy-duty power chords. He tries to sing and pray, but the coils are making it a bit difficult. Once in a while he is wracked by pain, screams for a while, and then resumes his praises to Him. The cause of all this is rather obvious. Standing before Parsifal is a tall man...no it's not a man, but something man-like...like a man without any skin, so that only bloody flesh is visible. Only the thing has too many muscles and too many joints to be truly human...everything is malproportioned. Ah yes, the skeletal angel wings with the misshapen and bloody black feathers still clinging to them - it also gives it away as non-human :) And yes; it reeks of sorcery and corruption - and great power. The non-man to Parsifal: "So, I ask you again; why are you here? Blood of his blood...this is no mere coincidence! Speak!" Another round of screaming as the thing deftly slices away narrow strips of flesh from Parsi's chest. Could be an opportunity to attack if that is your desire.

Upstairs: Firing has commenced. The enemy is proving harder to stop than anticipated. They are still men and take wounds like all mortals do...but their mental state is much akin to that of men high of frenzon - they feel no pain and have no sense of self-preservation. So they keep on rushing into the hail of fire, stopping only when they are killed outright or when their wounds are so severe as to prevent further action.

Haxtes attacks firing hes bolt pistol and moving in for melee, reloading and firing until the Dark angel is gone.

Upstairs, 1st class area: "Aim first low and aim next volley above recent fallen." Maxi instructs. Sweetness sings loudly when Maxi aims head shot after head shot. Situation report: If they are unarmed, Maxi moves in-front and tackle the assailants with his power maul, blocking the corridor and letting the support deal with any strainers.

Switching his gun to burstfire, Jebediah squeezes of burst after burst, aiming for the heads of the oncoming foe while the rest follow Maxi's directions. Realizing the urgency, he still takes time to brace the gun between each burst to avoid the gun kicking high in his hand and missing the target. Especially after Maxi draws his power maul and closes in. By picking of targets on the side and cluttering the hallway with wounded and dead, Jeb attempts to funnel them towards Maxi in manageable numbers, instead of a overwhelming horde of screaming madmen.

Upstairs you finish the first wave of attackers; a combination of disciplined lasgun fire, Jeb autogun and Maxi's maul (by far the most effective weapon - once you get hit you don't get up). Save for a few scratches on Maxi and some splatter your party is unharmed and your position uncompromised.

In the distance you can hear the horde overwhelming other passengers and crew.

"Azhmut, can you get any reading on movements or bio-concentration in near proximity?" Maxi faces Jeb: "I think your were right, the Cygnan Martyrs guards seams to be setting up strong points at critical area only. That leaves us as the only credible force in the passengers area. If no one objects we move out with the whole squad and Azhmut. That leaves Venus and her pages to control our cabin area. Tactical we can move in two parallel groups as long as we encounter only sparse opposition. Any large encounters are handled together in fall back positions." (OOC: AFK the next 6 hours so Maxi is game on any decisions.)

Bolts streak out of your pistol with unerring accuracy - it truly is a magnificent weapon! It cannot have been an accident that the Librarian Kaminsky gave you this particular weapon - it's machine spirit is as one with you. Unerring accuracy. The first bolt takes the thing square in the back, penetrating deep before exploding with force enough to shatter skulls, blow limbs apart or cause bloody ruin to internal organs. Only this time the explosion seems to occur at some great depth, and the visible surface damage is negligible. The second bolt takes it in the side - and this time a good chuck of flesh is blow apart. But the rest of the burst misses as the thing reacts with preternatural speed. Haxtes moves forward and empties the rest of the short clip - but the thing has your measure now and somehow weaves away from the bolts. Clearly it CAN be hurt by your fire, otherwise it would not have bothered to dodge so. Haxtes rolls down into cover, slots in another clip, is moving and firing again. The thing has taken to the air in the cavernous mess hall, giving it another dimension of movement. A single bolt hits - but it is a good hit. Good enough to twist one of its wings into useless ruin, sending it plummeting to the floor. Parsi is jerking as he is slowly being strangled by the cords - his feet are no longer touching the floor. Well, he'll just have to hold his breath for a while longer. Haxtes heads for the downed enemy, slipping his last clip into the pistol. Note to self - carry four spare mags if at all possible. It'll be worth the extra bulk. As you line up your gun again indescribably pain wracks your down. You slump to the ground, spasming in agony. The pistol slips from your fingers. The thing gets up, tries to spread its broken wings, then gives up and moves towards Haxtes, a wicked bone-like blade in its hand. "Haxtes...you slippery bastard. I had thought you still upstairs. I was coming for you once I was done with your friend here...even sent my disciples to keep you company while you waited...but then you came to me instead. How touching." The pain increases tenfold, forcing you to push your conscious mind into a place where it cannot be affected - or affect - the flesh. A useful technique taught to you by the Veiled Hand.

