Lovehammer: Sailor Moon 40k

by Arkado

Since WH40k is not Grimdark enough, why not make it even more Grimdark? Cue in the Sailor Senshi. It is more crazy than it sounds. Not a crack fic. Formatted Chapters, now finally working on , too; Chapter 9 displayed as 10 contains new content.

11. Chapter 10

Fire flickered in the darkness, flames burning bright and hot, casting their light in the gloom, keeping the shadows at bay. But they were small. They were shrinking, slowly dying out. Shadows stretched, retook the territory so rightfully theirs. Darkness claimed the light, choking out the life of fire. Soon, the fire would die.

Above, the unnatural forces of the Warpstorm cast their eerie, strange light on the dark world. Lifting shadows, weakening them, breaking them. But its power was waning, declining. The Warpstorm withered, and soon it would be gone.

The stars themselves, cosmic balls of hot plasma and near infinite energy burned bright in the night sky.. Banishing the Dark, sending their light, casting the shadows away. Only small points of light in the eternal night, diminishing away. Their power, the power of the suns, warring against which was meant to be. Defying what was the ultimate outcome.

But they, too, would falter and surrender. Soon, they would die.

And it would be night again.

Silence.

As it had been. As it should be. As it would be.

Very soon.

A small, fragile hand caressed a dark shaft; a spark of silver gleamed in the last of lights.

Hades VI, PDF Garrison

While it may not be a divine smell, the smell of strong, hot recaf that teased my nose as I slowly drifted to awareness was more than welcome. Especially together with the certain foreknowledge that it surely came accompanied with fresh, warm bread. Reminding myself to find a reason to recommend Jurgen for a decoration, maybe 'Thoughtfulness at the Breakfast Table' I opened my eyes. And squeezed them shut hastily.

"Rev…Hotaru! What…are you doing here? In my quarters?" I screeched. In a manly way.

While I usually believe the Emperor has better things to do than watching me, the moments were I was actively praying He might please not look my way were rare. This was one of those moments.

"Me sorry. Please, Cain no be mad. Me just bringing Dinner. Morning dinner. Not want to waking. No sneaky enough. Sorry."

The voice was fast, panic stricken and even higher pitched than usual; ending in a mournful sounding sigh. It make me wince, and I am not talking about the pinch here.

Still, that was not the kind of voice I wanted to hear in my bed chamber, ever.

I carefully opened one eyelid and peaked out. Despite my best hopes, it had not worked and she was still there. Standing in my quarters, holding a tray with various breakfast dishes, in the movement of putting it down on a table.

Having discarded Her Holy Garb, she was now wearing a rather plain and simple outfit of subdued colours. While I would never dare to comment or even critique upon the Holy Battle Garb Divinity may wear, I could not help but wonder who had provided her with an ordinary skirt almost as short as her original one.

Since my latent powers of teleportation were still very much latent to my dismay, I had no choice. I grabbed my blanket and pulled it up to my chin, opened my eyes fully and looked at the Anima of the Imperium. In my bedroom.

"Hotaru, erm, please. You can't…, well you can, but you shouldn't. Not that I am ordering you… what I mean is. I do not think that this is befitting of our corresponding stations. There might be… people…" Inquisitors, Priests, just about every loyal human in the Imperium of Man, and quite a few others, too "Who might think it is unseemly for you to come visit me this way…"

In Her Father's Name! I would get enough cross eyed looks if a girl her age visited me in my bed chamber, no matter her identity. One of the people giving me said looks would be myself. Considering her actually parentage and circumstances, I would get these looks too. Together with enough Holy Bolt rounds, cleansing flames of promethium and big, faithful plasma blasts to make Abbadon the Defiler a good man.

While she was quite a slight girl, her attempts to hid behind a tray loaded with breakfast were not particular successful. Not for the lack of trying, tough.

"Ohh…me understand? Cain officer. Me need appointment?" She suddenly peaked up, her face brightening in supposed understanding.

I have you know that I can do a quite impressive imitation of a Carramalian Flatfish on land. Which I decided to practice right now. Somehow, a couple of the unholy gods of the warp must have sneaked behind me. Necause the Shining Light of Faith, who had stood unyieldingly against a raging Chosen of Chaos and a Bloodthirster of all things was cringing away from me.

"Me sorry… Cain no angry, please? Me going…sorry"

Placing the try on a nearby table with a careful movement, the girl quickly turned around and fled the room, something shimmering in her eyes. Serenity's Mercy. What had just happened there?

I jumped out of my bed, draped my great coat around me and raced out of my bedroom.

My office was empty, no sign of any blessed Daughter's of the Emperor. Running away from me in distress.

I sat down heavily on the next surface I could find. The small filing cabinet groaned under me, and I joined in. So this was how a dead man felt. I had never wanted to find out.

By the time I had collected myself and was operational again, recaf and breakfast had grown cold. Since neither a company of storm troopers, a squadron of red guardians nor a certain Bloodthirster poking Colonel had broken down the door to my office and executed me in the most painful manner possible, I assumed that for some reason mortals were not meant to understand, the Anima had not yet told anyone about my Heresy.

Considering my options, I concluded that I could as well spend my last minutes alive working. Maybe the Emperor would show mercy when I was commanded to him. Improbable, given the circumstances, but that was only hope right then.

Shifting my focus, I once again discovered, that one of the nasty details of my life was having to do more work than usual after my latest attempts at staying alive. Instead of having earned the right to rest for the next two or three decades, which I would have considered more fitting. Even worse, while a successful battle and campaign was always a plus, as was, more importantly, my continued survival, protocols demanded that we hold an after action analysis of the operation and everything entailed. Pesky military routine and things like that.

I was not looking forward to said meeting and analysis. Not only because of this morning events, but what I had seen that dark and bloody day…

Now, under the harsh light of the morning I was not sure what I had seen.

Actually, to be honest, I was pretty sure what I had seen but I did not want to remember it. Is that so hard to grasp?

After getting fully dressed, I shuffled the dataslates on my desk around. Jurgen, Princess blessed soul that he now was, had already come over and taken the more routine aspects of my work with him and was busy delaying and redirecting, I mean, filing various important reports that I would address later. Much later. If they were persistent.

Still, after a major engagement like this, especially the coordination and socialising with completely new units, left me with quite a bit of workload.

But I had something important to do first.

Reaching out, I grabbed my dataslate and opened up my personal notes.

'Do not annoy Colonel Radev.'

Followed by

'Do not make Senshi Saturn feel scared. Ever.'

'And get a lock for the bedroom door.'

Satisfied that I had fulfilled my most pressing needs for today, I breathed a sigh of relief.

My most recent panic had subsided, and I was now considering I might actually live through the day. Apparently, in Her endless mercy, the Anima had decided to spare an unworthy soul like me.

After a long sip of recaf I briefly considered going through the work on my desk, but decided against it. I felt I had earned a brief break. A month or two maybe.

Suddenly remembering the last time I had made a short break and went for a little walk accompanied by light conversation, I hastily reached out and grabbed the first dataslate on the pile. There where certain things that had to be avoided, at all costs.

Their were remarkable few incidents of 'morale unbefitting to a servant of His Holy Majesty' to be found concerning the Valhallans, especially if you kept in mind that we had assaulted a Chaos controlled and heavily Daemon infested city. With which I had still trouble coming to grasp.

If I really wanted to stick with the rules and follow the book, I, in my capacity as the resident Commissar of His Holy Majesty, should have gone over the morale status and fighting spirit of the local PDF, too. I decided to nail said book to the next Chaos Chosen I encountered and send him in the direction of said PDF. Half a dozen Inquisitors would have had trouble to get me to deal with Colonel Radev and Soudisi regarding morale concerns. And I am not exaggerating there.

Actually, the most pressing concerns in the reports I received were about troopers being 'too' faithful. Yes, exactly. After the newest…'guest' that was harboured in our current base of operations had become common knowledge, some people had decided that time spend before on drill and duties was now better spend on praying and studying religious texts. Or constructing small altars depicting a certain young girl that was sleeping right next to my room and had served me breakfast today.

I had visions of white armoured Valhallan's carrying flamers in combat, firm in their belief that Her Hand protected them. I doubted that anyone would be pleased if our troopers encroached on the terrain of the Adeptus Sororitas, least of all, me.

It was probably not surprising anyone that the Imperial Cult actually allowed, and even encouraged, the active veneration of His Divine Majesty's no less Divine Daughters, as long as His Divine's Majesty's absolute authority was recognized. A practice that had become decreasingly less popular, except for some small parts of the Imperial Guard and Senshi Jupiter; and of course, the Adeptus Sororitas, the ever faithful Guardians of the Firstborn Daughter, and deliverers of Her Holy Wrath against all Chaos-touched.

What was surprising, on the other hand, was the 'lively discussion' between several regimental chaplains and priests regarding the precise practice of Her worship and the person best suited to guide the faithful in Her name. Numerous chainsaws had been confiscated.

There were also rumours about adding a new Saint to Her Holy Pantheon, but the reports I had access to did not give any details.

Nonetheless, while our fighting spirit was certainly not suffering, daily routines and operations were deteriorating, especially in the second company. I was not looking forward to talk to Captain Sulla about that. There were rumours about a Hymn being worked on and several banners, but honestly. I just tried to get away when that kind of talk came up. Besides, people were giving me funny looks when they started to talk about it. World's with an average temperature above the freezing point seemed to have some unforeseen long-time consequences on a select few Valhallan's.

Working on my cunning plan to get someone else to deal with Sulla I got up and made my way over to the briefing room. While I had expected some kind of lingering effects of the horror filled day I had just suffered through, I was actually perfectly fine and in obscenely good health, health too good to have fooled anyone and to dodge out of the meeting.

I pondered if it was actually so bad to be a feared, despised commissar. At least Colonel Kasteen would not have minded me dodging out of some meetings, then. On the other hand, the reduced probability that the next friendly fire accident report would be filed under 'C' made up for it very nicely.

Having half expected it, I was not too surprised to see a couple of red towers erected next to the door of our briefing room.

Getting presented with a genescan box, I was greeted with a mechanic sounding:

"Please Identify yourself."

I rolled my eyes, but decided to get it over with and pressed my thumb on the pad.

"Identity confirmed. You may enter." Where did the PDF find these guys? Or were they all just masquerading Servitors ?

"And a good day to you, too." That was as far as I was willing to go for riling them up. Stoic or not, annoying the guys with the guns and the authority to use them had never been my top priority.

As usual, I was the last to enter. The duties of a Commissar are quite time consuming, if anyone was to ask me. Hesitantly I took my place at the conference table, only able to choose between the sitting right next to Sacred Anima and facing her directly. Sitting down, I quickly answered her hesitant glance to me with a quick smile that caused her to hastily avert her eyes and her cheeks to redden. Desperately, I wiped the smile from my face and focused on the hololith. I wished for a standard model, with a more flickering, grainy image to provide better cover.

"Hereby I start the joint meeting of the 1. Royal Saturnian Guard and the 597th Valhallan's."

I stared incredulously at him. Well, I wasn't about to argue with the PDF Colonel, but it was 'unusual' for a unit to be renamed without authorization of the Administratum.

"The recently undertaken joint mission to liberate the city of Hades Prime and bring it back under Imperial control is hereby deemed a success. Enemy forces were routed, and all tactical objectives achieved. Casualties within the Valhallan's were minimal, and acceptable with the 1st RSG."

