817.M41
Segmentum Obscurus
Koronus Expanse
Marani nebula
outer asteroid belt of the Epsilon Marani system, Nova Roma in High Gothic or New Rome in Low Gothic
The Grand Hall of the Ceres, Ramilies-class starfort

Once construction of the colony on Capitolinus began, Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus worked feverishly on the Ceres to fully awaken its machine spirit and return the starfort to its former glory. Finally, the original plasma reactors were brought fully to life and the life sustainers were fully activated throughout the starfort.

Inquisitor Sarcasin stood on the steps of the Grand Hall. She wore a dress of similar cut to the one she wore at the presentation of the D'Romas warrant to Vitus, knee length and sleeveless, but of very dark crimson rather than the bright red she wore on that occasion. Her boots were a matching hue. The dark crimson she wore was offset by the gold arcane jewelry laced into the knots in her hair as well as the golden Inquisitorial Rosette on her chest and the golden holster carrying her bolt pistol.

Live music began and filled the Grand Hall.

Inquisitor Sarcasin looked down the steps to the seating box that contained the band. Brass and woodwinds and drums with the performers dressed in a variant of the House D'Romas uniform. This began nearly one standard year prior in that box onboard the Xerxes, she said to herself. As it began, so shall it end. It has come nearly full circle.

Where are you, my young psyker? Sarcasin said in her mind as she scanned the crowd for Vitus to no avail. In front of the xenos spire on Palatinus, you would have left with me for Terra at a snap of my fingers. She sighed. Then responsibilities weighed down upon you. Since I taught you how to create a kine shield, I have spent the last ninety days chasing you from void ship to void ship and planet to planet in this system. You have even resorted to using Mathis to misdirect those I tagged to follow you, she sighed.

I have tied down those threads of fate trying to steer you from your proper course, she continued in her monologue to herself as she overlooked the Grand Hall. I have made arrangements with Arch Magos Mendel Sabine to care for the genetics of the void clan Navigators in return for the opportunity to study Alidyne's notes. My mentor, Inquisitor Lord Macarus is arriving with his retinue to oversee the fortification of Palatinus while he takes us back to Holy Terra. Marshal Medicalus Quincy of the Officio Medicae will arrive alongside Macarus with the resources and personnel to build the first hospital of Nova Roma. You know Lady Azzurra is both supremely capable and most willing to accept the warrant of House D'Romas.

Frustration built in her. You tower over everyone around you like a giant and they flock to your side but I can't find you. Where are you hiding? Sarcasin scanned the crowd for Vitus again. She noted that the audience was not nearly so full of powerful personages as that day in the Scarus sector. The crowd consisted mostly of members of the void clans as well as a number of Tech-Priests representing the Adeptus Mechanicus but the armed forces in service to Vitus were not amongst them. At least he learned from his studies in the Scarus sector and made sure not to repeat the mistake of Hellican's Triumph, she said to herself. He recognizes that Chaos shrouds his ability to read portents and does not wish to have his military forces caught in celebration. My young psyker has learned fast, she told herself with a bit of pride.

Sarcasin noted the stage area too was vastly different from that day on the Xerxes. Behind the podium were three great crimson curtains with gold tassels. The middle curtain, a stretch of fabric greater than fifteen metres in height, bore the insignia of House Aurelius, a silver sword and silver spear crossed over a golden shield. To its left was raised a wide curtain bearing the symbol of the Adeptus Mechanicus, a skull that was white bone on one side but black machine on the other, set over a cog with the colors reversed. To its right, was another curtain, roughly eight metres per side, also bearing the symbol of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

The Inquisitor gave up on finding Vitus in the crowd and focused on the table.

