Well, this is something I wanted to get out of my head.
Not long ago I had read a story with a similar thematic. It was good, I must say. So I started thinking how Akame ga kill world would do in the grimdark 42th Millennia. They have many good things usable and many characters would be interesting to be tested in the endless war.
Now, I must get this clear. I'm not writing this out of spite or biased. Like AGK and I don't feel the series takes it too seriously. It has some flaws but it is enjoyable.
Why I say this? Well, you must have something clear. The imperium isn't here to save characters or punish those greedy evildoers. If you are knowledgeable with the lore you should know that Imperium can be as bad as or even worse than Honest. Esdeath could even be an innocent waifu if compared to some characters.
So tell me, what you think about this and if you would like to see more chapters of this.
[X]
Warhammer 40K and Akame Ga Kill Kill belong to their respective owners.
[X]
They were reunited under the command of the general. All of them wondered what had happened to summon a special reunion so fast as to be considered highly important. Something had happened, and in their experience as assassins things could turn for worse each time something like this happened.
Even though they had reunited at the indicated hour, there was still someone in absence.
"Where is Lubbock? Asked a purple haired girl while trying to locate her companion.
"He is busy with something important." Answered their leader sitting in her throne as she lighted a new cigar, the ashtray at her side having more than a dozen of them already finished in just a moment. They noticed this, their leader was preoccupied, more than usual, even if she was trying to hide it.
"Then what is going on?" The newest member of the team asked. His eyes contemplating at the object under the white cloth on the table. There was something there it had not been before, all their suspicions' were drawn towards that table.
The commander sighed and released a white cloud of smoke. Rising from her throne she lighted again a new cigar. Then she reached her hand towards the cloth and pulled. Revealing a piece of metal with many layers of something like gold running through its carcass. It had two jewels on top, green orbs glistening with mysterious scent.
However, someone raised the question. "Eh? Is that all? All this tensions for just a weird piece of jewelry? What the hell, Boss?" Asked the blonde as she approached to touch the object, just to get her hand grabbed and almost crushed by the mechanical arm of her commander. "Don't even think about it." her tone was quiet, yet so cold Leone could feel a murderous intent emanating from her. Few were the times when her boss would act like this, and she had learned to follow any orders given in that state.
"This thing here was found by a merchant in the other side of the world. He mentioned it to have found it inside some old ruins in a desert. Alongside many things we have no idea what are and we are not even wanting to search again for more… something there… killed one hundred men as they tried to get more. It was so fast, one blink and the next, they were only dust. The merchant lost all his fortune trying to get something from that place, at the end he managed to do it, but he was now so broken he finally realized how fool had he been. At the end he tried to sell this thing but with nobody wanting to buy it he ended suiciding himself. Lubbock found him and his diary, detailing his expedition." She held a small notebook in her hand as she threw it on the table.
"However, that is not the biggest problem." She then touched the smaller jewel, the object hummed as something activated inside of it. Then something appeared, some kind of construct made entirely of light. Some of them grabbed their weapons as they couldn't comprehend what was happening.
"Calm Down." Said Najenda in her authority voice. "The light won't harm you. Just don't move and don't try to touch it with your fingers."
"Hey boss! What is this!?" Said Tatsumi alarmed. His eyes trying to read the weird light symbols "Is it a Teigu?"
"No." His commander said. "Well… I don't think it's that. Just watch." She moved her finger touching some symbols and an image formed, all the colors materializing it as if it were the real thing. Some gasped at seeing three figures formed: Extase, Incursio and Pumpkin. Three of the Teigu used by Night Raid. A pink haired girl couldn't content herself as she touched pumpkin, winning a scream from Najenda.
However, it was late, as the image of pumpkin was touched more symbols appeared and the light construct grew almost reaching the roof. Images of Pumpkin being disassembled as lists of indecipherable symbols appeared. Something in Mine's head told her she was seeing at a manual of some kind. "Is this…? Instructions?"
Najenda sighted as she closed her hand again, making the light disappear instantly. "Yes, that is what we believe… however, we have no idea how this works. We think it can help us make more Teigu, but we barely understand this artifact."
"Wait? Are you serius?" Questioned the blonde, incredulous of such claim. "I mean, having a mass production Teigu relic sound too great to believe."
Najenda covered the artifact with the cloth and walked back to her throne to light another cigarrete, she cursed as she saw it was her last. "You are right. We don't fully understand this thing, and I don't think we have the raw materials to do it. As of now we have no idea what to do with it, but its sure we won't lend it to the empire."
"Then why bring this here? Shouldn't be this better into the revolutionary army hands?" Asked Mine.
"Maybe, but as for now, we are the safest place if the empire attacks." She finished her cigar and tried to pull back another, just to realize the box was empty, she threw it away. "But there is also another thing they are also too occupied with." She then pulled a metal box from inside her clothes. It was small, the size of a hand, yet it was for sure it had been reinforced a lot. She opened it, and inside there was something.
