Chapter 3: True Nature
Note to reviewers: You must remember my friends that in 40k not everything is as it seems.
On board the Pride of Guilliman, Librarian Tathlis was speaking to his captain.
"You cannot imagine how difficult it was for me to treat those HERETICS with such respect! From the moment I reached into their captain's mind I knew what they truly were."
"I know Brother. Now tell me, what did you see?"
"They come from an empire very similar to the Tau. They openly embrace aliens and seek to incorporate them into their empire. They have little to no concept of warfare. They seek to make peace with everyone they meet."
"I know you are frustrated, but I ask that you only retrain yourself until we reach Maccrage."
"Why are we bringing these heretics to our home system?"
"Because it will be much easier to capture them where our presence is strongest than out here in deep space. If they manage to flee it will be far easier to track them from Maccrage," Dentris replied.
"I see your wisdom Brother, and when they visit the Fortress of Hera we will capture them correct?"
"Correct. At the same time they are on the surface we will send a boarding party that will request a tour of their vessel. Brother Maldis is currently working on a virus to disable their main computer. The information he gleaned from his interaction with their 'tricorder' gave him enough information on their data systems. Their encryption software is ridiculously simple. He says he saw more advanced encryptions in his basic programming training on Mars. Once their systems are disabled, we will dispatch Thunderhawks to secure the crew. "
The Librarian smiled, a thing he rarely did. "An excellent plan Captain."
Space flickered and warped as the Pride of Guilliman exited the Warp. It would take approximately ten hours to reach orbit of Maccrage. Captain Janeway, having received the signal that it was safe to look outside again, engaged the view screen.
"Captain, we are approaching visual range of the planet," Tuvok reported ten hours later.
"On screen," she replied. The planet she saw stunned her and everyone on the bridge. The entire planet was a deep blue and green paradise. Clouds moved gently across a clear sky.
That was only one of the things that stunned them however. In orbit of the planet were dozens of orbital bases. They bore no resemblance to star bases however. They were mostly made up of massive gun ports and armor slabs. They all bore the symbol Janeway had seen on the marines, the Greek letter Omega surrounded by a blue square. Several vessels were also in orbit. Two of the vessels were identical to the one Voyager had traveled with. The third was much more massive. It looked like a hammer with a church atop it. Massive gun batteries adorned much of its hull.
"I doubt even the Borg could take this place," Paris commented.
"Tuvok, what are the sensors saying?" Janeway asked.
"Both the vessels and the orbital structures are giving off massive energy readings. I believe they are powered by some sort of extremely high energy plasma reactors. Their hull armor is at the least five meters thick. I am detecting both energy and projectile weapons. The stations are mostly the same, with the exception of having many more weapons." Paris gave a whistle and for once Janeway said nothing.
"The Pride of Guilliman is hailing us," Ensign Kim reported.
"On screen." Captain Dentris appeared.
"Captain, I would like to invite you and your officers down to Maccrage to meet our Chapter Master and to tour our fortress."
"We would be honored. We'll beam over to your ship in thirty minutes," she replied.
"Another thing Captain. Several of our marines have expressed an interest in your vessel. They, along with some of our historians would like to take a tour of your vessel and begin a cultural exchange."
"Very well. I'm sure I speak for my entire crew when I say I appreciate your gracious hospitality."
Once the link had been severed, Tathlis spoke to his captain.
"Our plan is proceeding perfectly. Master Calgar is awaiting their arrival with open arms, until the signal is given that is." When Voyager had been disabled, Janeway and her officers would be taken prisoner and interrogated. An Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos was waiting for them as well.
Halt an hour later, Janeway, Chakotay, Tuvok, Paris and Seven of Nine beamed over to the Pride of Guilliman. Captain Dentris was waiting for them along with Librarian Tathlis. Both marines gave a curious glance a Seven.
"Is something the matter?" She asked.
"No, please come with me. Chapter Master Calgar does not like to be kept waiting." Captain Dentris lead them through long corridors and large service bays. Janeway saw a servitor cleaning a floor.
"What is that over there?" She asked, indicating the servitor.
"A servitor. They tend to the most basic operations of the ship."
"Are they sentient?"
"No, their minds are erased when they are augmented."
"They were once living beings!" Janeway was horrified.
"Most of them are grown in tanks and have never known thought. Others were once heretics who were chosen to serve in this way to make up for their sins," he answered. He stopped and Janeway saw that they had arrived at the strike cruiser's launch bay. They boarded one of the Thunderhawks. Captain Dentris assisted them with the unfamiliar seatbelts.
The trip to the surface was fast and bumpy. Paris nearly lost his lunch and Janeway was also feeling sick to her stomach. The marines were not bothered at all.
"Is it always like this?" Paris called out over the roar of the re-entry.
"Only when we are not in a hurry," Tathlis answered. A few minutes later the ride began to smooth out. They had passed through the cloud layer. The Fortress of Hera came into view, a massive marble structure that rivaled the mountains in size.
"It's beautiful," Janeway breathed.
"Indeed. It was constructed by Roboute Guilliman over ten thousand years ago. It is the holiest structure known to the Ultramarines."
"Over ten thousand years old," Chakotay said. "That is impressive."
As the Thunderhawk came in to land, Marneus Calgar was waiting for them with an honor guard of Terminators. Captain Janeway and her officers exited after the marines. Up close, Captain Janeway was dwarfed by the massive chapter master.
"Captain Janeway, I am Marneus Calgar, Chapter Master of the Ultramarines. Captain Dentris had informed me that you assisted him in vanquishing the Dark Eldar raiders. I extend my gratitude. I will take you on a tour of the fortress. But first I would confer with Captain Dentris for a moment."
"Of course," she replied. Calgar took Dentris aside.
"These are the heretics you mentioned?"
"Yes Chapter Master. They are not unlike the Tau; their technology is very advanced and they welcome aliens. They were able to penetrate the pirate vessel's shadow fields. Also, their teleporters are much more accurate than our own. Techmarine Maldis is even now on board their vessel preparing to disable it. Once that is done, we will have all the time we need to discover what other valuable technology it contains."
"Then come, let us not keep our guests waiting," he replied.
What do you think? Will the Ultramarines gain control of Voyager? Find out in the next chapter: Prize Taken.