The doors opened slowly, first with a creak as they began to fall forward, and then a sudden crash as they tumbled to the ground. The exterior lights ignited as the immediate hallway before them was illuminated. Such light had likely not been seen aboard the many remnants of the hulk in decades. Yet the boarding team took no respite, save for the single sorry soul who was forced into this hell, gathered their gear and quickly ran outside. Emile and Eli held point, as they watched the opposite ends of the corridors carefully. Particularly the several air-ducts that tore their way through the ground alongside them, a perfect place for a creature of the hulk to ambush them. They would have to move quickly in case such creatures did exist on this hulk, which was almost undoubtedly so. Commander Richell and her two guardsmen supported the space marines in the center. She herself held a plasma pistol towards the crack in the wall ahead of her. Such was the necessary caution they had all to take. Their pitiful charge, Ervin on the ground of the transport as he vomited around himself. He was the first to die, guaranteed.
Richell looked back only once.
"Get up, voidsman, or I will be forced to end you myself."
Reluctantly, and against the part of his mind which seemed to convince himself that if he simply let her kill him it would all end peacefully, he stood. He held tightly onto his lasgun, straightened the helmet provided to him, and stepped out. Vomit still covered over his shirt.
This was given no praise or attention however, as the others continued their scan of the immediate area. Eli looked down the corridor to see several other lights flash on, the sound of creaks and clangs echoed from them. The lights were likely of the other transports; the Stormtrooper squads assigned to this mission. He opened up his vox channel to his brother within his helmet, so that only they could hear one another's voices.
"Emile, what is our course of action?"
Emile stared down into the dark void of twisted metal and debris before him, the small indicator on his helmets hud displayed the meeting point with the mechanicum forces in that direction. Not a welcome prospect given their current forces, but they would need to make due. If they had terminators, none of them would have even been required to be in such a position, a five man team adequate enough to provide support alone. But they consisted of two tactical marines, and a host of the more standard imperial troops. Even as a veteran, he knew that he would not last long against a horde of gene-stealers lest such creatures inhabited this hulk. Whatever horrors within would also be of great danger as well, and the fact he knew of only gene-stealers commonly being in ships frustrated him so. But he would not falter, and likely the mechanicum would have sent in more than adequate forces to deal with anything they encounter. That would be once they meet up granted, and now all they could do was survive. He was given acting command of all the forces present, and so he would be sure to use them efficiently. Thus his mind worked the logistics within as little time as he could make, and came up with their course of action.
"Eli, contact the Stormtroopers and have them meet us here. Be sure to inform them to maintain close ranks, and to have at least two on a constant watch behind them. Maintain as much light as possible, and stay away from any cracks, vents or doors. Once they have met us here, we will advance together as a single group. Understood?"
Eli shifted his bolter as he saw the shadows around him seemingly move. After several moments, he replied.
"I'll get it done. Until then, we wait?"
Emile held his bolter tightly.
"Yes."
Such waiting was always in these operations. Where speed and precision was often necessary for extractions, aboard a space hulk it was often not doable. Their size, threats within and the labyrinth like hallways ensured that. The creatures that prowled within far more adept to such an environment than any who would dare enter, and so, extreme caution had to be upheld. From the other side of a screen however, such would appear little more than boring dots on the projection of the hulks interior, created from the ultrasound sensors deployed on the transports. Each of the Stormtrooper squad outfitted with both a vox and an ultrasound scanner, which was relayed back to the ship. Such provided a 3dimensional map of the immediate area, if lacking in great detail. Still, it was enough for Viola to at least see the battlefield and her pieces on the board. Though secretly, she did desire for her companion Space Marines safety.
Viola tapped her fingers onto her chair as she stared at the projection. So far, the landing was met with no problems. She had worried that one of the transports would smash on impact or be lost in trajectory, but thankfully things looked well. Far too well. All operations had hiccups, and the sooner they happened, the better off one was. The quicker a plan of reaction could be enacted. She was not used to anything performing so smoothly, and expected it as nothing more than a warning of bad things to come. So she could not decide whether it was a blessing or a curse that the techpriest the Magos adamantly pleaded be a part of this operation, was late. Incredibly late. An apparent 'malfunction' within their craft that prevented a timely take off, according to the Magos. Such an event far too uncommon for the mechancum, and likely a ploy to express their dependence on the Dark Anvil for this operation.
