Ignis in Vacui Chapter 10

"This is wrong," Cortha said resentfully, "We shouldn't be doing it."

"I can't argue with that," came the voice of Memnos, "It makes my skin crawl to think of having aliens on our ship."

Furion heard their talk and privately he agreed with them, this was fundamentally wrong. Third Company was standing honour guard in the landing bay once more, drawn up in two blocks of fifty. Their armour was polished to perfection and their bolters were clasped upright before them as their helmet lenses gleamed. It was an impressive sight but the thought that this was being done to honour Xenos guests was gnawing at the Space Marine's spirits. Astartes were made to destroy aliens, not fete them and all their training and hypno-indoctrination screamed this was wrong.

Furion was standing with Captain Toran and his advisors at the end of the gap between the two blocks. With them were Zerban, Saffor, Vevara and Sadik, all awaiting the arrival of the Diasporex. Furion had his skull-helm on, partly so he could talk unobserved on the vox and partly because he couldn't hide his expression of contempt. Only Toran had his helm off, and he was doing a much better job feigning calm, though Furion could see the signs of strain.

Toran's, larynx twitched and he subvocalized, "What choice do we have, our orders were clear. We are to ensure this deal goes ahead."

Arvael was on Toran's other flank and he said, "The Imperium desperately require these resources; the docks of Tectum can't possibly rebuild our fleets without them."

"Still sits wrong," Cortha replied, "To host Xenos defies the teachings of the Emperor."

"The Inquisition has spoken," Furion sighed regretfully, "The Administratum too, we can't defy them both, it would be the end of our Chapter. You know they are looking for any excuse to eradicate us."

Toran sounded calm but he subvocalized, "I don't intend to, but these aliens will yet rue this day."

"Oh?" asked Memnos curiously, "How do you intend to do that?"

Toran answered, "I said we would stand watch over this exchange, but I never said what we would do afterwards. Once we have the Emperor's Due safely away we shall stalk these alien-lovers back to their base then destroy them without mercy. The Imperium shall have its resources and the Emperor's Will shall be done."

Furion was most relieved, the Captain had found the means to obey orders and maintain their honour. As always he had found a way out of their conundrum but the Chaplain cautioned, "Be wary of traps, they should not be underestimated."

Suddenly Arvael hissed, "Hush, here they come."

The atmospheric shield quivered as a blunt-nosed shuttle poked its way through. It had a snout like cockpit and widespread wings, a plain grey Aquila pattern lander, common as muck on Imperial worlds. It matched the shuttles Furion had seen before a thousand times, save for its lack of Imperial markings and sigils of certification from a Tech-Priest. The lander settled upon its landing claws with bursts of thrust, calmly throttling down between Thunderhawk gunships like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Cortha muttered over the closed vox, "I was expecting something a little more… exotic."

Arvael explained, "It's meant to show us how inoffensive they are."

The ramp slowly lowered and hit the deck, revealing a woman. She was plain and unimpressive, lacking any Augmetic upgrades or genic enhancements. She looked like any other Imperial citizen or naval officer for that matter, yet there was steel in her gaze and she bore the mantle of one used to having her word obeyed. She strode down the ramp confidently and scrutinised the packed ranks of Space Marines without flinching, a mark of strength.

Memnos muttered over the vox, "She doesn't look like a Heretic."

Furion growled, "Trust not your eyes, heresy comes in many forms. That Alien-lover is as offensive to the Emperor as the foulest cultist."

Arvael concurred, "Secure your souls Brothers, we risk becoming familiar with the Xenos. Familiarity leads to understanding, understanding leads to empathy, empathy leads to compassion."

"No mercy for the alien," Cortha agreed making Furion begrudgingly nod.

Any further talk was cut off as more figures emerged and the sight stole Furion's breath away. They were all non-humans, a group of Xenos stepping onto a Space Marine ship like it was nothing. There was a tall-lizard-like creature that walked on two legs and a tail but had four arms. Behind it came a lumbering beast, all fat and blubber, tall as a Space Marine but with enormous tusks sticking out of its maw. Bringing up the rear was a short creature swaddled in robes, scurrying along with a quick skittering gait.

Furion felt his wrath stirring, the very sight triggering a conditioned response, an instinct imposed by his hypno-indoctrination. His hands curled around his Crozius and his heartbeats accelerated as his body primed for combat. This was not a conscious choice, the mere sight made it happen automatically, his subconscious beheld that which was other, that which was foreign and he immediately wanted to destroy it. Furion knew he was not alone in this response either, for the ranks stiffened and Brothers tightened their grips on their upright bolters.

The aliens began walking towards the waiting dignitaries, passing by the waiting Space Marines as if they were unashamed of their sin of existing. To any mortal eye the Space Marines would have been still but to Furion their ire was obvious, helms twitched and grips kneaded weapons as the Storm Heralds fought their urge to annihilate these interlopers. Furion cycled his vox through the various squad frequencies and he heard mutterings, "Look at that vile filth. Can't believe they dare stand before us. It is an offence to all that is righteous." To his surprise Furion realised he too was muttering to himself, "Hate the alien, fear the alien, kill the alien."

The shock made Furion grasp that this wasn't going to work, the conditioned response to destroy that which was foreign was too deeply ingrained, no Storm Herald could fight it. They were about to launch an attack on the Xeno interlopers, damn their orders, nothing could prevent it. Furion hissed over the vox, "Captain, this is going to turn ugly. The Brothers won't stand for it."

