III: THE HAMMER OF THOR

Ecclesiarchy Battleship Hammer of Thor, bound for Parnis, in the Yarokin Veil

I was a Seraphim again. Whole, healed and returned to a state of grace. I thought uncovering what had happened to me four years before would be a simple matter. I was so wrong...

Inquisitor Hand and a full contingent of Battle Sisters, including Stern, had requisitioned one of the powerful battleships of the Ecclesiarchy: the Hammer of Thor. Their quest is to return and conduct an investigation on the planet Parnis-the place where Stern was found alive.

Aboard the great ship, Stern gazed at the planet below through the armorcrys at the Viewport, listening to Capt. Voloch as he explained and showed off the ship's many marvels.

''...And the augmented plasma batteries place the Hammer of Thor among the most powerful vessels in the fleet.''

''Oh really?...''Stern said, making herself a little amused.

''Be assured, the honour of the Adepta Sororitas is safe within this most impregnable of battleships.''

''Some place their trust in warships and weapons of destruction. But we remember the divine Emperor. They are brought down and fallen, but we are risen and victorious...''

''The Imperial Creed...''the bald captain commented. ''Yes...Quite...''

Inquisitor Hand and Canoness Ramientes are also gazing at the planet, slowly zooming in as they approached orbit.

''Four years'', Ramientes spoke. ''Any trace of what happened there will long gone.''

''A return to Parnis was implicit in Sister Stern's reinstatement, Canoness. We all require answers'', Hand replied. ''The texts that started this, were they old?''

''From the Bucharis Apostasy, molecular encryption.''

''A lost Order of Sororitas, no numbers, no name or nature. Hardly the clarity of information required for a quest. Twelve hundred Sisters of your Order lost. A rash decision-AHHH!'' Excruciating pain flooded his head, making him scream as he held his head. ''Chaos-it claws at me!''

''From the planet?!''Ramientes asked surprised.

About 10 minutes earlier...

The Navigator's Blister, the place above a ship's bridge where Navigators position themselves to better see the light of the Astronomican in the Warp, rotated and revealed the Navigator himself. He showed signs of fatigue as he stood up from the Blister, which is common to all Navigators. Locating a speck of the Astronomican's light amidst the darkness of the Warp is no simple job, peering into the Immaterium and only Emperor knows what will stare back.

''Navigator Maielle, are you unwell?'' one of the crew asked, seeing him rub his forehead where his third eye is located.

''Just tired, it's a long way from Ophelia VII'', he replied, covering the third eye with a bandana.

''Sleep, that's what you need, Navigator.''

''I need a damn sight more than that'' Maielle murmured as he walked out of the cockpit area. He proceeded to one of the prayer rooms secretly, barely carrying his weight as he walked. The door opened and he called out weakly to someone else in the room. Or something else.

''Uhh...Ilestor...I'm weak...''

''...Hurry...be swift...you have need of me...''a mellifluous voice of feminine origin said.''...Thou hast done all that I asked?''

''Please...I can't bear it any longer'', he pleaded the entity. He reached out and opened a small locker just above at lectern. From it emerged black lightning that 'flowed' on mid-air, like a black liquid would seep on solid surfaces. It floated around him, then converging to form a pink creature with writhing tentacles. It wrapped its arms around him.

''...Thy appointed task...Is it complete?'' It asked again.

''Yes...Yes, you know I can't refuse you'', he answered as it caressed him. It inserted its tentacles under his skin, flooding him with pleasure and his eyes rolling in ecstasy.

''...Then, all is well...Feel the embrace of Slaanesh...''

A henchman of the Inquisitor approached as he is recovering from his earlier experience, holding a piece of paper.

''Come...''Hand beckoned to him.

''A sending, Inquisitor'', the messenger handed him the paper. ''From Ophelia VII.''

