Chapter 25: Hope and Gathering Shadows
Reviewers:
m6l99: He had to come in sometime. Sure, send me any ideas you can want. I think the Gorn mainly focus on defending their space from any intrusion.
grayangle: Oh yeah, I remember now. Good point. What kinds of twists and turns would you like?
Lennox RH: Riker and Picard haven't found out, they only suspect. Halloway by now probably knows about the Emperor and Terra. I think the Emperor will likely be surprised and disappointed by how far the Imperium has fallen. Long live the Emperor!
oblivionknight7: Possibly. Where do you think he should appear first, Picard's ready room or Shadowclaw's command cabin?
BGTom: Excellent idea. But what if the Borg send a stronger force this time? Will Shadowclaw risk interfering in order to keep the Borg from assimilating Earth? Or will he have N'rok use the Shadow Warbirds? What do you think?
angelus288: They suspect someone new is out there, but they have no idea of who they are facing. I think the Emperor will be surprised and a bit disappointed. When the Emperor fought Horus, he completely obliterated his soul, so it would be nearly impossible to revive him. Still, Horus returning to the side of light is a tempting idea. I'll consider it.
trekkie27: Thanks! I know, but the Galors had been enhanced, and the Nebula could have been targeting the Torture class cruisers that were disguised as Galors.
Terra: the homeworld of humanity. Seat of power for the Imperium and home to the Golden throne. Halloway gazed out the view screen of the Valiant. They had been transported here docked to the Glory of Mars. Magi Dren was eager to get the Valiant to Mars.
Amberley and Emily were on the bridge as well. They watched as thousands of warships and defense stations swiveled weapons to bear on them.
"Don't worry. It's standard procedure," Vail said. "Terra is the most heavily defended system in the entire Imperium. In ten millennia no enemy has dared to attack."
"Amazing," Emily breathed. She had never seen anything like it. That she could remember anyway. Ever since her dream she had felt different, stronger. The girl she had met in her dream hadn't come back yet, but Emily knew she was there, just too weak to speak to her.
"Yes. It's been many years since I've been here," Amberley remarked, watching as Mars came into view. Surrounded by thousands of orbital stations, minefields and defense vessels, the surface of the planet was barely visible. "Mars, homeworld of the Mechanicus and chief forge world for the Imperium."
"So, what have your superiors said to you about your plan?" Asked Halloway.
"Many of them are extremely skeptical, most don't believe it would work. Even those who wish to try are afraid of what could happen in something goes wrong. You must understand by now Captain, considering everything I have taught you, that many high ranking members of the Imperium have become accustomed to the power they are able to wield in the name of the Emperor. They know that if He is revived their power would diminish."
"Yes. You told me," Halloway replied. During the long weeks of the journey to Terra Amberley had begun teaching him about the Imperium; its history, its ways, and its decline. He had learned of the Great Crusade, and how it had nearly resulted in a paradise for mankind. He had learned of how the High Lords ruled, some for the good of the Imperium, others for their own selfish desires. "Perhaps Magi Dren will be able to secure the aid of the Fabricator General, and you may be able to enlist the aid of the Inquisition. With those two organizations aiding us, surely we can succeed. You told me you have powerful allies."
"I do. But you must understand Marcus. The Imperium has been without the Emperor for ten thousand years. They will not simply welcome him back with open arms. There are even those who wish to let him die so he can be reborn as a true god. It will take a great deal of convincing, and a lot of luck to accomplish this. Be wary when we go down to the surface. Terra is unlike any place you have visited before. Be mindful of everything you do, and especially what you say. On Terra, one wrong word can result in you being declared a heretic and burned alive."
"I understand," Halloway replied. He watched as, slowly, Terra itself grew larger in the view screen. The entire planet was covered with buildings. Massive towers, visible even at this distance, seemed to reach clean out of the atmosphere. Massive orbital fortresses and defense monitors clouded space with their numbers. The Glory of Mars began swinging to port. A moment later Magi Dren's voice came through the comm.
"Captain Halloway, we have reached your disembarkation point. A shuttle is approaching. Once you leave for the surface, the Valiant will accompany me to Mars. There I will attempt to gain support from my colleagues. Good luck with your mission."
