Venus on the vox: "The drone is picking up movement. There are now two large openings in the far wall next to where Greel fell. Multiple lifeforms emerging. Clearly xenos. Please advice."

"Too many coming this way Dante, Sir. Not going to be able to see them all, let alone hold them; no matter how much violence I might be able to put upon their persons." To the stairs and loudly "You coming through the smoke, slow down! We have locked doors here and need you to wait!"

The stench is no accompanied with the baying shrieks of a multitude of alien voices. And the terrified screams of those down on the floor who see them. Up above on the balconade you remain blissfully ignorant - although the cacophony of shrieks and screams does nothing to improve your crowd control.

(Area description needed. Is the main door immediate on the balcony or is there an alcove /hall leading from the balcony to the door? If alcove / hall how wide is it? Can it be hold by four men abreast?)

Too Venus : Fire at the xeno Too The rest of groupe: " Form a wedge we move and fire as one towards the exit azmuth is working on...form up get moving "

As they form up in a wedge and Jebediah threatens yet another unarmed civilian to back the heck away from the group, the ex-merc sends a glance in the direction of the baying. "Boss" he remarks in Haxtes direction. "Permission to round up this facility's military personnel for a possible rearguard action."

OOC: When in doubt, feel free to add details. No seriously, you're allowed to add bits and pieces of description to the setting. I don't mind, quite the contrary. The Auditorium is a big domed room, hundreds of meters across. Lots of columns and stuff. Then various peices of furniture and artworks. On the floor, in the center, is a raised podium where Greel/Bland/the Widow etc. were situated. On either side a grand staircase, leading to a sort of balcony/mezzanine that terminates at one end of the room where the main doors are. In the opposite end of the room is a black mausoleum/memorial to the Haarlocks (that's where Greel died and where the xenos are coming into the room). Since this is the 41st Millennium things are big. You'd need at least six men abreast to block the balcony.

Venus: "Commencing." It lasts only a little while, two long bursts and a few shorter ones, with alien keening in between, then silence. "Ammo at 0%"

Azhmut: "The door's machine spirit is once again cooperating. I have door control." The heavy blast door starts to roll back into the concealed wall cavity. One of the Maiden's armsmen shouts a warning: "Mourners!" and then starts spraying and praying. A bunch of Mourners are waiting on the other side. Parsifal is force to sidestep or get trampled by the stampeding mob. Maxi has a little more control; as the clerics of the Ministorum get close enough for their lamplight to take him in them actually grin to a halt. But behind them more people are pushing forward.

With a trio of Maiden armsmen up front Haxtes' group starts pushing through the darkness, aiming for the staircase and beyond that the lights of the Ministorum party. Jeb remains close to his master, guarding him with his life, like a real bonded bodyguard. Elizaveta does the same for her dear admiral - no doubt she cannot bear the thought of loosing her love. From the dark a bast suddenly springs - its shape is bipedal and it has two arms not unlike those of a man, save hooked claws. Its color is had to determine, but its skin is thick and wrinkled. A long, very thick neck ends in a great mouth, like that of a lamprey - rows upon rows of gleaming fangs. Just the mouth - no face, no eyes, no nothing, just that mouth.

Parsifal bundles himself to the side, making sure to hold onto his sword and then turns to move with the flow of the crowd, keeping his feet under himself as they carry him back towards the Balcony and the door. As they drive up the stairs he shouts for the guards to step aside as he is sure the mob will just carry on through into the mourners beyond. He expects that there he will have to fight.

"Granted Jeb, get as many armed men as you can. I'll keep the wedge moving forward" Haxtes keeps the wedge moving forward

Haxtes and the wedge keeps moving, leaving Jebediah behind to scrounge up some soldiers. Only first he must deal with the lamprey-mouthed xenos coming at him - it desires to latch on to Jeb, paralyze him, and then chew its way into his soft innards. Even in the semi-darness you clearly recognize its 'face' - its the same as the xenos-flesh mask Haxtes purchased. The one you've got hanging from your belt.

