Chapter 4! Holy shit!
I won't be able to update this quickly, but I've had a bit of a free week end, and this story is basically writing itself. I will try in future for one update a week.
I own nothing! As always, read and review, it really helps!
Enjoy!
Karras was mismanaging this briefing. He was letting his brother's grievances affect his judgement, just as Solarion knew he would.
The Death Spectre lacked the discipline for command.
Talon Squad stood together on the bridge of their new transport. Rauth and Maximmion Voss sat in Astartes sized chairs either side of a huge and detailed star map. Solarion and Karras stood opposite them, directly in front of a communications array, from which an increasingly harassed Sigma was attempting to answer Talon Squads increasingly furious questions. Zeed, to Solarion's immense relief, remained silent, perched on a handrail like a great raptor, a vox link in one hand, through which Chyron was being kept appraised of the briefing.
"Over fifty percent of all systems are automated!" Voss growled. "Even if it was made by men, it is controlled by abominable intelligence!"
"I assure you Talon Three, all technology in the Final Secret were first put before an Adeptus Mechanicus authorization conclave." Solarion could hear exasperation oozing through Sigma's voice.
"The Mechanicus would never have authorized such an egregious flouting of their laws!" Voss countered. The Imperial Fist's face was beet red. "We are sworn to serve, not commit tech heresy on your order!"
Solarion wouldn't say so, but the stocky marine was saying what the Ultramarine was thinking. He was very uncomfortable with the lengths Sigma seemed willing to go to.
"Dorn's Blood!" Voss swore. "I entered my quarters and a computer addressed me by name!"
"I as well." Chyron's normally booming voice sounded tinny through the vox. "Something has been attempting to interface with my machine spirit since I was brought aboard."
"The Final Secret has what is being referred to as an Sentient Action Machine Spirit." Sigma tried to continue, but was cut off.
"It has an A.I!" Voss stood, spittle flying from his lips.
"The Machine Spirit was equipped with additional functions by the order of the Inquisition." Sigma raised one hand in an attempt to stall further outbursts. "It is perfectly within the bounds of Imperial Creed."
"You should have told us Sigma." Karras leaned against the communications array, the smooth silvery metal rim creaking under his weight. "You should have told us the ship we would be using would be blasphemous."
"You know what you need to know Alpha." Yes, that was definitely a shout. "It has always been this way."
Solarion might not approve of Karras, or his impertinent attitude towards Talon Squad's handler, but you did not raise your voice to one of the Emperor's space marines. Beside him, he knew his brothers felt the same.
"Mind yourself Inquisitor." Darrion Rauth rarely spoke above a whisper. Voice raised, he sounded much the same as how Solarion imagined a bolter would, curt and biting. "We are not servants."
"You are Death Watch!" Sigma snarled. "You are sworn to serve."
"We are sworn to serve the Emperor of Man." Solarion stepped forwards to stand beside Karras. The Inquisitor oversteps himself. "Not you." Beside him, Karras looked at him strangely. You stand with me? The look seemed to ask.
I do not approve of your decisions Karras. Solarion thought. But you are my brother before all else.
"Prophet is right." Zeed hissed. "It strikes me that you have considerable need of us Sigma. I would watch my tongue if I was you."
"How dare you!" Sigma spat. "Is this what I should expect of all Astartes? As soon as you leave the bounds of the Imperium, you turn to rebellion?"
"Rebellion?" Chyron's voice roared through Zeed's vox caster. "You accuse the Emperor's Chosen? When it is you who consort with the Xeno?" The dreadnought growled in rage. "Consider your next words with great care Inquisitor."
There was a long silence, during which Talon Squad and the Inquisitor stared at one another through the array.
"You are right." Sigma raised his hands in surrender. "I was inappropriate. I dishonor myself by my behavior and insult you with my words."
That's new. Solarion blinked. The Inquisitor had crossed worse lines before and not apologized. Why was he now?
Does he doubt his power?
So far from the institutions of the Imperium, did Sigma believe he could no longer control Talon Squad?
As if he had read the Ultramarine's thoughts, Sigma continued.
"We are completely separate from our Imperium. This place is governed by different laws, by different powers. Compared to our foes we are precious few." The Inquisitor exhaled. "I do not wish to fight with you. That was never my intention, and I truly regret keeping secrets from you. I must ask you to have faith. If not in me, then at least in that all I do is in His name. Can you do that?"