A stone. A simple stone. Black as night, big as a fingernail, but apart from that it was just a plain stone. However, their commander's behavior had teach them to not judge only by appearances.
"What is that now?" Asked Sheele fixing her glasses.
"Leone." Called Najenda. "Turn on your Teigu and touch this."
The blonde obeyed the order. After turning into a demi-beast she reached with her fur covered finger to touch it. She hesitated, for she didn't know what it was that thing. She pushed those thoughts aside and did as ordered.
Then everything in her mind went dark. Her body felt like if it had thousands of needles. Then her body was throw away as a force shock slammed on her. Her body hit the wall cracking the stone.
"Leone!" Cried Akame running to her fallen form. At attending to her she then realized her beast form was now gone and her Teigu was emitting smoke.
"She will be okay." Told Najenda. "But as you see, this black stone can inhibit and neutralize Teigus and their effects. Such an item would be capable of rendering temporally useless any Teigu depending on its type."
"Such a thing… it's hard to believe it exist… it's a triumph card!" Exclaimed Bulat. "This thing could help us to kill general Esdeath."
"Don't get too much over it. This is the only thing we know and discovered it by mere accident." Said Najenda. "We have no idea how will affect Esdeath for sure." She hid the box again. "Now! Prepare yourselves! We have a new unknown player to investigate!"
[X]
"This is bad…" That was the first thing to be said by him after many minutes. His eyes fixed closely on the object in the night sky.
At first he had thought about it as a mere meteor. Rock from the heavens. The telescope however, told him it was something far more than that. A meteor doesn't have the form of a temple after all…
It was falling for sure, it had been doing it for many minutes up until now. He calculated the trajectory. The empire is vast, as vast as one of the two continents which formed this world. It would fall on a zone of the empire, close to its borders, but he was sure as hell those on the capital would see it and may rush to investigate the thing.
They had to be faster.
"Inform Najenda as fast as you can! Send your fastest messenger with these coordinates, tell her to be as fast as she can, this is of upmost importance!" He ordered to the girl from the revolutionary army standing behind him. She nodded and ran to accomplish the orders.
He turned to one side of the lab. There it was, a three meters long sphere of crystal. Its interior filled with an unknown liquid and a needle made of the same black stone he had sent to Najenda. It was moving again, always pointing to the same side. He felt a cold ominous feeling in his gut for seeing this again. Lubbock then returned his eyes to the telescope.
"Things are just getting worse…"
[X]
The alarm blared again and again. The same monotone chant of the wired servitor telling the same instructions over and over again. For hours it had been the same, the same chaos inside the ship, chaos produced after a battle. Even after they had purged up to the last black legionnaire. Thousands of arms men and imperial guard soldiers had died after repelling the boarding, the warship was now almost empty, yet, its doom was inevitable.
After making a warp jump trying to escape from the chaos' surprise attack they had finally, after one terran week of travel through the Inmaterium, found a star system where to jump back to reality. But the Herald of the Emperor had burned out its warp engines, and the last of the astropaths burned after sending one last call of help to any imperial forces capable of heard them. Even as the orders may seem useless in the Imperium Nihilus, they had to follow procedures.
Inquisitor Aragorn Iturbid rested his view into the small blue object closing slowly. There would be food and water there, they needed it.
Something approached from his side. An amalgamations of flesh and metal carrying the blessings of the Omnissiah and adorned with the red of Mars.
"Affirmation: Ship engine having catastrophic shut down. Inevitable melt down of plasma reactor.
Recommendation: Throw reactor to the void.
Consequences: Ship unable to outperform maneuvers. Inevitable crashing on the planet below."
The inquisitor grimaced at the monotonous robotic words of the Magos Explorator. An associate who had joined his expedition with him to achieve his goals. They had fight in Vigilus, and had managed to win despite all odds. But now seems like their luck had run dry.
"Do as you see fit. Also if you may, inform my retinue and all personal available. Tell them to take all the dropships necessaries and escape pods."
The Magos nodded and retired to make the last adjustments. He passed by side of the captain's cadaver. Her fused body to the ship laid now dead, after all, her command throne had been warped by a Daemon and its machine spirit turned rouge. The former captain was now a chunk of metallic flesh.
It didn't matter, this ship would die soon. Yet, it was not over. This world would provide refuge and a temporal base for his forces. A servitor approached and gave him a data slate. Aragorn counted the survivors so far. One mechanized regiment of Armageddon steel legion, two Elysian drop troop regiments and a company of Tempestus Scions. Along with a Mechanicus maniple which had been requisitioned during the war of beasts on Vigilus. That and also the stormtroopers in his personal retinue along with some individuals for his personal team.
The ship trembled again while he walked to the hangars. Troops and personal was moving from one place to another as they prepared to abandon the warship. He almost feel uneased for leaving behind such a magnificent construct.
