Chapter Quest =CXXIV=

"My friend Regon. I regret to inform you that I have not told you the truth of why I am hunting this ship. Please believe me when I say it is safer for you and your people that you do not know, and all shall be revealed eventually. I ask that you please trust me when I say the fate of the sector may depend on me recovering some extremely important cargo on that ship."

Have Regon relay the following message to the ship:

"Attention. This is the Chapter Master of the Ghosts of Retribution. We have been tracking vessels across the sector for the better part of a year, hunting down genestealers that escaped the world of San Larion. We tracked one to a ship docked above San Larion, a ship you were docked near to.
After searching the area there was no sign of the xenos, leaving only one place for it to have taken refuge.
You must remain where you are, and allow us to search your ship and eliminate the genestealer. I cannot possible understate the danger even one of the beasts represents. They are capable of tearing a tank apart with their claws, they can run faster than any man, they could reduce a room full of people to tangled scraps of flesh in an instant. And they could be clinging to the ceiling above you right now and you wouldn't know it until you were dead.
But even this is not the worst part. Even now members of the crew and passengers could be infected. Implanted in their sleep, unknown carriers of the taint that almost destroyed San Larion.
We MUST eliminate this threat. We CANNOT allow this threat anywhere near the Sector capital, and we will do anything we can to stop genestealer infection reaching Ursus' palace.

If you value your lives, you must stay there and let us make your ship safe."

Send some helmet camera footage from marines who fought on San Larion, to show them how horrifying genestealers are in combat.

You are correct.

Omfg skarg get hype

omfg venat

So rough outline from drawing board.
-The ship has to wait for our battlebarge to arrive, because we have tracked a covertly sent cargo all the way from San Larion to the sector capital, Tachiyon Primaris. It is highly suspected to contain genestealers to infect sector command for a takeover by these wrechted xenos scum. As such, no ship is allowed to approach the Lacrimosa.

-additional cover
-our other ships, when free should sporadically search for 'suspicious' cargo
-tell Regon the truth(tm)
-During voyage, prepare some 'evidence' to show. Can be little as we only ask for the ship to stop.

Reposting from last threat.

>Play our hand with Regon, tell him everything we know and if he considers it not excessively risky to intervene. If the Lacrimosa is docked in Nestorium, it's likely they're there for a refuel and to pick up passengers and goods. The best option would be to hinder their flight for a few more weeks. Wrong fuel source, problems with the engine hydraulics, illegal cargo like an STC 'accidentally' loaded onto the ship, those things we can use. Ask Regon if it is manageable to pull this off, a seal from Ursus be damned, if they're found sneaking a STC outside of Nestorium or the like, they can pull their privilege of independence and still detain it, Nestorium is beholden only to Mars in matters that concern them.

To expand on this, not telling Regon anything could backfire pretty seriously, if he finds out we were trying to go way above and beyond what we can, should and are allowed to be doing in terms of sector politics and using him as an unwitting tool in it. We've been allies with these guys for a while now, it's not only fair that if we're going to be involving them in such a risk they know about it first. Also, if they find out mid-ops what we're trying to do by someone else but us, like the captain of the Lacrimosa that may have a pretty believable cover story why astartes are chasing his ship, they might just to decide to side against us, or demand an explanation on the spot potentially ruining everything.

Also, Regon's the FG of Nestorium, if anyone knows what he can or can't do to detain them on his home turf it's him. If the Lacrimosa escapes Nestorium, it's game over for us and any future the rightful line of the sector has, make him aware of that fact.

Regon's reply is swift:
>Your data inputs have always been faithful, Astartes, for this reason we shall trust you once more. Your message will be relayed and we'll detain and quarantine the ship until you arrive.

Please roll d100 for Regon's authority. You need to roll below 85 for intended outcome.

...

Rolled 16 (1d100)

So did we end up telling Regon that the Belisarius children are aboard, or did we go with Luigi's "We'll tell later."?

Well done, Venat!
***
You receive another soulword from Regon's astropaths.
>Lord Astartes, your instructions have been wise and cunning, your target complained a lot, but the prospect of genestealer infestation reaching Capitolis Sectorum was too great for them to ignore. The vessel is safely anchored in the orbital docks above Nestorium, all passengers are under quarantine for the following 3 months, this should give you plenty of time to arrive and deal with them personally. Data exchange over.

***

Copernicon, the Fleet Master of the Ghosts of Retribution, aproaches your quarters:
>Ave, milord. The vessels are approaching the break point from where we'll be able to return to the Materium. Journey was quiet, only a dozen or so serfs went mad in sector FH-44, but they've been dealt with, we are ready to enter Nestorian system. How shall we approach the planet? Do we want to try to be stealthy until the last moment or should we rather announce our presence and take a direct course? Most likely the trade vessel wouldn't be able to outrun us either way, but we wouldn't want to spook them, I imagine, if they know that we are onto them. What will be your orders?