"Thank you Magos. I wish you success as well." A moment later Halloway saw a large shuttle angling to dock. The symbol of the Inquisition gleamed alongside the Imperial Eagle.
"This is shuttle Alpha seven five. We have been instructed to transport you to the surface. We will proceed with docking."
"Well, I think we'd better get going," Amberley said.
"Right. T'vol, you have the bridge. Emily, you're going to have to stay here."
"What! But, I want to go with you!"
"Emily, Terra is no place for a young girl. There are people there who could try and do things to you."
"But, I can handle them!"
"I'm sure you could, but if some of the people here find out about your powers before the proper time they could take you away and do all sorts of horrible things to you. I just don't want to see you hurt," Halloway said.
Emily looked her father in the eye, and saw that his concern for her was genuine. He didn't want something terrible to happen to her because she accidentally used her powers. She sighed.
"As you wish father. Just promise you'll take care of yourselves," she said to Halloway and Amberley."
"Of course. Now you be a good girl while I'm gone," he said as he and Amberley entered the turbo lift.
"Take care," she whispered.
Halloway and Vail stepped through the airlock and entered a different world. The lush carpets and soft curves of the Valiant were suddenly replaced with cold steel and sharp edges. Stone faced guards sat in unpadded seats, hands gripping the stocks of hellguns.
Halloway and Vail took their seats, Halloway flinching at the cold tough of the steel. He thought he saw a flicker of amusement cross the eyes of the guards, but it was gone in an instant. Several minutes later the shuttle began pitching and shaking as it entered the atmosphere. Ancient bulkheads creaked and groaned, and the smell of sizzling insulation entered Halloway's nose. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the shaking ended. The smell remained but got fainter. At an unseen signal, portals opened along the side of the ship, allowing Halloway and Vail a breathtaking view of the Imperial Palace. Kilometer after kilometer of sculpted stone and marble. Glittering crystal domes. Bustling lines of pilgrims, waiting in their million in endless cues, hoping to get a glimpse of the Palace dome.
Eventually the shuttle came to rest on a massive landing pad. Halloway and Vail walked slowly down the ramp, Halloway pausing briefly as the strong smells of landing fuel and the unfamiliar essence of Terra itself. He shook it off and joined Amberley. As he stepped off the ramp he saw several individuals gathered in front of them. Three wore the robes of Inquisitors; the other five were the same type of guards Halloway had seen on the shuttle. Amberley stepped forward.
"Captain Halloway. Allow me to introduce Inquisitors Kadfria, Hardel, and Lord Inquisitor Raskin," she said. Kadfria was tall and thin, with a hawk like nose and cold gray eyes. Hardel was tall and broad, with large muscles that indicated he was in the field a great deal. A power sword was strapped to his hip, gleaming with inlaid silver, matching the gleam coming from his augmetic right eye. Lord Raskin was the oldest of the group. Silver hair trailed down his back, and his beep blue eyes reflected a life of grief and war.
"It is a pleasure to meet you all," he said, bowing as Amberley had instructed him.
"I thank you for coming," Lord Raskin said. "I trust Inquisitor Vail had apprised you of the state of matters."
"Yes sir. I hope the data we provided will help convince at least some of your colleges."
"If I may interrupt," Inquisitor Kadfria said. "If the information you sent us is indeed accurate then you and your vessels come from another galaxy. A place where humans live a far more peaceful existence. Why would you risk your lives to help us?" Amberley had been right, Halloway thought. Kadfria was defiantly the most direct of the group.
"I will admit that, when my fleet first arrived here we were concerned mainly with returning to our home. However, contact with the Dark Eldar, and later the Necrons, changed my mind. The Federation believes in peace between all races." He noticed the dangerous glares from Kadfria and Hardel and quickly continued. "But after seeing the enemies of the Imperium for myself, I came to the conclusion that the humans in this galaxy need our help."
"And you would be willing to violate the laws of your 'Federation' in order to assist us?" Lord Raskin asked.
"Since the end of the Dominion War, Starfleet Captains were granted the right to make treaties and alliances with other races, as long as they were ratified by the Federation Council later. However, given the fact that we're unable to contact Starfleet, I have assumed the responsibility of doing what I believe is right."
