Rogue Trader - Exodus

[Montresor]

[Shortly afterwards, Logis Ezekial will arrive at the 'surface', emerging from the cog-vault. He will bring with him two frag grenades and a blind grenade - let me know who is carrying which grenades, including the others Zarkov garnered from the Invictus.

Logis Ezekial will inform the two that they have only an hour in which to reach the Docking Bay to board the Mechanicus shuttle. There is a very small windown of opportunity, and he has delayed them as much as it is possible. He advises Zarkov and Malachi to seek transportation to the Docking Bay - either from their own vessel, or via some means in another level of the asteroid. The Commons will have nothing you can use for faster movement. Walking to the Docking Bay will take 1-3 hours.

Let me know how you intende to reach there, planning amongst yourselves]

[Malachi]

Malachi thanks Ezekial before heading back to the tunnel entrance with Zarkov, handing him one of the frag grenades, and the blind grenade.

"Any ideas on how to get to the Docking Bay within an hour? I don't know if we carry any ground vehicles on-board our vessel."

[Lt. Commander Zarkov]

[Shortly afterwards, Logis Ezekial will arrive at the 'surface', emerging from the cog-vault. He will bring with him two frag grenades and a blind grenade - let me know who is carrying which grenades, including the others Zarkov garnered from the Invictus.

Logis Ezekial will inform the two that they have only an hour in which to reach the Docking Bay to board the Mechanicus shuttle. There is a very small windown of opportunity, and he has delayed them as much as it is possible. He advises Zarkov and Malachi to seek transportation to the Docking Bay - either from their own vessel, or via some means in another level of the asteroid. The Commons will have nothing you can use for faster movement. Walking to the Docking Bay will take 1-3 hours.

Let me know how you intende to reach there, planning amongst yourselves]

Zarkov was unsure how to act in the presence of the Logis. Besides Malachi he had not spoken to any high ranking members of the Mechanicus since his internment on the Omnissiah's Light. In the end he simply averted his eyes, thanking him humbly for the weapons of Mars.

Malachi thanks Ezekial before heading back to the tunnel entrance with Zarkov, handing him one of the frag grenades, and the blind grenade.

"Any ideas on how to get to the Docking Bay within an hour? I don't know if we carry any ground vehicles on-board our vessel."

Zarkov flicked the worst of the scum from his armour. He wondered if there would be a high pressure water source at the exit of the pipe. At least his soul was cleansed. He spoke to Malachi while examining the frag grenade he had been handed. It had been polished to a gleaming shine and was inscribed deeply with symbols of the Mechanicus. Zarkov's bionic eye just picked up faint rings of binary code, laser-etched upon the surface. The operating mechanism, however, seemed standard, perhaps enlarged a little to allow easy use with mechadendrites.

"Unlikely to be suited for our purposes. There are shuttles that may be suitable, but I imagine Peraton would take all steps to deny us access. It would compromise the secrecy of your mission, also. We should not entertain the thought." He looked at Malachi. "Let us try to get out of these slums, and to a higher level on the asteroid. Perhaps there will be an access lift system or smaller craft that can get us to the docking bay. We should make haste."

[Zarkov keeps an eye out for chem showers or water sources with which to quickly wash some of the remaining filth off his body on the way out of the slums.]

[Malachi]

"In that case, please take the lead for now. I'm not strongly suited to getting answers and finding things in places as these."

Malachi will assist Zarkov, if he so chooses, in any search and inquiry checks he might make while trying to find a taxi of sorts.

[Montresor]

[No free high pressure-hoses present themselves in the The Commons. All water sources are controlled by Gangers. If you wish to pay for the use of one, let me know, but it will take about five minutes of your time, and not do a great job]

The ascent through the lower levels of the asteroid is beset by crowds of workers, gangers, and ratings. The actual direction traversed is frustrated by the illogical layout of the structures built into the rock, many of which pile on top of each other, rambling to a treacherous point of metal and stone. Despite these impediments, Zarkov and Malachi waste little time, racing through artificial squares, hab-zones, and rec-facilities.

Although the levels they traverse are still positioned at the base of the asteroid, and are therefore less reputable and safe, Zarkov and Malachi begin to encounter some of the descendents of the original founders of Footfall - Stone workers and labourers who cling with pride to their Imperial and religious heritage, in order to distance themselves from the hordes of piratical opportunists who have now claimed effective social dominion over the port. These men and women are more often able to point the way for the two explorers, aiding their passage in a small degree.

With less than twenty minutes to spare, the two are faced with the absolute necessity of increasing their haste, though they have no immediate means to do so. Their enquiries have given them few alternatives, and if they do not decide on one quickly, their chance to reach the Mechanicus shuttle in time will be lost.

