Prisoner Transport

[Aishachan]

[Commissar Cat]

((Does this concern the two (sort of main) rebels actually captured in the plot thread? Because Yorke IC proposed an agreement he planned to hold to regarding the commander during the plot topic.
He doesn't have an agreement with anyone else, admittedly.))

[Aishachan]

I don't believe so, as my discussion with Richard seemed to have them more being stragglers and hold outs that weren't the main people. However if you want to check with Richard feel free, though he did clear this before I posted so I doubt that it's going to cause an issue.

[Commissar Cat]

((No worries, I just didn't want to accidentally create a writing paradox. ))

[LaxKnight]

Can we make a brand new character for this that isn't on the site?

[Johannes Wyss von Krieg]

Yep.

[Aishachan]

Players got their gear and went to FOB Vigilance, where they picked up the prisoners and traded some supply crates. The private they spoke to claimed that one of the prisoners wasn't supposed to be with them and offered to take her off their hands. Seeing through this super impressive deception (since said prisoner was a member of Vigilance's regiment) the PCs kept the prisoner and headed off.

While driving one prisoner- a former krieger- was violently ill, vomiting up blood, bits of stomach and lung, and bile. The other prisoners complained and the PCs noticed that she was in the penal legion for being a bio hazard. The nco in charge, Nik, decided to tie her to the dozer blade, but was stopped by Joseph who stayed with her on top of the chimera.

The group then passed through a village, running into children who had erected a small barrier in the road and were playing soldiers. The children tossed an unprimed Photon grenade but Nik noticed and no one shot the children. Instead it was bartered and the children got to ride on the chimera. One prisoner- 26- complimented the pcs for not hurting the children. The prisoner from Vigilance- 5119- said that all the civillians around were Tau sympathizers and should be treated as such.

Almost to the 7th company the PCs ran into a wild, wide-eyed naked woman named Vargas. Almost literally. They tried to talk to her but she was so hopped up on stimms all that they could really get was that she was from the 7th, had deserted and wanted to go back to her family and that her family could make her better and that she was sorry. She too was put on the top of the chimera.

Once at the camp they found what had initally been an extremely organized camp that had become too big for its walls and spilled out into a more disorderly sprawl. A group of troopers about to go on patrol prayed for their Father to guide them and help them as they held hands. The chimera rolled on up to the command tent when a scarred woman identified as Major Harker greeted them. Vargas threw herself on the ground and began to grovel and Commissar Mitzon arrived. He said that family would always return to the fold, once given time to think on their mistakes, but that what Vargas had done had hurt more than just him, or herself, but all of them. He said that family would always care for one another, and can always forgive, but that you still must punish. As such he would have to contemplate the situation and so he went off to his tent, the entrance guarded by an Ogryn.

[Aishachan]

The PCs tried, multiple times, to give the prisoners to Commissar Mitzon. However he was unwilling to take them or even talk to the PCs when he was meditating on the situation with Vargas, who had been taken off to the medical tent. Major Harker offered to take the prisoners multiple times and only after realizing that Mitzon wouldn't be taking them did the PCs relent and let her. She then proceeded to ask them a number of questions about why they were there, what they were doing, the trip there and the front. After her questions she tried to shoo them away as soon as possible, but the PCs were adamant about not leaving until they'd spoken to Mitzon due to several prisoners only going to him.

Another officer, introducing himself as Staff Sargent Burnell, spoke to the PCs, saying they could kill some time with the artillery commander or him on patrol, then wandered off to tend to other things.

Upon going to the artillery commander they found a person in the red robes of Mars, but with gaping, cavernous holes in them, missing limbs and only half a jaw. They spoke in a harsh rattle and could barely support themselves, normally being moved in a wheelchair. Nik greeted them in techna lingua which the person understood, but refused to speak in. They espoused the value of humanity, spoke of their own mistakes and that everyone should return to humanity and ...the Emperor. Eventually they explained that the artillery was lined for the town the PCs had traveled through, which they believed was a Tau stronghold. The former priest offered to let the PCs push the button, but they declined, unwilling to kill the civilians in the location.

They returned to the chimera, picking up Vincent, the PC that had been left to supervise the prisoners cleaning the vehicle. However before they could get far SSGT Burnell arrived and offered to go on patrol with them, explaining that the 7th had to sweep the area to keep it clear of animals infected with the kroot disease. So the PCs, Burnell, 2 dogs he trained, and a few of his men pilled into the chimera. Everything went well until the group ran into a small number of loggers. The loggers surrendered or fled as soon as they saw the 7th, while Burnell claimed they were Tau spys, setting up recording devices and feeding the xenos information. His men went to shoot at them, but Vincent opened up on the chimeras weaponry on those fleeing, ending the issue. Burnell was pleased with this and let his dogs savage the dying while he hopped out to interrogate the remaining 5 survivors. 2 he shot the other 3 were brutalized. 1 additional died and the last 2 were taken for labor. Upon return to the camp a bonfire was being erected in the main square and Burnell offered the pcs food, including fresh grox stakes just shipped in. They declined, but did dine with him in his tent.

