Chapter 0: Before the Dread Gate IC

As you continued descending the ramp, moving towards the signal, the silence of the place became increasingly disturbing. That's what the world felt like-a tomb. But there where no corpses here, no decay, simply the oppressive emptiness of an entire world seemingly in stasis.  

When you rounded a first full circle down, the platform revealed a cavernous space. On the ground, an endless sea of white blocks; from a distance, they looked like freezer-units, refrigeration pods, and busted stasis-vaults. They seemed to fill the space until the horizon in all directions; you could even faintly spot the planet's curvature through the motionless air.

S6 Map:

Somewhere in the sea, a single unit was still functioning. Below, nearer the ramp, four recharge-cradles of an unknown design where arrayed, one at each corner. While two where empty, two contained large, humanoid mechanical forms. They vaguely resembled power armor, but the hands had been replaced with a servitor's lifter-arms. Maybe some form of transportation aid? They could still be functional, the servo-haulers had been.


As you descended a final few rotations on the ramp, you finally reached the floor on which the gravitic signal could be found.

(Mistake)

The Magos freezes as he sees the load-lifter, then after a moment he powerwalks forward, reaching for his MIU before he's even reached them. "These... are Prensio Load-Lifters. Precursors to power armor, but for purely industrial purposes. Perhaps still in servicable condition..."

Combi-tool and MIU cable in hand, he immediately started examining the suit in detail.

Roderick's gaze was drawn to the loading units. They certainly looked like military equipment, despite the lifter claws. One of those beauties would be indispensable on the ship. Imagine if we could lift both off this planet. He watched intently as Ignatio interfaced with them both to run system checks. If one or both worked, they might be worth getting into now while others tried to open the stasis field. Magos, what is their condition? Could we get these out of here?

Ignatio would likely sound excited if his vox unit was capable of that kind of modulation. Instead he just spoke more quickly, the words practically smashing into each other.

"This unit's power supply is damaged, it will not answer the call of the machine spirit consistently." He rapidly interfaced with the second suit. "This one, however... The machine spirit answers my call easily. Its motive force ebbs, but should manage a few hours of operation."

Turning to the others, he answered "I could assist one of you in donning this suit in a matter of minutes, but the actuators are designed to discourage quick movements, favoring steadiness instead. It would significantly inhibit the capabilities of those who wore it, outside of lifting capabilities."

He turns to look at the others, sizing them up. His eyes linger over Alexium as he makes some calculatons in his head, then nods. He also considers Lethia. "The suit would offer substantial protection, but likely render one a noncombatant, and would make a swift egress from the facility impossible. It may be best for one of us to wear it and carry the other suit to the top, or perhaps to one of the galvanic lifters. Are there any volunteers?"

Sebastian inwardly sighed, trust a tech priest to get distracted by every bit of machinery they came across. "Magos, are you sure that's wise. Barely a few minutes ago we decided not to open any of the lockers in case they are 'alarmed' and now we're thinking about using these machines?" Seb was slightly chiding as he spoke to Igantio "At the moment we are small insects to whatever lurks here so I hope for now its not that interested in us. If we start using the machinery here that may change. The power source is not that far on foot, lets get our eyes on it first, eh?"

Jakobi had remained silent for the preliminary parts of the excursion, but the party's ongoing uncertainty regarding the various valuable technologies they had come across had finally driven him to speak up.

"Ahem," he cleared his throat, "I am inclined to agree with Sebastian on this particular point. As I understand it, Ignatio, the loaders are quite slow and ponderous. If it comes to making an expeditious retreat from this station, doing so in said loaders would be quite difficult I imagine." He squinted at the loaders briefly, before quickly inputting various figures into his data-slate. "That being said..." He paused, inspecting his data. "The loaders would provide a non-negligible improvement to our load-unload time cycle. It would be quite profitable to acquire these devices."

He grinned."We ought not forget the 3rd Rule of Prosperity: A dead man accumulates no thrones. We will have ample opportunity to move these loaders; there are other things of value that we may be better suited to acquire at present."

She nods, agreeing with both Swbastian and Jakobi.

Whether that was because she actually agreed or just wanted to dally as little as possible.....