At that moment Cortha interjected, "Well… Zerban seems quite pleased."

Furion glanced at the Inquisitor and saw he was grinning slyly, almost happy at the state of affairs. With a flash Furion grasped that the Inquisitor had anticipated this response, he had been counting upon it to lay a trap. The man had put the Space Marines in an impossible situation, forsake their honour or disobey orders and either choice would spell disaster. Furion's mind ran like quicksilver as he thought through the implications and he understood that if the Storm Heralds attacked this party they would disgrace themselves, ruining the Imperium's chances of rebuilding. It would cast them in the worst possible light, which was exactly what Zerban wanted.

Furion saw he had to stop it, but how? What could prevent a Space Marine from attacking? Then Furion heard Jediah whispering, "Look at that lizard's neck, I could snap it in two with my bare hands."

Understanding dawned and before he knew what he was doing Furion widened his vox and declared to all, "Brothers, the Emperor tells us that the alien cannot be trusted, He teaches that their treachery is as inevitable as the sunrise. Therefore take this opportunity to study your foe, learn their weakness, identify threats and devise possible countermeasures. The Primarch wrote that information is victory, so gather as much as you can. The lessons we glean today shall ensure victory tomorrow!"

Instantly the mood of the gathering changed, the Space Marines settling back with watchful glares. They were not any less outraged but now their anger had been given an outlet and they seized it firmly. The sense of imminent danger passed as the Storm Heralds shifted to an intelligence-gathering mindset, drinking in information on the aliens. Voices shifted in tone and now they muttered, "Too much blubber on that one for a knife to penetrate, go for the eyes. The little one may be small but it looks fast, don't spare the bolt shells when targeting it. The lizard's secondary arms could be nasty, be wary of flanking strikes."

The mood settled and Furion breathed a little easier as Toran commented, "Nicely done."

Memnos agreed, "Good to have you back Furion, we missed your wisdom."

Furion frowned, what was that meant to mean, the Apothecary was making no sense. Then he shrugged it off, the disgraced medicae's opinion meant less than nothing to him. While all this had been occurring the alien delegation had reached the Imperial officers and came to a stop, a flash of annoyance passing over Zerban's face that violence had not erupted. The human woman stepped forward and boldly declared in an archaic accent of low gothic, "Greetings, I am Captain Horroway of the Bonaventure. I speak for the Diasporex."

Saffor took the lead and made a short bow replying, "Most welcome, I am Rogue Trader Saffor and I am grateful that you graced us with your presence. I offer you my personal guarantees of safety and free passage once we are done."

Horroway nodded and said, "May I introduce my comrades, Captains S'sner Deesh and Znuch."

Furion couldn't have cared less what titles aliens gave to themselves but Saffor responded smoothly, "I present my esteemed compatriots, Inquisitor Zerban, Legatus Vevara and Captain Toran."

Horroway nodded at each of them but paused at Zerban then remarked, "I was not expecting an Inquisitor, are you here to burn me alive?"

Zerban glanced at Captain Toran, as if expecting him to rip out his sword and lop off her head but the Storm Herald was silent. Zerban returned his gaze forward and stated, "I am here to oversee matters, nothing more."

Horroway accepted this and said, "It is well you are here, there is much to discuss."

Now Toran did respond, "I do not think it wise to linger, we have your goods, you have our resources. Let's get this over with and go our separate ways."

Horroway looked up at the towering Space Marine, a grimace of revulsion tugging at her lip as he said, "I'm afraid it's not that simple, the situation has changed."

Furion felt the current of anger run through the ranks and he hastily spoke aloud before someone could do something foolish, "Are you trying to renege on our deal?"

Horroway shook her head and stated, "Far from it, I am here to provide you with critical intelligence. The Ork menace is worse than any of us anticipated, they present a direct threat to both our societies. The Diasporex believes a Waaagh is building here, one that will overrun your worlds as surely as our fleets. Your Imperium is in grave danger."

Furion was stunned by the news and he spat, "Why would you tell us this?"

Horroway shrugged, "We wish to survive as much as you do, we see need no reason to fight each other when a mutual threat looms over us both. I am here to propose an alliance against the Orks."

Furion's jaw dropped, an alliance with Xenos, a trade was bad enough, but this was unthinkable. He was about to angrily rebuke the woman but Zerban got there first and said, "I would hear more of this threat."

"Yes," Vevara agreed, "This sounds a most serious matter."

Toran angrily interjected, "I must protest, this is in total violation of Imperial doctrines."

Vevara fixed him with a glare and said, "That is for Terra to decide, we have agreed to nothing as yet. There is no harm in merely listening to this intelligence."

Furion swallowed his bile and whispered over the vox, "Captain, we can't cross the Administraum and the Inquisition, but let us not do this in the open. Too many eyes are watching and fingers are tightening on bolters, one more word and someone will do something rash."

Toran accepted this and then sullenly declared, "Very well, we will hear this report but not here. We shall meet in the Strategium in one hour, until then you will be our guests. Let me personally escort you to our ambassadorial quarters."

Horroway looked relieved as she said, "Thank you, I am pleased you saw reason."

The woman and the aliens were led away by Toran but Furion smiled at the Captain's cleverness. Those quarters were buried deep within the ship and would be heavily guarded. The alien-lovers didn't realise it but should the Storm Heralds not like what they heard then they would never get out alive.