Tales of the Amber Vipers Chapter 40

"This is a mistake," Sergeant Excelsium growled over his vox-bead, "We should leave."

Ferrac heard the words in his ear and sub-vocalised, "Stay in your place."

Excelsium hissed back, "Coluber's made grievous error in coming here. You should talk to him, he listens to you."

"Chapter Master Coluber has given you an order," Ferrac growled, "You will obey."

"What was that?" came a mortal voice. It was the Rogue Trader Saffor, who was holding a plate of sweetmeats in his hand. Around him bustled the Navigator's court, who were bedecked in all their finery. The throneroom was a grand affair, gilded over every inch and filled with music and twittering gossip. Lady Navigators in totally impractical wigs and ball gowns whispered behind decorative fans while men in faux military uniforms or voluminous robes postured over buffet tables. Amongst that rabble the Amber Vipers loomed over the crowd, the two squads lining the walls, facing off against the House Huscarls, while the leaders mingled. Coluber was surrounded by flattering admirers, Kerubim was staring at the flights of cyber-cherubs overhead, playing small instruments and Shrios was locked in an argument with some form of Adept Biologis. Only Ferrac was unmolested, none wanting to stray too close to his glowering shadow, save for Saffor who seemed immune.

Ferrac realised the man was waiting for a response and muttered, "Merely wondering how much longer we must wait."

Saffor bit into a juicy treat, then dabbed the juice clean as he replied, "One must always respect local customs. On the world of Nuerth waving with the left hand is an incitement to a death duel, on Killart all greetings must be sung, on Populi touching the other gender for any purpose save reproduction is punishable by death… I left that planet pretty quickly I can tell you. But here on Braxia the guest arrives first and the host last, to create a casual atmosphere."

Ferrac growled, "You mean to establish dominance, by showing us he is able to make us wait."

"That too!" Saffor laughed, "The games of politics are universal."

Ferrac eyed the man and decided he did not like how much this mortal smiled as he spat, "And what brings a Rogue Trader here?"

"Excitement and adventure," Saffor demurred, "The scent of profit in the breeze."

Ferrac cocked his head and stated, "You don't fear me."

Saffor replied, "You're not my first Astartes, I've seen you boys in action before. Impressive in a fight, ill give you that, but you have no appreciation of the finer things. Life is there to be enjoyed."

Ferrac spat, "Life is pain and bloodshed, anyone who says different is selling something."

"We'll see," Saffor chortled as he wandered off, "We'll see."

Ferrac watched him go and muttered, "I don't trust him."

"Want me to kill him?" Excelsium voxed, "I have a perfect shot."

"Maybe later," Ferrac sub-vocalised, "There's something going on here and I want to know what it is."

Their conversation was cut off as a pair of side-doors opened to reveal Walkaq Chamandley, accompanied by his various hangers-on. The Novator had changed into glorious golden robes, that trailed behind him and his long train was carried by children with shaved heads, fresh brands and downcast eyes. All fell silent as the Novator marched to a large throne on a pedestal, which put him on an eye-level with a standing Astartes, and sat down. Ferrac noted his heir Mihas nearby, doubtless having been grilled by his father for everything he knew of the Amber Vipers. Then Coluber stepped forward, and Ferrac, Kerubim and Shrios followed.

Walkaq's wizened face was smiling warmly but it lacked sincerity and Ferrac could practically see the wheels turning as the Navigator proclaimed, "I am honoured to formally welcome my noble guests. Your arrival is most fortuitous, bringing my beloved son back from the grip of those vile pirates."

Ferrac was certain everybody in the room knew Mihas had been sent there by his father's order, but Coluber uttered, "The Amber Vipers are honoured to have been of assistance. We see this as more than random chance, I sense opportunity unfold before us, the possibility of a cooperative pact between us."

The crowd whispered loudly but Walkaq laughed, "Straight to the point, I like that. Very well I can be direct too: so what are you proposing?"

Coluber explained, "My Chapter has martial power, you have the ability to take me to war, we can benefit each other greatly."

Walkaq cocked his eyebrow as he ventured, "I understand you have 'acquired' other Navigators."

Troubled whispers emerged at the accusation but Coluber corrected, "They do not bring me what I need most: recognition. An alliance with House Chamandley would force other Imperial Institutions to accept my Chapter as a part of the Imperium."

"Strange that they do so not already," Walkaq mused.

