Chapter 52: Preparations

The Delta slowly maneuvered into range of one of the Heaven's Light's starboard docking ports. Auriel smiled as she felt the ship's spiritual energy wash over her, more comforting and warm than any bath. She had been away far too long.

"Captain Belker, would you care to accompany me? I'm certain High Priestess Serina would like to meet you."

"All right," Belker replied. As he and Serina entered the turbo lift, he heard another small explosion. The ship was badly damaged and needed serious time in a spacedock. "So, can your people help repair my ship?"

"I'm sure we can arrange something. Your technology could be invaluable to us as well. Perhaps we can work out a trade." The turbo lift doors hissed open and Belker and Auriel walked the short distance to the airlock. The far door was richly decorated with lines of script and gold inlaying. The door opened without a sound, revealing three people there to greet them; a man, a woman and a child, all wearing flowing white robes. "Lord Shoren, Priestess Serina. It is so good to finally see you again." The three adults embraced each other warmly. The girl stood to the side. "Can it be? Lady Emily?"

"Yes, it's me. I missed you Auriel."

"But how did you make it back to us?"

"You can thank your friends for that. One of their ships found me on a world where I had lost my memories, and eventually Serina was able to locate me. There is a great deal for us to talk about, but right now I sense your friend has something to say."

"Yes. My ship is badly damaged and many of my crew are injured. I would greatly appreciate any help you could provide," Belker stated. Serina smiled.

"Of course. Have your wounded taken to our medicae, and I will have my engineers examine your vessel. We owe you a great debt for returning Auriel to us."

"I have gathered a great deal of information Priestess. I will prepare my report," Auriel said and quickly vanished into a nearby building.

"Captain, would you care for a tour of the ship?" Serina asked.

"Thank you, I'd be delighted." Belker looked over his shoulder and saw several medical personnel moving patients through the airlock. He hoped these people could get his ship up and running soon. He had to inform Imperial Command about the theft of the Holdout.

"If you would follow me," Serina said. She led Belker to the medical center where he saw white robes doctors treating his people, but some, ones with a golden symbol on their gowns, didn't use any tools. Instead they placed their hands over injuries and a blue white light shone out. Within seconds flesh wound vanished, bones were mended, and even old scars were healed. "These Angels specialize in healing both mental and physical injuries. They rarely leave the ship except to treat injured on worlds we visit to secure supplies. That is one of the things I wish to discuss with you Captain."

"You want access to our technology," Belker replied. "I know that much from Auriel."

"They would aid us greatly in feeding our civilians and replenishing our ammunition, as well as our defenses and travel. I know you are not supposed to trade advanced technology, but when you return to your world you could speak with your superiors could you not?"

"That I can do. Once the Delta is repaired I'll bring your proposal to Starfleet Command. Do you think you could send an ambassador back as well?"

"It would be risky. Only a few in the Imperium know of our existence. When you return to Terra, I will have one of my allies contact you. He will speak for us. Is that satisfactory?" Serina asked.

"I suppose," Belker replied. Serina smiled, and her face seemed to light up.

"I know you don't fully trust my people, but I speak for us all when I say our goals are simply to keep the Imperium safe until the return of the Emperor, which according to our visions, will be soon. When the time comes for the final battle against the Dark Gods and their followers, we will fight with you."

"I hope my superiors think the same as I do. I personally believe you're on our side, but it'll take more than just my word to convince them."

"We'll just have to hope then. Come, there's more I have to show you." Serina took Belker's hand and led him into a teleporter.

After several hours of touring the Heaven's Light, Captain Belker returned to the Delta. He had a lot of work to catch up on. Serina teleported herself to Auriel's quarters and found her meditating. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

"You did not Priestess. I was simply recovering my strength. Being in the Eye for so long has weakened me, but I will be fine in time. I learned a great deal of information that will prove valuable to us. One of the most important I learned only a few days before I was rescued. The Dark Gods have replaced Abbadon."

"Replaced him?" Serina asked.

"Yes, their new leader known as Darkstorm. My former host was summoned to a council the day I was rescued. Priestess, I feel that this Darkstorm will become one of the Imperium's most deadly foes."

"That may be true, but times are changing Kuna. The Emperor shall soon return, and when that occurs we will fulfill our destiny and fight alongside him. I will send your information to my ally on Terra. He will know what to do. The final battle shall see the fate of the galaxy, and either Chaos or the Emperor will triumph."

"The victors will be us Priestess. The Dark Gods cannot hope to stand before the combined might of the Emperor and all of humanity, and now that Lady Emily is back with us, our chances are that much greater. She stopped by earlier and told me about her crystal."

"Yes, a soul as powerful as any I have ever sensed. She is certainly Apex level, possibly even above. She created our order, and now here we stand, poised to take the final step toward our destiny."

"Indeed Priestess. You should contact your ally, for every moment our enemy grows more powerful."

"Yes. I will return soon. It has been far too long since we talked." Serina turned and slowly exited. Auriel returned to her meditation, reaching out and feeling the great power of the Heaven's Light seep into her. It would take time, but eventually she would once again be a senior member of the Angels of Light.

