Not Sure if Heretic.....

[janusmaxwell]

Taking a look around

Spoiler: Awareness check

Show

Need to get under a 44.
(1d100)[71]

[Blackhawk748]

Everyone looks around the office, not finding much. The mutants are most certainly dead, and have very little on them. Just their melee weapons and bits of metal turned into armor. However, in a closet in the back of the office, Barik discovers the body of a man in Carapace Armor, impaled on a spike that is embedded into the wall behind it, and in his pocket he finds a small plastic card.

[Haval]

Barik will call the others over.

[Volthawk]

Vanthus walks over, stopping momentarily when he sees the body. "Well that answers that question - a loyal citizen killed so he wouldn't interfere. Ah, and his killers were good enough to leave us the access card we need. Excellent, good find Barik."

[janusmaxwell]

Lazarus looks at the impaled body.

He looks at the card.

He glances around the ruined office, making a point of focusing his attention on the symbols both to remember them later, and adding emphasis for the benefit of his teammates as he dryly says, "Yes. This is very convenient for us."

Also on a mental note, he psychically isn't comfortable in the blanks presence, but DAMN if she isn't efficient at what she does.

[Haval]

Barik
Wounds: 11
Fate: 3
Clip: 59

Barik is looking at the body and wandering if the man was still alive when he was impaled. In response to Vanthus, 'Couldn't mistake the smell of all that blood.' He almost reaches for a lho stick but decides that he wants to keep his hands free.

Will say in response to Lazarus, 'You think someone wanted us to find this?'

[janusmaxwell]

"Caution is an important survival trait." Lazarus replies to Barik as he looks at what's left of the mutants. "Granted, we didn't have time to interrogate them, but the mutants didn't seem intelligent. Dumb enough to leave a keycard behind, yes. Smart or...restrained enough to hide the body of one of their victims?" He shakes his head. "Either we have a stroke of good fortune, or we work for the Inquisition and someone who sees us as an enemy is trying to lead us around by the nose. I think it's prudent to assume the latter."

[Haval]

Barik
Wounds: 11
Fate: 3
Clip: 59

Barik will nod at that, taking Lazarus point. 'Nothing wrong with a bit of caution, and it's all the more reason to have a look around first.' Barik is going to check to see if there are any cameras that might have recorded the death of the impaled man.

[Volthawk]

Vanthus nods, slightly impressed - he hadn't quite expected the psyker to have that nose for treachery. "It's always wise to expect trickery, yes, but on the other hand we do have the issue that we need to go to the control room. It does mean we can also be ready for whatever trickery the administrator attempts." He considers the line of thought further. "It's somewhat unlikely that these mutants killed him in this state, in any case - I expect that he was killed before the situation with the Wave started, as a preemptive strike. Following from this, as I doubt this administrator is a talented enough fighter to do everything himself, it's prudent to expect he has other heretics serving him - some element of security, perhaps, who betrayed the security officer and captuted the office. Perhaps they became these mutants, perhaps these mutants came later, in any case I expect we'll be running into people who shoot back soon."

[NeoPhoenix0]

"Is there any precaution we should take that anyone can think of? and should we check out engineering or the control room first?" Lucinia asks everyone in the room. "Also does anyone have anything they can record the symbols with? They may prove as useful intel once we can make contact again."

[Volthawk]

Vanthus thinks. "Well the easiest is just like this time, just keeping our guns trained to fire as soon as the door opens. I suppose that's where grenades come into it - given the area my hallucinogens cover, getting one of those into there immediately should affect everyone in there. Barik, does the map give an idea what we're looking at with regards to the control room - size, nearby points of interest, layout?"

He notes down a description of the markings on the walls for later analysis as he continues."I'd recommend just going for the control room - I mean, any reinforcements from there will take time to arrive at the control room, and once we hold the control room we can call in our own reinforcements. In any case, it'll be easier to take on their other forces if they're coming to us in the control room."

[NeoPhoenix0]

"Ok, anyone have anything else to do here? If not I suggest we make haste to the control room, try to keep moving and prevent as much communication between potential intelligent enemies by striking fast." Lucinia says waiting for anyone's questions or objections. if no one objects she will take the lead with her chainsword and Las pistol while in the halls.