"…there are no acceptable casualties…" the small voice drifted through the room, breaking the monologue of the scariest servitor I had ever encountered.

"Exalted Anima? How may we serve?" The grey haired colonel performed a half bow in the direction of the regal figure sitting between her guardians. She averted her eyes, mumbling softly.

"Forgive intrusion, Colonel. Please, continuing."

"As you wish, your Majesty. At this moment, only single individuals or small groups below squad strength remain in Hades Prime; our currently deployed forces are estimated to remove any enemy influence within the next 72 hours. The contaminated zone is cordoned off, and the extra-material body has been moved to a secure facility."

I perked up at that, risking a glance at the Senshi. Her head was bowed, and she was flexing her hands. According to her comments shortly after the… incident, no one was supposed to enter the area affected by her attack for the next ten days. After that, the danger would have passed. While I was not planning to test it anyways, she had not given any specific reasons, and well, it was kind of hard to interrogate an evasive Holy Icon.

"So… the Daemon's body has still not dissolved?" Colonel Kasteen asked with concern in her voice.

"No, and preliminary analysis show no sign of progressing degeneration of bio-matter or basic molecular structures." Servitor, I knew it. He had spent too much time with the Tech Priests, I was sure of it.

"Isn't that kind of unusual? I am no expert for Greater Daemons that is for sure, but shouldn't their bodies go back to the warp, like all others?... I mean… it is dead, is it?" Kasteen looked positively spooked now, and I could not suppress a shiver when I thought about this horrific beasts raising again and killing everyone on the planet. Including me. One person in the room was looking eager, despite a mechanical faceplate. You get no guesses who.

"Silenced is it. Daemon gone. Death." Okay. It was possible to get a more emotionless voice than the average PDF colonel. No. Not emotionless. Bleak.

We waited anxiously if anymore of an explanation was coming forth, but the Senshi was looking through the hololith again, somewhere. I had no idea what she was seeing, and frankly, I had no desire to find out.

"Indeed. Artisan Leveb Kemesill has assured me that the body shows no sign of any activity and all possible precautions are taken. The project is under oversight of one of his most trusted subordinates, Gonde Iraki."

I tensed, as my hands started to twitch like nothing before. I could not help but ask

"Would it not be…prudent, to destroy the body? As soon as possible?"

A curt nod was my answer

"Of course, Commissar, as soon as all necessary preparations are met and the data extracted, the body will be disposed of." The twitching in my hands did not stop, but I had little else to go on.

"It would be of interest for said data, how exactly said body was brought down. Indicating from Imperial reports, extra-material entities of the 'Bloodthirster' classification deserve a considerable threat assessment."

Every eye in the room was focussing on me. Well, I was not sure about the eyes behind the visors, but aside from them I was without a doubt the centre of attention. Emperor… they had to be kidding me.

"I was just arriving there…when everything was over. You could say I had nothing to do with it at all… the revered Senshi killed the Bloodthirster!" I hurried to explain.

"*hiss*… to be precise *hiss*… the illustrious Senshi *hiss*….did only deliver *hiss* the coup de grace *hiss* …after the enemy was *hiss* …squashed *hiss*.

I stared dumbly at the dark form. Frakhead. There was no way anyone…

Again, everyone focussed on me, and Kasteen didn't even attempt to hide her amused, but faintly awed smile.

"Well… it seems our Commissar continues to amaze us."

Major Broklaw nodded, looking very pleased despite his gruff face.

"I think we have found another highlight of our regimental tradition."

Emperor and Princess. That couldn't be happening. Desperately, I called out.

"Wait a moment. Honestly, I had nothing at all to do with that. I was just doing my duty…"

According to the understanding nods around the table, my words had just condemned me. Do not get me wrong. I do enjoy certain advantages that my reputation gives. But Cain, Hero of the Imperium and Vanquisher of Bloodthirsters was most certainly not the way I wanted my reputation to go. I saw even more missions filled with brain-numbing, bowel-clenching terror coming my way.

After a minute of even more undeserved admiration than usual projected at me from all sides, Major Broklaw brought the meeting back on track. I resolved to get him a bottle of the good amesac for the next Emperor's Day.

"But what I am still wondering; the reports are quite clear that a heretical sorcerer, a worshipper of one of the ruinous powers, probably Slaanesh, appeared and attempted to summon even more Daemonic forces onto the battlefield. But you gave order to activate a Gellar Field?"

With disbelief in his voice raising towards the end, Broklaw expressed our feelings well.

Everyone who had ever travelled in a Starship knew what a Gellar Field was, or at least, everyone who was at least the slightest bit interesting in not being ripped apart by a random horror that populated the warp like. But you didn't really expect to run into said Field in the average Imperial City.

Colonel Soudisi raised an eyebrow. Yet, his voice still had no modulation.

"I might point out that I mentioned I would 'prepare adequate countermeasures for Slaneeshi attempts to stop our offensive'."

Yes, I remembered him saying something along these lines, or more accurately, the shiver that had went down my spine at that moment. But what in the Emperor's Name did that mean?

It seemed Colonel Kasteen shared my line of thought.

"Well, yes, but… what exactly did you do?" She was not bothering to cover her bewilderment.

"I simply conferred with Artisan Kemesill, and ordered him to develop a counter measure against further extra-materiel influence. Unfortunately, he was only able to come up with a limited short term countermeasure. Modifications to the IBCARSPOP system enabled us to produce a short term Gellar Field that would inhibit all extra-materiel manifestation within the affected area. The limitations are mainly founded in the extreme power output needed to create a Gellar Field inside an atmosphere as well as the need for prepared projection appliances. Furthermore, the Gellar Field can be overcome by simple using more power for any attempted extra-materiel transfer. It was only intended to take the initiative away from the enemy and unbalance them. The strategy was a success."

I hadn't really understood much from what he had told us and from the looks of it, neither had my comrades. To my amazement our resident subject of worship spoke up, in a distracted voice.

"Yes. Ami once calculated the energy requirements for a permanent planetary Gellar Field to keep out all but the strongest Daemonic Incursions as completely exorbitant. As well as the side effects of a permanent Gellar Field in normal space…"

I really needed time to read up on my High Gothic, I had maybe understood one word out of five from that. Something about orbital Daemons? Permanently calculating? Well… Daemons circling over one's head and permanently sprouting equitation's at you did sound bad, indeed. But I was not entirely sure she had really meant that.

"Interesting. Do you wish to discuss this topic in depth with the Artisan, oh Sacred One?"

Was the neutral reply in the same language.

Blinking, the Senshi shook her head and looked at Soudisi, stammering a few words in High Gothic that sounded like a denial and an excuse to me.

"Of course, revered Senshi. Then I guess we can conclude this meeting, with the parting outlook that astropath communication will probably be available again in 72 hours, and we should formulate a strategy for our future proceedings."

Well, he was back in a language I could at least understand, but I kinda wished I didn't.

Strategy for future proceedings. I had to be really careful, else I might end up in a stasis field and displayed as an example for the healing powers of the Imperium's Anima's or something.

From the looks of it, Kasteen and Broklaw had no clue how to formulate their reports either.

The oversight of the Administratum to make a standard form available that covered the rediscovery and reawakening of an ancient legend and the partaking Holy Event that kinda contradicted the official Imperial Cult was really grating these days.

Not being satisfied to brood on their own, the senior command staff of the 597th Valhallan's had decided to brood together. And for some unfathomable reasons, both had invited me to join them, too. Never been one to reject the invitation of a high ranking officer, well, at least not of one's I liked, I had joined them in the impromptu gathering. Located in Major Broklaw's quarters we studied each other, hoping to find a sign that one of us had a clue how the frak we should handle the situation.

Finally, Broklaw broke filled the room with his baritone.

"Considering what, or better, whom we found, it should be our top priority to inform the highest authorities as quickly as the Warpstorm is gone. With the clearances we have, we can send a high priority message to sector command and hope they take it up to Segmentum Command. From there on, it is out of our hands, if we like it or not."

Kasteen nodded, but looked at me contemplative.

"Yes, that's the most we can do for the short time, but what you, Ciaphas? Using some of your contacts, maybe getting a message to Lord General Zyvan. He could certainly speed along a message to Segmentum Command. Maybe… maybe even to Terra. With the recent jump in activity around the Eye of Terror, regimental priority messages are not exactly rare."

I gave both of them a shrewd look.

"I am not so sure that is the best course of action."

Both looked at me, confused. But I could see their brains working, pondering.

"What do you mean, Cain? You mean we 'shouldn't' report what is probably the greatest discovery since…. Since the time of the Primarchs themselves?"

I leaned slightly forward, tipping them off to how tense I was.

"Think about it. You have seen the Holy Anima. What do you know about her?"

Kasteen gave me a careful glance, hesitating before she answered.

"Well; you had the most contact with her, Ciaphas. It was you, who found her, it was you who accompanied her in Hades Prime. But from what I have seen… She is a gentle, spirit, an Anima of the Imperium. She… well, if I am honest I don't understand Her at times. But we are mere mortals, we are not meant to understand Divinity."

Broklaw joined in, having caught a glimpse at what I was hinting.

"She is… different, isn't She? I admit… I am a soldier. I have never thought much about the Anima. Besides Senshi Jupiter, of course, who's thunder our guns deliver. But the Senshi Saturn. She certainly is the gentle, holy spirit of an Anima. But… is she too gentle? Her tears…"

Hearing someone else voice at least a part of my concerns was a relief. I nodded grimly.

"Yes. And it is more than that. Senshi Saturn is different. We need to consider… She is not a Senshi of the 42nd millennium. She is an Anima of the 31st millennium. She is not like we imagined. She is not like the Imperial Cult imagines…the Ecclesiarchy."

Actually, there was a whole lot more to discuss but even I could not put so much Heresy in a single sentence. Kasteen looked taken aback, she had understood me. Broklaw squinted at me.

"You mean, we should not tell anyone, Cain? This is not something we can keep a secret. This is not something we 'should' keep a secret."

"No. No, what Ciaphas is saying…" Kasteens voice was faint. I could understand. I felt the same way. Tersely I nodded.

"Yes. Of course we can not, we should not keep it a secret. But there will be consequences. Vast consequences. Frak, consequences so far beyond our understanding that I tremble to even think about it. But the point is, Senshi Saturn… the Anima of the Imperium, She has just awoken. She… needs time. To adjust. To… understand our world. I have seen her, in battle. In combat. Her powers, her prowess are without any doubt. But she is appalled. At the world around her. At the 42nd millennium. At the death of her sisters. Her brothers. Her Father struck down… She maybe our Saviour. But we may drag Her down."

Kasteen looked stricken. Broklaw looked like he wanted to go up to a Nob and punch him. And keep punching.

"There is more. We have all had our experiences; with various… groups in the Imperium. Certain individuals. Sometimes, faith makes people do strange things. Or they are just too frakking stupid to not do the wrong thing. Or they are outright corrupt, fallen Herectics in hiding."

So I got a bit emotional. Frak it. That was not a topic I even wanted to consider neutrally.

Kasten was aghast, her face pale and her whole form actually trembling.

"Ciaphas. You mean. The Senshi is in danger? Not from the Great Enemy or Xenos. But… forces inside the Imperium of Man?"