"Aye, you're right. It pains me to leave something like these behind, but we should remain invisible to the guardians here while we can. These aren't going anywhere. Perhaps we'll have time to get them on the way back." He looked up at Haast and pointed to the suits with the tip of his powersword. After a few wheeling turns, the eagle came to rest on top of one and waited. Roderick nodded and looked back to the rest of the group with a grin. "Let's see what kind of treasure is in there."

"Very well." Ignatio said, resigned. He took a moment to prepare the more intact suit to possibly be quickly gotten into, then turned and continued deeper into the spire. Glancing at his datapad, he saw that the latest ritual of uploading had completed.

"I have obtained the manifest. Most of the supplies on the landing pad are of minimal value, but there are a few that may be of significant value, including various pharmaceudicals and a container of load lifters."

As you continued through the field of vaults, you noticed that the vast majority apparently contained some form of chemical or biological product, or perhaps bi-product. A great number of barrels, some burst due to some now-uncontrolled reaction, where locked tightly behind fused silica chemical shields, most marked with the well-known safety runes of Biohazard and Radioactivity. Those that appear to have non-functional stasis units are sealed by blast shields, and some show deformation that may have resulted from some ancient, internal explosion. Millenia beyond their prescribed time of usage, these safety measures keep this place quite safe.

S6 map:

You arrive directly in front of the only notable light source in the area, the faint flickering of a low-power LED indicator on a small circle on the side of the vault; with the removal of some small latches, . From the increasing neutron flux, it was likely a form of portable fusion source; the neutron shield on most current fusion power sources had to be replaced yearly to avoid catastrophic failure. That it had lasted this long was exceptional.

The vault itself is dark; not merely black, but a wall of pure darkness marked-off by a glass door. The time dilation within is so powerful, that light itself could not escape. With such heavy dilation, no wonder it generated a perceptible graviton flux! Whatever was trapped within was be both tremendously important and tremendously sensitive, with such heavy time-dilation and the additional external power source.

On fully taking in the great miracle of the ancient technology on display in this stasis field, the Magos fell to his knees.

"The Omnissiah directs our footsteps along the path of knowledge", he chanted, closing his eyes for a moment.

Then they snapped open with an audible 'clac', as he examined the great machine before him, trying to comprehend the rituals required for controlling it.

"This is not what i was expecting. Whatever this great stasis field holds, the ancients believed it to be of great value to their descendants, either in utility or in knowledge. However, stasis fields are also sometimes used to hold dangerous things, to isolate a threat from the world. If I carry out the ritual to end this miracle, we must be ready for anything that may follow."

Although he was not sure what this discovery meant, the effect on the tech-priest was clearly visible. He was excited for each little trinket they saw on the way, but not once did he fall on his knees in supplication.
"This whole endeavor was a dice roll from the very start. Every great reward also brings great risks with it. If the technorog attack us in force we stand  little chance to get back to the shuttle. I would still encourage you to try and release whatever is protected in the statis field. If it is something dangerous, maybe technorog will attack it and not us." He said the last sentence half joking. If there was something deadly inside the statis field, it would probably wipe them out before the technorog would react. And it could always be something like a plague or some warp meddling technology that would end them in a second.

The Tech Priest placed four burning sticks of incense around the front of the stasis chamber. "I theorize that the light trapped in the stasis field will be instantly released upon ending the miracle. I would advice you to momentarily avert your eyes until after the flash."

++Calm, mighty machine spirit.++ Ignatio chanted in Techna-lingua as he opened a panel under the stasis field. ++Your service is at an end.++

With that, he unplugged the cord feeding power to the great miracle machine, eyes closing for a calculated moment, then snapping up to where the black void had once stood.

Sebastian pressurised his suit before the stasis field was powered down and drew his plasma pistol. Taking Ignatio's advice he closed his eyes for a second when the 'plug was pulled'. While his eyes were briefly shut he contemplated if the machine spirits cared for the candles or not; it was probably more for the tech priests benefit he mused.

The tech-priest gently removed the power rod from its power-port. Somehow, this small object barely larger than 2 STC-standard D chemical batteries somehow contained some millennia-lasting fusion power source. While its neutron shield would likely require repairs, this miniature power source was in itself a valuable artifact.

