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Uriah looks at Issac with eyebrow raised, checking that hand that the tech-priest had grabbed. If these two couldn't work together, why chance did their mission have. However, he was right about sleep, and headed to bed.

Zek look around at the others, and realises it would probably be a good idea to turn in too. He rises from his place. "Well, ah guess tha's me turnin' en to. Ah'll see yeh all when ah do." He moves off to go to bed.

You spend the second day learning new skills and abilities.

On the morning of your third day in Laskin hive, you are woken by a sharp tap on the door of your accommodation. A voice outside informs you that a senior cleric from the Ecclesiarchy will be joining you in the conference room downstairs to discuss the situation shortly. You prepare quickly, and go downstairs into the conference room, where a tall, bespectacled man in a long, white hooded cloak rises to greet you, his polished bald head glinting in the flickering glow from the hab-lights. After introducing himself as Senior Confessor Vardek Markov, he begins to explain the situation.

"As you may know, My honoured masters of the Ecclesiarchy have received intelligence from certain sources that the Adeptus Mechanicus in this hive have discovered Xenos technology and are using it in secret, as well as deviating from STC designs. We humbly requested leave to destroy these hereteks off the face of Laskin, but your esteemed masters saw the need to investigate our claims. Despite the insult inferred in this we have allowed you onto the planet, and will let you conduct your investigations of the mechanium.

Now, you may be wondering how we know all this. The truth is - every heresy has it's dissenters, those who will not participate in treachery and evil. Shortly after a large mine collapse, a group of tech-priests came to us, and told us of the xenos technology found in a cavern underneath the Mechanium quarter, where they are apparantly expanding into the planets crust. The dissenters informed us that instead of destroying the technology as per procedure, they instead ran experiments on it - testing it for compatibility with current Imperial technology.

However, their word is all we have, and in the eyes of the Inquisiton, the word of a group of junior Tech-Priests counts for nothing. That is why you have been sent. Investigate the Mechanius. Find the proof that is out there. Purge the faithless traitors from the suface of the planet. You may have to destroy a few Tech-Priests to get it, but that will happen any way. Do what you must.

The Cleric sits down, re-adjusting his robes and sight-lenses.

"This concludes the briefing. You may carry out your investigation in any way you see fit."

Chazzick sat back in his chair "Now what about the Mechanicum's side to this story? From experience, in a story with two parties such as this, there usually are 2 stories. Although the stories don't make the associated group look bad, knowing both sides is always better than just hearing one, as we have. Now do you know where we could hear the Mechanicum's side?"

The Confessor glares at you "So far, we have managed to keep our suspiscions low key. We do not believe that the mechanium are aware of our knowledge. Certainly if they knew we were having them investigated the situation would be far worse than it is now, so if you want to blow your cover on a question that they will flatly refuse to answer, or just deny all knowledge of the techs existence, then go ahead. I fear it would be unwise however."

Uriah remained silent for the briefing, taking notes down on his dataslate. He wanted to be unbiased for this mission, but knew he would be pulled in to defend the Ecclesiarchy's side os the story. However, there was something this that bothered him. "Do you know if these desserters have told anyone else about this?"

Var seems very interested. "Can you tell us more about what the tech priests saw? Or can you work out a meeting with them? I think the eye witnesses might provide some insight..."

"Well if they have nothing to hide, then there most certainly wouldn't be anything to worry about if a high ranking member was to perform a, 'Inspection', on an unexpected day. Has that Idea ever crossed your mind?" Chazzick asked, forming an Idea as he waited for the Cleric to answer.

felix leans over to var and whispers to him in their native slang(hive dialect) " Do you find something suspicious about a bunch of cog boys coming to the ecclesiarcy about internal problems? Especially with all the tension that's been building up between them lately."

Isaac leans forwards and places his arms on the table. "You say your suspisions are low-key, then why was I heckled in the streets and why do regular hivers know about the feud? You cannnot claim just that the Eccleasiary and the Mechanicum are always like this on this planet or it would have torn itself apart already."

"We don't know that one thing has to do with the other, Isaac." Var points out. "Just because things happen at the same time doens't make them the same thing. We need to take a look at that cave in site and talk to those Tech Priests. Evidence, men. That's what we need."

Zek slumps forwards slightly, as if falling asleep, then pretends to wake up sharply "Eh, sorry 'bout tha', bu' tha' wae ah see i', we wanna' ge' ou' thar', an' inves'iga'e. Talkin's gonna' do us nae a bitta' good, 'nless we 'ave sumthin' hard. Specilatin's gonna' get us nahwhere."

The Cleric looks at Uriah. "We do not believe so, and I find it unlikely. We are the only other group powerful enough and caring enough to move the wheels of power where it matters. The only other group who might do it - the Arbites - care only that the Status Quo is maintained, and most of them are corrupt anyway. Coming to us was their only option - anything else would have let the Heresy grow unchecked, and would spell the Beginning of the End."

