Prelude: Cadian Dawn (IC)

[Lurk Skywalker]

Outside the voidship

Roldar shrugs and comments only to Hrothgar:

“Well so be it, happy must be the one that is unbound by friend or foe.”

Roldar and his retinue surround Derryck as they approach warily the voidship, in search of the maintenance hatch.

[Lurk Skywalker]

Aboard the voidship

The left shoulder protective plate of the Lector starts fuming slightly as surfaces the insignia of the Relictors. Only it is not the usual silver white colour, but rather a deep angry crimson hue.

A brief message is sent by the Locum Lector to his loyal Astartes:

“Honour our brother, the Lector.”     

[Ohlaak (Alan)]

With the daemons words, Nouri cannot help but be thrown back to a miserable childhood spent toiling away for other masters and Nouri does not move backwards, yet he remembers his time as a Thrall when his life was ruled by false obeisance.  Yet, as he takes the necessary action, even as he plots his revenge.

With a subtle thought, he attempts to step onto the edge of Xerxzes mind while looking into the eyes of the noble space marine.  Nouri poses him a question.

A choice, Xerxzes: allow me to use your life to fuel one spell and deny this arrogant daemon its assumed prize or servitude.

[DM B]

Gaius: "No? Pitty. We could have become fast friends. The wonders I could have taught you..."

Addressing the assembled fighters. "Kill them, but save the sorcerer for me."

The Relictors turn to face their new enemy, reving their chainswords as they spring into the ranks of the Tenebrous Cabal. At about the same time Nouri is picked up by an unseen force and repeatedly hammered with great force into unyielding wall panels. He's not much more than a rag doll when faced with the full might of a daemon.

[LordPsycho]

"Unfortunately heavy weaponry is not something that we have in abundance.  One of Derryck's objectives is to locate fire control on the ship, the ships weapons are the best way we have to deal with the Xenos.  You have had a chance to observe them more closely, did you identify anything that looked like a weak point?"

"Destroy their legs to render them motionless. The joints between the body and the legs looks like weak points, but they have several joints... Otherwise, their power sources... Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to identify where the "brain" was located..."

"The current jamming set-up is a blunt instrument, but it was easy to arrange.  If the encryptor unit were still present and I were there myself I could program the communicator to search out the individual signals of the Xenos and block only them.  Without the encryptor unit that would be very difficult and we lack time.  Interference interspersed with distress signals seems a reasonable route, though we do not know what kind of response they would elicit.  I am beginning to wonder if this ship is more curse than blessing."

A curse, for sure...

"Alright, let's do that ! Not trying is worse than failing..."

Maegon strums on the keyboard and presses different buttons of the control panel, according to the instructions received from Azrael. The message loop sent on the airwaves includes a request for assistance, identification of a xenos threat and voidship coordinates. For now, Maegon refrains from identifying himself, as well as indicating that the voidship belongs to the Emperor's Children.

"Magos, do you know the ship name and what's happening inside ?"

[LordPsycho]

Maegon strums on the keyboard and presses different buttons of the control panel, according to the instructions received from Azrael. The message loop sent on the airwaves includes a request for assistance, identification of a xenos threat and voidship coordinates. For now, Maegon refrains from identifying himself, as well as indicating that the voidship belongs to the Emperor's Children.

After a few minutes, Maegon receives a half scrambled signal:

"grzzgzggzgzz...geant Kremiel of the Ravenw...zzvvggvrr....identi...grrzzzzvvrr...xenos vehi...zvnnnrrzzz"

Ravenwing ? Jetbikes, Land Speeders and Plasma Weapons, together with their incomparable talent, would be a great asset against the xenos arachnids...

[Dragon Lord]

"Destroy their legs to render them motionless. The joints between the body and the legs looks like weak points, but they have several joints... Otherwise, their power sources... Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to identify where the "brain" was located..."

"My thanks Inquisitor, that information will be valuable."
Azrael breaks off briefly to pass the information on to Lukas and Hrothgar.

"Magos, do you know the ship name and what's happening inside ?"

"The ship is apparently called the 'Sensibilious'.  As to what is happening inside we have precious little information.  The Relictors picked up a brief garbled transmission from their brothers on the ship, it seems there is a significant struggle going on inside but beyond that we are in the dark.  A substantial portion of my people are preparing to enter the ship as we speak so we may know more soon.  Their first target is to secure fire control in order to use the ship's weapons against the Xenos.  The Relictors will I believe head directly to try and relieve their brothers."

Roldar and his retinue surround Derryck as they approach warily the voidship, in search of the maintenance hatch.

Derryck instructs a couple of the Nar-Ghosts in placing breaching charges around the maintenance hatch and then they all retreat a distance to avoid the blast of the detonation.  When the small cloud of smoke clears the hatch has been blown off its hinges leaving the way clear to enter the ship.

[Lurk Skywalker]

Entering the voidship

Roldar and his followers take cover as the charges laid on the hatch by Derryck detonate with a muffled bang.

