"Won't be safe to bomb from orbit....some of them might be alive...could risk damaging the site too...better be wary then. Try to see what we can scan and pick up from afar and if we can pick up any signals the previous team might have left behind." As they came in closer, Vivian's face straightened up a bit, getting more focused on the mission, as she began to give her suit a final check before getting ready to drop.
"Fufu, good." Vizelle cooed, Well then, I'll have to see how those two will act. But according to the information I have on hand, Alexandros should be a playboy, like Jeryn, but a lot more powerful. A reward like Jeryn's, while sparring with Rikkert to increase his combat prowess. Yes, that should work. As for Halipha, hard working, ambitious, yet lacks the natural talent her brother has. Fufu. I'd wager she stole the book in hopes of an increase in her power. And such motivations are easily swayed... with the right words. She licks her lips as she thought up her plan, her eyes glowing deviously as she waited for the ship to land.
Casca nods, before standing and heading out to prepare. It takes a few more hours before an announcement signals that they're close to the site. Logan, her power armour commander, enters the room, pistons in his armour whirring with each step. "Orders, ma'am? Shall we stay close to you to protect you, or position ourselves to be more capable in offence?" As always, he's straight to business.
The dark ship heads down through the atmosphere, and moves towards land. Looking out the viewport, Vizelle sees fields of verdant green, and remote farming communities scattered around the landscape. It's in a field not far from one of these communities that the ship lands. As Vizelle prepares to lead her group out, she feels a wave of psionic power ripple through the air, far stronger than any human being could create. As quickly as she felt it, though, it's gone. Valleus frowns, having also felt it.
Yannika departed the council chambers and considered her options. She could have gone to the spaceport and departed right away, but a thought that perhaps introducing herself to the local clergy would be a good idea. The leaders of the Church were but a stone throw away after all and they had decided to have her be a part of The Emperor's council. They might also have additional information about the situation, plus she would have to open a dialogue with them if she was to achieve her goals. Some of her family should also be in the capital and a meeting with them was also forthcoming. But that meeting could wait. Yannika decided that the cathedral should be her best bet and made her way there.
As the ship lands, Vizelle was about to head on out. But as the powerful psionic energy ripples through the air. Her eyes widen for a moment, before a smirk appears on her face. "Hehe. This should be fun." She cooed, Let's go meet with our new friends, shall we? She sends a telepathic message to her disciples, Do keep a look out, in case the cultists attempt to join in, master. She then sent a teasing one to Valleus, before motioning for Rikkert and Jeryn to follow, and for Verner to scout the surrounding villages. Vizelle steps out of the ship, attempting to track the location of the twins by following the psionic energies in the area.
She gives him a sad smile, reaching out a hand again... but this time to lightly bop him on the nose with a forefinger as she did when he was younger. "As I said, finding you a proper concubine or wife would probably be a better idea..." The smile becomes slightly less sad as she adds, "... but maybe not until I've had your first. I'm feeling a little greedy." Making sure that her clothing is as smoothed out as possible, and her breasts are their natural size again, she prepares to leave. "But that can wait. I believe I have a planet to talk down from leaving home."
Heading out of the palace and into the city, Yannika soon finds herself in the massive cathedral where Carius was coronated, only a few short days ago. She's escorted to the higher levels by monks, and into the opulent office of a cardinal. "Sister Yannika." The old man says. "I hear you wished to consult the church about something. Does it concern your new role on the council?"
There's two more psionic pulses, through which the sorceress is able to somewhat determine the suspected location of the twins. Verner returns after an hour or so of walking, reporting that the villages are inhabited, but that the villagers are all shut in their homes.
"My first?" He blushes fiercely. "I'd, um, like that." He scratches his head, before letting her change the subject. "Yes, you do. Good luck. I'll send a contigent of guardsmen with you, just in case."
Finding the twins, Vizelle leads her disciples toward their destination. "Do keep your guards up. I have a feeling that book wasn't just for show." She cooed, recalling the inhuman psionic wave earlier. She then takes note of Verner's report, "Good. Now, be a dear and discreetly follow us, just in case something unexpected happens." She strokes her youngest disciples cheek, as they made their way to the twins' location.
"Stay close. Advance slowly. We don't know they layout we're heading into. Don't thin out until necessary. Even if it's slower, we aren't on a time limit here. Advance calmly and steadily and don't separate from the unit."
"Your Eminence." Yannika greeted with a formal bow. "I thank you for granting me this meeting. You are indeed well informed, if only partly. I wish to speak with you on three matters. "First Your Eminence, I would like to personally express my gratitude and appreciation for this assignment. It's been something I haven't even dared to hope for since I joined the Church. I'm certain you're aware of my... connection to His Majesty. It means the universe to me to be here with him now, indeed my prayers have been answered. "The second is my assignment from The Emperor. In keeping with my responsibilities to the Church I'm to depart to Lave V, and deal with the heresy taking place there. While His Majesty, only wishes the situation resolved. I was wondering if the Church had additional information or... considerations about the situation? I am now as always a devoted member of the faith." It was there that she hesitated and bit her lip lightly in concern. The subject had to be broached she knew, and she doubted there would ever be a good time to do it. "I hope my service over the past nineteen years has displayed my loyalty to the Church, and I wish to express that until the end of my days I will always hold the gods, and The Holy Mother Church, in my heart. But I also come here seeking a path to receive the Church's blessing to rescind my vows." At the last she looked up nervously at the Cardinal.
Elena wondered where she has gone wrong. She was a high priestess, boss of the entire organisation - she delegated, not done the ground work herself. She cursed. If the mountain won't come to her, she would go to the mountain. She immediately sent her people to the woman's apartment (if she is the only living person there) to prepare the trap for her there... along with the equipment. ... Maybe she went about it the wrong way. No - she decided to stay her hand. First, she would try something else. She sent a message to the madame, requesting a meeting in one of the cafes the next day a public place with private booths. She would wait for her, with a few of her bodyguards.
The cardinal hears out her three points. "Your connection is something that could prove beneficial for both his majesty, and for the church. After all, you can help keep him on the right path. As for Lave V, you have discretion on how to handle the situation, but someone must pay. Heresy has a price, and Lave V has committed a most grievous sin, you understand. We have little information on the situation, however, only the dossier on the traitor priestess." He's quiet for a moment after she makes her third request. "You wish to leave the church? Why, to indulge your desires? Does the emperor mean more to you than the gods?" His voice goes slightly higher in reproach, though Yannika notes that he hasn't actually said no.
They keep moving forwards, eventually reaching an overlook where they can get a view over the area. From the vantage point they can see a small abandoned fort, where Vizelle feels the psionic pulses coming from. Looking around, she also sees a farmstead, where smoke and screams are evident. It appears that the siblings have split up.
Logan simply nods, as the Borealis eases into orbit above a tropical green planet, their destination. A klaxon sounds, and the expedition's crew is told to head to dropships in the hangar.
"So the split up? How unfortunate." Vizelle sighed, she then scans to see where the strongest pulse was coming from. "I'll be dealing with Halipha first. Rikkert, Jeryn, I'll leave Alexandros to you two, do take care and don't accidentally kill him." She sends her disciples to where the strongest psionic pulse was, while she beckons Verner to follow her as she heads to the weaker one.
She quickly receives a response, a robotic servitor transmitting the message that Dubernay agrees to the meeting.