Her voice actually pitched at the end. Broklaw was white enough to live as a phantom on Valhalla. Murmuring a prayer under his breath. I had never known that he was overly faithful, but the implications shook even my faith to the core. And I had never been an Emperor-brother. Far from it.

"Yes."

I did not like to speak out the hard, unpleasant truth. While neither of my counterparts had the habit to shot the messenger, sometimes not knowing was a blessing. A lot of times, in the galaxy we live in.

"What do we do? We need to protect Her." Kasteen had jumped up and started to walk up and down the small room. "24/7 body guards. Escorts."

Broklaw made a sound from its throat, somewhere between a snort and a cough.

"Regina. Calm down, we need to think about that. More importantly. Whom can we trust?"

That brought all of us short. Whom could we really trust in this Imperium of ours? Who would stand by our side, seeing the light, doing the right thing. Who would listen to orders, give in to the routine of following and obeying, casting aside the one chance for Salvation the Imperium might have.

Of course, we had our contacts. Lord General Zyvan. Amberley. I would trust both of them, even for something this important; they would stand with the ideals of the Imperium, the spirit of Serenity we had been taught so long ago.

I did my best to project my absolute confidence to both of them.

"We can trust our men. We can vouch for each and everyone of them."

And I could say that without exaggerating of false pride. Well, pride filled all our breasts, but it was well deserved. The 597th Valhallan was a closely knit unit, and they would follow our example. Especially with the miracle they had witnessed themselves. The walking light of the Anima touching all our souls.

"And we can trust the PDF. The Royal Guard. You have seen them; they are indeed the Royal Guard of the Princess Saturn."

My friends nodded, and both relaxed for a fraction. At least, we were not alone.

Broklaw looked practical at it, as always.

"Then we'll get a feel for the Royal Guard. They are good, no doubt about it. Really good. But they are… strange, too. They have the skills and discipline of a crack unit, but in some things they have just the knowledge of a backwater planet and no clue what they are facing. We will bring them up to speed."

That much was true. I did not want to be in any unit that had to stand against them in any kind of combat. Their equipment was most impressive, and their discipline and fighting spirit more than matched it. Even completely leaving aside their Colonels, I doubted that the Valhallans could take any of the over strengthened regiments. But they did have little clue how the enemies of the Imperium worked. Trying to get Orks to attack the weakest spot and avoid a fight was nothing even the most green Guards Commander would try. Having no idea about Chaos and its Daemons.

"And we need more information. Who is the Senshi of Saturn. We all know of the Anima, somehow. But what do we really know of the Senshi? What was the Imperium like, so long ago? Without…without the Eye of Terror. Walking Primarchs. Living Senshi. The Holy Emperor Himself. Where was the place of Saturn? I doubt that She only had a honour guard at Her disposal. And, more important. What about today? Where is Her place in the Imperium? What will be her position, Her authority?"

Both looked as clueless as I was. We were soldiers. Not historians, or political analysts. There was little use for skills like that on the battle field. At least, the battle fields we were used too. I had the distinct feeling that would change. If we lived that long.

Kasteen was looking at me. I would not have liked that look, even if my hands did not start to twitch.

"Then I suggest that you, Ciaphas, attend to the blessed Anima. You are the one that has got to known Her Holiness the best. Tell Her about the 42nd millennium. The Imperium of Man. What She means to us. And how we are willing to serve her."

If I had known it would come to this, I would have got up and just walked out of the Schola, one day long ago. Maybe trying my luck as an Aircat testpilot. Getting quickly away from all problems.

On my way to the rooms of Her Divine Majesty I tried to gather my thoughts. While I believe I had more experience in dealing with important dignitaries or members of the higher aristocracy than most average commissars, my experience in dealing with Divinity was awfully limited. Briefly considering if it would be a violation of protocol if I brought along a dictionary High to Low Gothic, I stepped in front of a door adorned with the Royal Sigil of Saturn.

"Commissar Cain here; I seek an audience with Her revered Majesty."

"Please confirm your Identity."

I stared flatly at the box shoved in my face. They had confirmed said identity mere hours ago.

Judging from the waves of playfulness and humour I was very much not feeling from them, I felt resigned and pressed my thumb on the pad once more. At least now I had a good theory where they got the red for their robes from.

"Identity confirmed and Audience granted." The crimson wall before me moved to the side, and I was able to enter Her sanctum. At least I was now trusted enough to step in without a pair of guards riding my coattails. Or, more likely, the Anima had given precise orders to her paranoid protectors.

Said Anima was standing next to a mounted canvas, ink and brushes placed beside it and straightened her civilian garb down, blushing fiercely when I stepped into Her domain; a blot of dark ink marring her face.

"Mooee…me happy see Cain."

Few forces I encountered could stop me completely cold in my tracks. The power of the Anima of the Imperium was great indeed. In a daze, I was unable to resist as my hand was grabbed and a short time later I found myself sitting in a comfortable chair, facing the Anima, cups of steaming tea between us. I do not remember the interim clearly.

Desperately trying to collect my thoughts, I said the first thing that came to my mind.

Only to bite down hard on my teeth as my brain caught up with me. Commenting on clothes or tastes was very much not the way I wanted this conversation to go. The rattling in my mouth lead involuntarily to a grimace on my part and a concerned look from the Anima.

"Ohhh… hurting Cain still? Me help?" In a state of near panic, I jerked back while the Icon of Imperial Faith raised her hands halfway and leaned forward.

"No! No…thank you, 'Hotaru', but I am perfectly fine. There is no need to expend your Holy Self any further on my account. I am already very grateful for the blessing You rewarded me with yesterday. Although I would have preferred it had not been necessary."

Like a puppet with her strings cut, her head dropped down deeply and her hands landed in her lap. A clogged voice answered me, holding back emotions.

"Me sorry. Please. Cain mad, no wanted. Just help wanted. Seen Daemon, seen Cain. Not Daemons alone against people. Protect them. Make gone."

I had the very prominent wish to just leave, deal with a company of mutinous Guardsmen or grab a stick and poke the next Greater Daemon that came along. Oh, wait. That was already the hobby of someone else.

"I am certainly not mad, Hotaru. Quite the contrary, I am very glad that you came along and stopped half the inhabitants of the Eye of Terror from taking my teeth. Of course, I was also quite concerned for your well-being. You… mean a lot to me, to us. We need you, Hotaru. You should not go out like that and risk yourself."

Judging from her flaming cheeks my words had not exactly had the effect I desired. Mentally rewinding I could barely suppress a groan when I found out where I had gone wrong. In the name of Her Big Sister. Why me? Give me a Chainsword, a Las pistol and a place to hide and I am quite fine. I am not meant for the subtle and mysterious art of talking or understanding juvie girls with Holy Power at their finger tips.

Wringing her hands for a moment and mumbling softly she left me with no idea what to do.

So I started to let my mouth run; it had gotten me into this mess, so it could get me out of it again. Some days, my brilliance was astonishing.

"I mean, it is our duty, Hotaru. The duty of everyone that stands against the forces of Chaos…"

Suddenly, she looked up again, her eyes unfocussed and her voice almost dreamily.

"The enemies of humanity. The Daemons of the Warp. The ones full of pain and misery. My Duty. I bring the end. I gentle the suffering. That is what I am meant to do. I am the Avatar of Silence."

Her voice was the only thing I heard in that moment. The faint murmur of people throughout the complex, the hum of power flowing to the arcane apparatuses of the Adeptus Mechanicus, my own breathing; all was silent, except for Her voice it seemed. But even that was…soundless. It was an eerie feeling.

I had tried to read up on the Anima of the Imperium. The Holy Senshi. But I had not found much in our dataslates that helped to improve my fragmented knowledge. Especially concerning the Senshi of Saturn. She was merely alluded too. Almost nothing was written about her, and when there was, she was only mentioned in passing. There was no doubt that She had been a proud and righteous figure of the Imperium, firmly loyal to Emperor and Princess. But where She had been…what She had done… I did not know. And after her quite monologue, I was not sure I wanted to know.

Yet, I had to ask.

"I take it you did fight the Daemons of the Warp before? You mentioned that the Emperor did send you to Hades V; to deal with a Daemon. Was that your duty?"

A barely perceivable nod, I believed to hear more words, from a great distance, so hollow and shallow.

"Yes. Duty. To live, and to serve, is to kill. To remove what is not meant to be. But what is meant to be?"

A shiver run down my spine. These words, they did not exactly fill me with the picture of a happy and joyful past for our newest sign of His Miraculous Works.

"Father sent me to kill Daemons when they appeared. My brothers did not like it. But they could not; only banish them. Some, never liked it… But it was good. I removed the stains of darkness, cut out the foul weed so that the rest of Humanity could flourish. Until Hades V…"

I did not want to go further, but I could not stop now. It was like a maelstrom, sucking me in. I felt as if I was stretched further and further, not snapping, but becoming more…sallow.

"Hotaru… what happened on Hades V? Why were you on Hades VI?"

Eyes, so empty of everything. A void, drawing me in.

"Hades V was lost. Everyone was dead, dying or fallen. The forces of Ruin had triumphed. So… I showed them true Ruin. I brought the Silence; to that which they had claimed. I heard everyone of them end. Hades V is now silent. Until the end of time and again."

I had a vision of a dark, silent place, drifting through a vast and cold ocean.

"Father was…surprised. He sent men to pick me up. But they did fell to the Silence, too, when they approached. So noisy. Living, active. Father was upset when he saw what Hades V had become. My brothers were appalled and my sisters cried. At least they called themselves that. I was not one of them. I had never been. Father asked me to sleep. Until he had a use for me again."

"I had a beautiful dream while I was sleeping. All was silent around me."

I was nearly hanging on the edge of my seat by now, and all my instincts told me feeble mortal to run, run, RUN. There are things Man is not meant to know; not meant to deal with, and I was certain that was one of these things. Sitting opposite from me, in the shape of a young and confused looking girl.

"Ohh…Cain fine? Cain pale; something happened?"

When sounds and voice finally returned I pulled myself together with a strength I did not know where I drew it from, and nodded, plastering a smile on my face that might have convinced and Adeptus Mechanicus. Might.

"Of course, Hotaru. I am fine. I…that was an enlightening conversation. But I am sorry, I have to go now… regimental duties… making the little Guardsmen happy… you understand."

I had slipped out of my seat and was backing away, keeping my eyes on her.

"Ohh… Cain coming visit again, yes? Me like…"

With an exaggerated nod, I stepped through the door all but knocking silent, red pins aside.

A small, fragile hand picked up her brush again and continued her work.

Adding more dark ink to blot out the white…

After I had finished gibbering and cowering in my office, I began to consider my options.

Before I had come to a solution that did not leave me faint, terrified or worse, the Vox box on my desk blarred.

"Ciaphas? Orbital Command has detected a shuttle that is approaching the garrison." The undertone of Kasteen's voice hinted at a certain urgency.

"A shuttle? Out of the Warpstorm?" I asked in bewilderment. The usual Chaos maddened, otherworldly invasion force tended to prefer a ride with more… style, than the average shuttle.

"No, it seems not. Its coming from somewhere at the opposite side of the planet and it has Imperial IDC's. Inquisitorial IDC's." Her last words sounded as happy as I felt about the prospect of our visitor's identity.

"Ahh. Well, yes. I suppose we should go and greet our guests then?" Preferable with a couple of Missiles, but rarely anyone listened in those things to me. Not that I spoke them out loud.

