Lost In Space

[Iscarriot]

Mayday Signal to ICC fleet command, intercepted by Clan Deep Space survey vessel #27

>>Transmission begins
>>Ship Log, ICCS Excelsior
>>Beacon Activated, Message Content:

Mayday!

This is Captain Ragnoris of the ICCS Excelsior... we are under attack! Unmarked attack craft have ambushed us and are steadily overwhelming us! They have appeared from nowhere... I don't know their motives, but they are ruthless... half our men are dead... casaulty reports are flooding in... I hope someone gets this before there is nobody left to save!

They seem to have been after our cargo - they concentrated their attack around our hold, and already reports indicate they have taken the entire contents. I don't know what could be of worth there... some low grade Notum shipments, and 5 cryo passengers... 3 were human settlers on their way to Rubi-Ka colony, another was the relief navigator, and the last was an opifex of all things - we don't see many this far from Rubi-Ka... a creature calling himself Iscarriot - he'll be pissed, made me go over our security arrangements 3 times before submitting himself to stasis...scared of something? ..maybe he is who they were after..?

I must go... I can hear fighting getting nearer! It has been 6 years since I last fired a weapon... I hope I remember how!

>>Transmission Ends

[Iscarriot]

--[ Clan UNITS Intelligence Bulletin
--[ Distribution: Clan Commanders, Commissioner Distorter, Inspector i/c Surveillance
--[ Category: Red Flagged - recognised search term "Iscarriot"
--[ Source: Operative Reynolds

((Excerpt from monitored conversation in Reets Retreat, today 1500 hours.))

Subject1: This is a mess, how could they let anyone escape?

Subject2: These things happen, you know full well the target was the cargo... what can a few numskull ICC officers testify to, anyway?

Subject1: I still don't like it.. we pay good money because we expect a good job!

Subject2: You have what you wanted. The merchandise will be delivered within a week, just as agreed.

Subject1: It will be no good if we are compromised. If anyone finds out he is alive, our advantage will be removed... if the survivors know we emptied the hold before detonating the vessell... *indistinct curse*

Subject2: *nervous* All will be well.. we are aking steps to ensure all loose ends are tied up. You will have your prize!

Subject1: Very well, lets hope for your sake you finish the job. And make sure Mr. Iscarriot is in the mood for talking when he is delivered... I will need to know everything.

Subject2: Understood. You'll hear from me shortly...

((Excerpt ends.))

--[ Bulletin Ends

[Flameforge]

Interesting... :)

[Iscarriot]

((Yesterday, Wailing Wastes - Clan Territorial Patrol))

Clanner Blackmane huddled in his large padded overcoat as the harsh winds battered at him. The strong gale screamed its trademark howl across the Wailing Wastes, and bits of dust, sand and debris flung themselves against the motionless Blackmane as he surveyed the horizon for signs of his relief team. It had been a particularly long day, but not in the least boring!

It all started at dawn, the twin suns burning a lazy haze throught the swirling dust clouds across the wastes. Blackmane had been on patrol with 3 other members of his squad and had almost walked into the strange spectacle. Coming over a ridge that encircled a particularly large crater, the clanners were forced to drop prone quickly as their watchful eyes identified movement in the bottom of the bowl. As they carefully scanned the area with powerful imaging devices, Blackmane picked out the crouching shapes. A mixture of men and opifexes had setup a perimeter at the base of the crater and seemed to be preparing for some form of operation.

As the clanners continued to watch and made notes, the activity below seemed to cease. They must be ready, thought Blackmane, so why don't they move out? What do they wait for? He did't need to wait long to find an answer... after a delay of no more than 6-7 minutes, a swirl of dust and a quiet hum signaled the approach of a vehicle. The clanners rolled quickly into more covered positions, in case the craft - whatever it was - moved too close to them. Hidden out of sight, they watched as the vehicle glided into the center of the crater... a black aircraft at least twice the size of a Yalmaha.

Blackmane fingered the safety systems of his weapon anxiously. This was no ordinary craft - the discoloration and burn marks that slightly marred the matt-black shell clearly showed that this particular craft was used for space travel. The hum turned into a dull roar as the craft slowed and dropped heavily to the ground, and then slowly faded to silence. Blackmane held his breath. Below him, some of the shadowy figures turned to face the craft, their weapons held at the ready as if, although they clearly were expecting the arrival, they were unsure of what might come out. With a slight creak, the craft's side hatch slid open, a stark rectangle of light glaring through the dust.

Out of the hatch flew a number of figures, moving swiftly and tactically fanning out from the craft, weapons held up to the shoulder and flicking from side to side as they scanned the area. Muffled cries issued from the figures which were responded to by the welcoming committee which seemed to visibly relax. Blackmane squinted through his imaging device and continued to watch as some of the perimeter figures moved in and greeted the new arrivals. On better inspection, the arrivals seemed to entirely consist of humans, and their clothing and garb were unfamiliar, seemingly not Rubi-ka'an in origin. The off-worlders spoke quietly with the original inhabitants of the crater for a few moments and then turned to the craft as three figures appeared in the hatch-way.

The two figures on either side were also off-worlders, large-built humans with curiously designed weapons slung across their shoulders. In the center was unmistakenly an opifex, sallow greyish skinned face punctuated by two severe black stripes running from top hairline down to neck. Whilst his escort did not have hold of him, it was clear he was not a willing participant in the scenario. He looked swiftly around, judging the situation, taking in the strange tableau in front of him. Notably he was unarmed - dressed in tight black leather claddings typical of clan-issue agent wear.

The people gathered in front of the craft parted and a figure strode through the middle of them, approaching the emerging opifex. The figure, Blackmane soon realised, was another opifex - dressed in a dark coat which contrasted severely with his stark grey-white hair. As he approached the captive, the captured opifex seemed to tense up, recognition and then fury in his face, and suddenly a barage of short barked curses issued from the opifex. His escorts moved in a little closer, hands clamping onto his shoulders. The opifex glared furiously, momentarily struggling and then with a deep exhalation became still, staring stonily ahead.

The two escorts moved aside to be replaced by men from the ground team, and the off-worlders moved back into their craft which quickly prepared to depart and was in the air in no time, humming away off into the distance. Once it had cleared the area, the group on the ground turned and started to march out. Blackmane started with alarm... they were moving in his direction! Hastily signalling to his companions, Blackmane quickly activated his cloaking device. The group with their less-than-willing captive moved ever closer, and eventually passed only metres from the hidden clanners. Blackmane froze motionless, watching them pass. He peered at the leader of the group, the stony faced opifex with the bright hair. As the wind tore through the group, the leaders coat flapped furiously and Blackmane gasped... as the coat flew open, he glimpsed a familiar uniform below.. the colours of a clan guild... the colours of Cerberus.

After he was sure it was safe, Blackmane rose and stood stunned. Clanners operating covertly, dealing with off-worlders? A mysterious opifex agent being delivered from presumably another planet or at least from outside of Rubi-ka clan territory? Cerberus operatives involved? It was going to make for an interesting report to clan leadership channels.....

[Sidarion]

COOOL!!! WANT MORE! NOW!


Sid

[Cogs]

...deep in his recliner, the music of Tchaikovsky filling his every fiber...Cogs mind was revolvong around guild matters......events as of late, had put his mind somewhat at unrest....

...there was something going on....a certain apprehension in the air...he couldnt quite put his finger on it....someone in the clan was up to something...he was sure of it....

"I need some answers..".....he spoke into the air, as Tchaikovsky hammered the horrors of war into his every synapse....