There was a long pause. Finally, Karras spoke.
"None of us doubt your loyalty to our Father Sigma. Nor do we doubt your commitment to His Imperium." Sigma made to speak, but the librarian stopped him with a raised hand.
"Should you want our trust however," Karras' voice was calm, but it carried a warning. "You will not keep secrets from us. You say we are alone here, and if so, we must work as equals."
Sigma nodded. "Fair words."
"I am not done." The librarian leaned forwards so that he and the Inquisitor were face to face. "Do not insult the honor of my brothers again."
The Inquisitor seemed perturbed. Solarion noted that it hadn't been Talon's fury that had bothered the man, but their swiftness to join against him.
"I swear it shall not happen again." Sigma murmured. Karras nodded curtly and straightened.
"As I said, our enemies are many." The Inquisitor seemed eager to move on. "Although not aware of our presence, there are many in this galaxy who would see our holy work ended."
"Xenos." Zeed growled. Unlike Solarion, the Raven Guard had removed his armor, clad only in the black fatigues of an Inquisitorial trooper, sized up to fit his post human frame.
"Yes." Sigma grimaced. "Xenos. You all read the dossiers in your Omni Tools correct?" Sigma clicked his tongue. "The most populous xenos races are of considerable concern. The Asari, Turians, and Salarians control a significant area of local galactic space. They possess considerable resources, especially military resources."
"The dossier also made mention of a System's Alliance and a Batarian Hegemony." Solarion opened the file, the orange light illuminating his face. "There are human beings in this place."
"There are." Sigma sneered. "Misguided blasphemers and consorters with xenos. They are unreliable. Should it come to blows, they would undoubtedly side with our enemies.. The Batarians are dangerous but have enemies amongst the other races that would preclude them from attempting to interfere with us."
"Protocol for interaction?" Solarion asked. At least he could ask important questions if his brothers couldn't be bothered.
"I would suggest avoiding contact as much as possible." Sigma replied. "Final Secret is equipped with a Alpha Grade Inquisitorial Stealth Drive, and should remain largely impossible to detect."
"They don't have warp signature auspex?" Voss asked. "I thought that would be essential for a space faring race."
"I sincerely doubt they know the warp exists at all." Sigma smiled wryly. "In that, perhaps they are fortunate."
"That is not possible." Karras cut in. "I can feel it Sigma, you can as well, the Warp flows here just as it does on the other side of the Gate."
"It does." Sigma nodded. "But it feels different, does it not?" Karras scratched his chin.
"It feels... like a lake. Less like an ocean."
Solarion's lip curled. More mindless witch babble. Solarion shared the disgust most servants of the Emperor reserved for those cursed with the witch blood. As far as he was concerned, any contact with the fel powers of the Warp was just as damning as any heresy.
"What do you mean a lake?" Zeed asked, pale head cocked to one side.
Karras stared at the ceiling for a long moment before answering.
"A psyker submerges themselves completely in the Warp when he draws on its power. Normally, the experience is like diving into a raging sea." Karras gestured to Sigma. "Sigma has taken us to a place that feels...different. The Warp does not reach for me when I open myself to it. It's passive. Like a lake."
"Shouldn't that be impossible?" The Raven Guard was strangely serious. Solarion was pleasantly surprised. Finally something that the fool takes seriously. "The Ecclesium taught that the Warp is infested by daemon kin. Shouldn't they attempt to devour you every time you made contact?"
"It is impossible." Rauth rose from his seat by the star map. "The very nature of the Warp is to be chaotic. It is the dark power of the Great Enemy that shapes it."
"And yet the Immaterium is placid, as your Alpha says." Sigma murmured. "Which brings us to the reason for my summoning you. If you would turn your attention to the star map…."
The map expanded, and the bridge lights dimmed. The map grew till it took up a huge section of the room. Red lights stood out amongst the stars and planets.
"Those red lights are called Mass Relays." Sigma's voice took on a scholarly tone. Solarion was reminded of lessons with his Scout Sergeant. It soothed him. He shook the feeling off. "These relays are used by the indigenous population for rapid long range transport from place to place. Because they are unaware of the Immaterium, they are unable to do as we do, and utilize warp drives for deep space travel."
