Author Note

I got stuck on the second story of this series and since I have so many fun ideas for this one I figured I'd start writing while I feel inspired. Perhaps I'll be able to go back and finish the Fallout story like I did with the Game of Thrones part of this series.

While I'm still using the CYOA as a guide for parts of this story I won't be posting a set-up as the series has mostly grown beyond the CYOA.

Rogue Trader CYOA Story 3

"It is the 41st Millennium. For more than a hundred centuries the Emperor of Mankind has sat immobile on the Golden Throne of Earth. He is the master of mankind by the will of the gods and master of a million worlds by the might of His inexhaustible armies. He is a rotting carcass writhing invisibly with power from the Dark Age of Technology. He is the Carrion Lord of the vast Imperium of Man for whom a thousand souls are sacrificed every day so that He may never truly die.

Yet even in His deathless state, the Emperor continues His eternal vigilance. Mighty battlefleets cross the daemon-infested miasma of the Warp, the only route between distant stars, their way lit by the Astronomican, the psychic manifestation of the Emperor's will. Vast armies give battle in His name on uncounted worlds. Greatest amongst His soldiers are the Adeptus Astartes, the Space Marines, bio-engineered super-warriors. Their comrades in arms are legion: the Imperial Guard and countless planetary defence forces, the ever-vigilant Inquisition and the Tech-priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus to name only a few. But for all their multitudes, they are barely enough to hold off the ever-present threat to humanity from aliens, heretics, mutants - and far, far worse.

To be a man in such times is to be one amongst untold billions. It is to live in the cruellest and most bloody regime imaginable. These are the tales of those times. Forget the power of technology and science, for so much has been forgotten, never to be relearned. Forget the promise of progress and understanding, for in the grim dark future there is only war. There is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter, and the laughter of thirsting gods."

Part 1

The Enduring Triumph. Space Dock.

Like the others of its kind this Imperial made Lunar-class Cruiser was an effective war ship that formed the backbone of the Imperial Navy across this version of the Milky Way Galaxy. From what I'd learned while researching, it was an easily constructed vessel thanks to the use of easily understood STC plans. It could be armed with wide array of weapon load outs and this allowed it to serve in many tactical roles within the navy. Its variety of weapons batteries, Lances, and torpedoes make it both a versatile combatant and a dangerous foe.

While it was slower moving and far less agile than my Dauntless-class, The Enduring Triumph had a lot more firepower, stronger armour, better shields and two hanger bays that were packed with fighters and bombers, something that would make assaulting my enemies much easier in the future since I would be facing only inferior foes if all went to plan, but they would have many small and nimble vessels.

The Fury Interceptor was in some ways the workhorse of the Imperial Navy and can be used in multiple roles throughout a fleet. The Fury is most commonly used as either a void superiority fighter or an interdiction attack craft that shoots down enemy torpedoes and bombers that threaten larger star ships. The Fury is also used to escort the Imperial Navy's Starhawk bombers, of which I also had many, during their own attack runs on the enemy's capital ships.

Furies can return to their mothership, or another Imperial carrier ship if need be, to be rearmed and repaired, although if a Fury is too heavily damaged another can be issued if the pilot and his crew are needed in the battle. When not in combat, Furies are used for scouting and reconnaissance, and simple combat air patrol missions around a fleet. The Fury Interceptor, along with the Starhawk bomber, is fully capable of attacking planetary targets within an atmosphere, although, due to their sheer size and obvious specialisation for void combat their effectiveness varies depending on their target and how well it is protected.

All known patterns of the Fury can be armed with up to two wing-mounted racks carrying a variable amount of high-explosive anti-star ship missiles. The craft is also usually armed with several banks of forwards-firing Lascannons, either mounted on the star ship's hull or on its wings. Laser weapons should prove quite effective against the ships of the Mass Effect universe which was filled with ship that defences were meant to try to handle more physical attacks.