It was at this point that Harker called for everyone to join, and Mitzon finally made an appearance.

[Aishachan]

Finally the group was able to meet Mitzon. The Commissar arrived and gave a speech about Family, saying that everyone there would always love Vargas, and that she had been part of their Family and that they cared about her. However that sometimes, people can hurt the ones they love, and Vargas had done so. He expounded that her actions to return had been taken out of selfishness and a want to help herself, not a care for the ones she hurt or longing for the people that she left behind. The fact that she was so thoughtless of other peoples emotions, so deadened to the wants and needs of those she professed to love, meant that she could not be saved. Like a gangrenous limb she needed to be cut from the Family, so that the rest of them could be strong. So it was with a heavy heart that he sentenced her to death.

Vargas was set on fire while troopers cried, danced, and screamed. Some braved the fires, leaping through the flames to cut strips of meat off of her, which they fell to their knees and devoured. At that point the PCs realized that they had stumbled into some kind of cult and that they really needed to leave, but to no avail as Mitzon came to speak to them. He thanked them for their understanding, took the prisoners that they had and asked to speak to Vincent privately before heading off.

Vincent went with him, and Mitzon attempted to sway him to join the camp, saying that the Guard did not care about him and that only here, with a true family, would he be loved and looked after. That here he could find his true potential. He said that the guard forced him to conform to what they wanted, but that his Family here would allow him to grow as he needed and let him attain his potential under his own capabilities. Vincent declined, saying he was cared about and happy with the IG. Mitzon said that he was saddened by, but respected the choice, then hugged him and let him leave. Harker joined Mitzon as Vincent rejoined the PCs.

With the rest of the PCs they discussed what to do. After discussion, one of the prisoners turning out to be an undercover storm trooper, and multiple different plans, a plan was formed. It was decided that the former Krieger would take all the grenades that were available, along with the small melta charge that the stormtrooper provided and charge the tent that Mitzon was in. 9115 would call artillery support from Vigilance and the group would escape on the chimera before the 7th Company could react. Vincent rejoined around then. The former Krieger was loaded with explosives, 9115 was put in the chimera on the vox and everything was set to go.

[Aishachan]

The former Krieger managed to get to the tent, detonating all the explosives she was carrying. A large numbers of troopers from the area ran to the tent, screaming and crying. As the smoke cleared it revealed that Buddy the Ogryn was dead, Harker was on her last legs, but Mitzon was fine- his shield taking the blast for him. He went through the crowd, assuring people, touching them on the cheek or kissing them on the brow. The PCs decided it was past time to get going and started to peel away in their chimera as 9115 got Lt. Gains- the CO of Vigilance- to call down artillery fire.

SSGT Burnell noticed the Chimera fleeing and ran it down like some freak, or like someone with the mark of Slanesh. Mitzon also began running after them, leaving the troops in the dust and to care for Harker. Burnell caught up with the APC and jumped on top, screaming about killing everyone inside. Several of the PCs got on top, fighting Burnell as they peeled through the camp. After only a short time a closed top sentinel with a chain sword and hunter killer missiles attempted to ram them, but Vincent dodged it with some swift driving. So defeated the sentinel picked up Mitzon, who urged it to greater heights and managed to get it to close the gap to within 3 meters.

As this was happening Nik, Jospeh, prisoner 26 and all the other prisoners (save 9115) have gotten onto the roof and were fighting Burnell. Burnell was duel wielding whips and trying to just kill everyone. After literally flaying mulitple people alive, losing use of his own leg and starting to bleed out.

At this time the gunners on the chimera manged to take out the sentinel, killing the pilot. However Mitzon was able to dodge and jump the gap to get on the chimera. He asked for the return of Burnell, and that he would leave if they would simply give him that. After this plea Burnell was was finally laid low by Vincent on the stormbolter- having let 9115 take the wheel. Sadly he was obliterated so hard that all his grenades exploded and his leg bones did damage, killing the injured stormtrooper and all the remaining prisoners other than 26.

Nik and Mitzon attempted to grapple one another, unsuccessfully, for a while before finally giving up. At this point the shells could be seen coming in for his camp and Mitzon jumped from the chimera, running back towards his camp and Family. The players took shots at him with the chimeras weapons and their own, but missed.

After this they returned to Vigilance, saying that 9115- Yong-Hee Kim as her name was- had been 'kia' but they had found someone who really wanted to join up with Gain's unit. That left them only prisoner 26 surviving. As 26s file was a sympathetic one- lieutenant Cornelia Lindengren, sent to a penal legion instead of a detox regiment to work through a painkiller addiction due to injuries sustained in the line of duty- she was offered a place with one of the groups regiment and assistance with her addiction. She accepted and the mission was considered complete. Everyone returned home, able to say they'd done their job and it was all good.

Certainly no more scenes to follow.

