A Strange Destination
Author's Note: Apologies
for only marginally increasing chapter length. My thanks to all those
who reviewed. I wikll try to reply to them all next time.
Valorus was quite satisfied to see that no one in his retinue was not intimidated by the massive presence of Matheson.
The preacher managed to convert enough of his fear into anger to demand, "Who is that?" He pointed at the marine but looked at Valorus, the courage it took to give that insult to a man twice his size was not to be sniffed at.
"Chaplain Matheson, formerly of the Raven Sons, who will be travelling with us under the alias of Olympus, my bodyguard, and you will not forget it."
"Yes sir," said the preacher, but as he turned away Valorus could have sworn he heard him mutter something that sounded like, "little better than heretics."
The party of fifteen boarded the tiny rogue trader vessel that they had been provided with to make good their appearance of being small-scale traders running from Imperial oppression.
The ship left the atmosphere of Maskrie with its engines whining, struggling to pull free of the gravity that grasped out with its tendrils to haul it back.
The hellish transition into the Warp came later.
Valorus as a psyker could feel the daemons pushing against the Geller Fields, trying to force their way into the ship. That kind of knowledge might intimidate or indeed madden a lesser individual, for an Ordo Malleus inquisitor it was merely reinforced faith in duty.
Yet to focus only on daemons was to invite them into your mind, and so Valorus walked into his quarters to further extend the part he was to play, the rogue trader Menhartes.
He had used the alias before on several operations, but he would have to add a recent history of some sort to explain the sudden flight of a reasonably wealthy trader from the Imperium.
That wasn't hard. If his character had reputedly traded with the Tau, then I would tie in with the official reason for his investigations and give reason for him to run to his target world instead of the other semi barbaric worlds where the Imperium did not rule where he cold live like a king.
He spent two hours inventing some plausible circumstances and another hour or so ensuring that everyone who would travel with him on the surface of the planet was sure of the characters and histories of the fictional individuals that they would play.
Confident in the fact that his work was done, he took the rest of the journey to sleep, knowing full well that circumstances would probably prevent him resting except in short bursts for the rest of the mission.
He was woken by Matheson telling him that their destination was less than a day away.
"How long have I slept?" he asked, considerably less blearily than someone without experience in waking quickly as required.
"A few days, very wise, our navigator informs us that we are nearing our destination."
"Very well, I'll oversee our approach in a minute or so."
The chaplain nodded and exited the chamber, allowing Valorus to pull on his overrobes and wash himself.
Not long later he strode onto the bridge.
"Time until we reach our destination?" he demanded of one of the Servitors attached to the bridge navigational banks.
"Three hours sir," replied the toneless voice instantly. The Servitor did not turn around.
"Very well."
He gestured to Matheson, "Kindly follow me Chaplain," he said, leaving the bridge.
The Marine followed him, and as he left the bridge some of the tension inside deflated a little. Valorus smiled, best to keep them on their toes. Let the traitors reveal themselves.
The Inquisitor and his friend moved through the cramped corridors of the ship, the Marine usually bent almost double.
As they moved past the cabin sectors Valorus heard raised voices, needless to say Matheson did too.
Valorus unnecessarily gestured the marine to silence and crept forwards, stopping outside the slightly ajar door to the quarters of Commissar Vance.
"I represent the Departmento Munitorum and I will be obeyed!" that voice was the Commissar, loud and brave, but not unruly.
"Commissar, there are things about this mission that you do not know. I would advise you not to interfere in my particular aspect of it," that was the voice of one of the Guardsmen, but not the kind of language that a seasoned Inquisitor would expect from one.
"You are under the jurisdiction of the Departmento Munitorum. I have the authority of the Departmento on this mission!"
"Very well Commissar," sighed the guardsman. There was a pause, then a stifled gasp.
"Now do you see?" asked a new voice, female.
"Yes," replied the Commissar gruffly.
"Good."
Sensing that the conversation was over Valorus returned to Matheson and whispered to him to start walking again.
The Inquisitor and the Chaplain walked forwards as the Commissar and the guardsman emerged from the room. Vance looked slightly alarmed at seeing them, but the face of the Guardsman was immobile, carefully enough that it appeared casual. There was no doubt about it, he had some secret, Valorus would have to find out what it was soon. Very soon.
At that moment an alarm sounded, filling the corridor with its howl.
The four of them in the corridor ran in the direction of the bridge, Matheson's enhanced legs bringing him there just as the navigation Servitor stated, "Warp Breach Imminent."