As the stasis field shut down and re-accelerated time, a large object revealed itself. A massive cube covered in various data and power ports and a few small screens, arcane tech-symbols carved on its silver metal surface. Far too large to be carried by hand, its mysteries would need to be divined by the servant of the omnissiah.

Ignatio, on sight of the cube, instantly prostrated himself. He stayed that way for a moment as his computer-enhanced mind worked to understand what this was, what it meant.

Then rapidly he rose. "This is a powerful cogitator array. It would potentially be of significant utility in our endeavors. We must go back and equip the load lifting armor to bring this to the docking area."

He turned to San-Sebastian and Roderick. "If we order the HALO barges to descend to the platform now, they will arrive within about thirty minutes, which is similar to my estimation of how long it would take us to collect this cogitator and ascend."

Getting up to his feet, and slipping the power rod into a pocket, he added "There may be further treasures to discover, and we have not yet encountered hostiles. Shall we continue our exploration, or transition to securing our prizes?"

Sebastian keeps his weapon in hand, he thought that if they were going to alert any sentries dropping the stasis field might be it.

"Let's keep thinking logically shall we." he responds to Ignatio "while we've not yet encountered hostiles, dropping that stasis field may mean some are on their way. Taking the device raises that likelihood further. If we press ahead we may not get the chance to retrieve this cogitator. So just how valuable is this thing?" Sebastian gestures at the cogitator. "If we get the loader, take this device, perhaps take a few of those cranes and bust open some locker... is that a good haul?"

It wasn't that he didn't want to make a choice, Sebastian just thought that this was Ignatio's area of expertise in that he was best placed to judge the value of what they could take.

"What do you think Ignatio?" he then looks amongst the others "anyone else?"

Alexium smiled at the rising excitement in Ignatio with each step ahead, but then remembered that if the bet were to be won, the group would have to suffer catastrophe. So, the smile was resigned to a grin and left at that.

The technology around them was incredible. Alexium was fascinated by it, and soon found itself wanting to enrich their ship with its wonder. This was not its area of expertise by a long shot. In fact, the child wagered that Ignatio had forgotten more about technology than it had ever known to begin with; however, the desire to make the team and their ship even more of a legend was extremely enticing.

"I agree with Sebastian. If countermeasures are already being deployed, then we should not dally. If they are not, they might when we get the tools necessary to move this. Time is of the essence. We should take our prize back now, gauge the response from this place, and if the coast is clear, explore again. But we shouldn't press our luck with no prizes to claim at all."

Ignatio nodded. "this cogitator array is... Of significant value. It is a worthy prize. And to retrieve it, I must equip Roderick with the working Prensio Load-Lifter to move the cogitator array efficiently. Then we will need to cover him as he crosses the distance."

"I agree with the pseudo-captain." Lethia says, giving Sebastian a wink.

"It appears we have consensus, then." Ignatio turned and walked back toward the load-lifter. "Come, Lord Roderick. We shall awaken the load lifter's machine spirit and get you 'mounted up' as they say on your world."

Turning to San-Sebastian, he said "Lord-Captain Herrera, I believe now would be the most appropriate time for the Halo barges to begin their descent."

Sebastian returns Lethias' wink with a smile. He liked a bit of levity as long as professionalism was maintained when the crew were at work. He had no complaints yet, no one had gone off half cocked, we'd see what happened if they encountered hostiles.

"Very well. If you think your timings are sound I'll call the barges." Sebastian will pause for a moment to allow consideration by Ignatio. If there is none he makes the call.

The leader of the Halo barge squadon, Looter-Lieutenant Danny Fitzgibbon, radios back.

++Whe're coming in. Got anything specific for us, or just general looting? If ya give us coordinates, it can go faster.++

LLt Fitzgibbon was an experienced officer, though not in looting. His men include a number of stevodores, a few enginseers and a dozen armsmen.

While Sebastian & Ignatio focus on the Looter-crews, the others start setting up Roderick in the suit. While getting him inside was easy enough, the suits self-closing mechanisms take some time, tightening the suit for proper fit. About halfway through, Alexium hear a distant noise; the faint sound of metal feet on a metal floor coming from the east...

Alexium's ears perked at the sound of metal on metal. That was definitely not part of the itinerary.