The void clan elders stood apart from the others at the table. Mother Vostod looked uncomfortable in her long blue dress with long blue gloves. Her long black braids were unchanged, still hanging in her face and hiding her third eye. I don't believe I have ever before seen her wearing anything other than robes or pants, thought Sarcasin, amused. The Mother was surrounded by the other heads of the void clans. Mother Lorval and Mother Aniad and Mother Belmor stood around Mother Vostod. Father Arnborn was there too. All had dark hair and dark eyes. They were dressed in clothing that would have been out of place months earlier aboard the Xerxes. Simple and old pants and shirts in brown and black colors. They also wore gloves and hats. Still hiding their varied mutations from me as well as being too stubborn to enjoy themselves with fine clothing, she told herself. Perhaps, once production begins in New Rome, they will learn to enjoy the fruits of their success.

In front of the desk stood Lady Azzurra in a form-fitting black knee-length dress with a crimson sash. Her long golden hair lay upon her shoulders. She is confident tonight and appears ready to assume the mantle as head of House D'Romas, thought Sarcasin. To Azzurra's right stood Knight Lord Gareth Aurelius, attired in a dark blue greatcoat bearing on its right shoulder the same symbol as the massive middle curtain, a silver sword and silver spear crossed over a golden shield. A scabbarded power sword was strapped to his back and a bolt pistol was holstered on his right hip. On Azzurra's other side stood her seneschal, Thomas Garus, in a black great coat and black pants. Both men had curly dark hair and both were tall with a dark complexion but that is where their similarities ended. Aurelius was thick and muscled with broad shoulders while Garus was of narrow frame. He is unusually nervous tonight, Sarcasin said to herself as she looked at the seneschal and psychically felt his emotions rolling off him. A tall woman with short cropped black hair stood in front of the trio with her back to Sarcasin. She wore a dark blue greatcoat similar to that of the Knight Lord. A bolt pistol was holstered on her side and a chainsword was strapped to her back. A new piece. I do not like this. Behind them were three Tech-Priests. The form of Arch Magos Babbage was an enormous presence in his red robes with a multitude of digited mechanical arms protruding from various points. To the right of the Arch Magos stood a slender Tech-Priest with four snake-like appendages attached to his back and protruding from his red robes. His entire face was a mechanical construction. To the left of the Arch Magos stood a red-robed figure, hood pulled up, with no visible augmetics. The figure's curves made apparent her sex.

"Greetings, Val," whispered a voice into the Inquisitor's ear that made her jump.

She looked over her shoulder to see violet eyes staring into her own. Vitus smirked and then stood tall, towering over her. He was wearing what appeared to be little more than a large white linen sheet held in place by a dark crimson sash. Only ninety days since we walked side by side on Palatinus? The House D'Romas tailors cannot keep up with his growth and have been forced to dressing him in a bedsheet, she incredulously said to herself as she noticed his height and weight while looking at his attire. He has grown to more than two and a half metres in height and has filled out even more in the same span of time. If I had not received verification of his genetics from the Phobos Tertius tests I would be questioning this. Without another word, he simply walked past her to stand by himself near the podium as Lady Azzurra walked up to the podium.

A thought struck home in the Inquisitor's mind. Have my senses become dulled? Vitus should never be able to slip up on me like that. Another thought struck home. I would have noticed if those I was watching had noticed him. They didn't notice him either.

Sarcasin's thoughts were interrupted when the band ceased playing and Azzurra's voice rang throughout the hall. "Greetings to all," she said. "There is still much work to be done in the name of the Emperor and, at the request of Lord Vitus D'Romas, I will make this short. First, allow me to introduce to you the newly anointed High-Fabricator of the Beta Marani system, Arch Magos Halaster Babbage of the Adeptus Mechanicus." She stepped away from the podium.

The new High-Fabricator lumbered away from his two compatriots and stood in front of the podium. A slender appendage emerged from his robes and interlocked with the surface of the podium. As soon as the connection was made, a mechanical voice began broadcasting across the Grand Hall.