"We are almost ready to depart, Milord." He heard a feminine voice, one of the three coronels left in the ship. She used the Elysian uniform with pride, her blond hair cut reaching her shoulders. The inquisitor nodded at the words, the Elysian continued. "The Magos has also detected human presence on the world, theories tells about a feudal world."
"Very well." Answered Aragorn. "But it's unwise to try to act as a delegation. We shall stay away from any civilization in the planet until we have researched enough. However, I and a small team will also venture to explore this planet so we can use it to the Emperor's advantage."
"May this humble servant of the Emperor ask what number will you take?" Questioned the Elysian.
The inquisitor raised a brow at this question. Was this girl wishing to be silenced for asking too much? Or maybe she was concerned? Could she be aiming to obtain favors from the Ordos? However, this information wasn't really that secretive. "I will take A Stormtrooper squad and nothing more." He Half lied. He would be taking another two with him, the woman didn't need to know this.
"Will that be enough, your lordship?" She asked concerned, or at least that she may look like. "Wouldn't be wise to hold some of our platoons waiting in case these barbarians proof too hostile for you?"
Ah, she was trying to buy favors! He realized. However, while he didn't wanted to start selling favors, this could be useful for him. After all, if the Elysian failed they would tarnish their honor as being unable to protect an inquisitor. That may be useful for him in case of needing more of their services.
"Hmm… Keep a few Valkyries in high atmosphere then. If I need them I will call them. You are dismissed, Coronel."
She smiled, a smile full with confidence and triumph. She believed to have achieved her goal. Bamboozling an inquisitor isn't an easy feat. She then left, going to her Devourer dropship.
Lord Iturbid felt a cold behind his back. His psykana reacted and recognized the psychic trail emanating from the person close. A psyker. Smaller than him, her clothes with a dirty white. Her hair was long, although uncared, her body frail, as if the slightest punch would break her apart. She was just a child after all. Sixteen years old, her face still with the beauty of youngness, yet her mind had proven to be capable of reaching the range of a Primaris Psyker at a Gama level. Her abilities had been honed, not as much for her to combat, but her skills would let her perform acts more subtle, less visible.
"The Astronomicon and the voices speak. Imperium Nihilus cries even as we speak. Yet, hope still lingers. Vigilus may be tested, but the God Emperor hasn't abandoned them."
"Do you feel it too, Vaness?" Asked the inquisitor in a questioning glare. His hand twitching to reach his bolt gun, just in case.
"I do. A new corridor has been found, and with that new strategic point. I have sent words to any imperial force hearing. They must know. However, the storms revolt the ocean and my message can't reach so far."
"The Ruinous Powers might also find this haven…" The inquisitor remarked bitterly.
She stayed silent. She just could pray to the God Emperor for them never to find out.
Lights gone red and alarms blasted. They knew the meaning of this, the ships would die soon. They gone to the last Valkyrie waiting for them. Once inside, the transport elevated and abandoned the hangar and a dying vessel.
As they left it, the inquisitor saw the Lunar class cruiser being pulled by the planet gravity. Without engines the planet would reclaim it as its. Slowly, it gone. Even as its hull burned by the atmosphere reentry they mourned its fall. It had been a good ship, three millennia of service. The remains of the ship impacted the planet, mountains were reshaped as a behemoth of more than five kilometers formed a new crater.
They then started going down. As the plan was stablished. Most of them gone to the less inhabited continent. Just a few descended relatively close to that population center. They better not be hostiles he already had too many problems on his hands.
[X]
The man stood close to the window, looking at the horizon, at the place were that 'Castle' had fallen. His mind running with all kind of plans and plots, such was his cunning nature. After all, manipulation was his second name. He had made the Empire his with his mischiefs and lies, killing the previous emperor and empress and making their child believe they had been murdered by someone else. His tongue of silver had made the child trust him almost like a father and thus he had taken the tittle of prime minister for himself.
And now, at seeing this new 'Ship' falling from the sky new ideas had been born inside his head. That thing was obviously some kind of vessel. It was burning and obviously falling. He saw the massive colossal cannons armoring the vessel, a warship then? It had come from the void, that place even higher than the sky itself. There were legends, stories of sages about a dark place so big it was unending, so vast it also had other worlds placed as small spheres. Perhaps that warship was coming from another world, a world far more advanced than this… No… even with one world it would be useless to have such a warship like that, that kind of thing would be necessary to rule over more than a bunch of worlds. Was the vessel of a king? A Flagship? He wondered. Such a civilization should also bring problems to his empire. They could be invaders, maybe conquerors. But also could be another thing, but those insane weapons he doubted they were peaceful at all. Why was such a ship in that state? Its damage surely had been made by some extern force. That means they should be in war. Also he wondered what kind of power could be out there capable of damaging such titan.
