Ignis in Vacui Chapter 11
"Refreshments?" came the monotone drone of the Servitor as it trundled around the quarters. It was a basic model, with small wheels on its metal feet that propelled it smoothly along so it didn't spill any drinks. One arm was a metal tray and the other was a drinks dispenser, ending in a nozzle. The head was festooned with augmetics, bulbous eye lenses and a speaker grill for a mouth. Yet none of that caught Horroway's attention, what she couldn't take her eyes off was the tattoo on its shoulder.
Janna swallowed nervously at the implication, the visceral horror of what she was seeing. This servitor had once been a man, it had a mind of its own. Now it was rendered down to nothing, turned into a mere hospitality machine in a parody of life. Horroway struggled to grasp how anybody could commit such an abomination, the casual disregard for the sanctity of life. Of course the Diasporex used servitors, their starships could hardly function without them, but those were vat-grown clones, with no sentience of their own. The thought of using people for such roles was profoundly unsettling and she couldn't understand how anyone could think such a way.
Horroway was struggling to comprehend much about the Imperials and the way they saw the universe. She had expected the technological stagnation and the adoration of their Tyrant-Emperor, but she had not been prepared for their flagrant disregard for human life. As she walked to her quarters she had seen the crew about their business, there was no joy in their lives and no expectation of reward. They were barely better than servitors themselves, incapable of any thought other than those drilled into their heads by their overlords.
Horroway thought of those masters, the fearsome Space Marines and suppressed a shudder. She had never laid eyes upon one before and been aghast at the transformed men. They had been giants wrapped in swollen muscles barely different from the Orks in many ways, but in their eyes had been a fearsome and intense hatred. That Captain with the augmetic eye had unnerved her with the way loathing had poured off him, a fierce desire to destroy all Horroway held dear. She had looked upon him and seen a fanatical zealot, bound by millennia of mindless tradition, unable to think or feel for himself, only able to parrot doctrines laid down thousands of years ago.
Horroway glanced at her companion Captains, all trying to make themselves comfortable in the human quarters. The servitor was making its way between them, its lobotomised mind unable to tell the difference between human and alien. Horroway sighed to herself, it had been a mistake to bring them, she had realised it the second she saw the Space Marines. She should have come alone but it was too late for recriminations.
She was distracted by a beeping on her wrist, her personal comm-unit signalling a message. Horroway glanced at the door, making sure it was sealed and then lifted her comm-unit and whispered, "Report."
From the device Numeta's voice issued, "There you are, it took me ages to piggyback a signal through the Imperial's comm relays."
Horroway asked, "Is this line secure?"
"Please," Numeta snorted, "Those bone-rattling simpletons couldn't find a missing data-file with both hands and a map. The day they catch me is the day I request deletion."
Horroway was relieved and inquired, "What's the situation?"
Numeta replied, "Quiet so far, the Imperials are playing nice for once. Both convoys are set to make the exchange; we only need your word."
Horroway sighed, "Hold off for the moment, they haven't agreed to anything yet."
"You think they will refuse?" Numeta asked, "Should we send an extraction team?"
"They would never make it," Horroway answered, "Our only hope is to convince them that the Orks are the bigger threat."
"Well you'd better hurry," Numeta stated, "Those Orks won't wait forever."
Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Horroway hissed, "Maintain Vox silence and wait for my signal."
Without waiting for a response the door slid back, revealing the bulk of a Space Marine. He was armed with his bolter weapon but it wasn't pointing at anybody yet. A deep rumble issued from his helm, "The Captain wants you."
Everybody made to stand up but the Astartes growled, "Just the human."
Horroway didn't argue the point and waved her fellows back, they grumbled loudly but acceded and settled back as Janna left. She followed the Space Marine deeper into the ship, knowing that there was no way she could overpower him and run. Frankly she doubted anything she could do would even irritate the gene-forged warrior. Yet he didn't seem to intend her ill-harm for he soon led her to an arena-like room, where her hosts awaited her.
Horroway examined each of them as she descended the steps. The Space Marine Toran was there, staring at her with hostility. Horroway examined his features and was deeply unnerved by his visage. His face was huge, with traces of gigantism, and covered in old wounds. He had rising diagonal scars on his cheeks and one eye had been torn out and replaced with a burning red augmetic implant, that bored into the socket like a permeant monocle. Harroway was uncomfortably reminded of an old mastiff she had known as a child, ragged and haggard by constant scraps but with vicious fangs that were always ready to bite an incautious youth.
Toran was accompanied by a morbid warrior in black, who had skull-helm and some archaic mace. His plate was jagged and heavy in comparison, with shining embellishments and a golden cross hanging around his neck. Horroway didn't understand Astartes ranks but this one looked fierce and unforgiving, a political officer if she had ever seen one. Their loathing for her was profound but at least it was direct and honest, as for the others Horroway didn't know how they would respond.
Across from them was the woman Vevara, who Horroway trusted about as far as she could throw her for there was a devious glint in her eye. Rogue Trader Saffor was present too, nominally the closest to the Diasporex in nature, yet mercurial and loyal to nothing save his own profit. Lastly was Inquisitor Zerban, from an order of fanatical zealots in a society famed for its Xenophobia, who knew what he would do.