"Then how do they cover these distances?" Karras asked. "Can the relays project them to specific points?"
"The relays can only move them between relays." Sigma answered. "But they have come up with an interesting work around. It is called an Eezo Drive."
"I know it." Voss rumbled from his seat. "It's a mineral isn't it? It's used in most things."
"Correct Omni. The Element Zero is unique in that it allows matter to be reduced in mass to an almost negligible degree. It can make a starship capable of near light speed travel for short distances."
"There is a but in that Sigma." Voss' eyes glowed with curiosity. "What is the problem?"
"But... eezo drives have limited range. Should a ship run out of Eezo it would be trapped. Therefore most local space travel has to be within range of a mass relay. You are fortunate in that you have a psyker amongst you in your Alpha. He will be able to act as Navigator, allowing the Final Secret to make use of its warp drive. The placid nature of the warp means that the risks of warp travel are considerably reduced."
"That only poses greater risk." Rauth growled. Solarion remembered reading somewhere that the Exorcist chapter specialized in daemonic extermination. "We risk much by exposing ourselves so openly to the Immaterium."
Sigma smiled without humor. "Your Alpha understands the risks yes?" Karras nodded. "I have personally used a warp drive without difficulty here. And should something happen, you of all people know what should be done."
The Exorcist was quiet. A prayer to save Karras' soul and a bolter round to his head to save the rest of us. Solarion offered a quiet prayer to Guilliman that the Death Spectre be spared such a fate.
"Travel aside, these relays have one other, more important, characteristic. Watch." Red lines shot from relay to relay, linking them together.
"That's a hexagrammic ward." Karras hissed sharply. "A binding circle!"
"Exactly so." Sigma cried. "Exactly so."
"What is it Scholar?" Zeed asked the librarian. It was Rauth who answered.
"A sign of binding. It is used in Imperial spacecraft to seal the Gellar Fields. It seals the Immaterium away, preventing it from leaking into the material universe." The Exorcist raised a hand to trace a long red line between two gates. "But to build one on such scale…what effect would such a circle have?"
"The creators of the relays knew enough about warp science to understand what the effect would be." Sigma's sneered. "It funneled warp energy away from this galaxy, through the relays and elsewhere. Specifically, into Imperial space. "
"How so?" Solarion knew he wasn't going to like the answer.
"The Eye of Terror. The Ophidian Gulf Warp Rift. The Jericho Maw. The relays do not cause these things, but they exacerbate them, giving them greater longevity and power."
Sigma confirmed Solarion's fears. "Warp activity across the Imperium is increasingly violent because of these relays. They push what would be a manageable amount of energy from this galaxy into our own. That energy feeds the power of the Enemy. Several of my colleagues have studied the phenomenon, and they estimate that the relays are directly connected to upwards of six hundred billion dead over the past century. Moreover…" Solarion knew Sigma was hurrying to prevent a furious outburst. "aside from fueling these storms, the relays have begun to push xenos from this galaxy into our own. As if the damage they already did was not enough."
"These relays will burn." Solarion snarled. "Their creators will burn. Such heresy cannot be allowed to continue."
"I could not agree more." Sigma replied. "These relays and their masters will be destroyed. But not by you."
"Our task was to seal the Jericho Maw." Zeed snapped. "Who else but the Astartes are fit to complete such a task?"
The star map vanished, the stars and planets replaced by a video feed of what Solarion assumed was a medicus lab. A man lay strapped to a table, muscular frame ministered over by faceless men in white coats.
"Who is this?" Zeed asked. "Is this what you expect to replace us?" he spat, acidic saliva sizzling on the metal deck. "He is just a mortal man. A broken one. Give me the foe Sigma, we'll break the relays."
"This is no mere man." Sigma retorted. "In this galaxy, this mere mortal is considered the greatest hero to ever live."
"So what?" Zeed laughed. "I could kill him with my eyes closed."
"Could you kill the army he would bring with him?" Sigma snorted derisively. "John Shepard is my chosen tool, not because he is a master of battle like you and your battle brothers Ghost, but because he will serve as a rallying cry." The Inquisitor ignored Zeed's snicker of disbelief. "The creatures of this galaxy, men and xenos, might rally around this man, given the right circumstances."
"You intend to create a pawn." Karras murmured. "A tool to mask our presence."