"So interesting…" Prime Minister Honest said as he stuffed his mouth with meat. He then drank the liquor in the cup and whipped his face. "Don't you think so, General?"
The General Budo just stayed quiet as watching the warship fall. His curiosity raised made him look intensely on the broken form of the vessel. Who would need so big ship?
"Indeed…" he limited himself to say. "I'd like to assemble an investigation team to send them to research that thing. Who knows, it may have incredible weapons inside."
The Prime Minister would let him investigate. Even thought the general's drive was weapons and war artifacts, his greed made him think in the treasures and never seen artifacts. Such amount of income would secure his power permanently not to mention it would be a good excuse to say it would 'improve' the economy.
"Very well. Take the men you see fit for this and make sure to get all possible artifacts from that warship. Make sure to use the best among your men."
General Budo nodded, he went towards the door, however, before opening. "Ah, and call general Esdeath, tell her to return to the capital. I know she will be annoyed, just tell her it is a direct order from the emperor himself. Send another general to take care of the north." Honest said as he poured more liquor in his glass.
[X]
If there was something the Adeptus Mechanicus really hated, was curious intruders trying to mess with the sacred creations of the Omnissiah.
Magos Raomulus Arch Sigma VI-4716 knew exactly what had to be done when barbarians tried to desecrate the divine will of the Omnissiah.
It had been 72 hours since landfall and it had been a really occupied work he had been doing. Savaging all material, armor, weapons, ammunition, vehicles, planes and equipment from inside the dead vessel had required the help of all tech-priests. They had to move everything and contact the inquisitor to get a base and a place to secure everything.
And yet, the natives on this world had felt too curious and had sent an expeditionary force. They would arrive soon, so had say one of the many deployed servo-skull sent to take vigil over the place from any hostile enemy.
Magos Raomulus had acted in accordance and had choice to not seal the places from where radioactivity were escaping. Such radiation would kill anything alive in a radius of five kilometers, lesser flesh beings would feel their cells die. However, for a servant of the machine god this would be nothing.
He sent a command in binaric chant. The servitors accelerated their work speed. They had to leave and regroup with the rest of the crew in the other continent. Two pairs of heavy landers were waiting for them.
He glanced back to the ship. Such a behemoth, a creation worth of the Omnissiah. His once organic heart ached at seeing it wounded. They would have to wait for allies so they can return this warship to its former glory.
He would swear that.
An agitation in the wind was caught by his sensors, he analyzed and compared the speed of the wind. He determined the source and just sent a binaric chant in a signal of salute.
Two Pteraxii had arrived, both floating two meters above ground. Both of their flechette carbines hanging from their hands, their claws shinning under the sun.
One of them opened their claws, the head of a reptilian life form felt to the ground. More drake like beasts had been seen flying near this place.
Both of them transmitted their findings. A groups of natives was reaching this position. They would arrive in one hour. A total exact of two hundred and two men armed with stub guns and swords. Primitive. So they were. They could annihilate them, yet efficiency was a dogma for the scions of Lucius. Better leave them, let them burn in the deathly aura of radiation.
The Magos sent a command. Binaric chants reached the servitors, automata, Skitarii and Tech-priests. Everyone conveyed and redoubled their work.
[X]
It was in a hill where Buddo stopped to see at the behemoth.
At least five kilometers of minerals and unknown material spreading everywhere. It was as if a mountain had felt to the ground, what kind of civilization would be able to construct and need such amount of power?
He then noticed something, a bird had felt to the ground. Soon it followed other and another. They fell, dead, their feathers spreading everywhere and black blood escaping from their mouths. Something really strange was happening.
"Captain!" He called for his subordinate. "Order ten men to march ahead of us, tell them to march in a row! Now move!"
"Yes, Sir!" His subordinate obeyed. In a few minutes ten soldiers had been selected and marched ahead of the formation. They continued.
However, just some meters ahead General Buddo saw how one of the men ahead felt from the horse. A few seconds later the horse convulsed and died too. The other nine saw this and stopped, however, some more moments later another one of the soldiers felt, her body so desperately trying to return. Her horse followed shortly after.
The left ones panicked, they turned and tried to return, yet the horses also felt. Foaming from the mouth. The other soldiers tried to run back, when they were five meters close to the main formation Buddo then noticed.
Their skin was red, blood escaping from torn flesh. Yellow liquids escaped as well. He watched as their bodies melted in a horrible and agonic death. Their hairs started falling, their skin melted as if some acid had felt upon them.
Budo ordered a retreat. His men obeyed and started returning. Something was happening, was this a trap from that bastard Honest? It could be, but the thing which had killed their soldiers. Was it poison? A danger beast's power? No, there had no danger beast close. This was strange.
He heard the agonizing screams of one of the soldiers in the front. Medics where trying to treat her. She just struggled as if trying to torn her own flesh. He saw her wounds, red gurgling skin, and blood pouring out everywhere. Her eyes were now just a yellow puss. She couldn't even scream.