On the right corner of the screen, she watched the vox transmission of the Magos as he shared the connection with her. He had contacted her earlier, and apologized for a delay in their 'ambassadors' arrival, which served to press at her nerves. Now he only watched, likely musing himself with this little game. The operation already began, and so he decided that until the techpriests arrival, they would need to oversee the progress of the boarding teams through her terminals. What pressed her nerves further was that the Magos refused to share the visual data of his own forces, but promised her that they would not move until hers met up with them. The visual feed to be connected through the ever coming techpriest and his escort.
At least she had Reginald behind her, his presence enough to maintain her calmness. He respected her leadership and authority over this vessel, and remained silent while she commanded her ship. But, in other ways, it felt good to know that someone who could appreciate such was besides her. Reginald was true to this, and he enjoyed seeing her enact her command as the nobles of his house all should strive to do. Efficiently, with thought out statements and consideration, the emotion behind them not completely hidden but subdued and expressive enough. So he maintained besides her, willing to help if she required it, but likely she wouldn't need it.
Verdun stood on the sidelines, kept within the command deck so as to maintain the projection display, a task he found woefully unbefitting of him. Regardless, he did his task anyway, but did take the opportunity to study the Magos figure. The connection shook as the projection terminal faltered, and Verdun had to sooth its spirit.
"Lady Inquisitor, the connection will not hold much longer on this broken terminal. The spirit is willing, but it is still in need of repairs. I ask that we move this to a more suitable location."
Viola shot him a single stare that she trained him well not to ignore, and thus Verdun remained silent. With him promptly dealt with, she turned her attention to the Magos.
"We have a lot to deal with currently, and I was promised that your techpriest would arrive soon Magos. I would like to have all the information possible when I make decisions for my forces, and I do not wish to tell you that I have the authority to demand command of yours. But I have chosen to remain nice, and allow you to lead them. I simply ask we continue this arrangement as a group effort, as we had previously decided upon."
The Magos blinked twice, his head tilted to the side. A pop and a whir later, he straightened his head with a readied response.
"I have enabled the emotion suppressants within my systems currently to more effectively lead this operation, and I ask that you do not disapprove of my decisions. I will no longer be provoked so easily by your rash statements, Inquisitor. But it is true, our effectiveness is easily cut short by 25% with this abysmally basic projection. My techpriest is imperative however in coordinating the Skiitari forces we have deployed, and thus without his presence you will have no access to any of their information. Once he has arrived, I will be sure to provide all you ask so that we can work cohesively. Your techpriest is correct however, it would be best to move your command center to a more effective room within your ship, so that my techpriest may install the necessary components to connect our two ships machine spirits, and thus allow for much improved communication between us."
Viola sighed. There was little use arguing with any of the Mechanicum when they dulled their humanity, and she knew full well such had to be accomplished as well.
"Very well, Magos. Then I will be sure to relocate to a better facility, and—"
She felt a sudden bout of sickness, one she couldn't prevent. She gripped her chair trying to hold it off.
Emperor, not now! This was the worst place for such a feeling!
Viola held onto her stomach as she felt a wave of nausea came over her. She tried her hardest to fight off the urge, but nature would take its course. With a single gasp of air, she coughed out the watery vomit onto the floor in front of her. Much to the immediate and striking pause given to all within the command deck, save for Reginald who in a moment of severe concern broke his stoic posture to stand beside her and lay hand gently upon her shoulder.
"Viola! Are you feeling ill?"
Viola shook her head, embarrassed and otherwise angry at her inability to hold off such an urge. The rest of the command deck with an eye split between their work and their leader. This was something none of them ever expected to see. Verdun on the other hand, finally came to a conclusion with this piece of information that revealed to him the intention of Violas plans. As to her biological scans, it was clear. He knew something was strange when she requested a medicae periodically every solar week these past three and a half-months. Few files were restricted to him aboard the ship, and the machine spirit liked him dearly, so he was able to follow such leads. Every time little was discovered, but then a month ago she went again, and then the medial report was deemed a 'Administratum file', which led the report to be coded in writing rather than aboard the ships logs, which was the only kind of file he could not access without alerting her. She likely knew he reviewed such data, and decided to block him from discovering why. Since then she stopped all visits with the medicae, and the medicae had become suddenly tight lipped about anything. With this most recent information, the section of his brain he ran to decipher her plan finally had the last variable it needed to discover what had occurred. Perhaps if he was not of the Omnisiah, he would have thought of such a biological possibility sooner. It almost made his want to smile again, with glee.
