This is a story of the adventures of Inquisitor Drakk's acolytes. Hope you all enjoy!
PLAYER/CHARACTER
Leigh/Xanthis, an imperial adept (Male)
Andy/Add, a feral Assassin (Male)
Jeremy/Sylon, an imperial Assassin (Male)
Daniel/Borgia Salomis (Spike), a hive Cleric (Female)
Jon/Barbosa Ragaa (Stubber), a feral Guardsman (Male)
NPC
Inquisitor Drakk
Shuttle crew
7 scum
The shuttle cabin is extremely luxurious, almost obscene in its richness. Precious artwork of the Emperor, fighting the enemies of mankind, adorn the walls. The floors covered in rich, deep carpet. Hymnals are quietly recited in the background by childlike cherubim. The deep chairs, that double as acceleration couches, are covered in the finest leather. In the centre stands a high quality hololith.
A chime sounds, directing the attention of the 5 occupants to the central hololith. As the hololith activated, a stylised 'I' of the Inquisition appeared in the mist. It faded, to be replaced by a hooded head. The face was hidden in shadow, just the glow of a bionic eye visible in the darkness. An air of authority could be felt through the transmission, even though the sender could have been anywhere in the system.
4 of the 5 viewers were engrossed in the transmission. The only one who was distracted, swinging around in her couch, was Borgia.
"My Acolytes..." the voice began when the head of Inquisitor Drakk noticed that something was amiss. "My Acolytes..." he tried again. "BORGIA! Pay attention!"
Borgia suddenly stopped mid swing and turned towards the hololith, a sheepish look on her face.
"My Acolytes, it is time for you to receive your orders." The Inquisitor began, "You are heading to Frenks World to investigate a cult that has recently appeared. Called the Angel of Fire, they rose to prominence 50 years ago. During that time, they have become the main religion on this planet. Their teachings are bordering on Heresy. Instead of worshipping the Emperor, they worship a being that, supposedly, fought as the right hand of Him. Investigate this cult, do not blow your cover. You will be heading to the capital city, Primus. You are authorised to use force ONLY IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, understand?"
A chorus of "Yes Inquisitor" greeted this question.
"Good" he replied "Now go with the emperor!"
At this the head disappeared to be replaced by the Inquisitorial seal, before that faded into nothing.
"Recent? 50 years and he calls them recent." Xanthis says to the rest of his companions, "Not that recent really."
"In the eyes of the Emperor, 50 years is but a grain of sand!" Borgia replies, "The Imperial creed has been revered for thousands of years."
"But why are we investigating, surely they are Heretics that need to be purged?" Sylon observes, "They are not following the tenents of His Word!"
"Many worlds observe His Word in ways that are comfortable to them." Borgia explained patiently, "Some worlds worship the sun in His name, or a mountain, or a star sweeping saviour. But they still worship Him!"
"So how is this different?" Barbosa asks sullenly, obviously uncomfortable in his surroundings.
"Because the people in Primus City, as well as Frenks World, are not worshipping the Emperor directly. They are worshipping a being who fought beside Him in the Great Wars. This has not been unheard of, but does border on heretical thinking!" replied Borgia. At this, the tannoy chimed, "This is the pilot, please prepare for deceleration and touch down, thank you." The party responds immediately, buckling their harnesses tightly across their body.
After the shuttle has landed at the spaceport and the debarkation ramp had descended, the party got their first look of Frenks World. A barren looking world, heat haze could be seen surrounding the spaceport, as if the world was on fire. In the far distance, Primus City could be seen. A strange light could be seen above the highest tower. Further down the side of the shuttle, other ramps had extended. People had already started to descend to the spaceport. Most were poorly dressed, they started to walk to the buildings surrounding one of the main gates studding the walls of the port. At the foot of the ramp, a car waited patiently, it's side door open but no driver visible.
"Where's the driver?" Barbosa askes no one in particular.
"Hmm, possibly a servitor," Xanthis observed, "Wouldn't be surprised."
"No threats detected," Barbosa interrupted, "Shall we go?"
"Certainly," Xanthis replied, "Lets get going!"
The inside was just as luxurious as the inside of the shuttle cabin, but also included a small mini bar. "Any alcohol in this thing," Add asked, looking uncomfortable.
"None," Xanthis replied, looking disgusted, "But these soft drinks look like they could be worth trading." Xanthis opened his bag and proceeded to fill it with the contents of the bar. "It's free so lets take it, might come in useful later."
As the vehicle passed through the main gate, it started to pick up speed. Conversation soon died down and each individual started to watch the world go past out of the windows.
"Look at those people, they're lining the road heading our way." Sylon remarked, "What is that some are carrying?"
"Icons of the Angel of Fire, I believe." Borgia remarked, "Look like pilgrims to me!"
"Feel sorry for them, I do," Barbosa said dryly, just as uncomfortable as Add, "Long way to travel on foot."
"At least we have a car, which is a lot better than our feet." Xanthis replied, losing interest rapidly, "Lets just get some rest before we get to where we're going."
The car silently picked up speed, it's passengers left to their own thoughts.
A couple of hours later, the car slowed down as it approached the main gates. "Hey, look at this will you!" Borgia observed, curiosity evident in her voice, "There are troops moving into the city!"
"Can you identify them?" Xanthis asked Barbosa nervously, "Are they Guard? Why are they moving into the city? Look, they are even taking armour into the city. Is this normal?"