So the Emperor's most deranged and depraved had arrived. What else could go wrong?

As I have mentioned before, I never did learn not to ask.

Waiting behind the thick, armoured gates of the PDF garrison landing platform, I was desperately trying to think up a plan. Colonel Kasteen was accompanying me, and the Royal Saturnian Guard was present, too. Represented by a hulking black giant and a couple of storm troopers.

But what concerned me most, was the illustrious Anima of the Imperium and her red guardians deployed around us. It was not even the Anima herself that had me so concerned, although She was standing closer to me than I would have liked, especially when any kind of shooting started. It was the prospect of an Inquisitor lying eyes upon here before anything could be explained or his beliefs and priorities checked out.

At least she still was wearing her civilian garb. That left me some room for verbal manoeuvres.

With the sound of heavy machinery, the gates opened, revealing the interior of the airlock and our visitors. For once, I was speechless.

"Inquisitor Vail. An honour to serve with you again."

At least Kasteen was capable of speaking; that was more than could be said for me.

Wearing an easy smile on her face and a tasteful aquamarine gown that did little to hide her figure, she stepped forward. Followed by the more machine than man form of Mott and the fully human, but more bulkier Pelton.

"Oh, the honour is completely on my side, Colonel Kasteen. I am quite happy to see you."

Her smile turned more warm, almost personal. "And of course you, Commissar Cain."

I managed a weak nod. "What a pleasant surprise, Inquisitor Vail. I am delighted to see you again."

Okay. That had been a bit much. But I had already given away the game when I had openly gawked at Amberley. She was not someone who missed slips this severe and I had seen the suspicion in her eyes. Oblivious to the sudden mood swing and suspicions, Kasteen smoothly introduced the PDF Colonel.

"*hiss* Inquisitor *hiss*"

Well; she tried for smoothly. The only things which went smoothly with Colonel Radev were in some way or the other connected to his Power Sword as far as I was aware.

Even Amberley seemed a bit put off by him and I had seen her relaxed and poised in situations that had sent me screaming; well, at least I would have liked to scream in said situations.

"I am sure we will have an interesting time working together, Colonel. And who is that young lady if I may ask? Is there something you want to tell me, Cain?" She smiled radiantly at the slight girl, half hidden behind me and stepped towards her, not able to resist throwing a small jibe at me with tacit implications.

"Ohh… me Hotaru. Pleased to meet." Shyly the girl averted her eyes, touching my great coat with a hand, obviously only a hairs breadth away from taking full cover behind me.

So it came to be, that on a desolate world in the obscure fringes of the Imperium of Man an Inquisitor of His Divine Majesty gazed condescending down on one of His Holy Daughters, the Senshi of Silence.

I briefly considered sending a short prayer to Him and hope my ears had deceived me, but from what I had gathered so far His sense of humour and mine didn't get along too well.

But I was not without my own ammunition, either.

"Inquisitor Amberley Vail, of His Imperial Majesty's Most Holy Order of the Inquisitions Ordo Xeno, meet His Imperial Majesty's Even More Holy Daughter, the Senshi of Saturn, Anima of the Imperium."

I am no mean man. The small twinge of pleasure I felt at Amberley's incredulous stare was by no means connected to any sense of revenge for various bloody, terror filled missions that I had conducted for certain members of the Inquisition. Or their constant habit of having more information about anything that was going on than the rest of the people combined. Really.

"Uhm…hi." A small, childish hand waved from my side.

I couldn't help but throw my head back and laugh. The expression on Amberley's face. I laughed even harder as most of the people stared at me. All the tension of the past days, the anxiety. I just laughed.

"Cain. Is that a joke?" There was a hint of razor sharp plasteel in her voice and her gaze was more than a little angry as she tried to dissect me without the use of any tools. For all her show and posing, Amberley 'was' a member of the Inquisition and could be as ruthless as any of them. I laughed on, slowly wheezing to an end.

"Ohh…You are one of Haruka's agents, aren't you? How rude of me… please forgive me. I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Vail. How is Michiru? I… ohh. I forgot. She is dead, isn't she? Like all the others. Mooeee…"

While the first part of her words in High Gothic had sounded upbeat and delighted like I had never really heard before from her, the slowness and bleakness when she ended was a contrast that almost physically hurt.

Amberley turned a shade ghostly white shockingly different from her usual appearances, not even in the darkest tunnels of Gravalax with untold numbers of Genestealers at our backs she had looked anything like that. She made the sign of the Aquila and opened her mouth, just to close it again, eyes becoming even more wide, finally breathing a faint:

"Emperor…"

"Uhm… no. Saturn. You are talking about my father."

Despite what other sources my claim, there was no smile in the voice, or on her face; neither faint nor malicious, she was only slowly blinking at the shell-shocked Amberley. Which really did nothing to soften the impact of her words.

Without any sound or preamble, the form of the small girl next to me changed. And in her place stood the Anima of the Imperium, Senshi Saturn in all her pale glory. Proud and strong she gazed regally at the astonished form of the Inquisitor, eyes calm but full of compassion, her weapon solemnly hold in Her hand, as upright and unwavering as She herself.

"Emperor though you are on Terra… Princess though you smile from the Moon….this is the Senshi of Saturn. Princess of the Imperium of Man. Guardian of the Firstborn Daughter. Maiden of of Loyality. The Serving One. Bringer Of Silence. Princess of Saturn. Slayer of Daemons. Lady of…"

I interrupted the babbling savant. I knew from experience he could go like that for hours.

"Mott. I think that's enough. We…all have an idea here who is in our midst." That shut him up nicely, and he dropped down on his knees like Amberley and her bodyguard.

"Ohh… please. Raise, Lady Inquisitor. And your men, too. It's an honour to meet you."

It always amazed me to see how the Senshi could go from a proud Icon of Imperial Might to a girl wringing her hands and blushing, while her weapon remained nowhere to be seen.

To my eternal relief, Amberley caught herself and even managed to stand up after another look of disbelief; just as certain black clad Ogryn was about to step forward. I already had a cunning plan devised to throw a red coloured stick between his legs and escape with Amberley in the resulting confusion, but luckily, I was not forced to implement said plan. I still had not worked out the throwing phase, exactly.

"Revered Anima, please forgive me, I had no idea that…" I had not seen Amberley so respectful since, well, I had never seen her so respectful and filled with awe. On the other hand, I am fairly sure she was the one of us that kept it together better compared to my first meeting with a certain Living Legend.

"Ohh…that is fine. I am at fault here, for I did not present myself befitting the situation. Please, accept my apologies."

It was like watching an Aircar crash in progress. An imperial Inquisitor and an Anima of the Imperium trying to take the fault for a perceived slight unto their own in rapid fire High Gothic, while Lord Radev stood by and was waiting for just one wrong word.

I had to do something, fast. And while I liked my own hide as much as was possible, I was not ready to leave Amberley to face such overwhelming opposition on her own. It went without saying, that it was my deep loyalty and respect to His Imperial Majesty's Inquisition that directed me to this course of action.

"Excuse. Me think, Amberley Inquisitor sleepy. We go, give time. I later story Holy Anima of the Imperium." I stammered out in what was probably a fairly accurate imitation of an Orc trying to speak High Gothic.

"Cain! By the Emperor, I know you stumble into the most unusual things, but this! By the Princess's light, Cain!"

I winced. Amberley could be a very pleasant, unassuming woman if she wanted to be, but she could be…forceful, too. Right now, she very much aimed for the later. She was pacing up and down the briefing room we had commandeered, Peltan staying outside and ensuring our privacy while Mott looked emptily in the air between us two.

"With the appearance of the Anima of Saturn, the last Senshi was found. The Holy Emperor was reunited with all of His Children. Appearing scant years before the Horus Heresy forever damned the galaxy, Her appearance is considered an omen; She is the end, She is the Harbinger. Bringer of the Silence, …"

"Mott! That is enough. She is an Anima of the Imperium." Amberley speared her minion with a look, whirling around.

I was at a loss. While I could have easily understood if she had been upset, or feeling quite out of it, she was angry. No, livid. Usually Amberley was one of the most controlled and reserved persons I had ever encountered. She might cover it behind a pleasant mask of cheerfulness, but I had glimpsed beneath it often enough to have got a feel for her true state of mind.

And right now, all masks, all layers were gone and I was right next to a plasma generator going critical.

Said plasma generator focused on me again.

"How long have you known about this? What has been going on. Tell me exactly what happened!" Suddenly, I wished I had worn my Carapace Armour under my great coat.

"Amberley, I assure you, everything is under control. So far, we…"

"No. Nothing is under control. And if we don't act fast, it will be a disaster of unimaginable proportions. So don't play around and tell me exactly what has happened. We need to work fast."

Okay. Something had definitely spooked her. I did not even want to imagine what could spook an Inquisitor of her calibre this strongly. But sadly, I had an active imagination and ample experience. Hastily moving away from these thoughts, I summarized the highlights of our short stay on Hades VI, only belatedly realizing that I was leaving quite a bit of details out of it. But Amberley's gaze reminded me too much of a Gauss Flayer to actually consider a slower, full-fledged explanation.

"We were deployed to take on a couple of Orks that crashed here. I… found the revered Anima in a Stasis Pod, I believe, inside an old, imperial underground facility here on Hades VI.

Shortly afterwards the Warpstorm appeared and Chaos forces conquered the capital. We returned, and pushed them out. They are pretty much beaten now. A Bloodthirster was there, too. But we managed to overcome it. Then…you showed up."

"A Bloodthirster… so it's true. She really is a Senshi, is she?" My favourite ally in the Inquisition shook her head faintly. I felt with her. Even now, I had still trouble grasping the situation and had taken to regularly pinch myself just to make sure I was not dreaming. Partly, I was still waiting for a Sorcerer of Tzeentch to step out of the walls and laugh in my face.

Briefly reviewing a few of the things I had seen during our assault on Hades Prime and a certain Bio-Titan, I nodded.

"Oh yes. There can be no doubt about it. She is a Senshi of the Imperium. Her power… I have never seen anything like it. It scares me."

Well, normally a Hero of the Imperium would never have admitted his 'worries' so openly. But I am not your average 'Hero of the Imperium' and Amberley and I had a 'common basis of trust' so to speak. Besides… considering what I had gathered so far from Senshi Saturn I felt damned right to express… concerns.

Amberley made an agreeing sound.

"True, the Holy powers of a Senshi must be without peer in this dark galaxy now. But what is even more important… she is an Anima. The implications… We need to be careful about this.

Damn, warpspawned, squigshit of a …"

I barely suppressed the impulse to jump. While I did know that Amberley had an… unladylike streak, something that was more than necessary for her job, the foul languages and curses flowing out of her mouth now made even me blush. And believe me; as a commissar you are no stranger to colourful language. Usually directed at you by various troopers.

Even Mott looked astonished. And the man could join the local PDF for his social awareness.

"Amberley. Calm down. What is going on?" I had a bad feeling about it. A Bad feeling.

With a heavy sigh she dropped in a chair. For a moment, she looked defeated. That scared me more than anything else. In all the time I had known Amberley, in all the situations we had survived just by sheer chance and luck, she had never looked… defeated.

I stepped closer to hear, trying to offer my comfort, but her fire returned.