Switching his pistol to autofire, Jebediah empties the clip in the beasts face before withdrawing behind the wedge and leaving the rest of the group to deal with whatever's left of the thing. Weaving through the milling crowd with the delicacy of a bull in a china shop, Jeb attempts to round up people with arms and something resembling skill at using them, while reloading his own piece and brandishing the sabre in what he deems to be a threatening fashion (and with a complete lack of anything resembling actual swordsmanship). In his best imitation of a drill-sergeant he bawls at the guardsmen, threatens and cajoles them and smacks them a bit around to restore some semblance of discipline in them, before he gruffly orders them to fall back and form up at the bottom of the stairs the Rogue Trader and the Admiral is retreating towards. If possible, he also picks up some heavier firepower than his pistol. Snatching it out of the hands of a bewildered or lifeless guardsman, before he deftly checks the clip in the weapon and slaps down the man for any spare ammunition. A pistol won't cut it alone in this mess.

Sensing a hint of cohesion and diciplin. Maxi makes the aguila to the cardinal "Cardinal, the doors are shut but we're working on it. If you can position your retinue in front of the door you may give time and space for our tech-priest to open. But beware it may be dangers on the outside so position your guards wisely." Maxi senses his position are futile and withdraws hastily back to the door. (Whatever answer the priest gives.)

Maxi: Look above; the door is opening.

As Maxi speaks he can hear the groan of the door opening; a shouted warning and then gunfire.

Maxi senses his position are futile and withdraws hastily back to the door. Seeing Parsifal arriving in front of the flow and Azhmut by the machine scripture by the door. He lobbies his remaining frag-grenade through the open door. After the explosion he orders halt fire. before he moves in and engage mourners in melee. "Parsifal, Azhmut. Move in. The faster we end them the faster the crowd can escape."

Jeb manages to scrounge up both a few guards and a serviceable lasgun, but the darkness and the screams and the gunfire and the xenos...its all very difficult. Lots of frightened people, lots of chaos, zero perception. It's a mess.

The grenade takes out one of the Mourners - and two of the over-eager Administratum adepts that are first through the opening door. Then the press of people forces you into a wild melee, with the Mourners gleefully smashing people to pulp with their power staffs. All the while shouting things like "There will be blood". "Thy will be done." "His kingdom come". "The Traveller returns." "The Dark Sun arises." You don't think they know what they are talking abut - its shouted by rote alone. Fortunately they aren't very good fighters. They are powerful and tough and the power staffs are dangerous, but they are not very skillful. That doesn't really help the first wave of civilians though...

Attempting to make any sense of this situation was a doomed venture. Only two points stood out to him; the podium, where Inquisitor Herrod and his men fought, and the balcony where Jeb's team was located - and also where the rest of the gathered humanity in the room was fleeing towards. As the dull crump of detonating grenades joined the cacaphony of noise from the balcony it became rather obvious that going back there would be a completely useless gesture and only add to the mass-hysteria. They'd be pinned down by a throng of quivering civilians, unable to use their guns effectively and left to meet the Xenos in hand-to-hand combat. And Jeb had no illusions about who'd come out on the topside there. So he turned to Herrod again, quickly taking stock of the few guards he had gathered around him. They weren't what he could have hoped for, but better than he had feared. They'd do in a pinch. He hoped they hadn't expected a quick skirmish and then salvation... "Let's go!" he roared and began guiding the little group sideways into the press of frightened civilians heading towards the stairs. Jeb began to bully his way past screaming men and women, aware of the frenzied onslaught moving furiously towards the balcony. The going wasn't easy, but after the first person to grab onto him was head-butted into submission and the next was clobbered mercilessly down with the flat side of the unpowered powersabre and left unconscious at the mercy of the Xenos, he believed he had made his point. They would die so that others had a chance at living. Leading the small group of armed men, Jebediah aimed for the podium and Herrod. Linking up with the Inquisitor and his retinue was probably his best bet at the moment. If nothing else, they could then make a more forceful rearguard together or attempt to fend of the Xenos while others had a chance to escape. A few guards with lasguns wouldn't be able to do that alone...

