Ignis in Vacui Chapter 12

Furion glowered at passing serfs as he marched, trailing after the Captain with Arvael, Cortha, Persion, Novak and Jediah in tow. They were not really headed anywhere, more pacing to vent their irritation. The mortals quailed as their transhuman masters strode past, able to recognise their indignation at a glance. Furion knew they had done nothing to deserve censure but the Storm Heralds were in a foul mood and such ire could not be contained. Furion knew why all too well, the gall of the Diasporex Captain expecting Space Marines to ally with aliens, not to mention the affront of the Administratum and Inquisition supporting such a notion. Furion held the mortals to be lucky that the Storm Heralds were such a tolerant and rational Chapter, he was certain the Black Templars or the Ashen Knights would have killed them on the spot for such dishonourable conduct.

As they walked Toran was saying, "We will dispatch Astropathic messages and summon the Chapter's full might. Together we will break these Orks and annihilate the threat."

Furion commented, "That will take time, the Orks won't simply sit around and wait for us to be ready."

Thoughtfully Toran explained, "We will stay in the system and engage in harassing actions to keep them off balance."

Furion was glad to hear it but had to mention, "We have taken heavy casualties, even with the recent recruitment efforts we are barely half a Chapter."

Toran turned a corner and remarked, "Victory requires sacrifice, we cannot afford to baulk at the cost."

"What of the Diasporex?" inquired Furion.

"I gave them guarantees of free passage but no more than that," Toran stated, "They can take their goods and depart but if they remain in the system when the Chapter arrives they can expect no mercy."

Furion was glad to hear that guests but then he spied the forms of Hevostan and Memnos approaching, in a great hurry. The pair skidded up to the group and called, "Captain! The archives, the archives have been violated!"

Furion blinked in surprise as Toran barked, "What?! What archives? Start at the beginning."

Memnos drew in a breath and said, "There has been an intrusion into our Logic-engines. Somebody bypassed every info-ward and data-defence we have and rooted around in our sealed archives."

Furion gasped, "What did they take?"

Hevostan replied, "They had access to everything but they focused on personal records, full transcripts of gene-seed screenings, biological appraisals, mental assessments, after-action reports and spiritual evaluations. She seemed especially interested in you Captain."

"She?" hissed Toran suspiciously, "You know who did this?"

"Aye," Hevostan replied, "She left a footprint we couldn't miss, it was Vevara."

"Vevara," Furion growled, "She's gone too far, this cannot stand."

Toran barked angrily, "Legatus or not she shall answer for this!"

Toran led them at a full run, travelling at the astonishing pace only Astartes in armour could produce, crossing the ship at a pace no mortal would have believed possible. The others followed in his wake, anger burning in their hearts at this treachery. Furion felt his wrath building, he did not know what game this clerk thought she was playing, but she would be made to regret it.

In minutes they had reached the Legatus' quarters, a large suite of rooms set aside for dignitaries and visitors. The squad didn't even pause to open the door for Novak threw himself at the hatch with his full weight behind him. Solid plasteel, designed to hold back the vacuum of space, met the heft of an Astartes and it crumpled instantly, folding inwards with an almighty crash.

The squad instantly poured through the hatch, their training telling them not to risk being bottled up in the narrow confines. They spread out into the room beyond, covering the angles and alert for threats. The Legatus had to know they were coming, and could well have set a trap. Yet they did not find what they expected.

Beyond the debris of the ruined door the room was modest in its décor, merely a few hanging tapestries, a small shrine and door leading off to bedchambers. Set in the middle of that room someone had positioned a low table, which bore a small box and a pot of Tanna with porcelain bowls. Around that table were three high backed chairs, and in one sat Vevara, sipping at a bowl of Tanna.

Furion saw the woman look up at their boisterous arrival and realised that there was no alarm or surprise in her face. She looked calm and confident, relaxed even, as if she wasn't being confronted by the bolt pistols of half a dozen angry Astartes. Vevara paused for a moment then lowered her bowl a fraction and remarked, "Was the door-handle stuck?"

Furion blinked at the non-sequitur but Toran stepped forwards and barked, "Do not play your games with us! We have uncovered your perfidy!"

Vevara sighed and put her bowl in her lap as she said, "Firstly, you don't have to yell every single word. Secondly, you didn't uncover anything, I tripped your feeble wards on purpose."

Furion was getting confused and hissed, "Why would you do such a thing?"

Vevara smiled coldly and explained, "To get your attention, I needed to speak with you urgently and in your current state of mind I thought you would brush me off."

Jediah pushed forwards and growled, "Enough word-games, let me peel her skin off and prise the answers out of her."

Vevara lifted a single digit and said, "Before you do that, I suggest one of you look in the box."

Furion glanced at the table, wary of traps but the box was plain and small. Toran looked curious but Furion stepped up to examine it closely. He knew a thing or two about demolitions and he inspected the box minutely, half-thinking it was a bomb. After a minute he was satisfied that it was clean and he looked to Toran who nodded, then the Chaplain opened the box. What he found inside though was worse than a bomb. It contained two items, a vellum scroll and a lozenge of silvery metal. It was set with cross guards at either end and banded by eldritch markings; with a grinning skull set half-way along its length. It was an Inquisitorial Rosette.