"Greetings," said the Tech-Priest. "Allow me to start by giving credit to Tech-Priest Alaina Gaithert." He paused and the red-robed priestess of the Adeptus Mechanicus gave a quick bow. "I followed the flow-chart of possible interaction results of the crowd and determined that the best response was to allow my un-augmented assistant to prepare my statements. It has been statistically verified that her compositions elicit the proper responses from audiences consisting of personages who are not a member of the Adeptus Mechanicus." Babbage paused and there was a small amount of clapping amongst the audience.

"First, as the Quest for Knowledge is the prime concern of the Adeptus Mechanicus, I have assigned a Tech-Priest to explore alongside the D'Romas dynasty. Cybernetica Datasmith Maxwell Turing." One of Babbage's many visible appendages pointed to the snake-armed Tech-Priest. A round of applause erupted from the audience but the Tech-Priest did not respond in any visible fashion. "Datasmith Turing will be accompanied by a number of servo-automata to aid him which have already been loaded onboard the Tiberius." The motionless Arch Magos paused in his speech. "There is more. Datasmith Turing is a member of the Legio Cybernetica of Beta Marani Secundus and the assigned programmer of a maniple of battle-automata." One of Babbage's appendages flourished and pointed to the left curtain.

The curtain began to raise, revealing five robots behind it. In the middle were three robots floating in the air with one more robot standing on each end. Each floating robot appeared as a giant wingless insect encased in a rust-colored carapace. "In the middle are three Vultarax stratos-automata," stated Babbage. "Each is armed with an arc blaster as well as two Havoc missile launchers. The endurance granted their machine spirits by the Omnissiah makes each an exceptional choice for exploring gas giants as well as rocky planets with toxic atmospheres." The robots located on each side appeared similar to a snake with a hooded head raised as a threat. A hooded head surrounded by a number of snake-like appendages, two of which wielded blades. Each battle-automata also had a ballistic mechadendrite to which was mounted an enormous weapon. "On either side of the three Vultarax is a Hydra-class battle-automata. Each is armed with two power swords and a man-portable lascannon wired directly into its power supply. Battle-automata never show mercy to enemies of the Imperium."

Applause rippled amongst the crowd. Ha, Sarcasin laughed to herself. Most have little understanding of the significance of this addition to the D'Romas expedition.

"Furthermore," continued Babbage, "The Adeptus Mechanicus has restored an ancient archaeotech piece onboard the Tiberius to its glory. The mighty lance battery in the prow of the Tiberius has been repaired and returned to operation." The applause was loud in response to Babbage's words.

Where did he go? Sarcasin asked herself upon noticing that Vitus had disappeared from his spot near the podium.

Not used to altering his course in response to human emotion, Babbage continued his speech in the same tone in the middle of the applause rather than waiting for it to die down. "Knight Lord Gareth Aurelius has always been a friend to the Adeptus Mechanicus. He has a few words to say."

As Babbage disconnected from the podium and shuffled away, Knight Lord Aurelius stepped up to it. "We have been most fortunate to join with House D'Romas in their conquest of the Koronus Expanse in the Emperor's name," he said. "In honor of their service to Him and as payment for leading us to a new world to call our own, House Aurelius names Knight-scion Karina Gustav to travel with the D'Romas dynasty, waging war in the name of the Emperor." The young lady with short black hair and wearing a House Aurelius greatcoat took a quick bow which was answered by applause from the crowd.

The tall curtain in the middle slowly raised, revealing what it was behind it. The crowd grew silent in awe as two enormous blue robotic feat became visible. Finally, the curtain fully revealed what it was hiding. A nine metres tall Imperial Knight war machine bearing the heraldry of House Aurelius on its chest. The enormous bipedal Knight armour had its right arm fabricated into an enormous gun and its left arm ended in an enormous fist. Its broad back was covered by an enormous carapace. "This is Knight Gustav's armor," said Aurelius. "It is a Knight-errant class Imperial Knight armed with a thermal cannon and a thunderstrike gauntlet."

There was no applause as the audience stood in awe. Sarcasin stood in awe too.

