File: maps.jpg (808 KB, 5970x1159)

808 KB JPG

There are two main rankings of concern in this game: Dominion and Reputation. Dominion reflects how much territory Princess Marie controls, while Reputation reflects the sentiment of her subjects and peers alike. As her Dominion and Reputation rankings rise (or fall), Marie's options for rulership of the Questarai Thread will change.

Be aware that other princesses have their own friends and rivals, and may judge Princess Marie by the company she keeps.

Marie's current retinue consists of her closest friend, the Lady Katherine 'Kitty' Helveticus; captain of the guardsmen, Hugo Kess; her tech-priest, Lauronum 15 Tragius; and voidship ensign from the Dark Age of Technology, Dara Sinclair.

Members of her retinue can act in her stead, and can grant her other boons.

Decisions will be made by majority vote.

Previously:
https://pastebin.com/bNid10BZ

File: recap2.jpg (443 KB, 512x3072)

443 KB JPG

Having defeated the pirate armada, Princess Marie takes control of the worlds Scoria and Scalprum, and receives the fealty of the Sutura-General of the space hulk called Rust. From there, she commands her flagship the Columba Dei toward the twin suns of Glazen, forge-world of the Cult Mechanicus. An alliance is formed with Magos Calibrator Delta Veth, and the Magos, eager to examine Rust, dispatches a team of tech-priests aboard the cruiser Iron Reach toward Marie's exhausted fleet above Scoria.

Her fleet restored, Marie launches a crusade to reclaim the whole of the Questarai Thread. Her first encounter with the Lords of Multa and Feltrov leaves her own fleet outmatched against the ships of Multa, even with the addition of a defecting cruiser from the Multa fleet. On the eve of battle Marie receives a mysterious transmission pleading for her not to engage the Multa fleet, but Marie ignores the message.

The Lords of Multa and Feltrov do not play fair, and when a Callidus assassin appears in Marie's bedchamber and threatens to claim her identity and her life, the princess is saved by the Space Marine Valorus Hansteen.

To maintain the ruse of her replacement, Marie orders her fleet to break off and travel toward the source of the mysterious transmission on the ancient capitol-world Fossa. There, in a fortified tower guarded against the gang-armies of the world-city Marie meets the Lady Magdalena Marburg, heir to the great shipyards of Fossa and sister to a murdered man. Magdalena reveals the Lord of Multa has placed a dead man's switch in each of his ships, that can only be disarmed from within his palace on Multa.

File: magdalena.jpg (60 KB, 512x512)

60 KB JPG

"Will you stay on Fossa?" Lady Magdalena reclines further into the overstuffed couch. The kyxa has taken full effect and Princess Marie thinks it may have helped her find courage enough to reveal what she knew of her brother's murderer. "My mansion is quite secure," Magdalena continues. "The most secure place on Fossa."

"I would like nothing more, but I must return to my ship." Princess Marie rises. Her guardsmen crowded into the room immediately snap to attention. "Thank you for your gracious hospitality, Lady Marburg." As Magdalena rises from the couch Marie turns and says, "I would make a request of you."

"Anything," nods Magdalena. "You are my sovereign."

"I'll remain in orbit a while longer. If my fleet arrives after I depart, will you..."

"With discretion," nods Magdalena, and smiles at Marie. "It was very lovely having you for tea. I don't get many visitors."

"I'm sure the gun emplacements see to that. Captain Kess, please ready our shuttle."

"Right away, yer majesty."

File: gangers.jpg (87 KB, 512x512)

87 KB JPG

The gang is waiting for them just beyond the safety of Magdalena's fortified hangar. Marie was right to assess the gangs of Fossa as armies. Any munitions held by the world-city's planetary defense force have long been looted and the vessels that surround Marie's shuttle are as well-armored as Marie's own craft.

"Not a worry, yer majesty," Captain Kess says. "We'll break atmosphere before they..." The nose of Marie's attack shuttle suddenly dips. The instrument panel bleats helplessly. "What's wrong?" Kess shouts up at the pilot.

"Don't know, sir!" The nose dips again. "Gonna have to make another pass around that hab and try again!" He doesn't get another chance. Marie feels her chair straps tighten as the shuttle dips again. "Can't bring 'er up!"

In front of the shuttle looms an ancient residential block the size of a mesa and the shuttle skids across the top of it in a spray of sparks almost to the edge before finally coming to rest. The other shuttles veer upward and disappear into the smoke clouds.

"Instruments are dead, Captain!"

"Outside! Perimeter, now!" Kess barks at the guardsmen and glances at the princess. "Stay here, yer majesty. Smells like a trap."

Marie peers through a scratched window at her guardsmen as a group of figures swagger out of the smoke and someone whispers in her ear.

"Prettypenny for the princess."

She gasps and leaps back from the window and her gaze darts around the empty cabin. "Captain Kess?" Marie creeps to the rear of the cabin and when she is close to the ramp she sees her guardsmen standing unmoving. "Kess?"

"Come out, come out, prettypenny princess." The gangers are augmented in horrid ways and their leader's eyes burn with unholy fire. She tries to break his gaze but can't.

Marie steps forward against her will and from the corners of her sight she can see her guardsmen standing in a trance as she passes them.

"Here, prettypenny prettypenny."

A lasgun shot strikes the ganger with the unholy eyes and a volley of lasers follows it. Before he hits the rooftop he is caught and dragged back into the smoke. Two more gangers fall dead as the rest of his gang retreats under the attack.

Marie's guardsmen emerge from their trance and begin to wave their lasrifles in confusion until the princess speaks. "Hold fire."

File: gabriel.jpg (78 KB, 512x512)

78 KB JPG

In front of Marie's guardsmen are a group of humans in piecemeal armor, civilian fatigues, and outdated cybernetics, and among them is an ogryn that does nothing but drool and remain vigilant. One of the men glances from the guardsmen to the princess. "You're a long way from home."

"I'll have you know..."

"I'm not talking to you," says the man and before Marie can do more than open her mouth in shock, he continues. "It's Kess, ain't it?"

Marie looks at her guardsman captain. "You know this man?"

"Oh, he might not remember me but I know him. Your captain led the invasion, I mean the liberation, of Fossa. Gabriel Brieger, PDF first class."

Kess takes an exaggerated look at the horizon of derelict buildings. "How's that planetary defense force working out for you?"

Gabriel takes a step toward Kess. Both sides raise their lasguns behind the two men. "We protect the downtrodden of Fossa. Not like Bastius has ever been any help."

Marie sees their words coming to a head and speaks. "That man, the one with the eyes like fire..."

"Saw that, huh?" The man smirks at Kess and jabs a thumb toward Marie. "You bring this one along as a spotter?"

"How dare you!" huffs Marie. She cannot help but feel her cheeks redden as the man's smirk turns on her.

"Take a look at that one," he says with a nod toward one of the dead gangers. Marie nods angrily at Kess, who nods at the two guardsmen closest to the corpse. One of the guardsmen hooks the body with the barrel of his lasgun and turns it over, and both men gasp.

Marie steps forward and as her gaze crawls across the corpse her eyes begin to sting.

Carved into the dead ganger's forehead is an eight-pointed star.

Marie gasps and looks at Kess.

"Beg pardon, yer, uh... we're not equipped to deal with something like this."

The princess looks back at the corpse and when she sees the mark a second time she shudders and drags her eyes away toward Kess. "We're going to Feltrov. Burn those bodies. To cinders, Captain."

"Taking off without so much as a thanks?"

Marie glances at the man in the piecemeal armor and looks away, but when he doesn't break his gaze upon her she turns her face back at him. "Thank you for assisting us, Private Brieger."

"I wasn't talking to you," he says, and when Marie's face begins to fold into a frown he adds, "but I wouldn't mind talkin' to you again sometime."

The engines on her attack shuttle activate on the first attempt. "Captain!" calls the pilot from the cockpit. "I don't know what..."

Marie is grateful for the distraction and orders her men back into the shuttle as she leads the way. "Take us back to the Columba Dei, Guardsman," she calls to the fore and straps herself into her chair. She glances out the scratched window and Gabriel is still smirking at her from the smoky rooftop as the shuttle alights.

File: map3.jpg (268 KB, 1500x1159)

268 KB JPG

When they board Marie's flagship, Dara is ecstatic with her order. "I can't wait to see what's there. Maybe there are more Union members like me."

Her hope dies when they exit the Warp into the Feltrov system. Dara has been waiting for this moment but when they slip back into the Materium her control panel makes a series of unhappy squeals.

"Dara?" asks Marie from her captain's chair but the woman in yellow simply stares in horror at her control panel. Tech-priest Lauronum has memorized enough and reaches across the black glass.

It is Marie's turn to stare in horror at the bridge voxscreen.

A tremendous Warp storm has consumed nearly the entire system.

"Chapter Master Hansteen mentioned this." Lauronum seems unmoved by the sight. "He said it was called the Sink."

There are only two worlds. Ygnir is thankfully distant. The other is a small rock with a thin haze of atmosphere, a pocket-sized version of the world-city Fossa, and it orbits the Warp storm in a perpetual twilight lit only by the thicket of its own buildings. The spires of Feltrov reach from far above the meager atmosphere and down into the black gorges that fracture the tiny world all the way to its mantle.

She mustn't be distracted. "Lauronum, give Dara the frequency to the Exhumation." Marie leans back in her chair. "Contact Inquisitor Erdred Richter."

"Princess Sigusmundus." Inquisitor Richter's face on the vox is stern as ever. "That is a very interesting ship."

"Inquisitor Richter. I have come to solicit your opinion."

"Then I welcome you to my fastness." As Richter speaks, Dara taps her control panel and Marie's attention wavers when the panel chirps.

"What is it?" she demands the moment the vox goes dead.

"I don't know... I'm detecting an energy pattern commonly used by Union technology."

Lauronum leans over the control panel next to Dara. "Where?"

The woman in yellow looks up at Marie. "Underneath the landing coordinates!" Dara moves from her station toward Marie. "I want to go with you when you disembark on that planet."

"Absolutely not!" Marie rises from her chair. The guardsmen flanking the bridge glance at one another. "You have no idea the..."

"I've played along with this royalty routine long enough, your majesty!" huffs Dara. "I've served under you for weeks without rectime, under barbaric conditions..."

>Bring Dara along on your way to meet with Inquisitor Richter
>Allow Dara to disembark on Feltrov with a team of guardsmen
>Order Dara to remain on the Columba Dei until you return
>Write-in

>>5603659
>>Bring Dara along on your way to meet with Inquisitor Richter

>>5603659
>>Bring Dara along on your way to meet with Inquisitor Richter

>>5603659
>Bring Dara along on your way to meet with Inquisitor Richter, but dress her as an attendant and tell her to stay silent.

>>5603659
Seconding >>5604088
If she values her life, stfu.

>>5603659
>>Order Dara to remain on the Columba Dei until you return

Rolled 4, 3 = 7 (2d10)

>>5604072
>>5604085
>>5604088
>>5604090
>>5604457

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

Rolled 9, 5, 7 = 21 (3d10)

>>5605215

File: feltrov.jpg (97 KB, 512x512)

97 KB JPG

"I should keep you here," Marie says, and as Dara begins to protest Marie adds "but I will allow you to disembark on Feltrov if you follow my orders."

Dara's fists are pressed against her hips in ire. "What does that mean?"

"You will act as my attendant." Marie tilts her head at Dara to punctuate her words. "You'll remain silent. If spoken to, you will say only as much as absolutely needed."

Dara crosses her arms for a moment and uncrosses them. "That... that sounds fair. I think."

Marie looks at Lauronum and glances at the dark glass surface of the control panel in front of her. "I'll need you to remain aboard the Columba Dei until we return." Marie turns her gaze toward Dara. "Of course, before we introduce Dara to the Inquisitor she'll have to be dressed for the occasion."

Dara's hand goes to her leotard's collar on its own. "What do you mean, dressed for the..."

The shuttle has barely left the Columba Dei and Marie has already begun to regret her decision to bring Dara along. "Stop picking at that!"

Dara furtively readjusts the cloth framing her face. "What do you even call this thing?"

"It's a bonnet," Marie says, and reaches over to readjust it. "Now stop picking at it."

"How am I supposed to do anything with this?" Dara's eyes turn from side to side. "I can hardly see."

"You don't need to do anything. Just follow behind me and act... unobtrusive."

"I don't have to act to be..." mutters Dara as she adjusts her bonnet again.

The pilot turns his head. "Landing in ninety seconds, Captain!" The fastness of Inquisitor Richter is built into the bedrock cliffside of a crustal rift. Marie's attack shuttle drifts down farther and farther into the underground valley and all around them are lights of other buildings and the traffic of other vehicles like deep-sea creatures.

File: brunilda.jpg (72 KB, 512x512)

72 KB JPG

Inquisitor Erdred Richter and his daughter Astryd are present to greet Marie when she steps down the shuttle ramp. "Inquisitor," Marie says with less-than-feigned glee. "It's very nice to see you again."

