Rogue Trader: Forsaken Bounty (IC, Closed)

[Revlona]

Commissar Savarian Strong
Arch-Militant

Suppressing the rage at being rebuked and humiliated by the rogue trader in front of the others, Savarian simply nods his head.

“I understand Lord Trader, should I ever spot heresy, I shall hesitate and allow us all to be killed.” He says with a bow before turning towards the lighter and entering it.

[Ameriganastan]

Fashionably late as usual, Andros finally made his way to the hangar. But he wasn't flanked by a retinue of engineers like he said. There was Scarch, a Servitor and 4 very vicious looking Mechanicus soldiers flanking them.

"Rogue Trader, various other organics. I'm sure you know my ever overprotective Skitarii. They insist on accompanying me. And when they insist on coming, the less brave of my engineers suddenly lost their nerve and elected to stay behind. Also, they don't...um...Mollion, what was it you said?"

The largest of his soldiers spoke up.

"We don't trust the safety of our Explorator to inferior organic protection."

Scarch actually remembered what he said. He just thought it was funny to make him say it again.

"So, there you have it."

[The Armed Republic of Dutch Coolness]

Alina Visscher - Navis Nobilite, House Visscher
The Spear of Vindication

---

Alina watched the arch-militant's hand move towards his bolt pistol, and gave a light, but disdainful snort, refraining from any comment on it - he would know better than to antagonize one of the ship's navigators. Certainly, she was not the only one on board - but she and the others were of the same House, and to harm, let alone kill one was an attack on the House. Perhaps it was but instinct - someone of the commissariat, she had learned, was not likely to enjoy hearing of things they did not fully grasp, and people of the commissariat had a tendency to shoot things they did not enjoy, as it were. For a moment, she vaguely pitied the man. Then it passed.

She was similarly unimpressed by the sudden interjection by the resident missionary. The Navigator remained silent throughout the woman's lecture, but for a sigh, and finally spoke up at the end of it. "Thank you for the refresher on the Ecclesiarchy's scripture." Monotone and distant, it did not sound particularly sincere, and neither was her expression that came with it. "However, arch-militant, you must not fret. Any knowledge I may share will be naught but that which helps us avoid the Perils of the Warp. Ignorance of the Immaterium is a necessity for normal humans. Ignorance among those required to use it at the Imperium's behest, on the other hand, will only make the work of the Arch-Enemy easier. You may rest easy." With a bow of her head, she, too, made off of the bridge and to the hangar.

Eventually, she arrived - Alina was not a particularly fast walker, and the cargo hauler she'd managed to hijack had to go to another hangar entirely, meaning it could only take her so far. Nevertheless, she made sure not to show that she felt like she was late, nor just how tiresome hurrying all the way to the hangar had been, instead remaining calm and composed - cold, even - with slow, steady deep breaths as she approached. Stepping on board of the lighter, she gave the Explorator's own retinue an unimpressed look, taking a mental note to request her own personal retinue, next time. Wordlessly, the Navigator waited - either for the take-off, or other orders that might be given.

[Morrdh]

The hanger bay was a mixture of noise, steam and incense as some of the ship's lighters were made ready to venture out into the void. Hanger deck crew, Mechanic lay-priests, Enginseers and servitors busied themselves round each of the craft as they were fuelled and had their systems checked over. The particular craft set aside for Asep and his retinue was actually a guncutter, a small craft that was better armoured than a lighter and was fitted with several weapon systems to boost its survivability. In contrast the lighters were simply flying boxes and would be ferrying salvage-men and a squad of armsmen out to the Emperor's Bounty once Ceicel Asep had honoured the conditions of the Writ of Claim.

The guncutter's flight crew were already strapped into the cockpit and were going through their own pre-flight checks as the craft's cogitator downloaded the sensor data of the debris field collected by the Spear's augur array. Heavy fuelling lines were disconnected and hauled away as navigation lights began to lazily flash on the guncutter and the Tech-Priests conducted their final intonations before the craft was launched into the cold hard vacuum of space. All that was left to do was wait for the passengers to finish boarding and for the Rogue Trader himself to give the word.

The command came from Asep's lips, the words the flight crew had been waiting for. A quick vox exchange later saw klaxtons in the hanger bay start to sound as warning lights flashed and bulkheads began to close. A heavy clung reverberated through the guncutter as mag-locks locked into place to hold it fast. The craft's engines spooled and spun up to just below full power as the vast hanger bay door started to roll open with a loud groan of protest. With the hanger bay now exposed to the cold void, the mag-locks released and the guncutter lifted up before the pilot opened the throttle and sent the craft shooting like a rocket into space.

The guncutter twisted and weaved as it sought a path through the field of wrecked starships, guaranteeing anything but a smooth ride for its passengers. At last, the intercom crackled and the pilot spoke. "Approaching the Bounty m'lord, looking for a void-lock to dock at."

