Chapter 1: Into the wild black yonder IC

The Iron and Metal wrote:

Now Alexium's interest was piqued. "Difficulties? Go on." They prodded politely.

Wurgard had taken a pause to close his eyes and reach out with his senses, only to be disappointed with the results. He opened his eyes again and sighed, coming back to Alexium’s question.

“Attempts to get close to our warlike brethren proved catastrophic,” Wurgard explained, “Envoys dispatched on diplomatic missionz quickly devolved into savagery. Some managed to escape and recover their wits over time… otherz were lost, subsumed by the primal ’Waaagh’.” Wurgard ran a hand anxiously over his head at the thought of such a fate and the consequences of such loss to the collective knowledge-base.

“We have yet to explain the cauze,” Wurgard continued, “We believe it is a case of numberz. They are in the vast majority, therefore their manifestation of the Green is dominant. Our kind have alwayz found power from gathering in massez. In time, we hope to grow strong enough to meet them as equalz.” Wurgard then adjusted his tone to give a more formal report of his psychic readings.

“This life form is not Orkoid,” Wurgard confirmed, “I sense a will to survive and a hybrid make-up as suspected but no relation to my kin.”

Iron and Metal wrote:

"Must we destroy it before we figure out what it is? Don't get me wrong; if it were a Tyranid or had any taint of chaos, I would be the first to want to hit it with everything we've got - twice. But this is different. It is new. Perhaps we can communicate with it. Be nice to have a living ally in a new system."

The apparent-child smiled widely to any who looked at them.

"And I suppose that you're wanting to go down there and pet it?" She replies coyly.

Alexium listened intently to Wurgard. The idea of a collective psychic powerhouse among the Orks, most of whom don't realize what they have, was incredibly interesting. Albeit, it was not entirely surprising.

The Warp was powerful, and most species had a way of tapping into it; however, if Wurgard's people could come to power, what would that mean for the galaxy at large? Peace and trade with the Ork? Or a war of annihilation much more organized and dangerous than before.

"Thank you for explaining, Wurgard. It is enlightening to learn more about what is quite frankly one of the dominant species in the galaxy. I have to be careful not to say that too loudly or else Lethia will try and spank my ass tonight. Again. For hours. She's such a naughty minx."

They then turned toward Lethia, "SO WHAT IF I DO!"

"A new friend," Alexium offers innocently with a devious smile.

"A new enemy." Lethia counters with a similar smile.


Whatever was decided she would follow suit without question.

I...I dont like slugs. Or anything that looks like a living wad of spit.


You could see a shiver pass through her.

I do still have a duty. I would note that with repeated scans, there are signs of fire on some of the metallic "mountains", especially in the north, south and on the dark side. There might be...someone...living there. Those poor people.

That piqued Alexium's interest. "KNowledge rests not upon truth alone, but upon error also."

Alexium spoke to both Valry and Lethia. They were slowly convincing themself that this was a worthy cause.

"I know not if a venture there would be erroneous, but I would very much like to see what those people know and if they can help our cause. Small though they may seem, often big things come in small packages."

Clearly they were referring to themselves as their mischievous smile would show.

"Captain? Hot Rod? Anyone else besides Valry and Lethia, no offense intended, thoughts?"

Alexium beamed.

"If it turns out to be a completely horrific bust, the amasec is on me. You're the best, Cap'n!"

They then turned and smiled widely at Lethia. "S'gonna be fun."

Torian nodded firmly, turned, and switfly began issuing orders. "let's move, people! I want us in and out of this system. Navigation, get us charted for a landing near one of those "mountains" and moving there at max engines. Victoria, assemble a small landing company to escort the officers. Chart as we go, see what all we can learn from deep scans and record it all. Keep an eye out for anything coming out of the warp, and continue regular scans of the planet for any other signs of life. If that sludge twitches wrong, I want weapons ready to flame it off this rock.

... and someone find me a pair of rainboots!"

Iron and Metal wrote:

Alexium beamed.

"If it turns out to be a completely horrific bust, the amasec is on me. You're the best, Cap'n!"

They then turned and smiled widely at Lethia. "S'gonna be fun."

Still smiling, Lethia says, "In my stint with the navy, I find that they spell fun with a capital F-U."

She would carry out her orders, and first went to get suited into her voidsuit. Over that she placed her carapace armor. It looked somewhat goofy, but it provided adequate protection in the void and in a fiorefight.