"Correct." Above them, a white coat injected a dark purple fluid into Shepard's neck. "Your purpose is to ensure our pawn remains alive, and more importantly, obedient."
"That still does not lead us to those responsible for the relays." Chyron rumbled. "The Imperium owes such beasts a debt of bloody vengeance." Solarion couldn't help but growl in agreement. If the Inquisitor, the relays were responsible for trillions of deaths, and billions of burned worlds.
"Again, Shepard is the key." Shepard flickered and vanished. A bizarre ship appeared. More creature than vessel, the ship swirled and writhed like a trapped fish. "This was a xenos the size of an Imperial frigate, dubbed Sovereign. Two years ago this monstrosity attacked the local center of galactic power. It wielded immense influence over a wide network of supplicants and followers of multiple races, including humans." Sigma spat. "The creature was killed by Shepard."
Solarion had newfound respect for Sigma's pawn. A xenos of that size was no mean feat to bring down.
"Shepard believed the creature was one of a race of beings called the Reapers, and that they intended to wipe out all life in this galaxy. It was the Reapers who, I believe, constructed the relays. For what purpose I do not know, perhaps the blowback of warp energy was even unintentional. Either way, Shepard will not rest until he has destroyed them."
"Can he destroy them?" Voss asked. "He is only a man. Men die."
"The question is not if he can, but if you can." Sigma smiled. "Shepard is needed to destroy the relays and uncover the hiding place of the Reapers. Their destruction, I leave to you."
The very air in the bridge seemed to change. Solarion felt an eager, almost wild energy emanating from his brothers. His two hearts beat a little faster in his chest.
"These aliens have raised their hands against the Imperium. Their foul creations have threatened His people." Sigma's voice was low. Solarion felt a terrible fury pressing against his mind. It flowed over him. In his minds eye, the Ultramarine saw a thousand worlds aflame.
The Reapers work. He snapped his jaw in rage. There will be a reckoning.
"You are to follow Shepard. Ensure he is successful, and ensure he survives. He will be our hunting hound, and will lead you, His hand of retribution, to a deserving victim."
Talon Squad growled in assent.
"Point the way Sigma." Karras muttered through clenched teeth. "Death Watch will visit ruin upon the enemies of Man."
"I know you will." The link clicked out.
"A glorious task is laid before us." Chyron rumbled. Solarion could hear bloodlust in the ancient marine's voice.
"It is a task we welcome brother." Karras spread his arms wide. "Sigma has given us a prey to hunt and a hound for the purpose." The librarian's usually red eyes flashed with a baleful blue fire. "Are we up for the chase brothers?"
Ultramarines prided themselves on their self control and discipline. They valued good order and calm thought. Just this once, Solarion allowed himself to howl furious affirmation with his battle brothers.
He woke to the wailing of alarms. He was lying on a surgery table, staring up at a brightly lit ceiling.
A woman was shouting at him.
"Wake up! You need to wake up!"
The voice was coming from a speaker on the ceiling.
He was restrained by automated cuffs. Not good. A door slid open, and a platinum white combat mech entered.
"Get out of there!" The cuffs popped open.
"Please remain calm." The mech droned in a calm monotone, spraying the table with thermal rounds.
Not good.
He rolled off the table, the rounds hissing furiously overhead.
"You are deemed a security risk." The mech fired again, chasing him with gunfire. "Please hold still."
Not good.
"Look out! There's a gun in the wall locker to your right!"
Too far, no time.
He grabbed the first thing to hand, leaping over the surgery table to crash into the mech. He hammered down the mech's pistol, slamming the thing's head into the floor.
"Please hold stiiiiiiilllll..." The mech shut down, it's head and hard drive crushed by a metal microscope.
Got you.
He snatched up the mech's pistol. Twenty rounds left. Not enough.
"I need ammo!" He barked. His voice was hoarse.
"You're in a med bay." The voice snapped impatiently. "Get out of there! I'll try to find you some while we get you out."
He moved more slowly than he was used to, his entire body aching in pain. His bare feet padded on the floor of the lab. He hammered the door pad and swept out into the hallway, shifting to cover either end of the corridor.
"What's wrong with me?"
"You've been in surgery. Incoming, on your left, find cover!"
