M01E03 - The face of the enemy

Oriol FM
Dark Lord

Posts: 207

M01E03 - The face of the enemy Aug 6, 2014 22:36:29 GMT 8

Post by Oriol FM on Aug 6, 2014 22:36:29 GMT 8

Dr. Combs smiles at Bazl.

No, child. They don't have super-strong skin, just a little bit thougher than usual, like the leather from some animals. These are fourth generation, though. The closer they are to a pure-breed, the tougher they get.

However, your idea of a fake immunization program could work... We tell everyone (including the senate) that we suspect the rebels might use biological weapons, and that we have to set up a vaccine/tag program. We force everyone to come by the hospitals, we extract some samples from them, and along the placebo vaccine, we inoculate them with tracer chips. Those chips stick to the blood vessel wall and allow them to be tracked from 2 kilometers away, providing you have an auspex and the ID tag for the chip.

Then we run the analysis, and if we happen to detect any hybrid, we track him down. We won't detect any hybrids from generations 1 to 3 with these, because they are not passable as humans, but I'm confident we could get some 4th generation hybrids this way. What do you think of it?

natahem
Junior Member

Posts: 56

M01E03 - The face of the enemy Aug 7, 2014 9:57:15 GMT 8

Post by natahem on Aug 7, 2014 9:57:15 GMT 8

Ash nodded.

"I guess that's the best plan we have now. Once we could identify one, or more, of the 4th generation, it should be easier to follow them to reach the previous generations.Of course, we have to be very carreful that they do not suspect us. Meaning that military and inquisition should stay in shadow while you conduct the false immunization program, but be ready to track any suspect.
How fast can you detect an hybrid this way? I mean, can you clearly identify it before he leaves the hospital?"

senorsomething
New Member

Posts: 28

M01E03 - The face of the enemy Aug 7, 2014 11:44:36 GMT 8

Post by senorsomething on Aug 7, 2014 11:44:36 GMT 8

Bazl blinks, stunned that they even listened to her- a random, rule-breaking stowaway scum, and even more stunned that her weak idea had any merit. Bolstered by the tiny bit of success, she bravely plunges ahead with her ideas.

"I don't think the military can sit it out, Ash," she ventures, quietly. "A wide scale immunization of hive-scale proportions would need every able body to help spread the news, round up the lower hive levels, and help maintain calm at every medical facility- and likely, every make-shift facility. Hospitals aren't built big enough to allow for everyone to visit within days. We'll have to set up temporary 'vaccination' centers and probably remake some security vans into traveling mobile 'immunization' units- any positively identified hybrids can be labled as showing "progressive' signs of the disease (or whatever we're calling the need for this immunization) and forcefully detained in the secure unit to be transferred to the hospital (that is, a security center where we can handle the hybrids) for treatment. There needs to be a sense of urgency and news generated all over the hive, to bring in as many people as possible. But we have to know that a lot of these alien things will be suspicious, so we're naturally going to have to go to them- under the pretense of merciful traveling med units-to round up as many more as possible. And perhaps we can implement further technology, besides the tracking chips... we'll have people mobilizing all over the hive, its a good time to work on an intensive information network. And we can check pregnant women for any abnormalities in a fetus under the guise of worrying how this 'disease' may affect the child...."

She stops, realizing that she's probably overstepped in saying so much to people with so much more training and expertise than herself. She takes a deep a breath and lets it out slowly. "Er... I mean. If you think its useful, Sir, Ma'am," she mutters, and looks down again. Grunts aren't supposed to do much talking and she was talking a damn lot for a dumb scum. Hopefully they wouldn't mind her overstepping her place. She hunched a bit, mentally urging the others to speak up quickly and cover her.

natahem
Junior Member

Posts: 56

M01E03 - The face of the enemy Aug 7, 2014 17:10:49 GMT 8

Post by natahem on Aug 7, 2014 17:10:49 GMT 8

"Well, if it needs such organisation, maybe we can start with the high-born and high level citizen first, those who could have influence and be targeted by the Pyranids. It wouldn't look suspicious that they are the first to be protected against an "unknown desease". And we could easily check who show up for the vaccination, and who among them avoid to show. Then we could have possible leads to who can be a hybrids, and follow them. But maybe there won't be any hybrid among them. In that case, we could extend the plan to the whole population. "

Oriol FM
Dark Lord

Posts: 207

M01E03 - The face of the enemy Aug 7, 2014 22:05:28 GMT 8

Post by Oriol FM on Aug 7, 2014 22:05:28 GMT 8

Justicar Jonas smiles mischievously when Bazl intervenes, then is visibly satisfied with Ash's words.