Also, if Torian deemed rainboots necessary then Lethia decided that she needed the voidsuit planet side.

Torian let himself be ushered to a seat on the shuttle, watching the hatch seal the bay off and feeling the vessel pressurise. He wore his battlesuit: xeno-mesh armour over a black bodyglove, underneath his long captain's overcoat, with his camo-cloak thrown over a shoulder. He carried both pistols on each hip, and his boltgun slung over his back. Webbing around his torso held grenades, ammo clips for each weapon, and a series of instruments for advanced communications with the ship and landing team. His helmet linked to the squad leaders', various bridge officers, and his own station on the bridge for more sophisticated cogitation.

He also wore a pair of rainboots. An unfortunate aid had offered him waders before being sent off with a scowl to personally clean the captain's quarters by hand. If Torian ended up needing waders, then Alexium owed him more than a bottle of amasec!

He listened to the intercom between the pilots and the bay supervisors and heard the clearance code ring out. He nodded when the pilot turned to him for final confirmation. "Let's do it."

When the shuttle landed, he unstrapped his harness and stood, slapping the button that opened the shuttle landing ramp. He gave a few terse hand signals to the landing party to form up on him, and strode down the ramp...

thepooreconomist wrote:

When the shuttle landed, he unstrapped his harness and stood, slapping the button that opened the shuttle landing ramp. He gave a few terse hand signals to the landing party to form up on him, and strode down the ramp...

In front of them was a large, flat expanse of eroded metal. Time and corrosion had left a surface that was fairly flat, though even a single step showed, by sound, that below there where many voids resonating away. But the Horizon was undeniably pink. In any direction, you could see pink beyond the metal plain, shifting and writhing in a slow wave that seemed to match your heartbeat.

Near the center of the plateau was something vaguely resembling a large shanty-town, metal structures made from metal pieces taken from below. You could hear music in the air, and in the setting sun, you could see the light from an immense bonfire climbing into the coming night.

"My Warp senses are telling me that the locals are over that way," Alexium says pointing to the shanty town that anyone with even a single eye or ear could see and hear clearly.

The Astropath Transcendent strode forward and took in the scene. They donned their flak-incorporated battle-robes, a small shield on their left arm, and subdermal implants underneath their skin. Between those and the Mandala Implants, Alexium was a veritable tank. It was just one more way for their enemies to underestimate them and pay for it dearly.

There was a pistol on one hip, a short sword on the other, and their backpack was high and tight on their back.

It had been a while, so they decided to get on the hoverboard and start floating it around. Though voidborn and void-comfortable, it was nice to be on land every now and again.

...if 'land' was what they could call this...

Torian paused for just a moment, looking at the horrifying vista before them. He glanced at Alexium and purposefully thought: "What is this spherical pile of grox-shit you insisted we land on? I look forward to the Amasec later. If they're cannibals I'm going to have the quartermaster dump valve lubriacant on you. ha"

He stepped forward with purpose, announcing "Let us bring His light to these wayward people. Perhaps some profit can even be found, if we're creative."

"What can I say? I'm a sucker for the under-dogs. I have a good feeling about this one."

Alexium buzzed around on the hoverboard, keeping a metaphorical "eye" on the horizon.

Lethia moved forward warily. The whole situation was bizarre and she didn't like it.

She placed her boot on the pink ground and pressed down, expecting it to be squishy like a tongue.

As she moved to follow, she repeatedly checks her hellpistol for its readiness.

At this point she much rather have a flamer though, perhaps it was time to learn the proper use of such a device.

Roderick unbuckled himself from the cockpit and looked up and Haast, perched above him. Don't bugger off and find something to eat here alright? It'll probably eat you back if you try. Though they couldn't communicate in the proper sense, there was a bond between the man and his cyber-eagle that allowed them to at least seem like they understood one another. Perhaps in the future there would be chance for an upgrade to change that.

He strolled down the ramp and felt the rush of displaced air and the flash of a shadow pass overhead as Haast took off into the sky. He sidled up to Alexium as his friend pointed to the shantytown, many thanks, Lord Captain Obvious, he said in a deadpan voice. He gave a slight twitch of a shudder as they walked over the 'ground', this place reminds me of Alexium's mums bedsheets. Best we're in and out quick smart.