Through the portholes of the guncutter, the Bounty looked to be in bad shape with massive rents scoring along its hull after collisions with other wreckage. Most of the ship was dark, though a shadow of light spilled from the vista dome of the bridge to indicate that the vessel still had some power. The craft banked round after the pilot spotted a suitable void-lock to dock at and settled the craft in with another clunk as docking clamps secured the small craft. Faint amber runes beside the airlock indicate that there is still an atmosphere within the ship, though one likely to have been weakened by hull breaches. When the seal is broken, a blast of stale dusty air streams into the lock carrying with it the taste of old death.

Beyond the airlock, darkness awaits....

[Ralnis]

Ceicel Asep,
In the Hangar of the Emperor's Bounty

As the guncutter landed itself on the broken hangar of the Bounty, I saw through the window how dead it looked. I never been on a derelict ship before but with a couple of my Battle Brothers and those Mechanicus troopers then I feel a bit at ease. I don't know where the Xeno is but we haven't awaken it as we aren't dead.

I took a deep breath and told the pilot to open the hatch as I needed to complete the rules on the Writ to start the operation. As I stepped out I ready my shotgun. My giant frame came out of the transport and my Catachan's followed suit. I awaited for the others to come out of the transport.

"It all seems good so far everyone. I have completed what the Writ required of me but we still have a Xeno to kill. Everyone, keep on your toes and see if we can search the ship for any clues. I suggest the bridge and see if we can get something from the logs, maybe Andros you can interact with this ships Machine Spirit?"

[Revlona]

Commissar Savarian Strong
Arch-Militant

As soon as the Rogue trader was finished with the requirements of the writ, Savarian and the six members of the Rogue traders personal guard hurried out of the gunner:

“Form up around the Lord Trader, Corporal Colm and Private Hurren on the front right, Seargent Veebe, you take the lead. Duvensky, Mikali, you take the back left and back right of the formation, Corporal Meeves, please take the rear.” The Commissar shot off these orders in quick succession, and the men quickly took their positions around the Rogue Trader.

The Commissar unslung his hellgun and looked to the other members of the Traders entourage, “If you would, form up within the formation were ever you please, but do not interfere with the men.” He said

He then turned to look at the explorator, “If you would be willing, I suggest that you form up your guards in a similar formation to the guards. Or maybe have to them scout ahead.” He stated

He then turned to the Trader and said, “The men are formed up and ready Lord Trader”

[The Armed Republic of Dutch Coolness]

Alina Visscher - Navis Nobilite, House Visscher
The Emperor's Bounty

---

Alina held on tight to her seat in the light guncutter as it made its way through the fields of debris littering these parts of realspace, trying her best to - and almost failing to - not fall out of it. Still, after a period that felt like far too long, the cutter landed in the hangar of the Emperor's Bounty. The ship they were about to investigate was in a bad shape, and it was indeed more than likely that all of its crew would be long dead by now. Still, there was some power left on the ship, and there was a sustained, if weakened, atmosphere on the vessel, meaning that something could still be alive. Perhaps it was the creature she had noticed earlier - but that one could well be elsewhere.

The cutter's hatch was opened, and the Bounty's stale air swept inside. The Rogue Trader himself was supposed to set foot on board of the wrecked ship, first, and so she waited for him to move ahead, together with his... brutish guards. In the meantime, she herself reached for the breathing apparatus suspended underneath her chair on board of the cutter, hanging it from her robes' belt together with a small canister of air - just in case. The Navigator took her laspistol in hand, inspecting it for a moment, before eventually following the rest of the Trader's retinue outside and onto the hangar of the Emperor's Bounty.

She coughed, to get Ceicel's attention. "Lord Trader," Alina began, politely, "situation permitting, might I suggest I get to investigate this vessel's Navigator's Sanctum? It could tell us more about what happened to this ship, mayhaps." That and, of course, there was the possibility of finding some charts that House Visscher itself just so hadn't plotted yet - or if the Bounty once was steered by the House, its belongings could be retrieved from there... Neither of those things was relevant to the rest of the people gathered, however, and so she did not see the need to mention it, keeping that tiny little detail to herself.

[Bentus]

Malka - Adeptus Astra Telepathica

---

Malka grinned as Renelle tore into the Commissar, the powerful woman showing no fear as she berated the fearsome man in front of the entire bridge crew and the Rogue Trader. The astropath couldn’t help but enjoy seeing him clearly flustered at the sign of defiance, relishing the feeling of smug superiority that came with it. When she had first met the missionary, Malka had initially thought that she was the same as all the other men and women of her ilk: kind words and warm encouragement that masked an uncaring gaze no different to the Commissar. However, Renelle had turned out to be something else instead. She carried herself differently, more purposefully, than Malka had expected. Rather than deferring to the Commissar when it truly mattered, the woman stood up to the man, refusing to be cowed by his stern charisma. Standing behind the missionary, and beside the Rogue Trader, Malka felt like she was standing secure behind her own private battlements. Grinning, she was about to goad the Commissar further when a harsh voice dashed the smile from her face.