Verdun looked to the Magos on the screen and then shifted his gaze to Viola who stared at him, with her deathly gaze she always toted. She likely knew he would have figured it out. Oh well.
"No, the Inquisitor is not sick, at least with any virus or disease. What she has is what many commonly refer to as morning sickness. She is pregnant, with the high Lord of House Valors child."
Viola looked up and gave Verdun the same death stare from before, and though he keeled back by reflex, she knew he said enough. The rest of the crew all but returned to their positions before they found an unwanted bullet in their skulls, and so did their best to focus on their task at hand. Not that all of them reeled at this development. Such information so openly displayed was all but an open destruction of any plans she had devised, as she knew that the Magos knew of House Valors customs. They would have devoted extensive research to learn all they could of them. It was among the most important things she had learned as well; the nobles of House Valor would marry any whom they have created a child with, no exceptions, and the mother would thus lose any status she had previously if she were of any other force outside the Knightly House, and given to the parent part of House Valor. Such extended to Inquisitors as well, who would follow through on such promises as decreed by the Imperial doctrines signed with the High Inquisitors and House Valor in a long passed conflict. She intended to use this to ensure her place by Reginald's side as the High Lady of House Valor, and secure herself a comfortable future, but she intended on such after this operation. After she gathered more insurance from whatever the Dark Anvil discovered. But now, it would be used against her by the Magos, whom would very likely dispute any order or command she gave now that her title was all but voided. Who she wondered most about was Reginald, whom she intended on telling in a different manner-one befit the games of wit they had come to enjoy between one another. How he would react to being used, she did not know…
Reginald was the most surprised of all of them, but he knew where he had been bested in a way. It made him all the more excited, and the respect he held for Viola all but grew. He had intended to ask her to leave the Inquisitorial life and join him as his wife after this operation had been completed, both to ensure he would remain by her whom he felt was equal to him, and to maximize the potential gains they could have secured using her title as Inquisitor. But she planned much further than that, and she intended on pregnancy, which she succeeded in. In truth, such news made him happy. Joyful as a smile grown onto his face, something he rarely did so genuinely. This was love, he was sure, and if he had to be bested by someone, he was glad it was her.
He patted her back softly.
"Well then, it seems as by custom, Viola. Will you be my bride? It would be dishonorable to not wed the mother of the future heir of House Valor, correct? Truly, I love you, but I am sure you knew that. I promise, to give you a life worthy of you."
Viola looked up at him, with an almost surprised stare. She hadn't planned to have him learn this early… but… still he so quickly asked to recover her honor. He seemed so… the words escaped her, and all she could think was that she was happy with this outcome. She herself had thought about the ramifications of her current state, but… she didn't think of the human element; that she would be a mother. Her an Inquisitor, would give up her office for them, and truthfully, she was all the ready to make that trade. Truly she became soft, and unfit for such a demanding office as Inquisitor. Reginald redeemed the current situation she found herself in, and then the weight she carried all lifted away at once as she realized she no longer had to hold such hefty schemes. Well played, Reginal. Like she could refuse such an offer.
She straightened herself up on her chair, and took Reginald's hand.
"I shall accept your offer, Reginal. I hope to be a fitting wife."
Reginald helped her stand.
"Viola, you are the only woman whom I would have ever chosen. Equals, you and I. Never change."
Viola smirked. They truly were a pair meant for one another. At least she had this much, if she was to have lost her little game with the Magos. She took a deep breath as she turned to face the crew, no doubt dumbfounded by this, and the Magos on screen who only stared at the entire mess of events before him.
"Then it is settled. Though this is far earlier than I had intended, I must announce my retirement as an Inquisitor, and I present to you your new leader, my husband Lord Reginald of House Valor. I expect all of you to serve as dutifully as you would underneath me, and as for you Magos..."
Viola gave a determined stare at the Magos through the screen. Her plan didn't quite go the way she intended, but perhaps, this was for the best. She could set up her new rank and life far easier without the title of Inquisitor to ward off all others.
"I regretfully must pass on authority for this operation to Lord Reginald, as he is the new active head of this ship and all of its crew."