"Princess Sigismundus." Inquisitor Richter favors Marie with a quick nod and gestures to Astryd. "You remember my daughter Astryd." The girl sulks as she curtsies. From behind the Inquisitor's legs Marie notices a very young girl peek out. "And this is my daughter Brunilda. Say hello to Princess Sigismundus, Brunilda."

The girl can only gawk.

"It's nice to see you again as well, Astryd." Marie waves a hand at Dara. "Come, Dara."

Inquisitor Richter doesn't avert his gaze from Marie but Dara shrinks back in her bonnet nonetheless. "I don't recall seeing her when I visited Bastius."

Marie fights the urge to glance away from the Inquisitor. "I acquired her shortly before beginning my crusade to retake the Questarai Thread."

"We may speak in my study." The Inquisitor turns and his long legs carry him from the room with Astryd in tow. Marie hurries to catch up and when she does she realizes Dara has fallen behind. The princess turns her head back and almost stops walking.

"Are you a princess?" The little girl steps to the side as Dara tries to move past her. "I've never met a princess before."

"No, I'm... I mean, I am not..." Dara glances at her bonnet and adjusts it. The outfit Marie has her in is nothing like Dara's unisuit. The heavy cloth is roughly woven and scratches her skin.

The little girl continues to position herself in front of Dara and the woman almost stumbles over her. "I think it would be grand to be a princess."

"Yes, I'm sure it... I mean..."

File: ygnir.jpg (84 KB, 512x512)

84 KB JPG

"Brunilda, come here at once," calls the Inquisitor. The girl takes a quick step toward her father and glances back at Dara before running up the hallway toward the others. Dara is not far behind. "This is your first time in the Feltrov system?" Richter does not break stride.

"It is," agrees Marie. "Are you not afraid to dwell so close to the Warp storm?"

"The Sink has been here since before the Great Crusade, and Feltrov has been circling it for as long."

"And the other planet? Is it as... developed?"

"Hardly so," the Inquisitor says as they step into a lift. Marie's stomach feels a lurch as they begin descending deeper into Feltrov's rock. "Ygnir is a savage world, but above it are the Lord of Feltrov's orbital shipyards."

When they have settled into Richter's study the Inquisitor remarks, "You seem troubled, Princess Sigismundus."

"With good reason. I was recently on Fossa. I encountered an... oddity."

"Go on."

"My guardsmen were somehow transfixed. There was a man, with eyes like fire. He seemed to know who I was. And another had an eight-pointed star on his face."

The Inquisitor's lens-eye gleams. "Do you know of what you speak?"

Marie nods solemnly. "I'm terrified that I do."

"The darkest heresy," Richter says. "You are otherwise well, Princess Sigismundus?"

"For the moment," agrees Marie, "but I have been exceedingly fortunate. There was recently an attempt on my life." Marie glances up at the Inquisitor. "The Eternal Swords have identified the culprit as a Callidus."

"A Callidus? The Chapter Master is certain?" Marie nods and the Inquisitor says a name. "Anette."

"Inquisitor?"

"She was deployed by my predecessor before his demise. She had disappeared and was presumed dead." Erdred breaks his stillness and turns toward the princess. "Where is this Callidus now?"

>Tell the Inquisitor she's imprisoned aboard the Columba Dei
>Tell the Inquisitor she was killed during the attempt
>Write-in

>>5605488
>Tell the Inquisitor she's imprisoned aboard the Columba Dei

>>5605488
>Tell the Inquisitor she's imprisoned aboard the Columba Dei
Add that we find it curious that she has received instructions beyond simple elimination and impersonation of us, and is rather more talkative than we'd expect of an Imperial assassin.
Let him stew on that for a little.

>>5605488
>>Tell the Inquisitor she's imprisoned aboard the Columba Dei

Rolled 6, 9 = 15 (2d10)

>>5605607
>>5605622
>>5605790

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: dmitri.jpg (71 KB, 512x512)

71 KB JPG

Marie crosses her arms at Richter's sudden presence and leans back defensively. "She's imprisoned aboard my ship and guarded by my finest soldiers. I haven't yet decided what to do with her."

Richter's face is unmoved as he settles back into his own seat. "If she hasn't yet escaped, it's likely that she doesn't intend to do so. I am surprised the attempt on your life was unsuccessful. Anette's record to the point of her disappearance was exemplary."

"I'm not surprised," Marie says and touches her own neck. "She was quite malicious."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that she seemed intent on drawing out the act."

"Go on," says Richter as his mechanical eyepiece gleams with the study's dim light. "In detail."

"She said she was my replacement. Then she said..." Marie looks to the side. "She said I was to suffer first. She said she had instructions. Specific instructions, as I recall."

"That's not at all how Anette would carry out an assignment." The Inquisitor is silent for a moment. "Far too talkative. What else do you recall?"

"After my Space Marines captured her, my tech-priest Lauronum examined her and discovered a small device in her skull. Lauronum couldn't say what it was, I'm afraid. The Callidus has refused to say anything since her capture."

"Dmitri!"

Brunilda's outburst draws the attention of everyone in the room and just as her sister Astryd is about to scold her, a servo-skull with a glass torch hanging like an earring floats out of the gloom. "That's Dmitri," confides Brunilda to Dara.

"What is it, Dmitri?" asks the Inquisitor.

"Pardon the intrusion, Inquisitor." The skull bobs into the room and floats toward them. "A ship has appeared out of the Warp and you are being haiLLLLed." The servo-skull draws out the end of its report with a mechanical stutter.

"Who is it?"

"VaLLLLorus Hansteen of the EternaLLLL Swords."

"Valorus?" says Marie and sits forward in her chair. "He is in this system?"

"Yes, Princess Sigismundus. The skull dips toward Marie. "The vox mentioned your name as weLLLL. Something about the LLLLady Marburg?"

Richter glances at Marie as she settles back into her seat and nods at the servo-skull. "Transmit landing coordinates, Dmitri."

"Very weLLLL, Inquisitor," agrees the skull and circles in a wide swing before bobbing back out of the study.

File: rock.jpg (66 KB, 512x512)

66 KB JPG

The Inquisitor's study is sunk far down into the bedrock of Feltrov. The hewn rock wall of Feltrov's dead core is sparsely decorated but the center is dominated by a hung tapestry-map of the system.

"You mentioned the shipyards above Ygnir," says Marie and nods toward the tapestry. "What of its moon?"

"Hardly a moon," says Richter. Brunilda's giggling whispers to Dara catch his attention and his daughter is quickly silenced with a stern glance. Richter's gaze turns back toward the tapestry. "Just a rock snared by Ygnir's gravity. Why?"

"I am contemplating a blockade of the shipyards above Ygnir now that I have two cruisers. What can you tell me of the Lord of Feltrov's fleet?"

"Three cruisers are positioned on the far side of the Sink."

"That's all?" asks Marie with disbelief.

"The majority of the Lord's fleet left the system more than eightscore weeks ago. His battlecruiser left the system just over a month ago."

Marie's lip curls in a bitter smirk. No doubt it was the second battlecruiser that appeared above Multa and snatched away any hope of victory. "Yes, I believe I know its heading."

"Are you really considering an open move against the Lord of Feltrov?" questions Astryd. It is the first time she has spoken since Marie's arrival.

"My crusade to retake the Questarai Thread hasn't ended, even if most of my fleet is... unavailable." The princess looks from Astryd to her father the Inquisitor. "Your own cruiser, the Exhumation, is quite well-armed, Inquisitor. With the Shining Scourge, the Columba Dei, and the Exhumation, we may have a good chance of seizing the shipyards and holding them until the rest of my fleet arrives."

The Inquisitor is still unmoved. "I would like to first examine the Callidus you have caught, and perhaps remove the device from her skull."

>Invite Richter aboard the Columba Dei to remove Anette's device
>Decline and order Lauronum to remove Anette's device
>Leave it for now and try to take the shipyards on your own
>Write-in

>>5608057
>Invite Richter aboard the Columba Dei to remove Anette's device

>>5608057
>>Invite Richter aboard the Columba Dei to remove Anette's device

File: characters.jpg (694 KB, 2551x1500)

694 KB JPG

I'm making a reference chart to keep track of all the important characters.

>>5608057
>>Invite Richter aboard the Columba Dei to remove Anette's device

>>5608057
>>Invite Richter aboard the Columba Dei to remove Anette's device

Rolled 6, 3 = 9 (2d10)

>>5608071
>>5608165
>>5608812
>>5608915

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: handcom.jpg (67 KB, 512x512)

67 KB JPG

"That would be very appreciated, Inquisitor. You are of course invited to board the Columba Dei and perform whatever operation you see fit."

"Excuse the interruption, Inquisitor." The servo-skull Dmitri bobs back into the room. "VaLLLLorus Hansteen and his men have LLLLanded."

"Show them in," waves Richter impatiently. "The Emperor sends us good fortune, Princess Sigismundus. Your Space Marines will make suitable guards for the Callidus."

"They haven't let me down yet," Marie says with an unreturned smile.

"Inquisitor Richter!" calls Valorus as he brushes past the servo-skull into the study. "My thanks again for your help during our last battle here." Marie catches his eye and the Space Marine smiles. "I was glad to see your ship above Feltrov when we arrived. The Lady Marburg said I might find you here."

"Have you received any vox from the other ships?" The princess begins to ask the question but as she does his face betrays his answer.

"None." Valorus glances around the room. "But I'm sure my brother will show up just when everyone needs him most. That's what he does best. I wouldn't worry about the fleet."

"The Inquisitor has volunteered to remove that device from Anette."

"Who?"

Marie blinks at the Space Marine for a moment and grins. "The Callidus. Will you help keep watch in case something... unexpected occurs?"

"I won't let either of you out of my sight," Valorus says and returns her grin.

"It would benefit us all to board your ship with due haste, Princess Sigismundus." Inquisitor Richter glances toward Brunilda as the young girl strays close to the Space Marine and Brunilda darts back out of sight. "I would see the Callidus with all due haste. Every moment she remains at large, she remains a danger."

"Of course." Marie nods at Captain Kess. "Would you care to join us aboard our shuttle?"

"I will take my own," says Richter.

"Of course," agrees Marie. "Astryd, it was very nice to see you again."

"Inquisitional Acolyte Richter will join me," announces the Inquisitor. "If that is acceptable to you, Princess Sigismundus."

"I'll be delighted to have her aboard."

As the procession moves from Richter's study down the fastness halls Dara once again falls behind, delayed by Brunilda. Marie is almost certain she hears a quiet chirp like the noises that Dara's control panel make and when the princess glances back Dara is hastily adjusting her sleeve.

File: chip.jpg (55 KB, 512x512)

55 KB JPG

"Go to your chambers, Brunilda," calls the Inquisitor from the far end of the hall. "Dmitri will see to you until I return."

Richter's shuttle follows Marie's up through the stalagmite-city into the void and the Columba Dei. "Welcome aboard, Inquisitor. And Inquisitional Acolyte," Marie says with a smile toward Astryd. The girl nods with a rigid politeness. "This way."

When they reach the bridge Lauronum looks up from her post at the control panel.

Dara takes a step toward the panel and Marie catches her by one arm. "Dara, you may go and clean my quarters. I will summon you if I have need of you."

Dara glances at the Inquisitor's back and nods. "As you wish, your majesty."

"This way, Inquisitor. I will show you my twin."

The door of Anette's cell is a tight lattice of some unknown metal and through the grillwork the resemblance to the princess is still uncanny. "She should have resumed her normal appearance by now," Richter notes to Marie and glances toward his daughter. "Remain at a distance, Acolyte."

"Yes, Father," agrees Astryd and stretches herself up to look at the Callidus from behind the others.

Richter stands in front of the lattice and the changeling finally breaks her stillness to look up at him from the bench.

"Do you know who I am?"

"You look like Inquisitor Erdred Richter," replies the woman on the bench. Her eyes move toward Richter's coat as he draws out an object shaped like a laspistol.

"Do you know what this is?"

"That's a..."

She can speak no further. Her body goes limp and her eyes roll back as she slumps down off the bench onto the cell floor. "Open the cell, if you would, Princess Sigismundus. I cannot be certain how long she'll remain under."

The Inquisitor works quickly and steadily and in less than ten minutes he tugs out a small metallic object that drops to the table with a heavy clink. Its appearance makes Marie's skin crawl and she can only resist the urge to strike it across the room by glancing toward Valorus.

The Space Marine has a look of disgust on his face.

Richter does not look up as Lauronum leans forward over his shoulder. "Assertions, tech-priest?"

"It doesn't look like anything sanctioned by Magos Veth." Lauronum's voice has a strange cast to it and when Marie moves to see her tech-priest more closely she sees that Lauronum has an uncharacteristic look of revulsion on her face.