As you approached the village, you could see it was a rather haphazard construction. Like primitive working with the limitations of trees and cobblestone, the walls being made out of the remains of ancient-and highly rusted-girders, with piecesof metal plating joined together with some sort of glue to cover the gaps. The entrance to the village was simply a gap between the walls, letting any who wished to enter and leave, though now the activity was centered on the enormous bonfire.

As you crossed the threshhold, you could smell the scent of grilled meat and grease-fires; considering the lack of plants, that might have been their main fuel rather than wood. The homes where built like the walls, but the summits of the houses where made of an outstretched, highly shiny film-like substance, similar to leather but much thinner and more reflective. You could see the humans in the village, either eating or dancing around the fire, wore clothing of a the same materials.

"Ahem"

As you turned towards the noise, you could see an old man who, thanks to his grey hair, skin and clothing was fairly well concealed beside the wall, smoking a pipe that seemed made of ivory or bone.

"Ashaiul? Hea hutlzptl gapla ashaiul en feastday. Lo amtl serak malosh, yosh meltia palosh!"

He put out his hands, rolled up his sleeves and presented his left hand to you as if to shake.

the smell of roast meat came to you.

Roderick swept around at the sound and reached for the hilt of his sword, ready to interpose himself between the stranger and his Lord Captain. Upon seeing the old man he relaxed slightly, but did not drop his hand away. He understood not a word of the gibberish coming from the man, bar the word feastday.

Gothic? was all he said in return, before looking down at the proffered hand.

"Goothique? Kloea oxpaetl nekis dalatian?"

The old man rubbed his chin, then started making hand movements, seemingly trying to communicate something.

Torian took in the sensory input quietly. He stood amid his attendants and the officer corps, and slipped an elaborate captaincy pin out of a pocket of his overcoat, and pinned it to his lapel. He walked forward and accepted the proffered hand, giving a firm grasp and a gentle shake. He gestured for the man to watch, then gestured at all of the Imperial party and pointed upwards. He gestured at himself, then pointed to the large captaincy pin. He then slowly walked to one of the party guards, took his rifle, and set it on the ground. He gestured to an attendant, who walked forward and opened one of the captain's ration packs, handing it to the man. Grox steak with a peppercorn sauce. Torian watched, calm and attentive.

Alexium had hopped off of their hoverboard as they approached the village. There was still some cautious optimism that this would be incredible, but a part of the psyker figured they would be buying amasec for the head crew this evening.

Even still, they couldn't wait to see what the main course on Feast Day was on a planet seemingly devoid of animal life.

thepooreconomist wrote:

Torian took in the sensory input quietly. He stood amid his attendants and the officer corps, and slipped an elaborate captaincy pin out of a pocket of his overcoat, and pinned it to his lapel. He walked forward and accepted the proffered hand, giving a firm grasp and a gentle shake. He gestured for the man to watch, then gestured at all of the Imperial party and pointed upwards. He gestured at himself, then pointed to the large captaincy pin. He then slowly walked to one of the party guards, took his rifle, and set it on the ground. He gestured to an attendant, who walked forward and opened one of the captain's ration packs, handing it to the man. Grox steak with a peppercorn sauce. Torian watched, calm and attentive.

The old man took the hand, and at the presentation of food let out a great cry of joy.

"Va iukopl te ha fest! Moka, moka, rit"

He pointed to the tables and guided you there, calling out to others who brought out enough stools for your whole party. Around the bonfire, metal rods where strung with thick pinkish strips that seemed to curl at the sides as they cooked. Fully cooked, the strips where tan, and where brought to the tables and heaped onto large plates. There where various bowls containing a black soup. There where various things that seemed like fried pieces of fat. There was a distinct lack of anything clearly identifiable as vegetal-unsurprising as the scans had shown no large plants, merely some form of clorophyl within the fleshy surface.

"Rut! Rut! Va ir a melan wen!"

He cut off a piece of your gift, took a bite, then shared it with all the other elders, who where all enchanted by the unusual dish. The old man spoke out to everyone.

"Hua neklt po can thurist malur!"

He then turned to you with his arms opened for some kind of bear hug.

thepooreconomist wrote:

Torian took in the sensory input quietly. He stood amid his attendants and the officer corps, and slipped an elaborate captaincy pin out of a pocket of his overcoat, and pinned it to his lapel. He walked forward and accepted the proffered hand, giving a firm grasp and a gentle shake. He gestured for the man to watch, then gestured at all of the Imperial party and pointed upwards. He gestured at himself, then pointed to the large captaincy pin. He then slowly walked to one of the party guards, took his rifle, and set it on the ground. He gestured to an attendant, who walked forward and opened one of the captain's ration packs, handing it to the man. Grox steak with a peppercorn sauce. Torian watched, calm and attentive.

