Captum Ante Chapter 34

The cold night air hit them hard, tingling over their skin as they descended the stairs from the arched entrance of the Librarian's tower. Arvael, Corac and Quomas hurried down those stairs and dashed away, jogging between patches of light cast by lumen orbs. All around them serfs went about their duties, wrapped up warm against the chill. The planet Lujan II had an unusually slow rotation and nights lasted for Terran days, so the natives had developed their own system of sleep cycles that allowed them to function.

Arvael glanced back as he jogged along, seeing the Librarian's tower blotting out the stars with its half-kilometre height and immense girth. It was an imposing edifice, covered in gargoyles and wards of abjuration. This was the first time he had set foot outside it since his training in the Librarius had begun and he was interested to see the rest of the Fortress-Monastery with his own eyes.

Everywhere he looked new buildings had arisen; their walls blank save for the signature marks of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Less than a decade ago the planet had suffered under the invasion of the Chaos Lord Vorshaan and the Fortress-Monastery had been the scene of the last battle. Only the most desperate and foolhardy of defences had secured victory, a most improbable triumph that was still the talk of the Chapter to this very day.

Arvael hadn't been recruited then and the distant island he had been born on was too remote and insignificant to have attracted the invader's attention. Still he had seen the aftermath, the crumbling ruins and smoking craters left behind. In fact the Librarian's tower was one of only a handful of buildings that hadn't been toppled in the fighting; the rest had needed to be rebuilt stone by stone. In a way it was remarkable how fast the Chapter had rebuilt, the Fortress-Monastery was almost complete but the psychological scars might take centuries to fade.

Arvael reflected upon this, seeing the serfs labouring in the construction scaffolding high above. Many of them had been born here; others had been failed aspirants, a fate that he could not imagine for himself. A serf before them was supervising a team of heavy-lift servitors but soon got out of the way as he saw his transhuman masters approach.

As they carried on Corac said, "What could this possibly be about, why does Echeb need us?"

"Master Echeb," Arvael corrected him, "I don't know either, we will find out when we get there."

Quomas mused, "Launch bay seven, that's a Thunderhawk facility, are we going off-world?"

"Maybe," Arvael mused, "But it would be highly unusual, we haven't completed our training yet."

"Does that mean we will get issued power armour?" Corac asked.

"I doubt it," Quomas replied, "That has to be earned, you two have Force Weapons, I haven't even started on mine yet."

Arvael saw the looming bulk of the launch bay ahead of them, the closest to the Librarian's tower. It was a plain and unlovely cube of Ferrocrete, bereft of the traditional ornamentations the Storm Herald's favoured. Decorating had been a low priority during the rebuilding, restoring functionality had been considered more important. The trio slowed as they approached the doors, guarded by a pair of gun-servitors. The blank-faced machines ran biometric scans as the Acolytes closed then lowered their heavy bolters, letting them pass. Arvael led them into the launch bay, entering a space filled with the looming bulk of half-a-dozen Thunderhawk gunships. Each one was surrounded by teams of Enginseers and serf-artisans, lovingly tending to their charges with soothing chants and blessed unguents.

They were proud and mighty machines of war, soaring eagles of the sky and void that made Arvael's twin hearts flutter to gaze upon. They were a promise of violence writ in Plasteel and Ceramite, the medium by which the Chapter delivered the Space Marines to war. Each one was a blessed and revered relic but only one of them had waiting passengers. Two men, radically different in every way possible.

One of them was a giant in thick Ceramite armour, covered in eldritch runes and with many scrolls that hung from his belt. A Psychic hood framed his weathered skull and he had flaming comet icons engraved upon his greaves. In one hand he held a weighty staff, topped with a large blue crystal that was surrounded by three gold rings, so that it resembled a small orrery. It was Chief Librarian Echeb and he looked mightier in his full regalia than Arvael had ever seen him.

The other was slighter and much shorter, wearing a grey body-glove and a hooded oilskin cloak. He was a shadow in the Chief Librarian's wake, almost unnoticeable next to the mighty Psykanna Primus. It was Caius and Arvael was most surprised to see him here. Echeb saw them approaching and spat, "Finally, get inside now. We need to take off immediately."

Arvael, Corac and Quomas hurried up the Thunderhawk's ramp and quickly found places in the troop compartment. The gunship was designed to carry thirty Astartes at a time so they had plenty of choices. Arvael threw himself into a restraint cage and pulled it down over his head, then he grimaced and pushed it up. He took his Force Weapon from his belt, where it stabbed into him and stowed it in the weapon holder then pulled down the cage and locked it shut. The restraint cage was designed for warriors in power armour so it felt a little loose around his frame, clad only in a short robe as he was. Yet it was more secure than Caius' arrangements, the serf had to strap himself against the wall using some cargo netting, bundled up like a crate of Bolter ammunition. Echeb locked himself into a restraint cage and a second later the gunship's engines powered up and the craft leapt away.

Arvael felt himself being pressed into his cage as enormous G-forces crushed him down. He saw Caius was going grey as his mortal heart struggled to pump blood to his head. It was a fast take-off and they swiftly broke the sound barrier, leaving the island behind to fly out over Lujan II's endless oceans. Arvael knew there was no point asking the pilots to do anything less. Thunderhawk crews didn't believe in operating under anything other than active combat parameters. Their attitude was that if the throttle levers weren't jammed into the red then there wasn't any point in taking off at all.

