Sea of Stars - IC

[Destro_Yersul]

Hannabel

"This is your paymaster?" Grig asked. "Belief in human superiority is common, and curious." The Kroot pointed over at one of the food stalls in the market, which appeared to be serving some sort of thick stew. It was filled with meat chunks of questionable origin, and probably substantially made of up of water and nutrient paste. None of the Kroot had ordered from there.

"How you expect to grow strong from eating that is beyond me."

Felidae

"Well, there's always assault stubbers. Not quite the same lethality, but a lot more portable." Jenkins shrugged. "My name's on my jacket. This idiot," he gestured at the squash-nosed man, who was scowling silently into his drink, "is Konrad. We're soldiers of fortune, you might say. I dunno what you find interesting, apart from starting barfights with strangers, but if gambling's your style the Roxxy's not a bad choice."

Macharius and Anika

The Roxxy was built back into the solid rock of the asteroid. It probably had some back escape tunnel, but Anika had no way of telling where it was, or how to get there. The door was the single point of entry. Looking through the windows, she could see that the place had mostly emptied out. The door was presently unguarded, though she had seen a couple of men in uniforms inside. Pushing her way past the rapidly thinning crowd streaming out of the club, Anika found herself in a tiered hall. The entrance was the lowest tier, with a security station and a cashier manned by a blank-faced servitor. The uniformed security were sheltered near the cashier, revolvers in hand. The middle tier was a few steps up, and separated from the lower by wooden railings. It was presently occupied by a rough looking group of men, armed with lasguns and shotguns. Some were behind upturned gaming tables, and two were near the set of stairs running to the upper balcony. Another lay in a pool of blood at the base of the stairs. Anika couldn't see who was on the upper balcony, a solid wood banister running the length of the third and final tier obscuring it from view. One of the men behind the table was shouting at the balcony.

"No way down from there, Hawke! We got all day."

Outside, the approach of the security forces put the lie to that statement. They were still having difficulty moving through the crowd, but would be reaching the entrance to the Roxxy soon. As they grew closer, Macharius got a better look at them; they wore full face helmets, like Arbites Judges, but their armour lacked the trademark insignia of any Imperial Adepta. Likely they were private forces, and simply capitalizing on the Arbites' fierce reputation.

[Kaptin Keen]

"Well, there's always assault stubbers. Not quite the same lethality, but a lot more portable." Jenkins shrugged. "My name's on my jacket. This idiot," he gestured at the squash-nosed man, who was scowling silently into his drink, "is Konrad. We're soldiers of fortune, you might say. I dunno what you find interesting, apart from starting barfights with strangers, but if gambling's your style the Roxxy's not a bad choice."

Yea, the trusty old assault stubber. I'm afraid if doesn't punch the size of hole I'm after, and also it's just a shade less effective than my 'old stormbolter'. It's funny, though - between you, you have the makings of a real name. Konrad Jenkins. You should consider finishing each others sentences, Felidae smiles to indicate that while she's being slightly insulting to perfect strangers, it's all in good fun, soldiers of fortune, eh? Are you any good? Because, I mean, fist fights clearly aren't your thing. But then again, who'd hire mercs for that, right?

I told you what I find interesting: Trade, equipment, crew, the location of Capt. Misson's secret pirate base, and starting barfights with strangers. I could go for gambling too, but my talent for it is kinda the perfect inverse of my talent for fighting: I tend to lose a lot.

But where is this Roxxy place? I don't know this station at all.

Felidae gives the two men another cat-like smile, hoping - without caring hugely - that they have a sense of humor.

[Leon]

Arriving the general location of the Roxxy, Ravia looks for a Luminary junction box or similar that supplies the area or more directly the establishment if possible

Spoiler

Show

Tech Use to cause a "service disruption" plus or minus any modifiers that Destro sees fit (d100)[63] Normal TN is 83

[Haval]

There was probably no getting up there without being noticed. Anika will find someone who worked here to talk to. 'Excuse me. I was supposed to meet someone here for a drink. Could you tell me what precisely is going on here?'

[rax]

"This is your paymaster?" Grig asked. "Belief in human superiority is common, and curious." The Kroot pointed over at one of the food stalls in the market, which appeared to be serving some sort of thick stew. It was filled with meat chunks of questionable origin, and probably substantially made of up of water and nutrient paste. None of the Kroot had ordered from there.

"How you expect to grow strong from eating that is beyond me."