As the creature walks over: "No need to look for me; say my name, you sorry fuck, and I'll come and play." Forcing the himself to make one last move Haxtes, use the pain to fuel his psi defenses and strikes out with his sword aiming for its legs. If the creature doges the blade or not - no mater, the true attack comes from the bolt pistol (single aimed Psi Head shots to conserve ammo). "And the Veil parts for you..."

"They will be, yes" Jeb responds to Maxi as he slams in a fresh clip. "And they will face the same issue we are facing now." He steps out of the corridor to stand beside Maxi, nudging one of the dead passengers with his foot, while keeping his gun leveled on the corridor ahead. "The guards will rely on the fear of death and pain to drive the unarmed masses back. But these cretins feel neither pain nor fear, and when next they come, their dead will provide them with cover from those strong-points - just as they are here. Either we move and set up a new firing-lane, or we clear this corridor of offal... and I think the later will take more time than we have."

"Good points, but we can't set up new strong points without knowledge of their movements. If Azhmut or Venus can't get a reading we'll be running blind and risking ambushes. At that scenario we're better off fortified here. Sod it, we clear and re-prepare this corridor until we knows more."

Jeb shrugs "It's what we where ordered to do in any case..." he spits. "Mind you, eventually the guards will be overrun - and then our opponents will have procured themselves firearms."

There is another problem developing; the sky-ship is caught in a terrible storm. No change there. The new twist is that it seems it does not answer the helm anymore. Increasingly the ship shudders and shifts, pitches and roll. You can hear the metal groaning. So even if you're able to weather that mad-men you might not survive a crash into the storm-tossed acidic sea below... ...so that sort of rules out staying put and doing nothing, does it not?

Haxtes, who is clearly completely disoriented from the agony gripping his body, cannot even speak. Instead he reaches out with the only voice left to him - his psychic one. For an instant two souls touch - one human and one...not-so-human. Most of what you see is too alien, too chaotic, to horrific to understand. Indeed, had it now been for Xerza's mental conditioning Haxtes' mind would have been completely overwhelmed. The only glimpses that make any sense at all are from what seems like Iochantos...a place you've been before...the valley of Stern Hope...there is a battle there. Between you...no, not you...between the thing and another man...the thing cannot bear to watch him - he is too bright and pure. Drusus. "Yeees. Drusus, my old foe. Who bound me to that accursed place, wicked man that he was. No longer bound to Stern Hope I am again free to take physical form... ...it was cunning of you to conjure him forth to thwart my manifestation...but as you can see it was only temporary... ...still, when you have been not merely banished, but bound, for more than two thousand of your wretched years...then a single day more is like an eternity... ...and that foul deed deserves punishment in return!"