"And these Nano Probes you intend to use to revive the Emperor?" Kadfria asked. "They are not of human origin?"
"No Inquisitor. They were created by a race known as the Borg Collective. They are one of the greatest threats in my home galaxy. However, their technology is extremely advanced. The Nano Probes are only one example. I trust you have read magi Dren's report on the Tactical Cube undergoing examination at Magnos Omicron?"
"Yes," Lord Raskin replied. "Fascinating technology, but if it was not made by human hands, how can we possibly use it?" The other Inquisitors nodded. Amberley had explained to Halloway about the belief that using any non-human technology would mean disaster.
"The humans in my galaxy have a similar belief, but with one difference."
"Oh, and what would that be?" Inquisitor Hardel asked.
"That any technology can be used for the betterment of mankind, as long as it has been modified by humans. Regardless of its origin, we believe that alien technology has its uses. Many of the Federation's greatest achievements were made with assistance from alien races."
"So you admit that your empire freely consorts with xenos?" Hardel asked, using the Imperium term for aliens. Fortunately, Halloway and Vail had come up with a perfect counter to that very question.
"Yes Inquisitor, but humans are still the central race in the Federation. Our greatest Captain once said that if you destroy humanity, you cripple the Federation. In my galaxy, the Federation gathers willing races together to provide mutual protection and development. However, all of this is done under the banner of humanity," Halloway said. He knew he was twisting the truth a bit, but it was necessary. It was mostly true. Humans were the central race that held the Federation together. He decided that now was as good a time as any to take the final step. "I, Captain Marcus Halloway, of the United Federation of Planets, hereby swear loyalty to the God Emperor and the Imperium of Mankind. I will do whatever is necessary to ensure human survival and dominance in this galaxy. All my ships and technology are yours to command."
The three Inquisitors actually looked a bit surprised for a moment. Raskin recovered first.
"Your offer is very generous. Now, I believe we have wasted enough time out here. I was instructed to take you the High Lords chamber. Please follow me," he said, and the group walked over to a transport which was already preparing for take off.
After half an hour of clearing security checkpoints and detours, the transport arrived at a gleaming silver tower. Landing on a slim docking pad, the group of six was escorted through hallways filled with statues of famous Imperial men and woman. Eventually they reached a pair of towering gold and silver doors, guarded by ten stone faced guards armed with bolters. Halloway noticed with a slight shiver that all of the weapons were loaded and ready to fire.
"This is it Marcus," Amberley said. "Beyond these doors the fate of the Imperium will be decided. Then, with a brief nod, both of then, along with the Inquisitors, stepped through.
Meanwhile, the Valiant was docking with a Mechanicus station. A few minutes later teams of tech priests, led by Magos Dren arrived and began digging into various systems. Commander T'vol observed and made sure they didn't touch any sensitive equipment.
"Commander, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for allowing my people access to your vessel. Rest assured, the technology here will go a long ways towards strengthening the Imperium," Dren said.
"I am pleased," T'vol replied. "Captain Halloway instructed me to provide your people with any assistance you require."
"Then we will begin at once. I can only hope your Captain's mission to Terra is proceeding as well."
Down on the surface of mars, two figures sat surrounded by shadows.
"Recent events have severely compromised our plans," one of them, an extremely old man with a hunched back said.
"Indeed. These Nano Probes these new humans possess could possibly pose a threat to the Machine God," the other man, a slim figure with clouds of metallic tendrils flexing around him replied. "We must act."
"Yes. We have kept order for ten millennia, and it shall not be disrupted now. I had hoped that this day would never come."
"As had I. The Machine God must rise to defend the order of the galaxy once again," the second man replied.
"I wish you success," they said to each other, then walked into the shadows.
How was that? Halloway and Vail are about to address the High Lords of Terra. Who are these two mysterious men? What are they planning to do? What is this machine god they spoke of? Keep reading and find out. In the next chapter the Dark Elder will make the next step in their covert war. Also, the Borg will make an appearance soon. Will Shadowclaw and N'rok get involved?