They were on the abandoned station doing their own things for several hours. Kalli was, however, disinclined to interrupt whatever Dolen was doing, and fairly occupied in her own shit anyway.
Dolen returned to the landing bay, having watched the slow progress of time with growing impatience until the agreed-upon hour arrived. "I believe we may proceed without further delay," he transmitted over the commlink, "Save retrieving the remote."
That task was simple to complete, and was in fact done within short order of Kalli returning to the bay and preparing the Darknova for departure. Asura was, by this point, holed back up in the engine room of the Darknova, having finished doing whatever it was he was busy doing.
Kalli said, "All ready here."
"Where does this gate lead, Kalli May?" Dolen asked, knowing that it led deeper within the Karzan but not possessing the familiarity that she had.
"The New Scotland system," Kalli replied as she took off out of the docking bay.
"Likelihood of inhabitation or military presence?" Dolen inquired, settling his smaller craft in the shadow of the Darknova as it emerges.
"It's technically Imperial space, but they tend to prefer to leave it alone for the most part. The buoy network does extend that far out, though."
"We shall need assume your ally has not yet sufficiently disrupted that system," Dolen said, "Caution shall perforce be required." Not that they had proceeded in any fashion save cautiously, for the most part.
Kalli proceeded to enter the security codes, and the gate began to slowly open. The large metal gate covering the wormhole retracted to allow them access into the tunnel within. Dolen waited patiently for the gate, waiting for the signal to proceed from the Darknova. Similar transits were not uncommon to him, Eldar forces often using Warp gates to appear in places highly unexpected by their foes.
"Alright, here we go," Kalli said, steering the Darknova into the gate without further ado.
"Acknowledged," Dolen replied serenely and followed the Darknova through. He could only assume that the technician who had worked the past days on the system had accurately repaired and calibrated the whole.
And hence, after a few minutes in the wormhole, they emerged again in the New Scotland system. Into a moderate sized battle. It appeared that a portion of the Chaos fleet had already gotten out this far by now. Not immediately at the gate at any rate, but closer to the planet New Scotland and the Manitoba gate, technically. But still. Not friendly.
"It would seem," Dolen commented, absorbing the tactical data, "That we shall be given the opportunity to test some part of that recent simulation, Kalli May. Weapon and defensive systems fully powered and ready."
The system defenders were the combined forces of the planet New Scotland: The Highland Goats and the Lowland Sheep. They had been enemies for centuries, but they were damn well not going to let these crazy Chaos bastards on their planet. This was the reason why the Empire preferred to leave New Scotland alone. Who wanted to interfere in a battle between Goats and Sheep?
Kalli headed in to engage the enemy. It would be best to identify oneself as a friendly faction before entering a maelstrom of battle, yet Dolen somehow doubted that those so engaged would have the time or inclination to communicate. He instead swept in aside the Darknova, clearing his mind of any other thought save the moment and the targets sorting themselves out in the node's displays.
The Goats and Sheep were smart enough to recognize the design of their ships as being different from the ships they happened to be fighting. Darknovas were a familiar thing in this part of the galaxy, at least. And Kalli's transponder signal was well-known to them.
Although their performance was average at best, it appeared that Chaos was managing to cause as much damage to themselves as to the people they were trying to fight. Dolen had the occasional moment of cold amusement as the lackluster efforts of the Chaos forces seemed to dissolve into their namesake, but took full advantage of the disorganization to act in support of the system's defenders.
Shortly, the invasion was repelled and the defenders returned to docking on the planet or watching the Manitoba gate. They sent a word of thanks to Kalli and Dolen for their assistance.
"Quite a poor showing for the Black Fleet's outriders," Dolen remarked sardonically over the comm. "Perhaps they sought to remove one of their commanders."
Kalli replied, "No kidding. I expect, though, that it'll be all uphill from here. We're two jumps away from the Toronto system now. I expect they'll have occupied Manitoba by now as well, if they're here..."
"A valid assumption," Dolen agreed. "This is likely as far as we may proceed coreward without considering alternate means, as I have no desire to make the acquaintance of a well entrenched Chaos force."
"Jump holes," Kalli said. "We used to use them frequently when performing covert operations in the core worlds and the gates were being guarded. And in the fringe worlds before the jump drive was invented, out beyond the gate network. They're less reliable than the gates, and require a skilled pilot to get through them safely, but they'll slip us into the system without being seen surely enough."