Haxtes smiling in painful bliss "Beautiful.... pure hatred.........pure power......... beautiful "

The ship heaves mightily and Haxtes is suddenly airborne. The daemon fares a little better since it can fly. Until its hit by several large pieces of furniture that are ripped loose from the floor. This gives Haxtes some respite - the pain lifts enough for him to move - and he does what he intended before losing control, he draws his blade and aims his pistol...only to find it gone, lost among the debris somewhere. Normality returns as the sky-ship settles down again.

sword just as good, full attack with the blade then, grenades if close enuff to put them on the thing

In the corridor, Jebediah disentangles himself from the pile of dead bodies. With a disgusted look at his hand, he wipes it on the wall, smearing blood and offal all over it, in an attempt to clean himself. "Not to say 'I told you so'..." he remarks acidly. "But perhaps the next time we might actually listen to the dumb grunt with years of previous military experience, when he suggests that the helm might come under assault? Just saying..." He braces himself against to wall to avoid being thrown around a second time. "Now, might I suggest that we make sure this thing doesn't crash into something and end all our lives in a painful and horrible way?`"

Azhmut: "I concur with Jebediah's assessment of the situation; unless the vessel is brought back under control we are going to crash and all aboard will perish. In a most horrible fashion no doubt.""

"Yeah I know. It's hard to be kept in a leash ain't it. OK, our options are dwindling. Azhmut, Venus are you capable of bringing this vessel under control. If so, point the way. Jeb you take the lead. I'll bring up the rest. Helm, enginarium, life-pods wherever. Ready men everybody move out.

Everybody means Arnald and any servants also. OCC: Sorry of my late responses but I'm working late. Something about fire drill first Monday and no-one have the slightest clue about the number of people working here.

Azhmut: "We seem to still be under power, so the command deck is out best option - it is a control issue, not an engine problem. And abandoning ship is useless - any life-boat would be ripped apart by this weather. This is not yo mama's little storm." Venus' drone starts projecting a green line of light for you to follow - it will lead you to the command deck.

Jeb grins and gingerly steps through the mass of corpses to take point. Moving with surprising stealth for a man of his size he goes forward through the corridor, taking care to stay against the walls without brushing against them, and with his weapon trained ahead. As he attempts to navigate through the ship, using signs, or if possible pullig down a map to take with him, he constantly ensures that his gun isn't visible around corners or junctions, before he steps forward to clear the immediate area and wave the rest forward again. It's clear he's tried something like this before.

Jeb rounds a corner and comes face to face with Octavia's 'adept' - only this time he has a compact laspistol pointed at your face and a powered blade in the other, ready to finish what the gun starts. He doesn't fire through...behind him your can see Octavia and four of her guards; one of them appears injured, the others are just gore-splattered.

Haxtes: The daemon rises to meet you, effortlessly shrugging away shattered tables and whatnot. He has a long serrated blade in one hand - it looks like it is made of bloodstained bone. You exchange a series of blows. Each of your attacks are either blocked or effortlessly side-stepped. Many of his attacks go past your guard and slice straight through your armour - like it was made of paper. But he doesn't strike to kill. Not even to injure. Instead he takes on strip of skin and flesh from you with each hit - the agony is intense...and you can feel part of your soul leaking out through your wounds. You are so badly outmatched it defies description. "I shall make you suffer like no mortal has ever suffered before. No man defies me and fails to regret it. Before I am through with you fear and pain shall be the only things you know!" Behind the thing, further back the hall...you can see Parsifal...he's no longer hanging from the roof. The shaking must have ripped him down. He looks like hell, but he's looking around for something to use as a weapon. The thing seems to have forgotten all about him.

"Bring it on - I love pain and fear... fuck fear.... try some terror, now that's something!" Haxtes attacks, no defense just head and neck strikes (that out matched - no need to defend)

In the rout Maxi has two guards in-front who follows Jebs moments albeit keeping their distance. He keeps two guards on each side who covers crossing corridors as the party moves. The last two covers the rear. All troops are orders to keep Azhmut safe and he has positioned himself just behind the leading two guards with Azhmut behind him and the rest behind Azhmut. (The drone is probably in-front. At Venus discretion.) As Maxi and the two vanguards are following Jeb's lead they stops every time until Jebs give all clear signal.