The words of the prayer of retaliation on Parsifal's lips as he charges forward into the fray, switching and turning, blocking and riposting, trying to cut his way deep into the ranks of the mourners, parrying what he can and counter-attacking whenever the opportunity presents itself, striking for throats, wrists, knees and elbows, trying to cripple as he goes. Beads of sweat gather on his brow as he ramps his exertion up to that his body has not attempted since that time in steerage and he strives to drive the images of that which happened there from his mind.

Haxtes holds the wedge. To team on vox: " Let the other go inn first and soften up the mourners on the other side, maxi, pars and Azmuth just make sure the door remains open. as soon as the crowd goes true the door WE follow them" Haxtes shots aimed support fire for Jeb, taking head shots on the xeno. Vox to Jeb: " We move out as soon as way is clear and Horus take the hind most...make sure you are not the hindmost "

Jeb is soon lost in the chaos on the Auditorium floor. The last Haxtes sees of him is his back, briefly illuminated by the twin muzzle flashes of Haxtes' bolt pistols as he blows aprat the head of one of the xenos. The xenos are tough, but There Will be Blood is eager to drink, and the other gun seems happy to have a companion! The wedge reaches the stairs, finding the occupied by two groups of men - they are sort of cooperating. Five men armed with pistols and swords hug the column flanking the stairs to the right, while a trio of girls in bodysuits guard an obese trader on the left. One of the girls has picked up a power staff, another has an IG lasrifle with ceremonial bayonet still affixed, the thirds one is surely a psyker - her sanctioning tattoos flare brightly as she conjures forth light from darkness. It's not that they do not want to get out, but given the general pressure of people going up the stairs they have opted to hold and wait.

Jebediah Octavian Hoare leads his 'men' towards the podium - several flares have been popped and a couple of gun-mounted torches are sending rays of light into the darkness as the Stromtroopers owning them sweep the perimeter. Behind you one of the men shrieks in horror and agony as a xenos beast strikes from the dark, latching on to him and boring into his bowels. On the podium someone shouts a warning and the torches sweep your way. Lasbolts spear the darkness, one of them coming too close to Jeb for comfort. You are now in something of a position - between the xenos and the man with the gun...

Parsifal and Maxi are in the thick of the melee. Azhmut is holding by the door, as are those of your guards and servants that haven't been swept away with the crowd. You've lost track of Messinus in the press of bodies - but you haven't seen him go down.

Aware of how important Messinus is to the mission Parsifal changes tack now, Summoning his considerable strength to push back out of the melee, crying "Messinus! To me! To me!" as he uses his shield to slice through the mob trying to gather the lost soul to him.

Maxi shifts to protect Parsifals back, continuing the melee. "The witch is drawn to the power flow inside. Get him and snap him out of it Parsifal."

The flow of people is slightly less now and Parsifal is able to push his way forward and back onto the balcony. You don't see him anywhere, but on a hunch (let's call it the God-Emperor guiding you) you head down one side, the one now more or less devoid of people. Finally you spot him - there is some light sources here and there, not a lo, but sufficient to turn black into a murky dark grey. He's just walking long the balcony. At about the same time the first xenos has climbed up the wall and vaults over the railing. Between you and Messinus. Figures (let's call that a challenge of devotion).

The words of prayers spoken over and over by Parsifal now are flung from his lips as he roars them in defiance of the xenos threat to his lonely charge. With sword held wide, ready to strike or return to guard he starts the head long run at the thing, shouting as he goes, in the hope that he will gain its attention instead of the solitary walking Messinus.

Maxi sends the last of the Mourners crashing to the floor. One of the Maiden's armsmen appears from behind and puts a burst of autogun fire through its head - to make sure it remains down. People continue to flee down the hall, some panicked and others just determined, but the press of people is gone and its possible to move about in a fairly normal manner (save its pretty dark out in the corridor too).

You get its attention all right. It turns and hisses, ready to meet your charge. A heavy chop strikes its long, flexible neck. The blade bites deeply, but not deeply enough, being stopped from severing the 'head' by the mass of teeth inside. The beast tries to get in close, to latch its claws on you and bore into your flesh. It is only half-way successful in catching you, and your armor prevents its teeth from gaining access to flesh. A second blow to the exposed neck severs it completely. A couple more strides and you have Messinus by the arm.