"You’re in the wrong too young girl. You shouldn't antagonize Savarian like that. He has seen the dangers of the Warp and has steeled himself against all threats to Mankind. You know how easy it is for him to foresee any questioning of the Warp through a psyker's standpoint to be grounds for heresy. "

Blinking in surprise, Malka glanced up to see the Rogue Trader staring down at her with an exasperated expression.

"If you are going to talk to Alina about the Warp and thoughts of such things then do so with discretion in mind. I don't want your head on a pike girl."

Suddenly feeling less secure in her triumph, Malka scowled as she felt her fortunes shifting beneath her feet. Why was she getting in trouble? It wasn’t like she had wanted the Commissar to overhear her conversation, it was his fault for poking his nose in where it wasn’t wanted! Malka wanted to speak up, to tell the Rogue Trader that he wasn’t being fair, that nothing was ever fair for her, but she knew better than lashing out. With a sigh, the young woman bit her tongue. Shifting her gaze to the floor, Malka responded mutely, although she couldn’t hide the slight irritation in her tone.

“Fine. I won’t do it again, my Lord. I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”

That seemed to be enough for Aesp, as he largely dropped the matter as they made their way towards the waiting lighter. Maintaining her place a few steps behind the Rogue Trader the whole way, tailing behind her Lord as a sign of deference and respect for her status as a servant under his command, Malka found her anger subsiding despite her best efforts. The earlier excitement that had gripped her at the thought of venturing out into the void once more, to spread her wings ever so slightly and journey into the unknown, clawed its way back to the forefront of her mind.

Stepping onto the waiting lighter, Malka felt the change in the sound of her own footsteps as she transitioned from the thick, heavy hull of the Spear to the thin flooring of the smaller vessel. Slowing her pace, she paused to look around as the Rogue Trader walked directly towards his waiting seat. Pausing her gaze at a set of lockers built into the wall of the craft, Malka grinned as she ignored the name of some Private stencilled on the door. Opening the storage locker, she was met by a pile of bundled fatigues. Swiping the helmet from the shelf, Malka casually placed it over her head - clearly unconcerned by the fact that it was evidently a size or two too large for her. Looking over the other prizes that awaited her, Malka bended over to pick up a pair of combat boots that had been left behind by their previous owner. Lifting them to her face, she gave them a sniff before shrugging her shoulders. They certainly hadn’t been cleaned after being worn, but that didn’t deter her. Placing them on the floor, the girl stepped her barefoot into the hardened boots, their green-brown camouflage appearing out of place compared to the pale dress that she otherwise wore. Wagging her toes, Malka grinned as she felt prepared for the coming mission. Making her way over to the passenger compartment, she sat herself down beside the Rogue Trader before calmly doing the buckles and straps that would hold her firmly in place during transit.

She wondered what they would find when they arrived? Assuming nothing killed them on the way, of course.

[Morrdh]

As Asep and his retinue ventured out into the immediate area where their craft had docked, it quickly became clear just how dark it was. Though the ship obviously still had power, the galley-lamps only cast a dim light that left most chambers and walkways in shadow. Many ports, reactive plating and internal auspex devices are simply not functioning. Even the Mechanicus members of the Rogue Trader's entourage have trouble trying to reach the ship's Machine Spirit, which appears to be non-responsive.

Scattered throughout the vessel are the dusty, shrivelled bodies of crewmen and servitors sprawled on the decks and slumped over control stations. With weapons still holstered and no signs of violence, the corpses reveal little as to the manner of their deaths. There is no evidence of battle nor some catastrophic disaster that could've in the crew's demise, it was almost as though they died without due cause.

Exploring deeper into the vessel reveals that much of the vessel is sealed off by imposing pressure doors, including most of the lower decks and reactor levels. These doors are encrusted with dust and glowing with scarlet runes, indicating toxic atmospheres or vacuum beyond. This could be plausibly explained as part of some damage control mechanism that was activated when the sealed chambers were damaged when the Bounty entered the debris field. With the ship's Machine Spirit seemingly inoperative the only ways to open the doors would be to cut through them, which would take considerable time, or seek a master control station elsewhere in the ship.

At regular intervals, like the pulse of a beating heart, various members of the party feel their skin crawling. Some of the voidsmen brought over from the Spear with you mutter something about the ship's Geller Field, Hawthorne had already alerted you to the fact that it was partially active and flickering. Curiously, both pyskers could now feel the sense of non-human dormancy as a strong and steady presence rather than the flicker Alina sensed earlier.