Lethia watched the waste of meat with pained eyes.

Quote :

He pointed to the tables and guided you there, calling out to others who brought out enough stools for your whole party. Around the bonfire, metal rods where strung with thick pinkish strips that seemed to curl at the sides as they cooked. Fully cooked, the strips where tan, and where brought to the tables and heaped onto large plates. There where various bowls containing a black soup. There where various things that seemed like fried pieces of fat. There was a distinct lack of anything clearly identifiable as vegetal-unsurprising as the scans had shown no large plants, merely some form of clorophyl within the fleshy surface.

Lethia was always keep to try new foods. She considered herself a connoisseur, those who saw her eat would more accurately describe her as a glutton though he sickly-slender frame somehow hid this fact.
This, however, was too much for her. These humans were to debased to be of any use to anyone. And anything this could be grown or hunted on this planet would not touch her lips.

Roderick looked at the food, and then at the proffered seats. He paused for a moment and took in a deep breath through his nose, considering his options. With a clicked of his teeth he finally sat down and pulled out the chair next to him. Alexium, Old Son. I will if you will...Then he pulled two plates over and looked at his friend expectantly.

Haast swooped down to settle on the roof of one of the nearby shacks. If one looked closely, they could see blood and viscera on the eagle's claws and face. Roderick saw the bird and gave a quiet snort of derision. Bloody bird. Never listens.

Alexium smiled and sat down.

"I. Am. Famished. Could use a good meal, after all." Still holding on to some hope that something of worth could be wrought from this shitshow, they held up a piece of the meat, sniffed it eagerly, and took a bite.

Torian went in for the bear hug, with an enthusiasm that seemed nearly genuine to those who knew him. As he embraced the man, he shot a withering glance to the cloth covering where Alexium's eyes would be. He knew they would understand the nuance, even without the phsyical eyes to stare into. He then sat where guided, carefully cut a small piece of the meat away, and tasted it without delay. They were in the thick of it now, no way to go but through. Couldn't be much worse than underhive ganger rations, right?

Roderick's nostrils flared in a flash of irritation as his friend leant into the challenge. I had hoped you would bail out of this one you little wounder, he said. With a sigh, he cut a piece of the pink flesh off with his knife before laying it down on the plate and switching the fork to his right hand. The reluctance with which he took a bite confirmed that he would have pinched his nose if he were in more rougish company and not trying to be diplomatic. When the morsel was an inch from his mouth, instead of waiting for it to close the rest of the distance, Roderick's head snapped forward to take the piece off quickly and get the deed over and done with in one swallow. With the food eaten, he laid his fork down side by side with the knife to indicate he was done, and the plate could be taken away. He slid the plate slightly away from him before looking up and Haast and then down at the plate again as if to say, go ahead. The eagle cocked its head and stayed put on its perch. Why do I bother with that bloody bird, Alexium? It challenges me at every turn. It's as if it wanted to be caught in the first instance in order to test me the rest of my life...

Iron and Metal wrote:

Alexium smiled and sat down.

"I. Am. Famished. Could use a good meal, after all." Still holding on to some hope that something of worth could be wrought from this shitshow, they held up a piece of the meat, sniffed it eagerly, and took a bite.

The meat was quite unusual...you'd never had anything quite like it. It had the moderate ruberiness of properly cooked cephalopod flesh, but with the delicacy you'd get from snail. In fact, the closest thing you could think of was smoked scallops as far as flavor was concerned. Clearly they had some skill as cooks, as the flesh seemed to be at a perfect state to melt in your mouth.

Hydrako wrote:

Roderick's nostrils flared in a flash of irritation as his friend leant into the challenge. I had hoped you would bail out of this one you little wounder, he said. With a sigh, he cut a piece of the pink flesh off with his knife before laying it down on the plate and switching the fork to his right hand. The reluctance with which he took a bite confirmed that he would have pinched his nose if he were in more rougish company and not trying to be diplomatic. When the morsel was an inch from his mouth, instead of waiting for it to close the rest of the distance, Roderick's head snapped forward to take the piece off quickly and get the deed over and done with in one swallow. With the food eaten, he laid his fork down side by side with the knife to indicate he was done, and the plate could be taken away. He slid the plate slightly away from him before looking up and Haast and then down at the plate again as if to say, go ahead. The eagle cocked its head and stayed put on its perch. Why do I bother with that bloody bird, Alexium? It challenges me at every turn. It's as if it wanted to be caught in the first instance in order to test me the rest of my life...