[You know of two options. Firstly, you can race to where you have heard their is a rail system which regularly sends trains in the direction of the Docking Bay. However, if you are forced to wait for a train, you could lose the time you have left. Secondly, you could make a run for a central goods lift a few levels up, which takes material directly to the Bay region. Access to this, however, might be denied for 'commuter' passage. Or, you could try something else]

[Malachi]

With time running out, Malachi commands his servo-skull to start heading towards the central goods lift, scanning for the lowest crowd density so Malachi and Zarkov can make their way through with as little resistance as possible.

Both Malachi and the servo-skull also keep an eye out for any other elevators that look like they can take them up to the main goods lift, just in case the stairwell looks congested.

[Montresor]

Using the servo-skull, Malachi is able to navigate the congested streets and corridors of the asteroid. Sometimes dipping through back alleys, across wide open boulevards, and through narrow hab-ruins, Malachi and Zarkov make excellent time to the service lift.

Once there, with less than fifteen minutes remaining, they see a group of rag-strewn labourers loading crates of material on to the wide goods lift. An overseer sits on a crate labelled 'Hazardous', smoking a pipe and barking orders at the men in a near fury. He does not notice the approach of the first lieutenant, or the explorator.

[Malachi]

Seeing his chance, Malachi sends his familiar stealthily towards the crate that the overseer it sitting upon. Once there, the servo-skull's equipment will hopefully be able to tear a couple of holes in the crate large enough for the contents to spill out.

A diversion was their best bet at getting on the lift without being questioned.

[Montresor]

The servo-skull hovers as high as it is able, passing unnoticed above the small mob of workers. The thing descends out of sight to the base of the crate, cutting through the crate until an outpouring of silty green dust starts to clog the air.

[two very impressive successes for your servo-skull, and it pulled the rather unexpected maneouvre off with ease]

'Ork piss!' the overseer yells, leaping from the crate and covering his mouth with the thick cloth of his coat. 'Get the masks! Get the masks!'

A momentary confusion erupts, in which the workers drop their work and rush to a group of small lockers inset into the walls. They begin to frantically put rebreathers on their faces. The green dust is meanwhile swirling into a thick cloud, thanks in part to the hovering of the servo-skull.

[Lt. Commander Zarkov]

Zarkov tried to hide a small grin as he beckoned Malachi to follow him. The servo-skull had performed admirably. He took a route that led them behind a stack of crates toward the service lift, as the overseer continued to yell abuse at his peons. Zarkov made sure to hold his breath against the obviously toxic dust, and hoped the Explorator could get the lift started quickly.

[Malachi]

Malachi falls in behind Zarkov, keeping a low profile, and covering his air intakes with his robe.

Upon reaching the elevator, he examines the console for a MIU input, before setting the lift's destination.

Is it possible to gauge how long it will take the lift to make it to the level we need, using a tech-use check or some similar method? If we don't end up having enough spare time, I'll try working in concert with the servo-skull (if possible) to give the elevator a speed boost.

[Montresor]

Zarkov and Malachi rush to the elevator, though the lieutenant commander's clanking gait gives the two away before they have even reached the service lift. Labourers stare in surprise while donning their rebreathers. At first not understanding what is going on, and then realising the deception. The overseer, too busy barking orders at his staff, turns a little too late.

'Halt!'

Malachi, having outpaced Zarkov on the way through sets to work finding an MIU input for the lift.

'HALT!'

The overseer has his autopistol out and lets loose with a burst of shots which ricochet about the interior. Just as Zarkov enters the lift, it begins to rise.

'Raise the alarm! DON'T JUST STAND THERE! RAISE THE ALARM!!"

Green dust follows in the wake of the explorers, and Malachi collapses, his vision awash with dark patches and bright lights. His MIU unplugs from the console as he falters, though the lift continues to ascend.

Klaxons begin to wail from far below.

[Malachi failed a Toughness test vs the Hazardous material, and has fainted. He will be out for ten rounds. The lift is ascending slowly. Zarkov's rebreather saved him from contamination, though Malachi's in-built Respirator Unit did not function as intended, becoming too clogged with the silt]

[Lt. Commander Zarkov]

Zarkov's smile grew to a grin as the autopistol rounds ricocheted about the interior of the lift. He stood unflinching and made no attempt to seek cover. It had been years since he had felt so alive. The embarrassing event in the sewage tunnel momentarily forgotten, Zarkov stared triumphantly at the outraged foreman.

The sensation of being under fire again mixed with the sound of alarm sirens gave him an ecstatic thrill; like a addict smelling slaught again after years of temperance. He almost felt like laughing. Then he heard the Explorators cyber-mantle hitting the floor of the elevator. Turning, Zarkov saw the Explorator lying face up, his mechadendrites swaying with unconscious movement.