[Ameriganastan]

Andros wasn't really paying attention to the group at large. He and his little contingent lagged behind slightly.

"Mark him, mark him, mark her..."

His Servitor marked the indicated bodies with an 'X' from the small brand it carried. The bodies with obvious cybernetic components. Prosthetic limbs and eyes mostly.

"No sense in letting good machinery go to waste. We'll return after the initial ship survey and remove their augmentations from re-purposing. The dead can't use them after all."

His Skitarii were mere cautious.

"Explorator, we should keep up with the party."

He lightly waved his concern off.

"They're right there. Not like they're going anywhere. Ooh, mark him.."

[Ralnis]

Ceicel Asep,
On-board the Emperor's Bounty

As I saw the control room not being of use, my men murmured their grievances to me. This ship had already been torn asunder, something had came and killed them with not much of a struggle. This was already eerie to me, not to mention the Machine Spirit isn't responsive. It seemed that most of the ship was unresponsive. My Navigator mentioned getting the warp charts from the Sanctum but with the Machine Spirit being like it is and the Xeno being anywhere on this ship.

"I'll keep the Sanctum noted Alina. We just need to exterminate the Xenos and then we can figure out how this all came to be." I said to her as I continued to search the room.

Luck wasn't on my side however but I saw Andros marking bodies for something. Possibly more Mechanicus work but he looked more enthusiastic than the Skitarii that were guarding him. I still wandered if that's how all Techpriest were like but I only met so many back when I was serving in the Guard. Even then they only spoke when chastising other Guardsmen and women on proper use of maintenance and handling the weaponry. Hence why I rather use my knife.

After searching and coming up with nothing I turned to my men. They all were getting a bit shaken but nothing I haven't seen, though this Xeno troubles me.

"Listen up everyone!" I declared,"the Machine Spirit isn't responsive and and cutting through the doors will take too long. The Emperor has not favored us with that luxury so we need to find a master control somewhere on this ship and get to the Gellar Field. Only then that we maybe able to exterminate this threat. If anyone have a better plan, then speak up. If not, then we search for the controls on the bridge."

[The Armed Republic of Dutch Coolness]

Alina Visscher - Navis Nobilite, House Visscher
The Emperor's Bounty

---

Lips pursed and brows furrowed, Alina glanced around, observing her surroundings. The lighting was dim - but present, indicating that there very much was power on the vessel, still - but it was not enough to obscure the remains of the long since departed crew members of the Bounty. She gave a displeased look in the general direction of the assorted Mechanicus-aligned members of the Rogue Trader's entourage, who had apparently made it priority to loot the dead off of anything looking even remotely mechanical, first. Soon after, however, the Rogue Trader Ceicil himself turned around and addressed everyone that had come with him. Alina gave a single nod in agreement - it was likely the best course of action they could be taking, at this moment, all things considered.

"If I may, again," she started once more, announcing herself with another cough, the Navigator not bothering with waiting for any permission being given after she'd started speaking, "the presence I could sense from the command deck on board of your vessel, Lord Trader, is here, on the Bounty, I can say with a... considerable amount of confidence. I believe it to be dormant, still, but I would recommend we proceed with caution and should be prepared to do combat at any given moment, should it awake - or to vacate the ship, depending on what exactly it may be that we will find..." With a nod, mostly to herself, Alina tightened her grip on her laspistol just a little, glancing around, trying to see if she could pinpoint the presence just a little better.

[Ameriganastan]

Andros was still only half listening, but listening enough to formulate an idea.

"Hmm...eye. Prosthetic eye. Still connected. Not damaged. Need a prosthetic eye that's still connected and not damaged...well hello there. Mollion, hand me you knife. I need to perform a little postmortem procedure..."

His Skitarii handed him his chainknife, Andros raising his voice slightly.

"Those with weak stomachs would be advised to look away for a few moments. Before we venture any farther into this vessel, I want to know what's awaiting us. And I know how."

Revving up the blade, he quickly but carefully liberated the corpse of the top of his skull.

"Hmm. Brain isn't in pristine condition. But we're not raising the dead here. I just need to kickstart it a little. Servitor, hand me the stimulant probes..."

His Servitor handed him several small probes, the Explorator poking them into the brain of the dead crewman. After a few moments, the shriveled corpse convulsed.

"There we go. We don't have long. Memory center, memory center. And the eye is connected here..."

Andros plucked a few wires from the mans skull, hooking them to his own head. Years of lopping off and replacing his own bodyparts had given him an odd knack from tinkering with flesh. He was no doctor, but he got by.

"And we should...yes! Rogue Trader, please watch the wall"

An image was projected from his eyes onto said wall.

"The last moments of this departed organic, visualized for us all. Let's see what caused all this..."