The Inquisitor stares closely at the object with his lens-eye for a long moment and when he sits up he turns directly toward Marie. "I would like to take Anette back to my fastness while she is still unconscious."

>Allow the Inquisitor to disembark with Anette
>Keep Anette aboard and bid the Inquisitor goodbye
>Keep Anette here until the Inquisitor helps you win the shipyards
>Write-in

>>5609548
>Allow the Inquisitor to disembark with Anette, but accompany and hound him until he helps us win the shipyards

>>5609763
Supporting

>>5609548
>>Keep Anette here until the Inquisitor helps you win the shipyards

>>5609763
+1

Rolled 9, 4 = 13 (2d10)

>>5609763
>>5609786
>>5609896
>>5610226

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: stanislaus.jpg (73 KB, 512x512)

73 KB JPG

Marie crosses her arms. "Very well, but Captain Kess and I will return to Feltrov with you. Valorus and his Eternal Swords will accompany us."

"I do not think that..."

"I will remind you that I am sovereign of the Questarai Thread, Inquisitor. I consider you both my vassals until I have seized the shipyards." Marie glances at the unconscious changeling. The wound on her temple is already beginning to heal. "Anette will remain in my custody until I see fit to declare otherwise."

Richter gives a curt nod at his daughter. "As you command, Princess Sigismundus. Acolyte, prepare our shuttle to transport this Callidus."

"Yes, Father," says Astryd and hurries from the room.

The fasthold of Inquisitor Richter has rooms even deeper into the dead rock of Feltrov and in the lowest hold Princess Marie and her Space Marines watch as the changeling begins to stir. "You said something about her keeping my form longer than expected, Inquisitor."

"A substance called polymorphine is used to initiate the change."

Marie looks away from Anette toward Richter. "How long should it have lasted?"

Richter's gaze does not waver from the waking Callidus. "A few hours at most." Anette sits up and looks at the gathered crowd. From his coat, Richter produces the horrid device and Marie must force herself not to flinch at the sight. "Do you know what this is?"

The changeling answers his question with a mysterious question of her own. "Did you take that out of my stomach?"

Richter leans forward a hair. "What do you mean?"

The girl on the table gestures lazily at her side. "Lord Grenz had something placed inside me on Fossa. It produces polymorphine on its own."

This time, Richter and Marie share a glance and the Inquisitor continues his questioning. "I took this out of your skull. Do you know who this is?" Richter gestures at the princess.

"Princess Marie Sigismundus of Bastius. I was supposed to kill her and take her place."

"That's right," nods Richter as the small device disappears back into his coat. "Why?"

"Lord Grenz ordered it," the changeling says without hesitation, but then her brow furrows with confusion. "I don't know why I was going to obey his order in the first place."

"I thought as much," says Richter to Marie.

"Are these sorts of things commonly used by the Lords of Feltrov and Multa?" Marie asks the Inquisitor. "Adipose destroyed most of the palace computer's records before he fled. I know hardly anything about the Lord of Multa besides his name." Marie does not mention the accusation of murder leveled against Stanislaus Grenz by Lady Marburg of Fossa.

Richter looks down at Marie. "I assure you, Princess Sigismundus, I have extensive records concerning both the Lord of Multa and the Lord of Feltrov."

File: the sink.jpg (81 KB, 512x512)

81 KB JPG

"Let's hope your records about the Feltrov fleet are accurate," Marie says with a smile. "I trust your ship is in working order?"

"The Exhumation will join your blockade of the shipyards." Richter's attention is still on Anette.

Marie's gaze has joined the Inquisitor. "I feel the Callidus should remain under your supervision for the time being, Inquisitor. Captain?"

"Yer majesty?"

"Prepare our shuttle for departure. We will make for the shipyards at once. Valorus, you and some of your men will join me on the Columba Dei. We don't have any ships to spare and I want to be prepared for any circumstance that may arise."

Valorus grins down at her. "As you wish, Princess Marie."

The Columba Dei launches from its orbit above Feltrov with the Exhumation close behind, and the two cruisers join with the Shining Scourge.

"Beg pardon, yer majesty. We'd better not risk going across the Sink."

"I agree, Captain." Even on the voxscreen its unwholesome nature is evident, and Marie gives a slight shudder as she imagines being pulled in. "We'll circle around and approach Ygnir from the far side of the Sink."

Marie cannot afford to break the ruse of her stowaway Dara's real nature and so Lauronum pilots the flagship into her first battle. "Heading nominal," announces the tech-priest. "Speed..." Marie knows something has changed even before the control panel chirps. "Three ships detected just ahead."

Captain Kess is on his feet at a sudden realization but Valorus beats him to the announcement. "They're caught between us and the Sink!"

>Engage the enemy fleet above the Sink
>Order your fleet to continue toward the shipyards
>Write-in

>>5610781
>Engage the enemy fleet above the Sink
If we let them go, next time it'll be them who are in a tactically advantageous position.

>>5610781
Seconding >>5610901

>>5610781
>>Engage the enemy fleet above the Sink

Rolled 2, 8 = 10 (2d10)

>>5610901
>>5610905
>>5610941

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: shadow.jpg (79 KB, 512x512)

79 KB JPG

"Move into position and begin fire," orders Marie, but the command takes a moment longer than she expects. Lauronum is unfamiliar with piloting in battle and the first volley from Feltrov's fleet strikes the hull of the Columba Dei before Marie's tech-priest realizes the invisible shields have not been activated.

Lauronum announces, "Firing forward beam array," but as she does the control panel gives a disgruntled squeal.

"What's wrong?"

The tech-priest doesn't look up at Marie. She pecks at the control panel with both hands over and over and when she finally looks up Marie sees concern on Lauronum's face and realizes the situation must be dire indeed.

"Life support has been damaged. We're going to suffocate if we remain aboard much longer."

Marie glances toward Kess and Valorus but before either can speak she raises a hand. "Cartographical projection, now." A map of the system appears and Marie purses her lips for a moment as she weighs the distances between her punctured ship and the two planets.

"Change heading. Take us toward Ygnir. Contact the other ships and order them to cover our retreat. Continue their engagement against the other fleet." Marie looks across the bridge at Kess. "And get Dara in here!"

"That's right, Ygnir," confirms Lauronum to Inquisitor Richter. "We're going to send a shuttle down. I'll remain aboard to begin repair."

The Columba Dei passes within visual range of the shipyards and Marie sees with envy a nearly-completed cruiser surrounded by gantries.

"Beg pardon, yer majesty." Captain Kess waits until Marie looks up from the bridge voxscreen before he continues. "The shuttle's loaded and ready."

Princess Marie takes another look around her bridge. "Very well, Captain."

Lauronum and Dara have suited up by the time Marie reaches the shuttle bay. Behind them, half of Valorus's Eternal Swords have donned their helmets. "You're sure you'll be alright?"

"We'll contact you when life support has been fixed." Dara seals her helmet.

"Better get going," Lauronum says. "The air is already turning poisonous."

They descend toward darkness and the Emperor blesses them with a clearing in the jungle large enough to land the shuttle. "Spread out," orders Kess. "Form a perimeter." As Marie descends the ramp Kess straightens. "We'll send a scouting party out in a moment, yer majesty."

Marie looks up through the jungle canopy at the starry night sky. "I will accompany them."

"Beg pardon, yer majesty..." Kess glances up at the trees above their heads. "Maybe you should stick close to the shuttle. Feels like we're being watched."

"I'm sure my guardsmen are up to the task. Besides, this world is as much my domain as any other." Marie smiles at Kess but can't help glancing upward when his back is turned.

File: hunting party.jpg (86 KB, 512x512)

86 KB JPG

"Beg pardon, yer majesty." Kess pushes a branch out of the way. The scouting party has been expanded on his orders to include nearly all of the guardsmen and Space Marines. In the distance they can hear the night-calls of native wildlife much larger than any of Valorus's men but nothing has dared approach them when Valorus raises a hand and the party halts.

"Do you hear that?"

Kess cocks his head and a moment later glances up at the Space Marine. "Sounds like a battle sled." He waves his hand in a series of gestures and the guardsmen move into the trees. "Over here, yer majesty."

For a moment there is nothing but the warm humid breeze and the calling of a lonely bird but then a light sweeps across the path where Marie's Space Marines stood a moment before and a floating platform glides over the treetops.

"You promised us a hunt, man!"

"You'll get your hunt, sir. These wild men are wily beasts. They wear th' armor of their victims, y'know. Take 'em as trophies."

"What do they do with the rest of the body?"

"They don't leave nothin' behind."

"You mean they eat the..."

"What do you suppose that ship was?"

"Probably another huntin' party comin' in t' get an early start on tomorrow."

"How do we know who to shoot?"

"If 'e's on th' ground, 'e's fair game."

"Look! I see something!"

>Commandeer their battle sled
>Hide until they pass
>Write-in

>>5613130
>>Commandeer their battle sled

>>5613130
>Commandeer their battle sled

>>5613130
>>Commandeer their battle sled

>>5613130
>>Commandeer their battle sled

Rolled 10, 7 = 17 (2d10)

>>5613358
>>5613402
>>5613648
>>5613890

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: hunting parties.jpg (106 KB, 512x512)

106 KB JPG

"Commandeer that sled, Valorus. I don't want to be on the ground if more of them show up."

"You heard the princess," Valorus says to his Eternal Swords.

On the battle sled, the guide gawks as he frantically begins to flip a row of switches. "There's a whole mess of 'em!"

The battle sled is made to project overwhelming force against the wild men of Ygnir and as Marie's Space Marines stream out into the spotlight the sled unleashes a spray of burning promethium. Brother Glycerius is coated in the flaming tar and in a rage leaps aboard the platform like a fiery avenging angel.

"Look out! Th' fuel tank..."

A fire-cloud erupts into the night sky and all around the area other battle sleds full of eager offworlders turn toward the source.

Another spotlight from higher above the jungle canopy snaps on, and another, and a third. The hungry horde has arrived. Marie shields her eyes with one hand and squints into the glare and Kess grabs her just in time to avoid the strafing of a lascannon.

The burning battle sled is abandoned and Marie quickly finds her force outnumbered if not outgunned. Her own lasrifle is nearly empty and the hunters press forward, eager for the challenge of prey more well-armed than the wild men of Ygnir.

"We're being driven into a killzone!" shouts Kess. All around them are bursts of lasers and the explosions of burning tree bark. "Get an evac, now!"

The vox-operator reports the shuttle's crew taking fire from another shuttle.

A man screams at Marie's left and a moment later the guardsman in front of her falls into the ground. Valorus grabs Marie as she nearly topples into a spike-filled pit. Guardsman Laroe stares up at her with his gasping mouth lined in blood.

Guardsman Laroe is hauled from the pit but as Valorus holds him the guardsman can only gasp once more before his blood runs out of him onto the jungle floor.

An explosion knocks Valorus into the pit.

File: void.jpg (8 KB, 512x512)

8 KB JPG

It is the last thing Marie sees before the void overtakes her.

File: hunter.jpg (89 KB, 512x512)

89 KB JPG

"Ah, she's waking up. Splendid. Urhua, fetch the princess some water. We'll want her in good form for what's ahead. Princess Sigismundus, I'm Sir Conrad Perie." In front of Marie is a campfire, and seated across from her on a log is a tall man of obvious refined breeding dressed in a full suit despite the uncomfortably warm climate. Behind him a porter with a third mechanical arm like a snake leans in with a lantern and a ladle of water.

Marie takes a sip and looks around with blurred eyes. "Where...?"

"You mustn't fret, Princess Sigismundus. We're some distance from the traps. In all the excitement, there was no one watching you. Imagine my surprise when I realized who I had found!"

"I can't..." Marie's wits have returned, and she finds herself on the dirt propped against another log with her hands bound in rope behind her. "Release me at once! If you know who I am, then you know..."

"Of course I know who you are, Princess. That's what will make this all the more thrilling for me. Imagine the faces of the men at the club when I tell them what I've done. Why, they'll probably nominate me to be a senior fellow. Isn't that so, Urhua?"

Marie glances around the campfire. There is nothing but the porter and Sir Perie's lasrifle. Marie's own weapon is nowhere to be seen. She tugs at the rope again until her wrists begin to burn. "You mean to... to hunt me?"

"Of course! Such happenstance can't be squandered. You are after all on the ground, are you not?"

Marie tugs at the rope again. "But so are you!"

"Yes, that gives it a bit of sport, wouldn't you say so, Urhua?" Sir Perie stands up from the log and sights his lasrifle at the ground. "I shall wait one hour and then the hunt will commence. Urhua, release the princess, if you would."

The porter raises a knife and leans in. When the rope goes slack Marie pulls her arms free and rubs her wrists as she stumbles to her feet.

Sir Perie swings his lasrifle at Marie and the princess takes an involuntary step backward in fearful surprise. "Ten... nine... eight..."

Marie takes another step backward and glances around the empty clearing. Then she turns and stumbles into the jungle.

