GunnerA powerful explosion destroys the ancient anti-aircraft battery, showering you with shards. This gun will not harm anyone ever again.
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Entry point 2 of 9
Gloomy Rebel"Hmmm... The Chief, you say? Take over from us, you say?" The portly woman hesitates.
Frightened RebelThe red-haired woman grabs her partner's arm. "Of course the Chief sent them! Of course they'll take over from us! They're our lot, no question about it!"
Frightened RebelHer mouth stretches in a strained smile. "We'll get going then. We had three people in our crew get scalded with boiling oil when we first calibrated this thing. Anyway, good luck. Try not to die!"
GunnerThe anti-aircraft battery's control panel has a panoply of mysterious levers and buttons. Deactivating it quickly is not an option. All you can do is blow it up, destroying it completely.
YOU[Examine the anti-aircraft battery]
YOU[Remember the basics of handling sacred mechanisms of war] "I believe I know of a way to rid us of this menace..."
GunnerIt does not take knowledge of the ins and outs of ancient technology to do what you intend to do — your experience from your time in the Astra Militarum is sure to suffice. A simple manipulation of the breech block is enough to jam the shell inside the tube and cause a fire in the chamber...
GunnerThe blast consumes the ancient weapon. The sky above the city is safe for flying again.
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YOU[Destroy the anti-aircraft battery]
YOU[Ignore the anti-aircraft battery and leave]
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Entry point 3 of 9
GunnerThe anti-aircraft battery certainly was constructed a long time ago — long before the colonisation of this world began. It comes as no surprise that the insurgents were barely able to operate it. Modern arms protocols are incomprehensible to the machine spirits of such an ancient construction.
YOU[Examine the anti-aircraft battery]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Remember the basics of handling sacred mechanisms of war] "I believe I know of a way to rid us of this menace..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the anti-aircraft battery]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Ignore the anti-aircraft battery and leave]continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 9
Frightened RebelThe women exchange nervous glances. Finally, the red-haired woman gives up, throws down her weapon, and puts her hands up. "We surrender! We surrender! Just don't kill us!"
YOU"Speak. What caused the insurgency? Who is the Chief? And what were you doing with that anti-aircraft battery?"
Frightened Rebel"Well, we... er... our entire crew joined the rebels and we tagged along. The Chief, well — he's the Chief. He's in charge because he used to work under the Red Robes and man their heavy machinery. He's not here. He only comes over to check up on us every now and then! He wrote us a manual for operating this big boy, but it only does what it's supposed to do half the time! The previous shift got all maimed. We haven't been here long and we're already head to toe in burns. Let us go, will you? We won't be insurging again!"
YOU"Speak. What caused the insurgency? Who is the Chief? And what were you doing with that anti-aircraft battery?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Let the insurgents go] "I give you the gift of life. You are free to go."
Frightened RebelThe red-haired woman breathes a sigh of intense relief. "Thank you! Thank you so, so, so much!"
Frightened RebelHer mouth stretches in a strained smile. "We'll get going then. We had three people in our crew get scalded with boiling oil when we first calibrated this thing. Anyway, good luck. Try not to die!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Execute the insurgents] "Your crime is punishable by death."
Gloomy Rebel"Curse you, noble bloodsuckers! The Final Dawn will get you!"
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YOU[Let the insurgents go] "I give you the gift of life. You are free to go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Execute the insurgents] "Your crime is punishable by death."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 5 of 9
GunnerIt is a formidable and lethal weapon, the likes of which you have never seen before.
YOU[Examine the anti-aircraft battery]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Remember the basics of handling sacred mechanisms of war] "I believe I know of a way to rid us of this menace..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Destroy the anti-aircraft battery]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Ignore the anti-aircraft battery and leave]continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 6 of 9
Gloomy RebelThe woman merely sneers in response and gets a more comfortable grip on her weapon. "Boy, did you just mess with the wrong crowd. We've got intruders! Come at them!"
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Entry point 7 of 9
GunnerThe two women are arguing furiously, oblivious to everything around them. An impressively huge anti-aircraft battery towers over them.