Horroway didn't trust any of these Imperials but these were the people she had to convince to ally with the Diasporex in battle. She reached them only to be greeted by Saffor, "Welcome back, we are glad to see you."
Horroway found that to be an exaggeration but replied, "Are you prepared to hear my proposal?"
Vevara answered, "First we need more intelligence, what precisely is this threat you have uncovered?"
"Let me show you," Horroway said activating her comm-unit. A small Hololith sprang up showing the Diasporex's scans as she explained, "The Orks are infesting the whole system but the true danger is this. It is a space hulk, a large one, big enough to break any orbital defence."
Toran leaned in to take in the details and asked, "Under active control?"
"Unfortunately yes," Horroway stated, "Our long-range probes have monitored it moving under its own power. The Orks are making final preparations, soon it will be able to sail the Immaterium itself. It can overwhelm the Diasporex or approach your worlds at will."
Zerban looked wary as he said, "Dangerous yes, but what makes you think it heralds a Waaagh?"
Horroway saw a twitch in Toran's remaining eye at the interruption but she explained, "Orks instinctively gather around one leader, the biggest and strongest. The more powerful the chieftain becomes the more followers they attract and the more followers they gain the more powerful they become. Any Ork who can boast such a vessel will be a potent figurehead for the rest of his kind, they will swarm to fight under such a symbol of might, but if we can eliminate it they will dissipate back into feuding bands."
Toran stood straighter and said, "We thank you for your intelligence, rest assured my Chapter will deal with it. Now I suggest you get off my ship."
Sadly Horroway replied, "That is not an option, the Orks will overwhelm the Diasporex before you can summon reinforcements."
Behind him the skull-helmed warrior growled, "I fail to see how that is our problem."
"Furion is right," Toran concurred, "We are not your allies and your kind defy the Emperor's will."
Horroway couldn't believe the intransigence on display as she said, "This is bigger than our petty differences. A full scaled Waaagh is building, you can't stand against that. If you give the Orks time then the danger will grow. How many worlds are you prepared to lose for your pride? How will this Emperor of yours thank you if you stand aside and let his people suffer?"
Suddenly Zerban spoke up and said, "I too find it hard to countenance allowing such a threat to go unchallenged. The Orks are a danger to us all; they must be dealt with immediately."
Toran looked stunned as he gasped, "You support this outrage?"
Zerban cocked his head and said, "Didn't somebody write, in war you take the allies you can get not the ones you would wish for."
"Do not paraphrase the Codex Astartes at me," Toran spat back.
Horroway detected an old grudge there but pressed on, "Between us we have four capital ships, two light cruisers and three squadrons of escorts. Together we can destroy that Hulk and nip this crisis in the bud. Our combined fleets could defeat the Greenskins."
"Excuse me," Saffor spluttered, "I am not going to face off against Orks."
Horroway blinked in surprise but hastily uttered, "The Diasporex can make it worth your while."
Saffor paused and then queried, "How much are we talking about?"
"Put aside your greed," snarled Zerban, "You will do this because it is required of you."
Saffor snorted, "You don't get rich without taking risks but you certainly end up poor by fighting without the prospect of reward."
Suddenly Toran butted in to say, "This entire affair sullies the honour of the Adeptus Astartes and we shall have no part of it. We will deal with this Hulk our way. Once we summon our entire Chapter the Orks will be annihilated."
Vevara's eyes narrowed and she said, "Your orders…"
"Do not extend this far," the skull-helmed Furion declared, "We were ordered to aid and support your personage, not spend noble Astartes lives for filthy Xenos. Our Chapter Master would have us sentenced to penitent crusades were we to violate the Emperor's edicts so."
Horroway swallowed nervously then ventured, "What if we were to offer you certain technologies, STC designs lost to antiquity…"
"Do not try to buy our favour," Furion growled, "Our honour is not so cheap as to be traded for petty baubles."
Horroway was aghast by what she was hearing and cried, "But the threat is upon us, you can't close your eyes to this!"
Toran glared at her and stated, "We are not blind, the Storm Heralds will destroy this hulk but we will do it the honourable way."
Zerban crossed his arms and muttered, "I seem to recall your Chapter welcomes alliances, don't you seek our friends wherever you can?"
"Not with aliens," Furion snarled angrily, "Alliances are for loyal subjects of the Emperor, not foul Xenos. The Inquisition can sully itself with such debased practices but we shall preserve our ideals and uphold the Emperor's decrees."
Horroway could see this was going wrong but at that moment Vevara stepped in to say, "We should not let our tempers rule our heads. Perhaps we should take some time to reflect and reach a cool and considered verdict."
Saffor agreed, "Yes, we should all take a breather, before doing anything rash."
The Space Marines didn't look like they agreed but Toran reluctantly agreed, "Due to these unusual circumstances I have tried to be tolerant but my patience grows thin. We shall meet again in twelve hours but know that there will be no more extensions."
Horroway sagged as she was led back to her quarters; the Space Marines had been as stubborn as she had feared. The situation seemed hopeless and yet she had no choice but to convince them to change their minds. She wracked her brains as she tried to think of something to say but nothing came forth, it looked like she had failed before she had even started.