>Fight
>Flee
>Write-in

>>5614334
>>Flee
Guards halp

>>5614334
It's "sporting" for a grown man to hunt an unarmed little girl with a lasrifle? At least cultists have an excuse, what the hell is wrong with these guys?
>Flee, for now
What's the weather and terrain like?

>>5614334
>Flee
What's your roll system? Or was commandeering the sled a trap option?

>>5614447
No trap options in this game; 07/100 is a very bad result.

Rolled 3, 2 = 5 (2d10)

>>5614421
>>5614440
>>5614447

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

>>5614651
Do you mean 17/100? You have been rolling 2d10s...

>>5615092
In a 2d10 percentile system a 10 is usually read as 0 so 10,7 is 07 and 7,10 is 70. The exception is if the roll is 0,0 which would be read as 100.

File: lil marie.jpg (76 KB, 512x512)

76 KB JPG

As Sir Perie disappears from view his voice follows after Marie into the jungle. "The board members of the mining consortium will be most appreciative when I'm through!"

Marie stumble-crawls up the moist dirt slope and looks up through the canopy at the stars overhead. The jungle night is clear and the warm humid breeze is at her back as she flees up the hillside deeper into the trees. Her ceremonial armor protects her from thorns that scrape runes on her muddy pauldrons as she slides in the muck and scrambles back upright. The thorny vines are slowly moving to tighten around her ankles and so she kicks herself loose and continues over the ridge, trying to stay upwind.

The far side of Ygnir has mountains that pierce the atmosphere but Marie comes back down the other side of the hill into a low valley cut by a shallow stream and as the princess of Bastius crosses through the stream she crosses back to a similar stream she once found as a very young girl in the gardens of her father's estate.

She had discovered a wild animal lapping at the water and managed to seize the small beast and carry it back to her parents with the creature struggling all the while. Marie's mother and handmaids had been aghast but her father had roared with laughter when Marie was told that the beasts were to be trapped and killed and the young princess had insisted that she would keep the creature safe. The small scar on her nose reminds her of the animal's thankfulness.

After that, her father had seen fit to take Marie into the far reaches of the gardens to hunt another such creature. Her mother had been nervous but her father had thought it would be good for the young princess to understand their place above the beasts of the land. He had patiently showed Marie how to loop a snare, over and over again with her young and inexperienced hands clumsily following, until she had finally caught one of the pests herself. Marie couldn't remember the color of its coat but she could recall the look of pride on her father's face when they had gone to check the traps the next morning and found it struggling.

Marie stumbles on the ridge and slips down the hillside into a flock of fanged birds that launch themselves in the air and flap heavily between the trees. One of them snaps at her hair and she crouches down and turns to crawl past them when a thin shape catches her attention.

A snare made of metal braid waits just below her foot and she has no doubt it was left for her by Sir Perie.

File: troglodyte.jpg (99 KB, 512x512)

99 KB JPG

The fanged birds have settled higher in the trees and Marie holds her breath as she slowly retracts her limbs backward away from the snare. When she has moved clear of it she hears a brushing sound and slowly turns her head but in front of her is nothing but the nighttime jungle.

"Valorus?" calls Marie in a soft voice. "Captain Kess?"

One of the birds squawks painfully and something huge gives a deep and throaty growl. Marie's eyes widen and she peers upward from the wet grass as an enormous shaggy troglodyte the size of a Space Marine stands in front of her across the narrow clearing with the bird in its mouth. The troglodyte's jaws give one more great crunch and the bird is broken in half and gobbled up in a single gulp. The other birds circle around and flee higher into the trees out of its grip and shriek angrily as it begins to rummage through their nests. One flies down low and snaps at the troglodyte, flapping and shrieking around its head as the shaggy creature growls again. While the monster is distracted Marie scrambles across the grass and hides behind a tree just as it turns and sniffs the humid night air.

The troglodyte slowly moves on its knuckles across the jungle floor toward where Marie hides. It stops and sniffs again.

Marie holds her breath.

>Try to trap it and escape
>Try to lure it toward Sir Perie
>Try to tame it
>Write-in

>>5615248
>Try to tame it
Perhaps it would like a song?

>>5615106
Why not roll a 1d100 though?

>>5615248
>Try to lure it toward Sir Perie

>>5615248
>>Try to lure it toward Sir Perie

>>5615658
I thought it was fitting since Dark Heresy uses 2d10 as percentile (even though that's a roll-under system)

Rolled 8, 3 = 11 (2d10)

>>5615296
>>5615658
>>5615742

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: fanged birds.jpg (86 KB, 512x512)

86 KB JPG

"Remember this, Marie," her father had said as they walked the gardens, "and you will be successful."

"Successful at catching a fenny?" Marie had asked as she hurried to keep pace with her father's stride.

"Successful at anything," he had said, and when he began to hum Marie never again forgot the words he sang.

The troglodyte sniffs again. The terror on Marie's face falls away and she takes a breath. And sings.

The moment seems just right

The beast grunts with angry surprise and roars. The outburst sends one of the fanged birds flapping higher into the trees. Marie begins to sing again.

But you're still out of sight
I'll tell you what to do

The troglodyte growls upward at the bird but when Marie's song resumes it stops and leans forward toward the tree with a scowl.

Announce yourself, but not too loudly

When Marie begins to sing again she steps out from behind the tree into the beast's view. Her gaze is kept to the side, at the ground around her feet.

Show yourself, but not too proudly
Let it come to you

It grunts in surprise and pulls back, but only for an instant before it roars and looms over Marie. It roars again, but when the princess remains still, it sniffs and begins to growl again.

You can't be sure the moment's right

Marie can't hear the growling anymore but she is no less terrified as she continues to look downward and takes a hesitant breath.

But now you're out there in the light
so remember what to do

Marie hesitates for a moment, then looks upward, higher and higher past the enormous furred chest and finally to the troglodyte's huge eyes.

Announce yourself, but not too loudly
Show yourself, but not too proudly
Let it come to you

Its scowl remains but as Marie sings the troglodyte's expression begins to soften and it begins to slowly sway to the melody. Marie can hardly contain the smile on her own face as she continues to sing.

You've done it right, isn't that right
Now you know what to do

The troglodyte produces a noise not unlike singing and Marie finds the beast matching her pitch. A pair of fanged birds swoop down and settle on a branch near Marie and as she continues to sing they begin to repeat her own words in roughly harmonious counterpoint.

Announce yourself, but not too loudly (not too loudly)
Show yourself, but not too proudly (not too proudly)

Marie's voice rises in intensity as her fear vanishes. The huge beast keeps singing along with Marie and the pair of fanged birds alight even lower, one on either side of the princess as they continue to match the duet with a counterpoint of their own.

You know what to do (what to do)
You know what to do

The counterpoint is ended abruptly as the troglodyte lunges out a hand and throttles one of the birds. The unlucky beast gives a strangled squawk as its partner shrieks and flaps away.

File: bellhouse.jpg (72 KB, 512x512)

72 KB JPG

Marie stands silent for a moment as the troglodyte chews the bird and swallows it, but when it looks down at her and grins Marie ventures a greeting.

"Hello. I'm Marie."

"Mmmmm..." says the troglodyte. It holds one of the pilfered eggs out at Marie and the princess smiles as she shakes her head.

"No, thank you, you go ahead." Marie presses its fingers closed with both her hands and the troglodyte pops the egg into its maw with a satisfied hum. The clearing's disturbed inhabitants venture onto the lower branches but not within reach of the beast. A growling startles Marie and she turns toward the troglodyte but sees its gaze focused into the jungle. "What is it?" she asks.

The troglodyte's gaze softens as it looks down at Marie, but when its great skull swivels back toward the trees the beast begins to snarl.

"Sir Perie," Marie whispers to herself and creeps around the far side of the tree. "You had better not shoot the..."

The enormous troglodyte has vanished.

Marie looks all around in confusion. One of the fanged birds squawks. When she begins to turn a voice startles her.

"Princess Sigismundus!"

Sir Perie has found her.

"Hardly a game at all. You hardly bothered to cover your tracks." The hum of his lasrifle warming up cuts the humid pre-dawn air. "Well, I shan't draw this out, although I suppose I'll need something to take back to show the board members. They've been most concerned about your little crusade."

A bird squawks.

Sir Perie raises his lasrifle and sights it at Marie from across the clearing. "Anything to say?"

Marie crosses her arms. "I hope you aren't too bony."

"What do you..." Sir Perie is confused but only for a moment before he looks up at the troglodyte looming behind him.

Then he is simply terrified, but only for a moment.

Sir Perie's scream is cut off as the troglodyte grabs him with both hands. His lasrifle clatters to the ground as the beast chomps down. There is silence, but only for a moment before the troglodyte continues chewing until the hunter's body has vanished completely.

It belches and smiles at Marie. One of the fanged birds squawks again from a low branch and the troglodyte turns and gives an irritated roar. The bird answers its challenge with another squawk and the troglodyte escalates to a roar accompanied by a gesture.

"Princess Marie!"

Guardsman Bellhouse, Marie's best tracker, has finally caught up to her. The princess glances cautiously at the bushes where Bellhouse is crouched.

"Hurry, follow me while it's distracted!"

>Sneak away while the creature is distracted
>Order Bellhouse to remain hidden
>Write-in

>>5617431
>>Sneak away while the creature is distracted

>>5617431
>A princess can't just leave without saying thanks and goodbye
Give the big lad a hug and thank him, then head off with Bellhouse. I guess if Bellhouse has any rations we can give it to him too.

>>5617429
Beware, QM, or Disney's lawyers are gonna hunt you down!

>>5617431
Supporting >>5617671

>>5617671
+1

>>5617671
Support

Rolled 9, 3 = 12 (2d10)

>>5617444
>>5617671
>>5617806
>>5617960
>>5618166

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: keeper yorl.jpg (69 KB, 512x512)

69 KB JPG

With a sniff the troglodyte turns and growls in the direction of Guardsman Bellhouse.

"Now, now," Marie starts to say as the huge creature looms over them. "Quickly, your field ration." The princess holds one hand up toward the troglodyte and the other expectantly toward her guardsman.

"Um..." Guardsman Bellhouse pulls out a ration packet. "Will this do?"

"Perfect," says Marie and winds back the tin lid. Above them, the troglodyte sniffs again at the smell of preserved meat. "Yes," Marie agrees with a smile as she scoops out a fingerful. "You're welcome to it."

The troglodyte gently reaches down and pinches the tin from Marie and holds it near its face to peer at with one eye open. The creature pokes at the tin but its huge fingers are too large. It licks the tin once, twice, and in frustration simply swallows the entire tin and chews contentedly.

Suddenly, it stops with a wide-eyed startle and freezes for a moment, then looks down to where Princess Marie has her arms wrapped as best as she can around its tremendous midsection. With a questioning hoot it shifts slightly, and Marie looks up at it.

"Thank you, creature."

It gives another hoot, this time a more somber melody. One of the fanged birds squawks and the troglodyte gives a quick roar at the bird but turns its attention back toward Marie.

Guardsman Bellhouse has ventured out of the bushes and as the creature gives him nothing more than a glance he points back the way he came. "The Space Marines and the rest of the guardsmen are that direction. The advance scouts should be following my trail so we won't have more than an hour to walk."

Marie crosses the clearing to Sir Perie's lasrifle and as she does she feels a moment of concern for the troglodyte. "I hope none of those ghastly hunters come across..." As Marie stands back up with the rifle she finds the creature has vanished again. "It's gone!"

Guardsman Bellhouse raises his own lasrifle. "I think I know why." Marie's gaze follows his aim.

They are surrounded by wild men.

They come out of the jungle, a dozen or more men, wearing scraps of scavenged power armor and cast-off pieces of battle sleds, and armed with a crude assortment of spears and bows. "You!" exclaims Marie. Among this crowd is the man whose face she caught a glimpse of when she first landed. "So I did see someone in the trees."

An old and stoop-backed man ventures out into the clearing. He grins a toothless gape as he approaches Marie. Her guardsman readies the lasrifle and Marie presses the barrel downward with her hand as the old man looks carefully at Marie. "You tamed the squetch!"

"The creature?" asks Marie and looks back to where it had been.

"Yes," the old man agrees. "It is as the firestar foretold."

"Firestar?"

The men look up toward the pre-dawn sky. Marie follows their gaze. Above them, Ygnir's tiny satellite tumbles slowly through the sky, ablaze in the rising sun and casting the clearing in a red glow.

File: wild men.jpg (71 KB, 512x512)

71 KB JPG

"I am Keeper Yorl," the old man tells Marie. "You are enemies of the flying men?"

"The battle sleds? You could say that."

"We are enemies of the flying men," Keeper Yorl says. Up close, Marie can see why the wild men of Ygnir provide such a challenging hunt for Feltrov's elite. Even the scrawniest among them can match the physique of Marie's guardsmen. This brutal world has winnowed their population to only the strongest. "Please, will you join us in our village? We would welcome you."

