41K RPG : Into the Eye

[Cynical Cat]

"You can meet my staff whenever you wish. They would be delighted to meet you. I would ask that you don't ask to meet Iriza first. She's a little on the shy side and I would rather she could be reassured that you're not the Emperor's wrath incarnate before she meets you."

[Typhonis]

Nathan chuckled lightly at that. "Emperors' wrath incarnate? Please I am nothing of the sort. But if she needs to be certain first ok it can wait till later. Besides I need to dress and eat and get some PT in. I also hgave to go over what's been happening and othe things minor details...like how to keep Prius from having me sent to some cathedral somewhere So I don't get my bloody head shot off fighting the Emperors' enemies."

"Maybe contact Lena and see how she is doing or is she even aware of this plan of yours?"

[The Necrontyr Messenger]

At this moment, Gix's ship shuddered...

Even when shields stopped an impact, the transfer of momentum into the generators put stresses on the structure of a vessel. And this was exactly what happened as a powerful lance strike from somewhere in system impacted the vessel... Even light minutes out, a single alpha-strike could be achived by a skilled crew.

Moments later, a communication - radio - crackled into the ship's communications suite. A nervous, and young, voice trying to put on a tone of authority...

"This is Kar Duniash Naval Command Vessel Imperator Rex. Stand down your weapons and shields immidiately, and prepare for boarding, on the orders of The Most Holy Orders of the Imperator's Inquisition!"

[Cynical Cat]

Captain Kay knew what he had to do: buy time. "Patch me through," he ordered. "Maintain course, no sudden moves. Drop void shields." Not an order he liked giving. The Eternal Will had massive shields and firepower for a ship her size, the result of overhaul given to it at the Adraxian shipyards. But outfighting a frigate was one thing, an Imperial battleship was another.

"Yes sir."

"Inquisitor, we are being ordered to stand down and prepare to be boarded under orders of the Inquisition. That shudder was a lance strike."

"Stall until I can get up there," said Gix. "Use our true identity."

"Affirmitivie Inquisitor. Put me on ship to ship."

"Yes captain."

"This is Selanon Kay, captain of the Eternal Will. We are a vessel of the Holy Inquisition and demand an explanation. Immediately."

[The Necrontyr Messenger]

There was no response, as if the battleship wasn't even listening. At extreme sensor range, the vessel, and several escorting destroyers, began closing.

[Cynical Cat]

Gix arrived on the bridge. "Status?"

"No response inquisitor. Command ship and destroyers closing. There is no way we can outrun or out fight them."

"I don't even want to attempt to explain Nathan. No response at all? Even when you mentioned our Inquisitional status?"

"None inquisitor. Even with time delay, nothing."

"Alright. Patch me through directly. This is Inquisitor Jolan Gix. Confirmation code as follows. You will explain yourself now or at your heresy trial."

[Typhonis]

Nathan began to move quickly." Right where is my blasted suite? Got an idea ..."

[Cynical Cat]

Lydia said, "follow me inquisitor." She quickly lead Nathan through the ship, to one of its guest suites. The interior was luxuriously appointed and furnished. A closet full of clothes in a variety of styles were at the inquisitor's disposal.

[The Necrontyr Messenger]

Finally, this elicited an answer, "It is you who will stand trial for heresy. You have presently been in the act of engaging in forbidden warpcraft, and your witchery will be accounted for before the Emperor's true inquisitors. Unless of course, you choose to hasten the matter by resisting, which would of course, delight me greatly, 'inquisitor'" - the aged, bitter, voice sneered - "Gix."

[Typhonis]

Nathan quickly put on the guardsman outfit and checked himself. "Good enough to pass muster."

He rched forwards nd put one of the pistols in a shoulder holster."So ,Lydia,whats going on? Or like Adriax are we facing the Black Legion again?"

[Cynical Cat]

"We're at Kar Duniash, Segmentum Naval Base of Ultima Segmentum. And we have been fired upon and ordered to heave to by Imperial forces," Lydia said, a worried tone evident in her voice. "They've claimed Inquisitional authority."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Identify yourself," said Jolan Gix. "An practices of mine are completely licet and in the Emperor's service. I demand evidence of your so-called 'Inquisitional authority'. Now."

[Typhonis]

Nathan nodded and adjusted his outfit. He turned to lookt at Lydia and then gave her a smirk. "Time to hide in plain sight then. I need some ID and a set of dog tags as well. make em for a high ranking noncom or low ranking officer . Someone you wouldn't notice twice. Present the idiots with something they won't notice..."