Parsifal tries to turn Messinus around back up the stairs shouting "We have the door open, come on!" and pushing him towards the safety of the balcny and the door door while keeping his blade trained upon the railings, awaitng the next Xenos to cross its boundary marking. With cautious steps he starts he to back up the stairs himself, trying to shrink the gap and not get isolated from those who remain above.

"Friendlies! Check your fire!" Jebediah cries in his hoarse voice while ducking involuntarily as bolts of superheated energy zings past him. Unsure whether his words is actually heard he levels his gun towards the Xenos and pulls the trigger a couple of times, sending bright red lasbolts into the darkness beyond the light - and away from the podium. He turns back towards the podium and raised his voice again. "Watch it - we're coming in!" Grabbing the nearest guardsman, Jeb pushes him towards the light, waiting half a heartbeat before following in his wake. If the Inquisitors men where considering anything hostile and was looking for blood, he'd rather he wasn't first in line.

Then first man is shot dead in an instant. Bad for him, good for you. Ten someone bellows in a commanding voice "Check fire, friendlies coming through" and the rest of you, seven in all, manage to reach the podium. Wait, make that six. The hindmost is taken down by two xenos. More commands are shouted and lasfire is directed at the enemy. Both are taken down, which is good, but the Guardsman they'd taken becomes collateral, which is bad for him.

Parsifal continues to herd Messinus back the way you came, down below, on your right hand, there is some shouting and then a furious exchange of las-fire. Seeing the entire scene lit up by a strobe-like effect is almost mesmerizing. You can see various human figures - and xenos, lots of xenos, pouring forth from the dark.

Inside what could be called a relative calm in the middle of a furious storm, Jebediah directs the guardsmen to where they can do most good without interfering with the Inquisitors men and their firing lines. The ex-merc knew full well that introducing greenhorns to a firmly drilled unit could spell disaster, but necessity did seem to demand otherwise. With that out of the way, he makes his way to the Inquisitor. "Fresh gun on the line" he announced himself in his gruff voice, and raised the lasgun to his shoulder as he stepped up next to Herrod, adding his fire to the Inquisitors own and putting him within talking distance. He'd have to improvise a bit here. "Rogue Trader Guilleman's greetings, Inquisitor. Thought you could use a hand here." Jeb's lasgun sent out two bolts of energy in rapid succession towards the Xenos. "So... What's the plan here?"

Under his breath the templar mutters a prayer for those down there, amongst those xenos, hoping that they at least manage to destroy the threat before they fall themselves, as he continues to guide Messinus up the stairs in the hope they can soon reach Maxi and that Parsifal can return to the fray below to save as many of humanity as he can.

Observing the dwindling crowd Maxi goes an checks if Azhmut can hold the door. "Maxi on vox: "R-T, main-door is clearing, we're waiting for you arrival."

On vox Too Maxi : "Ok meet us there and fall into the wedge " Haxtes stops for a second and looks down on hes first bolt pistol and remembers all the killing head shots he as made with the weapon a cruel smile forms on hes lips and he says too him self " There Will be Blood fits but what other name can the first gun have than " there will be death" Haxtes knows that it must be so it feels right, the freezing down hes spine tells him that. Haxtes intones there will be death and fire a shot at one of the xeno taking great pleasure in seeing its foul head go up in a fountain of blood and gore. Not wanting the new gun "Blood" too feel left out he Intones There will be blood and fires in to the belly of a Xeno riping out its innards and spine . Leaving the Xeno too bleed out. " Blood gets blood and death gets death" Biting hes tongue and tasting the sweet pain and blood Haxtes thinks that this is a grand day, a day too be remembered.

Too Jeb: " We are moving out form rearguard and keep up"

Herrod: "The plan is we've got what we came for, so we're leaving. That psy-light over there is going to attract unwanted attention, so we'll head for the other stair. Ready on my mark - you too, whomever you are." Parsifal swings over the side and leaps out, quickly rappelling down to the floor. Two things are obvious in the strobe-light of lasfire, waving torches and flares (why would anyone bring flares to such an occasion?): - the xenos are numerous, hundreds strong - and they are attracted to light

Haxtes and the wedge sweep up the stairs as quickly as they can. One of the admiral's men screams as something tears him down - but you've no time to stop and help him. Horus - or in this case, xenos - take the hindmost. As soon as you gain the mezzanine balcony you can see Maxi's towering shape gently illuminate by back-light from the corridor beyond. Rarely has he been so welcoming a sight. A hundred meters and you'll be out of this.

well out of it is taking it a bit far, still the rest of the complex no ?