Clasping Derryck's shoulder, Roldar comments:

"Well done. You are free of your decisions, even though your skills would not come amiss on board this thing."

The Scouts enter first, bolters at the ready, followed by their Men-at-Arms led by Helial.   

[LordPsycho]

Outside the voidship

Usher and his men, Roman, Habem, Tonk and Pumarkin, await anxiously near Azrael, while he speaks with the Inquisitor.

Roman is injured and unable to run, but can still hold his lasgun. The four other Spiders hesitated to join the other groups, the one preparing to intercept the xenos or the one entering the voidship, but their lasguns and few grenades would be usuless in such battles.

Instead of stupidly running to their death, the Necromundian soldiers stay with the Magos.
They form a poor escort, but it's better than nothing...

[Dragon Lord]

"Well done. You are free of your decisions, even though your skills would not come amiss on board this thing."

Derryck gives Roldar a quick salute.
"I wish you well Relictor.  If we find a way to assist you while we are working towards our goals we will do so, the Magos' communicator will enable you to stay in contact with us."

With that the two part ways, Derryck and the Nar-Ghosts heading in the direction Azrael recommended would lead them to fire control with the least resistance.

[DM B]

Semi-OOC: Taking control of the command deck (aka. the bridge) is one way of controlling the turrets. The other option is to physically locate each turret and operate them locally. The latter option is probably out of reach due to a lack of manpower. Remember that while this is a small ship it's vastly larger than any supercarrier ever built. So there are a lot of rooms and corridors and whatnot. Plus there are still a thousand or so crew...so do not make the mistake of imagine this ship as 'small' in the absolute sense.

[DM B]

A choice, Xerxzes: allow me to use your life to fuel one spell and deny this arrogant daemon its assumed prize or servitude.

A mental reply: "Feel free to use your own life, sorcerer. Though I should perhaps warn you - at this stage there is naught you can do. You imbeciles attacked my ship, killed my crew - and incredibly stupid it might sound, you set free the daemon. A very powerful daemon - I would know, because I imprisoned him. Well, now you get to reap what you have sown."

[DM B]

Moving this forward:

Luliana has no intention of standing idly by while she and the other wizards are hacked to pieces; instead she continues to weave defensive enchantments to buy the group more time. Hoping against hope that the Gods will change their minds and show her favour.

The sorcerers are protected Kiltren Chigier (who seems to have accepted that Nouri is done for and is putting his trust in a new mistress) and the cult-warriors. Ben'shmen Grefsh is nowhere to be seen, having absconded during the fight.

Against them are arrayed the remaining Relictors and their librarian - a fairly even match - as things stand the ravenous marines are unable to simply slaughter the Tenebrous Cabal!

The Gaius-daemon finally takes notice: "Sorceress!" he shouts to Luliana, "your powers are considerable, worthy of my notice. Perhaps you will be more reasonable than your former master?" He doesn't call of the attack, however, preferring to have the upper hand in any negotiation.

Luliana: "Yes. I submit to your superior might oh Great Emissary! Nouri was wrong not to recognize you majesty and noble bearing!"

Nouri lies battered and broken (but not dead) on the floor, forgotten for the moment.

The Gaius-daemon: "Then drop your wards and attend me. I have need of your services."

Luliana does as she's bid, walking proudly between the still-running chainswords of the Relictors. "Your will master."

The Gaius-daemon: "I would be reunited with my host," it says, pointing as the immobilized form of Xerxzes. "It would be easier on the both of us if he would just let me in willingly - but he won't. Which is where you come in. You will oversee a ritual of possession to ease my passage. Can you do this?"

Luliana: "Thy will be done master. All that is require is the customary sacrifices to fuel the ritual."

The Gaius-daemon: "Indeed. Six should suffice. You pick suitable ones."

Luliana proceeds to prepare the ritual.

[DM B]

"Well done. You are free of your decisions, even though your skills would not come amiss on board this thing."

Derryck gives Roldar a quick salute.
"I wish you well Relictor.  If we find a way to assist you while we are working towards our goals we will do so, the Magos' communicator will enable you to stay in contact with us."

With that the two part ways, Derryck and the Nar-Ghosts heading in the direction Azrael recommended would lead them to fire control with the least resistance.

OOC: Perhaps I missed something, but I cannot find out how many troops are going in with Derryck. Please clarify (or point me in the right direction).

[DM B]

Entering the voidship

Roldar and his followers take cover as the charges laid on the hatch by Derryck detonate with a muffled bang.

Clasping Derryck's shoulder, Roldar comments:

"Well done. You are free of your decisions, even though your skills would not come amiss on board this thing."

The Scouts enter first, bolters at the ready, followed by their Men-at-Arms led by Helial.   

OOC: They've successfully entered the ship, near the bow. But what do they intend to do? Not just wander aimlessly I suppose?