Montresor wrote:[Astropaths are Conditioned and, partly because of this and their higher Willpower scores etc, they are more resistant. Sterr also strikes people as - despite a little odd - to be outside of undue influence. On the other hand, some psykers can be more susceptible to the Warp's predations]
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In her sheltered life, Andrea would know that random psykers are picked up and sent to the Emporer. Only the worthy ones are sent back out into the world. Therefore, Sterr must, by definition, have met with the Emperor's personal (and therefore infallible) approval. Hell, Sterr most likely kissed the Emperor's ring, psychically. They're very nearly good friends. The man is beyond suspicion.]
Montresor wrote:As Metanus begins to intone the rites of wakening to Salt, Sterr nods calmly to Andrea. 'I will travel with you. I have been tuning my mind all this while to see what haunts this place and I have uncovered nothing. This is a dead place'.
Andrea doesn't even attempt to hide her relief at Sterr's words. "Thank you, honored sage. With your help, I do not doubt that we will survive to find whatever supplies there are in this base."
Montresor wrote:On the interior side of the vault doors a great tally of scratch marks, interspersed occassionally with inscribed marks of the Aquila, is barely visible beneath the dust.
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Clarify please: are these random looking scratches (e.g. - some non-sentient being clawing to get out), or organized markings (e.g. - a prisoner counting the days of his incarceration in neat groups of four vertical lines with one diagonal)?]
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From here, you can access any of the areas in the base which I have not previously listed as being sealed from this section. The base is quite spread out and, if you wish to split up, you will become relatively isolated. You discover that your micro-beads can no longer reach Metanus, Salt, or anyone more than about a hundred yards away][/quote]
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Had to scan back to find out what was and was not available from here]
a while back, Montresor wrote:[Andrea meanwhile examines some data-crypts... She sees a basic floorplan which identifies relevant sections of the base and notes that power is still retained in the Hab sections and the Command Crypt. The Supply vaults, the Plasma Generators, the Astronomic Array, and the Vox-Caster appear to have been sealed off from the powered sections... However, it is apparent that someone has established a sophisticated control over-ride on the entire base which is operated only from this loading hall. Despite this, whoever did so appears to have allowed for anyone operating a data-crypt in the hall to unlock any part of the way station]
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Going slightly retroactive, in light of the above, the following happens in the docking bay.]
Speaking out loud, though really more for her own benefit, Andrea tells Drak-Kung and Tyor, "It is from here that we may open the doors to the Supply Vaults. Our objectives are to discover quickly if there even are supplies there, and to revive the machine spirits of the base, so that we may communicate and discover the state of things. 'Things' meaning any hidden dangers to the place, of course. Some few of us should attempt to reach the Command Crypt internally, in case the Sub-Lieutenant fails in her mission. The rest, I believe, should proceed to the Supply Vaults. It will take many people to inventory, pack up, and begin to move whatever supplies are. That should be the majority of our force."
"Chief, choose some few of your Guardsmen. Send them to the Command Crypt. Perhaps the Sub-Lieutenant will succeed before they arrive, and the vox-casters will be restored. Then we may communicate, and their orders may change. The rest of you will accompany the good Lieutenant and myself, and of course the Lieutenant's charges here, to the Supply Vaults."
"Honored Metanus, though it seems there will be some risk to myself, it seems that the most expedient path to us involves entry into the Supply Vaults before we know why they are sealed off from the Hab area. Would you be so kind as to enable the door controls, so that when we have arrived we may gain entry? With luck, the vox-casters will have been revived by then, and we needn't enter blindly. But I cannot have all our progress depend on the Command Crypt." [
Worst case, if he can just OPEN the doors to the Supply Vaults, we'll go through them. But I'd rather the doors stay closed until we get there, in case whatever's in there doesn't realize the doors are unlocked.]
Andrea quickly notes the path to the Supply Vaults into her dataslate, and away they go. [
I envision Drak-Kung and his men doing some kind of special-forces action, a few covering the rest as they move forward in small bursts before taking positions from which they may cover the waves after them. Whatever that's called. Behind them will come Tyor and Andrea, with Andrea likely making no attempt to stay to cover, under the assumption that DK's team has made things safe for her. Then Tyor's conscripts beind, covering the rear from ambush, etc. Continue in this fashion until we get to the Supply Vault, or until something unexpected happens. I'm going to guess the latter to be more likely.]
Revere the Emperor; Honour the name of Amphael, holders of the Sacred Warrant of Trade.
Blessed be the Imperium of Man; blessed be the Sacred Writ.