He turns to Var. "You may certainly talk to the Tech-Priests. They are currently lodged in the Ecclesiarchy Quarter, for their own protection. I will take you there when this discussion is over if you so wish."

Looking at both Isaac and Chazzic, the Cleric tells you that the Mechanium have closed ranks recently, in response to the growing animosity from junior members of the Ecclesiarchy who are being louder than usual in their critisisms of the Ad-Mech. They have not revealed the fact they know about the xenos tech as they have been ordered not to by their superiors until the investgation has been carried out. As ever, however, the serfs who idolize the Ecclesiarchy have joined in in their heckling, despite not knowing the true cause. This is the reason for the heightening of tensions in the city as well.

Var pipes up. "I think we should talk to the Tech Priests and then take a look at this cave in site. I think the Priests will have more details."

Var looks to Isaac. "We will need you to take the lead here. The rest of us should look like your security and retinue, but the Priests should trust you. Fr. Uriah should be our liason to the Eccliesiarchy."

Var looks to Uriah. "I hate to be crass, but we may need some seed money for information or supplies. Once we get to the Ecclesiarchy compound, you might want to see if you can arrainge for thrones, transport, or anything else you can find."

"Remember we are here undercover, so for now, we are just investigating an internal complaint. Our true masters must not be invoked unless we need them."

Isaac steeples his hands on the table. "I can sympathise with them and with my presence they may feel more comfortable in telling us more."

Uriah nodded at Var. His position in the Ecclesiarchy did allow him access to resources that the others simply could not get. "Then we should leave for the compound at once"

Var leans into the Uriah's ear. "We could use scanners... auspex scanners to look for evidence, and cameras. Of course, thrones for expenses... and if you could get me and Felix into an Armory for a few moments, we could really help the team... but I don't want to wear out our welcome."

The confessor notes that you have finished your conversations and grants your request to see the Tech-Priests that have defected. He rises and bids you follow him to the grav-Shuttle bays, which you board. The trip passes without incident.

You arrive at the ecclesiarchy Quarter and are waved through by the guards who recognise the Confessor's seal. As Isaac is wearing an obscuring jacket he is not stopped.

The Ecclesiarchy quarter is full of the pious and devoted members of the hive. Smoking incense burners are hung from the side of every building, meaning the ground is swathed in a carpet of thick grey smoke. Huge pictures of scenes from Laskin history and the history of the imperium dominate the side of the sprawling mess of habs and pipes that rise into the hive spire of the quarter and the droning of chanting follows you everywhere you go, the sound of the faithful humbling themselves. The area is, in short - awe inspiring.

You are taken along several alleys into a dark and rundown area of the quarter, which Vardek explains is hidden for the protection of the Tech-Priests. You are taken into a dingy hab, asphalt grey and derelict looking. Two guards stand at the entrance to a room in which you find the 4 tech-priests that blew the whistle on the Mechanicus's activities.

They rise and greet you as you enter, their mechanical augmentations hissing in protest. Large patches of flesh can still be seen however - these are clearly junior Tech-Priests. Vardek waits outside for you to finish.

The door closes, shutting out all sounds from the outside. You are now free to question the Tech-priests.

Isaac searches the room for hidden (or visable) camaras or listening devices. He bids Felix and Var to do the same.

"Well met, good fellows" Uriah greeted himself to the tech-priest, then looking over to the more paranoid of his group "...don't mind them. We're just here to ask you some questions"

"Don't say a word."
"not a word."
"until I'm sure there is no bugs." Isaac says towards the Tech-priests.

Uriah looked over to Issac, with a small look of amusement. "Wouldn't admitting you're looking for bugs blow your cover?"

Your searches find nothing. The tech-priests watch you with amusement.

Isaac turns to the Tech-Priests and pulls down his hood revealing his true nature.
"Hello my Mechanicum brothers."

The Tech-Priests look shocked and back away hurriedly.

"You're from the Laskin Mechanium? Why are you here? To kill us for desertion?"

"I am not from Laskin." Isaac pulls back his Sleeve on his left arm revealing his Electoo.

Uriah shook his head "No, he's with us. We work for...a independent 3rd party, as it were. No harm will come to you so long as we're here. We have been sent here because of reports of use of xeno technology, and we've been told that you four were the ones that told the Ecclesiarchy, and we want to know exactly what you're said to them."

A long coil snakes out from underneath the robe of a Tech-priest, and passes a red line over the electoo. He looks up. "A Scintillan? Interesting, brother. As long as you are not one of those blasted Xenotech users or, Emperor forbid, a tinkerer and a heretek.

I suppose you want to ask questions then. Well, ask away."

" alright, first off tell us all about this cave your 'freinds' happened upon." felix asks from his corner of the room.

"I'm Var, I'm helping investigate your concerns. What are your names?" Var asks.

"You're safe here. The Ecclesiarchy will keep you well protected. We just want to understand better what you saw, and what you think the implications are. "