The un-augmented Tech-Priest, Alaina Gaithert, looked at the crowd and then began to slowly clap. Her clapping was joined by one and then another until the entire crowd was clapping in a near frenzy. Vitus does seem to have a gift for cultivating success, she said to herself as she clapped alongside the crowd. What could possibly remain behind the third curtain to top this? Aurelius smiled broadly and walked away from the podium to stand by Lady Azzurra and Knight-scion Karina.

Babbage shuffled back to the podium and reconnected his snake-like appendage to it. His mechanical voice filled the Hall. "Finally, the Adeptus Mechanicus will impart a gift personally to Lord Vitus D'Romas. A side project that I have been working on under the auspices of the Master of Masters, Belisarius Cawl. Since Vitus first came to prominence for his service on Phobos Tertius in the Periphery, I thought it pleasantly coincidental that a gift from the Adeptus Mechanicus would originate from the Martian moon Phobos."

A single man wearing the uniform of the D'Romas band stepped around the curtain. In his hands he bore a great horn in the shape of the High Gothic "G". The musician gave a long blast that filled the hall without benefit of a vox. The lights extinguished, filling the Grand Hall with darkness.

Suddenly, a great red light filled the stage. An enormous figure in dark crimson power armor holding a sword, ablaze in red fire, stood where the last curtain had been moments before. Its breast bore the golden heraldry of House D'Romas, an eagle inset within a laurel that it grasped. The armour had golden pauldrons over each shoulder with the left pauldron being much larger than the right. The joints at the knees and elbows were golden too and the entire unit fit together sleekly. An enormous bolt pistol was attached to his right hip. The helmet bore a featureless face.

The crowd did not make a sound.

Babbage gave Vitus a new pattern of power armour? Sarcasin questioned in disbelief. Then, she caught a glimpse of the packs attached to its back. A permanent power supply and a grav-chute? she said to herself in disbelief. A featureless face on the helmet. What will the Mechanicus place there when production begins? A skull?

The blade's flame extinguished and a great spotlight shone down upon Vitus.

"Thankyou," Vitus said, his voice amplified to fill the hall by the vox within his helmet. He dropped to one knee. "Mighty Emperor, I thank you. I will act as your Herald as I travel the void seeking to bear your Word to the lost tribes of humanity and unite them under your banner."

Vitus rose to his feet like lightning. The blaze ignited upon the sword's edge as he raised it high. "For the Emperor!" he shouted, his voice filling the Hall. "Say it with me!" he added. "For the Emperor!" he said again, joined by a few within the crowd. "For the Emperor!" he repeated, joined by more. Again and again. The entire crowd joined in exhortation. Vitus remained silent as the crowd continued the chant.

The flame extinguished on the sword and the crowd became silent.

I believe Vitus has finally climbed to the heights in his service to the Emperor, Sarcasin told herself with a smile as she psychically felt the excitement engulf the crowd. Now, to take my young psyker to Holy Terra to be bound to Him before he falls from those heights.

"Ahem," said a voice over the vox. All eyes turned back to the podium where Lady Azzurra stood tall. "I do not know how I can properly follow that, but I have an announcement to make." The crowd remained silent. "Knight Lord Gareth Aurelius, soon to be High King of Aurelius Prime, has asked for my hand in marriage and I have accepted." An enormous smile filled her face.

Applause rolled through the crowd. Sarcasin felt happiness fill the crowd but a sharp pang of anger and sorrow was present within it. She looked through the crowd for its source. Thomas Garus? I should have known, she told herself as she spied his face. If he thinks to loosen this last thread I have seen tied down, I will kill him.

Suddenly, claxons rang throughout the hall and everyone froze.

What trouble is this? Sarcasin asked herself. Trouble great enough to put the entire starfort on alert? No sooner had she said those words to herself, did she feel the threads of fate she had tied down begin to spring free from their pinnings.

The claxons continued.

The End of Episode 3

The next episode, a Call Answered should be posted on September 7th