"Everyone make ready for contact," the child said calmly, even while feeling its heart rate rise and adrenaline start to kick in a bit. "Metal-on-metal sounds from the east. We may have woken something up. Tell the barge to be ready for a fight too."

Alexium made sure there were plenty of combat-capable people between it and the noise, then readied its own weapons, taking off its backpack and placing the small shield over its left arm, drawing its laspistol. It took a deep breath.

As an afterthought, it called to Roderick. "Looks like I won the bet."

Ignatio, meanwhile, had turned away from the work suiting up Roderick to focus on advising the Halo Barge crew.

"I am initiating an uplink to your datapad and transmitting the coordinate system used by the loading platform, as well as the last known coordinates and identification runes of the various containers, sorted by priority. Make use of the Galvanic Crane present on the platform as needed, and retrieve it at a high priority when it is no longer needed."

Then Alexium's warning was spoken, and Ignatio stepped away, eyes darting around to rapidly scan the area, focusing also on the signals coming from the sensor array. He drew his hellgun and activated it.

"I object to your assessment that I have made a mistake, Choir-Master. It was my expectation that an attack would come at some point during this segment of the excursion."

As you stand ready for an assault, the tic-tic-tic sound kept getting closer. There was an odd rythm to it, extremely regular.

Ignatio could hear the choir mechanic more strongly. While it had largely been quiet, just at the edge of perception, it was becoming clearer now. This wasnt the noble sound of glorious work heard on an imperial world. It was unique, and there was a perfection to it you had never sensed before, like an endless choir in perfect unison singing in a language you didn't know.

After about 30 seconds, a strange machine came into view. On 4 legs, this rough assemblage of mismatched metal parts; how it managed to stay together was a mystery. Its topped half turned to face the group, small lenses focusing and adjusting to look at you.

The las-blast lept out of the hellgun, striking the mechanical creature instantly. It fell to the floor, twitching randomly, a hole in its side smoking. Looking at its back, it was as if an autopistol had half-extruded itself out of the structure. When the critter finally stopped twitched, it emitted a single high-îtched "ping". Within seconds, further pings could be heard, some close by and some further away. The faint sound of clicking metallic feet could be heard as well, magnified by their incredible synchronicity.

In addition, a strange echo came out of the central whole by which an elevator would have passed.

The magos had aimed down the barrel of the hellgun with his eyes, while his mind went over the sensor array's scan. When an energy buildup was detected, the reflex was automatic: his finger squeezed the trigger.

When, in the aftermath of his shot, the area was filled with the repeated 'ping' of the machines, he said "Once again, this was unavoidable."

Before Gerold had a chance to say something, tech-priest reacted and blew open the machine. Gerolds protest died in his mouth, as he saw the concealed weapon on the technorog. Instead of protesting he wanted to do just a second ago, he said: "Nice shot. I guess they teach you more then tinkering with machines on that forge world of yours."
He drew his pistol, scanning the area for enemies.

With orders transmitted to the surface, and the most immediate threat eliminated, Roderick started marching back to the stasis-vault.

"Gonna need some cover fire to keep the cogitator safe, if its as delicate as the magos claims. Though someone should probably check whats making the noise coming from the depths."

He stomped forward, the weight of the lifter-armor clanging against the metal flooring. Added to the symphony of tiny metallic legs, identifying nearby enemies would be difficult from sound alone.

"Those of you who favour melee protect our shooters. Try and keep moving back to the stasis vault if you can but no one be a hero." Sebastian drew his power sword which was fashioned in the style of a sabre, pressing the activation stub it hums into life.

He then looks apprehensively at the hole where the strange noise came from. "I'll check out what approaches" Sebastian hoped him helms various sight enhancements would help.

As the rest of the group started moving towards the stasis-vault, San-Sebastian held back to check the central shaft. Where before it had been purest darkness, a single point of light was at its center, deep below you. It was infinitesimally small, but as you spent seconds looking at it, it seemed to be getting very slightly larger.

As the rest of the group moved forward, they placed themselvesto keep themselves safe. Jakobi tried to stay on the periphery, while the others maintained overwatch to react to any new technorog that appeared.