The bird, rather than going for the flesh, went for the black soup, first testing it a little with its beak, the eagarly sticking their head in to lap it up.

Roderick watched as the eagle dunked its head into the black liquid. Whatever, he sighed resignedly. I welcome the day when I can learn what goes on that head of yours, Haast. One day soon hopefully...

He looked at Alexium, whom he'd fully expected to be doing the same as Haast, though he hid the surprise from his face when he saw the psyker eating with utensils. Very politik of you, mate. I'm impressed. Glancing at the Lord Captain then, he added, I think you're rubbing off on him a little bit too much, my Lord. I think I preferred him the old way...

Alexium finished chewing a bite far too large for their small mouth, swallowed, and burped loudly as if to emphasize Roderick's misunderstanding: there was plenty of the old Alexium left.

"You keep the bird because acquiescence is boring. Challenge is everything. Would we really be happy if every time we sat down on a planet nothing wanted to kill us, or we didn't have to stop Lethia from acting irrationally and killing someone who turned out to be an extremely pleasant chap?"

Alexium smiled at Wurgurd and waved.

"We remember hardships, and asshole mech-birds, fondly for a reason, my friend... I think I'll go for seconds."

Roderick heard Alexium's words and tutted himself loudly. Apologies, Alexium. I forget myself sometimes. You're right. That bird is to remind me of the things that I had to overcome after the loss of Hector. You're very sage, he grinned devilishly at his friend, for a little savage.

Lethia listens with a glower on her face. This was the last place she wanted to be. These dirt dwellers were clearly too debased from the magos biologis' standards and would be eradicated if and when they are discovered. She wondered what possible use they could have for the Filianatis dynasty beyond an academic footnote in a dusty tome or what possible uses Torian could see for them.

He had more imagination than she did though. As long as the potentia for profit was there any complains she had would most likely fall on deaf ears. The navis nobilite only had any kind of jurisdictional say in matters pertaining to the warp or plying the empyrean.

Torian chewed and swallowed. It did not appear immediately poisonous. He glanced around, seeing the various disgust and at best acquiescence among his colleagues. A slight smile crept along the left side of his mouth. He turned to Alexium, one eyebrow cocked, and gestured expansively. This was their sideshow. He even vocalised, knowing these people would not understand his speech: "Good luck..."

The meal continues far into the night, as they continue to feast, though some start dancing around the fire is a frenetic and frenzied manner. As you observe the space, you come to see that these people are technologically very simple. They make extensive use of metal, but it clearly comes from the "ground" beneath your feat, cut, ground and shaped into its required purpose. They had blade-like weapons-though it seemed to be sharp bits of metal trapped between two flat lengths held together with sinew rope and organic glue. Slings where the most common weapon-and likely an effective one if they used the heavy metal of the ground as ammunition. In the end, these where primitive, if generous people, trapped in a technological singularity of metal and leather.

After a while people start wandering away and back to their homes. Once the bonfire burns down, the elderly man offers you an empty metal hut, with metal "planks" covered in leather sheets serving as beds-like a prison cot on your ship, but the care and cleanliness of this space suggests this is a spot for honored guests.

Its clear however that communication will remain very difficult and basic. Though some sounds sound familiar, their tongue is simply too different.

Roderick enters the hut and starts shuffling the leathers around, attempting to arrange them into a better set up, but at the same time leaving them basically unchanged. More likely it was a habit while he spoke aloud to the group. Not much to work with on this rock, and the locals are retarded in their development. Might be best we cut a track, and our losses, he said this with another sly look on his face and a glance at Alexium, and get out of here.

After an eventuaful but  primitive excursion, you are back into the void.



One or two last jumps separated you from your nominal destination. You where getting close to your target. The navigators prepared for the transition to the following system. The strange light was even stronger from here, as the blinding light of the astronomicon faded deeper into the halo zone. The light was reminiscent of the astronomicon, but weak and small-the a lightbulb in comparison to the sun. Only here, when the outer dark's night fell upon you did it become clearly visible.