[Haval]

Barik
Wounds: 11
Fate: 3
Clip: 59

Barik has no interest in recording the symbols, even if they don't seem immediately dangerous at the moment. He will check the map again to answer Vanthus' question.

He is slightly put out by Vanthus's apparent optimism. Although given how quickly they had dispatched those mutants perhaps it was warranted.

[ChronicLunacy]

Cyrine
Wounds: 12/12
Fate: 3/3

"Recording or reinscribing of potentially dangerous corrupted symbols or markings not recommended. Standard procedure: Cleanse with holy promethium if available, or leave alone until a properly equipped cleansing team arrives to deal with them." Cyrine announced almost mechanically in response to the idea that anything should be done with the symbols they'd found. It was slightly different with her, of course, but her education and some small experience had taught her that such markings were crude and repulsive at best and invited madness or daemonic possession at worst. Typically they just hurt to look at. So it was probably better all around to ignore them if no other option was available.

She fell into her usual spot in rearguard whenever the team moved out, ready to employ her long las to devastating effect if they ran into more enemies of the Imperium.

[Volthawk]

When Cyrine gives her verdict on the symbols, Vanthus promptly ignores it, pocketing his dataslate before nodding. "Yes, time to keep moving on, keep on hitting these things."

[Haval]

Barik
Wounds: 11
Fate: 3
Clip: 59

Barik sees Vanthus recording the symbols but will say nothing. If someone else wanted to take the risk that was up to them.

He is mostly trying to stay watchful and will move back into the hall ready to take point again.

[janusmaxwell]

Lazarus purses his lips, before giving a small sigh and moving to his 'assigned' position, just in front of the blank.

He doesn't mention the notes either and assumes that everyone saw Vantius pocket the dataslate. He hopes that when the mission is over, the Inquisitor or the Interrogator are more interested in investigating the symbols and possible heretical ties, rather than 'purging' the group as a precaution. If it wasn't for the fact that Cyrine would burn them as SOP, and he agreed with her on the matter, he would have her hold onto the notes, for much the same reason one would keep a possibly armed Cyclonic torpedo inside of a powerful EMP field. Otherwise-

Lazarus blinks as a thought occurs to him. "Huh. Do you suppose the symbols would be safer if they were transcribed in pieces? As a rudimentary code rather than intact?"

Spoiler: example

Show

The letter N being broken up into l \ l as an example.

Not a perfect system, but very easy to piece back together, rather than leaving the marks intact.

[Blackhawk748]

The team heads down the hall to the second floor of the Promenade. From the walkway you all find yourselves on you can see the various stores and offices that made up the Promenade, all of which have their windows smashed out, and some have bloodstains nearby. Disturbingly, you see no mutants.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

If it makes visualization easier, picture the DS9 Promenade.

[Volthawk]

Vanthus is concerned as he walks through the halls - back home, situations where all seemed fine but there were hidden dangers were a fact of life, and he was feeling the same feelings now. This definitely felt way too easy, given what they'd already learnt, so he kept an eye out for mutants as they progressed.

[NeoPhoenix0]

Lucinia leads the group with her chainsword and Las pistol out, taking any directions Barik gives. She keeps an eye out for anything out of the ordinary but tries to ignore the emptiness.

Spoiler: OoC

Show

untrained awareness TN=17
(1d100)[29]

[Haval]

Barik is looking for a way down to the lower level and is trying to anticipate where an ambush might be likely to come from. Despite all the destruction there didn't seem to be any bodies.

Spoiler: Awareness

Show

Listening

vs. Per 46
(1d100)[17]

My divination lets me reroll awareness to avoid being surprised. Just in case that's relevant.

[janusmaxwell]

Lazarus keeps his eyes open for movement, one hand on his laspistol. (finger not on trigger), and the other on his amulet.

