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Despite its grand name Andalus Prime is hardly what could be considered a shining beacon of the imperium, far from it. The planet is not as one might think, a hive world, rather a humble agri-world with only a handful of major settlements. However the planet lies in the centre of a major space route towards the Mechanicus forge world of Pintax and as such has some strategic value. Therefore the Adeptus Administratum deemed it necessary to provide a larger than normal garrison force to protect this world.

Added to this, a decade ago local settlers discovered the wreck of an ancient spacecraft buried on a large island in the eastern hemisphere (and by large we are talking Australia large), at first it was feared that the vessel was of xeno origin and the Imperial garrison was mobilised to ensure that whatever it was did not impose a threat. However upon closer examination it was discovered that the ship was of Terran origin, but was old, very old. The Adeptus Mechanicus claimed the site in the name of the Omissiah and set to work to discover what exactly this old ship was. It soon became clear that the wreck came from the Dark Age of Technology and the Adeptus Mechanicus flocked to the planet to recover what technology they could from the decayed ruins of this once proud starship. They imposed a strict quarantine on the island allowing none but their own to set foot on it. Local inhabitants were evicted and those who refused were ‘cleansed’. All but the most essential communications with the rest of the planet were cut off and the tech-priests began their self-imposed isolation to better study this ancient artifact.

This cold-hearted action by the Mechanicum has sparked unrest on this normally peaceful planet, but more important to the Administratum is that grain tithes are falling below quota as a result of the quarantine. The planetary Governor, a lean man by the name of Arimus Drakeheart fearing retribution from the Administratum ordered the local Mechanicus Overseer to lift the quarantine, but no reply was received. After three days of trying to contact the island an investigation team was dispatched to try and make contact, but they too disappeared.

To make matters worse an investigation team from the Adeptus Administratum has just entered the system, clearly here to enquire about the reduced quota.
You are part of that team, drawn from across the Segmentum, each one of you providing unique skills that the Administratum has deemed necessary for this mission. Your varied backgrounds and professions should allow you to face any problem head on, and Emperor willing, emerge triumphant.

The Imperial forces planetside are aiding the local Arbites in the fight to maintain the Emperor’s law. The situation is balanced on a knife’s edge, things could deteriorate into rebellion. It would seem something else is at work here, beyond the population’s anger towards the Mechanicum.
You are on board the Light of Terra orbiting Andalus Prime, the situation on the planet below has been explained to you in your briefing notes, your orders are to investigate the Mechanicum enclave on the island. You will be shuttled down to the space dock in the Capitol, on the western hemisphere as the automated defence systems put in place across the eastern island target any vessel that approaches from orbit, it seems the Adeptus Mechanicus don’t want anyone to see what they are working on.

Report to the hangar bay for debarkation.

Bodo stood outside a small bar not far from the local space docks known as the Rusted Leaf. Well known for its attractive bartender Rubi, horrible music and worse drinks. It was however open to Ratlings, or at least it was after a little sweet talking with that little flame at the bar. Not many tall women like her were open to the romantic charms of his kind, but what could 'Scruffs' say, he was persuasive.
He bit down on a small ration bar, the taste was bland and the brittle crumbs fell onto the ground at his bare hairy feet as a mob of big people rushed by him shouting and chanting.
Food, he took another all devouring bite. People were getting angry about food. The shortages were small so far, but they were noticeable
"Soon the babies and the womens will be starvin'" he thought to himself as he finished off the rest of the ration with a mighty bite.
He dusted off his hands and walked towards a small booth not very far away on the corner of the road leading up to the docks. The booth was a planet wide employment agency ran by the planetary government. Large servitors were installed in various locations like this one and hooked up to a impressive network to run messages for the local guides and workers. Employers could leave want ads with the servitor to be filled by freelance workers. According to rumors, the system was set up when the Mechanicum came to investigate the ship years ago.

"Oi, Sammie, Sammie!"