"You know why I am here Cain? No? Well, that doesn't surprise me. I do not know why I am here either. All I know is that I have this." And hold out a small, cylindrical object to me, maybe twenty centimetres in length, and five in diameter in a silver grey colour. Carefully I reached out and took it, when she made no move to stop me. It was prudent to be careful with strange objects any Inquisitor waved around.

The tube was heavy. As in really heavy, considering its size. Tapping against the metal confirmed my suspicion. It was made from pure Adamantium. On two sides of its length was a row of runes, faint indentions in the unearthly strong material. High Gothic. My eyes boggled as I read them.

'Careful. Content delicate. Handle with care.' Adamantium was the densest, the strongest material known to the Imperium of Man. It could shrug of just about anything.

"Is that a joke Amberley?" I pointed incredulously to the writing.

"A joke made from pure Adamantium? One expensive joke, wouldn't you think? Check the ends, Ciaphas."

At least Amberley was getting her feet back, and I calmed down, too. Only to have the bottom of my stomach drop out as I looked at the ends of the tube. I suddenly felt a need to sit down, and nearly missed the chair. I had seen that mark before. On a door. Just right next to mine. And in an underground facility, untouched for ten thousand years.

"There is something inside this whatever it is supposed to be. I had cogboys crawling all over it. It is first grade Adamantium, a hundred percent pure. Most heavy weapons we field would not even scratch it. But a small part of it is hollow. They didn't had any Auspex capable of figuring out its contents, no matter how many days they prayed over it. We did not find any switches, mechanism or more esoteric options to manipulate it either. The magos assured me they had blessed it with every prayer of the Omnissiah, every incantation of the Machine Spirit and bathed it in every holy medium they could think of. It didn't do anything. No one has any clue what it is. And now…. Her."

"Do I even want to know where you found it?" I eyed my old…friend. There was more, I doubt anyone else could have seen it, but we were…acquainted.

Amberley let out a very unladylike snort.

"I want to know that, too. Well, of course, I do know where we found it, but that makes it worse. On Rakel's bedside cabinet. Inside the Ordo's main citadel."

I gaped at her. Every Ordo of the Inquisition had me beat hands down when it came to paranoia, it was kinda a requirement for their job. And they had more than enough resources to maintain an internal security that even they were satisfied with. There was no way anyone from the outside could penetrate that. At least I didn't want to consider the possibility. So; it had to come from the inside…right?

"Naturally, first we believed it was a bomb."

Naturally. Every time I found an unfamiliar object in my bedroom I made the same assumption. You see what I meant about paranoia?

"But all our research made it highly unlikely. Besides, there is no known explosive in the galaxy that could break a shell of Adamantium from the inside with such a tiny amount.

But actually, that is not my main concern right now."

She stopped herself and shook her head, working herself up to livid again. Hastily, I interrupted. Amberley could be scary enough even under best circumstances, but seeing her out of character like this had me more than just a bit worried.

"What do you mean, Amberley? What is happening?"

She focused on me again. Maybe I should just have stayed quite.

"Oh, nothing. The Great Enemy is moving around the Cadian Gate in numbers not seen in centuries, rumours speak of a new Black Crusade, the Hive Fleets are more active than ever, at least eight fully space capable Ork Waaaghs are rampaging around the galaxy, Eldar raids are increasing, we just lost half a sector fleet to we don't even know what, probably Necrons and Heretics and fanatics alike speak of the end of the millennium, the return of the Emperor or the death of the Imperium. Oh, and there is a Battle Barge belonging to the Angels of Damnation with their 3rd Company on route to Hades VI. They have loaded Cyclonic Torpedo's and are under order to commence an Exterminatus on this world."

A place of glory long passed

It was a dark, alien space. Devoid of any human touch, utterly disturbing for Man.

Still and undisturbed, a figure stood.

A slender, delicate hand was wrapped around a long, dark shaft.

The figure stretched its senses, feeling the end coming. Slowly, inexorably it approached.

But it would not give up. It would not go quietly into the night. It could not.

Suddenly, everything stilled. Where once was darkness, void now ruled. Where once was quite, Silence now ruled. Everything… gone.

The figure screamed.

Fleet foot, barely touching the floor. A melody, the opening of a door.

"Farseer. Farseer, what happened?" Cae'Shael kneeled down, next to her Mistress.

Her form writhed on the floor, the thousand year old Eldar, always a bastion of strength and calm for the whole Craftworld to draw on, screamed. And screamed, until her voice became sore.

The Warlocks hand hushed over the cramped body, administering what aide she could. She considered to just sink her Mistress into oblivion, to give her mind time to recover.

But finally, the screaming stopped, only to be replaced by sobbing.

"I have not seen it. I have not heard it. The Threads of Fate. The Song of Worlds. They are gone. Gone. They are not."

Cae'Shael could not help but shiver. Her Mistress, Aenas'Tailong, the powerful Farseer of Arach-Qin. Guiding the Craftworld for more than a thousand years, she had overcome Daemons and conflicts that had consumed many lesser Eldar. To afflict her like that, in her own chambers of meditation… Cae'Shael finally moved her hands, intending to press on the spots along Aenas's neck that would grant her the blessing of unconsciousness.

A strong hand caught hers in a powerful grip.

"No. We must prepare. There is no time to waste. We must stop the silence. Else all that is, all that ever will be, is lost."

The sobbing had subsided, but tremors still shook the body. But the grip was strong, filled by might and determination beyond anything the young Warlock could muster. With a fluid movement no other race could manage, Aenas'Tailong, guide of a thousand fates, Mistress of the Infinity Web, rose up from the ground, her Singing Spear gripped securely.

The mon-keigh did not know which forces they stirred. They would not live to regret it, either.

Hades VI, PDF Garrison

"Princess's Mercy. An Exterminatus? Who in the Warp ordered an Exterminatus on an Imperial World? Especially now." Mentally, I was already on the way to enter the next shuttle.

"I don't know. I only got word about it from an 'informal' source. And with the Warpstorm over the planet, or its remains… The Angels of Damnation are not known for their tendency to discuss or confer with those they believe to be Chaos corrupted." Amberley laid out the facts in a plain voice.

"They would launch an Exterminatus against world that houses an Anima of the Imperium? You must be joking." But even while I spoke my words, I realized the truth. If this was a standard mission, they would enter the system and detect the Warpstorm. Then, they would approach the planet from the safest possible angle and launch the Cyclonic Torpedos from a distance. They would not heed Vox calls from a fallen Imperial World with orders this clear, and mere minutes after their launch, the Torpedoes would detonate. Transforming the atmosphere of Hades VI in an explosive maelstrom of fire, blowing over the surface, burning away every living being on the ground. Including me.

"We have to evacuate."

Mott answered me, suddenly coming back in the conversation. Hearing his words, I wished he hadn't.

"Imperial Lunar Class Cruiser Ceres's Charge; 481th Battlefleet of His Divine Majesty's Navy; capable of supporting heavy space operations directly as well as patrolling and securing sub sectors. Equipped for launching light attack craft and in times of dire needs able to carry up to one full strength regiment of the Imperial Guard…."

I ignored the rest of his babbles. I had already heard more than I wanted to know, I faced Amberley again.

"That is your ship? You are here with a fleet, aren't you? A couple of troop transports, maybe some battle cruisers?" It never, well, it rarely hurt to ask, did it?

"Yes. I requisitioned it directly from Solar Command. It's probably the fastest ship in the Sector." She replied in a matter of fact tone.

Ignoring her comment about travelling here from Solar Command I simply muttered.

"…and completely unable to carry three regiments, not even considering a couple of million civilians."

The circumstances looked not well for my continued survival and well being. Despite pretty much knowing the answer, I had to ask.

"What about counter-mandating the order? Can you get them to stand down? Inquisitorial order versus Inquisitorial order?

She shook her head, decisively.

"Considering we have a Warpstorm in the systems, the remains of a Daemon attack on the capital and well; the history of the concerned Chapter I am… not very confident they'll even accept any Voice transmission, Inquisitorial Seal or not. Even an Inquisitor can be broken."

That was only too true, as I had found out on Samashesh IV. It had been…not pretty.

Amberley sighed and shrugged.

"Well, if it comes to that, we can at least evacuate the Anima." An Inquisitor has to keep his or her focus (read: be able to ignore and slaughter everyone not imminently vital to the mission) but I spotted a detail there.

"….there might be a problem with that." Was my dry cut remark.

The Inquisitor raised an eyebrow, and when she spoke, there was a hint of steel behind her words.. "A problem with the evacuation of the Senshi? Who would hinder that?"

"Well, naturally, our resident Anima of the Imperium herself. The gentle spirits; the guides and caretakers of Humanity." I hurried to explain; no need to give her the wrong idea; feelings or not, I very much did not want to be around a cranky Amberley.

Astonished blinking was my answer, and it took a moment for her to get behind the idea, but then her groan was audible.

"Don't tell me… she would hesitate to leave the planet to stay alive?"

I shrugged; there was little else I could do. I made a note to find someone else to deliver the bad news from now on.

"She is an Anima of the Imperium, Amberley. Not a fat bureaucrat, an Administratum quill-pusher or a degenerate high noble. Her compassion… is truly not from this world."

"Great. And in order to prove that compassion, the most sacred being in the whole Imperium outside of Terra is going to get Herself killed. Perfect…" but before she could launch into a full tirade, she gave out a weary sigh. "No, no; I understand. I keep thinking as if this was any ordinary situation, intrigues in the Imperium, dignitaries of the highest order involved and political quagmires. But this is so much more, isn't it? The Anima; she really is like the legends describe her." There was faint reverence in her voice; and hope, relief. As if we were touching upon something truly extraordinaire. Something far above us humans, something not from our world. Something pure, divine.

Which was actually pretty much true.

"Yes. And no." I noticed her confused look. "She is an Anima of the Imperium. But… she has been asleep for ten thousand years. She remembers a world where the Holy Emperor was walking Himself… her Brothers and Sisters were around Her. Chaos being a faint, distant threat. And…She doesn't know 'war'."

Amberley looked dumbfounded at me.

"Emperor and Princess…."

I could only nod at her. It seemed, we had our work cut out for us.

Absentmindedly I rubbed my finger and pondered how easy it was to die from blood loss due to genescans. Although the face of Her Inquisitorial Authority having to take one, had probably been worth it.

Right now, she was busy smiling prettily at the three gathered Colonel's and the Senshi. Kasteen was looking back friendly, while the Senshi once again avoided any eye contact and was more or less looking in my direction. The resident freak duo was not even bothering to react to a meagre Inquisitor sitting in on their briefing.

"…so I doubt that the Battle Barge will answer any of our Vox hails and we need to prepare for the possibility of an Exterminatus hitting this world in the next few days."

The Anima looked positively stricken and plain horrified at my words. Kasteen tried to hide her feelings of horror and concern for her men behind a façade, and more or less failed. The PDF leadership, on the other hand, were a lot better at hiding behind their masks.

"Extrapolating from the available data of standard Astartes tactics while conducting an Exterminatus under the usage of Cyclonic Torpedoes, our current orbital and ground based assets must be deemed insufficient to reliably stop the operation."

"*hiss* Mistress Saturn should take residence *hiss* upon your vessel, Inquisitor *hiss* and leave the system. *hiss* We will stay behind *hiss* and deal with the intruders. *hiss*"

At least, I hoped that were masks. Very much hoped so. Amberley was at least as good as I was at reading people, something like a requirement for her job. She stared at both Colonels like they had just ordered half a Squiggoth with a side order of Knarloc. She addressed the one with the breathing problem; well, she was new, so her mistake was kinda understandable.