After a minute the G-forces subsided as the Gunship reached supersonic cruising speed and some colour returned to Caius' face. Arvael breathed easier and looked over at the Chief Librarian who seemed lost in thought. After a moment Arvael dared to ask, "My Master, what is our mission?"

Echeb gazed at him imperiously then said, "Tell me Arvael, what do you know of Lujan II's late governor?"

Arvael sighed; it was typical teacher behaviour to answer a question with a question. He wracked his brain for a moment then said, "The former Lord Governor died during the invasion, he was killed in the first wave. Shortly afterwards an Atonomic bomb was detonated in the Capital city, levelling it entirely and irradiating the whole continent of Ka Lua. The entire ruling class and their servants had to be evacuated due to radiation poisoning, few survived."

"Correct," Echeb then he moved on and said, "Corac, tell me what happened next."

Corac replied by rote, "A new governor was elected, Akon Keli'i, a rich merchant whose family practically owns the primary spaceport on Lujan II. He subsequently moved to a new Palace on the continent of Ka Mua, the planet's industrial heart."

"An acceptable answer," Echeb stated, "Quomas, tell me of Akon Keli'i."

Quomas gulped to be picked out but hesitantly said, "The Lord Governor's rule has been troubled, his administration struggles to manage the multitude of complications involved with the rebuilding. Work keeps being stopped by resource shortages and off-world trade issues. He is also surrounded by baseless accusations of personal corruption and nepotism."

"They're not baseless," came the voice of Caius from the corner, "The man's greed is boundless and he cares for nothing save lining his own pockets. His rampant embezzlement of funds has lengthened the task of rebuilding by decades."

Arvael was shocked to hear that and said, "My Master, why would the Chapter tolerate this?"

Echeb scowled and said, "Civilian affairs are beneath our concern, we are warriors not counting clerks. As long as our ability to wage war is unimpeded we leave the administration of civilian matters to mortals. Unfortunately, that line has now been crossed; Akon Keli'i has been foolish enough to divert defence spending to his own pocket, interfering with the construction of replacement orbital defences. This cannot be tolerated so I shall have words with him, to express the Chapter's displeasure."

Corac and Arvael shared a glance, both imagining the Lord Governor's reaction when an angry Astartes Librarian kicked in his door to explain matters to him.

Corac spoke up to say, "So we are here to stand with you?"

Echeb shook his head and said, "No, you have another mission, one that requires great subtly."

Arvael was confused and said, "My Master, what are you saying?"

Echeb paused, a strange reaction then said, "You would not have been told this until later in your training but there are certain assets the Chapter wields that are not common knowledge. You know that we have many sources of intelligence: Astropaths, visionaries, patrol ships, Imperial reports and so forth. What you do not know it that we have a few private ones. Select proxies and mortal contacts who operate out of sight and report to me alone."

Arvael was stunned, he had no idea that such a thing was occurring and he blurted out, "Does Chapter Master Gorgall know of this?"

"Gorgall knows not to ask too many questions," Echeb snapped back, but then he said in a softer tone, "All Imperial institutions have their own network of agents. The Astartes will never openly admit it but we do too, even the Ultramarines have their Vigil Opertii. Our regular Brothers want to think of themselves as noble heroes and we of the Librarius strive to let them keep thinking that way. Nobody wants to know where we get our intelligence from, as long as it points true."

Arvael absorbed this as Quomas asked, "What are we to do then?"

"One of our contacts has vital intel for us," Echeb explained, "Normal routes are too slow, we must collect it in person. The second we land every eye will be on me, every spy for every Imperial institution and private interest. I will draw their attention away while you escort Caius in secret to rendezvous with our contact. Keep him alive and obey his every word."

"Him?!" Corac spat, "You want us to take orders from a Serf?"

Echeb fixed him with an angry glare and barked, "Caius has more experience at this than all three of you combined, he can walk where you cannot and talk to those you cannot. When he speaks he does so with my full authority and you will obey him as you would me!"

Arvael gulped and said, " We understand my Master."

"Good," said Echeb, "Now two more things: one this will be the first time you are operating outside the Librarian's tower so you will no longer enjoy the protection of its psychic wards. Your powers have been tested and your training is sufficient for the task. You have license to use your abilities if necessary, but only if necessary and only if there is no alternative. You are not to engage in needless battles or show off like a Lexicanium on his first deployment… Corac I am talking to you."

"I hear and obey," Corac stated promptly.

Arvael dared to ask, "And the other thing?"

Echeb drew in a breath and said, "Everyone knows that the Storm Heralds Chapter does not conduct clandestine operations and we especially do not let Battle-Psykers out among the civilian populace. You are ordered to ensure that idea remains common knowledge, not a whisper of this can be allowed to spread."

Arvael was confused but Quomas was the one who pressed, "What does that mean?"

Caius leaned out and said, "What he's saying is that if we should be detected then you are to leave no witnesses alive to tell the tale."

Arvael gulped at that statement, and he wondered what it might imply. As the Thunderhawk tore across the sky he could not help but ponder on what they were about to walk into.