Nathan took a vibroknife and sild it into a back sheath under his uniform top. "My muscle memory will play merry hell....long period recuping from last mission sound good to you?"

[The Necrontyr Messenger]

The time lag ticked down, as the enemy - as surely they were - ships closed, "Though I have no reason to oblige you... I shall, you address Lord Inquisitor Vidor Aeris of His Divine Majesty's Inqusition..."

And with that, worryingly genuine confirmation codes were sent.

[Cynical Cat]

Jolan spoke. "Acknowledged." He cut the transmition. "Alright. Lydia, see if you can dig up any information on the Lord Inquisitor from the data files. Iriza, send a message to Kyra, Maladar, and Severa."

"My lord," said Selanon Kay, "what happens when they board?"

"Cooperate. They won't find anything compromising here. Not that I expect anything like an honest investigation from that bastard. I doubt there is anything coincidental about his presence."

[The Necrontyr Messenger]

Aboard the darkened bridge of the Imperator Rex, Inquisitor Vidor adjusted the flexible glove of his power armour, waiting for the time-lag to elapse once more – down to under twenty minutes each way now, less than an hour in total.

“My Lord,â€Â

[Pcm979]

Pater's eye narrowed as he followed the events from the bridge of the Dominor, safely hidden in the corona of the system's sun.

"Tightbeam to Gix's vessel. Use the Archaeotech." It would avoid detection.

"Yes, my Lord." Njal said, and opened a connection.

Pater's mechanical finger pressed down on the transmission button.

"This is Inquisitor Novum. Do you require assistance?"

[Cynical Cat]

"My lord, tightbeam transmition. From Lord Novum." Gix turned that Monodominant maniac would be aboard shortly. And his ship was good. He considered the risk for a moment. Even with advanced tech, a tightbeam would still be difficult to detect. He went to a secluded nave of the bridge.

"Pater. I have restored Nathan Talstram to life. I am about to be boarded by a Monodominant maniac who will undoubtedly find me guilty of having an original thought. He's Lord Inquisitor Vidor Aeris. Regardless of what happens to me, Nathan must live. He's a direct link to our Emperor's authentic will and plan for the galaxy."

[The Necrontyr Messenger]

The Boarding Torpedo opened like a flower, and half a dozen power-armoured soldiers toting storm bolters clunked down onto the deck. Apprehending the nearest crewmember, and pressing the muzzles of the bulky weapons to their victim's head, they demanded directions to Inquisitor Gix...

[Pcm979]

Pater didn't blink. "Say the word and I will destroy their ships."

[Josh]

Nine warp transit signatures flared across everyone's auspexes simultaneously.

The first to emerge was the Fury Triumphant, strike cruiser of the Avenging Furies chapter. Sliding out from gashes in the fabric of reality itself followed two battle barges and five more strike cruisers, as well as one Rogue Trader vessel, easily dwarfed by the titanic ships of war around it.

Prius stood on the bridge of the Divine Will, studying the identification codes of the Imperial vessels hovering above Gix's ship.

Inquisition.

He refrained from a most un-Prius-like curse.

"Send the following along with my identification code," he ordered. "This is Inquisitor Prius Ristani. What is going on here?"

[Cynical Cat]

"Send them to my office. I will await them there," Jolan ordered. "Cooperate fully."

Gix removed his weapons and placed them in an armoured case as the Aeris approached. He called up a flickering holo message on his desk cogitator and awaited the inevitable.

[The Necrontyr Messenger]

Vidor's minions were cautious to the point of paranoia as they entered Gix's office, holding him at gunpoint.

"Order your crew to the foward section of the ship, then stand, hands on your head, witch," the first snapped.

---

Prius received a simple response, "We are apprehending a heretic. Stay out of my investigation."

[Cynical Cat]

"You will address me as Inquisitor Jolan Gix," he replied coldly. "And you will bring your master here now, unless you have been promoted to a rank where you can recieve Inquisitional secrets. And I can't activate the communications system without lowering my hand? Which is it? Hands on my head or order the crew forward?"

[Josh]

Damn it.

"You are interfering with an operation sanctioned by a Saint of the Emperor, executed by those she has chosen to work His will. All your vessels will stand down now or face destruction."

They were going to have to die anyway, but it would be nice if they would obligingly surrender first.

[The Necrontyr Messenger]

The leader brought his storm bolter up, the black eyes of his helmet glistening, rebreather hissing, "Obey, heretic" he said.

---

Vidor raised a bushy eyebrow at the speaker, "Has every lunatic in the segmentum decided to come and plague me?," he said, and had an indentured crewman push the 'send' button again, "Are you out of your mettallic head Ristani?"