The Ratling reached his arms up and tapped on the bottom of the desk to the booth. A normal human could easily walk up and lean over it to talk to the servitor, lovingly called "Sammie" for no apparent reason, but not many things on Andalus were built for Scruffs size. Finally, he sighed and pulled off his backpack and tossed it on the ground in front of the booth and climbed up on top of it. He looked the Dead eyed servitor in his one remaining human eye as it stood completely still, only the inhuman noises it made while 'breathing' let anyone even know it was alive

"Morning Sammie, Ow's it goin' mate? Any messages for Bodo Mucktagen?"

The servitor uttered a bunch of machine like gurgles as a small piece of parchment printed out of metal slot built into its chest.
Scruffs examined the servitor closly. His skin was a pale gray and at least half his face was nothing more than machine bits and apparatus. What looked like thousands of wires and cables were connected to its back and lead all over the booth. Bodo had never seen Sammie leave its appointed post and he imagined that his legs were long gone, replaced with the floorboards of the booth itself.
Scruffs reached over and grabbed the small strip of paper and then hopped down off his bag and reclaimed it.
Slowly he glanced at the paper. The crest was of the planetary Governor's Office and that peeked the small mans interest. He read further. Finally after all this time the Governor had recognized his skill and had requested Bodo personally to escort a group of Administratum staff to the quarantined island.
Excited and overjoyed, Scruffs placed the paper in his inside pocket and combed back his hair with his dirty hands.

"Sammie, no time for chatter! I gotta go! this is from the Governor!"

The machine man made no response in return to the Ratlings statement but it was too late regardless. Scruffs was already running up the way towards the docks.

Alphonse Tarquinn
Princip Adept
Onboard the Light of Terra

Tarquinn put the dossier into a smart black leather carry case along with a few other papers before rising to his feet. He walked over to a large trunk by the foot of his bed and opened it. Inside were his personal effects and weapons.
He changed into his official uniform, a long floor length black robe with red tabs at the collar, and black short fur trim, denoting his station as a Princip Adept of the Administratum; as was the custom in this Sector.
He made sure that his flak vest was suitably hidden underneath as well as his laspistol, worn in a holster under his left arm.

He walked over to a full length mirror and stared at his reflection, I look old! he thought to himself as he ran his hand through his silvery grey hair. He sighed as he turned away, and grabbing his staff of office he made his way to the door, stopping only momentarily to pick up his leather case.

Once outside his quarters he slowly made his way to the hangar bay.

Alphonse Tarquinn
Princip Adept
Onboard the Light of Terra

Tarquinn entered the hangar bay and approached the group, who had by now assembled, there were ten Adepts, ranging from scribes to remembrancers. There was also their bodyguard detail, dressed in the slate grey and blue fatigues of the Adeptus Adminitratum security, a few other people who's skills were thought necessary and Kharo, standing slightly apart from the group and looking as menacing as ever despite going in-cognito.

Tarquinn smiled at this, subtlety might not be his strong point, but then, that wasn't why he was on this mission.

He cleared his throat and approached the group, 'Nice to see you all present and correct. Has everyone read the briefing notes on the planet below?' He looked at each person and was thankful they all nodded, there was nothing he hated more that going into a situation with people who were unprepared.
He asked a few questions to make sure his staff were indeed up to date and not lying to him. Not that he suspected it, but old habits die hard.
'Right, check your personal weapons before boarding the shuttle, let's hope they aren't needed' He said, knowing this to be unlikely.

He climbed into the shuttle and took a seat close to the cockpit, he was fascinated by the pilots, 'One day I'm going to learn how to pilot one of these' he said to himself as he studied the pilots going through their pre-flight checks.

Alphonse Tarquinn
Princip Adept
En route to Andalus Prime

The shuttle shook as it lifted into the air and pushed slowly forward, through the void shields and into open space.

As they descended towards the planet surface Tarquinn closed his eyes and began running through the data he had on their up coming mission. Somehow he would have to find his way onto the Mechanicus island and see what was so important. He didn't really care what it was, only that Andalus Prime was falling behind on food shipments, shipments which were being prioritized for a military campaign in the neighboring sector. He had to get the Mechanicum to allow farming to recommence on the island.