"Paymaster? Yes, I suppose he is, though I'm not sure he actually gets the concept of money. He has people to handle his transactions for him - he just decides who gets a cut of House Absalom's wealth. As for human superiority...well, the Imperium is the biggest beast in the galaxy and there's an awful lot of humans around. Strength in numbers and all that sort of thing," she laughs.

Looking over at the stew on sale, Hannabel grins broadly. "Oh, no one gets strong from eating that filth. That's strictly for making it through the day - survival for people who can't afford better. I used to be one of them, but now I work with Macharius so I get to eat pretty much what I feel like. And what do you eat when you're stuck on a rock like this?"

[PotatoGolem]

Macharius waits, slowing his advance to let Anika enter and talk first for a few minutes. Before the enforcers can arrive, he strides into the Roxxy. Macharius has a flair for the dramatic; he enters first, making sure every eye is on him as he advances into the middle tier. In his new golden armor, he towers over lesser men. The Praetorians enter behind him, hellguns at the ready, light glinting off their ornate carapace armor. Finally, the marines arrive, fanning out with their lasguns up. His gaze sweeps the room, dismissing the local thugs without much thought. His voice booms through the power armor's vox.

Marines! Fan out, find any of our crew. Praetorians, come with me to the third level. I want a better view. No one is "accidentally" overstaying shore leave here. You there! Stand aside. You may resume whatever petty squabbles interest you when I have recovered my crew.

He starts towards the upper level, utterly confident that none of the rabble would dare stop him.

[Destro_Yersul]

Hannabel

"Relying on strength in numbers is fine, until numbers desert you. Individual strength is the only kind that may never be taken. Sustenance living not worth the cost." Grig snapped his beak at the stew.

When Hannabel asked what the Kroot normally ate, though, he returned his attention to her. "Find the biggest, strongest human we can, then jump him in an alley." He paused for a beat, waiting to see her reaction. "Failing that, grox. Grox large and stupid, but strong. Acceptable in absence of proper enemies."

Judging by the state of their table, the Kroot preferred their grox uncooked. Grig reached back, taking hold of a yet untouched piece and holding it out to Hannabel. "You want to try Kroot food?"

Ravia

Ravia found the Roxxy, and skirted teh gathered crowd to go look for cable junctions. With everything buried in the rock, there weren't many places to hide them that could be concealed, and much of the cabling was simply run in brackets along the tunnel ceilings. Ravia followed a bundle of cables along the side tunnels, eventually locating a control shrine and junction box. She didn't have the codes to log in, but bypassing them was relatively simple. From there, she was able to 'accidentally' divert the Roxxy's power supply.

Anika and Macharius

Anika picked one of the house security as the person least likely to shoot at her. He looked up as she approached, waving at her to get down. "Some kinda gang dispute, I think," he said. "That big group walked in and..." In the middle of his answer, all the lights suddenly cut out, plunging the casino into darkness. "The frak? What now?"

Moments later, emergency lights snapped on. Dim red suffused the hall, turning everything the colour of blood. The guard fumbled for a lamp pack. "Your friend is likely gone. You should go, too."

Up on the middle tier, more lamp packs appeared, beams of harsh white slicing through the hellish red. The two men by the stairs started climbing, trying to take advantage of the sudden disruption. They were met by scything gunfire, some sort of silenced weapon that filled the air with deadly fragments. A second man went down, the other diving back down the stairs and out of the line of fire. He primed a grenade and hurled it up the stairs.

Macharius strode in as the grenade detonated, punctuating the entrance of him and his men with a loud krump. All eyes turn to the giant in golden armour, and a few jaws drop. The praetorians followed Macharius up towards the middle, the Marines securing the lower level. As Macharius approached the stairs to the third, the thugs finally managed to collect their wits at this unexpected intrusion, their leader raising his shotgun.

"Hey, stop. I'm serious."

When Macharius didn't, the escalating level of opposition warred with saving face in front of his underlings. After a brief fight, bravado won, and he aimed his gun and fired. Hundreds of shot pellets pinged off the golden surface of Macharius' armour, its fine workmanship completely turning the blast. Instantly, the praetorians' hellguns snapped up. Murphy's sparked and failed to fire, the praetorian cursing and kneeling to check the connections on his faulty weapon. The others connected, a hail of incandescent bolts lighting the target in a corona of blazing energy. He immolated in seconds, his ammunition and grenades cooking off. The explosion blew the table to fragments and knocked the other thugs off their feet, smoking armour shattered and useless. A fine powder of ash settled to the ground where the leader had been standing.