"Colonel Radev. What do you mean, you will 'deal with the intruders'? This is an Astartes Strike force conducting an Exterminatus we are talking about, not even a planetary invasion you could hope to beat back."

Maybe they had hidden a squadron of Emperor Class Battleships in their backyard. Or a personal full fledged Battlefleet, neither would have surprised me at this moment.

"*hiss*They should not be too proud *hiss* of this technological terror *hiss* they have constructed.*hiss* The ability to destroy a planet *hiss* is insignificant to the power of *hiss* *hiss* *hiss* Humanity."

"Destroy. World? With torpedoes. But… but. Terrible. They no should do. Destroy world bad. Me knows. Got scolded."

The aghast voice of the Anima sounded as she looked at me with huge, round eyes. While I pretty much agreed that destroying a world was very bad indeed, I had never been scolded for it. It flashed briefly through my mind that I had no clue exactly when the first Exterminatus was conducted, as far as I could remember the actual term had never come up during the Great Crusade. But I am no scholar, and I had more pressing matters to consider anyways, like…

"Indeed, revered Anima, we will aim to pool our resources and attempt to devise an accurate strategy to intercept the Cyclonic Torpedoes, avoiding the destruction of Hades VI."

Colonel Kasteen looked in astonishment at her 'colleagues' but managed to refrain from asking in utter disbelief.

As I had mentioned before, Amberley was new.

"Which strategy are you talking about? Do you have a reliable way to intercept torpedoes launched from deep space guided by the best machine spirits the Adeptus Mechanicus can offer?"

"No, as previously mentioned we are currently lacking said orbital capacity."

I felt like strangling someone. I merely refrained out of civility, not because I was pretty sure some people in this room could make Necron Lords cower under a table in 'concern'. But aside from that, I had a meeting to bring back on track.

"Ok. Aside from that, I believe we need to prepare for the worst and evacuate the esteemed Anima, as well as the most vital personnel." Me! Me! ME!

"No. No can do. Ship small. Many people. People must not die. Must stop Exterminatus."

That was the voice of a Princess of the Imperium, the Anima and Senshi Saturn, declaring Her unquestionable decision to Her subjects and everyone practically stood at attention.

But the following whisper did not sound like the proud Warrior Empress we had just envisioned, not at all. "Must stop father's soldiers. Why father does awful things?"

Amberley was twitching, and I was quite happy that she was one of the most unconventional Inquisitors I had ever met; thus she was not prone to overly orthodox convictions. I had the livid image of the average Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor hearing the speech with its blasphemously casual reference to the Holy Emperor and suffering a stroke. Then realizing that said reference was in no way blasphemous at all and suffering a second stroke. Which might lead to a healing by Her Holy Powers, leading probably to a third stroke…ahh, you can see where this is going. Well, sometimes my job wasn't too bad, all in all.

In the end, Amberley's self control won out and she managed to slowly explain her concerns.

"Revered Anima. The Angels of Damnation are most certainly not acting on direct order from… the Holy Emperor of Mankind, merely under order of a member of the Inquisition. Unfortunately, the waning Warpstorm will probably result in them ignoring all my hails and demands to stop the operation. I am not even sure they would accept a transmission carrying your personal Sigil, either; it is not listed anymore in the usual Imperial Databanks."

Hesitantly, the young girl nodded, looking somewhere at Amberley's gown.

"Me understand. Then, me go to them. Visit. And talk."

Amberley shot me a questioning look, pretty much asking 'What in the Warp?', which I answered with a patented shrug and my eyes telling her 'Frakked if I know, you are the one who studies the Holy Secrets and stuff.'. She countered with a glare that coolly promised 'There will be much pain in your future, Ciaphas.' I gulped.

At least, I got a brief respite when she focused back on the discussion.

"Revered Anima, please forgive my question, but how do you intent to 'visit' the approaching Space Marines? An Exterminatus is conducted from space, launched several hundred thousand kilometres away from the target."

The girl shrugged and just looked at the Inquisitor with big eyes.

"Teleport on board I will."

Ah. Well, of course. We should have expected that.

"*hiss* Mistress. Please consider *hiss* the possibility of *hiss* hostile actions *hiss* by the Astartes. *hiss*"

While that was a valid concern, it was not necessarily the first point that came to my mind after hearing the Anima's plan. But she was quick to reassure us, anyways.

"Me…me sure is they fine. Not harm."

Indeed, that did dissolve our combined concerns. Not. Amberley tried once more to be the voice of reason.

"Revered Anima. I must voice the protest of the Holy Inquisiton. Please reconsider. Your actions would put you at an enormous risk, and we would not be able to protect you. Any boarding action is completely out of the question. Aside from facing a full company of Space Marines, their combat servitors and crewman, we have nothing that would have even the chance of sailing through the storm of fire a Battle Barge can put out and carry an escort for you."

My rectum clenched upon the mentioning of entering a Battle Barge with hostile intentions. Manned by His Finest; a full company of Space Marines would tear through pretty much anything the Valhallans could field. In the corridors and halls of a space ship it was even worse. Especially if the Marine's had the advantage of defending. I could not remember the last time anything had even come close to successfully boarding a manned Battle Barge and winning the resulting struggle.

"How…how sneaking? Not being seen? I make small ship quiet. Shuttle is name"

The immense guns of the Battle Barge had not even been my main concern but now that I thought about them, it became even worse. A shuttle would burst upon the slightest of glancing hits a Battle Barge could fire. And how being quiet would help us there, I had no idea. Maybe then no one would hear my screams of terror.

"Even then… we would only be able to bring a small force onboard the battle barge. We are talking about a full company of space marines facing us."

I whole heartedly agreed with Amberley there. Fighting Astartes with numerical inferiority was… not wise. At all. And only a fool would even consider it.

"*hiss* Impressive. *hiss*"

I shot him a look, but decided not to make an issue out of it and adjusted my collar.

"No fighting. Talking." The small girl at the table explained.

Yes, that was my preferred solution for all kinds of problems, too. Sadly, most of the time I had to do the talking with my Las pistol; falling back on the sharp tongue of my Chain Sword from on occasions. Unfortunately, our options of 'talking' were also quite limited as Amberley pointed so helpfully out.

"Well; I do not see how we could talk the Angels out of it; they are renowned for being a quite single-minded chapter. Not that I believe they would dare to fire upon an Holy Anima of the Imperium, but… forgive me, your Highness, but they might doubt your identity and shoot first, asking questions later."

Great. Fanatics hand picked by the Inquisition. We would have better chances to talk the average Ork Waagh into making love, not war.

Slowly nodding her head, settling down in a pose fitting to a king or leader, not a young woman, we could hear the weight behind the Anima's words and her final decision.

"Me sorry. But must try. Will be no Exterminatus."

I had the sudden urge to find a copy of the Codex Astartes and look for any guidelines of reacting to grovelling and surrendering enemies.

"…..as you command, Holy Anima. And maybe… if I could reach the launch relics, I could use my inquisitorial authority to convince the machine spirit to misfire them or make them unusable."

That plan sounded as desperate as any that was going through my head. Considering that several included loud wailing and grovelling, you can get an idea how I judged the chances of success for Amberley's plan.

"Very well. Then we will prepare an escort accompanying Princess Saturn during her negotiations with the Astartes.

Sometimes, I really regretted that the Tech Priest's had taken all possibilities of showing emotion, stress or anxiety away from the servitor.

The meeting didn't take long to conclude after that. After all, there was not much we could do besides pray to His Imperial Majesty that a certain Marine Chapter would it get through their thick skulls and listen. Considering that Astartes get special treatment to increase strength, density and thickness of their bones, I had little hope for that.

What had me even more concerned was that I was supposed to be on the shuttle. Boarding a Battle Barge. Full of Space Marines. Who were not necessarily on our side.

It was certainly better than waiting on the ground for a Cyclonic torpedo to drop on my head, but in all honesty, it wasn't a whole lot better. I resolved to talk 'fast' once we got on the ship. Or at least hide behind Colonel Radev.

While he had decided to accompany us, together with an assortment of the Imperium's Storm Troopers, it was unlikely that I would see much from him aboard. From a view of tactical cover, that was pretty sad.

The Holy Anima, Amberley and I were supposed to meet up with a couple of genetically engineered super soldiers that considered us the enemy and who had known only war and slaughtering the enemies of the Imperium for centuries, and talk them out of being mean to us.

Colonel Radev and his small detachment of Storm Troopers were supposed to enter the Battle barge, search it, find the launch tubes of the Cyclonic Torpedos, fight their way through droves of said super soldiers and then sabotage the launchers.

I was not sure which assignment I liked less. To be honest, neither stood very high with me.

Colonel Kasteen was mostly keeping herself busy by moping up any Chaos worshipper that might be left in Hades Prime, while Soudisi had once again uttered a sermon to the Omnissiad, for all I knew, and was conferring with Tech Priests and Emperor knows how. There was a strange gleam in his eyes that gave me cause to avoid any further questions.

So I had been quite happy to escape to my office. But after taking care of the limited amount of work I actually had to do after Jurgen's most efficient managing, I was just left brooding. Considering that my vision was mainly filled with pictures and images from the Exterminatus I had once witnessed while safely tucked away on a Starship, it was not the most pleasant of activities.

So for once, I was actually thankful for the distraction of the one person we would all give our lives to protect, stepping into my offices. Keeping her head bowed she slowly made her way over towards me with shuffling movements.

"Cain greetings. Me ask, need help. If bother no."

Carefully considering what the Anima of the Imperium could want my help for and shying away from most of the items that came to mind, I was nonetheless not about to reject any of her requests. Well, not most of them. Fear of the now closely present Inquisition or Royal Saturnian Guard had nothing to do with my decision, I assure you.

"Certainly, … Hotaru. How may I help you?" I smiled encouragingly at her, trying my best to be Ciaphas Cain, and not Commissar Cain, faithful servant of her Father. I nearly winced at the last line of thought; it was just difficult to get used to see an Anima of the Imperium in the dark, subdued colours and simple clothes she seemed to prefer. She differed vastly from the portraits and busts I remembered of any of the Holy Anima.

At least, she was wearing a pair of trousers this time.

"Me…weak, need combat studies. Cain help? Play battling, yes?"

Scenes staring a certain Bio-Titan sized traitor marine played through my mind. Namely taking an Aircar of Promethium to the face and still coming, but then being thrown around by a small girl. Followed by scenes of blows too fast for me to follow, movements snapping into place and blows seeming powerful enough to shatter rockrete.

"I…ahh, don't think I would be the right person to receive this honour."

Ask one of your brothers? But be gentle with them? Or if they are busy… Colonel Soudisi has this handy Titan around; just don't break it too much.

"Cain great. Me seen. Formed sword is very nice. Me, little so. Never been good. Sleep did not help. Me need forms when facing Astartes. Cain partner, yes?"

The slight girl was looking up to me adoringly, a bright smile on her face and hands clutched together before her body.

All I could see was the form of a ten foot tall fallen Astartes crashing through a wall without his consent.

"While I admit that I have had my fair share of melees and am fairly adapt at handling the sword, well… I am no Astartes. I do not think I would be able to keep up with a Senshi of the Imperium, Hotaru."

Blushing, she shook her head and shifted a little.

