Tales of the Amber Vipers Chapter 37

Around the drift clusters of lights moved, swarming around the hangers and docking arms. Lines of shuttles and transports berthed with the airlocks and took on cargoes of machinery, useable parts, raw materials and warm bodies. At every airlock long lines of men and women stood in chains under the eyes of the Amber Vipers. There were captives taken from the general population of the drift alongside prisoners they themselves had claimed from captured starships, a few may even have been the elite guards, hurriedly disguising themselves as common folk but the Astartes cared not, everyone was taken regardless of former station.

Further out a gaggle of larger ships hovered over the drift, the Amber Viper's meagre fleet. There were a trio of converted mass-haulers, used to store spoils of war and perform basic manufacturing. Also four escort frigates of unremarkable ability, a sleek blockade runner and a single cruiser. She was a captured trade-carrack, refitted to act as the base of operations for the Amber Vipers. She massed no more than the average Strike cruiser, sadly lacking their speed, armour and weaponry, yet she was the best the Chapter could get. So she acted as their home until something better came along and they called her the Wyvern.

On the Wyvern's spine Ferrac was standing on an observation blister, gazing upon the activity around the drift. The Captain lacked his armour, which was still under repair, but his many scars still lent him a ferocious aspect. His wounds were healing and he stood impatiently with his arms crossed as he muttered, "How much longer?"
A mortal voice answered, "Another twelve hours, that should do it."

That was Nathanal, the mortal artisan who was overseeing the salvage operation. He was reporting to the leaders of the Chapter, detailing what they had recovered. Another voice, gruff and scornful, inquired, "Any resistance?"
Nathanal responded, "Not once the inhabitants realised their air was running out, anyone who doesn't get on our shuttles will suffocate to death."
"Good," the voice muttered, "We've wasted too much time here already."

That was Shrios, the chief Apothecary. Like Nathanal he was training up a new core of specialists, three Brothers to serve as the healers of the Chapter. He was scornful of mortal lives and begrudging in his praise but he and Ferrac had fought side by side since before there were any Amber Vipers and he had earned respect, if not comradery. Yet third voice cut in, "We must speed up operations, I intend to depart the second we are done here."

Ferrac finally lowered his eyes and turned to look at the speaker. A proud Astartes, wearing amber robes and with a cold and cunning face. This was Chapter Master Coluber, leader of the Amber Vipers and the one whose vision had seen them wrought from nothing. Ferrac oft disagreed with Coluber's calculating strategies, yet he was perceptive enough to realise they had different burdens. The Battle-Captain had to win battles, no matter the cost, while the Chapter Master had to ensure the Amber Vipers survived. Every engagement had to be carefully measured, every war judged to see if the benefits outweighed the costs. A thankless task yet one Coluber performed every day. Ferrac had followed his leader through the Time of Exodus and he was utterly loyal to the man, the bond they shared was unbreakable. Ferric had killed many who threatened Coluber and not all had been Heretics or Traitors.

Shrios asked, "So, what have got?"
"Long version or short?" Nathanal asked then when he saw their impatient glares hurriedly continued, "Short version it is… we've strip-mined enough spare parts to keep our flotilla running for a solar year. Fuel and provisions for another two, some munitions of low quality for our warships and ninety thousand slaves… errr… volunteers to join the work crews."
Shrios snorted, "Don't hide behind euphemisms, they will work our ships until they die."

Nathanal looked up at them and proposed, "Have we considered claiming this place as a permanent base?"That was an amusing jest and Ferrac scoffed, "This heap of junk? It's pitiful, barely worth attacking in the first place."

Shrios grinned but Coluber corrected him, "These pirates have been plaguing three systems, attacking shipping and stealing valuable cargoes. Those planets provide food and materials to the Forgeworld Anvilla IX. Countless warzones cry out for their munificence, but even the Tech-priests cannot forge weapons without the necessary raw materials. We strengthen the Imperium with this act."
Shrios muttered under his breath, "Don't expect the Cog-boys to thank us, the last time we tried to talk them they chased us off with gunfire."

