distress-call

===============

===============WINDSOR On speaker!

Vox ADEPT (filtered, breaking up) Imperative! Imperative! This is the Archduke Modar-- nineteen periods out of Solace Encarmine. We have struck a gravitic anomaly and have lost all navigationals... Our hull is... (breaks up, static) ... and many casualties.

ETHERICS This is the Unblinking Venerator . Your message is breaking up. Modar Give us your coordinates. Repeat --

Vox ADEPT Venerator , our position is Naduesh Gamma , Section Ten...

WINDSOR In the Interdiction Zone, almost to the Heathen...

Vox ADEPT Hull penetrated, life support systems failing. Can you assist us, Venerator? Can you... Breaks up.

WINDSOR Datafax on Archduke Modar! Holo! Tacticals plot onto the green globe.

MECH ADEPT Subject vessel is first class imperia carrier of the line, crew of eighty-one thousand naval , three hundred fighters, fifty marines.

WINDSOR Damn. (then) Voidsman, plot an intercept course.

VOIDSMAN May I remind m'Lord that when a Starship enters the zone --

WINDSOR I'm aware of my responsibilities, Mister.

VOIDSMAN (with a nod) ... Now entering Interdiction Zone.

Servitor: Warning. We have entered an Interdiction Zone ... Warning...

VOIDSMAN Estimating two minutes to intercept. On screen: Venerator approaches the stricken vessel.

WINDSOR Stand by teleportarium, ready to send boarders, alert Medicae.

ETHERICS m'Lord, I've lost their signal!

TECH ADEPT Crimson Alert. Sensors indicate three Khornate Cruisers, bearing 316, mark 4, closing fast. Styx, Carnage, Slaughter.

WINDSOR Visual! On screen: approach of the Khornate vessels, dark and sinister.

WINDSOR Battle stations! Activate void shields! The Klaxon Cherub screams

VOIDSMAN Shields activated! Turrets Ready, Batteries Ready, Lances are charging.

WINDSOR Inform the Renegades we are on a rescue mission...

ETHERICS They're broadbanding hate across all frequencies, Captain --

MECH ADEPT Khornates on attack course and closing.

Screen verifies this. Windsor makes an agonized choice.

WINDSOR We're in over our heads. Voidsman, get us out of here.

VOIDSMAN Aye Aye, Captain. (Venerator lunges to starboard)

MECH ADEPT Khornate escorts approaching, bearing 090, mark 20. Infidel, Infidel, Infidel.

WINDSOR Visual! The image flops: these 3 and then 3 more Chaos vessels approach.

MECH ADEPT Khornate: Iconoclast, Murder, Styx. Apparently en passant.

They fire spreads of torpedoes and launch hordes of fighters.

WINDSOR: "Enable litanies of auto destruct, authorization Windsor four; zero; dominé; tango."

MACHINE SPIRIT: Ministri gratio Imperialis, Defendere nobis de barbarixi.

ETHERICS: "Machine Spirit, this is Commander of Etherics, confirm prayers for auto destruct, authorization Windsor two; two; lex; charles."

VOIDSMAN: "Machine Spirit, this is Helm Commander, confirm auto destruct with one accord , authorization Windsor three; eleven; gamma; gargoyle."

MACHINE SPIRIT: "Canonical Command Received, Blessed and Obeyed, Awaiting prayer code finalis to commence auto destruct ritual."

WINDSOR: "No other ideas, people? now is the time ... "This is Captain Windsor of the Line, destruct sequence alpha zeta. Fifteen minutes silent countdown. For the Emperor and all his servants: Enable."

MACHINE SPIRIT: "Self destruct in fifteen minutes .... Both Warp Reactors empowered …

WINDSOR: Well those murderous pointy-helmed bastards may climb upon us, but they will get nothing, and like it.

MACHINE SPIRIT: the Plasma Cores both signal agreement ... Interlocks disabled on forward magazine ...

WINDSOR:All weapon crews fire at will ! Signal all other crews to repel boarders! We shall die on our feet, with our cutlass in hand.

MACHINE SPIRIT: Promethium tankage loosed ... There will be no further audibles. It has been an honor"

WINDSOR: For each Windsor man that meets the Emperor today, seven of His enemies shall first go to hell !