A door on the left exploded outwards, sending shrapnel whistling through the air. Deep scars were gouged in the white walls. He lurched back into the cover of the doorway as four mechs marched through the smoke.
"Please hold still."
Fuck you.
He stepped out of cover, staying close to the wall, firing into the smoke. Thermal rounds whistled past him, and he used the muzzle flashes to mark the mechs. He let off four rounds, and he heard the telltale buzz of a mech failing. He kept moving, dropping down to swipe magazines from the dead mechs.
"Targets down, I have ammo."
"Take the door ahead of you. There will be three mechs in the next room."
He turned quickly, rushing through the smoke and sliding behind an overturned counter as thermal rounds rattled like rain off the shattered doorway.
Two pistols. One assault rifle. Shit.
There was a mech moving up on his left. He put the rest of his magazine into its chest, dashing from cover towards the collapsing robot. The other two mechs paused for a moment, not comprehending the destruction of their companion. Then they caught up, and riddled the medical equipment opposite with fire.
He stayed low, sprinting from cover to cover, firing blindly over his head. Mechs were stupid, and would respond to gunfire by moving closer together. He popped his head out of cover to see the two remaining mechs standing next to each other emptying their weapons into the cabinet he'd just been hiding behind. Two bursts and they dropped like rag dolls. He stripped ammo from the bodies, and snatched up the assault rifle.
Mattock 45 Harrier. Good weapon.
He heard a door open, and whirled around. Two mechs collapsed, three little holes in their optic lenses. He stepped over them and moved on down another hallway.
"Corridor to your left!" The woman sounded distracted.
He turned, came face to face with a mech, and acted without thinking. The butt of the rifle swung up, cracking it across what would be its jaw. It swung down again like a hammer, crushing the robots head on the floor. There was an angry squawk behind him. Another mech grabbed him around the neck from behind, trying to pull him into a headlock. Reaching behind him with his right, he seized the drone by the neck and jerked his hips, flipping the mech over his shoulder. His rifle barked and the drone went slack. Rounds hit the wall behind him.
Not more of them.
He hauled the dead mech up, holding it in front of him like a shield, advancing down the hallway, firing over the shoulder of his makeshift cover. Another mech dropped. He dropped his now perforated shield and ducked into cover.
Four more, either side of the doorway. Fuck!
The four mechs were in heavy cover that the end of an otherwise open hallway. He couldn't advance...hello.
The dead mech had a grenade bandolier. He grabbed two, sprayed the four mechs to drive them into cover, and launched the two explosives down the hall. As the grenades blasted smoke and fire past him, he unhooked the bandolier and pushed out of cover. The next room was empty, save for shattered mech limbs and smoldering furniture.
"Where to now?" No answer. The woman's voice was gone. Flying blind.
He moved quickly, dashing across the room to the door opposite, depressing the door panel with his back, taking cover behind the frame. Gunfire sprayed through the doorway, and he heard clanking footsteps. Two mechs rushed into the room, sweeping for contacts. He slid past and dropped them both with a single burst. A mech ahead of him fired wildly, barely missing his head. The mech's head exploded as he emptied his magazine. He was now on a long bridge, flanked by a chest high wall on either side.
Space station.
Well at least he had some idea of where he was. Gunfire rattled angrily to his right and he ducked behind the wall.
"Come on you sons of bitches!" An identical bridge extended in parallel to the one he stood on separated by maybe twenty feet of empty space and over three hundred feet of down. A little ahead of him, a man roared insults at a squad of mechs. The mechs had the man pinned. Five more seconds and the poor bastard would be a corpse.
He broke cover, sprinting as hard as he could down the length of the bridge till he was opposite the mech platoon. His last two grenades went over, blasting ten mechs into smoking ruins.
Ten to go.
He gathered himself and leapt, sailing across the open space. He fired four times while in flight, dispatching three mechs. The last mech whirred, turned to face its attacked, and crumpled, shattering under his weight.
Six more.
He fired blind, spraying from the hip. Mechs twitched and sparked, tumbling backwards off the bridge.
Got em.
"Who the hell are you?" The man he'd saved approached slowly, rifle leveled. Clearly the man was ready to open fire if his savior turned hostile.
Still wouldn't save you buddy.
He let his rifle fall to his side and turned to face the man, whose eyes went wide with shock.
"You, you're..."
Yup.
"John Shepard. Where am I?"