Coluber replied quickly, "The Amber Vipers were officially destroyed by a warp storm two millennia ago, but a few of us survived. Emerging into this age of darkness, determined to restore our Chapter to glory."

Ferrac knew that was what the Chapter told outsiders, the fact it was pure fabrication was irrelevant, the truth of their origins was damning and best forgotten. Then Walkaq sniffed primly and said, "I could agree to such an alliance, in return for ten of your best men as my bodyguards."

Coluber's eyes narrowed as he said, "I am not placing my Marines under your command. I am not a Space Wolf and you are not so mighty as House Belisarius."

Walkaq feigned affront as he exclaimed, "You approached me, yet you refuse my reasonable terms!"

Coluber replied coolly, "There are a thousand Astartes Chapters in the galaxy but many times more Navigator Houses. Few among you can claim to have the Space Marines in your debt. That brings prestige and respect, hard currency in the corridors of power."

Walkaq sneered, "I lend you my bloodkin and in return you owe me a favour?"

Suddenly from the crowd Saffor stepped forth and said, "With respect Novator, I know something of the Astartes. A Chapter Master's word is his bond and a blood-debt amongst them is as strong as Adamantium. His Chapter would honour their debt for ten millennia, no matter the cost."

Coluber elaborated, "We can cooperate with you on certain ventures, lending our might to your cause. I can also offer guarantees of protection against your rivals. You may rest assured should another House move against you openly my retribution would be terrible to behold. The wrath of the Astartes is a powerful deterrent."

"Intriguing, those who chased us off Terra would quail in fear at our name," Walkaq mused, "But I had in mind something a little more… immediate."

Ferrac sensed a trap and growled, "What are you playing at?"

Walkaq gestured to the side and all eyes turned to see one of the side doors opening. Through it came a pair of gilded servitors dragging two golden biers. Yet Ferrac barely noticed them as his eyes fell upon the items resting upon the biers. Bare ceramite limbs, perfectly formed and unmarred, leading up to torsos and wide pauldrons. They were propped up by bulky backpacks, making them seem to be dozing with their helms resting in their chins. Power armour; two suits of Astartes power armour sitting right in front of them. Ferrac's mouth went dry and a sense of wonder filled him, along with a greedy surge of avarice. He instantly grasped the implications of this find, the raw potential bound within those suits. They were in nearly perfect condition, despite some minor wounds and could either increase Primus Cohort by two or be used to restore a score of lesser armours crying for refit. He glanced at Coluber and saw the same expression on his lord's face and Ferrac knew that no matter what the Amber Vipers would not be leaving this place without those armours.

Walkaq grinned, clearly knowing what effect his presentation was having and proclaimed, "Magnificent aren't they, take a closer look."

Coluber, Ferrac, Shrios and Kerubim drifted closer, none of them able to take their eyes off the inert plates. Ferrac examined the smooth ceramite and noted scraps of colour clinging to the edges, a red and yellow pattern, quartered across the body. He recognised the heraldry, for it was famous across the Imperium, and he stated, "Howling Griffons Chapter."

Shrios mused, "But how did they die?"

"Kerubim, examine these armours," Coluber ordered.

The Tech-adept complied, pulling a multi-spectrum augur from his belt and waving it over the power armours as he muttered, "Mark VII? No Mark VI. No organic remains within. Power cells are drained; these haven't been consecrated in decades, possibly centuries. Traces of vegetable matter in the joints, they were buried for a long time. The first's power cabling has been overloaded. The bearer was killed by some high-energy discharge of unknown pattern; it smote the warrior but left the armour intact. The other has been pierced at the joints by a crystalline material, possibly a projectile weapon… strange, there are still shards left in the wounds. All damage is repairable, Chapter Master these armours are viable."

Coluber rested a hand on a vambrace and said, "These suits will find a warm welcome among the Amber Vipers."

Kerubim looked up with concern as he protested, "The Howling Griffons will take great offence at the purloining of their blessed plate. They will expect these suits to be returned to them."

"Frak 'em," Shrios snorted, "These armours are ours now."

From across the room came the voice of Walkaq, "Take them with my blessings, a gift unto my new allies."

The Astartes looked up from their reverie and Coluber sounded suspicious as he queried, "You give them to us without extracting a price?"

Walkaq grinned deviously as he said, "Consider it a down-payment, a small part of your reward for joining us on an expedition."