[Morrdh]

Andros' efforts resulted in a grainy image displayed upon the wall in question, showing the same corridor but with its deceased occupants still alive and well. All appears to be normal at first, but it gradually becomes noticeable that the crewmen in the image are starting to have trouble breathing. The nearest man visible in the Tech Priest's 'volunteer' has his lips turn blue as he puts a hand to his throat before collapsing to the floor. The image then tilts up suddenly to face the ceiling before fading to black.

It would appear all the dead crewmen you find died in a similar fashion, combined with the weak atmosphere onboard the Bounty it would seem that somebody had vented much of the ship's atmosphere. Question is who would've done such a thing? And why?

Thus far it looks like the bridge is the most likely place to find answers.

---

The bridge of the Bounty is a disquieting sight, littered with bodies and blanketed in dust. Unlike in the rest of the vessel, there are signs of conflict here. Bulkheads bear las burns and bolt shell impacts, corpses are twisted in violent death, and spent casings are scattered across the deck.

Stepping over the fallen corpses of the ship's crew, you ascent to the command plinth and the foot of the Lord-Captain's throne. At the base of the throne lies what must be the remains of the captain himself, broken and contorted, wires and tubes roughly severed or torn free from their housings. In his place atop the throne, a man in the robes of a Navigator sits, his head bowed apparently dead. Curiously, the man's hood is thrown back, revealing a strange metallic worm-like device attached to his forehead where his third eye would be.

The feeling of...dormancy sensed by the pyskers seems to have its epicentre in this particular spot.

[Ameriganastan]

Andros' efforts resulted in a grainy image displayed upon the wall in question, showing the same corridor but with its deceased occupants still alive and well. All appears to be normal at first, but it gradually becomes noticeable that the crewmen in the image are starting to have trouble breathing. The nearest man visible in the Tech Priest's 'volunteer' has his lips turn blue as he puts a hand to his throat before collapsing to the floor. The image then tilts up suddenly to face the ceiling before fading to black.

It would appear all the dead crewmen you find died in a similar fashion, combined with the weak atmosphere onboard the Bounty it would seem that somebody had vented much of the ship's atmosphere. Question is who would've done such a thing? And why?

Thus far it looks like the bridge is the most likely place to find answers.

---

The bridge of the Bounty is a disquieting sight, littered with bodies and blanketed in dust. Unlike in the rest of the vessel, there are signs of conflict here. Bulkheads bear las burns and bolt shell impacts, corpses are twisted in violent death, and spent casings are scattered across the deck.

Stepping over the fallen corpses of the ship's crew, you ascent to the command plinth and the foot of the Lord-Captain's throne. At the base of the throne lies what must be the remains of the captain himself, broken and contorted, wires and tubes roughly severed or torn free from their housings. In his place atop the throne, a man in the robes of a Navigator sits, his head bowed apparently dead. Curiously, the man's hood is thrown back, revealing a strange metallic worm-like device attached to his forehead where his third eye would be.

The feeling of...dormancy sensed by the pyskers seems to have its epicentre in this particular spot.

"That is most assuredly Xeno tech."

Scarch approached the dead man, pushing his head back...from a few feet away with his Arc Maul. Even he wasn't dumb enough to touch some unknown contraption stuck to a Navigator.

"Well, we can rule out the greenskins at least. Suffocating the crew and affixing tech to a Navigator isn't their M.O. Too smart. Could be the Drukhari. Asphyxiating an entire ship seems like something that would tickle their fancy. Servitor, remove that device from his head. We'll analyze it later."

He shambling servant limped over, attempting to simply tear it off.

"Don't break it you simpleton."

[The Armed Republic of Dutch Coolness]

Alina Visscher - Navis Nobilite, House Visscher
The Emperor's Bounty

---

Slowly but surely, the group made its way throughout The Emperor's Bounty. The dead crewmen they had found all appeared to have died as a result of the footage they had all witnessed earlier, in the hangar - the ship's atmosphere being vented, apparently. Question was, of course, who, and why. It stood to reason that someone on the bridge had been responsible for venting the air, but that didn't clear up why exactly. Alina wondered if it was related to the presence she had felt - could still feel. Maybe it had been a desperate attempt at getting whatever this being was off of the ship?

After some time, they arrived at the ship's bridge, and here it became apparent that someone had been fighting, here. It could have been a mutiny, perhaps. That was not the most concerning thing to the Navigator, however, and her eyes went for the command throne. She blinked. The dormant thing she had been sensing came from there. Alina's eyes widened as she approached it with the rest of the crew. At the foot of the throne lay what was presumably the remains of the vessel's captain. But in the throne, at the heart of this dormancy... a navigator, a device she had never seen before stuck on his head, right where his third eye would be. Her mouth dropped a little, and her eyes widened in shock as the resident Explorator commanded a servitor just tear it off!