"Brother Explorator!!!" Zarkov collapsed and knelt by the prostrate body. He wondered if Malachi had been hit by an errant auto-pistol slug, but a quick glance revealed no such wounds on the tech-priests body. Then Zarkov saw the poisonous green dust, thickly clogging the Explorator's respirator. He cursed, trying to extract it. Ripping his re-breather from his face, Zarkov held it to the respirator intakes in a futile attempt to revive the fallen tech-preist. How could he have let his Mechanicus brother fall? he thought desperately to himself.

[Malachi]

After about a minute of unconsciousness, Malachi slowly rouses, seeing Zarkov hovering over him. It takes just a moment for him to piece together what happened.

"Zarkov... thanks."

Zarkov extends an arm of support, and Malachi grabs onto it as he gets back up onto his feet. He secures his air intakes, and heads over to the MIU he found earlier.

"Now, let's see if we can't make this thing go any faster."

Malachi will gauge how much time it will take to reach the top, and attempt to speed up the lift if it's moving too slowly.

[Montresor]

[Malachi now counts as Fatigued, so both explorers are fatigued at this stage]

Re-connecting his MIU ports with the console, the explorator sets to work to start the lift moving faster. It is almost as if he is looking at a blank page an attempting to read it; but his mind cannot quite click that he is doing something wrong. The effects of the chemical poison have sapped both his strength and wits, and the elevator procceeds slowly to the summit of the shaft.

Just over five minutes remain until the Mechanicus vessel will depart the Docking Bay. The elevator grinds to an awkward halt, at the only exit level it has passed. Coming into vision are a series of crates and barrels, behind which a mob of workers and troops stand. About a half dozen soldiers dressed in flak armour, and the livery of another noble or Rogue Trader, are positioned with the labourers. Behind them, Malachi and Zarkov see a vast Docking Bay stretch out.

The lead most soldier, aiming a shotgun in their direction, declares: 'Throw down your weapons and surrender. You are under arrest for sabotage'.

[There is enough cover in the lift, should you so wish to take it]

[Malachi]

Malachi quickly scans his surroundings to see if they're on the docking bay level, before taking any other actions.

It was now or never.

[Montresor]

Malachi quickly scans his surroundings to see if they're on the docking bay level, before taking any other actions.

It was now or never.

[success on a Perception test]

Malachi spies a distant sign, painted simply on a wall above an access arch - DOCKING BAY K-871.

The sound of lasguns being primed to fire begins to whirr.

[Lt. Commander Zarkov]

The lead most soldier, aiming a shotgun in their direction, declares: 'Throw down your weapons and surrender. You are under arrest for sabotage'.

[There is enough cover in the lift, should you so wish to take it]

Zarkov stepped out of the elevator, raising himself to full height and addressing the lead soldier in the same loud barking tone he had practiced throughout his naval career. The ratings onboard the Vengeance had known well to avoid the wrath of their superior officer.

[Intimidate. Trained + Fate point for reroll if needed. Also Perception/Scrutiny test to see if Zarkov recognizes the soldiers rank and background. If he does, apply bonus at your discretion regarding italicized text.]

"Sergeant! Stand down!!! I am Commander Zarkov, Battlefleet Calaxis! What exactly do you think you're doing, sergeant?!! You and your men are interfering with sacred Mechanicus business, If you were still in the Guard you would be shot! I am escorting the Chief Explorator here, and we have no time to lose. I don't know what issues you have with us, but you may take it up with the Inquisitor...when he arrives. I may take the liberty of taking down your name and number if you delay us any further."

[Please hold off tests until Malachi details his actions.]

[Malachi]

Malachi steps up beside Zarkov, with a strong aura of aggression in his gait.

"I would heed the words of my compatriot. We are under orders to remain covert and secret. You have no right in meddling with the affairs of the Mechanicus. And you know how crippled you all would be if you brought their wrath upon yourselves."

Please add the appropriate bonus to Zarkov's intimidate check from my assistance.

[Montresor]

[You passed your recognition test for the man's rank - I'll edit that. However, both of you failed on all three intimidation tests, all modifiers considered]

A tense silence hangs over the scene. Labourers look at one another in unease, obviously startled and confused at the talk of Mechanicus power and interests, but the Sergeant holds firm. He allows a short silence before grinning.

'What are doing causing a dangerous toxin to pour into the ventillation? If this is Mechanicus business, why'd you not say so down below? And if you really are Battlefleet Calixis, you're outside of the Imperium and outside of your law. This goods lift belongs to Moriah Heale - a Sacred Warrant holder, and you've just gone against someone who holds the power of a High Lord of Terra out here. Drop your weapons. If you're telling the truth, we'll sort this out soon enough. Don't drop 'em, and we'll sort this out right in the here and now'.