Omni Honore: Chapter1

Through the blackness of deep space hundreds of points of light moved, slow burning comets trailing plasma wakes behind them. They were a motley collection of worn out and dilapidated scows, repurposed to serve as cargo ships, bulk haulers and tankers but by far the vast majority were Pilgrim Ships. The convoy moved slowly between Warp Translation points, just another hop through real space before plunging back into the haunted depths of the Immaterium.

At the head of the convoy coasted a ship that was the complete opposite to the scows in every way immagineable. She was a bloated leviathan, kilometres long and almost as tall, and clad in armour thicker than the average building. Her vast sides were festooned with line after line of guns, vast weapon batteries that pointed out to the stars and a pair of towering Lance arrays.

Even by human standards she was not a graceful or elegant ship, she was a killer through and through built to take damage and give back twice as much in return. She was an Imperial ship of the line: a Lunar class cruiser and her name was "Averof".

Within her bilges and weapon decks thousands upon thousands of naval ratings laboured and died never once seeing the stars but high above their heads beings of a quite different order were meeting. In a spinal access corridor lined with soaring armourglass windows three figures were conversing, the passing crewmen giving them a wide berth as they stared nervously.

The first was a giant of a man in black armour festooned with skulls and bearing both a Crozius and a Rosarius, his name was Wrethan and he was a Chaplain of the Storm Heralds. The second could not have been more different; a bulky and almost square figure in a Red robe, the silhouette was missing legs and instead floated with a faint hum of anti-grav repulsors. Her name was Magos Castabore of the Adpetus Mechanicus and her voice was curiously feminine for one who was essentially a floating box.

The third was of similar build to Wrethan but wearing blue armour, bearing a power sword and also a curious device on his waist: a Psyk-out grenade. The augmetic eye implanted in his face glowed a fearsome red as he talked: he was Sergeant Toran and he was caught in an awkward position between two rival allies.

Castabore was saying, "The security detail around my quarters is inadequate."

Toran tried to placate her by saying, "Magos your personage and artefacts are safe, no less than three of my brothers stand guard by your chambers at all times. The rest of my squad patrol the ship vigilantly, nothing shall endanger your property."

Castabore snapped, "It had better not, I have placed a great deal of trust in your abilities and if you wish our alliance to continue then I expect a successful completion to our journey."

Wrethan seemed insulted by the slur and growled, "We are Space Marines, we do not fail."

Toran stepped in hurriedly and said, "Rest assured Magos, the Storm Heralds place great stock in the friendship of the Mechanicus, we will guarantee your arrival on Mars."

Castabore made a snorting noise under her breath then with typical Mechanicus briskness turned a floated away without saying another word.

Chaplain Wrethan watched her go and said, "Arrogant wench, to think she can command the Divine Emperor's Angels."

Toran replied politely, "Arrogant or not the Chapter needs her support; we cannot risk making an enemy of the Tech-Priests right now."

Wrethan nodded and said, "Thinking ahead as always Sergeant, sometimes you remind me why I value your service so much."

Toran accepted the compliment as Wrethan continued, "I find it most odd she specifically requested your squad as an escort and on an Navy warship no less. Surely a Magos of her rank could have commanded a Mechanicus vessel and Skitarii guards."

Toran knew exactly why Castabore did not want to let other Tech-Priests near her artefacts but was sworn to secrecy on the matter. Instead he said, "We fought together during the liberation of Caminus some ten years ago and we formed a mutual understanding. Tech-Priests are notoriously jealous of their discoveries, no doubt she worries some rival will steal her designs."

Wrethan seemed satisfied with the response and said, "Yes that day was quite a coup for the Storm Heralds and you personally. There is talk you will be elevated to First Company before long."

Toran replied, "I am content with the role the Emperor has laid out for me."

Wrethan replied, "You have done well indeed, you took that gaggle of misfits and forged them into an effective fighting force. Furion in particular has been performing well… I trust you are keeping a close watch that he is not spreading sedition though."

Wrethan was proud and bombastic individual, exactly the kind of qualities a Chaplain needed and none who had seen him on the battle field could doubt his ardour or zeal. Unfortunately Wrethan was also part of a growing movement within the Chapter that sought to break the Storm Heralds free from the rule of the High Lords. They wanted to impose their own version of the Imperial faith upon the masses.

Toran and his squad was vehemently opposed to such a course in every particular and had been quietly working to subvert those goals. It was most fortunate that Wrethan had come to believe that Toran was firmly on his side, an impression the Sergeant was determined to maintain.

Toran was in a difficult position, Wrethan's agenda and his did not match at all but he could not let on that he was anything but a loyal follower. Diplomatically he said, "Not word passes in my squad that I do not know about."

It was true; it was just not the whole truth.

"Excellent" Wrethan said then the turned to stare out the armourglass window at the drifting convoy ships, "Look at them, fools and dreamers all, sailing half way across the galaxy for a hopeless dream of touching divinity."

Toran replied cautiously "They do sing the Emperor's praises, their faith is undoubted."

Wrethan growled, "Only in that petty sham peddled by the Ecclesiarchy, true faith should be a call to action not subservience. Once the Chapter is free of Terra we will show them what true belief means."

Toran looked about and said, "A word of caution Father, this is not a Chapter ship. Such talk is dangerous where we do not know who may be listening."

"Wise words" replied Wrethan, "Come let us walk and discuss other matters."

The pair of them walked along the spinal accessway towards the Averof's bridge and Toran looked out the viewportals at the convoy wallowing through the void. He said, "Tell me Father Wrethan, once we have delivered the Magos to Mars will there be an opportunity to make pilgrimage to Terra?"

Wrethan grunted, "I applaud your fervour but no Storm Herald has set upon Terra since our glorious founding five thousand years ago."

Toran frowned and said, "Strange, our homeworld sits at the heart of the Pilgrim Trail between Terra and Ophellia VII and for millennia we have protected this vital warp route. One would have thought our duties would have called us to the heart of the Imperium at some point."

Wrethan shook his head and said, "The great Sebastain Thor declared the 22nd Founding along with the formation of the Adpta Sororitas and Ordo Hereticus to safeguard the Imperium following the Age of Apostacy. Our duties are to fight the Emperor's foes, not go sightseeing."

Toran found that statement rather hippocritical given Wrethan's goal of spreading worship but kept silent. As they walked they approached a gaggle of Naval officers in their starched uniforms and gold braiding. The men saw them coming and scattered before them almost as if they were afraid of being stepped upon.

Wrethan eyed them as they strode past and then snarled, "Look at them, fearful and weak, it is a tragedy how the High Lords have allowed the Imperium to decay since Thor's reforms."

Toran said, "Did not the Emperor forge the Astartes to lead men for that very reason?"

Wrethan replied, "Lead yes, but men should have the strength to follow, look at this very convoy, there must be over a hundred ships. Once such large flotilla would have warranted a fleet of capital ships, swarms of escorts and relays of Defence Monitors. But what have the Admirality sent, one lone Cruiser and pair of Escort Carriers. It is pathetic how far they have fallen."

Toran was about to reply when suddenly a piercing alarm began to ring through the corridor and the officers and crew about them began running to and fro. The pair of them turned to stare at the viewportals as thick blast shields began to roll over them and Wrethan snarled, "That is the call to action stations!"

Toran wasted no time opening the squad's vox link and shouting, "Pyrus squad this is Sergeant Toran, I am declaring a war footing. Brothers Daite, Halis and Ophelian find Magos Castabore and take her to her quarters: seal yourselves inside and guard that door at all costs. Brothers Furion, Novak, Persion and Jediah rendezvous with me on the bridge."

"We are under attack!"