The Magos only blinked as he had come to do when such things overrode his very visual circuits. The amount of variables which had just shifted and changed were innumerable, and the possibility of this event was not remotely accounted for within his many mental scenarios. The various facial and body motions he detected on her all but led to the conclusion this was no ploy. What had occurred before him had in truth occurred, despite the absolute illogical course this had taken. Yet, humans proved to be utterly unpredictable, especially those not of the Mechanicum. Though, that he merely bluffed the Inquisitor-if she was to be considered as such now-that he activated his emotional suppressants was a blessing. He now had the chance to begin a working relationship with the Knightly House directly, rather than waiting for their return. He had to recalibrate his actions from here on, and thus also gave word on a silent vox to immediately send the techpriest and end the show of force he intended by withholding their arrival.
"Very well then, Lady Viola of House Valor. High Lord Reginal, it is of much appreciation that we will command this together—"
Reginald shook his head, a final trick up his sleeve.
"Afraid, Magos, that you will not so easily disregard my soon to be wedded wife. As the High Lady of House Valor, Viola is my equal. I will not take any dismissal of her as anything less with so much as an immediate execution. And as my first present to her, she will remain as the acting head of this ship, and all its forces. She has been with them the longest, and she has all the right to the command of her ship. I would never take such authority from her, and I expect you all to treat her with the respect that she deserves. Any infraction against her, is an insult against me and House Valor."
Viola could not help but smile. Despite his right to take it all away, he still warranted to let her continue on in command. Truly he was an honorable man, and she was glad that she met him. As for her plans, well, they were now still salvageable, and with Reginald besides her, they would fall into place yet. No longer in the guise of an Inquisitor who had lost their nerve, but a High Lady of House Valor, with all that it entailed.
"Thank you, my lord Reginald."
She smirked widely, happy at this turnaround, as she looked at both Verdun and the Magos, who were utterly shocked by yet another turn in events.
"Well then, as I am to maintain command, I hope Magos that we can come to terms. Shall we continue the operation?"
The Magos simply shut his eyes, nearly overloaded with the absolute bizarre nature of this turn of events. It almost made him want to laugh, if he still held the capabilities to do so.
"Very well. Contact me again once you have set up within the allocated space previously discussed. I just received word that my techpriest I promised is en-route to your ship, and will arrive within the hour."
Viola reveled in this unexpected victory as she did not expect this result. And Verdun cowered away, likely shocked that his little rebellious act came back to bite him. The Magos back under her heel.
"Good."
Luckily for the entire boarding team, none of this was seen. However, the silence with any command had worried Emile greatly as he and the rest of Violas forces made their way along the same corridor as before. Somehow, it had managed to remain entirely intact within the space hulk, but he would take no chances, and so slowly they progressed. It was not but a few hours since they first departed from the transports, and nothing of much concern had come from the darkness. All they could do was look ahead, stare on and keep the space around them as bright as a solar day. They had just nearly arrived at the destined meeting point with the Dark Anvils forces, and he was thankful for it. The Stormtroopers maintained their steady pace, checked every door, and were as precise as he expected of them, but any force the Mechanicus could provide would be far more superior to them for this mission. Commander Richell on the other hand, seemed keen on her duty, a smile held on her face despite the surroundings she found herself in. Emile could not help but feel she was a true warrior of the Emperor, ready to fight and die in the direst of circumstances. While she was devout granted, he knew the likely cause of her expression was a mix of happiness derived from her service to an old friend, and a façade to convince herself and her two guardsman to keep morale. The third man, Ervin, surprisingly quiet as he held onto his lasgun. Tight to his chest. Not a position ready to defend himself lest the worst came, but none the less a determined stare in his eyes as he looked ahead. Perhaps if he survived, he would become a worthwhile adept.
He stopped as they came to a large blast door ahead of them, its massive frame imposed along the end of the small corridor. Only the bottom center of the door actually visible, the rest hidden above the halls height, and into the space above it. This was a spot where two ships smashed together, as Space Hulks were created of many mashed ships, and the simple lack of any imperial sigil instantly led Emile to know what he needed of the ship beyond. This was the ship from the Dark Age that the Magos was after.
Emile held up his hand, and all those behind him stopped. With the vox in his helmet he contacted Eli first.
"Eli, you and the Stormtroopers secure this area behind us. I will try and contact the ship with the vox brought by commander Richells men."