Dolen considered that thoughtfully, then responded, "As the defenders here are surely to be granted the boon of time in which to reorganize their efforts in the wake of the repulsed Chaos invasion, it may serve us well to take advantage of that tactic. Intelligence data regarding the next system would prove invaluable."
She sent him the coordinates to the jump hole to the Manitoba system. "And that, is top secret rebel data," she said lightly. "The old jump hole on most people's charts isn't stable anymore, but that one is and most people don't know about it yet."
"I am uncertain of my ability to maintain the secrecy of such information, Kalli May," Dolen replied dryly, then dispenses with amusement and settles into crisp alertness. "Very well, such an opportunity should not remain unexploited. Ready to proceed, at your leisure."
Kalli slipped into a nearby nebula and headed toward the coordinates given for the jump hole. Engaging the stealth systems for his craft, Dolen followed the Darknova on an arcing course, boosting speed just enough to meet at the designated coordinates within roughly the same timeframe.
Kalli entered the jump hole. It was a twisting maze through hyperspace threatening to destroy their ships at the slightest wrong move, but Kalli was calm and confident as always. She had navigated jump holes countless times before.
Dolen did not have the experience of such navigation, but remained finely attuned to the other ship through the gestalt of the node. Part of him was indeed aware of the likelihood of destruction at the least misstep, but that was present in any soldier at any given moment in a day.
Alpha naturally was a little nervous about it, but he had full trust in Kalli's piloting ability. Minutes later, they emerged into an asteroid field on the edge of the Manitoba system. Alpha exhaled the breath he didn't realize he was holding.
Normal space reappearing around them, Dolen engaged the stealth suite once more and settled into a course neatly mirroring that of the Darknova. Sensors were the next order, and he set them to seeking out what may be found in nearby space. The immediate vicinity was, however, fairly quiet.
"Odd..." Alpha said.
Dolen secured a link to the Darknova, the scan continuing in the background. "It will most likely be the inhabited planets or strategic spaces near the gate which they will inhabit in force. Shall we proceed further in, Kalli May?"
Kalli headed in toward the inner system, cloak up and keeping an eye out for hostile vessels. The only habitable planet in the Manitoba system was a frozen wasteland which bore a striking resemblance to its namesake.
Dolen set his craft to follow, but swept out on another arc to increase the coverage of their sensors, remaining barely within range of the Darknova in hopes of catching a return from nearer the warp gate.
The gate to the Toronto system, located near the planet Manitoba, was, however, sealed up and quiet. However, the sensors picked up a base under the surface of the planet that appeared to be inhabited. A forward base, no doubt serving as support to the Chaos force which had set out and made its clumsy strike at the New Scotland system. Strange that there was not a stronger presence here, Dolen mused as his craft arcs back on a course to rejoin the other ship.
Alpha seemed to agree with Dolen' thought. "Is it just me, or is this place more dead than it should be?"
Kalli replied, "There's been a rebel base on this planet since before the rebellion even really started. But it is shielded by coronite. That base you're picking up isn't part of it.
Alpha nodded. "Effective."
"Likely of the Empire or Chaos force," Dolen agreed thoughtfully, "Yet surely they did not send the whole of their garrison to intrude upon the next system..."
"Maybe they didn't like the skiing opportunities on Planet Manitoba," Kalli said wryly.
"There's a ski resort there?" Alpha asked with mock enthusiasm.
Kalli flew in toward the planet to get a better scan of the base. Dolen didn't even attempt to unravel the reference at the moment, intent instead on the question. Chaos was disorganized, true, but they rarely made such gross errors in judgment.
"Odd," he replied at last, "Perhaps a closer examination will clarify matters," and followed the Darknova to obtain as detailed a report as possible.
The base on the surface didn't appear to be any hasty construction, either. From the looks of things, it had been there for months if not years.
"And yet they leave it unprotected from forces which might appear in the skies above?" Dolen muttered. "Either their madness has grown beyond comprehension, or there is something more to that base than might be immediately apparent."
Alpha wasn't quite sure what to make of it.
"Or they don't realize we're here yet," Kalli replied. "Look again. There's concealed ground-to-air lasers and missiles down there."
"True enough," Dolen conceded. "Yet that would avail them little were a fleet to arrive en masse and rain kinetic strikes upon the world." Or, as had been seen on rare occasions from the Empire of Man, a weapon capable of destroying the world itself.