Immediately, she raised her laspistol at the servitor, her head at the same time turning towards Scarch, a hand threateningly moved towards the cloth covering her own third eye. "Throne, stop at once, you idiot! The presence on this vessel is emanating from this exact spot, and you're opting to have a servitor just tear off a device neither of us have ever seen before! Command your servitor to cease at once, lest you doom us all! If this is your modus operandi, I am surprised you yet live!"

[Ameriganastan]

Alina Visscher - Navis Nobilite, House Visscher
The Emperor's Bounty

---

Slowly but surely, the group made its way throughout The Emperor's Bounty. The dead crewmen they had found all appeared to have died as a result of the footage they had all witnessed earlier, in the hangar - the ship's atmosphere being vented, apparently. Question was, of course, who, and why. It stood to reason that someone on the bridge had been responsible for venting the air, but that didn't clear up why exactly. Alina wondered if it was related to the presence she had felt - could still feel. Maybe it had been a desperate attempt at getting whatever this being was off of the ship?

After some time, they arrived at the ship's bridge, and here it became apparent that someone had been fighting, here. It could have been a mutiny, perhaps. That was not the most concerning thing to the Navigator, however, and her eyes went for the command throne. She blinked. The dormant thing she had been sensing came from there. Alina's eyes widened as she approached it with the rest of the crew. At the foot of the throne lay what was presumably the remains of the vessel's captain. But in the throne, at the heart of this dormancy... a navigator, a device she had never seen before stuck on his head, right where his third eye would be. Her mouth dropped a little, and her eyes widened in shock as the resident Explorator commanded a servitor just tear it off!

Immediately, she raised her laspistol at the servitor, her head at the same time turning towards Scarch, a hand threateningly moved towards the cloth covering her own third eye. "Throne, stop at once, you idiot! The presence on this vessel is emanating from this exact spot, and you're opting to have a servitor just tear off a device neither of us have ever seen before! Command your servitor to cease at once, lest you doom us all! If this is your modus operandi, I am surprised you yet live!"

The hum of four Arc Rifles powering up filled the room, all four aimed right at Alina's head.

"Lower your weapon, organic. And remove your hand from your eye cover. We will not ask a second time."

Scarch raised all four of his hands to stop them.

"Gentleman, easy! I would rather not have my mind reduced to jelly by the Gaze of this mutant...or lynched and quartered by the Rogue Trader if you fools killed his Navigator. Now lower your weapons."

His Skitarii seemed to ignore him for a few tense seconds, before lowering their weapons.

"There. Servitor, cease what you're doing."

It did as told, Scarch letting out a mechanical sigh of relief.

"My apologies, esteemed Navigator. Though in my defense, I cannot sense psychic abnormalities like your kind. So maybe just ask politely next time instead of threatening me with the gaze."

He and his Servitor stepped away from the corpse, his Skitarii still keeping a firm eye on Alina.

"Our Explorator spared you this time, Navigator. Threaten him again and even his interceding will not spare you. Filthy organic."

"Shut up, Prastik."

[Revlona]

Commissar Savarian Strong

Stepping forward into the conversation.

“Explorator please keep your abominations under control, should they make a move against the Navigator again I will be forced to terminate them” He said with icy calmness.

“I do not blame you for the excitement you are showing, but I ask that you refrain from any more prodding or yanking that may risk all of our lives” He said

Turning his gaze to the members of the guard he said, “Secure the bridge, guard all exits” And the men moved to do so.

[Ameriganastan]

Commissar Savarian Strong

Stepping forward into the conversation.

“Explorator please keep your abominations under control, should they make a move against the Navigator again I will be forced to terminate them” He said with icy calmness.

“I do not blame you for the excitement you are showing, but I ask that you refrain from any more prodding or yanking that may risk all of our lives” He said

Turning his gaze to the members of the guard he said, “Secure the bridge, guard all exits” And the men moved to do so.

"It won't happen again, Commissar."

Scarch turned to his Skitarii.

"If it does, I'll personally lobotomize you two and make you my new Servitors. And I'll have you two sent back to Mars, stripped of every mechanical compoenent you have and queued for arco-flagellation. So keep your weapons powered down unless I say otherwise."

To the others, this looked like Andros simply trying to reassert his authority. But his Skitarii knew it was no hollow threat. They all glanced at the Servitor. Or Renkas as he was once known. A former Skitarii, now Andros' pitiful servant.

"Yes, take a good look. Let his fate be a warning to you all."

