Balthazar produces Octavious's missive of introduction and hands it to the officers. "We're traveling to see a Confessor from the Imperial Navy. This document proves our purpose. As for my personal belongings, I doubt you'll find anything objectionable."

With that, Balthazar shows them his hammer and stub revolver, as well as the contents of his backpack: toiletries, his ceremonial robes, the portable shrine and various religious tokens made from bone. He also presents the glow-globe and Imperial Creed that hang from his belt. His laud hailer servo-skull also floats up for inspection.

Shrugging he bends over, reaching under the bottom of her robe to pull the monoknife from its bootsheath. She holds it loosely in her hand by the long blade for the armsmen to see, looking to Ariel and Father Thornse to see what they are doing.

The armsmen noticeably tense at the weapon being produced so haphazardly. The lead inclined his head to one of the other armsmen hanging back at Estelia. They approach her, *static* "Mam you'll have to submit to a full search." *static* they indicate a lined off area along the station wall. They are wary at the knife.

Her sidearm was standard military issue for the Imperial Guard, and as such probably somewhat common even among civilians. The knife on her belt should be even less special; it was an uncommon design, but nothing out of the ordinary as far as custom works go. The only items she was not sure about were her shotgun and the bodyglove -- the former an item usually found in the arsenals of the Arbitrators, and the latter a pattern used exclusively by the Sisterhood. Then again, what are the chances these soldiers ever saw either?

The other armsmen approaches Ariela indicating a lined off area at the opposite wall, *static* "Mam" *static* they indicate with their lasgun.

Balthazar produces Octavious's missive of introduction and hands it to the officers. "We're traveling to see a Confessor from the Imperial Navy. This document proves our purpose. As for my personal belongings, I doubt you'll find anything objectionable."

With that, Balthazar shows them his hammer and stub revolver, as well as the contents of his backpack: toiletries, his ceremonial robes, the portable shrine and various religious tokens made from bone. He also presents the glow-globe and Imperial Creed that hang from his belt. His laud hailer servo-skull also floats up for inspection.

The lead takes the missive and scans it quickly, nodding they examine Thorne as he very thoroughly reveals all that he has on his body, *static* "Thank you father, if you will, your two...uhm, apprentices? will have to submit to a full search as well." *static*

Estelia grimaces and slides the knife back into it's sheath. She doesn't like the idea of being searched. Warily, she moves over to the wall and removes the weapon belt, then the cloak, leaving her in her armoured bodyglove. She places the cloak abd belt, along with the monoknife from its sheath, in a pile in front of her.

Minus the pistols, which she holds in her hands. The Novice has enough presence of mind to keep her fingers off the triggers and the barrels pointed at the ground. The Noivces had had their belongings thoroughly searched at regular intervals at the Schola, but Estelia was not about to leave herself unarmed in the presence of the helmeted men with lasguns. She looks to the lead armsman expectantly as she stands back up.

When Ariel starts to remove her bodyglove, Balthazar steps forward hastily and addresses everyone. For the first time since meeting the Novices, he looks quite flustered. "Now, wait just one moment, my child! Officers, is this really necessary? Having these young women bare themselves in public for a simple security scan is rather excessive, don't you think? Surely a bag check will suffice!"

When Ariel starts to remove her bodyglove, Balthazar steps forward hastily and addresses everyone. For the first time since meeting the Novices, he looks quite flustered. "Now, wait just one moment, my child! Officers, is this really necessary? Having these young women bare themselves in public for a simple security scan is rather excessive, don't you think? Surely a bag check will suffice!"

*static* "Correct father, it's not a strip search missus sorry. Just a body pat down and bag search to see what items you're be carrying. Contraband issues, fairly common on transit stations unfortunately." *static*

They look at your staff again, *static* "Father, I respect that this is an implement of the Imperial faith, but I have to at least state that we are aware it is dangerous. The penetrative qualities are similar to those blades we'll be locking up due to the danger they can present to the station's integrity. It would be...appreciated if you would comply with locking it up as well. They'll would be returned when you leave the station, however due to your standing we aren't allowed to take it from you." *static*

Estelia grimaces and slides the knife back into it's sheath. She doesn't like the idea of being searched. Warily, she moves over to the wall and removes the weapon belt, then the cloak, leaving her in her armoured bodyglove. She places the cloak abd belt, along with the monoknife from its sheath, in a pile in front of her.