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He blinked, trying to fathom the light heading up the shaft. He couldn't reason how fast it travelled nor how far away it was. He doubted it would be welcome when it got here.

"Something I know not is coming up the shaft" he speaks into his microbead "We press on, but be prepared to fall back if needed"

With that he turns and runs to try and catch up with his crew. He casts a nervous look back as he runs...

Jakobi shook his head. Of course, prudence in the face of the unknown had not been sufficient; he supposed it was unsurprising that things would go ploin-shaped sooner rather than later. He nodded in agreement with Sebastian's tactical assessment. "A sound plan," he said softly, "I will do what I can to protect our assets."

He retrieved a simple black sheath from the folds of his robes, toggled a latch near the hilt, and drew the blade. The golden sword seemed to catch every stray bit of light, flashing in the dim light of the vault. Jakobi smiled - it had been quite some time since he had needed to wield the blade, and his daily regimen of ritual maintenance had ensured it would be immaculate for when such an occasion arose.

"But let's make sure escape remains the first priority. We can't return for another attempt if we're dead."

Magos Pulsanus stalked forward, his every move calculated, his limbs operating more like a machine than a human being. Attention fully on the information streaming into his brain from the sensor array around his neck, he watched and waited for the next phase of violence to begin.

As the group moved forward and San-Sebastian tries to catch up, two foes appear.

One of the 4-legged technorog steps into the corridor between San-Sebastian and the group. Another steps into view 20m in front of the group.

Two technorog crept into view.

Despite the many dissimilarities the technorog reminded San-Sebastian of the beasts the Matadors fought. He relished the chance to test the skills his trainers had tried to instil. With a flourish of his blade in salute, Sebastian rushes the technorog between the group and himself and stabs at it, testing its armour and reactions. As he does so he also cries out to warn the others there was a foe behind them. The creature quickly falls to the ground.

Jakobi wasted no time as the Technorog leapt into view in front of the group. He took a few quick steps forward before lashing out with the golden blade - a sweeping, two-handed slash - then recoiling into a defense posture. For a member of the ecclesiarchy, his combat movements were surprisingly measured and swift. The technorog is easily bisected by the attack.

A third technorog crept into view behind the charging Jakobi. Ignatio's movement was automatic. The tech-priest didn't even break his stride as the hellgun rose up, fired its shot, and then sank back down to a ready posture. In moments like these, Ignatio had learned to let the calculations take over, and the use of beam weapons could be reduced to fairly simple 3d geometry. The creature falls motionless to the ground.

As the duelists got close enough to see the insides of the technorog, it was clear their nature was bizarre. There where no clear mechanisms within the slice, just a seemingly random cludge of metal, plastic and ceramics.

Roderick was finally able to reach the stasis-vault, easily sliding the machine's claws into the transport cradle still installed on the cogitator. The path back to the ramp remained clear; what technorog where left nearby sounded distant, though the click-clack of the feet became ever stronger.

Lethia looks from side to side anxiously.

Something clearly had her spooked. "We should leave this place." she says, a tremble clear in her voice.

She holds the hellpistol now in a white knuckle grip. Her shaking hands would make her attempts to fire straight near useless.

"It does seem as though this place wants to completely sever my connection to the Warp. For now, I hold strong. How do you fair Lethia? It must be affecting you as well."

Alexium held the pistol at the low ready. It must have looked comical - such a weapon in a child's hand, but the Astropath's outward visage was deceiving.

Roderick trudged along, trying to get every ounce of speed out of the mech-suit as possible. He had remained silent as he donned the armour and came back for the item in the vault, but ow he was ready to be away and back on the ship. ach, as much as I agree with clearing a path and eliminating these insects, the Arch Magos' words are echoing i my head Lads. equal and proportionate response. he emphasised. Should we not be trying to just run rather than cleave through?

"We must recover the cogitator," the Magos intoned. "If we do not eliminate the technorog as they approach, we will almost certainly take fire from them. The Prensio Load Lifter suit may protect Roderick, but many of us are vulnerable to small arms fire."

It would certainly be a shame if they had to leave it behind, but they were in no way in that situation yet. "We take it with us. We move as quick as the slowest of us. Jakobi take the rear, Ignatio and I up front, the rest in the middle."