My apologies, that wasn't clear. I started to write reply with Luigi's idea in mind, but you Venat are making a good point here:
So it's up to you guys. Either reach a consensus or roll off. Regon will help you to detain and delay the ship either way, because he risks nothing with this, but if you want him to do something more, it will become important what he knows.

Announce our intention to board their ship and ensure it is cleansed. Any attempts to oppose us will be assumed to be the interference of genestealer thralls. We will also need to test the crew for signs of genestealer taint.

Board the ship with marines and search every nook. 'Find' and 'Kill' a genestealer deep in the bowels, incinerated by a flamer of course so no remains.

Then test everyone on the ship. Here are a list of people who will test 'positive' and we will take away:
-The Belisarian Heirs (easy for them to get infected because they were confined)
-Any other confined people
-The Ursus representative
-A handful of randomly selected crew

Furthermore have Brethrorius and one of his Sergeants talk loudly on the bridge, ensuring the Chartist Captain overhears them. Talking about how "it would be so much easier to just blow this ship apart."
This should hopefully make the Chartist Captain more compliant.

Are we all okay with this plan?

I have no objections.

Maybe that if we succeed, thank the captain for his cooperation.

that's me, just to clarify!

Agree. of course keep in mind marines are not known for being polite and eager to discuss. Be as bashfull as possible

Rolled 51 (1d100)

You approach openly, as Space Marines should. The ship - Lacrimosa Serenima, is an old vessel, that has clearly travelled tens of thousands of light years in her lifetime. It might not be as ancient as some in the Imperial service, but Lacrimosa clearly has at least a couple centuries of service under her belt. Chartist Captain, an elder with a gaze of a voidborn and a chest full of medals from his youth service in the Imperial Navy, salutes you:
>Emperor protects, Lord. I present you Lacrimosa Serenima for inspection, I beg you to spare my crew and ship as much as you can in your duties. May the xeno perish!
You nod to the man and send in the Terminators, leading squads of Tactical Marines. Threat might be fake, but it's not a reason not to take every available advantage.

Please roll d100 for Tactics as you search the ship and d100 for Awareness. Alternatively you might choose to roll Logic and Charisma.

I am rolling for enemy machinations.

>Alternatively you might choose to roll Logic and Charisma

In addition to Tactics and Awareness, instead of Tactics and Awareness, roll Logic instead of Tactics, and Charisma instead of Awareness, or any combination of thereof?

Also this comes from Chapter Master's skillset, right?

That's correct, it's Chapter Master's skills as he's personally leading the operation. It's an either/or option:

1) Tactics-Awareness [tactical sweeping of the ship, very methodical, focus on covering ground - the most important thing is to check every corner of the ship and extract targets]
2) Logic-Charisma [leave the men to do tactical sweeping on their own and go into the bowels of the ship on your own, your gut tells you that you could miss something in the chaos of commanding a company worth of battle brothers]

Can we sub in brethorius to manage the tactics?
he's much better at it

That's not relevant in this case. For the sake of this scene we are only interested in what Chapter Master will choose to do.

Rolled 91, 3 = 94 (2d100)

Tatics like Tacticarius, Awareness like Awitos!

The warp is a fickle thing

Before we forget, we need some other genetic material if Ursus wants to see that, so he thinks they are not the Belisar kids. Best if mingled with genestealer

It's been a while since the Chapter deployed so many men in close quarters environment such as the narrow twisted corridors of Lacrimosa Serenima. Soon, your formation is broken up, your auspexes and vox-casters are refusing to function properly due to leaden walls blocking and bouncing the signals. Squad Theta went missing, Hakarius and two of the newly recruited Tacticals somewhow ended up on the other side of generatorium, Brethorius for the fifth time suggested using meltas to go in straight lines. With horror, you realise that if this would have been a battle situation, your men would be at a bad disadvantage because of their lack of recent battle experience in such enviroment.

[Decrease Doctrine Proficiency Closed Spaces/Ships from VERY GOOD to GOOD, please updated wiki]

Meanwhile you manage to quickly notice where the Belisarian heirs must be held - a whole section of one of the holds is hidden away behind seemingly newly constructed walls. This makeshift prison is guarded a bunch of well equipped troops, after a few moments of consideration you recognise Imperial Stormtroopers. They don't aim their weapons at you, but they remain at the ready. One of them whispers:
>By the Emperor... Astartes. What are they doing here..?
They are surrounding in a protective formation a young Imperial noble, someone important by the looks of it. He boldly marches forward and addresses you while twirling his thin moustache:
>Welcome, Chaplain.
You are not sure whether he's trying to insult you or maybe it's just lack of his education showing.
>We heard, that you will be inspecting this ship for xenos. I assure you that no genestealers have reached us. I suspect that you will try to search me or possibly the prisoners under my protection, but I have to warn you that I am a carrier of the Imperial Seal of Authority, so I am afraid that will not be possible.

