817.M41
Segmentum Obscurus
Koronus Expanse
Marani nebula
edge of the Zeta Marani Interstellar Debris Field
Bridge of the Tiberius, Excelsior-class grand cruiser, flagship of House D'Romas

After being alerted to danger, a portion of the D'Romas fleet moved into position on the edge of the Zeta Marani debris field. The cruisers Tiberius, Lictor, and the Emperor's Lance formed up with two frigates and four destroyers from the fleet while the rest of the fleet remained in place guarding the Nova Roma system. The warships at the debris field were joined by the three void ships from the Adeptus Mechanicus which had arrived in system as part of the Ceres presentation: the Omnissiah's Wrath, a Victory-class battleship, a Secutor-class monitor cruiser named the Terminus, and a Lathe-class monitor cruiser named Planar Intersection.

Vitus sat in the command throne of the Tiberius. He still wore his power armour but had removed his helmet, setting it on the side of the command throne. The Eldar-crafted blade was strapped to his back while his new, and enormous, bolt pistol was still attached to his hip.

Vitus took a look around the bridge at his crew. He could feel the tension rolling off many of them.

Mother Vostod was still wearing her blue dress with blue gloves as she stood over Vishnu who was plugged into the control panel through the Navigator harness. They were cool as always. Chief Astropath Gupta stood in brown robes, awaiting an order. His lowered hood revealed his bleached bald head and made his sightless and all white eyes visible to all. Vitus could feel the Astropath's impatience. He was itching to perform his duties. Datasmith Turing stood silently in his red robes without making the slightest movement. He exuded no emotions at all. Lady Azzurra was still clad in her form fitting black dress but had added her power spear to her back. Knight-scion Gustav stood beside her in her boots and uniform, her face unreadable. Vitus could feel the confidence and readiness of each. Vitus took a moment to note how lovely Sarcasin looked in her dark crimson dress. Focus, he reminded himself and forced his attention to the woman standing beside Sarcasin, Sister Sasha. The Sister wore her bone-coloured robes with her hair tucked under a long nurse's cap bearing the red fleur de lis of the Adepta Sororitas. The Master of Scanners and all the senior officers were dressed in their crimson uniforms. Each of them as well as all the lower ranks stared at him intently. They were the source of the tension. I need to alleviate that tension before we begin, Vitus told himself.

"Vox Master," Vitus said to the communications officer. "Patch me in to the entire ship."

"Aye, Lord D'Romas," answered the officer. The crewman quickly made adjustments on the panel in front of him.

Vitus reached out with his psychic senses to link himself to as many of his crew as possible throughout the kilometres of ship and then spoke into the vox.

"Commissar Commette informed me that a distress beacon was received from the elseways path beyond the Zeta Marani debris field," Vitus said. "The message was from the Astral Hopper of Captain Fultur who joined us alongside the void clans. They were under attack and the message was quickly terminated." Vitus paused to ensure that everyone understood the gravity of the situation. "Although I gave no order, Captain Fultur went against my stated wishes when he ventured down the path in the direction of the Cinerus Maleficum."

"Investigation of the debris field after we discovered this void within the nebula determined that the wreckage of the Vestrim dynasty fleet was scattered throughout it. Also present was the unidentified wreckage of xenos vessels." Vitus looked around as he spoke and finally settled his gaze on the Sister. "The high concentration of radioactive elements led Sister Sasha to the conclusion that the wreckage is of Rak'Gol origin." Sister Sasha nodded her head in acknowledgement. "The Rak'Gol are attracted to artifacts and remains of the Yu'Vath. The structure we destroyed on the forbidden planet in the Cinerus Maleficum was corrupted by the Yu'Vath and emitted a siren call that led voyagers to their doom. I believe that call was answered by the Rak'Gol and pointed them here."

There were several gasps from the lesser ranks in the bridge but most kept quiet. There was nothing from Datasmith Turing. Lady Azzura and the Knight watched him coolly. Vitus felt pricks of anxiety throughout the ship.

"More importantly, it appears that the conflict between the Vestrim dynasty and the Rak'Gol ended in mutual destruction," Vitus continued. The crew became ghostly silent. "A fleet consisting of a Sword-class frigate and two destroyers was wiped out here but also eliminated their adversaries." Vitus felt the spark of hope begin to form within the crowd. "When coupled with our allies of the Adeptus Mechanicus, we consist of a battleship, five cruisers, two frigates, and four destroyers." He paused, then said, "Our frigates and destroyers alone wield twice the firepower of the Vestrim fleet."

