The Jade Road
I do not own 40k content except OC's: All content goes to Games workshop.
Ultima Segmentum- Dendroth cluster- Hiveworld Kundora Hive 1
As night began to smother the hive spires of Hive 1, the rain rolled in fast and hard. Typical of the wet season, it hammered the sleek and rain resistant features of the hive, creating torrents of water to fill the streets and into the cities water systems. Some would be used by the city, some will be exported to those less fortunate in the Imperium, and the rest pour out into the tropical forested mess that covered the rest of the planet. They tried for many years to rid the world of this mess for further development, but such plans have long since been scrapped.
Yokar Heidheim, son of Sector Govener Jaques Heidheim, sat in his office. For a man of his wealth and social standing, it was uncommonly small and rustic. It was better than anyone else in the hives could hope to afford and maintain, but its soft and muted rural decor and Jade green accents of his house clashed with the magnitude of the man who worked tirelessly through this night, sending letters, communications, and instructions to his minions through runners and Vox channels. Lighting another Lho-stick and downing another cup of Recaf, he lay back in his chair and looked to the room.
Though a tall and well-built man of his early 30's, for a man of such noble and high-ranking birth he looked as if he had seen a life of work. He was world and work worn in appearance, many of the normally soft and elegant features of such a highborn were chiseled into more rugged and stoic features. His green eyes matched the shade of jade green that his night robes and his house's banners. Over the left side of his face and down his neck was that of a long, snaking draconic creature, a beast of great power and nobility in ancient terran myths he grew up on. His silent contemplation of matters was interrupted by a knock on the heavy artificer worked doors to his office.
"Enter." He said simply, neither having the time or energy for mere concerns of décor.
"Forgive me my liege, I brought you more refreshments." A old, yet comforting voice said as his butler Turas walked in.
"Thank you Turas. I don't know what I would do without you." He said with a small smile as he cleared his desk of some finished records and put them in their proper place.
"You shouldn't be up in such dreadful weather. The emperor's tarot predicted this years rains will be especially horrific." Turas said as he set the large platter of refreshments down.
"My father hardly doesn't do any of his. The only real work he's ever done in his life is fathers bastard children to throw to the slums." Yokar answered, refilling his recaf cup from the pot.
"Surely for the sake of your agenda would it not be preferable if you got some rest?" Turas asked, rasing his wrinkled, white haired eyebrow.
"Give me the evening rundown and I might consider it." Yokar said as he readied his quill to attack another letter.
"We unfortunately lost 3 operatives in the assignment to delta sector." Turas started, his voice turning from concerned to business in but a single breath.
"We can't afford to keep taking such losses." Yokar said grimly, staring at a map of the sector on his desk.
"We have 50 new recruits that are being trained, with 2 of the previous selection being ready to be assigned." Turas continued.
"Better than nothing." Yokar muttered.
"Finally, we have finally received our shipment of munitions from the ammunition guild contact, with a extra half shipment as a sincere apology for the delay and mix up." Turas finished.
"Divert resources to the ammunition guild, we cannot have such things in the future." Yokar ordered.
"Of course, sir." Turas answered with a bow.
"One more thing before you go. Take the weekend off Turas, I'll ensure you are paid for it." Yokar said as he leaned back.
"I am most deeply honored sir." Turas said thankfully.
"You do more work than anyone here. You deserve. Deliver those orders and take your leave. Tell Martha my regards." Yokar said, looking at his butler with a smile.
"Of course, sir. Do have a good night." Turas said as he left.
"One more appointment and I'm off to bed. I promise." Yokar replied before the door closed, leaving him with silence once more.
Yokar sighed and looked over at a statue of the Emperor. It was only about as tall as a man, but its fine marble features were enough to immediately make anyone look at it. There were days he looked long and hard at it, pondering the teachings and inner meanings of imperial thought. As if to gain something from it that has not already been found. Once again the sound of knocking broke his concentration, though this time it was of a much softer and timid variant.
"Enter." He said pleasantly, turning around in his chair.