"Ohh, no, no. Not power. Me want Forms. Procedures, yes. Me control power, let going of power, nearly human. No senshi, no stronger Cain. Me no hurt, just sparrowing. Building procedures."

I gulped. But aside from flat out refusing an Anima of the Imperium a personal request, I found little room to wiggle out of the way before I was squashed like a certain Bio-Titan. But if she would really reduce her terrifying speed and strength to more human levels, I might even survive the encounter. Sometimes, hope was all what carried us on.

"Well…yes, if you really consider it a necessary practice, I will gladly supervise your training. Although I am fairly sure there are more qualified people…"

"Ohh, me happy. Cain, thank you." Following a deep bow before me, the Senshi suddenly darted forward, hands reaching out.

All I could do was jump up and stiffly walk ahead, avoiding to be dragged along by the Anima. I still was not sure what, and if, her guardians thought about her dealings with me, or if they were at all intimidated by my commissarial authority. Considering how practically no one on this planet cared about it, I doubted they were any exception. Which reduced my only hope of keeping my face in front of the troops to pray for the discretion of a squad of men whose uniforms worked pretty well for camouflage in any Blood Angel convention.

Having changed into more comfortable clothing and wielding a synth sword, I took a few practice swings. The practice weapons in the Gymnasium were quite a bit different from my aged Chain Sword, but they would do. It went without saying that certain red guardians had sealed off the hall and had probably placed snipers as well as antitank barriers around it.

Facing me was the Senshi of the Imperium, the Bringer of Silence, She who had defeated and killed a mighty Chosen of Khorne and even a Bloodthirster.

What exactly was I doing here? And more important, how could I get out of it? Alive.

Balanced on the balls of her feet and wielding an exact replica of her chosen weapon, she had changed into the same training outfit our female troopers used. Where she had gotten one in her size, not to mention a training glaive, I had no idea. I certainly wasn't going to ask about it. But by this time, I already had a more than sneaking suspicion.

Again, she was beaming happily at me, far too relaxed and comfortable compared to my own plight. But then, she was the one with the super human abilities and Holy Powers.

"Okay, I will begin with some basic opening attacks and then we will work our way up from there. No full contact, and once someone is down, we pause." I laid out the basic rules for the massacre.

Her face took on a determined, focussed look and she nodded tersely in reply.

"Please be careful." I rushed to add.

Despite my secret hopes, no new crisis arrived to disrupt our 'sparring' before it started and I had no choice but to begin. I moved in and started with some light attacks, keeping my distance. Normally, it would be prudent to get as close as possible to someone with such a slight build and a weapon with the reach of a glaive, but this duel was not exactly usual as far as I was concerned.

As expected, she had no trouble at all dealing with my probing attacks, so we quickly built up speed and began a more serious approach. I was relieved to notice that she seemed to stay true to her word. She was fast, but not the blur of images I remembered, and I could actually parry her attacks without my arms getting torn out. For which I was quite thankful.

Our attacks intensified. I had rarely had to fight someone with a pole weapon and her style was unusual. The only time I had the misfortune to fight someone with a pole arm was on Naris I, during a remarkable dull and easy campaign according to official Imperial Reports.

Breaking the pattern of her fast, stabbing attacks, I stepped in close and used my more flexible weapon to greater effect. Naris I had been a bit more interesting from my side, considering how I had gotten separated behind the Cultists lines for a couple of weeks. It was not my most favourite memory; and the fight against the glaive wielding warrior, least of all.

The fight was intense, hard. The both of us pressed the other for any advantage, intent to bring the other down, and to stay alive. Concerns for finesse or tactics were completely irrelevant and we used every dirty trick we could think of, willing to use any cheap move for an advantage.

Utilizing my greater mass to drive my slight enemy back, keeping up, staying too close for the long weapon, using my mass against superior strength and my shorter weapon against amazing speed I pressed on. His short, gnarly arms had surprising strength and the reflexes were just unholy. Only my greater experience and the plethora of nasty tricks I had picked up saved me from the deadly weapon swung by the Chaos warrior.

Finally, I spotted a gap in the defence and without hesitation I twisted the weapon aside and jabbed my left hand forward, using all my body and the full advantage of my augmented fingers to smash the throat of the enemy.

With a gurgle, the Anima stumbled back from the deadly hit. I froze.

"Cain! What in the Emperor's Name. Medic. Get a medic here!" Amberley's voice cried out, even as she rushed across the Gymnasium towards us.

Emperor's Holy Light. What had I done?

"Firrhhnee, me ok. Thank Cain. Was good. No mad, Amberley."

The Anima had caught herself, supporting her weight with her practice glaive, one hand rubbing her throat. Alive, and mostly unhurt it seemed. My whole body was shivering and with a clatter, my blade fell to the ground. Great, heaving breaths shook me as the world became unfocused before my eyes.

The blonde Inquisitor had arrived at our side now, and her furious glare at me I could feel even then.

"Cain! What do you think you were doing?" And without pausing for breath, she whirled around to the Anima, a smile on her face asking in a reverend High Gothic.

"Your Majesty, please hold on. A medical team will be here soon to attend to your Holy Self."

But the Senshi straightened up, her weapon held in an easy grip.

"Please, not. Me fine. Everything impeccable. Cain did good."

I was still in a state of shock, but the expression on Amberley's face as the Holy Anima herself reached out and patted her on the arm managed to draw me back in the present quite handily. In any other situation I might have failed to suppress a chuckle, but right then, I was still too terrified.

"Honoured Anima. Please, forgive me. I have no excuse for what I did." At least none I would try to voice with Amberley around, no matter how shell shocked she looked.

"No, no. Is fine. Me asked. Me gay. Good fight. Uhm, why Amberley Inquisitor here? Wanting somewhere?" Reassuring us with a shy, subdued voice, she shuffled closer to me, letting go of Amberley and ducking down a bit.

"I, I have come to ask for an audience, revered Anima. But it can wait of course, if your Majesty is indisposed right now."

My head was beginning to hurt from one of them speaking High Gothic and the other one staying in Low. Or maybe it was just the aftermath of the shock.

Had I really struck out against a Senshi of the Imperium? What had I been thinking? Even less than usual, it seemed.

I had been back on Naris I, reliving the brutal struggle against the Heretic; but to strike a killing blow against a Senshi… Blessed be her Divinity, at least She had been able to survive it; although that was scary in itself. I would have put good money on a strike like that disabling or choking an Astartes to death. Well, if it landed.

"Is fine. Changing clothes, conferencing in meat room, yes?" Straightening her dishevelled exercise clothes, the girl nodded to the Inquisitor, whispering her reply. I winced when I considered how it may stem from her hurt throat.

"I feel honoured by your generosity, Holy Anima. I will patiently wait for the audience"

Looking quite amiable and friendly once more, Amberley grabbed my arm and steered me towards the door. Even without the near painful grip I would have recognized her inner turmoil; she was still reeling. And probably going to rake me over the plasma coils for the rest of my short life.

Being all but bodily dragged around by an Inquisitor of His Holy Majesty was not exactly an experience I enjoyed, even if it was one as 'nice' as Amberley. At least she shoved me only in a small briefing room, and not a room suited for more… unpleasant activities of previously mentioned organisation.

"You know, Ciaphas, do you want to tell me why exactly you tried to assassinate one of the Holy Daughters of Mankind?" Her bright, saccharine voice hit me like a bucket of ice water.

"By the Princess, Amberley, you can't believe…" She interrupted my panicked outburst with a snort.

"No, of course not. I know you had a practice session of some kind or the other, but what were you thinking? I know you are one of the best swordsman in the Segmentum, but I have seen Astartes spare with less 'vigor'. And that last blow; Thank the Emperor that His Daughter seems to have the power to stand even against your most cockeyed plans. Else you would be dead right now."

The hard stare she gave me left me with no doubt at all what she would have done if I had seriously harmed the Anima. No matter our mutual 'respect'.

I faltered. My own voice sounded strange to me, so far away. The room was fading around me, giving way to a rocky field, strange sounds filling the air, swarms of flies covering the dead.

"I…I don't know, Amberley. It was like Naris I; the campaign… the 417th Alyrian. It was nothing special, but these weeks behind the lines. And that Cultist. I had seen the child, a few weeks ago. Before the heavy fighting started. Her head was adorning the pole arm. Still fresh, blood red, not black. I…"

"Sshhh, shh, it's okay, Ciaphas. You are on Hades VI. Here are no Cultists alive anymore. No pole arms. We are all with you. Stay with me." I don't know how it came to be, but I found myself sitting in a chair, Amberley in 'close' proximity to me, and gentle stroking my cheek. The cold terror and anxiety gave way to a much nicer feeling.

Naturally, the door chose exactly this moment to hiss open. I was beginning to suspect that the whole family had a crappy sense of humour.

"Ohhh…ohh. Me come back later?"

In this moment, I was sure that the fabricators of the red guardian's helmets were indeed very appreciated. Else I might have detected a smile on their faces or something equally unjustified and summarily executed the lot of them before they could derogate Imperial Morale any further.

The heavily flushed faces of the Anima, trembling hands and her downcast eyes did not make things much better, but never would I dream of retaliating against that which was Holy. Really, never.

With a fluid grace that did nothing to help my momentarily impasse, Amberley rose up and assumed a more dignified pose.

"Oh, of course not, revered Anima. Please, forgive our momentary lapse. We are delighted that you are willing to spare us a moment of your time, oh Holy One."

Inquisitorial training seemed to prepare one for almost anything, judging from the fact how fast and perfect she recovered her poise and switched to fluent High Gothic. I was less capable and awkwardly came to attention, while the Anima shuffled towards the next chair and set down, still avoiding to look at us. Seemingly concentrating on the legs of her civilian garb.

Judging from the Princess's behaviour, I should probably not ask Amberley later if there was an inquisitorial edict concerning the corrupting of His Daughters; and I am not talking about Chaos influences here.

"No worries. Me of course having time for brave agents of Imperium. Together, we all need."

"If Her Imperial Majesty would like it, we could commune in High Gothic. I am sure, none of the present would mind." A completely unnecessary, and brutal, glare hit me and I nodded most eagerly. Of course I would not mind to strain my mind and try to decipher the meanings of an archaic language after such a pleasant day.

The Anima perked up and even managed to raise her eyes to look at Amberley's face.

"Ohh… if that is in accordance with the preferences of Commissar Cain I would very much prefer the use of my native language. Please forgive me, but my grasp of the evolved version that seems to be in present use is extremely lacking and crude."

Amicable, the blonde woman at my side answered before I had translated half of the sentence.

"As I mentioned, I am very, very sure Commissar Cain would not mind it. First, I wish to apologize for the rather barbaric treatment that her Imperial Majesty had just to endure through the hands of said Commissar. Should her Majesty wish so, I will find some disciplinary actions suited for his transgression."

As the prudent man I was, my face turned promptly to a nice stealthy colour of pure white after I understood the words and I prepared to meet my Maker, and her Father, to beg for forgiveness. The visions filling my mind let me nearly miss the energetic head shaking of the Anima and her quite resolute voice.

"Ohh, absolutely not. It was my own request that brought the event to bear. All fault should thus lay with me. I merely wished to hone my own skills in battle. My sleep has lead to a diminishing in my skills, which have never been impressive in the first place. Several times my brothers had to point out weaknesses in my fighting style. Thus, to be able to stand up against any further fallen Astartes, I will need to improve my techniques. Commissar Cain and his expert fighting form is helping me admirably with that, and I hope we can work closely together in the future."