Vitus sat calmly in the throne as he felt the hope rise within his crew.

He sprang to his feet. "Today, the Emperor will have his vengeance!" he bellowed. "We will be the instruments of His wrath on the Rak'Gol!"

Vitus looked about his crew. "Join me," he said.

"For the Emperor!" he screamed.

"For the Emperor!" echoed the crew on the bridge. Vitus could feel the crew throughout the Tiberius echoing his cry. Sarcasin stared at him.

"Death to His foes!" Vitus yelled.

"Death to His foes!" answered the crew and Vitus felt the response throughout the ship. Sarcasin's stare hardened.

Vitus felt the uneasiness from Sarcasin. Something I said troubled her, he instantly recognized. No matter. There is no time. They will be upon us soon. He then spoke aloud. "Astropath Gupta. Guard your mind and communicate to the rest of the Astropathic choir to do so also. Notify the choirs of the other vessels in our fleet too. Inquisitor Sarcasin, prepare yourself."

"Vitus, what are you going to do?" asked Sarcasin, worry filtering out of her once calm demeanor.

Vitus did not answer her. He merely waited silently and watched Chief Astropath Gupta. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Gupta nodded.

They are exiting the elseways path, but remaining in the warp. I can feel it. Vitus drew his Eldar-crafted bladed and it came to life with fire on its edge. Now, if I can just momentarily duplicate that siren call, they should drop out of the warp to investigate it. He reached for the warp and wrapped himself in it, then funneled it through the blade and into the void. He closed his eyes with the strain and dropped to one knee. The flame vanished from his blade.

Vitus heard moans and gasps, then opened his eyes and stood. Sarcasin was on her knees, clutching her head in her hands. Astropath Gupta tried to stand up from his knees but could not. He fell onto his face.

"On your feet, now!" Vitus commanded to Gupta.

The Astropath took heart and rose to his feet as did Sarcasin. "What did you do?" he said in bewilderment as he held his head in his hands.

Vitus did not answer him. "Master of Scanners! What do you see?" Vitus snapped at the officer. Then, into the vox, "Lance Guncaptain! Choose targets and prepare to fire!"

"Aye, Lord D'Romas," came the response over the vox.

"Holy Terra!" said the Master of Scanners. "Range, thirty-five AU. Eighteen unidentified vessels." His nervousness bled through

"Target and fire, Lance Guncaptain!" commanded Vitus.

Lights flashed on the Master of Scanners' display. "Direct hit, my Lord!" he said with glee. "Scratch one filthy xenos vessel!" Suddenly, the lighting on his display went crazy. "The Lictor, my Lord. She fired her nova cannon," he said in awe.

The control panel of the Master of Scanners calmed a moment and then went crazy again. Simultaneously, the Navigator panel showed readings off the charts. Vishnu stared at it in disbelief.

"The Omnissiah's Wrath," said Vitus smugly. "She fired a rift shell from her nova cannon."

"My Lord, I can't get good readings," said the Master of Scanners. "The interference from the rift shell has left my scanners blind."

Vitus leveled his gaze at his officer. "Reconfigure the scanner's machine spirit and fix it now!" he said. Without a word, the officer immediately began the reconfiguration process. Then, Vitus spoke back into the vox. "Lance Guncaptain! I have faith in your skills! You may fire, when ready!" He then turned to Vishnu. "Navigator! As soon as the Guncaptain fires, pilot us to starboard! Turn our broadside to them!"

"I've marked them," said the Master of Scanners. "The filthy xenos are turning too! What's left of them." He smiled.

Vitus nearly laughed at how the poor officer's emotions rose and fell by the second.

"They are turning toward the warp storm," said Mother Vostod. "They are going to jump back into the warp and head up the elseways path beyond the storm."

"The Lance has fired," said the Master of Scanners. "Another fire each from the nova cannons of the Lictor and Omnissiah's Wrath. No rift shell this time."

"Run without firing a shot?" asked Sister Sasha doubtfully. All eyes turned toward her. "Reports say they are fearless."

"Yes, running without firing a shot," answered Vitus and all eyes turned back to him as he stood tall and towered over the bridge. "They are confused and afraid. I can feel it"