The Dark Heresy
By: John Metolious
Prologue:
Eustace Majoritis VI
Adeptus Mechanicus Forge World
Transit of Goods Requested
Request Accepted
Landing Permit Code
Adept Hilvan looked up to the Mistress for the permission to enter the code. He wasn't used to taking orders from the Xenos Helicon, even more so from a Battle Mistress. Helicon Battle Mistress Nicole Balice was an angel from the Emperor. Her adamantine cloak dangled down to her trim legs, accentuating her tight armor; her piercing blue eyes could sense treachery from a mile away, and her face could hypnotize even a Space Marine Chaplain. Her Mind Flayer was tucked away on her thigh, and her bolt pistol on her leg, she was always ready for action. Hilvan heard stories about her, that she used to be a Celestine Mistress before her Helicon duties, and her gleaming ceramite armor told no lies. She was a beautiful figure indeed. Her blond hair was pulled back, and held by a digital hairpin, which was also a weapon. It carried a chemical charge that could drop even a Greater Daemon.
Landing Code Accepted
"Take us in, Mr. Hilvan, if you please," said the Mistress. She gathered her sisters and led a battle prayer. He didn't know what the mission was, but something the Mechanicus had, or didn't have, was the problem.
The assault hatch hissed open, and four Adeptus Mechanicus drones stood, waiting for the inspection. Forge Worlds were known to have crazy mutations, but these drones almost scared the Mistress, which was a hard thing to do to a Battle Sister, especially one who has faced Khorne before. Sisters Kala, Selma, Amira, and Emily stepped out with the Mistress, armed with purgatis flamers and melta grenades; they were the Mistress's retinue of choice. Selma and Amira fought with her against Khorne, and Kala fought with another Mistress before she was slain. Emily was a new girl, fresh out of the Imperium, but something sparked inside the Mistress's heart whenever she saw Emily fight.
"Welcome, Mistress Balice, to our home, we have been expecting you, our prefect would like to meet you. Does your ship require anything?" said the drones in a monotone voice. "The Ship Mistress requires promethium, food stuffs, and X energy," said Balice after checking her cogitator. The drones started speaking in binary and other servitors shot into service refueling the ship. The Iron Glave was a beautiful ship, fastest in the service of the Helican, and it was armed to the teeth. "What was the nature of the request of protection?" asked Balice. "I could answer that," said a cloaked figure, it was the prefect. "I received an order from the Dark Hunter Chapter for Machine Spirits and Adepts, but I had never heard of that particular chapter. So, I called the Helican," said the prefect, "and here you are!" "Yes, here we are," muttered Emily. The bead in Balice's ear crackled to life, and the ships cogitator spoke to her in a man's voice, "Madam, a ship has just jumped out of the warp, and is circling the planet, what is you're…" The ships automated voice was cut off, and a booming Space Marine voice replaced it. "We are the Dark Hunters, and you are trespassing on our territory, leave now or be destroyed." Balice nodded to her sisters, and then spoke into her bead, "Iron Glave, prepare for battle!"