Zarkov"Your Lordship/Ladyship, Magos Oksilda has transmitted the first results of her work. According to her, it is a breakthrough. I need not have worried about her earlier silence. You know how these obsessive types are..."
Zarkov"The most significant finding is that the Drovers prey on psykers, and they are attracted to warp-active areas. These creatures were probably created specifically to destroy anything that exhibits warp activity. We can use this against them."
Zarkov"The Colonel-Governor proposes several possible strategies, either to organise mobile teams with psykers to lure the creatures from their lairs and exterminate them or to draw the creatures to pre-prepared positions for destruction by executioner squads. Finally, the creatures could be led en masse to remote, uninhabited regions, after assembling an expedition in the form of a great sacrificial procession."
YOU"I would like to know more about the Magos's research."
Zarkov"The theory about interference in the evolution of species on Zarkov has been confirmed. In short, all flora and fauna bear the marks of ancient genetic interference. The Drovers possess some sort of psy-sensitivity, though they are utterly warp-inert themselves. The Magos's theory is that the Drovers were bred as a weapon against psykers or to clean up and suppress warp-infested areas."
Zarkov"Based on the research, it also appears that the present behaviour of the Drovers has nothing to do with the thinning of the veil between realspace and the Immaterium. The mysterious signal irritates their nervous system, driving them into a rage — it is a means of controlling them. In theory, it is capable of more than just sending them into a frenzy, but so far the Adeptus Mechanicus is unable to uncover its secrets. The Tech-Priests suppose that some sort of planetary security system was triggered, which riled up the local biosphere."
YOU"I would like to know more about the Magos's research."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does anyone in my retinue have any ideas on how to use this?"
Zarkov(sequence)
Zarkov"If we can know where and when the Drovers will emerge and can lure them to a location of our choosing… Nothing can withstand a precise orbital strike from a lance battery, Lord Captain. There is a certain Imperial Navy captain who owes me a favour. I believe he could station a vessel in orbit suitable for our purposes, at a modest price."
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Zarkov"Elantach, the people of this world may have learned to survive among its roots, but their attempts to navigate them remain clumsy. I can teach your servants to use the planet's resources to craft specialised traps. Then they themselves shall become a bulwark against the evil that plagues it."
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Zarkov"Beyond the primary Explorator investigation, Oksilda and I conducted an additional study. During this, the Omnissiah granted me a revelation and I partially identified the cryptographic principles of the signal that governs the Drovers. I believe we can employ specific frequencies, broadcast through vox-hailers mounted upon vehicles of the mobile teams, to turn the creatures' own weaponry against them."
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Zarkov"Lord Captain, grand sacrifices are all well and good, and they make for a fine spectacle, but only if they serve a purpose. Herding a mass of psykers to their deaths risks tearing such a breach in the veil that will make the Drovers seem like harmless cherubim! We already know these creatures are driven into frenzies by a signal from deep within the planet. Mount an expedition to its source and cut the problem out by the root!"
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YOU"Chasing after the things is pointless. The 32nd can lure them into traps and destroy them."
Zarkov"I will relay your order immediately, Your Lordship/Ladyship — and I will begin allocating the necessary resources for this plan."
ZarkovSoon, within the root system of Zarkov, entire bastions of plasteel and adamantine rose. However, their defensive lines were not directed outward, but inward. The fighting was bloody and ferocious, yet, despite the losses, the Drovers were nearly exterminated.
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YOU"Yrliet, teach the people of Zarkov how to construct traps according to the ways of your kind."
Zarkov"Perhaps your kind may yet one day learn to live in harmony with the worlds it has subjugated."
ZarkovThe Zarkovians were at first suspicious of the xenos's suggestions, yet they soon came to fully appreciate them. Specialised traps for the Drovers appeared on the approaches to the settlements, ensnaring and wounding the creatures and allowing the defenders to dispatch them with minimal losses. Gradually, the bulk of the Drover population was captured and destroyed.
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YOU"An excellent idea, Seneschal. Send word to your captain. Lure the Drovers to pre-arranged positions and annihilate them from orbit with lance batteries."
Zarkov"It shall be done, Lord Captain. These creatures will stand no chance against the might of the Imperial Navy, be assured of that."
ZarkovThe well-aimed lance batteries did not miss, and the Merovian Regiment would finish off any maimed creatures that happened to survive the strike. Before long, the Drover population was greatly diminished. Abelard later acknowledged that this campaign had been an exemplary model of cooperation between the Imperial Navy and the Astra Militarum.
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YOU"Proceed, Eogunn. We shall turn the enemy's own tactics against them."
Zarkov"The wrath of the Omnissiah shall smite the xenos, Rogue Trader."
ZarkovThe mobile teams were equipped with powerful vox-hailers. The sequence of sound waves broadcast through the speakers disrupted the signal received by the Drovers. The enraged xenos creatures turned upon one another, tearing each other apart and granting the Merovian fighters a tremendous advantage in the battle. Before long, the Drover population was greatly diminished.
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YOU"I like the idea of mobile teams. Gather psykers from across the protectorate to serve as bait."
Zarkov"I understand, Your Lordship/Ladyship. So, we'll need to issue high-speed shuttles, cartographers... Forgive me, I will draw up the list of equipment needed and organise its delivery later."