Glutfoam Ironhelm, formally Edward Damson, looked out upon the Chaos shipyard. The thousand colored clouds of the Eye shimmered in the distance, and Ironhelm no longer feared to look upon them. Darkstorm's mark kept the lesser daemons away from him, and his own abilities were evolving as well.

Dozens of ships were docked at the spider shaped yard structures. Though he had only been in the service of Warmaster Darkstorm for a few days, he had already come up with many useful technologies. His partner on the other hand, an Iron Warriors Warsmith named Gaster, was a constant annoyance. He was always taking Glutfoam's projects apart and examining them. He was also a never-ending chatterbox of questions, often disrupting Ironhelm's concentration.

"Ironhelm, have you finished the schematics for the heavy lances yet?" Gaster asked as he entered the lab which looked out over the shipyards. His two power arms extended from his backpack and began recombining components and downloading data. Though he had grudgingly admitted the Warsmith was a genius in technology, he had no experience with the delicate components of Federation hardware.

"Yes, it's under file D398B4. And next time could you please knock? Or would you rather have this entire dock vanish in an anti-matter explosion?"

"You would do well to show me respect, worm," Gaster growled. "I could easily kill you in an instant if I wished."

"I doubt that. I am the Warmaster's favorite, and the last thing you would want to do is attempt to harm me." Ironhelm listened to Gaster's growing growl with pleasure. He had a dozen different ways to kill the Warsmith already, but he was useful. Together he and Ironhelm had already come up with a way to nearly double the strength of Lance batteries, and new shields, transwarp engines and a dozen other technologies were already being prepared for fitting to the Chaos ships. Soon Darkstorm's offensive against Cadia would begin, and with the new technologies being developed, this time it would succeed.

"One day your usefulness will end, and then we will decide once and for all who is superior."

"I look forward to that day," Ironhelm replied, already thinking of various places to hide a bomb on Gaster's shuttle. The wisest didn't fight; they found ways to make their enemies destroy themselves. As Ironhelm returned to his console a messenger entered, bearing the seal of Darkstorm.

"Forgive the intrusion my Lords, but Warmaster Darkstorm summons you to a council on the surface," the small man said in a trembling voice.

"Very well," Ironhelm replied, grabbing several data pads and sliding them into a hip pouch. His black and crimson uniform seemed to drink in the light around it, making it seem as if Darkstorm was always standing in a deep shadow. As he stalked out of the chamber his cloak seemed to half turn into mist, and when the messenger turned to follow, his leg accidentally brushed against the trailing edge. Instantly his lower led was sliced into a hundred pieces. Ironhelm turned his head at the sound of the man's screams. His blood was pooling on the floor. "Oh, I forgot to mention my cloak didn't I? Never touch it." As Ironhelm and Gaster off, the small man heard the sounds of approaching daemons.

The shuttle ride down to the surface was uneventful. Daemons flew by, some in packs as well as solitary hunters. Two moons hung in the sky, one of fire and one of ice. The surface of the planet itself was pitch black and covered with fog which hid hunter daemons who devoured anyone who set foot on the surface. No mortal could hope to last more than a few minutes, and that was if the daemons were in a playful mood.

Finally Darkstorm's fortress loomed on the horizon; a massive black structure with bolts of warp lightning dancing between the towers and occasionally striking the sea of liquid stone which surrounded the fortress. As the shuttle approached a section of the rock rippled and opened into a landing bay. As soon as the shuttle was through the rock flowed together, becoming a solid mass once again. As soon as the ramp was down Ironhelm and Gaster emerged, Gaster staying behind Ironhelm as his cloak hissed anytime Gaster got too close. A man dressed in an elaborate crimson robe was there to greet them.

"Greeting Lords. The Warmaster is expecting you," the man said, his head bowed and his hands at his sides. He motioned for the two lords to follow him. He led them down several long corridors lit by torches that burned with black fire. They cast terrible shadows on the walls; shadows that moved of their own will. They slithered along the rune inscribed walls, hissing and clicking. Several of them launched themselves at Ironhelm, but his cloak flashed and cut them into tiny shards of darkness, banishing them back to the Warp.

Finally they reached the central chamber of the fortress. Warmaster Darkstorm was waiting at the head of a large circular table composed of black marble and liquid stone which flashed symbols across the table's surface. Others were present as well; Ahriman and the Chaos primach Magnus of the Thousand Sons and several high ranking daemon princes.

"Well, now that everyone is finally here," Darkstorm said, "we may begin. I have received work from my spies that Cadia is receiving massive upgrades to its defenses. That means we must strike soon. Ironhelm, Gaster, hat progress have you made?"

"My Lord, we have completed the plans for heavy lance batteries and improved torpedoes, and we are currently working on upgrading shields systems and ECM generators, among other things. I estimate we will be able to begin full refit operations on the fleet within two months, less if you grant me more resources."

