Xersus addressed the questions and concerns of each member of his retinue as they asked, starting with the medicae Edwin, who's questions were fair enough and worth note, and with several button presses, brought up a side report, one with the seal of the Adeptus Arbites, chronicalling the history of crime and gang warfare in the hive they were going to be assaulting before too long. [b]"The gangs present prior to the Chaos incursion have most likely already sworn themselves to some Champion or another within this warband, perhaps even the renegade Navigator himself. No note of any weapons of unusual qualities, the strongest weapons they had, last report, were stolen Heavy Stubbers from the PDF stationed there, and this was several months prior to this invasion. So we would be well prepared to be wary of such things, since the PDF stationed there were made short work of."[/b] With that, he finally turned his attention towards the commentary and questions coming from the Interrogator, offering her own unique outlook on things. First, to address, was the collar, and he gave her a bit of additional explanation on the device.

[b]"You know me too well Interrogator, but the field is merely condensed around you. In a way, its even more focused being that close around you. Psyker abilities and sorcery will still fail to reach you, more so now than before, all it does is prevent your hindering of a wide area. You can disable it on a whim, there is a toggle next to the clamp that secures the collar, for fast deactivation on the field. As for subduing him, his eye is the source of his power. I have a means of blinding him, and should they fail, I'll let you enjoy blinding him the hard way. And the guardsmen are not the only force scouting for me. A detachment of Stormtroopers have tracked him to this hive, and will be giving a field update when we arrive at the Hive proper, and he has been tracked here through contacts within the Ordo Hereticus being helpful, for once. Between them and the Stormtroopers, we will know where he is, and consider this, a presence like his in the Warp is hard to hide from one psyker, let alone two. Once we are close, yes, we will split into kill teams and hunt him down."[/b] Having addressed Anna, he observed the interactions between the various members, noting the Confessor's interactions with the others, before thinking on the question posed by Atellus, and answering in kind.

[b]"You do not need to ask for forgiveness on an intrusion when I ask for questions, Atellus. Hives are excellent places to lose oneself, especially criminal ones, a tactic that has proven useful in the past. And, with foresight, it is possible the man knew that this place would come under Chaos attack, making it all the more promising for a traitor to flee to. He has no prior links to this raiding warband, that investigation has unveiled, and an artifact like this requires resources and knowledge above that of a solitary Navigator. He would need manpower, and backing, the kind that would have no problem using an artifact of this nature. I suspect he intends to parlay with their leader and trade information for a patronage of sorts. I intend for us to stop him before then, if possible."[/b] The Inquisitor smiled, and not in the friendliest manner, when the Magos suggested merely asking for access to the Guard vox network. One would quickly figure out that, in cases like this, an Inquisitor didn't need to just ask for something, he made a demand, and it was met. Or consequences were severe.

[b]"Magos, we will not have to ask for access. I already have the Vox access codes for every useful organization and Guard regiment on this planet, and I have both the Inquisitorial Stormtroopers and additional Guardsmen on stand by, should the need arise. And we are going to go for the precise location he was last sighted, Hab Level 12-S of the hive, a poor section that has seen little fighting until recently, due to its lack of strategic worth. We will receive more recent information, Emperor willing, once we arrive at the Hive."[/b] He showed the Magos, on the holo display, the level he was speaking of, it was near an apparent dead end section of the Hive, with industrial levels in the direction generally opposite of the Guard forces encroaching on the Chaos forces, while the front lines were in several mercantile levels, with highlighted Temple areas as well. It would be a fair amount of close quarters, and at times hand to hand fighting, once they got to the Guard front lines within the Hive and penetrated the Chaos lines as well. It would be, to a military eye, obvious that there would be a good bit of fighting to get through hostile lines and deeper into the Hive to pin down the renegade Navigator. If no more questions were fielded then, Xersus shut down the holo display, nodding once to the assembled group. [b]"You all know what we seek now, as far as opposition to us shall be concerned, chaos cultists and renegade gangers are the largest threats we have met. If any Traitor Astartes are present, there have been no reports made of them. The true chaos invaders are trained soldiers, so caution will be warranted."[/b]

Inquisitor Xersus motioned for the group to follow him as he strode out of the command center, several PDF troopers snapping to attention and directing the Inquisitor and his retinue in the direction of the tunnel transport network entryway. The network had been developed by a Krieg siegemaster when the planet fell under Xeno influence roughly several hundred years ago, to deny any advantage that air superiority gave towards harassing supply lines on this planet, and even after the space battle swung into Imperial favor, the tunnels were more viable than surface travel, mostly, so they were kept well maintained and well used, even after the fighting ended. And now they were used to conceal troop movements and the like, although tunnel fighting happened quite a bit between Hives, especially after failed attacks out of them. Hence the heavy Guard presence at the tunnel, which while part of them were deploying to the front lines, a fair number were guarding the tunnel entrance, both from unwelcome people trying to get into the tunnels, and potential raiders trying to assault their way out of them. The tunnel was large enough for several Chimera's to travel side by side, and admit Lemun Russ tanks with room to spare as well, and obviously had the look of Krieg handiwork, should any of the present Retinue recognize such things.

Transport was a dedicated Chimera, the same that the Inquisitor had used, and it was well armed and armored, more so than the Chimera's other Guardsmen had been travailing in. Equipped with additional armor plating, a searchlight, dozer blade, autocannon, and hull mounted flamer, the transport was more than ready to get them to the frontline in one piece, and provide fire support as far as it could follow them as well. Xersus boarded the Chimera first, and since it would only be them and no additional Guardsmen, it wouldn't be as packed as it might normally be, giving them some breathing room at least. Once everyone was aboard, the Chimera's engine roared and kicked into action, sending them hurtling into the dimly lit tunnels, searchlight showing the path ahead for the driver, while Xersus looked at each of the men and women in the vehicle in turn, before speaking one last time, checking the storm bolter on his wrist as he did. [b]"We will be at the Hive in a matter of minutes, barring tunnel collapses."[/b] The rumble of artillery above them cut the Inquisitor off, and once it ceased, he continued. [b]"We will have to breach Chaos lines and drive into the Hive, which the present Guard forces at the Hive failed to do. But they are not expecting us, and that will be their downfall. If you have any last minute questions, ask them, for the time for talk and discussion is almost at its end."[/b]