Jeb nods to Herrod before realizing that the Inquisitor probably can't see his face. "Acknowledged." Pressing a finger to the transmitting-rune of his voxpiece, he contacts Haxtes. "I'm currently with the Inquisitor, Boss. We're separated from your position by the horde, but we'll get to you by another route and keep you informed as to our position." He glances in the direction of the stairs. "Oh and Boss? The Inquisitor seems to believe that the Xenos are attracted to light. Jeb out. "

On Vox too Jeb: " Ok I`l see we will see you after" Too group : " Get moving forward make for the landing docks and keep light too a minimum the xeno are attracted too lights." "Pars you lead us out with azmuth, maxi you have the rear"

As he hits the ground Parsifal drops quickly into a cautious fighting stance trying to see where Haxtes and his guards are standing, and not being able to see them. Within a moments glance it is clear that few here now stand that are not Xenos and he thanks the throne he is not one of the idiots waving round a marker-light for the damned things to rip him down as quick as they might see him. With the only significant sound and sight of continued resistance by servants of the throne coming from the dias then that is towards that direciton he starts to head, fighting his way defensively, pushing forward and parrying as he goes, his only attacks being ripostes to drive the things that scuttle down on the floor away from him, back into the darkness towards easier targets. Hoping, in his ignorance, that he might be able to help Haxtes and Jeb from their isolation there to the stairs; hoping they are still alive and holding out.

Haxtes: Yes, out of this ROOM. You still have the rest of the complex, then the island, and then thousands of klicks of acidic stormy ocean. The beasts still have enough targets to keep them occupied - light-waving, heart-beating-in-fear-fast targets, to latch on to and feeed... So basically Parsifal is able to run up to the rear of the podium, just at the group is moving out for the darkened stair. Because its so dark and they are looking the other way you make it all the way without them noticing you - that's damn sloppy, not having someone guard the rear!

Parsifal is nowhere to be seen. Maxi aw him jut before Haxtes gained the stairs. He handed over Messinus, but now he's gone! Did the xenos get him?

Down on the floor the group suddenly cuts their last lights and starts running. Parsifal is caught a little off guard and they disappear into the dark. You've got their direction so you can follow...oh and you step into something nasty and fall. Onto something equally nasty. You can't see it but you know what it is - a badly decayed corpse. You tripped in one and landed in another. Badly decayed, that's weird - once the nausea goes away that is...

To Maxi, Venus, Azmuth on vox : " Venus I expect that your drone can see in the dark without light - drone take point and lead us out. You and Azmuth lead the wedge and take out mourners with the help of the guards and open doors if more are closed. Maxi you are rear guard with me. The xenoa are fast and strong - as for the others they will make their own way out" To All: "Admiral can you help keep the wedge moving forward ? I'll be on rear guard. LETS MOVE OUT!"

Maxi runs for the area he saw Parsifal disappeared. Going to help him or end him if help can't be. "Right behind you R-T, just going to pick up some good meat shield."

To Maxi "You are last man. Need you to get close in melee if needed. I'll cover with pistols."

Swallowing hard Parsifal fights the rising bile he knows will come as he tries to put his feet back under him. To be on your back is to die amongst these things and he rights himself as quickly as he can and, keeping low, starts to move in the direction of the stairs and the group of people who doused their lights so suddenly, as strange as that action seems to him. Slowly at first, until he is sure of his footing, he accelerates into a bizarre crouched run as quickly as he can, sword in hand to lash out at any Xenos who decides he is a suitable target, all the while reciting the gospel of St. Magnus Vitae's expulsion of the pestilience from Karkowsen IV under his breath. A louder prayer might tell the things where he is in the dark.