Spoiler: Psynescience and Awareness

Show

Psynescience check (just as a precaution, it's a free-action) <54 or 58 for Willpower based. (is it my choice or DM's when to use which one?)
(1d100)[77]

Awareness <44
(1d100)[22][/spoiler]

[Blackhawk748]

Spoiler: Awareness Check results

Show

Lazarus and Barik both notice a pair of Mutants stealthily setting up a Heavy Stubber in the shattered window of a bar about 60m down the Promenade. Also you both make out about half a dozen other mutants hiding in the various other windows, all armed with Stub Rifles and improvised melee weapons.

[Haval]

Seeing the glint of the heavy stubber and recognising exactly what it was, Barik will call out 'Ambush', and open up on the heavy weapon team. Even with cover it would be better to take it out as quickly as possible.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Full Action - Suppressing Fire

Semi-Auto burst with the lasgun against the mutants with the heavy stubber (-10 test to avoid pinning)

vs. BS 47 (-20 Suppressing Fire)
(1d100)[77]

Damage if any
1st hit
(1d10+3)[13]

2nd hit
(1d10+3)[6]

[Volthawk]

As soon as Barik shouts out his warning and indicates where the heavy weapons team is, Vanthus aims his rifle and, spotting them, quickly takes a shot at the gunner. "I've got the gunner covered!"

Spoiler

Show

Half action: Aim
Half action: Standard Attack, TN 79 (BS 39 + 10 short range + 10 aim + 10 accurate + 10 standard attack) 56, so hit with 3 DoS
Damage: (1d10+3)[11]+9, Pen 3
If it hits, the target must make a Toughness test at a -20 penalty, if it fails it must roll on the hallucinogen table and be affected for 1 round +1 per DoF.

[janusmaxwell]

Lazarus Initiative 14
Lazarus immediately ducks behind the nearest cover and grabs his rosette. Closing his eyes, he focuses on Lucinia and Barik and uses the warp to link their minds with his. The added perspectives should give them an edge over the mutants.

Spoiler: Focus Power Test

Show

Psychic Communion, Upon success, +2 Initiative to me and those I choose, to a maximum of 2.
Ordinary (+10) Willpower Test, +10 for having my Psy Focus, not pushing but also not limiting my PR. (+-0)
Willpower 48+20=68
(1d100+20)[63]

[NeoPhoenix0]

Lucinia drops her chainsword and las pistol, draws her long las, and begins taking aim at the mutants.

Spoiler: OoC

Show

free actions: drop weapons, quick draw long las
full action aim

[Blackhawk748]

The lead Gunner gets a bullet through him and he drops to the ground, dead as a stump. The Loader, however, takes up the Gunner's position and unleashes a hail of fire at the squad.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Loader is using Suppressive Fire on Full Auto
BS test at -20
(1d100)[15]

Damage
(1d10+4)[13] Pen 3

The other mutants open up as well

Spoiler: OOC

Show

All shots are on single and they need to get under a 51

2 Mutants firing at Vanthus
BS Test +20
(1d100)[68]
(1d100)[51]

Damage
(1d10+3)[4]
(1d10+3)[4]
Pen 0

2 Mutants firing at Barik
BS Test at +20
(1d100)[29]
(1d100)[64]

Damage
(1d10+3)[9]
(1d10+3)[8]
Pen 0

2 Mutants firing at Lucinia
(1d100)[63]
(1d100)[68]

Damage
(1d10+3)[6]
(1d10+3)[10]
Pen 0

[Volthawk]

Although none of the shots hit him, the incoming fire - particularly the heavy stubber - sends Vanthus looking for cover. He wasn't quite used to heavy weapons being fired his way.

Spoiler

Show

As per the rules for being Pinned, moving into cover as my only Half action.

WP (+0) test to recover, TN 32: (1d100)[36]
That's both WP tests only failed by 5 or less.

[Haval]

Barik has been shot enough times before to recognise the feeling and will scramble into the minor cover offered by the railing before he gets hit again.

Spoiler: Mechanics

Show

Half Action - Move towards the railing to take cover
Reaction - Rolled in advance to dodge the first hit to connect

Evasion (Dodge)
vs. Ag 41
(1d100)[100]