"This was probably built by pirates or Imperial Military forces, really," Kalli said. "It may not help against a concerted strike, but Manitoba just isn't important enough to put that much defense to. I suppose they figure if someone really wants to destroy the place, let them.."
Dolen shrugged mentally, the idea of leaving such a minor defensive array in place not only alien but pointless. Why waste the resources that might be better used elsewhere? "It would seem that this system is largely without threat value, then," Dolen remarked. "Perhaps the next in line is considered significant enough to defend."
"Heh. One jump away from here... is the planet Toronto, the capital of the Karzan Empire."
"Yeah... that's a biggie," Alpha agreed.
"Then this certainly is puzzling," Dolen mused. "They have left themselves nearly defenseless from this angle of attack. Were there a fleet able to take advantage of the situation..." he trails off in thought.
"The gate has been sealed," Kalli said. "That might explain it... The fleet we encountered in New Scotland may have come in from the south rather than the west..."
"Then perhaps our exploration should continue further in that direction," Dolen responded. "This system is, at best, one needful of cleansing once active forces are eradicated."
A squad of fighters left the base on a routine patrol. They didn't seem to pick up the two of them.
"Either way... not much point sitting around here." Alpha said.
"Beyond perhaps shadowing those craft," Dolen indicated the patrol, "and perhaps discovering something else which they consider worthwhile, I would needfully agree with you."
Kalli fell in after the patrol and tunes her sensors to listen in on their commlinks. Dolen swept outside the general arc of the patrolling craft, observing their trajectory in puzzlement more than anything else. This system made little sense.
A voice crackled over her comm as one of the fighters spoke to the others. "I'm getting nothing. I tell you, there's not a damned thing out here since the gate was sealed."
Another voice replied, "We have to patrol anyway. Who knows what could be sneaking around under our noses out here?"
All appearances would indeed seem to indicate that this system was, for all intents and purposes, utterly useless in terms of importance on any greater scale.
The patrol said, "We must check the jump holes to make sure nobody's sneaking through the system that way.
Dolen's interest sharpened at that, whether their 'secret' entry point was known to the inhabitants of this system knowledge worth having. Even if not, knowing the location of other such anomalies could prove useful at a later date. Alpha was similarly alarmed, but stayed silent.
They flew past the jump holes for Toronto, Paris, Lesbia, and the old jump hole to New Scotland. The one they came in through was ignored.
"Odd," Alpha said. "Why'd they skip it?"
"They don't know it's there, most likely."
Alpha nodded. "You'd think that they'd still find it eventually, though..."
"There are a lot of jump holes throughout the galaxy which are dead ends, unstable, lead off into infinite mazes from which people will emerge centuries later babbling insanely about demons if they emerge at all, most of which people tend to ignore when checking systems for reasonable routes."
Dolen maintained communication silence for now, the chance of detection even over secure lines beyond the worth of risking in such close proximity. He merely observed the path of the patrol, making note of their passing by the point they had entered through with some satisfaction.
"Echo Leader to Echo Base," said the patrol leader who had clearly watched too much Star Wars. "We've picked up nothing out here. No signs of Imperial infiltration or Chaos infestation. We're returning to base now."
No signs of Imperial or Chaos intrusion? That would seem to indicate that their point of origin was within the sphere of the rebellion then, perhaps something which should be pursued before departing this system.
Alpha snickered. "Well... at least we think they're the good guys."
"So it would appear, at first glance," Dolen replied in cautious agreement over the comm, "It may be worthwhile to investigate further." Provided, of course, that it was not merely a Chaos ruse.
Alpha picked up on his reservation. "That's why I said think, and not know."
"I appreciate the distinction," Dolen replied with a faint chuckle. "No offense was offered, merely considering the possibilities of a ruse. It would not be beyond the inclinations of our foes to engage in such deception. They are remarkably adept at such, their recent abysmal failure in New Scotland notwithstanding."
"Of course... the use of such a ruse would indicate they know - or at least suspect - someone is listening," Alpha said. "I'd hate to speculate on the possibility that Chaos knows we're here."
"Or what capabilities and knowledge that would perforce entail," Dolen agreed readily. "We may not know without exploring the option, however, unless one of you possesses the abilities of a Farseer."