He understood what he had to do. He took a lance from a near soldier and pierced her skull. Her brain was instantly destroyed just as her life.
"General!" A feminine voice called him. "What happened? What was that?"
"I have no idea." He admitted without looking back at her. "But this looks like a trap."
"A trap? Set by those in the ship? Are they hostile?" She asked eagerly, but at the same time concerned for finding a new enemy of the empire.
"I can't say that for sure." He replied. "Be ready in case of any danger."
"Yes, Sir!" She saluted obeying her orders. Her teigu, Hekatonkheires, barked happily following her everywhere.
Budo pondered into the situation. They didn't know what to do, at least not yet. He was almost sure he could be able to resist that poison, but he didn't wanted to take risks at this task. It's not that he wanted to follow the order of the bastard of the minister, but he also knew that ship could contain marvels in weaponry he could take to bring a better future for the empire once honest was executed.
He then heard a sound, a roar he had never heard before. Was this a danger beast? He activated Adramelech charging it. He saw Seryu taking her Tonfa guns and his men reading their weapons. They had been well trained.
The sound was coming from upside. He turned and saw something he had never seen before. A strange craft hovering in the air. A metal construct like some kind of bird. It was five meters above them.
Were these the aliens which had come inside that ship? What were they like? Were they hostile? Those were definitively guns in that flying thing. He asked to himself as he readied in case of an attack. He could only imagine strange creatures coming out of that thing.
Such was his surprise and the gasps of his men, when he saw a door opening and a human man showing himself in front of them.
He talked, such an incomprehensible dialect. Some words sounded similar, yet the meaning was different.
The man seemed like had understood Budo couldn't understand him. So he rapidly changed to another language.
"You should not keep marching if you want to die from radiation poisoning." He said, a smirk in his face. His accent was weird, but could be understanding.
Budo watched the strange man closely. He had dark clothes, a long coat covering his body, opened so one could see some kind of armor over his chest. A sword and a strange gun were his weapons, he had also strange and unknown symbols and badges, a strange stylized 'I' with a skull. He had a necklace in the form of some kind of two edged eagle, strange seals with old paper adorned his panoply something was written on them. His short cut silver hair showed some kind of age indication, however he also looked a bit younger than him.
"Who are you?" Was the first thing Budo was able to speak.
"I have come to speak in the name of The Imperium of Mankind!" He said proudly. "I come as an ambassador. From the void to this world."
Imperium of Mankind? Budo had never heard of something like that. The empire was the only true one, however, meaning they come from the stars could mean their empire holds power over many worlds. Was there more humans as well? How many then?
He wanted to ask more, however, his discipline talked him otherwise. "I'm General Budo from the imperial army!" He said proudly.
"Oh? An empire, huh?" The man muttered. He scanned the general. He certainly was well trained and the soldiers beside him smelled as well experienced veterans. He looked then at the young girl with some kind of animal beside her. He certainly could feel a heavy and overzealous sense of duty emanating from her. "My name is Aragorn." The inquisitor said. "Don't get too worked up. I won't harm you if you don't show hostility. I am an ambassador after all. I wish to speak to your leader in regard of negotiation."
"I'd like to ask you some questions before." The general said. "What is exactly this Imperium?"
Aragorn stayed quiet for a moment. He then said something behind him and the craft started going down.
He got out from the vehicle. But he was not alone. A younger woman was at his side. Her eyes were covered by a white cloth with another twin headed eagle.
He then looked at the other ten soldiers who had come out of the flying craft. Their blue and dark armor was thick with plates covering them completely. Their helms covered their faces and green eye lenses looked at them as the eyes of a predator. Some kind of third eyes spun and looked everywhere, scanning for everything around. They had a menacing looking rifle, black as well, unknown lights in different spots. Two tick cables connected them to packs behind the soldiers. Budo saw them take formation, it was such a great show of discipline and control. Every one of them looked at different angles covering different vectors of attack. They were like sturdy wall that only some of the most veterans soldiers in the empire were able to emulate.
"Protection." Aragorn said. "There are some dangerous fauna on this world."
Budo nodded. "Those are called danger beast. They are a powerful menace here. I suggest we should return to the capital city before nightfall."
"Wise words." Aragorn commented. He and his bodyguards entered into the Valkyrie this elevated.
"Watch out." One of the imperial soldiers said as he signaled a pack of flying danger beasts closing fast. "Wyverns!"
Budo charged his Teigu, he saw his second in command ready her own Teigu as the danger beast was getting close.
However, that never came.
A multi thundering sound was heard as the heavy bolters on the wings of the craft vomited death. The mass-reactive rounds pierced the wyverns as paper and exploded them into hundreds of pieces.
However, more wyverns were coming. They wouldn't stop for just seeing some of their kind die.