- I - I - I - I - I- I - I - I - I - I- I - I - I - I - I- I - I - I - I - I- I - I - I - I -

INQUISITOR HAND-URGENT

(W/ Intel – Stern's would-be assassin/Navis Nobilite)

Secrecy pointless. Interrogation reveal paramour travels WITH YOU-aboard Hammer of Thor. GREAT ENEMY well aware of current situation. Navigator named Maielle-Imperial record en route via subspace. Should be considered THREAT OF HIGHEST ORDER.

Emperor be with you. Fazael.

- I - I - I - I - I- I - I - I - I - I- I - I - I - I - I- I - I - I - I - I- I - I - I - I -

''That can't be!'' Ramientes exclaimed in disbelief. ''You sifted all minds aboard for signs of Chaos before we departed!''

''Damn me for a fool!'' Hand growled, crumpling the paper. He walked briskly along the hallway, followed by Stern and the others. ''Time is of the essence, Sister Stern...Chaos is not actually within her. Your intended assassin, was engaged in deviant associations with the Navigator of this very vessel.''

''Impossible...''Captain Voloch gasped. ''There are checks and measures to prevent such-''

''Captain Voloch, this Navigator's damnation is beyond question'', Hand cut him short, putting a hand on his shoulder. ''By what degree he has tainted the rest of the crew will remain to be seen.''

BOOOM!

An explosion was heard and alarms sounded off. The group ran towards the source, a number of Celestians joining them on the way. They found Maielle in one of the chambers, pure pleasure on his face with the Daemon still attached to him.

''Don't stop...Please...''Maielle moaned.

''Deviants...''Hand growled. He pointed at the Navigator and the daemon. ''Burn in shame!''

The daemon turned to them with its white eyes and spoke in a mocking voice. ''Fools...Oblivion awaits thee...Your tiny lights are as nothing to the shadow...''By the light of the Celestians' flamer, the daemon was revealed to be tentacled mostly; its gaping mouth filled with rather small sharp teeth and its tongue was already inserted in the Navigator's mouth. It swept its gaze on each and everyone in the chamber. Its gaze stopped as it caught Stern's, eye widening in utter surprise.

''You! You live yet...''

My heart sank as the daemon glanced at each of us in turn. I felt its fear. Its fear was nothing compared to my own.

''Know now the righteous light of the Divine Emperor! Burn them!'' Hand barked. The Celestians then sent gouts of holy flame, incinerating the two. With an unearthly shriek, the daemon was banished back to the Warp.

A creature that sees not as we do, but by perceiving the brightness of our souls...had looked upon me and seen...nothing.

The Inquisitor strode towards a waiting Drop Pod with Stern beside him, clad in his Power Armour. He had left the rest of his retinue aboard to assess the chaotic corruption.

''Why the haste?'' Stern asked.

''Chaos snaps at our heels, Sister, and we orbit its hell-born spawning place. Our duty lies below. I would not suffer blasphemy to persist a moment longer were it within my power.'' He turned to Stern. ''Just as the Emperor expects no less of you.''

They entered the Drop Pod where the others are waiting along with the Order's vehicles.

''All is ready'', Ramientes announced. ''Let us pray.'' All bowed, closed their eyes and prayed with the Canoness or by their own.'' The righteous shall fear no evil for we act in the divine light of the Emperor. May our deeds be noble in his sight and pleasing to his heart. We pray that, in pleasing him, his divine will bring us courage in life and honour in death. All praise the Emperor...''

The Drop Pod was ejected onto planet side in minutes. However, things were just about to get worse.

Silas Hand lectured me once on the sin of arrogance. How ironic .We imagined that we had rooted out evil, that Voloch's mighty battleship was indeed safe. And yet, we lived for another day only at the whim of Fate...And the eagerness of Silas Hand to purge the planet below...Only Fate and the will of a madman spared us. How ironic...

The great Ecclesiarchal battleship Hammer of Thor sits quietly in orbit, when it suddenly exploded...