"Have you ever seen a genestealer?
Six chitinous limbs tipped with razor sharp claws. Each like a broadsword of adamantium that could tear through the walls of this nice little prison in but a moment. A broad, flat head with a set of beady jet-black eyes that could see you in even in total darkness. And a maw of vicious fangs frame a long proboscis that could have infected you a dozen times in your sleep and you never would have known, and done to same to every one of your men and whoever is inside that little prison of yours.

But that's not the worst part. The worst part is that this genestealer could be clung to the ceiling above our head right now, and not even I would be able to save a single person here from being torn to scraps of bloody flesh within a matter of seconds.

Given the circumstances, and the clear possibility that you have been subverted to the will of the xenos, you seal - and your assurance - means little.

Please allow us access to the prisoners, and submit yourselves to testing."

Okay everyone?

>I understand that you have your orders and duties and for this reason I will tolerate you sending one of your techpriests to check our genetic imprint, but nothing more. And just incase if you are having any funny thoughts - it's Adrian of House Xerant your are dealing with, so don't try to convince me to abandon my mission! Our word is made of steel!

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>"Steel you say?"

Shoot a stormtrooper point-blank.

>"Seems it is rather weak."

Roll for intimidation.

>Shoot a stormtrooper point-blank.
Don't shoot a fucking stormtrooper.

Please?
PLEASE?
The word 'please' is not in the dictionary. We are ASTARTES. WE NEED NOT JUSTIFY OUR ACTIONS. NOR DO WE.

Alternative take:
Attention stormtroopers. I am of the Ghosts of retribution. This ship and its inhabitants are under *my* authority. You are to move to the medical facilites of the GoR BattleBarge Aspera Dominatus immediatly, Brothers Lawin and Mircon will escort you, *nod to them*. The civilians are coming with me. Escort civilians, violently, and with webber use if neccessary to the battlebarge.

We do not allow that civillian to abuse our precious time with so many words, CM starts talking, with PowerArmor amplified voice, immediatly.

I meant shoot at* a stormtrooper, but miss by a hair of course! The intimidate still stands. Don't waste too much words, we mean the realest business and he should be aware of that. Either he moves or we glass them. Make that painfully aware.

I can get behind some intimidation as long as we don't kill an innocent stormtrooper.

I mean, trying to decrease our corruption /increase our purity is a side task I've been wanting to complete for a while

Also Skargan, I hope you don't mind that we rolled in advance, but you yourself said posting will be slow for a while.

Since there is some confusion in the chat.
I intend to throw them off guard, relying on the follow orders procedure drilled into stormtroopers, and not allowing the noble or the soldiers time to think about the situation and how to respond to it, hence breaking them up immediatly.

Due to confusion of the situation I'll take a middle option.
+++
Boltgun howls violence at stormtrooper point blank. Depleted uranium-tipped round enters stormtroopers knee and explodes, tearing his limb apart, disintegrating flesh from mid-thigh to mid-calf. He screams in agony, Adrian Xerant grows paler than his snow-white shirt and the Seal of Authority drops from his hand.
[auto-success to Intimidate]
The rest of the stormtroopers, seeing that their leader stands speechless, also lay down their weapons. Within a minute you apprehend all of them, including Adrian, who barely finds the courage to stutter a few more weak protests. You enter the makeshift prison and there, you find the prize you sought for so long - Belisarian Heirs.

+1 Corruption, Reputation gained: House Xerant (Hostile)

After you return to the ship, you decide to inspect them. The lad’s name is Gration. From biogenetic scans you know that he is 18 years and 4 months old, but because of his sunken eyes, he looks a lot older. He looks at you intently, trying to peer into your very soul. You guess that in you he sees just another cruel trick played on him by the unkind universe. He holds his sister close to him, shielding her from whatever evil you are about to bring. While she is a lot skinnier and younger looking than him, their biological age is the same – they are twins. As you will learn soon, her name is Donata. You smile beneath the helmet at the irony – their names in High Gothic mean “kind” and “gift”. For a moment you wonder whether their parents knew High Gothic or was it merely an accident of Fate. Over the coming weeks you will find out that Belisarian heirs (and they indeed belong to that noble bloodline, according to Klementhos and his tests) have risen from a not so prestigious part of the society. After the deadly inter-dynasty wars and destruction of Belisarians, nobles with even a drop of Belisarian blood in their veins fled, because Ursus Dynasty wanted to make sure that nothing threatens their grip on the throne of Sector Deus. Dozens of them were hunted down like exotic xeno beasts on distant worlds by bounty-hungry mercenaries. However at least one of them managed to fake his death. Kadestos, third nephew of the last Sector Governor Hergon Belisarius, who was assassinated in cold blood, made escape to the distant world of Solstreim.