Furion's head snapped up to stare at the woman and she grinned triumphantly as she said, "Allow me to reintroduce myself: Inquisitor Vevara, Ordo Xenos."

The squad shrank back at that, and Toran hissed, "You are no Legatus."

"No," Vevara replied, "But Sadik is, he was most put out when I co-opted his role but he wasn't going to argue with an Inquisitor."

Furion probed, "Why the deception?"

"Wrong question," Vevara stated, "The right question is: why am I not afraid for my life. The answer is in that scroll."

Furion looked down again and hesitantly picked up the scroll; he unrolled it and read the contents. Then he gasped loudly and felt his knees go weak as he declared, "It's a Carta Extremis, declaring the Storm Heralds Excommunicate Traitoris."

Horrified gasps arose from all; this was the ultimate sanction, the death sentence of all they had known. But Vevara lifted her voice to say, "You may note that the scroll is missing the stamp of the Inquisition, it's not official without it that seal. But know that with a word from me it will be, or rather a lack of word. This is only a copy you understand, the real one is safely ensconced on Tectum, but should I fail to return in good health then it will be issued and your entire Chapter will be cast out as Traitors."

Stunned silence reigned and then Toran hissed, "Everybody save Furion, get out."

Slowly the squad shuffled out and the three of them were left in the room. Vevara motioned the Space Marines to sit and Toran and Furion lowered themselves down, then the Inquisitor said lightly, "Tanna?"

Frigid stares were her only response but Furion twisted his helm off and spat, "You seem to have this all thought out."

"I have you over a barrel," Vevara laughed, "But don't pretend you don't deserve it."

Toran growled, "We have done nothing. If you speak of the Emperor-worship then know our Chapter has abandoned such practices."

Vevara snorted, "You think that's what this is about? No, this is about you Toran, you and your ways. Did you think you were being subtle all these years? That we wouldn't notice? Starting a civil war in your Chapter, covering up the existence of an Abominable Intelligence, letting a renegade Chapter go free and killing Inquisitor Canesh?"

Furion and Toran shared a loaded glance but Vevara laughed, "Oh please, if you're going to kill an Inquisitor you shouldn't go and give your champion her sword. Astartes; all the subtly of a brick."

Toran sank back forlornly and whispered, "So my Chapter is to be condemned for my actions."

"Hardly," Vevara snorted, "Canesh was a known Recongregator; you did me a personal favour killing her. Shame you didn't do it again really."

Furion was suspicious and ventured, "You're not here for us, are you? This Carta, it's your leverage… Zerban, you're here for Zerban."

"Very sharp," Vevara commented, "Yes, your Chapter is a nuisance and you have managed to annoy people in very high places but that is nothing compared to Zerban's crimes."

"What do you have against Zerban?" Furion pressed sensing an opening.

Vevara set her bowl down and explained, "Officially, Zerban is accused of being an Istvaanian."

"Like Canesh?" Toran asked.

"No," Vevara replied, "Canesh was a Recongregator, they want to change the Imperium, something I bitterly oppose. But Istvaanism is a creed of conflict; they start wars and brew up strife, all for a mad belief that war makes Mankind stronger."

Furion detected the hanging lure and took it saying, "And unofficially?"

Vevara smiled coldly and said, "Unofficially Zerban was on a fast track once, set to rise high. Yet nobody does that without making enemies, powerful enemies. But now his position has slipped and all those he trod on have drawn their knives. He is living on borrowed time and he knows it. There are many who would wish to see his end, so desperately that they would even rescind this Carta, if you could arrange matters for them."

Toran blinked and said, "You are Ordo Xenos and Zerban Hereticus. Shouldn't you be concentrating on the alien threat?"

Vevara waved off his concerns, "The Ordos aren't fixed jurisdictions, we go where we will. Especially when one of our own needs taking down."

"You dare to threaten an Astartes Chapter over a single man," Furion mused then dared, "This is more than some routine investigation. This is personal, your need to take on Zerban is all-consuming; it drives you to take insane risks. Why is that?"

Vevara leaned back and arched her fingers before her as she said, "Let me explain something: I do not believe you to be heretics but that won't stop me destroying your Chapter. I don't care about you. I don't care about your pride, your honour or your ideals. I don't care about your record, your history or your battles. You are nothing but a means to an end to me. If you do exactly what I say I will rescind the Carta, but defy me and I will have you cast out."

Furion was astonished by the change in this woman, she was utterly cold and ruthless now and he believed absolutely that she would do it. He swallowed and said, "What do you want?"

Vevara replied, "Zerban set up this meeting for a reason, I want to know what he's scheming, so I want you to play along. You will go back to the Diasporex and tell them you have changed your mind, that you will gladly fight beside them."

"You compel us to forfeit our honour," Furion hissed.

"Your honour or your Chapter's survival," Vevara proclaimed, "Choose one."

Toran lowered his head and muttered, "It seems we must comply."

Vevara replied, "Don't be so morose, this is an opportunity for you, if you play your cards right. The Orks are a genuine threat to the Imperium, you can destroy them and Zerban has long sought your extinction, you might bring him down."

Furion glared angrily at her but knew they had no choice. For the future of the Storm Heralds they had to obey, he could only hope they could find a way to survive this with some shred of honour left to their names.