Chapter 4: Contact

Admiral Galina Scholtz was not having the best of voyages.

The escort-class ship she had inherited was already old and worn, having been in her extensive family's fleet for years and never quite getting the repairs it needed. The battle over Severstus II had damaged it further, and to make it worse, it now housed over 15,000 injured guardsmen in addition to the crew. The ship had been damaged even further when it hit that freak accident, and now the Princess Cyclone drifted through unknown space, her engines nearly dead and life support systems just barely holding. Her navigator had fallen into a coma since the warp-shock, and the astropath was hurriedly sending psychic messages to all planets in the system. Her radio crews were doing much of the same, trying to make any sort of link whatsoever. She had withdrawn to her quarters after most of her command staff ordered her to, as she had been awake for thirty five consecutive hours trying to sort out the mess she faced. Tybus, her bodyguard, had made her bed and stood silently for orders.

"Stand outside. Don't let anyone in unless it's of supreme importance."

He nodded, snatching up his shotgun and marching outside, locking the door behind him. Scholtz collapsed onto her silk cushions and fell asleep almost instantly.

Her dreams were chaotic and blurred. Memories of the battle flashed in front of her. The screams of her void-fighters crackled over the vox, as they were devoured by horrific fusions of demon and machine. The Corsairs shouted threats at the ship as her technical crews scrambled to block their access to their encrypted channels. The ship juddered again, as-

"Admiral?"

The voice woke Scholtz with a start. It was Tybus, speaking through the radio system built into the room.

"Hm? What is it, Tybus?"

"The Astropath has made contact. As has Adept Alkavjis. They would like to speak to you."

"How much sleep did I get?"

"Five hours, Admiral."

"Get me some recaf. I feel as though I shall not sleep for a while."

"Correct as always, madam."

"Tell me everything."

Scholtz stood on the command bridge once more, recaf in hand, facing both her astropath, one Jane Meuren and Techpriest Alkavjis. Jane had been on board the Princess Cyclone longer than she had, and had had multiple Rejuv treatments. Alkavjis, however, had been part of a Mechanicum treaty of sorts. Two other techpriests had boarded along with him, and the deal had been that they would assist in shipboard duties, and in return would be allowed access to wherever they wanted in the ship. And, in that Magos Biologis one's case, whoever they wanted. They hadn't caused any problems. So far. Jane spoke first.

"Admiral, I succeeded in establishing a psychic… connection with a planet in this system."

Scholtz perked up immediately. "Excellent. Are they friendly?"

Jane drew herself up and nodded. The Techpriest shuffled forward now, his mechadendrites whirring and his eye-lenses zooming in and out. He spoke, his voice mangled by implants and binary translators.

"Radio contact: established. Singular party answers. Possible planetary governor, or primitive archetype. Wishes to talk to most senior officer. Presence of Admiral: required."

Scholtz nodded, nervous at the thought of contact with a long gone civilisation. But she was excited too, the prospect of becoming rich and rewarded at bringing it to the folds of the Imperium. Perhaps she would receive a better ship from grandfather. But first, radio contact.

"Give me a vox-link with this governor. Do we know their name?"

Jane looked at the techpriest, who answered after a short while:

"Contact name: Death."

Scholtz stood proudly in front of a vidscreen, with built in speaker systems. Apparently, this "Death" had insisted that they use a mirror, but Scholtz had declined. Still, the Governor wished to be seen. Scholtz spoke first, the vidscreen white and blank.

"You are currently speaking to the Admiral of the Combat-Escort class ship, the Princess Cyclone. We hail you friendly. Identify yourself, and I shall do the same."

Silence. Scholtz grew nervous. Perhaps there was an error. Suddenly, a shrill, squeaking voice spoke.

"Hi? Hello? Hiyaaaa!"

The vidscreen flickered into focus, and Scholtz was taken aback.

A man, perhaps around six feet tall or so, was on screen. But he looked like no man Scholtz had ever seen. His clothing was jet black and ragged, with what looked like a strange hat. A mask, rounded at the top but with three long spikes at the bottom, and three holes in the centre. It looked to Scholtz like a parody of a human skull. Instead of distinct legs, the man's body tapered into a single point of contact with the ground. Scholtz could see no visible arms.

"Ah, there you are! My my, you sure don't look like an alien!" The man continued, his voice merry and almost sing song. Scholtz composed herself and shook her head.

"Greetings. I am Admiral Galina Scholtz, commander of this vessel. We are stranded and require aid." She swallowed and blinked. "My apologies. In all my years, I have never seen a man such as you."

"There are very few men like me, oho!" The man clapped, with huge, oversized white hands that looked like power fists. Scholtz decided against mentioning it. "But of course! I haven't introduced myself. My name is Lord Death, officially. Call me Death, if you will."

"Understood, Lord Death. Am I correct in thinking that you are the senior authority of your planet?"

The man made a confused noise and tilted his head.

"I am very sorry. Authority on my planet? Whatever do you mean?"

This would take a while.

"…and that, is the Imperium of Man."

The figure was silent. Scholtz had had to explain the entire political entity of the Imperium, of course in broad detail. Greater negotiations would begin planetside. Lord Death had explained the political nature of "Earth" as he called it (a name that sounded strangely familiar to Scholtz, somehow.) and that it was not controlled by a singular entity. Lord Death was in high regard, she had gleaned, but he did not directly control the world. No matter. Many worlds in the Imperium were similar. It would change once Imperial presence upon the world had increased, but that would be a few years down the line.

"So, you want us to join your Imperium?" Lord Death said. His voice was still high pitched and squeaky, but the tone was serious, not singsong. Scholtz held up a hand.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I'm hoping we can open up full diplomatic relations with your planet. Are you able to arrange a meeting of all these… local governors?"

"Of course! I'll tell them to meet at Death City. Oh, but you don't know where it is! I'll give you the co-ordinates."

"Thank you, Lord Death. I shall assemble a diplomatic team. It is likely that many will be armed. Is that a problem?"

"It won't be a problem at all! Many of my students are weapons too!"

Lord Death had told Admiral Scholtz of the "Demon Weapons" that existed. Initially she was horrified. The world was a demon world! She had thought. But He had seen the look on her face and hurriedly explained that they were used to kill demons, and Scholtz had calmed somewhat. The prospect of shapeshifting weapons was something she'd have to explain to the crew beforehand, to prevent any nasty accidents. The two had also discussed witchcraft; Lord Death seemed concerned that it was a galaxy wide phenomenon. That would be uncomfortable.

"Well, if that is all, Lord Death, I assume we both have pressing duties as of this moment."

"Ahh, of course! I have a school to run, and a world to inform. Hopefully, this works out favourably for us both, hmm?"

Scholtz nodded. She liked this Lord Death. Practical, clever. The connection was cut off and Scholtz turned to face the crew, who were staring at her wide-eyed.

"I need to make an announcement."