Pay for a best-quality possible bionic leg for the storm trooper.

A rich mining world, Solstreim was important to the Imperium, but too dirty and business-oriented to be an attraction for the nobility. When Kadestos’ ship exploded in the orbit while descending into the planet, nobody blinked an eye, everyone was aware that it was just another in the series of murders that followed Belisarians everywhere in those days. Nobody noticed a stealthy small landing craft that left the ship just hours before the destruction, taking Kadestos and his family to poverty, misery, oblivion and most importantly – safety. But now that time is past and in front of you there are two legitimate heirs to Sector Deus. While from what you gather they themselves have very vague understanding of their own importance, they can play a big role in the future if you will decide so. On the other hand you could always turn them over to Ursus family, you are sure that such a gesture would not only help you earn their trust, but also would come with great rewards. You speak to Gration and Donata for a while, welcoming and reassuring them and then order them to be escorted to their quarters. So, but what shall you do with them..?

made by Seran's own hands ofc.

People were against shooting
me included

Whatever, this could have ended horribly, but we got the most important thing out without too much suspicion.

I for one, am content.

>what shall you do with them..?
Get them some good food and dress them up as serfs so they mix in with the thousands of others.

Where do our officers think are the best places to keep them safe? I considered Eliam Belisarius since he's damn rich enough to keep them safe - like he has kept himself safe. But getting them to Templos might be anticipated.

Okay guys are still a little dizzy over the corruption issue in the chat, so I give some advice here. Vote for it, against it, or modify it to your liking. We'll come to an agreement somehow

>I say we keep them safe, and keep them close to Chapter Master where he goes, be it Tombstone, or the Aspera.
>Care for them, clothe them, feed them, *teach* them to everything they would need as sector rulers. Beliam will probably teach them in intriquies, but they'll get their military knowledge from us.
>Wait for Operation White Emissary to decide what next

any thoughts?

How will house Xerant know of our actions?

So far, the noble cannot complain to others, and we can swear the stormtroopers to silence, because the whole ordeal involves stuff (genestealers) the imperium is not keen on telling

So the only thing that my opinion differs with Luigi's that I think we should keep them close to ourselves for now, because shipping them to Eliam right away might cause further suspicion.

I say keep them in tombstone. We will travel there anyway, and there are *our* people who can hide/train educate then.

Noted. I assume that you are also providing him with first aid, otherwise he'll bleed to death.
Sorry, I wasn't reading the chat, I took first post with a roll, when others came in, I adjusted the result slightly. Combat is a messy business, doesn't always go as planned, but there were no casualties.
+++
So, we'll be finishing our session for today here, because I am "fucking casual normie" now who has to wake up at 7 GMT to go work. I hope this session proves my continued commitment to CMQ and we'll have another session within a week or so, but otherwise I won't be running much until mid-August, until my dissertation is done and dusted. As current situation reeks of possible civil war / intense scheming, I wouldn't want to start the arc of your confrontation against Ursus just now.

Thanks for playing, goodnight!

>fucking casual normie

thanks skarg!

As for the follow-up of the situation: keep the stormtroopers and the Xerant aboard our ship for a while, outfit the hurt one with a bionic leg. Swear them to silence about the matter, and try to butter up the noble some so he doesn't really hate us to hell and back. We were just doing our job and pressed for time.

Also give back the ship, tell the captain it's all clear and thank him for his cooperation, give him a small gift for the help.

As for the kids, take them to tombstone with all due haste, dress them up as serfs immediately, only the inner circle of our Chapter should know what they are.

Finally, thank Nestorium for the cooperation, as always they are the most loyal allies any warrior of the Imperium can wish for. Tell them that the action today had a greater significance and we'll inform them in due time.

Goodnight and sleep well.
May the emperor watch over you.

Also as a note for the record.

I want a ship to head the returning White Emissary party off at a neighbouring sector. I want to get their information before they enter Deus, because their might be something waiting for them here...

+1

Damn I missed this.
Anyway

POWER SCYTHES WHEN
ITS OUR EMBLEM
WHY DON'T WE HAVE ANY
REEEEEEE

We did make one. A really good one.

And then we gifted it to the Black Templars....

Cause we are poor chapter.

Time to invest and colonize more