The entry into the immaterium was smooth as butter as you made your way towards your target. Considering the route, you expected maybe 4 days of travel. As you approached, the warp-signal became ever-more obvious, until finally you where close enough to get a good look.



The vaguely feminine silhouette seemed almost but not quite fixed in place. All the more evident now that you where at the very edge of the halo zone, it moved incredibly slowly, less than a mm an hour, though it did faintly shift and squirm in place. Attempts at divination using the emperor's tarot to divine its nature where inconclusive. In fact, the tarot had been notably less forthcoming as you approached the edge of the halo zone, as if it lost its guidance so far from the emperor's light.
In the end, this "warp-source" was enough to cause some discomfort to the astropaths. The astronomicon was a known quantity, fixed and puissant, that all psykers had to learn to account for. This was still, for now, an unknown quantity, its psychic signal-while relatively "calm"-did overwhelm any attempt to detect signals coming from beyond.



Months of work to establish a proper psykonograph to occlude this signal would likely be necessary; the team had managed to assemble a small psychic baffle circle, but without explicit test signals from the imperium it was impossible to know if it was working properly.

About a day out from your destination, you began to feel some resistance...a metaphorical hand trying to grab or slow your progress. But in the end, you where a boat floating down a swift river; these feeble hands, many though they where, could never really catch you. It did seem to put some pressure on the gellar field-nightmares among crew became more frequent, and the gellar field's power usage spiked a few time. But in the end, the radiant holy power of your founder's collosi on each side of the ship repelled everything thrown at them.

After nearly a day of this, a wave of frustration and anger seemed to sweep out of the warp, and then the pressure stopped. A few more hours, and you would be there! The crew prepared for transition, all hands at stations, as the gate opened to bring you back into the materium...

As you arrived into the materium, a thousand alarms started blaring.

1, 2 ...27 contacts within 1000000 km! At least 5...12 have target lock on us! More approaching!

The ships where a mix of standard human designs. While there was nothing larger than a standard cruiser, there where at least 6 of them. Data on individual ships started popping up on various screens.

The star-fortress was without a doubt the largest thing there was the star-fortress.



Compared to the puissant Ramilies-class stations at the entry to the Kalisota sector, it was quite small. That still meant a nearly 10km starfort bristling with weapons systems. It quite resembled the common Iguanodon-class star fortress; a pattern commonly used as a fixed station near worlds and shipyards that couldnt readily be towed through the warp; so it typically remained a defensive station.


4 cruisers where of a design extremely close to the typical lunar-class cruiser. The other 2 where comparable to a gothic-class platform.

The ships where plain, undecorated things, all gunmetal grey with the occasional highlights of red and silver.  There where also a number of frigates of various types, similarly colored, that followed the cruisers like lesser creatures following an alpha. The data coming up showed how the ships heavily favored energy weapons-to a degree that suggested these ships where "system defense boats", the energy of the warp-engines instead going entirely to weapons systems.

I've managed to get some better images...all the ships have this marking.



They havent fired yet, though more ships are targeting us. They may be trying to move into optimal positions. Captain, advise?

A message came from Andallia Dawnsun, master of the Vox.

Masters, there seems to be substantial vox-traffic. Some of it may be directed at us. Should we try hailing them?

Torian had been in his command throne as the ship transitioned, tense and paranoid. As the alarms blared he was instantly reponding to data-streams, calling new tests, responding to queries, giving commands with both his voice and hand: "All power to shields. Leave weapons on reserve power and make no targeting. All armsmen prepare to repel boarding. I want checkpoints established around key systems and systems of fallback in place within the hour. Keep us outside the Mandeville point and have us ready for immediate return to warp. Get me a deep scan of this system. Does anyone recognize that symbol? Get to my librarium and see if you can find it! Hail, confirmed." At this, Torian emerged from within his command throne, extracting himself to stand at his overlook on the bridge.

thepooreconomist wrote:

"All power to shields. Leave weapons on reserve power and make no targeting. All armsmen prepare to repel boarding. I want checkpoints established around key systems and systems of fallback in place within the hour. Keep us outside the Mandeville point and have us ready for immediate return to warp. Get me a deep scan of this system. Does anyone recognize that symbol? Get to my librarium and see if you can find it! Hail, confirmed."

The ships crew jumped into combat stations, shields on. Direct return to the warp would be risky though, especially just after transition.