Before they moved off San-Sebastián gave Lethia a critical look, she appeared very shaky. He'd need to have his eye's forward. So Alexium fitted the bill. He turns to the Astropath "Alexium, keep an eye on Lethia would you?"

The group easily returned to the ramp, as the technorog ramblers where still distant. As you entered the space surrounding the ramp, it was clear that they where converging on your location, slowly but surely. They where still distant, with some of them sporting extrusions that roughly resembled autopistols.

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The ramp's guard-walls would provide some cover during the ascent.

Ignatio turns and walks backwards up the steps, using the sensor array to keep an eye on where he's stepping. He calculates an expected minimum effective range of the autoguns, likely at the range that the original technorog began targeting them, and readies to fire on the first rambler that comes close to that range.

"At this stage I would recommend that anyone who wishes to loot the lockers above should ascend ahead of us to do so."

Roderick's head flicked up as he lumbered forward. He caught the sound of the footsteps coming from above them, further up the spiral. They reminded him of the galloping lope of a charger back on Dalmore. Chaps, we're about to have a different sort of company from up ahead. I can hear it above us on the spiral case. Look alive!

The groups starts heading up the ramp. While the sound of galloping approaches at first, once you guys are half-way the gallop starts distancing itself. What other targets could there possibly be above you? A you approach the floor of the chemical plant, you see the threat on the ramp above you: a grpup of wolf-like mechanoids that have stopped an reversed direction. They now block the ramp, an warilly approach you. The only cover nearby is the rows of lockers.

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Map:

Lethia was the first to act. Her nerves were shaking, jittery almost. Surely these creatures were the dangerous ones that they had discussed prior. She moves the pistol to fire at the closest one. There was no time to aim, no time to take that calm reassuring breath she'd heard so much about.

Just aim, and fire.

She squeezes the ornate hellpistol's trigger and a purple beam of iridescent light blazes fourth towards her quarry. Her frazzled nerves didnt even let her see if she'd hit it or not. The nearest technorog, still up on the ramp, was struck, the shot melting metal and seemingly fusing its jaw shut.

Gerold was next, falling back and positioning himself in overwatch, with his relic-pistol in his hands.

San-Sebastián deactivates his power sword and returns it to his belt. "Back up slowly, get ready to fire." he throws a nod to the tech priest in acknowledgement of the idea. Slowly he draws his plasma pistol.

The technorog finally lept into action, tripping over each other in their rush, all of them trying to jump of the ramp to get to the group more quickly. Most fell prone, incuding the one with the fused jaw, their lupine grace insufficient for the task, though none seemed worse for wear. Two landed gracefully, rushing at full tilt towards the group with little thought to strategy, though elongating claws showed their clear desire to attack.

Gerold finally reacted, the brilliant beam from the exitium lux hitting the knee joint in its front left leg for tremendous damage; little more than a thin, spindly metal skeleton was left.
Ignatio's hand gripped the grenade. He could feel his pulse against the sharp grooves, even through his gloves. What he held was a machine of destruction, which would serve its purpose but once. It was his responsibility to enable its machine spirit to best serve the Omnisiah. ++The number of the counting shalt be three.++ he rapidly quoted from the Book of Armaments as his logis implant sought the ideal moment for him to throw.

<Error> the noospheric runes read. <Cannot resolve targets: Too many variables.> The machine implanted next to his brain struggled for nearly a whole second to designate the moment and arc of the ideal throw, causing a fever and making the magos shake his head as he dismissed the implant's process. Suddenly gasping for breath, he hurriedly lobbed the grenade before the technorog got closer, and before the timer that had started in the right side of his vision could reach zero. The grenade bounced away from the target, luckily barely missing the squad when exploding.

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Roderick kept his mouth shut and pushed the suit forward. It felt fluid and comfortable, though the threat of the Technorog took most of his attention. Hopefully there would be another time to try its capabilities out on the ship... As Roderick stepped behind the lockers, he gained some cover for his cargo.

Alexium kept steady. The amount of enemies sent against them was formidable, but they could apparently be killed with the right amount of force. The child held the beautifully crafted lasgun, waited until its breath was calm, and squeezed the trigger... The beam reflected harmlessly off the surface of the monster; a las-pistol was clearly not the ideal weapon.

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