Minus the pistols, which she holds in her hands. The Novice has enough presence of mind to keep her fingers off the triggers and the barrels pointed at the ground. The Noivces had had their belongings thoroughly searched at regular intervals at the Schola, but Estelia was not about to leave herself unarmed in the presence of the helmeted men with lasguns. She looks to the lead armsman expectantly as she stands back up.

The armsman searches through the items and quickly pats down your body. They remove your knife and place it in an open lock-box.

Brief uncertainty flashed over Ariel's face as she looked towards the Thaurian priest for guidance if not intervention. As it conspired that Balthazar as well as her fellow novice were submitting to the armsmen's las-backed request, she too stepped aside towards the indicated wall.

Eyeing Estelia on the other side and noticing how the soldiers segregated the group, she pondered how many of them she could take down before they had a chance to react, but quickly discarded the idea again. They were not here to cause trouble, after all, and the armsmen were loyal soldiers in the Emperor's service. Or so she believed.

Her expression returning to its usual impassionate self, she prepares for the search and surrenders the large shotgun, currently loaded with 18 scatter rounds. The weapon is meticulously cleaned and has not been used for at least several days. Shrugging the large duster off her shoulders and exposing the rest of her tight-clad black form, she then loosens her belt and hands it over as well. A pistol holster, knife sheath as well as one large and two smaller pouches are part of it.

Not wasting any time, she casually reaches for the bodyglove's zipper, already beginning to pull it down there and then to expose the milk-chocolate skin beneath -- accompanied only by an almost bored-sounding: "Is this going to take long?"

Somewhere in the background a painful grunt can be heard as one of a few travelling civilians who have taken note of the unfolding scene has stopped to gaze, causing another to walk right into his back.

The armsman removes the mono-blade and places it in the same lock-box that Estelia's mono-blade is placed in.

The armsman indicates to the gawker with their lasgun, *static* "Move along citizen...Now." *static*

Estelia glaces over at Ariel as the armsmen goes through her tings. She does not like having the man touching her belongings, but it is unavoidable, apparently. The girl is pleased that no one has tried to take her pistols from her.

She turns back to the armsman in front of her, then does a double take, looking back to Ariel, who has the zipper of her bodyglove halfway down. Father Thorne looks very agitated, and several people have stopped in the corridor to watch the scene unfold. Estelia glares at them, raising the pistols in her hands ever so slightly as she does. It's not that she hasn't seen Ariel naked - living together at the Schola and the penitent vigils they had been assigned at the convent had seen to that (Ariel would claim that most of those vigils had been Estelia's fault, and Estelia, looking back, knows that most of them probably where) - but to disrobe in front of men such as these? Estelia raises an eyebrow at the other Novice.

The girl is drawn from her reverie when the armsmen finishes looking through her things, and takes the knife with him. She sighs; she had not intended to use the knife, but she knew she would have felt better knowing it was with her. She pulls the heavy brown cloak back over her head, and straps her weapon welt back around her waist outside the robe, all without ever really letting go of her pistols.

Still holding her weapons, the Novice moves to stand beside Ariel, feeling much more secure now that the search was complete.

Balthazar thinks for a long moment, then shakes his head. "This is the badge of my station, and I carry it with reverence -- I would prefer not to part with it. It is only used as a weapon in the most dire circumstances. I respect that it could cause damage to the station if used recklessly, so I will handle it with care."

Still holding her weapons, the Novice moves to stand beside Ariel, feeling much more secure now that the search was complete.

As Estelia closes up to her, she acknowledges the other novice with a brief nod. "I wonder what that was all about", she muses aloud. "Is it just because these soldiers do not know who we are?"