Felidae

"'Fraid the only one of those I could really help with is barfights. What you see is what you get, with me and Konrad here. Nothing to trade, no equipment to sell, and no idea who Captain Misson is. We're not bad in a fight, though I think you got us outclassed." Jenkins shrugged. "Roxxy's sector seventeen. Big place, near the middle. Not hard to get to. I could show you, if you want."

[rax]

"Relying on strength in numbers is fine, until numbers desert you. Individual strength is the only kind that may never be taken. Sustenance living not worth the cost." Grig snapped his beak at the stew.

When Hannabel asked what the Kroot normally ate, though, he returned his attention to her. "Find the biggest, strongest human we can, then jump him in an alley." He paused for a beat, waiting to see her reaction. "Failing that, grox. Grox large and stupid, but strong. Acceptable in absence of proper enemies."

Judging by the state of their table, the Kroot preferred their grox uncooked. Grig reached back, taking hold of a yet untouched piece and holding it out to Hannabel. "You want to try Kroot food?"

Hannabel responds with a wolfish grin. "The advantage of strength in numbers is that there's always enough of us left to make more. As for jumping humans in an alley, I do believe you are joking with me, Grig of Clan Ch'tep. If you were starving, perhaps, but otherwise? What would be the point, when there is no individual strength there to take?"

At the sight of the uncooked Grox, she grins again. "Raw Grox? I've eaten far stranger things among the nobility of Scintilla." She holds out her hand expectantly.

[Kaptin Keen]

Felidae

"'Fraid the only one of those I could really help with is barfights. What you see is what you get, with me and Konrad here. Nothing to trade, no equipment to sell, and no idea who Captain Misson is. We're not bad in a fight, though I think you got us outclassed." Jenkins shrugged. "Roxxy's sector seventeen. Big place, near the middle. Not hard to get to. I could show you, if you want."

Well - my coms sound like a bunch of guys just found out precisely how unpleasant the commander and his personal guard are in a firefight. My guess is no more gambling will be happening at the Roxxy tonight.

But yea, maybe it’s time to return to the comfort and companionship of the Sting. If you have the stones for it, Maybe the commander will let you join his guard.

Felidae will make her way back to Macharius. It sounds like the fight is over, but who knows - maybe a bunch more trouble is coming. In which case no armor and an autopistol will make for an interesting change.

[PotatoGolem]

Macharius continues up to the third tier without breaking stride. Kill the rest of these insolent thugs. Their rudeness has cost them their lives. When he gets to the top, he looks around for his man. Tobias Hawke? The cavalry has arrived. Now, let us leave. We have much to discuss.

[Haval]

Anika will watch the one sided fight with her arms folded, only tutting a little when one of the gang members tried to shoot Macharius. Might as well have used that weapon on himself. To the security guard, 'It seems that my friend is upstairs. Sorry about the mess.'

[Destro_Yersul]

Hannabel

Grig handed her the chunk of raw grox meat, the rest of the Kroot all hiss-laughing. "I think I like you, Hannabel of Clan Manticore's Sting. If you can convince Paymaster Absalom, we will come fight for you."

Not Hannabel

With the Marines securing the lower floor, and the five Praetorians on the middle tier, there wasn't much of anywhere for the thugs to run to. The one by the stairs made a break for the back, pursued by a squad of marines, while the others were all cut down by the praetorians in the act of picking themselves up off the floor. Macharius ascended the final tier to the crack of lasbolts in the background, finding the upper levels were not entirely deserted. With the stairs blocked by thugs, many of the Roxxy's patrons had taken shelter up here, near the back, rather than risk trying to go around. It was, however, fairly obvious who he was looking for.

Tobias Hawke was a short man, wearing a grox-hide vest with a fur collar over dark-coloured clothing. He had a broad utility belt stuffed with tools, and was carrying an Eldar shuriken catapult with an array of Imperial-made sights and targetting equipment bolted to it. Several of the wires ran up his sleeve, likely connecting to hidden augmetics. He spread his hands wide when Macharius appeared, grinning wide and making sure the catapult was pointed off to one side.

"Mr. Customer, I presume. You know how to make an entrance."

The group left the Roxxy just as the riot enforcers arrived. Their leader looked over Macharius, and promptly decided this was above his pay grade. "You're one of them Rogue Trader captains, right? You, ah... you clean up in there already?"