The length and complexity of the High Gothic went as far over my head as the average orbital shuttle, but from the colouring of the Senshi's cheeks and the look that Amberley gave me they were talking about my vivisection and following sacrifice to some unnamed dark deity.

Well, this impression had more to do with Amberley's look than any anything I sensed from the Anima, but inquisitorial enthusiasm made more than up for it.

"While this is only a small outpost base on the fringes of the Imperium, your Holy Majesty, I still hope that the assorted personnel have attended to Your every Sacred Wish and your Holy Majesty has not been displeased despite the turmoil surrounding the return of your Holy Persona."

"Oh, everyone has been very friendly and polite, Lady Inquisitor. I am more than happy to be here. Although…if it is not too much, I would like to make a small request, honoured Inquisitor."

The end of the Princess's speech had sounded quite timid and tender, something about a request. I braced myself for anything that may come and Amberley nodded her head in compliancy, obvious to the sheer danger our sanity may soon be exposed too.

"But most certainly, oh Sacred One. I am merely Your servant, what might You desire?"

Raising one hand and putting a strain of hair behind her ear, the Princess answered hesitantly.

"Might it be possible that you, and everyone else, would refer to me as Hotaru? I think it is nice that you hold father in such high regard, he is always so busy with one thing or the other; And in the end, he wants to keep everyone safe. Regardless, I would really prefer it if you would not use such religious themes when referring to me; it is scary."

I had little idea what they had talked about, but I was pretty sure that the Anima had requested something slightly improper. Judging from Amberley's twitching it was either a request for a holiday with her family or to mingle with the troops in some kind of tea ceremony, with the serving of the tea provided by the Holy Anima herself.

"Hol…Your Majesty, there are certain… circumstances to consider; protocols. Since the last time you walked the galaxy things have changed, the Imperium has changed. In all good consciousness, I can not advise you to radically change Imperial policies and customs."

A weary sigh escaped the form of our Subject of Worship and she deflated a little, and I was greeted with the sight of the person who had killed a Bloodthirster with a simple slash withdrawing in a shell.

"Very well; if that is really your desire, I will abide by it."

This time, Amberley positively cringed. I admit, had I not been the paragon of virtue and duty that I am according to Imperial Information, I might have felt a certain kind of amusement and smug pleasure that someone else had to discuss proper Imperial protocol with His Holy Daughter. But bravely, she pressed on.

"Well; yes, your Majesty, I believe that would help stabilize our current situation. Furthermore, I again wish to express my utmost concerns for Your plan to not evacuate Your Sacred Self and instead confront the Astartes onboard their own Battle Barge. I wish to point out that the risk for your own Blessed Person is extreme. The Angels of Damnation have clear orders, all the evidences they might see support these orders, and their dedication and, well, single mindedness has made them one of the most preferred chapters to be drafted for inquisitorial support. It shames me to say so, but in my opinion the possibility that they would open fire on Your Holy Self is almost a certainty, stemming from their own conviction in the mission and not recognizing your Holy Self."

A kind smile was her answer, all thoughts about a shell were forgotten and it was nearly as if the Anima of the Imperium was growing in front of us, her warm, soft presence filling the room.

"Thank you for your concern, Lady Inquisitor. But unless our assets can indeed evacuate the entirety of the planetary population, including our troops, the Exterminatus has to be stopped at any cost. There is no victory in trading one life for the other, there is only death.

All of us, no matter name, gender or position are only servants. Servants to humanity.

You, me, my brothers, my sisters, my father. We live for each other.

These are the words of Serenity, and these I hold dear.

My family has already given their lives for us. Their sacrifice shall not be forgotten. I will not falter and fall short of their example.

I am Hotaru, Senshi of Saturn, Anima of the Imperium, Guardian of the Princess Serenity. And by my will, the Imperium will learn to live again. Nothing less I will accept."

When her speech ended, my heart was light and my head cleared, I was ready to take on half a dozen gargants if need be, but I was even more ready to lay my weapons down and pick up the tools of a builder, a farmer or a medic.

But even more than her warmth and kindness I felt the utter strength, the sheer will of Herself filling the room. And I pitied the fool who might try to stand against Her.

"Yes, Your Holiness, it shall be as you say." Amberley's word were faint, awed; she too must have felt the sheer conviction, the vision that the Anima projected onto us; the Glory of Heavenly Divinity shining down on the mortals of a lost, forsaken world.

"Do not despair. The long night has not yet arrived. The darkness will abide by our light."

We needed a moment to recover from the sheer presence we had just experienced. It still came as a shock to encounter someone with such a power, such an ability to influence and project who was not a doomed Heretic sprouting blasphemous phrases of Chaos.

I shivered when I thought about her words; she had meant every syllable of them. Even more, she believed she was able to back every single syllable up. I was suddenly very afraid of the outcome.

"Holy Anima, we will fulfil you every command as you wish." I am not sure that Amberley really knew to what she agreed right then, I very much believe she would have reacted otherwise if she did. But I was only just beginning to grasp it, either.

The Holy Anima, the Daughter of the Emperor who had just inspired us and cemented our loyalty to her, blushed and shrank into her self, dispelling her super human quality to which she had ascended in our eyes.

"I…thank you, but please consider. It is not me that you serve, it is the Imperium that you serve. No. Even more, you should be serving Humanity."

Amberley nodded, finding her balance again and began to address the final item of our little briefing. She was as deeply moved as I was, but with iron will and discipline she suppressed anything else and focused on the points she wanted to make.

"Of course, your Holy Majesty. Nonetheless, there is something I feel I should bring to your attention, oh Sacred Princess."

Said princess tilted her head slightly and looked in askance at the Inquisitor.

"What do you wish to bring to my attention, Lady Vail?"

Slowly, the Inquisitor reached into her quite nice looking robe, which fitted her shapely body rather well, I might add, and retrieved the same small tube I had already inspected earlier.

"Recently, I have come in position of item, Divine Princess. It was planted within the chambers of a member of my entourage. We have no idea what it is, but it bears your royal seal, Sacred Highness."

Reaching out with a hand and, after a short hesitation from Amberley's side, picking up the tube, the Anima turned it around and inspected it from all sides.

"How strange. I have never seen an item like this before, and I can not recall it from my past. What is its purpose?"

Amberley offered s shrug, which managed well to confer that she didn't know frak, but the movement would have not been out of place in a palace of the nobility.

"We do not know, Your Holy Highness. Preliminary tests have concluded that it is no bomb, but that there is something small inside it. We did not find any mechanism to open it."

"I seen no either. Coming around lots have. Not small Adamantium dubes, at all."

Judging from the look Amberley gave, my High Gothic was actually worse than I thought. Well, excuse me. I had little opportunity to practice it with the average Guardsmen. And even I did not think it was a good idea to talk to myself.

Clearly pondering the object, turning studying it, the Anima replied, wearing a thoughtful expression.

"Hum, that is curious. And you say you have no information where it originates from? Maybe we should force it open, then; there is the possibility that we might find a hint about its purpose inside."

The blonde Inquisitor offered another regal looking shrug.

"Unfortunately, it's pure Adamantium, Your Divine Highness; while we do in fact have equipment to affect it, unless the content is also made from Adamantium, it will perish under the stress."

The girl nodded in acceptance, conceding the point.

"Then I would suggest we cut it open, carefully."

Hmm, I got the impression that my High Gothic was indeed worse than I thought. On the other hand, Amberley had also a mildly confused look on her face.

"Your Royal Highness. This is Adamantium. We can not cut it, only heavy weaponry of extreme yields is going to affect it."

The younger; well, maybe younger; at least younger looking female shrugged, far less regal than Amberley and replied blithely.

"If you prefer, I could cut the object open without causing stress for the inside."

Well, yes. We should have thought of that. Stupid of us.

My blonde companion choose just to ignore the ludicrous part of the statement and proved to me once more that she was a full fledged Inquisitor.

"That could be dangerous, Your Divine Highness; while several psykers have probed the object, there is still the possibility that it contains a plague of one of the dark gods, Nurgel."

Yes, that was a natural assumption after all. If I would plant a nigh indestructible object somewhere, it would obviously contain a deadly plague to kill the person who opened it.

Still, Amberley had a point. Maybe. Now that she had voiced it, I was not ready to bet the live of the Anima on it, either. Maybe there was a different, infectious plague in the room than we thought.

"Hum; well, yes. That might be a problem. I could just open it in space."

Obviously, my High Gothic failed me at this time. Responding to our stares, the Anima deigned to explain the wisdom she had just graced us mere mortals with.

"Ohh, well. Ami explained it to me briefly once. Interstellar space is a very good isolator or containment area. Small micro-organisms suited to atmospheric life have no possibility to survive the conditions of space, and will die within seconds, before they have any chance to adapt."

I still felt like someone had hit me over the head with a wet grox. That is not a pleasant experience, I might add. The average grox is quite heavy and adding fluids to it seemed to somehow only increase their smell. But I digress.

"Your Holy Majesty, I am not sure I understand the full implications of your plan?"

Amberley kinda looked like I felt, but at least she managed a coherent, if quite disbelieving sounding answer.

"Ohh. What I am trying to say is that I could teleport outside of the planetary atmosphere, and cut the object carefully open. Any pathogens inside should die nearly instantly then, its completely harmless."

I had the impression the Anima wanted to tell us she would teleport into space. Without protective gear. To cut open a tube made from pure Adamantium. But we shouldn't worry. She would cut carefully.

"That… is certainly a plan, your Royal Highness. But maybe we should use one of the air locks inside the base. Our Auspexes should tell us about any plagues, and we could equip your Divine Being with a Breather Mask. As a protection against any contamination, your Sacred Majesty."

It sounded like Amberley had pondered the various dangers the tube could pose for quite some time. But then, it kinda was her job. Still. What the frak? Outer Space?

Oblivious to my slight problem with some of the suggestions, the Anima nodded in agreement.

"That seems to be an excellent plan, Lady Inquisitor."

I hoped no one would ask me why I was standing outside this air lock. Or maybe I should hope for it. The explanation might get me at least some down time with the medicae.

While I still pondered the best strategy to achieve maximum downtime, and mentally reviewed the medicae with the biggest size of 'social skills' available to us, the air lock opened and the Senshi stepped out, wearing her full battle garb. One hand handling her weapon, the other holding a clear cut tube. Well, actually the pieces. It seemed the Senshi had indeed been careful not to damage the contents; and carefully sliced parts from one end till she reached the cavity. I decided to not dwell to long on the comparison between Adamantium and the average breakfast sausage.

"This item you brought is indeed quite mysterious, Inquisitor Vail. The only content was this stripe of papyrus."

The Anima did sound faintly curious, and not utterly baffled like I felt. She handed the stripe to Amberley. Using my height to its full advantage, I looked over her shoulder. There was a string of numbers written on the papyrus or whatever that material was. I had not even a clue what papyrus was supposed to be. The string of numbers looked suspiciously like a set of coordinates, followed by a Symbol I did not recognize. But judging from the intake of breath, Amberley did.

"This… is this what I think it is, your Royal Highness?"

The Anima nodded slowly, a happy, hoping note entering her voice.

"Indeed. We should travel there once the current crisis is overcome."