To me it made much more sense to send squads of fighters to chase weak prey than to risk my cruiser in a more fair fight with a strong enemy. After all I am a merchant prince not a Space Marine Chapter Master or Lord Admiral of the Imperial Navy. For me honour and glory are far less important than profit and it is very easy to exploit those who are weaker than you.

I'd desired to command a mighty Lunar-class since becoming a Rogue Trader as such a mighty space craft was a testament to my success, and while supporting such a vessel would have been beyond my means back when I'd begun my career I'd brought back so much technology from the world of Fallout, nearly of all of which had been brought up by the Ad-Mech, that they'd been more than happy to upgrade me.

While externally the Lunar-class was very different on the inside it was much like His Glorious Aspirations because I'd had everything of value from within in my last ship moved to this one before adding a few more features along with ensuring that the crew got the best living areas that could be provided for such a large crew. Normally, this wouldn't be possible if not for the Lunar-classes were very easy to modify thanks to its clever design.

Of course this took a lot of time, but the process had started when I'd come here to resupply during my expedition to the Fallout world, I'd brought back enough goodies from the first part of the expedition to pay for a Lunar-class cruiser and to begin the process of its refit so that it could better serve an established Rogue Trader. Now I could not only finish paying for the Luna-class I'd be able to keep it running for long enough to make even more profit.

Many of those treasure that I'd brought back such as the Enclaves power armour would not simply end up in some Ad-Mech museum, no the cogboys were going to replicate the tech and use it supply specially trained Imperial Guard regiments across the galaxy with Fallout weapons and power armour which were much easier to produce than Imperial models of power armour and plasma weapons. This could make a real difference for humanity in the wars raging across this poor excuse for a galaxy.

My Imperial Guard regiment, the 2nd Thrax, remained much the same as it had since we'd last left the Fallout universe despite all the technology, it would be my own Sisterhood of Steel, which was much like a Brotherhood of Steel Chapter, and lead by second wife Lady Sarah Lyons-Thrax, who would make use of the new tech along with whatever else the Ad-Mech deemed okay to share with us. My Sisterhood of Steel would be sent to gather technology from dangerous places so they needed good equipment.

Colonel Gwynenya Ionael still led the 2nd Thrax which was an odd regiment made up of veteran and less experienced Imperial Guardsmen as well as many Guardswomen from many different worlds, including Planetos and Fallout Earth. She had over ten thousands soldiers under her command not counting the crews of walkers and tanks, as well as an unknown number of support staff. I doubted even she knew exactly many men and women she had under her command as ships such as mine were more like fortress-cities in space than anything else. In any big city there were always those who fell through society's cracks.

The Adeptus Mechanicus had warmed up to me quite a bit since I'd made contact with Fallout Earth, so much that they'd recently presented me with Dark Age tech power armour that was made up of scales, or something like them, that moved like liquid. According to Thea Maxind, the most senior tech-priest allied with House Thrax, while wearing that suit I could go hand to hand with a Space Marine and walk off getting hit by anti-tank weaponry. It was a gift beyond any means of repayment and a sign that the Ad-Mech considered me to be a great ally as otherwise they wouldn't have invested so much in my safety.

A new ally of mine, a tech-priest called XXP-164895D who would be working for me directly unlike Archmagos Del Arx who was now the Fabricator-General of the Forge-World being created on the Mars of the Fallout Universe, was not here with me as he preferred to be working in his lab and only bothered me if it was important or if I had need of him. XXP-164895D uncomfortably reminded me of the bad guy from the second Robocop film so I liked being able to avoid his presence.

Replacing Del Arx was Thea Maxind who had worked well with me while I'd been in the Fallout universe. She had been placed in charge in one of the two war ships that would be escorting my cruiser as part of the next expedition, and any cogboy or coggirl wasn't under the command of XXP-164895D was under her authority.