We could close the inter-district doors under the special emergency protocol act, then start in the upper hive and go down. Since the upper hive is the less populated and, which according to Dr. Combs happens to be the likeliest target, we could start there and go down. If I'm not mistaken, if we put tracers in the citizens, we'd be able to look for them even after they have left the hospital.

Now: I'm sure we'll have to explain our actions to the governor himself, and to the rest of the senate, before we are allowed to execute the plan. What should we say, exactly? I'm just asking so we are all on the same page, here. I don't like to lie to my boss, and even when the governor is not, I usually answer to him for most of my duties.

Last Edit: Aug 8, 2014 11:09:55 GMT 8 by Oriol FM

natahem
Junior Member

Posts: 56

M01E03 - The face of the enemy Aug 8, 2014 9:02:41 GMT 8

Post by natahem on Aug 8, 2014 9:02:41 GMT 8

"You may tell them that you suspect the rebels will try to use a new form of virus to affect the roots of your society, and so you'd like to perform some preventive tests and vaccination. This is actually not completely a lie. And if they ask how you can know about that, the Doctor here can attest that he found a strange virus on a body, and you are concerned if it's a single case or if it's already spreading among the people. Once again, it's not exactly a lie, even if you don't say the whole truth."

Oriol FM
Dark Lord

Posts: 207

M01E03 - The face of the enemy Aug 8, 2014 11:53:26 GMT 8

Post by Oriol FM on Aug 8, 2014 11:53:26 GMT 8

Don't you think giving an official version so close to the truth could alert our enemies that we're onto them? If they were to think that we already know who and where they are, they might start to promote unrest actively if they are already here. Then again... rash action could make them commit errors that we could use against them.

We know they don't have heavy support in this hive, because all the PDF personnel and equipment is distributed between the rebel hives. I'm thinking that, at most, the would have armed cultists, with standard weapons, maybe even a few heavy weapons they could have smuggled in. In any case, no heavy vehicles. I'm confident that between the Arbites and the Spiders of the 8th we could hold this hive without much problems.

I have some scouts deployed near the other hives, and everything seems normal around them... No unusual troop or civilian movement at all. Even in the case they wanted to launch an assault from the other hives, an all-out terrestrial assault would have a delay of at least 48 hours, having to transport infantry plus vehicles. Even in that case, the heaviest weapons the PDF had are mounted weapons on the walls of the hive, and their vehicles are mainly Transport Chimeras and just a couple of Leman Russ tanks. Hardly a serious threat for my regiment.

natahem
Junior Member

Posts: 56

M01E03 - The face of the enemy Aug 8, 2014 15:29:27 GMT 8

Post by natahem on Aug 8, 2014 15:29:27 GMT 8

"What if just pretending that you found a suspect case of infection on a body, and you fear it could have infect other people in the hive? We don't have to say officially it has anything to do with the rebelion, but just make it sound as a health "emergency"."

Dennis
Junior Member

Posts: 63

M01E03 - The face of the enemy Aug 9, 2014 14:04:12 GMT 8

Post by Dennis on Aug 9, 2014 14:04:12 GMT 8

You do make sense if the search is too obvious. what lead we have so far is these dead hitters from downhive, what information do we have on them? maybe they belong to a gang or organization that we can look more closely at?

Leitbec pointed at the body in the examination room.