ZarkovHaving gathered a tithe of psykers from across the protectorate and bound them in chains, the Zarkovians began luring the Drovers from their lairs, systematically exterminating the beasts one by one. Many teams were lost to psykers who could not contain their own powers, tearing the veil open to the Immaterium. Nevertheless, before long, the creatures' population was greatly diminished.
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YOU"Assemble a grand sacrificial procession of psykers from across the protectorate and dispatch them to one of the polar ice caps. Let the Drovers follow them there — that should keep them busy for quite some time."
Zarkov"As you wish, Lord Captain. It will be a dangerous venture — we all know how unstable unsanctioned psykers are. However, I'm sure the Drovers will not be able to resist such a feast."
ZarkovIn Zarkovian legend, the world's polar ice cap became a cursed and ominous place for a long time after. The northern winds now carry with them eerie laughter and the whispers of otherwordly voices. Yet the sacrifice was not in vain — the Drovers simply could not resist the lure and the greater part of their population abandoned the habitable regions of the world.
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YOU"Idira, we shall do as you suggest and send an expedition to the source of the signal."
Zarkov"Quite right, Lord Captain. Auntie Idira would never give you bad advice!"
ZarkovThe expedition struggled through the roots and numerous perils of Zarkov, until at last it descended to the lowest layers. There, embedded in the tree trunks like colossal growths, stood strange constructs fashioned of materials unknown to Humanity from which the signal emanated. The moment the expedition set about destroying them, entire swarms of Drovers rushed into the depths of Zarkov, as if desperately seeking to stop the effort. As the last construct collapsed, every single creature froze and fell limp, as though its nervous system had briefly failed. The surviving members of the expedition hastened to return, unwilling to await the Drovers' reawakening. Since that day, attacks on the settlements have become markedly less frequent.
end of branch
YOU"Does anyone in my retinue have any ideas on how to use this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Chasing after the things is pointless. The 32nd can lure them into traps and destroy them."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Yrliet, teach the people of Zarkov how to construct traps according to the ways of your kind."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"An excellent idea, Seneschal. Send word to your captain. Lure the Drovers to pre-arranged positions and annihilate them from orbit with lance batteries."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Proceed, Eogunn. We shall turn the enemy's own tactics against them."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I like the idea of mobile teams. Gather psykers from across the protectorate to serve as bait."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Assemble a grand sacrificial procession of psykers from across the protectorate and dispatch them to one of the polar ice caps. Let the Drovers follow them there — that should keep them busy for quite some time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Idira, we shall do as you suggest and send an expedition to the source of the signal."continues where this line first appears above
Zarkov"So the entire world is an arsenal? The First Call-Up broke into an ancient bioweapons depot? That's fantastic. And ironic."
YOU"I would like to know more about the Magos's research."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does anyone in my retinue have any ideas on how to use this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Chasing after the things is pointless. The 32nd can lure them into traps and destroy them."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Yrliet, teach the people of Zarkov how to construct traps according to the ways of your kind."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"An excellent idea, Seneschal. Send word to your captain. Lure the Drovers to pre-arranged positions and annihilate them from orbit with lance batteries."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Proceed, Eogunn. We shall turn the enemy's own tactics against them."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I like the idea of mobile teams. Gather psykers from across the protectorate to serve as bait."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Assemble a grand sacrificial procession of psykers from across the protectorate and dispatch them to one of the polar ice caps. Let the Drovers follow them there — that should keep them busy for quite some time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Idira, we shall do as you suggest and send an expedition to the source of the signal."continues where this line first appears above
Zarkov"So I grew up on an ancient xenoworld of bioweapons? No, that can't be... No, no. And even if it were — we brought His footsteps to Zarkov, Your Lordship/Ladyship! We are pious, and in our hearts there is no room for xenoheresy!"
YOU"I would like to know more about the Magos's research."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Does anyone in my retinue have any ideas on how to use this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Chasing after the things is pointless. The 32nd can lure them into traps and destroy them."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Yrliet, teach the people of Zarkov how to construct traps according to the ways of your kind."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"An excellent idea, Seneschal. Send word to your captain. Lure the Drovers to pre-arranged positions and annihilate them from orbit with lance batteries."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Proceed, Eogunn. We shall turn the enemy's own tactics against them."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I like the idea of mobile teams. Gather psykers from across the protectorate to serve as bait."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Assemble a grand sacrificial procession of psykers from across the protectorate and dispatch them to one of the polar ice caps. Let the Drovers follow them there — that should keep them busy for quite some time."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Idira, we shall do as you suggest and send an expedition to the source of the signal."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 12 of 13
Zarkov"Your Lordship/Ladyship, a message has arrived from Magos Tau-Phi-0098. He reports that his research has yielded results and that there is at last a chance to render Zarkov safe."
Zarkov"The most significant finding is that the Drovers prey on psykers, and they are attracted to warp-active areas. These creatures were probably created specifically to destroy anything that exhibits warp activity. We can use this against them."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 13 of 13
Zarkov"Your Lordship/Ladyship, we have received a message from Magos Kais-torr-Shaiga. He reports that his research into the Drovers has yielded a 'result which he is pleased to share with his generous patron.' An uncharacteristically courteous tone for a Tech-Priest!"
Zarkov"The most significant finding is that the Drovers prey on psykers, and they are attracted to warp-active areas. These creatures were probably created specifically to destroy anything that exhibits warp activity. We can use this against them."continues where this line first appears above