Her ship was a Firestorm frigate which was a variant of the Sword Class Frigate, designed to link the speed and manoeuvrability of an escort, with the brute force of a larger vessel. It was not uncommon to see a squadron of Firestorms supporting formations built around larger vessels. In situations like these, it falls to the Firestorms to deal damage to capital ships, and rival escorts once the cruisers and destroyers have lowered the enemy's shields.

Firestorm Class Frigates are often seen fighting alongside Space Marine formations. Even pirate fleets are known to operate Firestorm Frigates as well, but the one that would be venturing out with me to the universe of Mass Effect was under Ad-Mech control, the ship having been liberated from a pirate fleet some years ago after a fierce battle.

It wasn't just the Ad-Mech that wanted to take their own ride into another universe. A cobra-class raider, a type of cheaply made escort vessel that while lightly armed and armoured was very fast compared to most Imperial vessel, would make a decent scout ship. While weak compared to ships in this universe it would be a big fish in the Mass Effect pound and with its speed it could be send with fighters to chase fast moving prey.

The ship was under the command of a privateer, so it was basically an Imperial approve pirate ship that went around attacking pirates who didn't have anyone's backing as well as slavers and other kids of outlaws. The captain of that vessel had heard of my success and he'd offered to his vessel's services in exchange for a small share of all profits. Something I'd agreed to.

Another small fleet of ramshackle Squat vessels had turned up at the Forge-World and like before long they'd sent a leader and spokesperson over to my ship to barter with me for passage to a new universe. Unlike the last fleet not all that made up this collection of vessel would make the trip so some of them would have taken apart for materials to build new Squat outposts and their passengers brought on board my cruiser for the warp jump.

Once in the Mass Effect universe which was where I intended to go next I could set up the Squats on some world that normal humans wouldn't have much luck surviving on and they would not need much help from me. Once they were set up the Squat clans would be willing to supply with some of their mineral wealth in exchange for limited support and mutual defence as they were doing over in the Fallout universe. I considered this to be a worth while long term investment and the Squats would need my help when the Reapers came no matter how well they could fortify their new homes.

Sarah Thrax-Lyons, who had decided to keep her father's name since she didn't want to have children who might contest Dany's offspring for their inheritance and because she wanted to honour her Brotherhood of Steel origins, was here along with some other important supporters of mine, such as my seneschal, a clone of Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger, my First Officer, Navigator Praxana Praxo, who never had much to do due me controlling the warp drive, and Sister Brigicia of the Adepta Sororitas who had been promoted again.

She was now canoness commander with more than two hundred battle sisters under her as part of a Commandery, which normally comprises several smaller convents or detachments of Orders Militant sisters from a single convent with up to 200 Sisters of Battle, who were lead by a canoness commander. Given their fanatical level of loyalty to me that meant I had more than one formidable fighting force under my command.

The Imperial Church had labelled me as minor saint. Most Imperial saints don't earn that title while they are still breathing because it is given to those who have given their lives for the glory of the Emperor and in death are venerated as religious icons by the adherents of the Imperial Creed. Some are very minor, only revered in a single city or town, while some may be found wherever Imperial rule extends.

I was considered a minor saint because I'd brought the Emperor's light to an alternate version of Earth, destroyed the alien menace which threatened that Earth and then sort of brought that world into the Imperium while also bringing back lots of technology. That last part mattered far more to the Ad-Mech than the Church, but it did matter somewhat to them as well.

Still when compared to the likes of Sebastian Thor I was a very minor Imperial saint and I needed to keep spreading my fame across the Imperium by spreading the Emperor's light even further into the darkness and finding more cool tech to bring back. It would also help if I reminded people in other ways of my awesomeness.

Because of this I was holding a meeting while having some artist found among the crew paint a portrait of me. I'd not wanted to do this as it smacked of too much vanity, however he'd already painted my two wives and the artist was a young women who'd managed to convince me to let her paint me in my private quarters by having my first wife argue on her behalf. Dany could be very convincing at times and I should really make use of that when I next found myself doing some diplomacy.

