The Vita Compass Rune blinked on his HUD with an increasing frequency as he neared the target. Imperial Stormtroopers had been steadily cordoning off the blocks that surrounded the so-called Little New York ever since the signal had stopped moving. As official policy, Imperial HQ tolerated the gangs and rabble that congregated so far down in the bowels of the Verse. It was good for the people, made sure they stayed strong, stayed ready. But only a fool would think that meant the Empire wasn’t watching. The Empire always watched. The Emperor always knew.
Brother Gaius stepped out of the lift, mechanized battle suit hissing from the hydraulics that powered the massive figure. He lumbered through the streets with an eager pace. Their security system had picked up a black-listed prime moving through Tier 5 openly. There would be no mercy this time.
Harlan Higgs stepped away from the interrogation to address the panic-stricken boy who had burst into the room. The lad was one of the tier’s urchins and Harlan occasionally tipped him for bits of gossip information. The boy was a bit slow sometimes, but doggedly loyal, and that was enough for the Ravnos’s purposes.
“What’s got your knots all twisted up, boy? You look like you’re about to ruin those pants.” He asked with a careful joviality. He needed the boy lucid if he was going to get any useful information out of him.
“Stormtroopers! They’re all over the place! Closing off streets, making barricades! You don’t think they’re going to wipe us out do you?” The boy’s eyes were wide with terror. Harlan shook his head with a confident grin.
“They ain’t shutting down the house yet lad, we’ve barely opened our doors.” He motioned towards one of the men standing nearby, “Get him a meal and some change.” He ordered before striding off towards the front of the house.
It was all well and good to put on a brave face, but if the Empire was planning to interfere with Little New York than his operation was in serious danger. Harlan was confident in his men. They would fight the Empire if he asked them to. But they would lose. He needed to know what was going on and fast.
He pushed open the lavish double doors and made his way out onto the balcony of the casino. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, the good-natured tension was still in the air, whatever was going on had yet to reach his home.
In seconds however, the illusion of calm was shattered as the front door of the Casino burst inward off of its hinges. A massive figure ducked through before charging through the shocked crowd. White-clad stormtroopers spilled in through the door, nearly a score of them by Harlan’s quick estimation. He traced the Imperial marine’s path, and his eyes caught the blue-skinned demoness as she pulled a metalic object up to her lips. The Marine launched a white sphere, which struck the demoness before expanding into an opaque shell that pushed the nearby patrons away, hiding her and the Marine from view.
The Static-laced amplifiers of the squadron commander echoed through the room. “This Premise is under Imperial Sanction pending an investigation into ties with a known and blacklisted Prime. Any attempts at interference will be handled swiftly and harshly. No Running.”
Brother Gaius smiled as the demon’s warp whistle refused to sound. She looked confused at first, but the imminent threat of the Space Marine made her focus elsewhere quickly.
“Don’t you think this is a little bit much for just little Ol’ me?” she asked with a cocky grin.
“There will be no mercy this time, Demon.” Brother Gaius intoned. Vox amplifiers reverberating and echoing around the isolation sphere. He lifted his bolter rifle, preparing to finish the arrogant demon who dared to set foot in this verse. The Verse he had sworn to protect.
“I don’t care if you serve the Lord of Pain, or the Changer of ways. I will send you to stay with the rest of your kind, now.”
The Bolter opened fire spraying metal and death at the Chaos that encroached on humanity. Sometimes Brother Gaius Astopheles was sure he was doing the Emperor’s will.
Brother Gaius stepped out of the lift, mechanized battle suit hissing from the hydraulics that powered the massive figure. He lumbered through the streets with an eager pace. Their security system had picked up a black-listed prime moving through Tier 5 openly. There would be no mercy this time.
Harlan Higgs stepped away from the interrogation to address the panic-stricken boy who had burst into the room. The lad was one of the tier’s urchins and Harlan occasionally tipped him for bits of gossip information. The boy was a bit slow sometimes, but doggedly loyal, and that was enough for the Ravnos’s purposes.
“What’s got your knots all twisted up, boy? You look like you’re about to ruin those pants.” He asked with a careful joviality. He needed the boy lucid if he was going to get any useful information out of him.
“Stormtroopers! They’re all over the place! Closing off streets, making barricades! You don’t think they’re going to wipe us out do you?” The boy’s eyes were wide with terror. Harlan shook his head with a confident grin.
“They ain’t shutting down the house yet lad, we’ve barely opened our doors.” He motioned towards one of the men standing nearby, “Get him a meal and some change.” He ordered before striding off towards the front of the house.
It was all well and good to put on a brave face, but if the Empire was planning to interfere with Little New York than his operation was in serious danger. Harlan was confident in his men. They would fight the Empire if he asked them to. But they would lose. He needed to know what was going on and fast.
He pushed open the lavish double doors and made his way out onto the balcony of the casino. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, the good-natured tension was still in the air, whatever was going on had yet to reach his home.
In seconds however, the illusion of calm was shattered as the front door of the Casino burst inward off of its hinges. A massive figure ducked through before charging through the shocked crowd. White-clad stormtroopers spilled in through the door, nearly a score of them by Harlan’s quick estimation. He traced the Imperial marine’s path, and his eyes caught the blue-skinned demoness as she pulled a metalic object up to her lips. The Marine launched a white sphere, which struck the demoness before expanding into an opaque shell that pushed the nearby patrons away, hiding her and the Marine from view.
The Static-laced amplifiers of the squadron commander echoed through the room. “This Premise is under Imperial Sanction pending an investigation into ties with a known and blacklisted Prime. Any attempts at interference will be handled swiftly and harshly. No Running.”
Brother Gaius smiled as the demon’s warp whistle refused to sound. She looked confused at first, but the imminent threat of the Space Marine made her focus elsewhere quickly.
“Don’t you think this is a little bit much for just little Ol’ me?” she asked with a cocky grin.
“There will be no mercy this time, Demon.” Brother Gaius intoned. Vox amplifiers reverberating and echoing around the isolation sphere. He lifted his bolter rifle, preparing to finish the arrogant demon who dared to set foot in this verse. The Verse he had sworn to protect.
“I don’t care if you serve the Lord of Pain, or the Changer of ways. I will send you to stay with the rest of your kind, now.”
The Bolter opened fire spraying metal and death at the Chaos that encroached on humanity. Sometimes Brother Gaius Astopheles was sure he was doing the Emperor’s will.
Quote:Ash has been struck with an Isolation Verse, ensuring a one on one duel with her favorite ultramarine. You have three days to post your end of the fight, with a max. post size of 1000 words. Best of luck (‘cause you’re going to need it!)
Harlan can get involved or claim ignorance as he wishes. Your call here, Higgs.
This has been your neighborhood dispenser of the Emperor’s Justice. Please come again!