Frightened Rebel"I can't do this anymore! I pushed the exact same lever I did yesterday, I swear! But instead of turning the barrel, it splashed us with hot oil! What genius thought that experience operating a paper press would translate into handling ancient weaponry? This thing is going to kill us before long, I just know it!" The exhausted red-headed woman is on the verge of tears as she rubs the fresh burn on her cheek.
Gunner(sequence)
PasqalThe Tech-Priest cannot hide his amazement as he listens to the confessions of this paper press operator, who has been unceremoniously thrust into the ranks of the gunners and is now in charge of aiming this formidable anti-aircraft battery. His visor's lens gradually turns scarlet.
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Gloomy RebelHer portly workmate waves her hand dismissively. "What's with the cold feet? Afraid the Chief's gonna punish us? I dunno, I like the gun way better than the paper press! We've turned the tables on the nobles at last — now they're afraid of us!" She turns toward you sharply and whips out her weapon. "Now who are you?"
YOU[Flash a derisive smile] "Oh, you miserable, pathetic, lower order scum... Rebelling against your masters, are you? Care to show me your rebellious spirit now instead of taking sneaky shots from a safe distance? Do you have the guts to do it? Well? Do you?"
GunnerThe kilotons of venom and hubris in your voice have a miraculous effect on the rabble: the two trembling women instantly fall to their knees. "F-forgive us, my lord/lady! Have mercy!"
YOU"Speak. What caused the insurgency? Who is the Chief? And what were you doing with that anti-aircraft battery?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Let the insurgents go] "I give you the gift of life. You are free to go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Execute the insurgents] "Your crime is punishable by death."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look intently at both women] "With your own hands, you are branding yourselves with the mark of disgrace. Do you know what that is? If you do not, I can tell you. I know."
GunnerSomething in your voice — genuine sincerity, or notes of shame — causes both women to lower their gazes. One after another, they drop to their knees. "M-m-mercy! They bamboozled us... frightened us..."
YOU"Speak. What caused the insurgency? Who is the Chief? And what were you doing with that anti-aircraft battery?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Let the insurgents go] "I give you the gift of life. You are free to go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Execute the insurgents] "Your crime is punishable by death."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Chief sent me to take over from you."
Gunner(sequence)
AbelardAbelard casts a reproachful look at you but says nothing, merely shaking his head.
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YOU"An insurgency against your lawful governor amounts to heresy. I command you to lay down your arms at once!"
YOU[Attack] "Death to the rebels!"
Gloomy Rebel"Die, scum! For Aurora and the Final Dawn!"
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Entry point 8 of 9
GunnerAn ancient anti-aircraft battery of impressive proportions casts a dark shadow on the ground. Kneeling in the shadow is a red-haired woman with gaping black holes where her eyes once were. She is feverishly scrambling for something on the ground around her, dully repeating, "Light... light... light..."
Gloomy Rebel"That's enough whining, lads. We won't be getting any more visitors. We've lopped the heads off all of them! And as for that coward, I gave her a taste of my true sight — where's she gonna go?" The portly woman gestures toward the redhead. Her eclectic gear has clearly been scavenged from her less lucky friends as well as foes.
Gloomy Rebel"Right... Now who's this?"
YOU"I am new. I was sent here to take over from you."
Gloomy Rebel"Take over? Ha, we don't work shifts here. It's just us and we're in charge! Get 'em, lads! For Aurora and the Final Dawn!"
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YOU"I, Rogue Trader von Valancius, am ordering you to surrender at once!"
Gloomy Rebel"Well, sorry to disappoint! Get 'em, lads! For Aurora and the Final Dawn!"
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YOU[Attack] "Prepare to die, rebels!"
Gloomy Rebel"We may be rebels, but you — you're all blind! But don't worry... you'll be made to see! For Aurora and the Final Dawn!"
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Entry point 9 of 9
GunnerThe anti-aircraft battery's control panel has a panoply of mysterious levers and buttons. Deactivating it quickly is not an option. All you can do is blow it up, destroying it completely.continues where this line first appears above