Marie glances at Guardsman Bellhouse. "What about the rest of my men?"

"Of course," the Keeper agrees.

"Guardsman, go and bring the others to join me. I wouldn't want an incident due to mistaken intentions."

"Princess Marie, I can't just leave you here alone with these..."

"Ygnir is not exempt from the Imperial tithe, Guardsman. Besides, this seems like a good way to introduce myself to the locals." Marie turns to the old man and smiles. "Shall we?"

Word has spread to other tribes and Marie finds the village crowded with feral humans casting suspicious gazes upon her as she enters. Marie's guardsmen arrive a short time later and her guardsmen are unimpressive to the wild men but the sight of her Space Marines draws gasps of awe from the crowd.

"She walks with giants!" one of the wild men shouts.

"And she tamed the squetch!" shouts a woman. "My son saw it!"

"But she hasn't taken the challenge!" shouts a man near the front. "The firestar won't choose anyone else!"

Marie looks toward Keeper Yorl. "Challenge?"

The old man gives the princess a toothless grimace. "It is the ultimate test of will. Only the one chosen by the firestar and destined to unite our people against the flying men can hope to succeed."

"Beg pardon, yer majesty." Captain Kess leans in and whispers to Marie. "We received a vox from yer tech-priest on the way here. The Columba Dei is back in service. We could pressgang the whole lot of these savages and..."

"Understood, Captain," Marie nods and looks out at the sea of musclebound wild men. "But loyalty is better earned than compelled."

>Send one of your guardsmen to undergo the challenge
>Send one of your Space Marines to undergo the challenge
>Undergo the challenge yourself
>Forego it for now and return to the Columba Dei
>Write-in

>>5618787
>"What are the rules?"
>Undergo the challenge yourself

>>5618803
>support

>>5618787
>Undergo the challenge yourself
It is a test of will after all.

>>5618787
>>Send one of your Space Marines to undergo the challenge

>>5618787
>>Undergo the challenge yourself

Rolled 9, 8 = 17 (2d10)

>>5618803
>>5618861
>>5618870
>>5618928
>>5619118

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

>>5619423
>98

crit success on their trials?

>>5620026
No. It's a fail

File: mountain of the gods.jpg (65 KB, 512x512)

65 KB JPG

She turns toward the wild men and shouts, "I will meet the challenge!"

The sea of wild men erupts in a deafening roar.

Marie turns toward Keeper Yorl. "What must I do?"

The old man gestures at Marie's pauldron. "You must cast off your armor."

"Very well," Marie says and uncinches the buckles at her side. Beneath her ceremonial armor is the sublayer weave and as Marie strips to her undergarments Kess hides his eyes.

"Yer majesty, please! Put yer..." Kess glances through parted fingers at the wild men and shouts "Look away, you heathens!"

Keeper Yorl beckons toward the doorway of his hut. "Come, sit inside." Kess follows Marie in as Yorl holds out a bowl of liquid. "Drink this. It will give you strength on your journey."

Marie sips the flavorless liquid and sets the bowl at her feet. "What must I do?"

The old man points out the doorway, toward the immense mountain in the distance breaching the clouds around it. "You must clime the mountain of the gods and meet the lord of the firestar. Only he may judge if you are worthy."

The guardsmen and Space Marines part as Marie steps barefoot from the hut. "Form two teams and follow," Kess orders his guardsmen, but Marie raises a hand. "No, Captain. I must do this alone." The mountain looks deceptively close but she knows it will be at least a fortnight before she even reaches the base.

The first night is the coldest since she arrived on Ygnir. She stumbles forward into the mud and crawls toward a stump. Marie clutches herself and shivers when a huge shadow blots out the stars.

The squetch looks down at Marie and curls its great warm arms around her.

The next morning Marie wakes alone. At midday she has become lost in a canyon and stops, parch-mouthed, when a yapping sound catches her attention. Around a bend she had overlooked is a fenny like the ones she trapped as a child, lapping at a downspout of water from an underground source. The creature yaps at Marie and flees up a shallow slope out of the canyon. When Marie has gorged herself on water and climbed up the slope the fenny is gone.

That night the squetch returns and keeps her warm throughout the night.

When she wakes the creature is gone and Marie walks and walks until she hears a fenny yowling and she hurries forward through the trees to find a downed battle sled. The fenny is pinned beneath it and Marie struggles to free it but when she does the creature laps at her hand.

"Let's see what's in here, shall we?" Marie rummages through the sled and finds a crate of ration tins as well as a pack and boots.

That night Marie feeds the squetch one tin at a time.

Before she knows it, Marie stands at the base of the mountain of the gods.

File: firestar.jpg (49 KB, 512x512)

49 KB JPG

Two days later, she has barely scaled halfway to the summit. The last of the ration tins are long gone and she climbs, higher and higher with the hot wind of Ygnir at her back. Night comes and the stars of the void wheel across the sky as Princess Marie of Bastius clings to the face of the cliff, not daring to sleep. Some time after midnight the firestar tumbles overhead, closer now, and in its red glow Marie looks upward and resumes climb until it passes beyond the horizon and she clings to the cliff shivering with exhaustion until daybreak.

The hot wind seems to blow even more fiercely at this altitude and Marie does not dare look down as she leaves bloody fingerprints with each clutch of the sharp rock face. A piece breaks loose and she nearly loses her grip.

"Aaaah!"

A piece of rock punctures her hand and she must put her full weight on it to kick her legs back toward a foothold. When she feels a solid ledge beneath her boot she dares a glance upward.

Above her the sky is black.

Marie reaches up and climbs higher. The pain in her hand is dulled by her exhaustion, tiredness, hunger, and thirst. Her head swims and she must concentrate not to let herself tumble backward off the cliff. Her muscles have given out and she grimaces and forces her arms to rise again and grope blindly for purchase.

She is far above the clouds now and the updraft at her back keeps her breathing but she is so, so very tired. Around her there are stars, and Marie crawls ahead before noticing she has reached the summit. A red glow falls over her and Marie turns to see the firestar is passing so close she can reach out her hand and touch it.

When she does the surface fractures, cracking outward from the point of her fingertip and falling to the mountaintop and from the hole comes an enormous serpentine creature twenty meters long that slips from the firestar to the ground in front of her. Marie raises her head and locks eyes with the creature and it speaks.

"Who are you?"

Marie's throat is parched and raw. She can barely speak. "I... I am... Princess Marie Naivetus Sigismundus."

The great beast slides around her in a circle. "Titles do not matter." As it slides a gust of hot wind blows sand in Marie's face.

Marie swallows the grit and glares at the creature. "I am sovereign of the Questarai Thread."

The beast's head swings down to glide across the summit to Marie and just before it reaches her it raises upward. "Claims do not matter."

Marie looks up at the starry void above them. From somewhere within she summons the will to push herself upward, first to kneel and then to rise on feet that become more steady as she again locks eyes with the creature. "I am your ruler."

The giant creature coils around her trapping Marie in a prison pit and as she looks up its head reaches inward until they are almost touching. "Are you?"

Marie's gaze doesn't waver.

"I am."

File: map3.jpg (282 KB, 1500x1159)

282 KB JPG

"Then it is so." The serpentine creature unwinds itself and gestures with its tail at the clouds. "It is time for you to return."

Marie's gaze follows down through the clouds as night falls across the jungle far below. "It seems farther."

"No," says the great serpentine creature. "It is not very far at all. Look."

Marie looks again and it seems she is already at the base of the mountain, and in front of her is the village, and from the doorway of Keeper Yorl's hut she sees herself and wakes.

"Yer majesty?" Kess glances from Marie to the old man. "What did you give her, you heathen?"

From outside the hut Marie hears shouting. A man bursts into the hut and looks frantically at Yorl. "Keeper! It's coming!"

A pair of guardsmen help Marie to her unsteady feet as she steps out of the hut.

In front of them is the creature from her dream. It glides across the edge of the village toward Marie and rises up to its full height and gazes at the awestruck wild men. Then it bows its head low and rests its scaled chin on the ground at Marie's feet.

Marie places a hand on its snout and looks out at the sea of wild men as they kneel before her.

"Beg pardon, yer majesty."

"Yes, Captain?"

"Our fleet has come out of the Warp. All of 'em made it back."

The three ships commanded by the Lord of Feltrov cannot hope to face Marie's fleet in battle. Ygnir has been taken, as has the firestar, and the shipyards above Ygnir. Marie's Dominion increases to 26.

The next day, Marie meets with Captain Kess, Valorus, and Inquisitor Richter aboard the Columba Dei.

"The Lord of Feltrov is entrenched inside the planet's core even more deeply than my fastness." Inquisitor Richter points toward the cartographical display. "If we act now, the three cruisers above Feltrov won't be able to form a picket. Your wild men may be able to breach the entrenchment."

The princess looks toward Kess. "Thoughts, Captain?"

"Trouble's coming, yer majesty. The Lord of Feltrov must have contacted the Lord of Multa by now. Their combined fleet could be here any moment. We ought to put everything we have into getting that docked cruiser in service and swabbing out the rest of our fleet."

Valorus shakes his head and gestures at the screen. "Two battlecruisers in the Multa fleet is poor odds. We should take our fleet back to Fossa and commandeer the two battleships in the Beatrix shipyards. Even if they're not fully repaired, they'll be more than a match for those battlecruisers and the rest of the enemy fleet."

Marie leans back and thinks about Lady Marburg's warning. The pair of battlecruisers belong to the Lord of Feltrov, but if the Lord of Multa has a dead man's switch in his fleet, Marie may lose the chance to double the size of her own fleet.

>Remain about the shipyards and prepare for the Multa fleet
>Conscript a legion of wild men and lay siege to Feltrov
>Order your fleet toward Fossa and try to take the battleships
>Write-in

>>5620884
>Send the fastest ship with the burliest Marines to infiltrate the palace on Multa and activate the dead man's switch.
>The rest remain about the shipyards and prepare for the Multa fleet, as a distraction

>>5620884
>>5621028
If we are to infiltrate the place, we should see how our callidus is doing; that dead man switch may be difficult to find, and some finesse and deception may be required to both access and to activate it.

>>5621049
I'm not sure at all that Callidus can be trusted.
Though at least the presence of heretech should motivate Inquisitor Richter to aid our infiltration.

>>5620884
>>Order your fleet toward Fossa and try to take the battleships

>>5620884
>>Remain about the shipyards and prepare for the Multa fleet

Rolled 3, 10 = 13 (2d10)

>>5621028
>>5621049
>>5621074
>>5621563

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: prison crate.jpg (85 KB, 512x512)

85 KB JPG

"Princess Sigismundus!" Chapter Master Felton Hansteen grins as he steps onto the Columba Dei's bridge and joins the rest of Marie's council. "I'm overjoyed to see your beautiful face once more. When we were struck by that Warp current I feared you may be lost forever."

"Chapter Master." Marie says with a nod as she crosses her legs. This could have been done over the bridge's voxscreen but she can't risk the Lords of Feltrov and Multa intercepting a transmission. "I am taking the Columba Dei toward Multa with a strike team of Eternal Swords to infiltrate Lord Grenz's palace."

"His dead man's switch?" Felton asks.

Marie nods again as she glances toward Captain Kess. "I am charged with subjugation of the Questarai Thread, not amassing the largest possible fleet."

"If we can activate it, it'll cut their fleet to nearly nothing," Kess agrees. "Just the two battlecruisers. Of course, it'll also take the Law of Might out of our hand. We're making arrangements to take the ship down to a skeleton crew on short notice."

The Chapter Master grins at Marie. "I will assemble my men to leave at once."

"You will oversee my fleet above the shipyards as they resupply and prepare to receive the Multa fleet," Marie says. "Valorus will lead the strike team."

Felton looks across the bridge at his younger brother. "Valorus?" The Chapter Master turns to Marie. "Princess Sigismundus, I will obey your orders but as Chapter Master I must tell you my little brother is too inexperienced to lead a mission as important as this."

Marie glances at Valorus and sees the Space Marine's smile is strained. "I need your experience here, Chapter Master. Once my strike team has dealt with the Multa fleet, you will lead the crusade toward Fossa where we will take the newly restored battleships." Marie leans across her chair toward Inquisitor Richter. "We may need Anette's help. I just don't know if she can be trusted not to betray me."

Richter's mechanical lens-eye gleams as he nods. "I believe the device which I removed from her skull compelled her fealty to the Lord of Multa."

For a moment Marie is silent as she weighs the risk. "Have her brought aboard. She's familiar with the Lord of Multa's palace." Richter stands and crosses the bridge and as he exits Marie looks up at the two Space Marines silently facing off. "That will be all."

As Marie's guardsmen finish preparing to depart into the Warp the princess finds Inquisitor Richter and his daughter Astryd standing in the cargo bay next to a prison crate. The princess glances into the dark crate and sees Anette still wears Marie's face. "Have her released at once. I won't have her kept like this the entire voyage."

