Detective Bolsinger aboard a Rhino transport heading through the underhive
It was one of the last places Detective Horace Bolsinger wished to be, where it could be said that the rule of law was only kept in the loosest sense of the word for he was travelling through the bowels of the underhive of Algol Prime. It was not uncommon for personnel of the Adeptus Arbites to be present in the underhive but it would be more common for Enforcers, Judges or even full blown execution squads to combat the Hive Gangs who really ran the underhive. It was exceedingly rare for a detective to be sent into the underhive, crimes were rife but it was rare for them to be reported for fear of street justice and reprisals.
Detective Bolsinger sat in the hold of his personnel Rhino armoured transport as it made its way through the toxic fog banks that swallowed the ramshackle streets of the underhive. For anyone not native to the underhive the presence of a Rhino armoured transport would seem like overkill for a police force to utilize as a patrol vehicle, but for the locals they knew a Rhino was needed and some areas of the underhive utilized Predator tanks as patrol vehicles for the Hive Gangs could field fearsome weaponry themselves.
The detective felt ill at ease being in the underhive in the first place but he felt even more uneasy at the fact that he was going in practically blind. All his captain could tell him was that he was to speak to the Foreman of the Rostovik Lasgun factory in the Valeka sector of the underhive. Feeling in the dark Detective Bolsinger pressed Captain Trake for more information but there was none to be had, except that the orders had come down from on high and had to be followed.
It was likely that the Foreman or more likely the owner of the factory knew a senior adept in the upper hive or even the Lord Marshall of the Adeptus Arbites. In the end it mattered not for the orders were handed down and were now Detective Bolsinger's to carry out. The detective just hoped it was something cut and dry but something in the detectives gut told him it wouldn't be and quite frankly the lack of intelligence was sketchy at best. Since Detective Bolsinger didn't know what he was heading into he was preparing for the worst in the was bringing with him nine Adeptus Arbites troopers in case they were heading into danger.
'We are nearing the outer edges of the factory.' Said the Rhino's driver, over the vox. 'ETA three minutes.'
'Very well.' Voxed Detective Bolsinger. 'Apprise me when we are at the main building.'
After several moments the Rhino halted, no doubt the driver was talking to the guards protecting the factory, it was evident that this was the case as after a moment more the Rhino was on the move again. Detective Bolsinger had another fifteen minutes to contemplate what could necessitate a detective to visit a Lasgun factory in the underhive, sure enough there could be heated trade disputes between factories but nothing in his mind would necessitate a police presence.
The Rhino ground to a halt once more, the driver voxed. 'We are at the main building.'
A trooper triggered the slide door latch of the Rhino's crew compartment and in rushed noxious fog and the unmistakable sound of heavy industry. The troopers did not move they looked to Detective Bolsinger for orders, as they were similarly in the dark as he was. Detective Bolsinger was presented with a problem as he didn't know how many troopers to take with him, he looked out of the Rhino there didn't seem to be any immediate danger.
Detective Bolsinger decided to play it safe, he pointed three troopers. 'You, you and you come with me, the rest of you wait for my signal.'
Detective Bolsinger exited the Rhino's crew compartment and was first greeted with the acrid stink of industry and the troopers followed in his wake. Detective Bolsinger was in the shadow of a colossal factory building, the Rhino was parked outside a gargantuan open blast door. Milling in and around the blast door were factory workers their interest seemed to have piqued with the unexpected sight of Adeptus Arbites in their midst.
Detective Bolsinger approached one of the workers an elderly man in drag coveralls. 'I need to find your Foreman.'
The factory worker held up a gloved hand and pointed into the factory building. 'He is in there look for the orange high visibility vest.'
Detective Bolsinger nodded his thanks then gestured for the three troopers to follow him into the factory, they entered the factory and the sounds increased twice fold with heavy machinery stamping out Lasgun parts on an assembly line. After ten minutes of searching the assembly line he found the Foreman overseeing a gaggle of workers, the Foreman looked his way and made his way over.
'I am Detective Bolsinger.' Bellowed the detective, over the din of the factory.
'Thank you for coming, I am Foreman John Milvain.' Shouted the Foreman. 'It's loud in here please follow me to my office.'
The Foreman led Detective Bolsinger and the three troopers further into the factory then up a flight of stairs and into a prefabricated building that was the Foreman's office. The office was organised chaos with papers and empty caffeine cups strewn across the Foreman's desk.
'Like I say I am glad you have come.' Said Foreman Milvain, he gestured to a drinks cabinet. 'Can I interest you gentlemen in a glass of amasec?'
'Not while on duty thanks.' Replied Detective Bolsinger, in truth he could do with a drink but he didn't want to stay in the underhive for a minute more than he had to. 'Can we cut to the chase Foreman Milvain, how can the Adeptus Arbites be of service?'
'Quite, quite.' The Foreman poured himself a glass of amasec. 'I hope you don't mind me having one, I am on a triple shift, that's why you are here in fact.'
'I am sorry I already have a job.' Quipped Detective Bolsinger.
Foreman Milvain laughed dryly. 'No I am not about to try and recruit you but I will have to recruit new men, that's why you are here I have men missing.'
Detective Bolsinger's shoulders sagged. 'You have people missing from your shift?' The detective gestured to the three troopers. 'Then I suggest you take it up with your human resources department instead of involving the police.'
'You don't think I've tried that already.' Replied Foreman Milvain. 'I am down thirty two men over three shifts and not to mention three charge hands and a shift runner.'
'I appreciate that this must make things difficult but I fail to see how that is of a police matter.'
'They are missing persons.' Replied Foreman Milvain, he took a sip of his amasec. 'They aren't playing hookie I have spoken to most of their families most have disappeared without a trace and it's not just here at the Rostovik factory. I have been speaking with the Foremen of nearby factories and they are reporting similar missing persons.
'I am not blind to the fact that this is the underhive and people go missing all the time due to all manner of reasons not to mention the Hive Gangs but some of the missing men I've known for years, they are good solid family men they haven't missed a day of work in years. Most of them have been reported missing to the Adeptus Arbites but I doubt a link would be forthcoming unless it was looked at from the ground level.'
'I don't see a link except some men have failed to turn up for work.' Stated Detective Bolsinger, he was starting to lose patience.
'It's not like they've just missed one day.' Persisted Foreman Milvain. 'Some of these guys have been missing for over a week, they've not been home to their families or been seen by their colleagues this is a serious matter and I was assured by your captain that you would take this matter seriously. The owner of the Rostovik factory spoke with Lord Marshall Uxbridge himself.'
Detective Bolsinger sighed inwardly he knew that this had come down from on high and he knew it would bite him on the ass if he didn't handle the matter properly. 'Very well, Foreman Milvain, I assume you can give me a list of the missing men.'
'Certainly.' Replied the foreman, while leafing through files on his desk he picked one up and handed it to the detective. 'That is a list of all the missing men, there contact details and home addresses, some of them are hab blocks near here.'