A multi crack like sound was heard too. The multilaser was firing and melting the wyvern's flesh. The reptile roared in pain, however, another volley of fire was heard and the wyvern fell over the valley. There was just one left now.
But its fate would be the same. A new sound was heard, a single thunder like sound with a particular crack manifested. And with this a thick red beam reached the wyvern vaporizing it in an instant. Burned flesh and carbonized bones were all that remains.
They had watched all of this. They could barely comprehend what had just happened. That flying construct had killed three special class danger beasts as easily as to just swing a sword. That kind of power would be decisive in a war. The imperial army would be invincible with just a dozen of these. Was this the power of a highly advanced civilization?
The Valkyrie descended again. The door slid open and the ambassador appeared again. "Quite the Megafauna you have here." He said. "We were attacked by similar beasts a while ago back there."
He got out from the Valkyrie. His bodyguards were about to do the same, yet, a simple gesture made them stay inside.
"May I accompany you?" He asked politely. "I wish to talk with you soldiers to understand more about you."
Budo nodded and ordered one of his men to bring a spare horse. He wanted to see how the ambassador would do at mounting a horse. However, he looked like having a good control of the animal.
"Ah, horses… good beasts. The Imperium has made a widespread use of them on its billions of worlds. They're magnificent for cavalry. Thought the ones I have seen are way bigger than these." The ambassador commented as he patted the animal.
Budo tried to ignore the word 'billions of worlds" the thought of that number made him feel small. But the mention of horses also made him wonder if humans in this world had come from the stars as well.
"So, what would you like to speak about once you are in front of the emperor?" Asked Budo.
"Hmm, just some simple things. How many humans you have in this planet, how industrialized you are and how powerful you are in nation's term. The last question would be quite easy to understand. I see you are the main power in these lands, I could find hard to see another nation as a whole to be similar to you."
"And what would you have with such information?"
The inquisitor in disguise smiled. "Are you good at keeping secrets, General?" He said lowly so only them could heard.
Budo paused before answering. A secret or classified info had its benefits. And for what he knew knowing something that Honest don't would be an advantage. After considering these possibilities he simply nodded.
"You see, General. Human race is violent and conflictive by nature. If we don't have a common enemy we end fighting between ourselves annihilating millions of us for the sake of petty ideologies and politics. And that would be the end of us if it weren't for we live in a hostile galaxy. So, what to do against an overwhelming amount of dangers? Shouldn't we join in a common cause against that evil?"
"What kind of evil? I have seen the darkness in the human heart. What is out there that could be even worse?"
The ambassador looked at him in the eyes. "There are countless horrors in the void, General. Xenos who only seek to destroy or enslave humanity. Green warmongering beasts who only want to quench their thirst of war. Hunger driven organisms which only existence spins around consuming all. Ancient arrogant liars only interested in their former glory annihilate us in the millions. Sadists who only feed with the pain of lesser races. There are too many dangers for us to take individually, but together, mankind can accomplish impossible odds."
"Interesting…" Budo said. "However, I wouldn't like to be rude, but all this sounds… too elaborated. I have seen the power of your ships, but I feel it's not enough proof."
The ambassador pulled a data slate, one he had taken from the data libraries of the tech-priests on the ship. He turned it on and selected a few commands, a pict record was inside. He played it and showed it to Budo.
The general still couldn't understand. However, the moving images in the device showed him green ogre like creatures, bigger than any human. Brutal beings killing and destroying everything with crude weapons and guns.
"Those are Orks, General. Barbarian beasts. You can't even reach a deal with them. Their only existence runs around destruction. Their numbers are legion. Billions and billions of greenskins run rampant in the galaxy. They are really a bane for the Imperium."
General Budo returned the device. "I will believe you for now. However, I think that, what you mean by keeping a secret. Is that you want this world to be annexed to this Imperium?"
"Yes." He answered. "It's a miracle you have not find any of these horrors yet. However, time can only decide when. If your emperor is sensate, he will consider this as the best for humans on this planet."
Budo wanted to speak his thoughts, however, he knew to stay quiet was for the best. What guarantee there was for these outerworlders to not just trample the empire and conquer them? Maybe he was being paranoid, but life in the imperial capital had made him develop such cautious habits.
"I see. Well, we will have to see once we reach the capital. I hope we can talk this out smoothly."
[X]
Leone knew things were getting bad when she found out so many dead animals in a two kilometers radius. Not that she hadn't seen something similar made by danger beasts. But this was also so rare when she found those animals had died in such a strange and horrible dead. Their bodies looked like melted, the fur and feathers on all animals had fell. Effects varied but most of them had similar characteristics.
However, something more had caught her attention. A smell she had never smelled before. It was like rancid oils, rot meat and rust metal. But there was something more different, her gut told her there was something more about it.
She followed the trail. It was close, and numerous too. Looked like if multiple things had the same smell.