Fully scanning the deep system impossible for now, we are getting intense baffle signals coming from that station. However, we are getting signals indicating a lot of other settlements and stations. At least 4 planets, 3 rocky one gas giant. And a lot of wreckage on the system border...mostly xenos ships though.



Captain, we've got return hails, and its in techna-lingua, high gothic, an archaic form of low gothic. It actually matches standard mechanicus protocols for potential high-risk threats in high-security zones, and its repeating on a loop. "...You have intruded into protected high-alert space. Any resistance will be interpreted as an act of aggression. Deactivate weapons, lower shields. Accept boarding or you will be destroyed. I repeat..."

"The Warp Beacon is blinding... Astropathic choir cannot psychically see shit, Captain."

Alexium reported dutifully, holding up a finger and surprised to get this tidbit of information in before the Magos.

"However, I know this symbol. It is tied to the Mechanicum - or at least historically has been. Technologists in general tend to use it as well. The double diamonds sometimes represent the letter 'H.' Anyone have any clue as to what that might mean..... Ignatio?"

Roderick clicked his teeth at the sight of the armada on the viewer. He was well impressed by the array of ships with the support of the two star forts. I think we have no choice by to accede to their demands and power down, Lord Captain. Even in this beaut, I couldn't outrun them. Besides, if they were outright hostile, we would be scrap by now. There could be a chance for a deal here...He left the last part hanging. Clearly this was a human contingent, which had probably been lost or separated from the Imperium some time in the long distant past. They could be prime candidates for reconnecting trade links and perhaps even guard the shipping lanes.

(End of campaign post)

As initially estimated, the symbol indicated a mechanicus related faction-the so-called "Hypolites Empire", the remnant of the expedition from long ago. While it took some doing, you managed to convince them of your true nature, and eventually they opened relations with you.

The expedition itself had been largely halted when an immense psychic bow have hit them, killing all astropaths and navigators. They limped forward, carried by the "golden way" in the warp and brought to a system rich in planets. One of these had an uncanny resemblence to ancient terra, with many species long-extinct and an archeotech planetary-grade void-shield that made them believe that the ancients had created it to safeguard mankinds bio-history. This strongly compelled the Magos Biologis who led the expedition, who safegarded it and made it their throneworld. They named the world Gaea, and its single moon Selene.

Over their 6000 years here, they had managed to expand to several nearby systems, using the warp-probes to identify "safe" routes in the warp that they could travel-though most where lost and dissapeared, some going as far the Calisota Sector. Hypolities was large, civilised, and productive, protected by their fleets and armies against a constant influx of pirates, raiders and xenos. They where particularly protected by a specialised force of gene-modded soldiers, the Adeptus Athena, that had been created by the expedition's original leader to defend their new home.

Your discovery of them-before all others-offered you the chance of commercial exclusivity, which you managed to convince them of after assisting them using you dramatically faster, navigator-guided ship. This -alongside you other colonies in the expanse-would allow significant commercial development over the next few years, securing your commercial growth into the near future. Your Rogue Trader's bet, in bribing the admiral, had payed off handsomely.

For those of the bloodline who still lived, their next priority would be reproduction-new inheritors where needed, and therefore so where spouses. There where many possibilities for the rich scions of an ascendant rogue trader dynasty, though the elder Filianatis would place a strong emphasis on business before affection-they would need to be connected or extremly skilled, as the family still needed each advantage it could get.

Roderick, however, became a leading candidate in the race for the rank of Rogue Trader. Eventually, scouring the ruins of the Jaicro Empire, he found enough fighters of the same type as his to create a flying wing for the family. He even had integrated into several the brains of psyber-eagles; they proved exceptional (if animalistic) pilots, and helped the dynasty expand their squadrons at exceptional speed.

Alexium and Lethia made a great discovery on hypolites-the "light" in the warp was an ancient, dark age "warp-light", used to guide navigators in ancient times. An elderly but powerful psyker, placed in a complex combination of stasis-field and psy-amplifier lived out their dying moments for eternity, their final breath providing a guiding light. Such a thing should have been destroyed in the age of chaos after the fall of the ancients, but somehow this one survived; perhaps the psy-suppresive nature of the calisota sector had protected it? While this thing was far too complex to be reproduced, it was an incredible tool-one that would allow you to go beyond the halo zone and into the outer dark...