Not lowering his own weapon right away, Jeb raises an eyebrow at the sight of them, then takes a step back with a shrug, pulling himself away from the blade and back into sight of the rest of his group. "The Bridge?" He ventures, as he makes a guess as to Octavia's destination, and lowers the muzzle of his gun just a fraction, ready to snap it back up or throw himself sideway towards Maxi and the others, should the 'adept' or the rest of the guard turn out to be hostile.

Haxtes' manic assault actually works to his advantage since the daemon-thing is out for sport, not death. He could have killed you a hundred times over, but now it has to be extra careful not to cut you in twain. And at any rate your insane response to what should have provoked irrational fear causes its annoyance level to skyrocket. Good work Haxtes my boy, you've manged to make the daemon prince who disliked you already into a daemon prince with you on top of his immediate shit list. Now that IS something to be proud of! It's attention is now fixed on you - behind it you can see Parsifal charging silently on bloody feet - gleaming sword raised high. "Enough" cries the daemon Tsyiak and the claws on its left hand turn into barbed lashes that wrap around Haxtes' body, constricting around him like many giant serpents.

Upstairs an alliance has been formed between the entourages of R-T Jan and The Honored Representative Octavia. Together you press on towards the bridge. It proves a most fortunate alliance. Her hooded adept turns out to be a melee-type killer that is undoubtedly more adept at hacking apart the enemies of man with his twin monoswords than he is at bookkeeping or scribing. He takes point with Jeb and together they make a fine team. The rest of the group is also more ably defended now since Octavia adds another four heavily armed men to your pool of warriors. Together they fend of several sudden assaults from the sides and rear, adding enough lead to the party to allow Maxi the time to deal with whatever enemies reach your lines, thus saving the lives of you all.

Pressing onto the control deck find the captain and a small squad he has managed to gather together trying to retake the bridge from the mad horde. It's not going very well, but if you add your manpower to his then the odds will shift in your direction. But you must not delay, the ship is clearly out of control and at the mercy of the mad winds outside. Only he knows how much longer before you crash into black fifty-foot acidic ocean waves.

Emptying the last shot into the throat of an onrushing enemy, Jebediah falls back to reload while the twin-bladed adept deals with the remainder coming for them. "I'm buying you a round, once this is over," Jeb remarks to the whirlwind of slashing death. "Afternoon, Captain" Jebediah calls out, his mood oddly cheerful. "I hope you do not mind us taking a load of your back here? Give you some elbowroom and breathing space to steer this beautiful ship o' yours." He looks to Octavia and Maxi. "I recommend we split into two groups. One to fight while the other one gets their breath" he remarks. "Fluid replacement - when you are tired, get someone from the resting group to take your place, and vice versa. Perhaps I could persuade someone to enlist the aid of whatever crew isn't required to keep is adrift?"

Maxi takes a quick survey of the deck noticing other entry points. "We're only here to secure the control deck. IF this vessel are brought under control we move back to our cabin area. The R-T orders were specific. As passengers we are guest on this vessel and shall not overstep the Captain's hospitality." "Azmuth, enlist our services to the captain before we are shot as trespassing mutineers." If anyone asks where our R-T is. Maxi immediately answers: "R-T Guilliman is SAFE." (OOC: Inq. Tancreds comment from 12/10/10 @ 13:36, mentions a entourage of R-T Jan. Is this 'Jan the Man's entourage or a clever misspelling of R-T Jax?)

The enemy - for once - makes it easy for you. They don't really try to hold the bride - instead they make a final rush against YOU. Not very clever - had they been trying to hold the bridge until you crash they would have been better of keeping you at bay. As things stand now their assault, while certainly deadly enough for those they manage to attack, is quickly dealt with - you have amassed enough firepower to deal with more or any number of such assailants. Unless they manage to rush you from multiple sides or you - God-Emperor forbid - waver in your duty, you should be safe. The bridge has suffered some collateral, but the mob has not actively tried to take out controls or vital instruments. Now it remains to be seen if the crew of the Martyr can rescue her from her wild plunge - before the ocean makes martyrs of you all.

