"Into the Reef"
Part 1
The Thunderhawk Bad Raven shook violently as it passed over a powerful gravitational wave. Throughout the ship a dull drawn out groan, the hull protesting gravity's pull, echoed. In the darkness of the void the metal's prostrations went unheeded.
The noise did not bother Folknar Bonehammer. The Watch Captain had served the Emperor many times aboard the Bad Raven and he had faith in the Purity Seals and Tech-Priests entrusted with her care. What bothered Bonehammer were the reports he had received from the Inquisition that glared up at him from the data table below. The Inquisition had received word that the chaotic gravity fields of the Black Reef appeared to be stabilizing. Bonehammer knew this information to be alarming. The Reef had always been a dangerous region of the void that few dared to travel. Vessels that ventured to close to The Reef risked being pulled from the warp by crazed gravity fields and torn to pieces. Rogue planets and Space Hulks millennia old were rumored to be trapped within The Reefs dark expanse.
Because of this the Imperium's military strategy in The Jericho Reach used the Black Reef as a buffer to protect the flank of the Imperial forces. To Bonehammer and the Inquisition The Reef's taming could mean but one thing. The enemies of the Emperor were stirring. Somehow Xenos were responsible for subduing The Reefs erratic and deadly nature.
Part 2
Brother Portanus finished inspecting the auto sensors of his Corvus armor helm and set it beside him. Portanus looked to Watch Captain Bonehammer as he stood at the data table with a dark look upon his face. Portanus knew that Folknar's expression was grim confirmation that the task ahead was a formidable one. Even for members of the Death Watch.
Brother Videv strode past Brother Portanus and saw the former Raven Guard was caught up in his musings again. Videv smiled briefly to himself. Portanus, he thought, over analyzed everything around him. If Videv did not have first hand knowledge of Portanus' prowess with a bolter and lightning claw he would have thought him more scholar than marine. Videv felt restless as the Bad Raven flew through the void. The Kill-Team had been assembled and deployed with no orders aside from an instruction that orders would be given when the Kill-Team was in transit. Videv had not even had the time to brand his obsidian colored skin with another mark of service to the Emperor. This troubled him immensely and if his eyes had not already been colored red he was sure his fury at this breach of tradition would have made them so.
Brother Warblade stood near the far wall of the troop compartment. Warblade, fully enclosed by his armor, recited the "Litany of the Space Marine" to himself.
"What is my duty? To serve the Emperor's will."
"What is the Emperor's will? That we fight and die."
"What is death? It is our duty."
Warblade recited the litany twice more before being satisfied with his dedication to the Emperor. Looking to his Battle Brothers Warblade could see that Brothers Portanus and Videv were each preparing themselves for the coming trial. Watch Captain Bonehammer was analyzing a holographic map of Jerichos Reach. Warblade watched as Bonehammer focused on the section of the map labeled as The Black Reef. "The Black Reef?" Warblade muttered to himself. He knew of the stories that surrounded The Reef. Of ships lost within and hidden relics of races long gone to the universe but these were simply stories.
Warblade's musing was cut off abruptly as the Watch Captain turned and called out "Brothers to me! It is time you know the purpose of the mission and how we shall carry out the Emperor's Will."