Capitulus Decum: The Belly of the Beast

[Vardaen]

Merica charges as Asegir, the Sister of Battle pounces like a wild cat and lands on the man knocking him prone. The Krak grenade in his hand is lost among the mess of bodies, its someplace tuck in among the pair!

Haxtes...

[Vardaen]

Haxtes reaches out, and the Krak Grenade pops clear of the two. His ferro magnetism ability grabs not just the Krak Grenade but a bunch of metal items from the pair, including bolters and blades and belt buckles. He sucks them toward himself but not all the way to the throne or the control precept. Releasing them they drop to the ground, where Aesgir scampers too. He manages to wiggle free of Mercia and pounces on the Krak grenade and other items, "The Die-Phage will NOT ALLOW THIS!" His eyes are wild, pulsing with a purple light now. He leaps atop the grenade, grabs it to throw into the chair, but...

...but he's too late. The short fuse on it has been expended and it explodes blowing off his arm and sending debris all about the room. Everyone is covered in blood spray and bits of bone and flesh and muscle fly about. When the ringing of the explosion stops Aesgir is laying on the ground, his arm missing, his side is blown partially off, ribs exposed, and his face is mostly melted. Even Damien knows he can't save the man.

Twitching on the ground he is whispering through his mutilated mouth, "...he will stop you, he will stop you, he will...." and then he dies.

[Grimbold]

Haxtes remains standing calmly, as his utility mechadendrite begins wiping bits of skin and bone from his robes. "Conjecture: He was corrupted and has been punished." He turns to the princeps and attempts communication again <binary> "I greet you, princeps. My name is Haxtes. What is the status of this Titan?"

[ManWithDoor]

It has been ages since they last worked together, but Damien is the sentimental type. Seeing a fellow Acolyte taken over in moments tries the soul, his feelings of helplessness magnifying a hundred-fold as he was able to do nothing to stop the madness. He wishes Rego were here, as the Priest's preaching would strengthen his resolve in the face of adversity. The psyker has learned to be self-sufficient, but humanity is strongest when cleaving together in their faith in the God-Emperor. Separated and exposed like this ... well, the results speak for themselves.

Haxtes quick-thinking saved their lives, the augmented man comprehending and acting before Damien could move a finger. Thanking him right now would be a pointless waste of time, as Damien might save Haxtes' life in return sometime in the next few seconds. Recognition can wait for when they are debriefing with Inquisitor Sand. Right now there is a job to do.

Moving over to where Merica tackled the madman, reaching down a hand to help the Sister of Battle back to her feet.

[Vardaen]

A screen flickers in reply to Haxtes. It is a fuzzy vid screen of the hall outside the Armory. It shows corruption growing on the wall, like in the engineer room. There is no voice, just static, corruption in the Titan? Aesgir gone mad shouting about the Die-Phage daemon. This place needs a good purging.

[RorytheRomulan]

Merica lays there stunned and bloodied and speckled with a few bits of Aesgir. She can only squint through a red haze on her rebreather before she sees Damien in front of her.

She takes the hand-up and removes the mask and starts picking up her things, including a loaded boltgun and clips of bolter shells. Good thing Aesgir pounced on the grenade. It's also a good thing that Haxtes ripped the grenade free from her for Aesgir to make that desperate move.

She looks around for a reaction from the Princeps. "I don't like the look of that. We will have to level this place and make certain that the daemonic taint is leveled with it."

[Grimbold]

"Agreed. Suggestion: We clean the armory next. Yes/no/abort?" Haxtes says in his creaky, little-used voice.

[RorytheRomulan]

"Yes. And you should have that voice box seen to," she says, very likely misnaming the tech Haxtes uses for aural communication. "Or get a new one. It's always creaking, it's distracting."

She shows them the gear from the crates: the modded laser pistol with the Hot Shot packs, the Frenzon injectors (x6), the medikit, and the flask of Best liquor.

She makes sure pistol is loaded and stows it somewhere. Could be advantageous later. "I'm confiscating the chems. For anything else, if you might make better use of something, speak now."

[ManWithDoor]

"You can have everything if you want. I've got a medikit myself if mundane action needs to be taken." Looking at the video feed, he nods in agreement. "Yes. Keep that flamer ready, it'll get a lot of use. I hadn't planned on turning into an impromptu Purgation Team, but we do what needs to be done."

[Grimbold]

Haxtes just nods, scans the screens for some information how to get there and is ready to move.