41K RPG : Into the Eye

[Cynical Cat]

"Yes, so did I. But his makes me at least somewhat Thorian," said Jolan with a smile.

[Josh]

He nodded at that. Not that he trusted a word of it. This was almost a matter that called for higher authority to look into. At the very least, borderline heresy.

But...

It could well be worth all their souls for a chance to resurrect a man who had been touched by the God-Emperor Himself.

"I will study the data," he said. "And investigate further."

He was well aware that Jolan knew the risks involved in bringing him into this. It was a bold gambit, worth of a master Regicide player, regardless of the actual intent.

[Cynical Cat]

A risk, but a calculated one. And every word was true. Nathan's ressurection was too important a matter to not bring other's in. "Good. If you have any concerns, speak of them. I have lived with this for twenty years and may be able to answer them."

Have you figured it out yet, Prius Ristani? There are two good reasons for Nathan to have come to me, not you. The first was that I was in danger from the machinations of Chaos and you were not. The second is that you lack the vision to get this far. He may have come to you on Cygnus Gamma while I faced Tendao with only Hethor at my side, but of all of this only I could accomplish this.

[Josh]

"I will need to review the material," he said. "You know well the concerns that anyone in our line of work would bear in this matter. This smacks of radicalism, after all." He paused. "Not that I am accusing you of such, of course."

He didn't get it. But then, of all the events of his life, his strongest personal weak point was Nathan, and he was not entirely capable of viewing matters concerning one he regarded as a sacred personage from an entirely rational point of view. Lena may well have been the Saint, but Nathan was touched by the God Himself, during the grandest era of human history.

[Cynical Cat]

"Get your terms correct. This is pure, unadulterated Thorian extremism. Puritanical excess. Puritan, not Radical heresy is what is at stake here. It's just a dangerous and we must guard ourselves from straying on either side of the path."

[Josh]

His eyebrow rose. "Radicalism can dress itself in the garb of near-any other philosophy. The converse is not true. But regardless, we have seen well the results of the Emperor's hand upon our affairs. If this be the course he wishes for us to take, he will continue to guide us down the path."

[Cynical Cat]

"Be very, very careful Prius. If you have deluded yourself into believing that only Radicalism produces dangerous extremists, you have made yourself vulnerable. I suggest you reread your Voke. Specifically his Admonitions, third chapter."

[Josh]

He had those resident in memory, and called up the chapter, diverting assets to review the recommended chapter.

"Zeal can be delivered in excess," he quoted. "And served to the harm of all."

[Cynical Cat]

"And so on," said Jolan. "The Radical possesses a real and obvious danger as well as real and obvious rewards. That he needs to watched is obvious. One must not ignore the other dangers, the blindness of self congratulatory orthodoxy, the rigidity of dogma and doctrine. We serve the Emperor and through him mankind, not the dictates of Ecclesiarchy approved doctrines. We must always have an eye on where our course will take us."

[Josh]

He inclined his head respectfully. "As you say."

[SirNitram]

Onto the Thunderhawk, then up to the waiting Inquisitorial ship. It had to be modified. Given what he had learned of this group and their Archaeotech resources, it would be priceless modifications that could reshape the Imperium.

The base, fundamental urge to rip the entire hull apart and examine every peice welled up, and was quelled. He wasn't going to be in a position to appreciate technology for much longer; no sense destroying good stuff. Nonetheless, the engine room sounded like a better place than congregating with the other Astartes, but he would have to function with them as a unit.

Gah. So many paths. A card was pulled from his armour, burnt, bent, muddied. It was clearly part of the Emperor's Tarot. He tossed it in the air, observed where it landed, and, as he scooped it up, started down that corridor.

It was the only survivor of a perfectly normal civilian deck, but so far, it'd never led him to death. It had, twice, led him into a Speed Freek charge. But, well, he'd survived. And the Exodite camp. And.. He stopped thinking. The Emperor, as always, guided him.

[Pcm979]

From the Thunderhawk, Pater's main vessel wasn't that impressive. It was a kilometre and a half-long former Rogue Trader, no Inquisitorial sigils or identifying marks in case the Inquisitor needed to travel incognito. The main modificatons had been tastefully performed on the rear half of the ship, reconfiguring the docking bays for the Inquisitor's requirements and upgrading the engines to a model not seen for thousands of years.

Docked in a hanger bay nestled beneath the great ship's nose was the Stellar Concorde, piloted up by one of Pater's functionaries. The Thunderhawks went to another bay further back. The other bays were sealed off for the moment.

Pater disembarked first, leading Théo through the massive bay.

"This area is industrial in nature." He explained. "The main habitable quarters are in the ship's bow."

[Cynical Cat]

Jolan left Prius to ponder the implications of his revelations. He touched his vox. "Captain Kay. Make ready to break orbit and travel through the warp. Coordinates will be forthcoming. The rest of my staff should be joining us and we may have an Astartes guest as well."

"The Eternal Will is ready as we speak inquisitor. Your will be done."

"Thank you captain." He changed vox channels, linking into the com systems of the starship. "Lydia, status?"

"Everyone's finishing up. We will be embarking for the ship within six hours."

"Good. See you when you arrive." The cut the com. He touched another control. Only Gard Vikal and himself were allowed into this secured section. He hesitated for just a moment and then added Inquisitor Prius Ristani to the list.

[Typhonis]

How long have I floated here? In this eye....no way for me to know. I wait patiently...patient hunter let the prey fall into your sights then act. I review what I have done and well....will do better. Wonder how Lena is doing...has she moved on...did she get married and have children....are these'Saints' allowed to have children? Well if anything .....
I must thank sister Doimina when I get loose from here....if our 'conversations , are to be believed Jolan is going to try and ressurect me. well if it helps the Imperium so be it. We all must do our duty...also must remeber to act in reverence of the Emperor.... among other things...remeber be a ghost remain hidden though in plain sight keep quiet....let them think you are a fool till they find out you have gutted them with the hand they never saw.