Aside from this, the hybrids seem to have weak connections to their master, Justicar, do you have santioned psykers or hunters that can help with the detection? If we can capture live hybrids, perhaps we can find out what accomplices

Oriol FM
Dark Lord

Posts: 207

M01E03 - The face of the enemy Aug 9, 2014 14:22:32 GMT 8

Post by Oriol FM on Aug 9, 2014 14:22:32 GMT 8

These ones have no ID tag, this means they are from off-hive, that they are not registered, or that they took out their tags.

Seeing some puzzled stares, he clarifies:

The Justicar implanted a Tag protocol some time ago. Subcutaneous RFID chips when everyone's born. The range is quite poor, but we store the owners' biodata, as well as some other stuff. If you take the public transport, you'll see: everyone has a subdermal chip on their wrists or neck. The four that you confronted weren't tagged.

Oriol FM
Dark Lord

Posts: 207

M01E03 - The face of the enemy Aug 9, 2014 14:41:16 GMT 8

Post by Oriol FM on Aug 9, 2014 14:41:16 GMT 8

Before the tags, it was a real chaos. With the tags, every citizen is scanned when they take the public transport... or when they cross between sections of the hive. This is not publicly known, so that means that these four were born and grown in the lower hive, or that they have a point of access that is not rigged with the RFID sensors, which is most unlikely, since we rigged even the maintenance hallways and emergency exits.

I'm afraid the only psykers in the hive are the astropaths and two navigators we keep in the event we need to evacuate the senate and other VIP citizens. All of them have their roles to fulfill and we can't risk one of them being corrupted by the enemy. As for hunters... I command the Adeptus Arbites in the system, not a hunting party. We investigate, but we have our procedures and our methods, which I'm sure you are familiar with.

I think the plan of the forced vaccination and control is sound. I'll prepare a list of hospitals and we'll seize public buildings suitable to dub as a field hospital. Counting on Mortz's medical officers and nurses to setup as many as necessary. We'll begin with the upper Hive, as you suggested. Myself and Dr. Combs will setup a field hospital in the Adeptus Administratum building. Colonel Mortz, I'd like you to personally go supervise the field hospital set up on the Adeptus Ministorum building, and carry one of your elite squads with you as a special reinforcement. I don't expect you to find any hybrids there, since that zealot Rouk burns anyone who sneezes too hard.

natahem
Junior Member

Posts: 56

M01E03 - The face of the enemy Aug 9, 2014 20:10:40 GMT 8

Post by natahem on Aug 9, 2014 20:10:40 GMT 8

"So, while everything is being organised, we can have some rest. And, Justicar, I would apreciate if I could get some room to rest far from the Our Holiness. I mean, I would feel more comfortable if I'm sure his servants are not continually watching my back to check I deserve to burn or not... I suppose my... comrades are feeling the same way. And it would be easier to be close to your headquarter, if we have to organise our plans and gather some equipement."

He paused a few seconds, and after a little hesitation, he added:

"And you have to show me where I can refill my cup of coffee."

nathanjames
Full Member

Posts: 108

M01E03 - The face of the enemy Aug 11, 2014 0:57:23 GMT 8

Post by nathanjames on Aug 11, 2014 0:57:23 GMT 8

Titus was busily taking notes on his data slate during this entire exchange, trying to keep his head around the issue at hand and the implications. If he had heard correctly, there were a few key points he'd need to take with him:

[/i][li]There were two psychic controllers that they needed to worry about, separately: a purebreed patriarch, and a human-looking magus (who should look in his or her teens).[/li]
[li]The "thralls" were likely in crucial positions inside the planetary government or armed forces. These could take the form of either infected or enthralled humans, though the infected would be easier to identify.[/li]
[li]The initial tyrannid would have had to be smuggled in numbers onto the planet. Which implied assistance from those in authority, 24 years ago.[/li]
[li]Speaking of which, the Justicar's predecessor died in an operation combating smuggling, 24 years ago. The files concerning that case could be most helpful.[/li]
[li]Seizing the Adeptus Astra Telepathica would be a good preventative, though plans using the psykers had not been formulated yet.[/li]
[li]The St. Sebastian hive APPARENTLY did not contain the patriarch, as the revolution had begun with the majority of tyrannid forces, in the other enemy-controlled hives. (Titus was not ready to assume the same for the magus, who was fourth generation and human-looking.)[/li]
[li]The quickest plan for flushing out leads seemed to be a combination of a fake "immunization" program, combined with ID tags. The group would start from the top-down of St. Sebastian, since thralls were aiming for the top anyway.[/li]
[/ul]

After reviewing his list, Titus stood up to begin his own preparations.