[PotatoGolem]

Indeed. Some local thugs had ideas above their station. They won't trouble anyone anymore. Macharius returns to the Sting with Hawke and the command staff (minus Hannabel). Servants show them to an opulent meeting room with a large central table. Macharius takes the throne at the head of the table and gestures for everyone else to sit.

Williams, bring us some refreshments. Amasec, and the Gorundian swallow eggs. Perhaps Velusian grox tartare, for those who've worked up an appetite. He turns back to the table. Much more civilized, what? Now, Master Hawke, let us talk business. I'm told you can find almost anything. What I require is a Saturnine 4A plasma drive.

[rax]

Grig handed her the chunk of raw grox meat, the rest of the Kroot all hiss-laughing. "I think I like you, Hannabel of Clan Manticore's Sting. If you can convince Paymaster Absalom, we will come fight for you."

"Splendid!" Hannabel twitters exultantly. "It's been a treat, friend Grig. Don't go anywhere in the next few days - I'll be in touch!" Taking a bite out of the grox meat, she waves happily to the Kroot and marches off to the Manticore's Sting with a noticeable spring in her step.

Back on the Manticore's Sting
Having kept her comm channel open, Hannabel has a fairly good idea of events at the Roxxy and that Macharius appears to have successfully extracted his target back to the ship. Abuzz with excitement over her encounter, she fairly skips into the meeting room, trying (and failing) not to disturb the negotiations. She makes a desultory attempt at wiping away the grox blood from her mouth, then takes up a position just inside the door, where she stands, quietly humming a happy little tune to herself.

[Haval]

What I require is a Saturnine 4A plasma drive.

Anika will pour herself some amasac. 'And if we can get one there's always the chance we'll need your services again at some point.'

[Destro_Yersul]

Tobias walked jauntily alongside Macharius for most of the journey. He had picked up an unremarkable duffel bag and removed the input wires from his catapult, stowing it in the bag, and now carried it along with him. The only visible weapon he carried was a small automatic in a holster on his belt, making him look by far the least well armed amongst the group. He settled into his chair at Macharius' table, leaning back and dropping his duffel within easy reach.

"You're told right, Master Customer. Still don't know your name, eh?" Macharius got right to the point about what he wanted, and Hawke leaned forwards and whistled. "That one's a big sucker. No way you're fitting it abourd this little speedboat you've got here. Well, not my business what you want to do with it."

He thought for a second. "Ok. Coming to me means you want to avoid the usual channels? Let's be frank about that, right? That's the reason people come to me. So there's no point me telling you to go buy Navy surplus or have one commissioned. Finding one of those off the grid might be a little tricky... What're we looking at for my fee?"

[Haval]

'Well, what exactly do you want?'

[Destro_Yersul]

"Money is good. Let's start there. Something like this is going to be more than a one time thing. I got a few ideas of where to start looking, but I'm going to need to consult my sources, check into some data, that sort of thing. So, how'sabout you put me on retainer?" Tobias grinned. "Never had anyone yet was sad they did that."

[Leon]

Upon returning to the ship Ravia sends Skull to monitor the meeting and returns to her activities

[PotatoGolem]

Certainly. I do like to have skilled individuals on retainer, as you can see from my officers. Lady Vanhal can see to the details, as well as expenses. We'll mark down saving your life as your first advance, what? Macharius chuckles.

[Haval]

'Well expensive is often expensive for a good reason.' If he found the engine it would probably be worth it. To Tobias, 'I can probably find a decent room for you if you want. Otherwise, let me know if I can do anything to help.'

[Destro_Yersul]

"Aye, that was a nice bit of timing, that was." Tobias reached over the table, picking up a swallow egg and popping it into his mouth. "Much obliged. I've a few things to collect from my place, and then I'll move into one of your rooms. If you want to help, let's see..." He tapped his chin, chewing thoughtfully. "Send a few of your men with me, to help carry stuff. Take on supplies for a long trip, and buy some extra salvage gear if you can find it. I'll let you know how big an op we're going to have to plan when I get back from running a few errands."

[Haval]

"Send a few of your men with me, to help carry stuff. Take on supplies for a long trip, and buy some extra salvage gear if you can find it. I'll let you know how big an op we're going to have to plan when I get back from running a few errands."