Down below the daemon raises his sword - which you can now see is just a bony outgrowth of its arm, not a real weapon at all - ready to plunge it into Haxtes (who has been misbehavin' and isn't providing the sport he's supposed to). But before it gets to the gutting part it is gutted itself by Parsifal charging in from behind. The blade goes right through and the wound smokes a foul greenish incense. And the daemon actually screams - part rage no doubt, but undeniably there is pain too. Parsi manages to wrench his blade free and hack through the bony tendrils chocking poor Haxtes. Haxtes falls free. The daemon hacks the sword out of brave Parsifal's hands, taking with it at least one arm. It doesn't look good. Then everything is thrown into disarray as the ship heaves wildly. Haxtes is smacked quite a bit, but his armour saves him from the worst. He shakes his head to clear it, finds Tsyiak preparing to finish the templar - and sports his bolt pistol sticking out of a pot of porridge. A single shot rings across the deck. The bolt hits true and goes of inside the daemon's skull, bursting it like an overripe fruit.

"That's four for four you foul bastard, the veil has parted for you but, we will meet again. I'll be waiting for thee." Haxtes takes a moment to look upon his bloody hand and gives a payer to hes god, thanking for the opportunity to take part in Khaine's victory over the warp spawn. Reactivating hes psi cloak Haxtes turns to Parsifal walks over and has a look at his wounds. If they are surviving wounds Haxtes wil call Venus( Psi or Com) and tell her to bring two guards a med kit and her drone and bring Pars back to our rooms. Haxtes will stay and wait until they get down here or are near so that he can sneak back to his rooms. If somone else comes he will hide and sneak back.

Jebediah drags one of the bodies of to the side, to prevent it from giving cover to the onrushing foe. Rifling through his pockets with an ease that speaks of a lot of practice, he turns out whatever the corpse holds - looking for anything out of the ordinary. Looking from the dead man to the corpses still scattered across the approach to their position, he can't help but chuckle. "I sure hope the captain that these guys paid for their fare in advance..."

The Emperor knows his own Haxtes, this one you dedicated to him, remember? But maybe Khaine helped you a little along the way. Or maybe they both did. How can you really tell the difference. As you speak your words a radiant shape burst out of the dead carcass. It looks in shape much like Tsyiak did in 'life', save that it is more wholesome and made of brilliant energy too bright to watch. "Indeed we will. I shall hunt you down and repay you ten..." but before its threat can be finished it is gone, as if sucked down into some hole you cannot (and do not want to) see. The parts of the mess hall most touched by the radiance are oddly twisted and burnt. Parsifal is alive, but missing one arm just below the elbow and the other is badly savaged as well. Haxtes makes a tourniquet and bandages his other bleeding wounds. He won't bleed to death before aid comes - you're more worried about poison/corruption taking hold. You own wounds are more superficial, but they are burning like they have been rubbed with salt or something. You don't think they will heal well. Oh you are also bruised and battered - but that's hardly anything new! Venus confirms she's on her way.

Up in the bridge area you can hear rain patting on the hull. Or you think it's rain until one of the surviving crew tells you that its rain all right - a rain made of fist-sized hailstones. It's made by sea-water being ripped into the air from the top of these massive waves you see, water which is then quickly frozen by super-cooled air sucked down by the storm you're in. Cracks appear in several of the foot-thick viewing panes. Someone starts praying. Jeb finds various odd bits and ends, a fistful or two of Thrones - and on one corpse some ID-papers. Interesting since he looks to be one of th Abbots original crew. Captain Shadrack: "The ship is under control - for now. We've lost starboard number two and four and port number three. Given the winds we're had pressed to retain control with the power available to us. Our current course is taking us directly south into the Frozen Reaches. That is most unfortunate. If there is something the Rogue Trader could do to assist..." Venus moves over to Jeb and whispers to him: "I've had a call from Haxtes. Parsifal is down and needs attention - the R-T was most insistent that I go down there, with the drone and two guards. You must manage without me."