"They're not Guard! They look like Planetary Defence Forces, local PDF." Barbosa observed, "They're too disciplined to be militia but they're equipment is not as modern as Guard units. The armour looks like Chimera's, just light APC's."
"So why are they moving into the city then?"
"Parade, manoeuvres, or even for a celebration. Who knows!" Barbosa replied, boredom entering his voice, ending the conversation abruptly.
As the vehicle continued on it's journey, it entered the richer section of the city. Eventually it stopped in front of a town house. 7 stories tall, but narrow in comparison to it's height, it looked well made and strong from the exterior. The doors looked like they could withstand a concerted attack and, being only 1 metre wide, funnelled any attackers into an obvious kill zone. The 2 assassins got out of the vehicle first, followed by Barbosa. Xanthia and Sylon remained in the vehicle, waiting for the all clear.
"Clear here," Add reported, sullenly.
"Hold on, got a gang of 6 opposite the house." Barbosa interrupted, "Not sure if they're armed, but have, what look like, small Angel icons pinned to their chests.
"They're armed," Sylon spoke quietly into his micro bead, "Be careful!"
"What are they doing now?" Xanthis asked.
"Just standing there, watching us," Sylon replied, "No threat at this time but I say again, be careful!"
"OK, Borgia and I are now leaving the vehicle."
As Xanthis and Borgia exited the vehicle, the gang on the opposite side of the round started to grow excited, pointing towards Xanthis.
"I'm going to check the house." Add vocalised into his micro bead.
"I'll join you." Barbosa replied, still watching the gang across the street.
"Room to room sweep, if you please." Xanthis told them, a note of authority entering his voice. "Borgia and I will follow!"
"Understood!" The Assassin and Guardsman replied together.
"GO!" Xanthis told them.
During this exchange, Sylon had not moved, still watching the gang across the street.
Inside, the house was just as opulent as the exterior suggested. Moving forward quickly and efficiently, it didn't take long for the Assassin and Guardsman to check the first couple of floors. A chorus of "Clears!" Resounded around the building. "Going up to the second floor." Xanthis called to the rest of the party, "Keep alert for anything out of place."
"Will do," Add responded, "But I can't see there being any trouble."
Sylon, if he could have heard this remark from outside, would probably have disagreed.
While the rest of the party were searching the building, Sylon was stood next to their car, watching the gang across the street. As the others entered the building, the gang crossed the road, surrounding the car. The leader, backed by 2 of his comrades, approached Sylon nonchalantly.
"Not from around here, are you?" The leader asked Sylon when he was stood I front of him.
"No." Replied Sylon
"Been here long?"
"No."
"Ah, so you don't know the rules then."
"No."
"So, have you paid your toll?"
"Yes."
"To who?" The gang leader asked suspiciously.
"Someone." Sylon said, just as suspiciously.
"You're lying, I'm the one who collects the tolls around here!"
"Not lying, so just go!"
"Not till you've paid the toll."
Suddenly, Barbosa's voice sounded in Sylons earpiece. "Everything clear in here. You can come in." Sylon made a small noise in the back of his throat, training kicking in, alerting Barbosa that he might be in trouble. At this, Barbosa moved to a window in one of the front rooms, weapon aimed and ready.
"I'm to your right, Sylon, first window cov..." Barbosa didn't have time to finish his sentence when suddenly a crack of a las rifle sounded from an alley way across from him. Barbosa almost screamed as the bolt hit him in the head, only his training stopping him from screaming. His armoured helmet absorbing most of the energy, he still took a fierce wound to his scalp. At the sound of the shot, the rest of the gang started to draw weapons hidden inside their coats. Sylon, reflexes honed through years of training, dived through the doorway into the building, rolling to the side into cover before any shots could be aimed at him. Alerted by Barbosa's muted scream through the micro beads, Add moved to a window on the other side of the door. As he reached the window, he took a potshot at one of the gag, narrowly missing and striking the car, putting a hole through the thin metal.
"Contact front!" Sylon calmly said into the micro bead, "7, I repeat 7 contacts."
"Hold your positions, take them out if you can," Xanthis ordered, "Maximum resistance, I'm on my way!"
Suddenly, there was a roar of flame as Barbosa released an Exterminator round a 3 of the gang members, including the sniper he had spotted across the street. Screams filled the air as the flames found their target, but failed to catch hold. Add, taking careful aim this time, shot one of the gang members nearest to him, injuring him badly. Solid rounds and bolts of las fire hit the front of the building, but none finding a target. "Move out of the way," Borgia yelled at the top her voice, "May these holy flames cleanse this place of any who deny the Emperor!" Filling the doorway, she released a sheet of flame from an Exterminator straight at the car. The cars fuel cell walls failed under the intense heat, exploding in a ball of flame. The nearest cultists were engulfed in the fireball, instantly killing them, the intense heat burning their lungs away to dust inside their bodies. Their skin, shrivelled and cracked, exposing bone and muscle to the air. The sniper was just as unlucky, peppered with shrapnel, killing him instantly as he was blown back into the alley. Borgia was blown back into the building, but, whether by luck or Divine grace, was not hurt by the blast. Warned by her battle cry, Add and Barbosa crouched under their windows aa gust of hat air rolled over their bodies, shrapnel studding the walls behind them.
"All dead," Sylon reported, looking out of the door, "What's left of them any"
"Now we wait," Xanthis remarked coolly, "Lets see what trouble this brings in!"
To be continued...