Eli gave a silent nod, as he turned to the Stormtroopers.
"Make rank! Form a line to break off this corridor, and illuminate as much area as possible around us. Nothing gets through here."
The Stormtroopers were quick to act, and they all set to their positions. Commander Richell got the hint from the giant door ahead of her and turned to her first Lt. Jimmy.
"Get the vox ready."
He gave a single salute with two fingers, and unloaded his backpack onto the floor. He quickly started to assemble the vox array and as he did so, Richell turned to their tag along.
"And you. What did you do aboard the ship?"
Ervin almost didn't respond, stuck in his head as he repeated to himself that he was going to survive. Thankfully, he caught on to her voice in time. He couldn't come off as crazy here. No, then he would be dead.
"I-I was a spare communications officer…"
Richell gripped her fist tightly.
"What was that? Speak up."
Ervin swallowed hard and almost fumbled the weapon in his hands.
"Spare communications officer mam!"
Richell sighed. At the very least, she could see how he would come in use now. Thankfully for him, he didn't serve no purpose other than cannon fodder.
"Alright. Then get on the vox and set it up for our liege space marine."
Ervin nodded his head.
"O-Of course."
He shakily knelt beside Lt. Jimmy who was still in the process of setting up the vox. As if he didn't notice him, Ervin pushed away his hands and set the Vox up within a few moments. Something that Jimmy was about to hit him for, but stopped as he knew he would have taken several minutes to do. He wasn't used to Vox duty after all.
Ervin calmed down as he messed with the equipment, something familiar to him at last. Not this dark hell hole he found himself in. Despite his massively equipped and far better prepared company, he had to worry about everything. Everything he said, he did, and especially how he reacted to orders. He felt they would all kill him the moment he screwed up, and he didn't want to die. Not here, not now. He would live dammit. He had to. He had to…
Ervin prepared the Vox in no time at all, and grabbed the microphone. With a click of the button on its side, he spoke up.
"Br-Breach team to command. We seek to establish communication."
The voice he heard on the other end neigh gave him a heart attack, as Viola responded.
"This is Viola. I can see your current position. Now would you put on brother Emile for me."
Ervin shakily held out the mic towards the imposing giant of a space marine before him. Without an ounce of pity, Emile took it and turned towards the door.
"Viola, it seems we have come to an obstacle our current forces cannot overcome."
Viola looked at the projection before her, the same as before, to see he was right. Thankfully, on the other side was their allies, whatever their force consisted of.
"I see it Emile. I wouldn't recommend going through the long way to reach them. However, communication with the Dark Anvils forces will be established soon, and I am sure they will be more than enough to open the door for you. So, unfortunately you will have to wait until then."
Emile figured this would be the case. But, he was more interested in seeing if they would have responded.
"So then, might I ask what held communication until now?"
Viola remained silent as she had a brief flash of the previous events which held them. It wasn't in her best interests to explain everything to him yet.
"We had to move to a different location aboard the ship to establish a secure connection. From here on however, we will remain in constant contact. Once the comms are established, you will be able to contact me through your personal vox. Understood?"
Emile smiled beneath his helmet.
"Of course."
Viola did the same, as she stared at the simple projection before her. It had taken some time, but they managed to move all of the equipment they needed to a room in the officers section of the ship. It was right across from where she allowed that girl to stay, but other than that it was of dull notice. Granted, it was spacious for what was originally the mess hall for the officers, but it served its purpose finely. Now, if only that damned techpriest would show up. Verdun had already gone to meet him, and she received word that he would arrive in due course, but this communication problem was nothing if a mark against the Magos. Ah well, she would use it as leverage in later discussions have the need arrive.
Within the room, there was only limited personal with her. Reginald was there besides her as he did on the command deck. His presence all that made this façade of a command room not entirely agonizing. Several communications officers as they worked on a few screens Verdun had arranged, and several servitors Verdun 'relinquished' to aid in maintaining all of the machinery. Her usual retinue of ten Stormtroopers stood around the room, two at the door, one on each corner, and four which roamed along the center. The only unnecessary member of the entire group being the astropath, Ceres she recalled, who had not been sent back to the psykers chamber yet. He insisted he would prove useful, and though Viola had doubted as much, she did not wish to spare the time to make him leave. So there he stood, alone in the corner. Perhaps he could deliver a message to check up on the rest of the fleet back in the Schola sector.