Although I didn't mind too much as my new uniform, a mostly black with some gold braiding and decoration that was more tasteful than normal, would look good in the painting. I even had a few medals these days. A cogwheel one that declared me to be a trust ally of the Ad-Mech and one from the Church that let everyone who understood its important known that I had their respect and many blessings from Big E himself.

As far as I knew no one around here prayed to me as a saint, but they did pray on my behalf to the Emperor. Given my success so far I felt sure that the Big E had my back. Which would help to explain why things had gone so smoothly for me because as much I'd like to take credit for all my accomplishments others had been involved.

Including the damn Eldar who as far as I could tell were sending a seed ship with me on this journey as I could sense the presence of alien minds, I felt no hostility and no ships were on the scanners so it seemed safe to assume they were staying hidden and would go off and do their own thing once we arrived in the Mass Effect universe.

If the pointy eared twats wanted to spend a few centuries on a growing craftworld in the backend of no where while I pillaged the Terminus System of the Mass Effect galaxy and took everything of value while preparing for the Reapers then they were welcome to. The less they got involved the better as they'd just screw things up.

A new face was Inquisitor Agatha du Gisaal, a woman who claimed to be a member of the Ordo Xenos who had a five man squad of Deathwatch Space Marines with her which greatly helped to support her claim of being here to aid me as the Deathwatch Space Marines were not likely to be send after a Rogue Trader unless they believed I was working with aliens or at least transporting alien goods to Imperial worlds, which I'd not done. The Ad-Mech may have gotten alien tech from the Fallout world, but I no certain knowledge of that and was wise not to inquire about such matters. I'd leave it to the Ad-Mech and the Inquisition sort it out between them even if there was an issue.

The Inquisitor not admitted it, but I got the sense that she was not just here to keep an eye on me, or to see what alien threats I encountered, perhaps she was interested in the Eldar who were using my ability to reach other universes to evacuate some of their people to other dimensions.

My thinking was that it was best for me to act as if I had no idea that space elves were even around. Let the Inquisition deal with the pointy eared twats as they would be able to handle them better and I'd be able to be feign ignorance which would help me maintain my image of awesome Rogue Trader, shipmaster, conqueror of worlds, killer of xenos, merchant and all that good stuff.

"Welcome to the first meeting of what I am calling the expeditionary council" I said to everyone.

Making up my version of the Seven Kingdoms Small Council were Inquisitor Agatha du Gisaal of the Ordo Xenos, since it was never a good idea to try exclude the Inquisition and because by accepting the seat on a group meant to advise me it signalled to everyone that I was in charge. Plus she had five Deathwatch Marines somewhat under her command so she'd make for a powerful ally.

In this group I'd included my seneschal, the aforementioned clone of Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger, my First Officer who was here to act as bridge between myself and the crew, Navigator Praxana Praxo, who could represent all the sanctioned pyskers in my service and keep an eye on the warp for us, and Cannoness Brigicia of the Adepta Sororitas, who could speak on behalf of the Imperial Church, my two wives, Lady Sarah Lyons-Thrax and Princess Daenerys Thrax the mother of my heir and matriarch of House Thrax. Colonel Gwynenya Ionael needed to be here since she lead the vast majority of our ground forces. Last of all there was Issaler Texus the captain of the raider ship called the Silver-Swift that would scout for us.

"I have invited you all here because while alone you all important people I believe that we if cooperate we can assure that the expedition not only survives future challenges, that it will also be profitable for us just as much as it benefits the Imperium" I was now saying "Such conclaves have in the past helped to shape the future of entire sectors of the Imperium, it is my hope that this council will do the same".

There were words and nods of approval.

"This expeditionary council is based upon a similar body which advises my brother as he rules the Seven Kingdoms in the name of the God-Emperor" said Daenerys "It has existed for three hundred years and for the most part has worked well".