Several minutes later the shuttle touched down on the surface of docking bay 4 of the Andalus Prime space-dock. The jolt woke Tarquinn, he must have fallen asleep on the way down.
He unclipped his harness and rose to his feet, gesturing to his team to do the same.
As he headed for the exit ramp his security team lead the way, forming an honor guard as they exited the shuttle.

Alphonse stepped onto the solid ground of Andalus Prime and inhaled deeply, it had been a long time since he had smelt air so fragrant and fresh, he made a note to himself to visit more agri worlds in the future.
He looked around searching for their welcoming committee but as yet there was no sign of them. Clearly the Planetary Governor wanted to assert his dominance over what he considered a lowly Adept.

Jason Kharo
Bounty Hunter
Reminds me of home...

The landing had come quicker than he expected while he had been running over the mission details to himself, and looked out towards the lowering ramp as he stood up and undid his harness. Jason was quickly the first one out of the hold, and instantly analysed his surroundings. The smell was pleasant, as was the area, compared to some places any way.

Standing in front of the disembarking detail was a small Ratling, who he could see wasn't exactly suited for the task of greeting an Administratum official. He guessed the Governor must be one of the worst types. He watched the Ratling wave and shout the welcome to the craft's inhabitants, and the bounty hunter gave only a very slight nod back in the mutants direction. "One Ratling. Six PDF, las-weapons. Watching from post to our west." He reported quickly back to his commander through the small comm bead in his ear. Kharo quickly took up place a couple of foot away from Alphonese, watching the guards for any movements. Clearly they were interested by the outsider's show of arms and security detail, but it mattered if they were willing to do anything about it. It all rather depended on what mood they were in to be honest.

Scruffs watched nervously as the group piled out of the shuttle, hopefully they weren't from a kill all abhumans planet. A man in a sleek black trench coat gave him a quick nod which in no way helped the poor Ratlings composure. Then as the security detail came closer, a older looking man in an very official Administratum uniform approached him and lent down to shake his hand, he shook the mans hand back and smiled slightly, slowly becoming comfortable that he was'nt about to be killed.

"Bodo Mucktargen sir, most call me Scruffs though. Welcome again ta Andalus Prime."

He paused for a mere second as his brain tried to process what to call the man he had just met, so many names.

"Aye, Governor Drakeheart sent me sir, I'm to take you anywhere you need to go, including the island belonging to those tech'ers. I assure you sir, I'm the best guide on Andalus prime."

What he really meant to say was he was the best guide since the party that went missing on the last recent trip to the island. The scouts that went were actually friends of his and they knew the planet better than anyone, even Bodo. Now that they were missing, or perhaps worse, that technically made Bodo the new master guide of Andalus Prime. He liked the sound of that, Bodo Mucktargen, Master Guide.

Bodo listened as Tarquinn prattled on about his purpose here. The Ratling had a pretty good idea as to why the man was here already, it was all over the planet.
"Bleh, something something, Vanguard. Something something, Ample solution. Something something, Direct control."

He followed along beside Tarquinn, trying his best to look interested as the Adept went on untill finally he almost fell to the floor at what he heard.

"Drinks sir?"

Scruffs paused, looking up with a puzzled gaze on his face. He must have heard the man incorrectly. There was no way someone like this wanted to pass the time at some bar
"Dammit! I should have paid more attention! Now the old man thinks I'm an Alcoholic!"

Although panic had overwhelmed his mind, he kept a cool stance, still pretending as if he didn't hear the man. Furthermore he focused his tiny ears and gave the Adept the utmost of his attention. Finally he caught the man's wink and blew out a small sigh of relief.
"Praise the Emperor! Getting paid to drink! What could be better than that!?"

He gave a sharp smile back at Tarquinn as he patted back his scruffy hair.

"Well sir, though I know many a local tavern round' these parts. They Don't tend to let people of my height into the more high class places that I assume, someone like yourself would be more accustomed too."

Even as he said those words, he was already leading the group towards Rubi's bar. If he was lucky his drink was still there sitting on the table. Of course if the Adept used his impressive powers to get him into some fancy high class drinking lounge, that worked too.