That was indeed a bitter pill, the Amber Vipers had tried to forge a cooperative pact with the haughty tech-priests but had been violently rebuffed. Coluber had hoped that the Adeptus Mechanicus would supply them with arms and armour and ships but instead the Mechanicus guard fleets had opened fire on sight, declaring them renegades and promising dire retribution if they ever saw the Amber Vipers again. It had been a humiliating reminder of their place in the Imperium of Man, at best mercenaries for hire, at worst scavengers, thieves and looters. It was a dishonourable and base state of existence but what truly worried Ferrac was that the newer recruits didn't seem to agree, to them it simply was how things were.

Ferrac shook his head and lamented, "How much longer must we continue like this? Scrabbling for sustenance and fighting insignificant wars."

Coluber voice betrayed his shared his pain but he affirmed, "Not forever, I won't allow it. I refuse to let us remain this hollow mockery of a Chapter. The Amber Vipers will grow to greatness; we will become a Chapter as worthy as any other, this I swear. These are but our first growing pains, in time we shall become what we are meant to be. The key is to keep forging pacts and building a reputation for loyalty, in time recognition will come and with it support. Forgeworlds will supply us with arms, worlds with recruits, armies of men will be proud to fight alongside us. The name of the Amber Vipers will not stand in darkness alongside the Carcharodon Astra or the Exorcists, we will stand in the light as the best of men. "

Ferrac wished it was true but Shrios muttered, "A nice dream, but we have other issues."
Coluber queried, "Oh?"

Shrios nodded, "Brother Cemial from Secundus was lost to a stray round. I harvested his gene-seed and added it to the stockpile. We have a considerable quantity of gene-seed, enough to start thinking about a third generation of recruits, but what we lack is good breeding stock. We need a fresh intake of new blood to build our numbers, sooner rather than later."

The Amber Vipers recruited from orphans of wars they fought in but Ferrac spat, "We'd better find a worthier warzone than this to recruit from, these wastrels are useless weaklings."
Nathanal rubbed his jaw and commented, "I'll have to task the factory ships to produce more scout-armour. We have none to spare for more of you."

The debate was suddenly cut off as Coluber said, "Patience my friends, this affair is not yet done. We have another matter to address before we move on: our new Navigators. Sergeant Reddam brought us four more to add to the nine we have 'acquired'. They are in our cells but we do not yet have their loyalty."
"We could add four more ships to our roster," Ferrac concurred, "A most valuable find, how the pirates took them alive is a mystery."
Coluber agreed, "We must assure their commitment to a new cause. Come Brothers, we have work to do. Nathanal return to your duties."

The party split up, the three Astartes heading out as the mortal left by another route. They made their way down from the observation blister into the heart of the ship. They passed various chattels on their business and a squad of Secundus Cohort Brothers, all second-generation inductees to the Chapter. They were lounging about, idling their time away now that the battle was done. Ferrac could not help but note that they were not at meditation or training or tending to their armour, as an Astartes should be, and he growled at them to send them on their way. It irked him that the Amber Vipers had developed such lax standards but it seemed unavoidable, there was nothing resembling a Chaplaincy in the Chapter and the despite their best efforts the 'Old Seventeen' could not be everywhere to set an example to the ranks. He did not doubt the younger generation's dedication or zeal, they would certainly fight, but their personal discipline left a lot to be desired. As with everything the Amber Vipers simply had to make the best of what they had.

While Ferrac was fuming over standards the trio made their way to the prisoner's quarters. It was guarded by two Brothers of Primus, whom Ferrac had selected for their quickdraws and very short tempers. They at least saluted properly to their Chapter Master who stopped outside the door and said, "We'll play this the same way we did the other Navigators, Ferrac scares them into line while I offer a generous lifestyle."
Shrios scoffed, "Good Astartes, bad Astartes?"
Ferrac grinned as he said, "More like fast death or slow death."

Coluber snorted in amusement as he pushed open the hatch and stepped within the first prisoner's cell. The room was a bare metal cell, featureless save for a small piss-hole in the floor. Huddling in one corner was a small slip of man, enveloped in voluminous robes covered in arcane symbols. His skin was pallid and lacking in any form of pigmentation, his limbs were thin and weak and his face was filled with fear. Ferrac would have dismissed him in a heartbeat save for the band of metal gripping his forehead, keeping his third eye shut. The mark of the Navigator, the curse and the blessing of mutation that made these beings so reviled and unspeakably valuable.