I'd wanted to make it clear that I wasn't trying to make my own version of the High Lords of Terra as part of a plan to carve out my own mini empire outside of the Imperium. I had no desire to be an emperor as I was a Rogue Trader. Having my own support network in locations outside of the Imperium was a different matter. I wanted a network of alliances that would support my dynasty and help make it clear that my goals were not heretical I'd formed this council that would advise me and ensure that my efforts were seen well by all involved. Aside from that if things went wrong I'd have people to share the blame with.

"So when can we set sail?" I asked.

My seneschal carried with him a large data-slate that he used to keep updated on what resources House Thrax had at its command as well as the condition of the small expeditionary fleet I command.

"We have enough food and water for a year long voyage without resorting to any real rationing" he informed me "We can resupply our arms with what reserves we have as long as we don't see any prolonged conflict. So we can leave within a matter of hours if you are ready".

Unlike before I'd gone to Planetos and the Fallout universe I actually had some cash reverses this time and if I needed more goods I could visit Westeros and pick up the tithe payment. However if my ship took damage or I lost too much in the way of crew I'd need to pay for repairs and for more crew which would not be cheap. I also had to be careful about what ordinance I used as torpedoes did not grow on trees. I'd hate to have to replace too many fighters and bombers so it wouldn't be a good idea to avoid fights with anyone who could come close to matching my cruiser in terms of firepower.

As for food well that wasn't a big concern as I planned to take us right to a habitable planet. Once there the extra crew I had onboard, who numbered in thousands, could be sent down to a new world to set up farms, ranches and fishing villages so that we would have a supply of food other than ration packs and freeze dried grox meat.

"If are ready to leave then I have to wonder where we are going" said the Archmagos.

In the past I'd claimed that the places I took us to were the will of the Emperor rather than have to explain that I was taking us to universes that I knew to be fictional. The vast majority of the crew of my ship never even knew that we'd left the Milky Way of their birth and this was best since the average citizen of the Imperium isn't well suited to wrapping around their heads around ideas such as alternate dimensions.

"That will be decided by the will of the Emperor" I stated.

I was considered to me a minor living saint at this point so if I declared that something was part of the Emperor's plans then no one would question it. As far as anyone else was concerned I was simply the instrument of his will.

"We will be ready for the challenges ahead" stated Canoness Brigicia.

Everyone seemed able to accept that and since there was no further reason to delay I made the order for us to cast off. Once we were a suitable distance from the forge-world I'd take us into the warp and into a new universe.

Before the meeting of the council ended there were a few minor details to sort out and then I was left alone with Inquisitor Agatha du Gisaal.

"Can I be of service Inquisitor?" I asked.

While the authority of Inquisition technically ended as soon as we left the Imperium I found it best to ensure that I maintained a healthy working relationship with them as I did with the Ad-Mech. Besides I wasn't always outside of the Imperium and I remained aware that the member of my battle harem with the number six on her armour was in fact an Imperial Assassin and might remove me from life if the Inquisitor ordered it done even if the sexy Black Widow claimed to serve me. Best to play nice with the Inquisitor.

"I have something for you" said Inquisitor Agatha du Gisaal.

The alien hunter didn't look that different from many Imperial Navy or Guard officers that I'd met and I had no doubt she appeared this way on purpose as it allowed to blend in better while still looking important enough that most Imperial citizens would follow her orders without question.

"What is I?" I asked as I took the scroll.

I could read it I just wanted the information presented from the source so that there were no misunderstandings later on.

"To put it simply it's a fancy permission slip, one that says that the Order Xenos is giving you special permission to consort with aliens beyond what even a Rogue Trader is allowed to do" replied Du Gisaal "Normally your peers have a lot of leeway when it comes to making deals with aliens, and we take a dim view of that. With this writ you can take aliens into your service, although your crew might protest, make alliances with them against hostile parties and whatever is required to benefit the Imperium. Short of selling them our technology or jumping into bed with one your free to do as you please as long as the priesthood and the Ad-Mech don't get all huffy".