"I will remain in this system and command the Exhumation." Richter nods to his daughter. "Inquisitional Acolyte Richter will accompany you to supervise the Callidus."

As Richter's shuttle departs, one of the battlecruisers arrives out of the Warp along with most of the Multa fleet.

File: walton.jpg (61 KB, 512x512)

61 KB JPG

Marie's fleet soon finds itself fighting a defensive battle above Ygnir. With the Columba Dei her fleet can hold its position but just barely. The bridge shakes again and Lauronum looks up from the control panel. "Orders?"

On the voxscreen the battlecruiser delivers another broadside salvo toward the Ecumenical Blade as a pair of cruisers begin to surround it. "Target that cruiser with the forward beam array."

"Princess Sigismundus." Marie looks over toward Astryd in the chair next to her. "I will remind you that everyone is counting on us. For this plan to succeed we must leave the fleet to fight without us."

"Belay that order." Marie glances from Lauronum to Astryd. "Take us out of the system and prepare for Warp jump."

"With your leave, I'll make sure everything's ready," says Valorus. Marie nods and as the Space Marine passes Astryd he looks down at her and smiles. "I'm not surprised Inquisitor Richter's daughter is so wise."

"Astryd, have you released Anette?" Marie looks up at Astryd watching Valorus leave. "Astryd?"

When the girl turns toward Marie she's blushing. "What? Oh, I'll do it now. We had better have some Space Marines present to guard her. I'll go get Valorus."

Captain Kess catches Marie's eye and the two share a grin. "He's in for it now," Kess says as Astryd hurries from the bridge and the two follow. Marie beckons Lauronum and her tech-priest joins them.

The prison crate is taken to an empty quarters and when Astryd unlocks it and the changeling steps out still wearing Marie's face the room is silent for a brief moment.

"So far, so good," Lauronum comments.

Marie remains behind a pair of Space Marines. She is still hesitant to stand too near. "You will remain in these quarters for now." She glances at Valorus and he gestures with a thumb toward the other Space Marine.

"Walton will make sure nothing happens. We're almost ready to make the Warp jump."

"Good," Marie nods. "I'll be on the bridge shortly."

Dara has removed her bonnet and when Marie enters her quarters she finds her purported maid tapping at a small strange device. Marie recognizes the chirp from Richter's fastness and crosses the room as Dara stuffs it beneath the bonnet in her lap.

"What is that?"

"Nothing," says Dara and sheepishly draws the device back out. "It's just a simple handcom. It's like a dataslate. I need it to analyze some information about the device on Feltrov."

Marie looks down at the device in Dara's hands. It is too finely worked to have come from any forge-world. "Has Lauronum sanctioned it?"

As Dara glances away Marie turns and says, "Don't let Astryd see that." She exits into the hallway and Walton nods to the princess as she passes.

Lauronum looks up as Marie steps onto the bridge and looks around. The two are alone for the moment. "Is something wrong?"

>Order Lauronum to examine the handcom
>Say nothing for now
>Write-in

>>5624723
>Order Lauronum to examine the handcom

>>5624723
>>Order Lauronum to examine the handcom

>Order Lauronum to examine the handcom

Still a naive girl I expect.

>>5624723
>>Order Lauronum to examine the handcom

Rolled 10, 3 = 13 (2d10)

>>5624786
>>5624860
>>5624967
>>5625016

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: marie closeup.jpg (41 KB, 512x512)

41 KB JPG

Unsure what to say, Marie opens her mouth momentarily and glances toward the bridge door and back to Lauronum. "Dara has a device. I don't believe it's been sanctioned by the Cult Mechanicus. I wish you to examine it."

Lauronum taps the control panel with one finger and it chirps in response. "Almost ready to begin the Warp jump. What kind of device?"

"It's a..."

The door slides open and Valorus and Kess step onto the bridge with Astryd close behind. Marie looks up with a guilty grin and takes an involuntary step before she looks back at Lauronum.

Her tech-priest nods and turns her attention back down to the dark glass. "I'll examine it after we enter the Warp."

"Very good," Marie walks briskly past Valorus toward her captain's chair.

"Trouble?"

"No!" the princess says, with more emphasis than she wants. "Nothing important. Is everything secure?"

"Captain Kess and I made sure of it. And Astryd says the Callidus isn't causing any problems." When Valorus gestures at Astryd the young girl looks down and begins to blush again.

Marie leans back in her chair. "Very good. Operate the Warp drive, Lauronum." Her tech-priest obeys, and when Lauronum is certain they have begun their proper course, she glances at Marie and with a nod exits the bridge.

Marie remains seated while Astryd peppers Valorus with questions, then rises. When Kess looks up Marie waves a dismissive hand. "I'm going to my quarters. Alert me if anything changes."

When Marie reaches the door to her quarters she can hear muffled shouting from the room beyond.

"Princess Marie instructed me to examine it. Now give it to..."

"I don't care what your princess says! This is a delicate instrument and I don't need you prodding at something you don't..."

"I just want to look at it for a..."

"This is a very critical stage in the process! You're going to..."

"Give it to me."

"Let go of it!"

"No, give it to..."

"I said let go..."

The two young women pause for a moment and stare silently at Marie as she stands in the doorway. Then Dara tugs at the handcom and Lauronum turns her attention back toward the device. Marie strides into the room and Dara glances toward her angrily as the two struggle.

The princess glances to her side as she realizes Astryd has been drawn by the sound of the scuffle.

"Let go!"

"You were ordered to..."

"Watch out, you're going to..."

A loud electric snap startles Marie as the room is plunged into darkness for a long moment. A red flashing begins to illuminate the darkness and Dara stumble-runs across Marie's quarters to tap at a control panel on the far wall. A moment later she looks up at the others in terror.

"The shield emitter has been disengaged!"

Astryd folds her arms. "Princess Sigismundus, your attendant is certainly knowledgeable about this ship." The young girl gives a startled shriek when glass shatters in Marie's bedchamber.

"There's something in here," says Lauronum.

File: daemon.jpg (74 KB, 512x512)

74 KB JPG

An instant later something red and horned and roughly half her size rushes out of the dark bedchamber and leaps onto the tech-priest. Lauronum screams in pain and flails backward. An angry gibbering fills the room.

"It's a daemon!" shrieks Astryd.

The daemon is struck from Lauronum by a shot from Marie's lasrifle and smashes through a chair. It rises and the wound begins to boil and close and as it recovers Astryd draws a tiny laspistol and fires alongside Marie. The daemon tumbles out of their line of sight and into the shadows.

"Get Lauronum," Marie orders, and when Dara remains paralyzed Marie kneels wide-eyed and drags Lauronum inch by inch while she sweeps the lasrifle from side to side. Astryd tugs at Dara's tunic and the young woman emerges from her stupor and helps lift Lauronum to her feet.

A jarring thump knocks over a table and the monster gibbers in the dark.

"Let's get out of here," Marie whispers as they back slowly toward the door.

Marie enters the hallway first with her lasrifle. Dara follows behind holding Lauronum on her feet with one hand. In Dara's other hand she clutches a serving knife with a bit of cake frosting still on it. Astryd closes the rear, stepping back out of Marie's quarters with her tiny laspistol not much larger than the young girl's fist.

"Valorus?" Marie calls to the empty hallway. "Captain Kess?" She takes another step. The intermittence of red flashing in the void has begun to give her vertigo. "No guardsmen," Marie says. "No Space Marines. They should have come to see on me by now."

There is more gibbering from farther down the hall and as the four young women turn they see another daemon wandering the far end of the junction. It seems to notice the attention and when it turns it immediately breaks into a spring down the hall at them, gibbering in rage.

The four young women scream in fright and flee.

The daemon in Marie's quarters bursts out of the door and tumbles into the hallway to join the pursuit.

They reach a junction with Dara and Astryd helping Lauronum and as they do Astryd tries to run straight through it as Dara pulls Lauronum to the right.

"The bridge is this way!" Dara says and chances a terrified look backward up the empty hallway.

"Anette's quarters are just down the hall," Astryd says and when she tries to pull Lauronum toward her Dara jerks the tech-priest back toward the right passageway.

"We need to get to the bridge to restart the shield emitter!"

"What if there are more daemons aboard?" pleads Astryd.

All four turn in fright as they hear the gibbering of their pursuers echo up the hallway.

>Keep going toward the bridge
>Detour toward Anette's quarters
>Split up
>Write-in

>>5627296
>Detour toward Anette's quarters
If it's not too far from the bridge. I don't like the idea of her locked up alone in a box with these things running around.

>>5627296
>>Split up

>>5627296
>Detour toward Anette's quarters
Splitting up in a dark ship full of demons is never a good idea.

Rolled 3, 7 = 10 (2d10)

>>5627412
>>5627500
>>5627682

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: big one.jpg (77 KB, 512x512)

77 KB JPG

Marie turns from the gibbering and hurries down the corridor toward Anette's quarters. "Come on, let's go before it gets here."

The other three follow close behind and when Marie peers around the corner Walton is nowhere to be seen. Beyond the doorway is a muffled crash and as Marie taps the control panel the door slides open and another of the gibbering daemons leap at the changeling with Marie's face.

The Callidus swings a silver chamberstick and clubs the daemon backward into a table leg that shatters with the impact. Anette is panting and the daemon senses weakness as it bursts through the table surface like a bolter round with fangs bared. A shot from Marie's lasrifle knocks it spinning and bubbling against the wall and Anette looks across the room wide-eyed at the girls clustered in the doorway.

"Hurry!" Marie shouts, firing again and again. The daemon springs from side to side nimbly avoiding Marie and Astryd's fire as Anette sprints toward the door.

Dara flings the serving knife like a throwing dagger, impaling the daemon's eye and as it stumbles to yank the knife from its socket Anette leaps forward through the doorway. Dara's fist bangs the control panel and the door slides shut just in time to shudder with the daemon's impact. "These doors don't hold them for long."

"What's happened?" the changeling asks Marie, and the princess glances from her reflection to Dara and the wounded tech-priest. Lauronum's eyes flutter as she tries to stay conscious.

"The Gellar field was... interrupted. All of my guardsmen and Space Marines seem to have vanished. We need to get to the bridge to fix the Gellar field."

Anette's face curls in bewilderment. "If you need to get to the bridge, what are you doing here?"

"We came to rescue you, of course." Marie gasps and raises her lasrifle at the sound of gibbering. As she does the daemon bursts through the door beside her. Anette spin-kicks the daemon down the hall into its horrible companions as they round the corner.

"This way!" Dara shouts and drags Lauronum forward. "There's an access corridor at the end of this hallway. We can use it as a shortcut." Marie and Astryd strafe the hallway behind them as all five hurry toward the end of the hallway.

The deck shudders under Marie's feet as an enormous daemon the size of a Space Marine squeezes its bulk into the hallway and bellows. Behind her the three daemonlings press closer and closer.

Marie and Dara share a glance and speak in unison.

"The long way around."

File: angry marie.jpg (81 KB, 512x512)

81 KB JPG

"Are you sure you know where you're going?" There is a petulant tone to Marie's voice but she doesn't care.

"Yes, your majesty," Dara glares. "We can follow this corridor around the curve of the starboard edge. Just like I said." For the moment they have outmaneuvered the daemons at their heels.

"Princess Sigismundus, how can you take such disrespect from your servant?" Astryd's tone is no less irritable.

"Don't call me a servant, you little..."

"This is getting us nowhere. I would have been better off in my quarters," hisses Anette.

"I didn't want to waste time with you!" snaps Dara and nearly drops Lauronum. "Thanks to you I lost my knife."

Anette's brow furls in anger. "I can find a knife to give you."

"Quiet, all of you!" shouts Marie and jabs her lasrifle's barrel at them. "You're here to serve me, understand?" The princess glares from Dara to Anette to Astryd when she realizes Lauronum is clutching her arm. "What?" Marie snaps and grabs Lauronum and when the tech-priest whimpers in pain Marie smiles. The sight and smell and feel of Lauronum's wet blood sends Marie's heart racing.

"We're all showing heightened emotions. More than the situation warrants."

"What are you saying?" Marie demands and jerks her tech-priest closer. "I'm not a good leader?"

Lauronum's head lolls and one of the lights on her chest begins to flicker arhythmically as she forces her head upright to meet Marie's eyes. "Something is clouding our minds."

Marie turns away and puts her fingertip to her lips. "My judgement is perfectly sound. What possible..."

"You're licking my blood off your fingers."

Anette jabs her chamberstick at Astryd's laspistol. "Give me your weapon."

Astryd's mouth curls in a sneer. "You, ordering me?"

"Oh, no," Dara snarls. Lauronum slides down the wall to a slump as Dara confronts the young girl. "She's the reason I lost my knife. If anyone gets that pistol it's me. Hand it over."