"Very well. Magnus, Ahriman, what of your progress?" Magnus, his eyes burning with warp fire and his massive body glowing as if not wholly corporeal, stood and grasped his staff. Ironhelm felt his soul quiver at the amount of power the daemon primach was giving off. His eyes were endless passages of knowledge and secrets. Ironhelm barely managed to avoid becoming trapped in his gaze.

"My sorcerers and I stand ready Warmaster. Our spells will ensure the forces of the corpse god fight each other long before we even arrive. Then I will claim Cadia for myself. That is the price if you wish my aid."

"Very well," Darkstorm replied, though Ironhelm detected a slight annoyance in his tone. "Now, let the invasion begin." The center of the table shifted and a ruby crystal emerged from and projected a detailed map of the Cadian Gate. "Now then, each of you will move your forces and attack. If I agree we will proceed. Now, let us begin."

Cadian System:

Archmagos Sepher felt his ship drop out of transwarp at the edge of the Cadian system. His convoy of eleven mass conveyers had departed Magnos Omicron two weeks ago, carrying equipment and weapons to reinforce the Cadian Gate. Their escorts, a trio of Dictators, three Federation Nova class science vessels and a refitted Mars class battlecuiser, took them slowly through the massive numbers of defending warships and orbital platforms.

"This is convoy Alpha Trinity 615 to Cadian Orbital Command; we are inbound with defense supplies and orbital assets. Please advise approach vector."

"Copy convoy 615, transmit security codes." A stream of data was beamed to the command station and several tense moments passed as hundreds of gun turrets tracked the approaching convoy, ready to obliterate it in an instant. "Security codes verified. Approach on vector 161 mark 9."

"Confirmed. Tec Priest Olin, once we enter orbit begin deployment of the weapon platforms."

"As you command." As the convoy entered orbit, communications were exchanged with the surface and soon thousands of orbital weapon platforms were released from the cargo ships' holds and placed into orbit with small tractor beams. The platforms were based on a Cardassian design acquired by the Federation, but were constructed of heavy ablative armor and armed with 3 phaser lances and 1,000 plasma torpedoes. Two of the supply ships each released several power generators. The size of an Excelsior class starship, they were protected by regenerative shielding and heavy armor. Immediately the platforms came online, weapon arms deploying and shields humming with energy. The platforms had been staggered so they formed several concentric rings around Cadia.

Governor Primus Alexander Ghenma had read the reports on the new weapons. They were impressive to say the least. Soon the Mechanicus would deliver components for several new battle stations. Until then, the Ramilies Star Forts and system monitors would be upgraded as much as their systems would allow. The Chaos offensive would come soon, that much was certain. But Cadia had fought the forces of Chaos for ten thousand years. Its people had been bred and raised for war, and by the Emperor, they would hold the line until every last one of them was dead.

"Sir, we've received confirmation from the surface. We're clear to begin transporting away teams," Lt. Charles Montoya of the Nova class vessel Fair Country reported. Starfleet had sent the three science ships to conduct an extensive research operation on the Cadian pylons to determine what about them repelled the energies of the Eye.

"Good, just remind them to watch themselves down there. Cadia can be a dangerous place," Captain Maynard.

As the hours slowly ticked by, Maynard tried to pass the time by counting the ships and stations in orbit, but it was impossible. Hundreds of tiny craft flickered on and off screen, and warships blocked the view of many more. The Chaos attack was coming, of that there was no doubt. Captain Maynard only hoped his ships would be far away when it happened. His vessels weren't suited for heavy combat, and he'd be damned if he let his crew die here, so far from home.

Terra:

Lord Inquisitor Sinval knelt before a statue of the Emperor. His personal mansion was located several hundred kilometers from the Emperor's palace. The light from outside was dim as the sun set over the massive towers in the distance. For the last several hours Sinval had felt something in his head, a slight pressure he had felt only once before. Serina was trying to contact him, which meant she had urgent news. Sinval recited prayers in High Gothic and felt his mind empty. He concentrated until he could hear Serina's voice.

"Lord Sinval, I have urgent news. Several hours ago, a Federation starship appeared near my vessel. They had just escaped from within the Eye of Terror. They brought word that the Dark Gods have selected a new leader, someone called Darkstorm. I believe he will lead an attack on Cadia very soon."

"Cadia is already being reinforced Priestess. Soon construction will begin on new battle stations, and already thousands of new weapon platforms were being deployed. When you speak to the Federation Captain again, tell him you have received Inquisitorial authority to grant access to all Federation technology and data. When the Chaos invasion begins, your vessel may be needed."

"As you wish Lord Sinval, and than you. I will contact you again." Sinval waited until he felt Serina's presence withdraw from his mind before calling for his personal shuttle. If Serina was right then he had much to do, and very little time before the great war began.

How was that? So, will Darkstorm break through the Cadian Gate? Will Serina and the Angels of Light join the battle? And when will the Emperor return? Keep reading and find out. In the next chapter, something will happen that will change the Federation forever. Well, see ya all then, and don't forget to review!

ENTILZA