Chapter 2
589.M38 Segmentum Ultima, Cadoven Sector
orbit over Cadoven Prime, onboard Conquest class Star Galleon Polaris
Matthias Riven confidently strode away from the landing bay and down the prime gangway of the fabled Polaris, flagship of House Flavius' armada. His long black robes concealed the black battle armour that was standard issue for one of his rank. A bolt pistol was concealed within his robe's folds and a power sabre was at his side. He was a Justicar of the Adeptus Arbites and sedition amongst the nobles in the sectors of his jurisdiction was his domain of responsibility. But, the loyalty of House Flavius was not in question on this date. Accordingly, he felt security was not an issue onboard the Polaris, but those who rose to his station did not last long by assuming such things. In addition to his personal armaments, he was escorted on either side by an Enforcer. Each Enforcer openly wore his black Imperial armor and had an open faced helmet with great black goggles hiding his gaze, adding a degree of mystique to his appearance. Each also carried a boltgun, ready to kill in order to protect his charge.
While he strode toward the gangway's end, Riven admired the power and history displayed around him. The voidcraft's machine-spirit emitted a steady and deep hum from the plasma engines in the core of the vessel, periodically broken by a sharp knock or twang. Despite the power of his station, he had rarely been surrounded by the amount of archeotech contained aboard the Polaris. It was a Conquest-class Star Galleon which had been crafted at the beginning of the Great Crusade nearly eight thousand years prior and the God Emperor himself had walked the gangway upon which he was treading.
At the prime gangway's terminus there was a great blast hatch with a vox-box mounted to the bulkhead and a pict-cap box mounted directly above it. Riven approached the hatch intending to speak, but was greeted by a modulated voice before he could begin. "Greetings, Justicar Riven. I am Alduous Homish, seneschal of House Flavius. It is an honour to be graced with your presence." Then after a pause, "Please enter, all Glory to the Emperor!" With that, the hatch raised, exposing the interior of a tram car. A mighty golden Eagle on a crimson field was emblazoned upon the opposite bulkhead of the tram car. Its wings were spread wide and a scroll was held in claws at the end of each leg. Riven easily recognized it as the standard of House Flavius.
The Justicar and his Enforcers stepped into the tram car and the hatch closed behind them. Riven made himself comfortable in a luxurious seat while his Enforcers remained standing and ready. "Transit beginning," came a modulated voice and the tram car smoothly began to move.
Justicar Riven calmly looked at the man sitting opposite him. Praetorus Flavius, patriarch of House Flavius, was one of the most powerful rogue traders in the Imperium of Man and looked every bit the part. According to the dossier Riven had read, Praetorus was 2.01m in height and 110kg in weight. Viewing the man in person, it was clear he was muscled rather than plump, and remarkably fit despite his age. His face had few lines and his short shock of hair was naturally black with no sign of grey. His deep blue eyes were calmly looking back at Riven. At that moment, the Justicar realized that not only was Praetorus one of the most powerful men in the Segmentum, he was also one of the most arrogant. Behind Praetorus' right shoulder stood an old and grizzled man who Riven instinctively recognized as the seneschal, Alduous Homish. Behind Praetorus' left shoulder stood a warrior even larger than the rogue trader. He was Maximilian, the commander of the Rojenderi, honour guard of House Flavius. Maximilian was suited in power armour which was styled in the fashion of the Great Crusade. It was black with a black mane on its open faced helmet. Great pauldrons were fastened over its shoulders and the livery of the Rojenderi was emblazoned upon its chest: a sable two headed eagle on a crimson field.
"Please, let us skip the formalities and speak of business, Lord Flavius." In the aftermath of the ork freebooterz who had menaced the area, the Justicar had many problems with which to deal. Most notably, he was short of the manpower necessary to deal with large scale troubles should they emerge in his demesne. He did not wish to waste time with pleasantries.
"A pity, but please elaborate, Justicar." The Justicar had thought he was beyond being bothered by petty details such as the arrogance of Planetary Governors and rogue traders alike. After hearing Praetorus' voice, he reassessed that conclusion.
"There is trouble originating on Pologram Majoris," began Riven. The rogue trader showed no sign of familiarity or surprise and it bothered the Justicar to no end. "I believe the Governor has lost his mind. His current tithe does not meet the fair criteria established by the Administratum. When confronted by my Arbiter assigned to the planet regarding this, he committed treason. My arbiter was sacrificed as sport in the blood games they hold in honour of the Imperium's Grand Harvest." Riven paused, waiting for a response from the rogue trader.
"Please go on and elaborate on how you plan to relate this to me."
Justicar Riven became angry for a moment and then regained his composure. He was certain Praetorus knew exactly why he had been contacted. He continued in as straight forward a manner as he could manage. "Due to the myriad problems facing the sectors of the Imperium under my control, the Administratum has asked that I find a resolution to this problem that will not affect the planet's ability to meet its tithe." Seeing he now had the rogue trader's attention, he continued. "The founder of your House, Claudia Flavius, first returned the inhabitants of Pologram Majoris to the Imperium's fold nearly eight millennia ago. Your deceased wife, may she rest in the Glory of the Emperor, was of the Royal Family of Pologram Majoris. The Governor, Titus Vescue, is married to Queen Zamorah, the reigning monarch of Pologram Majoris. My hope is that you will be able to use your long standing connections to the Royal Family to depose the Governor with a minimal amount of bloodshed. Thus, preserving the premiere troops of the planet and allowing them to augment the Harvest."
The rogue trader displayed neither a hint of surprise or excitement. He merely responded in a calm manner. "This is the responsibility of the Adeptus Arbites and I have already met my Imperial tithe due both this century and the next. What will there be to gain if I step outside my domain of responsibilities and accomplish this?"
"The Administratum is prepared to grant title of Pologram Majoris as a feudal domain," answered the Justicar.
"Do tell," Praetorus began with a smug arrogance that grated upon the Justicar. "So, I will gain all the headaches of controlling a planet that is currently causing you problems and be required to keep it in line so as to continue properly meeting its tithe. That is my payment?"
Not liking how this was turning, Riven responded. "So, what terms will you be more agreeable to?"
"The title will be accepted with stipulations. If this turns to bloodshed, the tithe will be limited in manpower, much less the best manpower available. So, first, I will have the single best Imperial regiment of the tithe to be allotted into my service." The Justicar nodded as he felt that was an appropriate request and not of too great a cost. "Second, I have little time to spend caring for a planet. The Administratum will arrange for a regency to govern in my stead. As I think highly of the manner in which the Ultramarines govern their system, the Administratum will look toward the realm of Ultramar for both guidance in organizing this regency and individuals to man it."
Justicar Riven thought for a moment about the offer laid before him and then answered, "That will be acceptable to me. However, I must seek approval from the Administratum." This was better than he had planned. He was envious of the stability that had always been a part of Ultramar and would be satisfied if a similar society could be cultivated on Pologram Majoris.
The two men stood and shook hands. "All Glory to the Emperor," they said in unison, thus concluding the business between two of the mighty of Segmentum Ultima.