Balthazar thinks for a long moment, then shakes his head. "This is the badge of my station, and I carry it with reverence -- I would prefer not to part with it. It is only used as a weapon in the most dire circumstances. I respect that it could cause damage to the station if used recklessly, so I will handle it with care."

The main armsman puts their fingers to their throat obviously communicating elsewhere, nods and then addresses the father, *static* "In that case I'll have to escort you to your destination." *static*

They indicate to the guards and they return to their posts.

The main armsmen turns around, *static* "Follow me." *static*

((I'm gonna assume you all follow.))

As the groups pass one of the armsmen at their post wonders silently enough to be heard by Ariela and Estellia, *static* "Like we care who you are." *static*

In response to Ariel's query, Esteleia says quietly, "I would think so; I can't imagine they would . . . " and trails off as she realizes some of the armsmen might overhear them.

As the Novice follows Father Thorne and the lead armsmen through the checkpoint, she hears what another armsman said. She looks at Ariel quizzically, unsure of what to make of the man's comment, then shrugs and continues walking.

Returning Estelia's look, the other novice does not seem to have any better idea than her fellow Sororitas.

"I suppose that is just as well", she remarks in subdued tone, the words intended only for the other girl's ears.

As he follows the armsman further into the orbital, Balthazar smiles to himself. The armsmen may see the girls as little more than children, but Balthazar had heard of the rigorous training administered by the Schola Progenium drill-abbots. He suspected Estelia and Ariel were more than a match for a typical Imperial Guard soldier, let alone an orbital station security officer.

He wasn't happy that the armsmen insisted on accompanying them, but he understood their concern for the structural integrity of the orbital.

The heart of the security wing of the station is trim and orderly. the barracks, as you pass them, are roughly filled in a third of sleeping men and women, but the rest of the beds as perfectly made. There is no clutter in the areas even if they are occupied by workers.

The group passes the door of the main security observation room, it is shut with an armsman standing outside of it on guard.

Soon enough the group is led to a small inlet of a chapel. It is roughly large enough for three people to sit in comfortably and a desk. At this desk sits a rugged looking man with a regulation naval haircut of salt and peppered hair. No facial hair graces them.

A thick Russian accent comes from their mouth, "Yes?"

*static* "Confessor Konrad, sir, you have come guests." *static*

The confessor waves the group in, and the armsman stays at the door. He eyes you warily, "And to what do I owe the interruption father?" He states looking up at Balthazar's staff.

Estelia looks uncertainly at the Confessor. He is now what she had expected, though she supposed his appearance might have to do with his Naval assignment. The Novice was doubly aware of the armsman standing behind them in the doorway. Shifting her weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other she waits for Father Thorne to speak.

Balthazar smiles at Confessor Konrad,making the sign of the Aquila in greeting. "Hello Confessor. I am Balthazar Thorne, member of the Thaurian priesthood. I come here by referral from a priest named Father Octavious, who said you may be able to help me with a matter of faith. I can tell you are a busy man, and I will not occupy your attention for longer than necessary."

With that, Balthazar produces the missive of introduction and hands it to the Confessor. He turns to the armsman at the door and says, "Will you excuse us for a moment, my son? This is a personal matter and I would prefer to speak with the Confessor in private."

As they meet the Confessor, the girl acknowledges him with a bow, remaining silent to once again leave the talking to their Thaurian priest.

Konrad acknowledges the bow with a nod, "Well, at least one of your apprentices has some manners it would seem." slyly eyeing Estellia.

Balthazar smiles at Confessor Konrad,making the sign of the Aquila in greeting. "Hello Confessor. I am Balthazar Thorne, member of the Thaurian priesthood. I come here by referral from a priest named Father Octavious, who said you may be able to help me with a matter of faith. I can tell you are a busy man, and I will not occupy your attention for longer than necessary."

Confessor Konrad returns the Aquila and replies, "Yes Octavious is always generous when it comes to interrupting my day, but even he is more than capable of handling the faith. What exactly can I do that he can't?"

