Officer"Lord Captain, the inspection of the ship's systems is complete. The Tech-Priests are reporting the machine spirits are calm and satisfied. Everything is ready for onward travel... Except there is an issue you must be made aware of."
CassiaCassia makes a quick nervous gesture, adjusting the adornment over her third eye. "I have been studying the records left by the vessel's previous Navigator. I wanted to double-check the route to Dargonus and discovered that... it does not match the one recorded in the Atlas. It is more than a minor warp fluctuation — the route has been wiped out, it can no longer be used for travelling. To make matters worse, I started checking the paths from the Atlas, one after the other, and saw the same thing everywhere. The warp is roiling with an ominous storm, bursting with vivid and screaming colours. It will not hinder our movement... But all previous knowledge is now utterly useless."
ArgentaArgenta angrily chops the air with a side of her palm. "Warp storms are our enemies, just like heretics and daemons. It is a shame they can't be dispersed with a flamer or a bolter!"
Officer"Now we can be certain that problems with Astropathic communication in the Koronus Expanse are no coincidence. There is a warp disturbance in your way, Lord Captain — it is swallowing messages and disrupting familiar routes. This means you need to locate the key worlds of the von Valancius protectorate as soon as possible — I am talking about Janus, Dargonus, and Kiava Gamma. Charting new routes so they can be reached and restoring control will be the necessary next step."
YOU"What would the consequences of losing contact with these worlds be?"
Officer"A world deprived of connection to its neighbouring systems and the Koronus Expanse's infrastructure can only rely on itself — and their capabilities are often limited. For example, Janus does not have a fleet of its own. Pirates, cultists, heretics, xenos — anyone could prey on the helpless planet. The loss of communication is a threat to your position. A Rogue Trader with no protectorate to back them is one that grows weaker by the day."
YOU"What would the consequences of losing contact with these worlds be?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about Janus."
Officer"The surface of Janus was altered extensively so the planet could be designated an agri-world. It is a powerful food base, capable of supplying the burgeoning protectorate and exporting provisions to the outer worlds at the same time. Janus owes much of its prosperity to the Governor House of Vyatt. Under its leadership, the world has grown ever more prosperous year after year, securing shipments and taxes while keeping the workforce tightly controlled."
YOU"What would the consequences of losing contact with these worlds be?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about Janus."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is Kiava Gamma?"
Officer"Industrial world Kiava Gamma is being managed by the Governor House of Gaprak and supplies your protectorate with rare mineral resources. Additionally, the planet features an Adeptus Mechanicusmanufactorum that processes materials and prepares them for shipment."
YOU"What would the consequences of losing contact with these worlds be?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about Janus."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is Kiava Gamma?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do I need to know about Dargonus?"
Officer"Dargonus is the heart and soul of your protectorate. It is where the main administrative resources and storage facilities are, and so is the von Valancius palace. If you would like to know, this is where you will publicly accept the title of Rogue Trader. Dargonus is a major administrative hub that runs the cargo fleet and keeps track of finances."
YOU"What would the consequences of losing contact with these worlds be?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about Janus."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is Kiava Gamma?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do I need to know about Dargonus?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, what is your opinion? Which world should we deal with first?"
AbelardAbelard strokes his beard for a few seconds before giving a hesitant reply: "Rediscovering the agri-world will supply your protectorate with something none of your servants can do without — sustenance. The importance of basic supplies should not be underestimated. Just look at Footfall in its current pitiful state."
Abelard"On the other hand, I am concerned by the rumours concerning Kiava Gamma. There have been no problems on Janus for many years, but something is very wrong with the industrial world right now. Delay may cost us the entire planet."
Abelard"I trust I do not have to explain the capital world? Losing it would make us the laughing stock of the other dynasties. Besides, the loss of chronicles and ledgers would spell a bureaucratic catastrophe... So all three systems are equally vital to the protectorate. It falls to you to decide which should be brought into the fold before the rest, Lord Captain."
YOU"What would the consequences of losing contact with these worlds be?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about Janus."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is Kiava Gamma?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do I need to know about Dargonus?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, what is your opinion? Which world should we deal with first?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Very well, our course is clear. Do my officers have any other issues that require immediate attention?"
Officer"That is all, Lord Captain. The vessel and the crew await your instructions and are ready to depart Footfall immediately, should you so desire."
end of branch
YOU"Very well, our course is clear. Do my officers have any other issues that require immediate attention?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, what is your opinion? Which world should we deal with first?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Very well, our course is clear. Do my officers have any other issues that require immediate attention?"continues where this line first appears above
Officer(sequence)
Pasqal"I testify that Kiava Gamma is a world marked by the Omnissiah's patronage. By His grace, the manufactorums of the colony are inhabited by committed and industrious machine spirits."
end of branch
HeinrixHeinrix coughs quietly. "Mistress Toliman neglected to mention that the Kiava Gamma manufactorum also supplies heavy machinery, from forage harvesters to vessel systems and components."
AbelardAbelard turns his hard eyes on Heinrix. "You display commendable knowledge of our worlds' manufacturing capability, van Calox."
Heinrix"Pleased to be of service."
end of branch
YOU"What do I need to know about Dargonus?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, what is your opinion? Which world should we deal with first?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Very well, our course is clear. Do my officers have any other issues that require immediate attention?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is Kiava Gamma?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do I need to know about Dargonus?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, what is your opinion? Which world should we deal with first?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Very well, our course is clear. Do my officers have any other issues that require immediate attention?"continues where this line first appears above
Officer(sequence)
Abelard"The Vox Master is entirely correct. You are Rogue Trader [Name] von Valancius, the successor to Theodora von Valancius, one of the most influential women this side of the Maw. But you are also new to the business of governing. Many will doubt your competence and try to carve up your protectorate so they can snatch a piece for themselves. It is important to show your potential allies and foes that you are in control of the situation. Which is why the sooner we reclaim these lost worlds, the better!"
end of branch
KibellahA faint smile appears on Kibellah's lips. "If the faithless decide that your worlds are easy prey, that is good. We will find enough enemies in your domain, then. And we will kill them. The Undying One will look upon us with approval."
end of branch
YOU"Tell me about Janus."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is Kiava Gamma?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do I need to know about Dargonus?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Abelard, what is your opinion? Which world should we deal with first?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Very well, our course is clear. Do my officers have any other issues that require immediate attention?"continues where this line first appears above