That was a big deal as while a Rogue Trader might do those things anyway he wouldn't be so bold with an Inquisitor around. Du Gisaal was basically giving me approval to act as I saw fit with aliens even with her watching. As for the Church and the cogboys, even if they got huffy I had ways of soothing them.

"This is very generous" I remarked "Any reason why I am getting such a privilege".

I didn't think the Ad-Mech or the Imperial Church would have suggested this.

"What do you known of the Necrons?" I asked.

Far more than I should.

"They are killer alien robots who have been dormant for millions of years" I answered.

That was something a Rogue Trader should be allowed to know.

"The Necrons are in reality much more complex than that" admitted the Inquisitor as she sat down and placed a small hologram projector on the table, one far smaller than I'd seen before as her people had access to some really good tech "Some Necrons have a personality and desires outside of killing all sentient life in the galaxy".

She showed me an image of some Necron Overlord it looked somewhat familiar, but I couldn't remember any sort of name.

"This is Trazyn the Infinite" I was told.

Yes that sounded familiar and the Inquisitor picked up on that.

"You've heard of this person" she stated.

It wasn't a question yet I answered it.

"Only as a story" I admitted, and this was the truth "He's a collector I think".

The Inquisitor nodded as she'd been expecting me to know that. Stories do travel in the frontier and Rogue Traders often hear tales of things that other Imperial citizens had no knowledge about.

"It is a collector of sorts and has been looting sites across the galaxy since before the Great Crusade" I was informed "I can't give you too many details as even the existence of the Necron is deemed need to know, so put it simply he wants to trade items from the different universes you travel and in exchange he, he identifies as male, is offering us gene-seed from loyalist legions that he recovered from somewhere many centuries ago".

That was a big deal as gene-seed from that long ago if it had been stored in stasis would produce space marines superior than what the Imperium had now, not counting the Primius Marines, only they wouldn't be seen until Primarch Gullimen got up and started taking charge assuming that this happened in this version of 40k.

"Trazyn contacted an Inquisitor who has encountered him before and made the offer" I was now being told "The more artefacts we bring him the more gene-seed we get and the Necron claims to have enough to establish whole new chapters".

I could not hide my surprise. That amount of gene-seed could not be given a cash price tag because it was just so valuable.

"Collecting some suitable historical relics will be the task of the Inquisition" she said "You are to provide transport and if you have anything onboard from your last couple of trips, we'd be grateful for it, and the Inquisition looks after its friends".

There were a few trinkets that I'd collected that might tickle Trazyn's fancy and I'd gladly give them up to keep the Inquisitor happy and to help bring about whole new chapters of Space Marines, yet I did feel concerned.

"Aliens are not to be trusted" I stated.

If nothing else had to pay the role of good Imperial citizen who made his nightly prayers to Big E.

"The Necron has already handed over samples that we've identified as belonging to the Iron Hands, Salamanders and Raven Guard" it was said to me "If you studied your history then you know that those legions were the ones betrayed during the opening battle of the Horus Heresy by the arch traitor. If news of this got out then every renegade chapter in the galaxy from the Halo Stars to the Eye of Terror would come looking for that gene-seed and even loyal chapters could end up in conflict with each other who gets this prize".

Yes I could see the importance of this. No treasure I'd claimed was worth enough gene-seed to make a squad of space marines never mind whole chapters.

"If all goes well you'll make many friends" assured the Inquisitor "Your role in this will be recordered the history of Space Marine Chapters across the galaxy and within the very halls of the Imperial Palace".

Short of finding a Primarch or a way to get Big E off his throne there was much that could beat a large supply of gene-seed as boost for the Imperium.

"Just let me know if there is anything I can do help" I offered.