She then felt to the ground. Her head ached insupportably, she felt her brain about to explode. Her legs and arms were paralyzed, a vertigo sensation caught her. She knew she had to run, however, it was useless like this. The last thing she saw was a strange looking humanoid thing made of metal. Its head like a bowl looked funny.
[X]
Struggling she finally opened her eyes. It was dark. Has she been caught by the imperial officers? What kind of tortures would they do to her? No! That was not the time to think something like that! She had to focus, she had to escape. Her Relic had been taken out, she had just her human senses by now. She couldn't move, her body was bounded.
"I see you are finally awake…" A strange metallic voice was heard. It was monotonous, no feelings. Just uncaring cold curiosity. Multiple walking like sounds were heard. "At first, we thought you were some kind of abhuman. But after removing that device we saw how your human form returned. Why would you dare to tarnish the sacred human form?"
"What do you mean? Who are you?" She asked still unable to see anything.
"However. After studying your device we discovered some concerning details. Details which we wish to investigate more of. And you may be knowledgeable enough."
She didn't liked the sound of that. Losing a Relic was already dire enough for Night Raid. However, the words of that strange voice also told her it didn't know about Imperial Relics. If that was the case, then who was interrogating her was not an imperial, she wondered if it was someone from Wakoku, but people from Wakoku knew about the existence of Imperial Relics.
"Told us. What are these devices?"
She hesitated, she didn't wanted to reveal any info.
"We could just open your brain and extract all the information from your head if we need so. I'm giving you an opportunity because you telling us makes it more plausible."
"I's called Imperial Relic or Teigu. These are powerful items capable of changing the course of any battle. The Empire created the Relics centuries ago by order of the first Emperor. Each one of these has different effects and uses. The one I use and now you have allows me to take the strength and vitality of a beast boosting my senses." She said. She knew she was betraying her comrades, but she was sure the metallic voice was being serious.
A bright light blinded her. Her eyes pained for such change of illumination. It toke her a time to recover her vision.
But when she saw the thing in front of her she wished the lights were out again.
A mass of flesh and metal, which is the only way she could describe the monster before her. Metal tentacle like things held her Teigu as the monster watched it carefully. Its eyes were just points of green light, it was like seeing a spider, for its legs were like those of an arachnid. She paled when the thing turned at her. It had no mouth, yet the metallic distorted voice still came from it.
"Your device borders the heretic. However, its knowledge is worth of the Omnissiah attention. But in this moment I'm more interested in your so called Empire. What knowledge do you have you can share with us?"
She let out a sigh she had been holding. Looked like she would not be losing her life today.
[X]
The imperial capital was as big as the General had described. The inquisitor didn't had to ask when he saw the miserable looking faces of the population. So many depressed people, homeless begging for food or money, malnourished children barely hanging to life.
Was he feeling pity? Not at all. This kind of atmosphere would be similar in any hive city of the Imperium. However, what he feel was a constant irritation of uselessness. Yes, this atmosphere was similar to the Imperium's, yet, it was because Imperium's merciless machine of war and hunger of resources which forced so many planets to get the most effective use and production of resources and materials. Hive cities, industrial worlds, miner worlds, agriworlds, forge worlds. All of these had one goal in common, squeeze until the last drop of any production possible with the highest rate of efficiency. Exploit until the last mineral particle, obtain until the last lasgun possible, and exploit all nutrients on an agriworld even if the planet turned hollow and sterile devoid of all life. Even humans lives, used to work even after death, turned into servitors or recycled into food.
What he saw was just a waste of production. These people could be used as a good tithe, work or even as an agriworld.
However, there would be reasons to not being able to reach such expectations. The first one was the technology, even though they looked like having developed autoguns, they lacked the use of a correct industrialization. Was this planet devoid of knowledge seekers? That was good then, it would make them easier to manipulate into dependence of Imperium's technology.
He could simply crush this empire and claim it in the God-Emperor's name. However, he knew that action would be too stupid without the necessary resources and knowledge of this planet. Even with three regiments and the Mechanicus forces he felt it wouldn't be enough.
A roaring sound was heard above him. Many citizens panicked after seeing two Valkyrie flying above the capital as air support in case it were necessary. Even though citizens had ran scared of the strange aircrafts the big majority had decided to stay and admire with awe the Tempestus Scions walking in ordered march alongside a Taurox Prime where the inquisitor was riding right now. He had thought a small show of force would be necessary in this situation, which is why he had asked General Budo to relay a messenger to announce his arrival.
The palace was as big as an Imperial Cathedra. Big enough to be considered a descent fortress. Nothenless he could still admire its architecture. Guards saluted Budo as he and the so called ambassador got out of the Taurox prime.
"What do you think of the Taurox, General?" The inquisitor asked.
"Pretty powerful engine. Fast and robust. And that weapon you let me fire was quite stunning. The power of such amount of firepower would be an absolute advantage against enemies."