"I told you all to be quiet!" shouts Marie. "I only need one person to help me fix this, and it's not you," she snaps at Astryd, "or you!" she shouts at Anette.

Anette grabs the barrel of Marie's lasrifle. "Don't point that at me, you prissy little..."

In the back of her mind Marie realizes Lauronum is saying something about the big one getting closer.

>Take a few moments and join hands in prayer to the God-Emperor of Mankind
>Hurry as fast as you can to the bridge to restart the shield emitter
>Write-in

>>5630569
>Hurry as fast as you can to the bridge to restart the shield emitter
Channel our aggression constructively.

>>5630569
>>Take a few moments and join hands in prayer to the God-Emperor of Mankind

>>5630569
>Hurry as fast as you can to the bridge to restart the shield emitter

Rolled 3, 1 = 4 (2d10)

>>5630861
>>5630867
>>5631348

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: empty hall.jpg (65 KB, 512x512)

65 KB JPG

Marie gives a sharp tug and Anette loses her grasp on the lasrifle long enough for the princess to back up three paces and aim it at the other.

"The next one to speak is getting shot," Marie shouts. "Now, we're going to the bridge as a group." She waves the barrel toward Anette. "Astryd, give Anette your pistol." Astryd opens her mouth to protest when Marie's lasrifle warming up silences her. The young girl angrily thrusts her laspistol toward Anette.

Anette looks questioningly at the princess and Marie waves her lasrifle's barrel down the deserted hallway. "You're on point. I'll cover our rear. Dara will direct. Astryd," she says, and glances at the young girl. "Help Dara carry Lauronum."

Marie glances back and waves her lasrifle at the others.

"Let's go."

The hallways are completely empty and when she hears quiet sobbing Marie looks at Lauronum but the tech-priest is barely conscious. Astryd sniffles.

"What's wrong?" Marie demands and Astryd shakes her head vigorously as she sniffles again.

"This is all my fault! I was paying more attention to Valorus than to my duty and now everyone is lost!"

Marie is about to laugh at the absurdity of her outburst when the princess remembers Astryd is the youngest among them and instead tells her, "Don't be foolish, this has nothing to do with you." When Astryd sniffles again Marie reaches over and puts a hand on her arm. "Let's concentrate on fixing the Gellar field."

Dara glances across Lauronum at Astryd and Marie. "We're getting close," she whispers. "The bridge access corridor is just ahead."

Anette peers out into the hallway and waves the others toward her.

Marie glances at Lauronum. The tech-priest's eyes are fully closed. "So far, so good," Marie whispers to herself.

File: interloper.jpg (84 KB, 512x512)

84 KB JPG

The bridge is as empty as the hallways when Anette bursts in, laspistol first. The others file in behind and Dara hurries to her post and begins pecking at the dark glass of her control panel.

"Beginning preliminary scan."

Marie frowns at the unfamiliar squawks and Dara's soon begins to frown as well.

"What's wrong?" Marie asks as she edges closer to the control panel.

Dara shakes her head. "I don't know. I'm detecting multiple lifeforms aboard."

"The daemons?"

Dara glances up at Marie. "It's the guardsmen and Space Marines! They're somehow out of phase..."

"You mean they're still alive?" Marie gawks at the control panel as though she can decipher it. Dara resumes her frantic pecking.

"I'm not sure. It's like some unknown force is holding them outside of reality. If I restart the shield emitter..."

"Yes?"

Dara glances up at Marie and swallows. "It might bring them back into phase, or it might cause their dissolution."

An unfamiliar voice laughs. "Might, might, might! That's what it always comes down to in the end."

"Princess Marie?" Anette has her laspistol aimed at the captain's chair. "There's some kind of..." Anette swallows. "Warp entity."

"That's not a very nice thing to call me," the interloper says. Her hair seems to rise and shift as though it's floating free in the void and Marie can't tell if the being's horns are a crown or part of her skull.

"Who are you?" Marie demands. "What have you done with my men?"

"My men now." The being reclines in Marie's chair. "You may call me Domme Mollitia. I've claimed this vessel as my own. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

The being grins. "I will trade you my ship and all its crew."

Marie folds her arms. "And what do you ask of me?"

"A service," the being says, "at some later time."

>Bargain with the Warp entity
>Order Dara to restart the shield emitter
>Order Anette to open fire on the Warp entity
>Write-in

>>5632915
>>Bargain with the Warp entity

>>5632915
>I and MY crew are loyal servants of the God-Emperor, you should know better than to ask me, or any of us, to render service to one so far from His light. I ask again, what do you want, Ms Mollitia, which I doubt is your real name, and be reasonable this time. Nice hair, by the way.

>>5632915
>Pray to the Emperor
>Order Dara to restart the shield emitter

>>5633153
+1

>>5633153
Supporting

Rolled 6, 2 = 8 (2d10)

>>5632922
>>5632932
>>5633153
>>5633216
>>5633237

+ 4 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: ebbesen.jpg (70 KB, 512x512)

70 KB JPG

"A promise to serve, and you'll return my crew?" Marie emphasizes the word. The princess turns as she crosses her arms and with her head bowed gives the slightest glance toward Dara. "I don't see any other choice."

"Splendid." The interloper grins and tilts her head as Marie looks back. "But you must speak the words."

"Yes," Marie agrees. "I must."

"Then speak," says the being. "Pledge yourself to me."

"I, and those beneath me, pledge our eternal loyalty..."

The being leans forward with predatory eagerness.

Astryd's anger has overridden her fear and she blurts out "Princess Sigismundus, you mustn't!" Marie glances at Astryd and the girl's face melds from anger to confusion as she sees a tiny smirk before the princess turns once more toward the interloper and grips the railing in front of her.

Marie's gaze flashes up and the interloper recoils.

"...to the God-Emperor of Mankind, for we are His children now and forever! I cast you out of His divine light and into the Warp, Domme Mollitia, or whatever your true name may be! Dara, now!"

Dara's control panel gives a double chirp and the interloper shrieks as the Gellar field returns and so do Marie's guardsmen and Space Marines, slowly fading back into existence.

Marie shouts "Fire!" and the being snarls as Anette aims her laspistol and joins the princess's attack. Guardsman Ebbesen is the first to regain his wits and the two young women are soon joined by the sustained fire of Marie's reapparated forces.

The warp entity shrieks and evaporates beneath the lasers and when enough of the room is finally cleared of acidic smoke to see, Marie waves a hand in front of her face and frowns. "It's a pity."

Captain Kess squints through the smoke in surprise. "Beg pardon, yer majesty?"

"I liked that chair."

"Princess Marie, your tech-priest!" Valorus kneels next to Lauronum and when he lifts her from the deck her arms hang limply.

"Medics!" Marie cries and looks up at the Space Marine. "Is she..."

"Alive, for the moment," Valorus says when two guardsmen rush onto the bridge.

"Attend to Lauronum at once," Marie orders the men, and as Valorus gently lowers Lauronum into their arms Marie looks up from her tech-priest. "Send your Eternal Swords and check the ship for more daemons. There may be a very large one."

Marie leans toward Dara and whispers in her ear. "I will speak to you later about the danger of machines."

Valorus's Space Marines follow the guardsmen medics as they carry Lauronum's limp body off the bridge and Marie forces her attention to larger matters.

"Status, Dara?"

The panel chirps and Dara looks up. "The course laid in by Lauronum... it's still plotted! The Columba Dei has been following it the entire time!"

File: map5.jpg (294 KB, 1500x1159)

294 KB JPG

"The Emperor protects." Astryd has snuck alongside Marie without her noticing and the girl looks up. "Princess Sigismundus... Princess Marie... I want to thank you. For... When I..." The girl's face burns with humiliation.

Marie squeezes Astryd's hand and as she looks up blinking back tears Marie smiles and says, "We both did our best. I'm sure your father will be very proud."

"Now what?" asks Astryd.

Marie nods at the changeling who shares her face. "It's time we brought Anette in on our plan."

"We should reconvene in the war room." Valorus crosses through the haze and Marie notices a blush creeping over Astryd's face.

"I think a meeting for ladies only is in order at the moment. We will call on you if needed." Marie glances at Captain Kess and the princess bites back a shared grin that Kess doesn't bother to hide.

"What..." Valorus begins to question when Kess lays a hand on his arm and tilts his head toward the door, grinning all the while.

"Beg pardon, sir. The princess is right. We should secure the perimeter rooms before letting down our guard."

When the men have left the bridge Marie tilts her head up and looks down at Anette. "Callidus. Return Astryd's weapon."

Anette raises an eyebrow at Marie's command but doesn't hesitate to turn the tiny laspistol handle-out toward the girl. "Are you going to have me killed?"

"Quite the opposite. I am pleased with how you conducted yourself during this... situation. I wasn't sure if I could trust you."

"And now?"

Marie grins. "I plan to have you well-armed by the time we reach Multa."

"Multa?" When Anette speaks the world's name there is a twinge in her voice Marie has not heard until now.

"Stanislaus Grenz has within his palace a dead man's switch to scuttle his fleet, does he not?"

Anette nods. "I've heard such. If he does I've never seen it."

"Then we'll probably need him alive. My own fleet is engaged against his at this moment to keep them drawn away from Multa." Marie looks across the room at her ruined chair. The air has almost cleared of smoke. "I would hear your advice, Callidus Anette."

"A direct assault might be difficult."

"what do you mean?"

"He has some kind of archeotech force fields protecting his palace. Both inside and out."

Marie grips the railing and thinks for a moment before she looks back at the changeling. "What was Grenz's plan for once I was... replaced?"

"I was supposed to publicly declare your surrender in front of your forces and grant him dominion of the Questarai Thread."

"And why do you continue to wear my face?"

Anette reaches up and touches her cheek in surprise as though she hadn't considered the question. "It's easier for me to stay like this."

>Order Anette to infiltrate the palace by herself
>Order Anette to lead your Space Marines and storm the palace
>Pretend to be Anette pretending to be you surrendering
>Write-in

>>5635336
>>Order Anette to lead your Space Marines and storm the palace

>>5635336
>>Order Anette to lead your Space Marines and storm the palace

>>5635336
>Pretend to be Anette pretending to be you surrendering

>>5635336
Annette is a professional, an expert at her craft. Give her the facts and let her decide for herself the best way to accomplish the given task.

>>5635336
>>Pretend to be Anette pretending to be you surrendering

Rolled 1, 9 = 10 (2d10)

>>5635342
>>5635492
>>5635497
>>5635530
>>5635794

+ 5 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: attack plan.jpg (90 KB, 512x512)

90 KB JPG

"How were you to contact Stanislaus once you had replaced me?"

Anette glances at the bridge voxscreen. "There's a coded frequency. I have it memorized."

"Good. You and Astryd will accompany me to my quarters." Marie turns from the railing and when the other two pause Marie looks back with a smile. "We need to get you dressed if Stanislaus is going to think you've replaced me." Marie doesn't mention to Dara that with Lauronum injured, she must remain on the bridge.

When Dara opens the bridge door two hours later Valorus is waiting just beyond. "This is part of your plan?" he asks as he looks between the two Maries.

"Anette has provided a most excellent suggestion," Marie agrees as the Space Marine enters with Kess close behind. "Stand over there. Captain Kess, you will stand here." Valorus and Kess exchange a quick glance and move into their assigned positions and when she's satisfied with their placement Marie steps to the corner of the bridge out of the vox lens's view and nods to Dara.

The dark glass chirps twice and a few moments later the image of Stanislaus Grenz, the Lord of Multa appears.

"Princess Sigismundus of Bastius?" Lord Grenz shifts in feigned surprise. "How may I be of service?"

Anette steps between Kess and Valorus and gestures toward the voxscreen. "I have found myself an inadequate ruler, Lord Grenz. The task before me is too great." Anette hangs her head. "If you would have it, I would like to meet with you and arrange for you to take custody of the Questarai Thread."

"I would be honored to receive you," Grenz says.

Anette gestures toward Valorus. "I will be accompanied by a small honor guard to witness the proceedings. The captain of the guardsmen, and the second of the Eternal Swords chapter, and six men under each."

"Of course," agrees Lord Grenz. "I look forward to it."

"Beg pardon, yer majesty." As soon as the screen goes dark Kess speaks. "If you'd told me what was gonna happen I wouldn't have been so..."

"You gave a very realistic performance, Captain Kess." Marie looks up at Valorus.

"I hope that's not the end of your plans."

The Space Marine has a grin that Marie soon matches. "When we arrive above Multa I will pose as Anette and take our shuttle down that evening with you, Captain Kess, and an honor guard. Under cover of darkness, a strike team of Eternal Swords led by Anette will accompany us down on the underside of the hull while the palace's outer force field is inactive. With Stanislaus's attention on myself and my procession, the strike team will disable the archeotech force field generator inside the palace. As I'm about to proclaim Stanislaus ruler of the Questarai Thread, Anette and the strike team will disable the force field protecting Stanislaus and he'll be taken captive. Once he's been subdued he will be made to reveal the dead man's switch. The Multa fleet will be crippled, and my own fleet will easily overcome the battlecruisers of Feltrov."

