1st Mate Log #8 - Illisk

We made it to the surface of this husk of a planet no problem. Somehow, there was some sort of enclosed vehicle close by that Rasp was able to rig up to get us heading through the mass of tunnels to where Isaac has said this object lies. I’m not even sure how this object works, or why it’s here, but I dislike the planet more as Bjorn manipulates his way through the tunnels at the other psyker's directions. I’m mostly along for the ride until I note the demonic creatures floating and crawling after us. Since I had expected this planet to be abandoned, this is the first disconcerting thing we encounter. We quickly drive through the halls of metal tubing and away from these entities, but I’m left feeling unnerved by their presence here. Eventually, after some questionable piloting by the captain, we made it to what I can only assume is the heart of this planet. It’s a large open room with a massive structure in the center. Most of us get out and start looking for some kind of door, but when Stig stumbles forward into the tubes, I’m shocked that he comes away with smeared ash of the former inhabitants bodies.

It’s at about this same time Isaac opens the door to this structure. My concerns about how the bodies got woven into the tubes or why go largely ignored by the crew. Annoyed, I recruit Murk to stand outside with me and keep watch for any creatures that may have decided to follow us. While the rest of them go in to find this object we know so little about, I stay out and scan for heat signatures. It’s mostly quiet, and so, my mind does what it does best and begins to race. Why is this planet a husk? What happened here? How can something man made manipulate the warp? I must have been ranting these things aloud because poor Murk tries to explain to me that we get the thing and we take it back. That’s why we’re here. I hear as much from the crew inside the room until Rasp pipes up with some added details.

This is not just some advanced technology, they harvested xeno souls to create it and possibly to fuel it even now from the looks of this planet. Though we’ve been on the same page a lot recently, I cannot for the life of me understand how the tech priest doesn’t see this tech as heretical when he does so many other things like it. My soul is in question. I may not have known this race, but their souls were taken from them. This is nothing like our soul stones or our choices. I’m growing more and more frustrated with these humans lately. They’re making rash decisions and not considering many possible angles that are right there in front of them. I might expect this from Stig and Murk...but…

When I run the scan again, I get a massive heat signature heading my way. Panic grips at me as I encourage the guys to hurry it up in there. Bjorn comes out so Murk can do his Murk thing and retrieve the object. He’s low on my list of people I’d like to be alone with at that moment, but I don’t get to say as much since I’m gripped by a manipulation of the warp to manifest a demonic being of some sort. He’s powerful. My mind is reeling as I stumble forward and see where the manifestation is beginning to take place. I immediately focus all my mind’s power on preventing this from happening. I can feel the battle of our two wills raging in my mind. The string of this is exhausting. I barely sense anything around me as I interrupt his vehement struggle to interfere in this asinine mission.

Suddenly, in the midst of my manipulations, I’m lifted into the train by a strong arm. I note that Bjorn has moved me as I feel blood running from my nose from the continued labor of keeping this creature at bay. In a moment of lucidity, I’m able to gain an understanding of his purpose here. This is no random coincidence, as things rarely are, The Lord of Change was coming. A lesser demon in the most inappropriate use of that word. The knowledge he brings leads even the most disciplined down the wrong path. He must have convinced the leaders of this planet that this object we’re retrieving would be of a benefit to him. I have very little time to think on this as I convey this to whoever's around me and return to my task. This is not going to be how we go down, not after making it off of Solace Encarmine and all the corruption we encountered there. I can only think of protecting my crew, my captain... as long as possible. Abruptly, I feel the stab of a needle and a drug washes through my system. I’m momentarily aware of Rasp near me. Though this is helpful, I think he enjoys stabbing me just a bit too much.

Fear grips me as I continue to hold him at bay because the horde of creatures we’d passed before burst through a near by door. The strain, the shot, the dread, it all gripped at me, and I collapsed into a useless heap as the vehicle began to move. There are demons and danger swirling around us at every turn. We have many missions and pressing matters at hand, and I wonder if the future can ever look less bleak than it does right now. My bear likes to talk of a grand future with peace, one another, children, but none of that seems possible with the entities closing in around us and the universe fighting us at every turn.

We manage to break the surface, and the hope of getting off this crumbling planet compels me forward to the lander. Bjorn’s trying his best to get us back to the Eternal Perdition, but we have two key members on the surface. My attempt to grapple the tech priest whom I don’t hate despite myself failed and...I just...I’m so tired, so drained, I just want to get off this planet despite my concerns about the danger we’ve just retrieved from its heart.