With that, Balthazar produces the missive of introduction and hands it to the Confessor. He turns to the armsman at the door and says, "Will you excuse us for a moment, my son? This is a personal matter and I would prefer to speak with the Confessor in private."

The armsman shakes his head, *static* "Sorry Father Thorne, you wanted your staff, so you get my oversight." *static* ((Without a roll of some sort or some other pertinent reason the armsman isn't leaving.))

((Quoting you since you're on the other page.))

Out of habit, Esterlia made the sign of the Aquila when the Confessor did. She did not bow, it was to late for that, and, in any case, the Aquila had always been an appropriate greeting for everyone she met at the Convent, from fellow Novices to Sisters Superior to Confessors.

Confessor Konrad reminded Estelia more of the Drill Abbots at the Schola where she was raised than the Confessors on Ophelia VII. The Novice's hand drifts to the plain pouch at her waist, the one that contained soil from Ophelia VII, wondering when she would return there. She returned her attention to the priests before her. They needed to gain access to the Navy's records to continue their investigation.

Balthazar nods and replies, "Then I shall make sure my staff of office remains in your sight." He carefully pulls his hammer from its' leather thong on his back. He offers the weapon handle-first to Estelia and says, "My child, would you and Ariel accompany this gentleman into the hallway for a moment so the Confessor and I can have our discussion?"

Almost instinctively, Ariel turned to leave together with the armsman and the other novice, the result of a decade worth of indoctrination, yet pausing for a moment mid-motion. Why would the Black Priest want both of them out of the room, if just one of them was enough to guard his sacred weapon? What sort of discussion might the two of them have that necessitated this level of privacy?

Of course she had heard of apostate priests in the Church, seeing how it was her Sisterhood that was often called upon to eliminate those of the clergy who stray from approved dogma, but why would someone like that be assigned to this mission? Or was it that instead he did not trust the novices?

Something to ponder in the future, perhaps. For now there was nothing she could do about it, so she nodded towards Estelia who was tasked with carrying the heavy instrument.

"Come on", she offered, shooting the two priests a last glance before turning to leave the room for good.

Estelia was startled when the Father handed his weapon to her. She too it gingerly in both hands, worried she might damage the Priest's badge of office, though in the back of her mind the girl knew she could drop it and it was more likely to hurt the deck plating than the other way around, and feeling slightly uncomfortable carrying such an item.

the Novice jerked her head up when Ariel spoke, moving hastily after her out of the room. Only as the door closed did it strike her that it was odd that Father Thorne wished to be alone with the other priest. She trusted the man, he was a priest of the Ministorum, after all . . . or, at least, she trusted that a Sister Superior would have known if there was something amiss with the man.

Estelia glanced at Ariel, then at the armsman, the impassive face of his helmet making her momentarily uncomfortable, of balance as she was, but the Novice quickly pulled herself together. She was a Novice of the Adepta Sororitas. Still, the girl was soon examining the staff she held, though she had stilled her doubts. Whatever happened, they would make it through. They where Sororitas. The had the Emperor to watch over them, and they had each other.

((disclaimer: I'm probably more tired than I think I am at the moment. I might come back later and realize I did something out of character ))

The armsman closes the door to give the holy men some privacy, it seems that they didn't actually want to listen in it was more a matter of duty than anything.

They slightly turn their head to the novices and state, *static* "So, what's Thaur like? I've never been there myself, but I know the Oath Unbroken ((Or whatever the ship's name is)) goes there a lot, the sailors from that ship come through here on occasion when they're picking up bodies or on leave." *static*

Balthazar nods and replies, "Then I shall make sure my staff of office remains in your sight." He carefully pulls his hammer from its' leather thong on his back. He offers the weapon handle-first to Estelia and says, "My child, would you and Ariel accompany this gentleman into the hallway for a moment so the Confessor and I can have our discussion?"

Confessor Konrad glances at the novices as they leave the room and looks back at Father Thorne suspiciously, "This must be a most important matter then, if you're so willing to part with your symbol. Especially trusting it in the hands of younglings."

He leans back and crosses his arms paying full attention, "How may I be of service?"