"I'm not familiar with that term..." Alpha said.
Dolen considered what he'd learned of their own terminology but found nothing which leapt immediately to mind as a comparison. "Hmm," he mused. "They are those few among my kind able to detect distant events, even through the warped skeins of time."
Kalli started heading over back toward the planet Manitoba again, not offering comment upon the situation.
"Well, unless they're warded or shielded with coronite, I could probably see what their uniforms look like with Seeking," Alpha suggested. "As far as using the Time aspect, though... I haven't had much training in that." Alpha shrugged, even though it didn't carry over the link.
"If you are able," Dolen replied, setting a course to follow, "Then it would serve us well. I would doubt that our foes would go to quite such lengths as that subterfuge merely to draw in unsuspecting listeners."
Alpha muttered under his breath about hoping it wouldn't give them away, either... then reached out to take a look inside one of the cockpits of the fighters. They were wearing Death Dancer insignia. No trace of Chaos symbols or the like.
"Well... they're dressed like Death Dancers," Alpha said. "Unless some of them are still in the Empire's employ, I guess we're safe with our first assumption."
"Death Dancers haven't worked for the Empire for four hundred years," Kalli says flatly.
Alpha blushed. "If you've told me that before, I forgot. Sorry."
That did not preclude their service to Chaos, Dolen tactfully refrained from adding. "One of our ships decloaking and addressing them may be of value, then," Dolen said instead. "I would, however, recommend that the other remain concealed for the moment."
"I'll talk to them," Kalli said. "They'll recognize me."
"Yeah... that makes sense," Alpha said.
"Agreed," Dolen replied. "I shall remain at standby for the moment then, and watchful for signs of treachery."
Kalli decloaked and approached the base. "Echo Base, this is Kalli May of the Dancers on the Edge of Death. Status report."
The reply was prompt and positive: "This is Echo Base. Situation normal, everything's quiet out here. Since we sealed the gate and have kept the jump holes clear, Chaos hasn't been able to get a foothold in this system."
Alpha smiled. Relatively good news.
Dolen merely listened, seeking any hint of abnormality in the conversation which might indicate duplicity or taint. It would appear that all was as it appeared, however. They didn't seem more than a little surprised that a Death Dancer as good as Kalli could slip past their patrols undetected. And why should they be? She was practically a celebrity with that. Dolen examined the interaction thoughtfully, then made a decision and deactivated the cloaking shield, diverting the power freed by it to more normal system requirements.
"Permission to land," Kalli said.
The base replied, "Granted. Head for landing pad B."
Alpha noticed him decloaking. "Might want to mention something about him."
The Death Dancers at the base were smart enough to realize he was with her, judging by the fact that she wasn't freaking out and shooting at him. Dolen settled into a course echoing the Darknova, precisely, adding further to their assumption that he was accompanying the recognized and allowed craft. He remained silent for now, however, leaving Kalli to deal with her order.
They came in to land at landing pad B. Which was thankfully shielded from the cold of the atmosphere, much to the relief of many of their visitors. Dolen settled his ship lightly to the side of the Darknova, and debarked in short order.
Alpha and Kalli headed out and into the base. There were Death Dancers on this base, and a smattering of random assorted rebels. Dolen walked lightly behind, observing those they pass in silence from behind the blank face of his helm. Odd that things seemed so calm this close to the heart of the Empire, but he supposed that their sealing the most direct route and only the more dangerous entries still available would allow for it.
Kalli went to a terminal and murmured to Dolen, "I want to know when they built this surface base. There was always a base here, but it was underground, shielded... They shouldn't need this here..."
"It does seem somewhat obvious in the face of recent Chaos activities," Dolen agreed quietly. "One must need wonder why such a place has not drawn the attention of the Empire while New Scotland did."
"It's recent, alright," Kalli murmured. "This base was built after the first incursions of Chaos into the galaxy."
"Indeed," Dolen muttered thoughtfully. "There is something more here than immediately rises to view, Kalli May, and it may not be wholly to our liking."
Kalli said quietly, "Something doesn't sit right here. It doesn't make sense..."
"Do you think this might be a trap of some sort?" Alpha wondered.
Kalli shook her head. "I don't think so... but we must use caution nonetheless. Something isn't right here."
Alpha nodded silently.