[Caz]

Théo kept stride beside him, although a respectable half-pace back, and listened to Pater's words with honest interest. After all, this was to be her new home, his retinue her new family, so feigning disinterest was no longer an option.

Absently, she rubbed at her neck, which ached a fair amount, as they walked. As he mentioned the quarters, she asked, "Will I be bunking separately or with you, sir?" as she was completely unfamiliar with the procedure.

[Pcm979]

"You will be assigned a room of your own to begin with." He explained as they drew level with an industrial-looking cart set into the floor. "Simply to ground you, so to speak." He activated a toggle and they set off towards their nearly half a kilometre-distant destination. "If it is not to your liking, however, there are alternatives. As they spend the majority of their time on board, I prefer my operatives to be comfortable."

[Caz]

She nodded, allowing a hint of a smile to show beneath her visor.

"Most considerate of you, sir," she said. "I'm sure they will be to my liking. After all, my years at the Schola Psychia provided more than enough time to get used to economised quarters. As you've seen in my file, I was only under Lord Ronathal's guidance for the better part of a year."

As they walked, she watched his face curiously. Cantor was masterful when it came to reading people, their intentions... But Inquisitor Novum gave off no such cues as most Terrans did.

It was, despite his kindness, rather unnerving.

[Pcm979]

Pater nodded minutely. "We are a close-knit group. It is essential that each of us is at peak performance." He stood straight-backed, his augmetic spine locking into place. With a whir and a hiss-click, his robotic lungs released their load of carbon dioxide, cooled steam billowing from his mouth and disappearing into the air vents. Another whir and hiss as his lungs took on a fresh supply of oxygen.

It would quickly become appearent to the Interrogator that Pater was less human than he appeared at first glance.

[Caz]

The young Interrogator watched him as he 'breathed', but didn't comment. It wasn't her place to be curious about such matters. Especially when she had yet to build up a rapport with the Inquisitor and his men.

The mention of performance intrigued her. Would he test her later? But she kept her mouth shut in favour of listening.

[Pcm979]

"This will be a lot to take in at once, and there is a great deal more to come." Pater concluded as they reached their destination. "However, Tyran clearly has confidence in you, or else he would not have sent you to me." A Servo-Skull floated out of a doorway ahead of them.

"This Skull will direct you to your quarters. Your belongings were sent ahead of you. In an hour, it will return and direct you to the conference room, where there will be a meeting." He said and set off on his own.

[Caz]

Cantor nodded in thanks of both the orientation and the kind words, then took off after the Servo-Skull at a brisk walk. Upon arriving, she set to unpacking her things. Her armour and weapons could stay stashed away for the moment, so the first trunk was revealed to be piled with... Books. Not digital data, but actual paper-bound books.

They were stacked immaculately, as well as her other wares, and after everything was according to order, she stood in the middle of the room for a long moment, unsure of where to go from there.

Unable to think of anything else, she simply removed her visor and began to pull the pins from her hair.

[Pcm979]

Pater entered his room and toggled the vox. "Njal, prepare us for departure."

"We'll be underway shortly, Sir. I have news on the astropathic messages you wished me to send."

"I will look over them during the meeting." He replied. "Until then, Njal." He turned the vox off and turned to a large, sealed door set in the room's corner. He released the multiple locks and dragged it open, steam curling around his feet.

The door slammed shut behind him, locking in place. The room was dark, his optics needing hardly any light to function optimally. He removed his arm and dropped it to the floor, a mechadendrite extending from the wall and scooping it up almost as soon as it landed. His faceplate followed, and his coat. Valves on his chest irised open and he breathed properly for the first time in days. The floor began to frost over with Psychic energy as he released the mental blocks set in place deccades ago. An odd light glowed in his natural eye, and mechadendrites tipped with surgical implements lowered from the ceiling, whirring hungrily.

----------

The ship's tannoy coughed into life in Théo's room.

"This is the Captain speaking. All hands prepare for Warp travel."

[SirNitram]

Malkamar checked the clips of his Bolter's one last time, making sure one had two of his remaining bolts, and the other had the last one. It would be ridiculously hard to use all three usefully should something happen, but it was better than trying to break out any of his contraband weaponry. The arms clanked experimentally; they worked. The pilot light on the plasma torch flickered.

"I hate Warp Travel." He muttered, grabbing the wall and bracing.

[Pcm979]

With a shudder, the Imperious Dominor rent reality in two and leapt into the Warp, hours ahead of the other Inquisitors' ships. In his medical chamber Pater stirred in his drug-induced sleep, the psychic dampners lining the walls insufficient to block out the full majesty and terror of the Immaterium.

[Cynical Cat]

"Everyone is aboard, my lord." Selanon Kay stood at rigid attention.

Jolan nodded to his captain. The bridge was deadly quiet. "Proceed captain. Take the Will out of orbit."

"Your will," said Kay with a smile. He sat down on his command throne. "Bring the engines up to half power."

"Engines to half," a young officer responding.

"Fire starboard thrusts. Turn seventeen degrees mark zero."

"Firing thrusters."

Jolan consulted the display in the actuality sphere. A crimson line marked the projected course of the Eternal Will. "We will be making warp jump in three hours, seventeen minutes."

"Thank you captain. I will leave things in your capable hands." Jolan left to the bridge and returned to his quarters. He was sound asleep when the ship shuddered and leapt into the Sea of Souls.