[TheRedauthar]

++REPORT++
Report Number: P12032017T-JEIK
Approved By: Junior Commissar Elias I. Kainen
Subject: Prisoner Transportation Incident
Original Report: Lance Corporal Jecht Kaseem
Scribed by: Junior Commissar Elias I. Kainen

NOTICE: While LCP Jecht Kaseem is capable of understanding and speaking low gothic, he is otherwise considered illiterate. As such I am forced to translate his meanings for the report. While a full transcript will be provided, for simplicity’s sake, this report will only contain the translation. Thank You - Junior Commissar Elias I. Kainen

Mission Status: Success

Mission Report: LCP Kaseem Volunteered for Prisoner Transport Action. Being a capable operator, LCP Kaseem was assigned to driver the Chimera assigned to the operation. Upon arrival at Forward Operating Base Vigilance the Squad delivered the supplies [Which were accurately accounted for, as the munitorum doesn’t make mistakes] and picked up the prisoners. There was a brief incident of “mix-up” [Likely Caused by the enlisted trooper from FOB Vigilance, as the munitorum doesn’t make mistakes] about the supplies and prisoner counts but the situation was remedied immediately. LCP then gave the FOB’s officer a polite salute and carefully maneuvered the Chimera off the premises.
Despite the prisoners being properly and securely maintained, one of the prisoners became violently ill, and had to be moved to the roof to receive proper ventilation. While this did delay the mission minorly, the squad resumed their mission immediately.
They were once again held up by a nearby village’s Youth Army who were in need of instruction on proper fort design and grenade handling. In exchange for this instruction the Youth Army provided the Squad with a confiscated Xenos Grenade and provided escort until the squad left the village borders. One of the prisoners accused the village of being Xenos Sympathisers however no evidence has yet to be provided. [Request to assign detail to investigate these claims as well as claims of Xenos Weapon Stashes will be submitted at a later date.]
Soon after leaving the village the Squad discovered what appeared to be a deserter from the 7th Company. Attempts to question the trooper were unsuccessful as she had a liberal use of stims coursing through her body and was having trouble communicating.
Upon arriving at the 7th Company’s Camp, they discovered while the base was well organized, it was spilling past its allocated limitations. [This is likely caused by the officers in charge manipulating the numbers. More evidence will be provided as the report continues.] When approaching the officer in charge, in order to deliver the convicts, the squad questioned the major on their status of supplies. The exact answer was not recalled though it summarises down to the camp’s own mismanagement.
Despite the officer’s attempts to dismiss the squad, they obeyed their orders and did not had over the prisoners until they could speak to the Commissar assigned to the 7th as per instructed. However the Commissar being ‘busy’ was unable to see them. Choosing not to waste the Emperor’s time, the prisoners were put under guard, and the squad chose to assist in patrol around the camp. They witnessed the 7th perform with questionable amounts of zeal, not to their Emperor, but to their “father” as well as Heretical Augmentation of the Squads Tech Priest. [Separate Report has been submitted to the Mechanicus to provide them with details of such sacrilege.]
Upon returning from patrol, they witnessed the summary execution of the deserter, however the Commissar apparently handled this poorly and used heretical and traitorous methods of execution. The 7th continued their heresy by practicing chaotic rituals and consuming the flesh of the deserter upon death.
Before the Squad could leave, one of their members was requested to visit with the Commissar. While the details were not available to LCP Kaseem, the base facts were Commissar Mitzon of the 7th dared to imply the incompetence of the guard, the Emperor, and the Valmerian and Narisian Front, accidentally revealing himself as a fake Commissar and the traitorous cult’s leader.
Upon seeing such treachery and heretical behavior, the prisoners volunteered to sacrifice themselves for the squad to escape and report the traitors. The squad contacted FOB Vigilance for support and bravely fought their way out.
LCP Kaseem focused entirely on driving and maneuvering the Chimera, preventing him from participating directly with the battle that ensued. Most of the prisoners willingly gave their lives in the name of the Emperor to defeat the traitorous guardsman. The 7th was severely devastated by the pin point accuracy of the Guard’s Artillery fire. Unfortunately Fake-Commissar Mitzon’s death could not be confirmed after the incident.
Apparently the Actions of the Guardsman were so inspirational and heroic, they inspired a nearby refugee to immediately enlist. The new enlistee was immediately transported to FOB Vigilance for Training. The surviving prisoner, proving their worth and desire to serve the Emperor has been transferred into a new squad for retraining and return to duty.

Report Summary: While the Squad’s ultimate Mission was Successful, it does bring to light that Imposters and Traitors have been presenting themselves off as Commissars and leading away entire companies. This act of Heresy cannot and should not be ignored. While it is not advisable to have the Guardsman question their Commissars, increased training is recommended to reduce confusion. While it is unlikely Fake-Commissar Mitzon survived, the possibility of others continuing his work could undermine our work and delay the ultimate purging of the Xenos Forces invading this world.

Recommendations: Further training for all troops involved is recommended as we wouldn’t want their success to inflate their ego. Recommending NCO in charge of the Squad for Eagle Ordinary for his display of leadership.
Further Recommendations include new Training for All Guardsman to increase awareness of traitorous activity and an investigation into FOB Vigilance for reported questionable handling of Artillery Equipment and recreational activities. If possible, provide a new training instructor to FOB Vigilance to help with the new recruit and moral.

Signed:

Junior Commissar Elias I. Kainen

LCP Jecht Kaseem.

++End Report++