Dolen ruminated on their recent encounters, considering the forces of Chaos which they had run afoul of, and the nature of the Death Dancers and their inclinations does not reassure him. "Perhaps not a trap," he murmured, "But potentially dangerous nonetheless. Even the mighty may fall to rage."
"Trying to find what information I can on the other base..." Kalli muttered.
Alpha smirks in embarrassment.
"A splintered faction could readily be explained so," Dolen mused, his attention turning to watch the corridor they occupy as he added softly, "I would advise haste, Kalli May. Your interest is unlikely to remain unnoticed."
"It looks from these records as though the other base was compromised and sealed off..." Kalli said.
"Perhaps," Dolen allowed quietly. "Yet would you leave evidence of other events which might be found upon casual inspection? More to the point, did you discard your former allegiance upon treading the path of the Bloodseeker?"
"No, I did not..." Kalli murmured.
"Just so," Dolen responded simply. It was a clear and prevalent danger for any who walked a warrior's path, the bloody song of Khorne easily swaying the rhythm of battle to a search for blood and death beyond all sane appetites. Combine that with the Death Dancer philosophy, and appearances could indeed be deceptive.
"There is a reason why Death Dancers train for absolute calm in battle, though," Kalli said quietly.
Dolen chuckled softly, little hint of humor to it. "And if you were to learn that even the Eldar have been known to fall to it, despite the discipline taught from birth and borne in the blood? We can hope it is not the truth, yet the worst must be prepared for."
"As far as I can tell by these entries, the other base on this planet was compromised by Chaos and they sealed it off and built this one..." Kalli said.
"Well, that does make sense," Alpha said.
"They collapsed the entrance to the base and probably a good deal of its interior but aren't sure if there's anyone still alive down there, since the coronite prevents any accurate scans," Kalli went on.
"Sensible," Dolen replied evenly, nodding briefly, but added nothing more for the moment. It seemed logical enough in truth, but that did little to explain their continued presence and existence on the fringes of the Empire within a readily detectable facility. Time would need bring the truth of it.
"They sealed off the Toronto gate not long ago..." Kalli said. "After the Black Fleet arrived."
"Then perhaps is indeed all as it appears," Dolen responded quietly. "It would certainly mesh well with the state of events as we found upon our arrival, save perhaps one or two glaring curiosities."
"Sometimes the flaws are only curiosities," Alpha said. "I'd still like to know what 'feels' wrong about this, Kalli..."
"That may well be it," Kalli said. "I don't think everyone on that first base are dead."
Alpha nodded. "Well... as unfortunate as that is... It isn't really call for alarm, unless you're suggesting they know that and are just ignoring them for some reason."
"The Manitoba subterranean base runs off geothermal energy and has its own greenhouses, food, air, and energy production," Kalli explained. "Even if it were completely sealed off from the surface, it could easily sustain itself for centuries..."
Dolen remained silent, thoughtful as the other two speculated, maintaining an alert watch and tending to speculation of his own borne of another world entire.
"But..." Kalli murmured. "What could they still do from trapped underneath miles of rock?" This question seemed mainly directed at Dolen, and un-rhetorical.
"What did the Foul Gods do when sealed away entirely beyond the ken of man?" Dolen answered her question with an easily answered one of his own. The implications were clear, how far that may had spread remained less so.
"We're going to need to deal with this more thoroughly than shutting them up underneath a frozen planet," Kalli said, shaking her head.
"Indeed," Dolen agreed. "And there may yet be that which requires doing once that is attended." He made a sweeping gesture indicating their location, then turned his palm upward in acknowledgement of uncertainty.
Kalli turned from the terminal and headed down the corridor for somewhere slightly less conspicuous to stand around talking. Dolen followed silently, watchful of the Dancers that they passed, oddly finding himself wishing for one of the frustrating Elkandu at the moment with their abilities to detect the foul presence of Chaos beyond the more obvious signs. Alpha followed silently as well.
Kalli slipped into an unused room with some chairs and such and locked the door behind them. "Alright, that'll do. Now... Plan of action...hmm."
Dolen remained at the door, but examined her statement carefully. "I would doubt that should some Chaos influence be found," he offered. "that we would be granted freedom and aid in investigating the site. Perhaps consisting first of discouragement due to 'danger' but becoming more insistent. Should we pursue this, it must be rapidly done and silent."
"Hence why I'd rather talk in here than skulking around some random corridor," Kalli said dryly. "One way or another, this must be taken care of."