"This plan of forced medical exams under pretense seems as good as any to get our ball rolling. I particularly like the focus on top-down, as I have learned from personal experience that the most dangerous foes are the ones you trust the most.

"Justicar, you mentioned sealed case files on an operation versus smuggling over two decades ago? With what we've discussed so far, I think what's in those files could be very helpful indeed. It might give us an important lead, or even a name or two.

"Finally, I know we're all going to want some more appropriate gear for combating tyrannid, especially any purebreed we encounter. I've made a quick list of useful equipment for this mission. I'm aware that not all may be readily available. If you could give me an idea of what the hive is likely to have, or where I can go to hunt down a few of the rarer items, I would be most appreciative."

Titus tried to smile as pleasantly as he could, as he handed the slate with his...rather sizable shopping list to the justicar:

New Mechadentrite: Optical, Medical, Utility
Flamer + ammo (scarce) or Hand Flamer + ammo (rare)
Shotgun + ammo (regular, pump, or combat) (common to scarce)
Inferno shells for shotgun (rare)
Red-dot Laser sight (scarce)
Exterminator (any quantity) (common)
Hand grenades (any and all types) (plentiful to rare)
Better armor (whatever is reasonably acquirable)
Respirator/Gas Mask (current Adeptus Mechanicus mask only gives +20 vs. poison, whereas a new one would give +30) (average)
De-Tox (rare)
Medikit(s) (common)
SACRED MACHINE OIL (very rare)
Auspex/Scanner (scarce)
Combi-Tool (rare)
Grapnel (common)
Lascutter (average)
Magnoculars (average)
Manacles (plentiful)

Titus honestly did not expect to be able to acquire more than a fraction of what was on his wish-list. However, all items were items he knew he could find a use for, and were worth picking up when the opportunity arose. Plus, it was better to ask than to stay silent, and the justicar would know best where to start.

Last Edit: Aug 11, 2014 0:59:05 GMT 8 by nathanjames

Oriol FM
Dark Lord

Posts: 207

M01E03 - The face of the enemy Aug 20, 2014 14:18:43 GMT 8

Post by Oriol FM on Aug 20, 2014 14:18:43 GMT 8

To prepare all the forced medical tests in a hive like St. Sebastian would take at least a month, but I hope to achieve that in half that time with the help of Colonel Mortz's men. Please, Doctor Combs, prepare a communication memo to notify all hospitals, health centers, and report back to us to know exactly how many more centers would we need to perform these tests on all the population in a maximum period of three days. I want to give the enemy no time to deceive us. We'll invoke the hive emergency act, notifying all the citizens just 24 hours before the tests begin.

Colonel Mortz, I will go to your operations HQ with my officials to make a joint debriefing to prepare the plan for protecting all the test centers and custody all the accesses in and out from each hive sector. I want everything closed tight, and not a single citizen slipping through our fingers. I'll activate all the surveillance servoskulls we have in the hive and have them report any unusual gathering of people.

As for you, Acolytes, I'll give orders for my underlings to prepare a planning room with network access and a resting place in the fifth floor, should you want to be here in our HQ. You may come and go as you please, by all means. I'll be quite busy these next few days, preparing and reviewing all the minor details we'll need for our plan to succeed. If you need anything, you can ask Chastener Aggripa, he'll be on reassigned duty to accompany you, along an arbites squad, should you want to wander around with an escort (If you've been spotted, you'll probably want reinforcements). Anything you need, just tell him.

Gentlemen, let's get to work!

Justicar Jonas salutes all of you and leaves the room, followed by Colonel Mortz. Dr. Combs sits at his table, and begins taking out piles of orange forms labeled "Hive Medical Emergency Protocol - R90723".