The Navigator cowered into a corner as the trio entered and stood before him. Shrios was the first to speak, "This is the one? He looks like he will drop dead any second."
Ferrac snorted, "He's weak, too weak for our purposes, let me throw him out an airlock."The Navigator cowered back but Coluber replied softly, "Patience Brothers, he's too valuable to lose. This one is under my protection, let it be known that any who lay a hand upon him will face my wrath."

That little performance was entirely for the Navigator's benefit, letting him know they weren't planning to kill him outright. Ferrac was playing the iron fist and Coluber the velvet glove, a tried and tested method they had found most effective. They needed this Navigator's skills to be used willingly, lest he dump them into the first Warp Storm he saw. Coluber crouched down and said, "Do you have a name?"

The Navigator blinked his normal eyes then said, "I… I am Mihas, of House Chamandley."
"Never heard of you or your house," Ferrac growled.
"House Chamandley is proud and respected!" this Mihas cried, "I demand you return me to my kin immediately."

Ferrac barked, "You don't get to make demands, filthy mutant!"
Mihas should have been cowed but he raised his chin and retorted, "You won't kill me."
Ferrac loomed over him and hissed, "You'd be amazed at what you can live through."

Mihas shrank back at that but Coluber leaned in and said, "Peace, there is no need for threats. I am Coluber the Chapter Master of the Amber Vipers, this is Battle-Captain Ferrac and Apothecary Shrios. I apologise for your rough treatment but it was necessary. We have rescued you from imprisonment by those vile pirates, but we do not do this out of mercy. I have spent the blood of my Brothers for your freedom and I expect recompense. I have a need for skilled Navigators and you have a need to keep breathing… I think a deal can be made here."

Arrogantly Mihas snorted, "Serve you?! I am the heir apparent to a lauded House, I am not an equine you can keep in a metal cage and trot out for displays!"
Shrios stepped in then to say, "We do have better accommodation and certain comforts can be arranged."

Usually at this point the conversation descended into bargaining, the Navigators trying to extort as much finery as they could get away with. It was an old dance, one Ferrac had played out many times, but today Coluber broke the pattern to exclaim, "Wait… you are an heir apparent?!"

Mihas paused in confusion and said, "Errr… yes."
Coluber breathed slowly, "Which would make your father a Novator. So... the heir to a noble house gets captured and his father does not send out fleets to track him down… No mercenaries armies, no private hunters seeking to rescue him. How very… unlikely."

Ferrac sneered in contempt, "Looks like somebody isn't too popular at home."
Yet Shrios countered, "Or he wasn't there unwillingly… Did House Chamandley cut a deal with the pirates, Navigators for a slice of their profits?"

Mihas was suddenly suspiciously silent but Coluber laughed, "Its true isn't it, your house was profiting from their crimes. Navigator Houses are among the richest bodies in the imperium, you have a hand in every deal, every expedition, every transaction. Usually working through agents but somehow a Navigator is always involved at some level. But to make a deal with such filth... ahhh, I see... you're desperate, your House must have fallen on hard times indeed."

Ferrac snorted, "Did you pick the wrong side in some courtly intrigue and get kicked off Terra?"
Mihas glared at them and muttered, "I have nothing to say to you, House Chamandly admits to nothing."

His defiance was clear but Coluber shook his head and said, "A paltry denial but you misunderstand my intent. I am not planning to turn you over to the inquisition, far from it. I have a new proposal, I want you to send a message to your father and arrange a meeting between us."

Ferrac started in surprise and yelped, "Do what?!"
Mihas seemed to agree as he spluttered, "Why would I do that?"

Coluber spread his hands as he explained, "Mutual self-interest, you want your house to prosper and I have grander plans than scraping by on what I can salvage, conqueror or steal. I want my Chapter to be whole and proud and a pact with a Navigator House would bring me a lot closer to that goal. It appears your house could also do with allies. Imagine the prestige of having an Astartes Chapter at your side, imagine what the other Houses would think of you. Respect is currency all its own, is that any less true for Navigators?"

Mihas looked doubtful as he said, "I'm not sure what my father would say."
Yet Coluber replied confidently, "Let us skip the false pretences, we both know you will comply. So, send your father a message that there is an Astartes Chapter looking to make a deal with him."