Ferrac caught the implication and spat, "There are more where these came from?!"

Saffor replied merrily, "Oh yes, much more. I have recently returned from an expedition to a feral Xenos world. I went chasing an old legend and to my surprise I discovered I was not the first to seek out the glories of the past. I stumbled upon a battlefield, strewn with power armour, weapons and tanks. I've had some experience with Astartes so I recognised the value of this find immediately. Sadly, I was attacked before I could recover the bulk of the treasure trove, these two suits were all I was able to get off-world before my retinue was slaughtered."

Shrios probed eagerly, "More suits? Tanks? Rhinos, Predators, Land Speeders?"

Saffor nodded solemnly, "All that and more, perhaps a Company's worth of gear lying in the muck, waiting to be rescued."

Ferrac's head swam at the idea: proper Astartes equipment, not the shoddy make-do rubbish the Amber Vipers had to get by with. The raw potential of such a trove made his head ache, the sheer power such might could bring to the Chapter. Such a find could triple or quadruple their fighting strength. It was too good to pass up; they had to have that treasure, no matter who they had to kill to get it.

Coluber however sounded warier as he probed, "And what were a Company of Howling Griffons doing on feral Xenos backwater?"

Walkaq leaned back as he said, "They were chasing a legend, no, not even that, a rumour of a ghost of a myth. Ahhh, therein lies a tale. Tell me, what do you know of the First Diaspora?"

Ferrac frowned in confusion but Kerubim spoke up, "It is mentioned in the lore regarding the sacred STCs, supposedly predating the Dark of Technology. Cryptic references speak of an ancient Stellar Exodus from the womb of Holy Terra, of vast Long March starships and asteroid colony vessels that plied the galaxy, spreading the seeds of mankind far and wide. It is held that each ship carried a complete STC archive with them, so the colonists could benefit from all the knowledge and technology humanity had received from the Omnissiah."

Ferrac shook his head in disbelief and said, "A child's fairy tale, nothing more."

Yet Saffor interjected, "Not so, for some time I have been chasing rumours of a phantom. Legends of a distant planet and Voidfarer's bar-talk that spoke of a lost colony ship, crashing into the forests of an arboreal world some call Athelling. Many have sought to find the source of these myths, but none of them came back from the quest for Athelling. But I found it, I have trod there and I tell you the legends are true."

Ferrac snorted, "You expect me to believe that?"

However Coluber countered, "The important thing is the Howling Griffons believed it. Even if there is nothing else there the source of these armours is worth pursuing."

Walkaq beamed as he proclaimed, "Then we have an accord, you will go to Athelling and find the lost ship. Saffor will be my agent in this, he knows better than to cross me."

Saffor feigned indignation as he scoffed, "I am hurt you think I wouldn't keep to my bargains."

Walkaq's smile faded, revealing a cold glare as he growled, "Remember your debt, lest I call in your marker."

Shrios butted in then to say, "So we get the armour and you get… what?"

"Whatever the lost ship contains," Walkaq replied, "Archeotech, lost star maps, weapons… maybe even an STC archive."

Ferrac suddenly understood why the Navigator was so interested in a myth. STC's were priceless technology beyond the understanding of the finest Imperial scholars, able to design and build anything one required. The colonists had carried with them designs for everything from tractors and water pumps to starships and macro-cannons. Almost everything the Imperium used derived from STC lore, one way or another. A fully functional STC archive was the holy grail of the Adeptus Mechanicus and the tech-priests of Mars would pay any price for even a scrap of STC output, any price imaginable. Famously an STC template had once been uncovered once and the discoverers had been given planets to rule over and it only made knives. The worth of a single page of STC output could catapult House Chamandley back into the circles of Imperial power, but a complete archive could reshape the galaxy itself.

Coluber drew himself up and declared, "The Amber Vipers pledge themselves to this expedition, we will join your forces and uncover the secrets of the past."

Walkaq nodded in triumph as he said, "I shall provide Huscarls and war machines from my own pocket to aid you."

The crowd seemed delighted but Ferrac stepped in to say, "Wait… one question remains to be answered. Who are these Xenos inhabiting Athelling? Who defends the lost starship and defeated the mighty warriors of the Howling Griffons?"

Saffor answered him directly, "The Eldar. Athelling is a maiden world belonging to the Eldar breed known as Exodites."