Bron charges at the mutant cowering behind the hydroponics bay leaping up then over it and (21vs72) slashing the mutant in the head. (17-3=15 damage) The cultist steps back just in time for the blow to slash across their face, tearing off his nose, and surrounding tissue. Blood pours out as he cries out in pain and collapses to the floor unconscious.
(The cultists are dodging and stuff I just am not putting it in where not relevant. Also these guys were clearly not a match for you guys... gotta up that difficulty.)
Sarvus follows Zayer deeper into the administrative sector of the station, all a part of the same single governing complex. The passing servants, drunk party guests and opulent displays thin out until a much simpler and run down area is reached. The walls are undecorated and while well constructed out of fine wood and marble once are now in a state of damage and decay. The pair skirt a few guards who still seem numerous and attentive until popping around a corner where a pair in flack armor stand in front of a archway crowned by several sinister gargoyles.
One of the guards looks up suddenly, putting her hand to a holstered pistol and barking Hey, where the hell do you think you are.
The other guard, who has his helmet off and a shotgun strapped to his back, looks up from a small book he is reading towards you two.
Zayer makes an innocent hand motion you recognize, the target is ahead.
Strait to the point Mr. Herenton, I hope I have gauged you and your shipmates correctly. First, my clients are not human, if that gives you pause I can stop, she waits for a second then continues They wish to sell something of enormous value to your captain, the location of a world of humans, lost for thousands of years in this expanse. They are feudal, with some technology, and as far as can be told, faithful.
My clients are pulling out of this sector, it will be decades before all preparations are made but this secret world will not remain so forever, so they wish to sell while they can.
If you can get Mr Holt to trade something of value for the location, I am prepared to offer you charts leading to a major pirate base affiliated to those who destroyed several naval vessels.
She places the suit case on the floor.
Inside you will find star charts to where you can make the exchange with my clients along with a briefing on them and their, tastes. If you have no questions then I will be on my way.
Holt holds down his own while partaking in the wine and learns a great deal about the current politics of the realm.
The 'Jarl' it turns out is technically the governor not of the station but of all the conquered imperial worlds in the sub-sector, however the title is a joke because it does not contain the rights to call up basically any imperial resources to assist. Victor is the grandson of the leader of the original scouring of the expanse but the title was only titular until his faction lost a struggle for a major post in Segmentum Tempestus. Some wanted him to continue the intrigue but he decided to make a new fortune here with the rights he thought he had, then he found how dire the situation really was.
Besides the Green Lands, there are numerous minor colonies that can offer no tribute but are ripe for new ventures.
A good example is the death world Hadrian's Hope, granted to an imperial guard commander as a reward for decades of loyal service. There is only a single settlement, heavily walled on a mountain overlooking a desolate landscape filled with terrible monstrosities. However the planet is mineral rich, has valuable fungus for both food and medicinal purposes and many of the monstrosities would make excellent trade in both live animals and body parts.
The piracy and generally new structure of trade also allows constant changes to existing trade agreements. For example, recently a freighter contract between a prison mining world and the only reclaimed forge world has gone up for grabs. The warden and Archtechpriest are currently looking for someone who can provide protection and find out who has raided two shipments of ore bound for the forge.
Lastly there are known worlds of heathens and xenos which were never visited by the crusade before it was recalled for other duties. The New Federation is one such cluster of worlds, said to have xenos and tech heretics in abundance. Raiding or outright conquest of those worlds would be fair game to an ambitious man.
Many of these ventures might require more then a single ship could provide, however there seem to be numerous free captains in the expanse, only loosely operating under other people's license. They could be bought for a cut of the profits to help provide temporary assistance or long term watch of assets. Captain Conleth Tighearnán is one such man, you had seen his ship on the other lower docking pylon. He was a naval captain who went on a long range scouting mission and found that more to his liking then structured fleet action. His crew seemed to agree and they have been under other contracts, officially lent by the Navy only because hunting him down would take too much effort. Conleth can generally be found in a seedy bar, picking fights, apparently.
Marrine lets out a laugh at Amara's protestations. Oh just a joke, I know he is far too timid for a.. superior, she grabs Serge by the arm and begins leading the two of you towards one of the side halls. You notice several guests move to block her followers, leaving the three of you in private (with an ogyren chaperone you had not noticed before) as you sit down at a long table in a side passage filled with food and a few revelers.
We were engaged, Servus begins explaining when Marrine interrupts Are engaged but this little one decided to run away.
I was assigned here. You can't just try and control every aspect of my life!
Oh but that is our lot, dear cousin. Wouldn't you agree, she asks turning to Amara, that we should get what pleasures we can while serving?
As you ask about the expanse she goes over some rumors and legends, as she has been here more recently they sound fascinating. On the edge of the storms ships and worlds have been spotted in the warp, stranded but sound, with some sort of field protecting them. Her captain had shied away as they had been doing other business but they are real if you can find them.
There is also the matter of Lord Jalvot's lost treasure planet. A trader who had for some reason liquidated his holdings then ran through the portal almost two decades ago. He was supposedly killed by imperial assassins, but rumors abound of asteroids and planets filled with lost tech and gold and a madman still guarding it. Every year some group goes out to try and find them.
The last was where her own captain found danger, an asteroid a few pirate vessels had retreated to. Lazarus thought it would be filled with the pirate's hoard so sent a large expedition, thousands of men and they found something odd. The entire thing was an alien temple and Merrine swears it was oddly cut off in the warp, like a bubble of stillness separating it. She tried warning but after a few artifacts and her captain returned a more urgent warning came from the surface. They talked about spiders and demons and the walls weeping blood and then contact was cut. Lazarus decided to cut his losses and fled, but there was still a wealth of xeno artifacts and technology there.
As the conversation turns to the warp paths themselves her demeanor turns from idle chatter to a more professor like tone explains:
The warp here is odd, you should know. There are safe paths for sure but currents and eddies are far stronger then elsewhere. Sudden storms growing, hitting, then dissipating rapidly are common and once safe paths can suddenly become treacherous. This is even more constant the closer you get to the storms, I am sure you have been warned of such dangers in the past but they are ten fold here, do not expect to be able to retrace your journey, but if you find you can she smiles you will let me know of it right?
Speaking of which, if you want some.. basic charts I suppose you and Sergus could join me in my private offices if you want to peruse them.
Oh yes that would be just wonderful Serge answers sarcastically I just have not seen enough frilly gold laced pillows in the last few months. He seems to have some of his confidence back and although he is sitting next to her, it is clear he wants to be anywhere else right now.