[The Armed Republic of Dutch Coolness]

Alina Visscher - Navis Nobilite, House Visscher
The Emperor's Bounty

---

And with that, four Arc Rifles were trained for her head and powering up, followed by a rather mechanical warning. Not entirely unexpected, all things considered, but still - Alina tensed. Taking in a deep breath, she prepared to tell them all about just what exactly happened to people shooting up Navigators, but before she could actually open her mouth, the Explorator told the Skitarii to stand down and the servitor was, indeed, commanded to cease. With a quiet, relieved sigh, she lowered her laspistol and holstered it, her other hand moving off of her head and towards her left arm, the Navigator quietly scratching the somewhat scaled skin there, pointedly ignoring the words of the Skitarii. Carrying a laspistol in her hand and holding it up for that long was starting to ache ever so slightly, and she did not enjoy it.

Explorator Scarh was surprisingly pleasant with his apologies and, even more surprisingly, the Arch-Militant, too, voiced his displeasure with the Skitarii present. "Explorator, Arch-Militant." Alina bowed her head. "My own humble apologies, of course. I would have simply raised the topic without any threats, but given the proximity and strength I have learned to expect of servitors, and the very short time frame there was between me raising my concerns and that device potentially unleashing whatever it is that may have been responsible for the state of this ship and, through that, the complete annihilation of every single one of us, I quickly resorted to a more... pressing and immediate argument, were it necessary." She ran a thumb across her lips, taking a step closer towards the throne. "-I am not one usually forced to make quick judgement calls like these, I do fear, so you have my apologies once again."

"Arch-Militant, if I might make a suggestion - have your men make sure they're guarding us from whatever may come from inside of this bridge as well as what may come from the outside. I suspect we may have to remove this device at some point, and while I do not wish to presume, I do suspect it would be better to do that on a derelict vessel than on board of our own ship.." Permitting herself a brief, triumphant smirk as she glanced at the Skitarii Scarh was berating, Alina soon found her attention turned back towards the deceased man - most likely a navigator like she herself was. "I cannot say I have ever seen a device like this," she pondered, humming, leaning in and peering at the device in question, "but it is in the position where the Eye of someone like me would be. Considering his attire - I think it may be either attached to it, or forced through it. If we do eventually decide to remove it, Lord Trader," She glanced at Ceicel, "I suggest it is either one of the servitors of the Honored Explorator, or I myself that does it - there is the risk of the eye being present and still open and, while this man looks dead, it is also the source of the dormancy both I and Navigator Malka Blanche could sense, which prompts me to believe there would be a risk of exposure..."

Shaking her head, Alina took a step back. "I do wonder why, exactly, the ship's captain was removed so roughly from his seat, only to be replaced by... this strange fellow. Explorator, if you or any of your servants have any pict-taking implants, I would appreciate it if I could get footage of this device. It would be of great interest to my superiors, I do believe." Pressing her lips together, the Navigator took several steps back, peering at the throne and the deceased individual on it in silence, hands folded behind her back.

[Bentus]

Malka - Adeptus Astra Telepathica
The Emperor’s Bounty

---

Malka had remained silent as the small party cautiously worked their way through the winding hallways of the derelict vessel. Only the distant hum of barely-functional machinery broke the silence of the dead, along with the scattered spoken words of the retinue members themselves. The Astropath had seemed relatively unphased by the slowly decaying corpses that lay slumped on haphazardly around her, her head constantly swaying back-and-forth as if on a swivel as her curious gaze swept over each new sight. The sights and smells of death and decay had lost much of their impact on the young woman: a childhood spent sealed in the decrepit confines of a Black Ship ensuring that at the very least. The dead were little more than empty shells, mounds of flesh and blood that would eventually wither away into nothing. The dead were always reliable partners: you could always depend on them to be right where you left them and to not share any of the secret that you whispered to them in confidence. Almost subconsciously, the astropath shot a glance at the the Commissar, her gaze resting on the small of his back as he walked confidently down the empty hall. Malka had always found that it was the living who tormented her nightmares and caused her skin to crawl in apprehension.

It didn’t take long for them to reach the bridge, and Malka waited patiently for the guardsmen and servitors to announce that the room was clear of any possible threats before she followed the Rogue Trader inside. Looking around, it was clear that the sudden and quiet death which had claimed the rest of the ship was missing from here. Signs of a struggle marred the walls and consoles, with las blasts and scorch marks pockmarked around the corpses which lay slumped on the floor and in their chairs. Each of the bridge members seemed to have died with a look of violence and pain etched onto their features - or at least those of them who still had enough of their face remaining for their expressions to be recognisable. Taking a step further inside the craft’s inner sanctum, Malka heard a jingling sound emanating from her feet. Glancing down, the girl saw that her new pair of boots and knocked into a pile of discharged casings - their lethal contents likely having been spent in some final stand right where she now stood. Tilting her head to the side, Malka watched the small metal cylinders roll back-and-forth on the floor beneath her. She watched the objects curiously, waiting as their momentum slowly dissipated and they once again came to a stop - the sudden confrontation that erupted between the Servitors and Alina seemed to pass right over her head, her gaze remaining fixated on the ground at her feet.