Jeb screws his face up with distaste as he listens to the battering of the hail, he rises from the last body and wipes his hand on its clothing. "I can shoot the ship or give it a menacing stare, but I hardly think that a helpful solution... So I'll put my money on you being 'something', Azhmut. Aid the Captain - see if you can't reroute power from somewhere and tell us what we can do to assist. He pauses. Prodding the body at his feet with a steel-tipped boot, he gives a grin to the rest. "Perhaps we could drop some dead weight, eh? Get it?" Clearly the fighting has gotten Jeb's juices flowing, so to speak.

"More unfortunate. That is more unfortunate. Most unfortunate is still way ahead." Maxi tells the captain cold and pedantic. He has taken a stiff posture close to the captain feigning a calm in the chaos around him. "R-T Guilliman may assist if it's within his abilities. Our chief tech-priest Azhmut has more knowledge of R-T Guilliman's low orbit capabilities. His entourage are available to you at his leisure, except for Azhmut aid I can't see what more he can give."

Azhmut: "I must inspect the offended engines locally - there is no systems integration. Each machine spirit labors alone, bereft of companionship and support. That is the main failing of this vessel." Venus: "Yes, I can hear their voices. Crying out for help." Azhmut: "You receptors would be truly a marvel to study - I cannot hear them from here." Venus: "Starboard four is the least damaged I think. Starboard two is a loss. The port one has suffered structural damage to its casing, but may be repaired by an external work party. I must leave now. The Rogue Trader awaits my coming."

Haxtes sneaks back into his rooms and do the three S`s and gets back into his R-T persona. After that he walks to the bride to have a word with his friend the good captain.

So now we have Haxtes going back topside. It will take a little time to clean up (envision Bond in Casino Royale - one moment all banged up, next scene spick and span). Venus at the drone is escorted down by two nameless (poor sods) guards to retrieve the comatose but stable Parsifal. It should no longer be a very dangerous trip - the maddened passengers are now just dazed and confused (except those that are already dead, they remain just dead). Azhmut leaves with another pair of guards and a couple of crew to attend one of the offended engines. Jeb picks through the corpses and makes snide remarks - while remaining extra alert. Maxi gives everyone the star and generally tries to secure your current position by parsing out your assets. Octavia excuses herself and - like Haxtes - returns to her rooms. She takes her servants with her.

Somewhat later. The ship is now under partial control and the storm as abated enough for the Captain to try to regain your bearing and resume the trip to the House. Parsifal is secured in your quarters and security measures are in place (read Maxi and his merry guards). Jeb is prowling about looking for interesting stuff - in particular any surviving members of the Abbott's cadre. Azhmut has fixed one of the engines, but is having no luck with the others - one is broken beyond his ability to repair and the other would require a trip on the outside, which isn't advisable under current conditions. Venus and Haxtes as on the bridge with the Captain. Venus has informed Haxtes that the source of the heretek communication protocols are Lady Octavia and her Adept. Captain Shadrack: "My thanks Rogue Trader Jax Guilliman, for your timely and selfless aid."

Haxtes all beaming smiles "My dear captain, it was the least I could do for you. After all, sending my lazy and overpaid tugs to kill other thugs is no hardship for me, no hardship at all, I asure you. Well as for my dear priest I understand that he was found in poor shape down below. Poor shape, but stable. If it's not too mutch trouble my dear friend I'd like acces to the security tapes and/or persons that had eyes on the events, so that I can give my warm regards and heartfelt thanks to the kind persons that saved him from that mob." "If it's not too mutch trouble that is."

"Thank you for your kind words. I'll have my First Officer go through the records and see what he can find. I would not get my hopes up though, there are very few operating pict-corders down below. And none of the men I sent down there seem to have made it back up alive. Alas."

"Your efforts on behalf of my priest and my self warms my soul captain." Haxtes takes his leave and returns to his rooms with Venus and her guards.

Haxtes returns to his quarters - without a drink. Not long after, however, a steward arrives with the Astartes amasec bottle - its not full, but there has to be a good liter left. "The compliments of the Captain Sir."