Investigation

OOC: Persuasion roll to Sarah-813

Lady Isobel is usually a wily sort of woman, if you had been anyone else, you'd have likely gotten a run around with her sophisticated words. As it stands you just end up answering various questions about the local order that any devout might have. Indeed, you find yourselves time and again trying to turn the conversation away from the Adeptas Sororitas and to your main goal. It seems Lady Isobel just can not get enough stories, details, and whatever she can about your order. You almost get the feeling that if the Adeptas Sororitas did not worship the Emperor she wouldn't care about him at all.

"I have to admit that my concern over any specific missing serfs was limited at the beginning. As they grew you will find that I have over the last year filed numerous complaints with Minister of Labor. I can also direct you to the communities most affected by the disappearances. Perhaps they would be more amenable to speaking to you as the few agents I have sent all received cold shoulders. So, I have done my job but, someone above me does not care about the lost workers."

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Sara-813 shows Krondo a map of the locations where the most laborers have gone missing. She has missed the biggest issue, one that Krondo can immediately see. The disappearances are all arranged in lines and circles, like say a ship landing and jet bikes zooming out to pick up their prey. She's not quite willing to go further but Krondo picks up some interesting imbeded code within her cogitators and there follows a moment where he must deal with malignant code.

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Bigby vomits from the horrible stench and Paul just laughs a few moments. "Give it a few times and you'll forget about it. Thi stuff here? Some is from the undercity, the rarest stuff came in from the farms. Folks don't want to be seen with xeno tech but, they know it has value. It gets sold to a wandering merchant who in turn sells it to me. I in turn get it to a contact who sells to the rich upper city folk. They love this stuff and it beats the hell out of selling fake heretical stuff."

Bigby recognizes the black market for what it is. Paul is a fence and likely has some friends who buy from the farms, sell to him, then he sells to the rich. What he's showing is the stuff that doesn't work anymore. When asked about where he mentions three main areas of late. Bigby will be able to put that together with the others and find the same pattern they have with the missing bodies.

When sister Cassia mentions the Arbites the Lady looks concerned saying, "Honestly I have been doing all in my power to avoid the Arbites and ensure my part in this affair is protected. They will not care if peasants are missing but, they will care if we miss the tithe. I would rather not call them down and have them decide fault without fully ensuring my name is not on their list."

The Adeptas Arbites will root out corruption but, their primary task is to ensure Imperial Tithes continue to flow. Considering that her ministry is the most relevant to the tithe of grain she would be top of their list for replacement and her fear is valid. That said, If she can get it on record that she’s not corrupt and has been following the law then they are less likely to come down on her in the end. It’s very politically savvy of her if not the absolute best option.

Lady Isobel sees the disappointment on Cassia’s face and fall to her knees before her. "Oh sister! My humble apologies and deepest regret. I should have realized my sins sooner and will provide all the information I can. You must also be told that Lord Newton, who is in charge of the Planetary Defense Force. Does not want or desire this information to go further."

She pleads, "I should have told you earlier but, my fear of his reaction kept me from doing so. You have enlightened me and now I know I must make myself right in the eyes of The Emperor and in yours as well. I will do anything you request."

She does her best to give you the information she has. However most of it is within Sarah-813’s cogitator and memory. Thankfully Krondo is easily able to withstand the malicious code fragment from Sarah-813 and has locations where serfs went missing.

As for Lord Newton himself he is not taking calls right now.

Sarah-813 is hosting the code but it doesn’t originate with her. Indeed, it is highly likely, that every tech priest on the planet has been affected. Someone, likely the Minister of the military, planted this code and let it run through the planet. They clearly wanted to ensure the data stayed out of anyone’s hands.