The looking forms of two enforcers, each clad in Jade green and platinum trim flak armor contrast the dark bodyglove they wore underneath. Enforcer boltguns and autopistols sat at the ready clipped to their sturdy belt harness's. However, what was between the hulking forms of the lawmen was what interested him. A young, bright looking man, thin and pale wearing scribes clothes stood timidly between them.
"Herath, I'm glad to see you had arrived." Yokar said with a jovial smile.
"Thank you my lord, but I don't believe the escort was necessary in the spire…" Herath tried to say but was cut off as his liege stood up.
"Nonsense. I believe in proper security, and you never know what ruffian some fool might accidently let inside the spires these days. Especially after the market day incident. Dreadful business." Yokar said, walking up to the younger man and wrapping a thick arm around him.
"Oh, why thank you my lord." Herath said both surprised and happily, "Though I don't understand why you would wish to see me at such a frightful hour."
"I read the recent report you did on Hive ganger utilization and their potential uses, and I wish to discuss the topic with you. Tell me, what would be in your mind the most efficient and resource efficient usage of these misguided ruffians?" Yokar asked, having singular intent with his question.
"T-that my lord is simple. It would be to round them up and train them as PDF forces, or if failing that sort of a garrison militia force. They are already hardened fighters, and if given proper training and equipment, they could prove to be passable in defending prepared position." Herath explained.
"Certainly, a nice prospect, but I believe in your report there was an issue with his proposal." Yokar said, walking with the smaller man towards the window.
"Yes, with our current commitments to the imperium and our current production, I do not see any feasible way of accomplishing this…" Herath answered before being cut off.
"Even if we were to procure this through unconventional means?" Yokar asked inquisitively.
"Sire?" Herath asked in return, blown away at such a suggestion.
"Consider this Herath our tithes and responsibilities to the Imperium. We could increase our production and by extension what we may provide the Imperium if the raiders were dealt with. Yet nothing happens on that front, and we are forced to scrape and scrounge for what we owe." Yokar explained.
"That is… less charitable than I would describe it, but you are correct." Herath nervously said as the enforcers moved a hint closer.
"Nothing happens. The Titanus Sector, the Imperial Fleets, the Imperial Guard, nothing happens. We are forced to suffer for what reason? What crime have we committed to deserve such a fate?" Yokar asked.
"I don't know my liege…" Herath nervously said before his liege turned to face him.
"In order to produce, you must invest. The Imperium does not wish to invest in anything around here except Titanus, so why should we be sending our men and women to fight distant wars? Why should we ship resources to where we can't use them?" Yokar asked.
"That is impossible my lord. If the high lords were to find out it would doom us all." Herath said, agast at what he just heard.
In that moment, any joy and life bled from Yokar's face, replaced by pain, sorrow, and regret. As if on que the two enforcers grabbed Herath and forced him to his knees with enough force to nearly break the poor scribes knees. As the young man reeled in pain Yokar reached into his desk's top right drawer… and revealed a loaded autopistol.
"My lord, what is going on?! What are you doing!? Please let me…" Herath in confusion and fear said, trying to break the lawmen's ironclad grip.
"I'm sorry Herath. I hoped for different, I really did. You had such promise." Yokar said, walking towards him with the weapon.
"No please! I'll do anything, please don't do this!" Herath pleaded desperately.
"You had nothing to worry Herath. The Emperor will judge you well." Yokar said softly, before pulling the trigger.
The round easily punched into the poor mans skull, and in moments he was dead in the grasp of the enforcers. The shot would have woken up many and caused panic if the room weren't treated to be soundproof. As the enforcers dragged the now lifeless corpse of Herath out of the room, Yokar put a hand on his face before turning to his statue of the Emperor, who looked as if it was staring at him. Judging his action.
"I however will not be. But to save the people from depredations and the yoke of the high lords… I must. May you understand me and judge me fairly my lord." Yokar said to the statue and put the pistol back in its draw.
After this he looked out at the rain and the hive city beyond. He thought about everything he had done, and everything he likely will do. Time will tell if he made the right decision, and that uncertainty was the only thing he now truly feared.
My first attempt at a 40k story, and a topic I have always found interesting, the inter Imperium politics, and the effects of it. May the God Emperor have mercy on my soul. Anyways se you next time.