File: marie nervous.jpg (78 KB, 512x512)

78 KB JPG

"Status, Captain?" Marie whispers as they slowly walk through the enormous throneroom toward the Lord of Multa's brightly buzzing force field. On either side of them hundreds of soldiers in power armor line the aisle.

"We've lost contact with Lookingglass," Kess whispers back. "I'm sure it's just interference."

"I don't think we're walking slowly enough," whispers Valorus.

"Ah, Princess Sigismundus." Lord Stanislaus Grenz's booms out as he beckons from the throne beyond his crackling archeotech wards. "Step forth, and be received."

>Try to stall until Anette disables the force fields
>Order Dara to debark with her forbidden handcom
>Order your guardsmen and Space Marines to aid your escape
>Write-in

>>5636899
>We rolled 19
Time to roll 00
>Order Dara to debark with her forbidden handcom

>>5636899
>Try to stall until Anette disables the force fields
Have Kess and Valorus protest and start an argument about the impropriety of this, about how our father would be disappointed, the trust and sacrifice of the men discarded, and that the divine mandate from the Emperor should not be relinquished so lightly.

>>5636899
>>Try to stall until Anette disables the force fields

Rolled 7, 9 = 16 (2d10)

>>5636909
>>5637466
>>5638986

+ 5 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: marie altar.jpg (57 KB, 512x512)

57 KB JPG

Marie swallows and throws a quick glance at Kess.

"Beg pardon, Lord Grenz. Yer honor." Kess interrupts just as Marie begins to raise her foot onto the dais. "This is..." He looks at Valorus. "What's the word? Irregular?"

"Improper," Valorus replies and turns his head toward Stanislaus. "Lord Grenz, for ten thousand years the Imperium of Mankind has obeyed the will of the Emperor and..."

"Not to mention what the princess's father would think if he heard that she was..."

"Carrying through with this would dishonor the names of the men who've sacrificed themselves under her command. Not just my own fellow Eternal Swords, but the brave guardsmen, and the..."

"At least wed 'er so you can say it's a political marriage."

"MARRIAGE?" Marie and Valorus exclaim the word in unison.

Stanislaus laughs on his throne behind his archeotech wards. "Marriage! What a wonderful suggestion." He looks over at the servant cowering near the edge of the force field. "Werner, make preparations. We will be wed at once." The Lord of Multa turns his eager grin back toward Marie.

"You can't... I mean, I..." Marie stammers and blurts "I don't even have a dress!"

"Nonsense." Stanislaus waves a hand. "You look about the same size as my late tenth wife. Guards, escort Princess Sigismundus to the women's wing."

Kess and Valorus close ranks around Marie and she glances from them to Stanislaus with a nervous smile. "I suppose it can't hurt to try it on."

Two hours later, Marie is ushered back into the throneroom. A quick glance at Kess and his nearly imperceptible head shake sours Marie's hope that Anette's team is close to success in disabling the force fields.

"You look lovely, Princess Sigismundus," grins Lord Grenz. "I will send for the priest at once."

"No!" Marie exclaims and quickly amends herself. "I mean... it is customary on Bastius for the groom to first provide a dower."

Stanislaus turns as the servant scurries toward the edge of the force field and when the Lord of Multa taps the arm of his throne a section of the field disappears. The servant whispers in his ear and Stanislaus's grin widens even further. "I have just such a gift. It seems a band of Space Marines have just been caught attempting to infiltrate my palace. They are now contained and helpless." Lord Grenz sees the fear waver on Marie's face and continues, smiling all the while. "You see, Princess Sigismundus, my grasp encompasses your own. No doubt you discovered my envoy and forced her to reveal what she knew. It's no matter now. I have exactly what I want."

"Wait!" Marie steps forward onto the dais. Before Stanislaus can silence her Marie looks up. "I demand my maid be brought down from the Columba Dei to act as my bridesmaid."

"Of course," Grenz nods.

Marie glances at Kess. "Send two men in the shuttle to retrieve Dara." When Kess turns she adds, "And Captain... tell her to bring something old."

File: priest.jpg (64 KB, 512x512)

64 KB JPG

"No more stalling," demands the Lord of Multa as Dara hurries into the throneroom adjusting her bonnet all the while. "Werner." The servant cringes at his own name. "Go and bring in the priest."

Kess and Valorus are pressed back at gunpoint and when Werner ushers in the priest and his attendants with their braziers already aflame Marie finds herself alone at the base of the dais with her back to the crowd. At the top of the dais Stanislaus remains seated on his throne behind his archeotech force fields. Marie wishes she could see Kess or Valorus, but from here she can only look at Lord Grenz behind his crackling wards and his servant cowering on the far side of the dais. She can't even see Dara.

Marie turns her head toward the priest when he begins to speak.

"We are gathered here beneath the gaze of the Emperor of Mankind to sanctify the union between Lord Stanislaus Grenz, Lord of Multa, Ruler of Seges and Supreme Monarch of Villam, holder of the Key of Seneca, and Princess Marie Naivetus Sigismundus of Bastius."

Marie swallows again.

"Do you, Princess Sigismundus, submit yourself to be taken as the bride of Lord Stanislaus Grenz, the Lord of Multa?"

"I do..." Marie tries to draw out her answer but the priest turns to Stanislaus.

"And do you, Lord Stanislaus Grenz, take Princess Sigismundus as your wife?"

"Of course," Stanislaus grins at Marie from his throne.

"Then by the grace of the Emperor, I..."

Marie hears a familiar chirp behind her, and the force fields around Stanislaus disappear.

At once, Valorus and his six fellow Space Marines leap onto the dais as Marie's guardsmen rush toward her.

Stanislaus lunges off his throne in panic and is immediately met at knifepoint by his servant Werner. The servant smiles over Lord Grenz's shoulder at Marie as his face begins to liquefy.

"Anette!" Marie cries in surprise.

"You can't do this!" shouts the priest. Kess raises his sidearm and fires three rounds through the priest's miter and the man goes silent.

"Tell your guards to leave," Anette orders Stanislaus.

"Anette, you... you can't do this! I order you to..."

"Quiet," Anette says and presses the blade harder against his neck.

Marie crosses her arms as Valorus picks up Stanislaus by his arms and carries him across the dais. "Now, my beloved, you'll activate the dead man's switch."

Stanislaus only struggles for a moment before Valorus's grip persuades him and he sags limply and glances toward his throne.

File: map5.jpg (277 KB, 1500x1159)

277 KB JPG

Princess Marie now controls the planet Multa, the moon Seneca, the planet Villam, and the planet Seges. Her Dominion increases to 38, and her Reputation increases to 7.

Another chirp draws Marie's attention to Dara and she smiles as she turns. "I'm glad you got my message."

"It wasn't hard to understand," Dara replies, not looking up from her handcom. "The ship detected Union energy patterns all over this structure." She finally looks up and meets Marie's eyes. "I'd like to remain here and examine it."

"The plan is to resume course toward Fossa now that we've completed our objective here."

Dara frowns and then smiles at Marie. "It shouldn't take more than a few days, especially if I'm allowed to freely move about this place. Maybe you can just leave me here?"

Marie shakes her head. "Lauronum is in no condition to pilot the Columba Dei."

"Surely you can see the benefit to looking further into it."

Marie is silent. She can't deny the usefulness of Lord Grenz's archeotech but her tech-priest lies in hospital because of Dara's handcom.

>Board the Columba Dei and order it toward Fossa
>Remain on Multa and allow Dara to examine the archeotech
>Write-in

>>5640208
>Remain on Multa and allow Dara to examine the archeotech
with the dead man switch triggered his ships should b out of commission and our fleet relatively safe fort he time being, liking their wounds as there are no pressings enemies at the moment for us or our fleet
and give from Marie perception the oldest human she knows some time learn about what is archeotech to us but relatively common tech for her

>>5640208
>>Remain on Multa and allow Dara to examine the archeotech

>>5640208
>Remain on Multa and allow Dara to examine the archeotech

Rolled 7, 9 = 16 (2d10)

>>5640227
>>5640243
>>5640341

+ 5 Princess Points

Scribing...

File: brixton.jpg (78 KB, 512x512)

78 KB JPG

Finally Marie looks at Captain Kess. "Send a vox to Chapter Master Hansteen. We will remain on Multa until I receive word that the Multa fleet has been scuttled." She beckons to Anette. "Is the true Werner still alive?"

"Yes, Just bound. Why?"

"He'll be instrumental in uncovering Lord Grenz's true wealth. Have him brought to me, please." Marie looks down at her wedding dress and calls to Kess. "Captain," she starts when Anette returns with Werner in tow. "Have the palace chef prepare a feast," Marie orders the man.

"Yer majesty?" Kess asks.

"Please have some of your men bring Astryd down from the Columba Dei." Marie looks down again. "I'm going to change clothes."

Two days pass without a response from Felton and Marie finds herself visiting Dara ten levels below the Lord of Multa's throneroom. At this depth the corridors are filled with uncleared dust and the lights flicker unsteadily. The halls around her begin to resemble the Columba Dei. When the princess finally steps into the dim chamber she bends down and peers inside the disassembled wall.

"You haven't come up for breakfast. It's almost nightfall. How are you progressing?"

Dara climbs out of the wall and wipes her palms against her hips. "This generator hasn't been maintained for twenty thousand years and in a few more years it's going to break down forever no matter what I do."

"Could we relocate it and install it in my palace on Bastius?"

"Maybe if we had a dozen labor drones and someone who understood the schematics." When Dara brushes her hair back she looks down at her handcom. "I did find something else. Outgoing information encoded in the long-term storage medium..." Dara sees Marie's brow start to frown and hastens. "A message that was never sent."

"Message?"

"Here, I might be able to display it if the room's holocom is still online."

The handcom squawks and when Dara raps the side of it in tired frustration it chirps and a man made of light springs from nowhere in front of Marie.

"Dr. Brixton!" blurts Dara as her wide eyes reflect its glow.

Curious, Marie presses her fingertip through the electric ghost. "Doctor?"

"Not that kind," Dara says. "A scientist. He was the one who... Wait, listen."

"...imperative that you not proceed with my distortion field experiment. I repeat, shut down the distortion generator immediately. I believe the aperture it creates will quickly expand beyond your ability to control. Your base on Feltrov may survive the expansion but the Columba Dei will likely be destroyed along with most of the system! I don't know if you'll receive this. If the distortion field has already been created it will reach this system in...

The ghostly image jitters and freezes like a statue, then disappears entirely. Marie turns to Dara and sees the woman is staring silently at the wall. "Dara?"

"He knew." Dara looks at Marie. "He knew and he tried to warn us but it was too late."

File: maps.jpg (841 KB, 5886x1159)

841 KB JPG

"Beg pardon, yer majesty." Captain Kess has found them and stands in the doorway.

Marie turns her head slightly. "Yes, Captain, what is it?"

"We received a vox from Chapter Master Hansteen."

Marie lowers her head to meet Dara's eyes. "Are you..."

"I'm fine," Dara says. "It doesn't matter."

Marie thinks the ability to create a Warp storm could matter a great deal.

"Greetings, Princess Sigismundus," says Felton's image on the palace voxscreen. Next to him is Inquisitor Richter. "Your plan was brilliant. Once the Multa fleet was crippled, the pair of battlecruisers fled from us and disappeared into the Warp. You might say we're in a floating graveyard here above Ygnir. We're making good use of the shipyards below. Now all that remains is the Lord of Feltrov."

"That is not precisely true, Chapter Master. The Lord of Feltrov has been dead for months." Felton turns his head and gawks as the Inquisitor continues. "I have been keeping the facade to avoid upsetting the balance of power until this decisive stroke. Princess Sigismundus, I wished for your wild men to siege Feltrov because I have been unable to breach the inner command center populated by the Lord's most fanatical men. They have contact with the battlecruisers, as well as the Lord of Feltrov's other assets."

"Captain?" Marie glances toward Kess.

"Yer majesty?"

"Please mention in our reply that Astryd was instrumental in overcoming the challenge of a Gellar field failure."

Valorus looks down at Marie. "Does this change your plan?"

>Order your fleet to blockade Feltrov until you arrive
>Order your fleet toward Fossa to commandeer the battleships above Beatrix
>Write-in

>>5641790
>Order your fleet to blockade Feltrov until you arrive

>>5641790
>>Order your fleet to blockade Feltrov until you arrive

>>5641790
>Order your fleet toward Fossa to commandeer the battleships above Beatrix

Rolled 10, 7 = 17 (2d10)

>>5641944
>>5641961
>>5642029

+ 5 Princess Points

Scribing...

The next story update will be in a new thread, which will be linked from here. Thank you for playing so far!