'I should be able to handle that. How long a trip are we talking about here? It's always better to know what we're getting into.'

[Destro_Yersul]

"Might be a long one. Warp being what it is, and all. Plan for a few months at least."

With that, Tobias left the ship, taking a small contingent of Marines with him for help in carrying things and keeping any possible revenge-seekers for the Roxxy off his back. When he returned several hours later, it was with a small library's worth of books and several steamer trunks full of personal belongings in tow. The duffel bag was still present, as was a smaller shoulder bag filled with tools.

"Right, figured it out. I've found you a drive. If it's still there. Hopefully you all had a chance to pick up some supplies, eh? We might need something a little bigger than what you've got, though. The one I'm thinking of, well, nobody has laid claim to it as far as I know, but we'll need a way to pry it out of the wreck it's in. You don't happen to own a ship with salvage clamps, do you?"

[rax]

After Hawke has left to get his stuff
As soon as Hawke has left the dining room, Hannabel's arm shoots up, waving frantically to get Macharius' attention. "Sir! Sir! Sir! Beggin' your pardon sir, but IfoundsomeKrootinthebazaar an' they were lookin' for work an' they're really cute an' I was wondering can I keep 'em? If you say yes I promise I'll be ever so good an' I'll keep 'em out of sight an' I won't 'ave 'em eat Bolterface or anything! Promisepromisepromise!!!"

[Haval]

After Hawke has left to get his stuff
As soon as Hawke has left the dining room, Hannabel's arm shoots up, waving frantically to get Macharius' attention. "Sir! Sir! Sir! Beggin' your pardon sir, but IfoundsomeKrootinthebazaar an' they were lookin' for work an' they're really cute an' I was wondering can I keep 'em? If you say yes I promise I'll be ever so good an' I'll keep 'em out of sight an' I won't 'ave 'em eat Bolterface or anything! Promisepromisepromise!!!"

Anika will take a moment to work through that. 'They're supposed to be very ... effective.'

To Hawke, 'I think we know someone who might be able to help, although I admit I have no idea if Captain Torgan has the right kind of ship.'

[PotatoGolem]

Macharius absently waves at Hannabel. Yes, Hannabel, what do you want to say? He seems distracted as she starts, but at the mention of Kroot he stands up straight. He turns stiffly to face her. Kroot. You found... Kroot. As in the cannabalistic Xenos marauders. And you want to... hire them. To bring Kroot. On my ship. You want to put xenos on my ship. He seems completely stunned. He stops talking momentarily, his mouth moving silently.

------

Own one? No. But have access to one, most certainly. Anika, tell Captain Torgan we shall require his services.

[Leon]

Slightly distorted via the link to Skull and his smaller speaker. ##They would be interesting to have around##

[rax]

Macharius absently waves at Hannabel. Yes, Hannabel, what do you want to say? He seems distracted as she starts, but at the mention of Kroot he stands up straight. He turns stiffly to face her. Kroot. You found... Kroot. As in the cannabalistic Xenos marauders. And you want to... hire them. To bring Kroot. On my ship. You want to put xenos on my ship. He seems completely stunned. He stops talking momentarily, his mouth moving silently.

"YES!" Hannabel claps her hands with delight and excitement. "They'd be a perfect asset! We currently have no stealth-trained infantry on retainer at all, and these are expert light infantry who just happen to be xenos. Which makes them the perfect deniable asset for raids and skullduggery. Who'd ever believe that Macharius Absalom - most loyal son of the Imperium, crusader for the Imperial Creed - would have a flock of Kroot working for him? As long as we take reasonable precautions, I say no one. And in return we get loyal, natural born killers fighting for us for as long as we want them."

"Come to think of it, we don't even have to quarter them on the Sting, if that's the problem. I'm sure they'd accept a nesting spot somewhere on the Talon or the Fury. You don't have to have anything to do with them at all - I'll be their liaison, I can fly the lander when we want to drop them into a hot spot, I'll run interference if the crew get antsy. All you need to do is use them when they can do the House some good."

[Kaptin Keen]

And it's not like they're not sanctioned xenos. We didn't pick them up in some random uncontrolled corner of the galaxy - we picked them up right here, in ... well, ok, it's not precisely the heart of the Imperium, but it is under the purview of the God-Emperor himself.

Felidae doesn't actually know what a 'kroot' is, but she does find some pleasure in manipulating Macharius even so. Despite a certain level of concern about this whole 'cannibal' thing.