Maxi: You have time for a quick peek while waiting for Haxtes to reach the door. Parsifal is not dead. He' just decided to rappell down to the floor again. You can't see him though, cuz its all dark down there, just a few...suddenly there is a very bright light down there - the psyker girl haxtes saw at the stairs panicking as they are overrun by the beasts. But in that brief instant you get a good grasp of the scene; Parsifal is running after Herrod's group as they make for the opposite stairs. Other than that there are just hundreds of xenos, rapidly taking out whomever has not fled yet. You need to go. Now. And Azhumt has to seal that door again!

Parsifal is running when the witch-light flares brightly (before going out completely): Before him is an odd scene, this group of men racing for the stairs, oblivious to the danger that surrounds them. Their surprise and fear when they glimpse the real number of xeno about. Then the darkens closing in again. More fear. That was the odd part. The weird part is the corpse of the hindmost Guardsmen tumbling to the ground, broken and rotted, tossed to the side like a little doll by a finely robed man (presumably one of the attendees). This man in robes effortlessly lopes after the other, then reaches out with impossibly long arms to grab another guard from the rear. He doesn't quite make it. Two of the xenos jump him instead. And the lucky guardman runs on for a few step, oblivious to the danger, before at last a third xeno pounces on him. The robed man smashes to the floor and the two xenos latch on to him...

Venus and Azhumut acknowledges. The drone zips ahead. Azhmut want to know if you want the door closed behind you.

(very nice naming of the other gun Haxtes - extra fitting since it was given to you by the Angels of Death)

" Oh Yes Azmuth as soon as we are out the door"

Knowing that Parsifal is out of reach Maxi turns and runs for the door. "Right behind you, R-T."

Haxtes turns to the admiral and speaks : "So far this has been a rater good reading of a last will dont you think ? - It has had all gifts, drama a few deaths and now xeno hordes - old Haarlock sure knows how to entertain. After we get out I insist that you visit me aboard my ship for dinner and drinks just to end the day on a high note - please excuse me Admiral" Haxtes half turns and fire "Death" in the head of the closet Xeno to Maxi. "Close the door Azmuth they are close, Maxi Move your ass door is closing " Haxtes shoots the leg off one Xeno with "Blood"

The run turns into a sprint as Parsifal launches himself in to a leap over the figure on the floor, downed by the two xenos. For a moment it seems like the scene slows down as it seems he leaves the sword tip to trail behind him, almost hanging down by his side. And then it becomes clear that it is not trailing, and that the leap is in fact a flying strike, the tip dragged with all his body's strength where he things the robed man's neck will be - trying to end the misery and pain that the xenos will render upon his person. Whether it hits or not does not matter though as he does not stop as he lands, his feet pounding as he tries to keep the momentum of the leap to catch up with the group and warn them they are losing men to the darknesses behind.

Azhmut: "Aye aye captain, commencing interface with door-spirit....door is closing in 8.6 seconds." Azhmut is much more formal now that there are outsiders nearby. The door starts rolling closed. Maxi remains standing in the opening almost to the end, smashing right and left with his maul, and only steps back at the very last moment, allowing one final xeno to make it half-way through, only to be crushed into pulp by fifty tonnes of moving metal. Azhmut: "Door has been closed. Awaiting further orders."

" Gentlemen, and Lady's lets move out I want too put distance between us and this door, Azmuth please make sure that the door cant be reopened "

The man doesn't have a neck. The blade sinks in and though and strikes the stone below with a loud clang. Then you are over and past, blade gleaming brightly for a moment as you pull it free...there is no more resistance going out than in. Somewhere something has caught fire. Maybe lasfire has ignited some furniture or some draperies. It gives just enough light to see by. But you rather wish it didn't. You eyes become fixed on the scene before you. The two xenos are no longer chewing on their prey; they are writhing in agony on the floor, uttering cries of pain and fear like one you've heard before. And the robed man is no longer on the floor - he has risen...there is something within those robes...something crawling underneath human skin...you'd rather not know...

Azhmut gives the door's machine spirit the last rites, then rips it soul apart. The only way to open then door is to manually push away 50 tonnes of steel.

The door is shut, so we'll split the action into two.