The rest of the room - the harsh instructions being yelled by the Explorator as he sought to reign in his machines - seemed to fade into the periphery of Malka’s senses. The voices of the rest of the retinue grew faint, and she would have had to struggle to follow along with their words. But the Astropath made no such attempt, drawn like a moth to the strengthening sound of a beating between her ears - like a heartbeat that gradually thumped louder and louder as if approaching some deafening crescendo. She could hear the pumping of blood as if through her own veins, although she knew that this was no sensation coming from her own flesh and blood. Slowly, a wide smile began to spread itself across Malka’s features as she felt her own heart skip a beat.

Reaching up to the side of the oversized helmet she had commandeered back on the freighter, Malka pulled its goggles down over her eyes. The transparent orange plastic of the visor would have tinted the girl’s gaze as she calmly took a step away from the Captain’s chair. Her eyes were wide with excitement and there was an eager glean in them as she turned to address the Rogue Trader with a mischievous grin.

“Master Asep, something’s waking up.”

[Ralnis]

Ceicel Asep,
The Emperor's Bounty

The entire ship was filled with death. I haven't smelled so much death in some time. It was small compared to the battles between heretics and xenos, but it was pungent. The bridge was filled with death as the entire ship. Everything was strange as none of the crew had the damages of warfare that cane with death normally.

In the very center laid a Navigator on the captain's throne. It was strange as the head of the Navigator had a Xenos device that was like a crown and made this even more strange. Alina had identified the device as the very thing that brought this ship down. After an attempt by the Explorator that made the Arch-militant and others point weapons and diffuse the situation before I said anything.

"Thank you Commisar for diffusing the situation." I turned to him. "Now, let's see about taking this device and isolating the psychic threat that it radiates before we call the Spear on a job well..."

I was cut off from Malka alerting me of it awaking.

"Everyone!" I yelled at my retinue,"prepare for battle! We may have company!"

As I ready my shotgun I turned to my astropath," were are you sensing the beast?"

[Morrdh]

Suddenly the 'dead' Navigator's head snaps, and he regards the party with empty dead eyes. At the same time all of the portals to the bridge seal, crashing down pressurised hisses. Then a baleful crimson glow begins to build around the strange device on the Navigator's forehead, seemingly gathering power. All of this takes place in a mere handful of the seconds and quickly find yourselves trapped on the now sealed bridge before twisting cords of warp energy writhe out from the device to dance among the dead. A second later, the corpses begin to stir. At first, only a few lurch clumsily to their feet and stagger towards the retinue with murderous intent, but soon dozens are pushing themselves up from the dusty floor. A motley collection of crewmen and servitors (some hauling themselves up from the control pits, others tearing themselves free of their stations) converge on the living intruders in a shambling mass.

Barely noticeable, streams of dust flow towards the vents indicating that the air is being sucked out of the room. The Navigator merely stands upon the command throne, now surrounded by a shimmering crimson shield that seems to flicker. Both pyskers instantly recognise this shield as a powerful psy shield, though one beyond that of their own abilities.

[Ralnis]

Ceicel Asep,
The Emperor's Bounty

I saw the dead navigator's head went up and the room was twisted with Warp energy. I cocked my shotgun but then some even more troubling caught my attention. The very air seemed to being sucked out of the bridge.

"The airs being sucked out! Andros get us a way out! Commissar and everyone give us a firing line and laid the Emperor's dead to rest!"

[Ameriganastan]

"Ugh. I hate having to do this."

Andros seemed oddly calm about the whole situation. Of course his lungs were bionic. He could go several hours on their internal oxygen supply while everyone else suffocated. But having to explore the ship alone, among what seemed to be a flock of undead, would be rather annoying.

"Skitarii, join them on the firing line while I whip us up a quick way out of here."

He went to work on a nearby console, taking his time as if they weren't all in mortal danger.

"It would probably take too long to hack the system and override the seal..."

One of his eyes glanced back, his Skitarii decking one of the living corpses with the butt of his rifle.

"...Yes, the brute method sometimes works. One second..."

He ripped and plugged various wires from different consoles into one of the center consoles.

"Weapons, lights, gravity, life support, Gellar Field...okay, that should do it."

His idea was simple. Funnel power from all over the ship into the center console. He flipped a switch, the entire ship shuddering as power from everything poured into a console not meant to handle such a thing.

"I advise everyone to cover their ears."

He did just that as the console quite literally exploded behind him.

"There we are. Door control quite overloaded. I believe you'll find the doors without power. Simply get some strapping strong organics to lift them open."

A crew-member sprung from behind the console, Andros not even turning his head as he blasted him with one of his Flechette Blasters.

"I suggest quickly."