Alpha nodded. "Agreed."
"Unless there is one in whom you might place utmost trust," Dolen said, "Then I would suggest that excuses be made and our leave taken. It will not require long for one of Chaos-bent to realize we are beyond their foul blandishments."
Kalli paced thoughtfully, tapping her forehead. "We'll deal with the other base first." Kalli said, heading for the door. "Then, if anything needs to be done here further... we'll see about that then."
Dolen nodded in silent agreement, unlocking and opening the door, stepping through without hesitation. His step was light and quick as they move to return to the landing field. Alpha headed back as well. Kalli climbed back into her Darknova with deliberation and promptly took off. The smaller El'dari craft followed shortly thereafter, its path veering suddenly off as they hit orbit and the cloaking field was re-engaged.
"Let them wonder," he commed to the Darknova, setting a course to rejoin the other ship.
Kalli likewise cloaked her own ship, then turned and brought them around in orbit over what had been the entrance to the other base. There was still evidence of blast damage and collapsed rock underneath the ice and snow that covered the planet.
"We will need find an alternative entrance," Dolen said. "I would presume that any known would also have been sealed, yet may there be a lesser known entry which was overlooked."
"I'm scanning, but I believe any secret back entrance would have been concealed by coronite," Kalli said. "I don't doubt that there is an emergency exit somewhere, though."
"Resorting to more primitive methods may be needful," Dolen replied. "Though such would create a possibility of detection from the other base if they have appropriate sensors running and are looking for it. Else, we may be reduced to manually searching upon the ground."
"Hmm," Kalli mused aloud. "Coronite scrambles sensors, but maybe Asura can tweak the sensors to be able to pick up the coronite."
She called over to the clone to do some tweakage to be able to pick that crap up more easily.
"Arrite, that worked!" Kalli said some minutes later over the comm. "I'm picking up where all the coronite traces are nicely now. Sending you coordinates to where the back entrance appears to be."
Alpha grinned. "Genius."
"Excellent, Kalli May," Dolen replied with enthusiasm. "Now to follow your lead to the source."
He turned his craft to rendezvous near the designated coordinates. Kalli brought down the Darknova into that general vicinity, taking it down to land in a snowdrift not far from the location where the traces of coronite were found. Dolen settled his ship nearby and disembarked quickly, the cold paid no heed within the controlled environment of his armor. He crossed to the Darknova through the snow, and awaited his companions, nodding to them in greeting as they emerged.
Kalli headed over to above the location where the coronite lines were detected. "Should be right here, directly underfoot," she said, pointing down at an unremarkable snowbank.
"Clearing the snow should be of little consequence," Dolen said. "Weapons set to low power should suffice and provide little chance to damage any mechanism hidden beneath."
He had begun to rethink his original evaluation, but the thoughts remain circling silently at the back of his mind. Kalli pulled out her blaster and set it to wide-beam and proceeded to do so. Alpha used some low-power Fire Magic to melt it, as well. Dolen merely stepped back and watched, motioning for them to desist as a metallic curve was unearthed. He waited for their acknowledgement, then crouched to sweep clear the outlines of the covering. When the snow was cleared away, a very obvious metal hatch set into the rock became visible. Kalli grinned a bit and put her blaster away, and went over to crouch by it.
"Eureka." Alpha examined the hatch.
"It would do well to see if your database of codes will gain us access, Kalli May," Dolen said, motioning to a control panel. They could likely cut through, but it would be far simpler otherwise.
Kalli poked at the control panel a bit and was surprised that the hatch simply opened without further ado. "It's not even locked. Weird..."
"That is..." Dolen began, then shook his head, setting the unease aside in favor of the current demands. He looked into the entryway, then slung his rifle over his shoulder to begin climbing down the ladder leading within.
Alpha peered inward. "Well, either no one's expecting company, or it is a trap."
"I don't like this. We must be cautious." She went to climb in.
"No kidding." Alpha took up the rear, making sure no one was around the outside.
"Neither do I," Dolen muttered grimly from below them, descending as quickly as possible and moving to the side as he reaches the bottom, unslinging his rifle once more to cover the passage revealed. Subtlety was the province of limited numbers of the Chaos Gods, and none of them were ones he particularly wished to face the minions of at a disadvantage.
It was very dark inside. They might be eaten by a grue.