"I'm glad you liked it." The inquisitor said. "That one is product of Mars Forgeworld. So the quality must be good."
The palace guards gripped their lances and saluted to their commander. Next they proceeded to let them in as more guards were escorting them. Soon they reached the main hall, where the Emperor would hold the reunions to check the management of the empire. This time was no exception, for the palace had been informed about the ambassador and the prime minister had arranged an emergence meeting.
Six men form up next to a red carpet. Their stoic eyes also showed him surprise and suspicion. They probably were functionaries or high nobles with enough power to discuss with the emperor.
He wondered what kind of person this emperor could be.
Such was his surprise and understanding of this nation when he saw a child acting as the emperor. When he saw his eyes looking at him with great curiosity he saw in those iris just foolishness, inexperience, innocence and, over all, weakness. There was no doubt the main reason of a sick nation was having such useless emperor.
However, he knew a child would not be able to reign over millions. So it was very probably the child was being manipulated. He found the probably reason next to the emperor. A man eating raw meat. He looked carefully, he could smell deceive and cunning emanating from that man. He could feel the probably signal of a heretic. He marked the man, he shall be further monitored.
The man closed to the child emperor and spoke to him at the ear. The child emperor nodded and stood up from his throne.
"I bid you greets, foreigner from the stars. I give you welcome to this humble empire. I hope our nation can be of your liking."
The ambassador bowed in an educated way. He would not kneel against a mere mortal, only The God-Emperor was his owner.
"I Salute you in the name of the God-Emperor of Mankind and the Imperium. And I expect just the best of both of us in an alliance in the name of mankind's supremacy."
The officers and functionaries muttered among themselves. Discussing matters unable to be heard to him. Even the child emperor whispered to the minister. All this lasted for some minutes, the inquisitor let them continue.
Finally, the child emperor spoke. "May I ask how big your empire is, ambassador?"
"It controls the galaxy, your highness. Humanity's might has allowed us to gain power over billions of worlds. The God-Emperor's armies march on all these worlds in His name."
"Whoa! Amazing-!" It was the minister hand who had stopped the burst of awe from the child Emperor making him recover composture.
"Very impressive indeed." The Prime minister said. "May I ask for your reason of visiting our world?"
"It has been out of necessity. Our warship had suffered irreparable damage. We are stuck here until we can contact with the rest of the Imperium."
"A warship? Why would you need such a vessel as a warship? What can be as dangerous as it needs such amount of power to take it down?" One of the officers at the sides asked.
"A very dangerous enemy, gentleman." The Ambassador answered. "An enemy which has miraculously ignored you for millennia. I daresay you have been quite lucky. But that luck will be not eternal. Some day one of these monsters will finally reach this place."
"How can we be sure you are not deceiving us?" Another officer added. "I respect your words, but that is as much as I still cannot see any proof of such dangers. I know your warship is impressive, but could also be a capital ship."
"That is a lunar-class Cruiser. Some of the most common warships in the Imperial Navy. There are millions of ships just like that one." The Ambassador answered.
"That is just impossible!" The same officer erupted in rage. "How can such power exist? A billion worlds? An enemy strong enough to use on a five kilometers ship? That is just not possible. You are liars! Rats who try to steal our nation-!"
It was the prime minister who raised his hand. A group of soldiers appeared to struck down the officer. In seconds they dragged him out of the room.
"I feel really sorry for such insults to your person." The Minister said in a face full of sorrow. "But don't worry. We will execute that lowlife right away in public as a show of our good faith in your words."
The inquisitor paused for a moment to hear the voice given by his subordinate in the vox, then he smiled. "Do that. However, I was not exaggerating in the slightness. And I feel I should give you a proof of that. And looks like I have the perfect thing to show you."
As the ambassador finished, a guard appeared slamming the doors. In seconds he kneeled in front of the emperor and bowed his head. "My biggest apologies, your majesty. There is a situation which has revealed in the skies. I beg you to confirm it."
"What happened?" The Child emperor asked.
The guard raised his head, fear in his eyes. His face was pale. "Giant ships are on the skies right above the imperial capital!"
The people in the room took some seconds to understand and digest these words. Then all of them turned to look at the ambassador."
"There is my proof." He calmly spoke.
[X]
Najenda's face was caught in a look of anger and fear at the same time.
She lighted a match and burned the letter, used the remaining flames to lit another cigar. She let the smoke fill her lugs and released it.
She stared deadly at the giant behemoths far in the distance, yet she could see them as clear as three gods standing above the imperial capital.
They had been late, they had failed to reach at the ambassador who had arrived. Their spies had barely managed to deliver this message. The Emperor and the minister were having a meeting with him right now.
She knew what the minister would say, lies and diversions. That cunning bastard knew how to push buttons, make others follow his cause. Catching them in his fake ideals as flies are caught in a spider web. He probably would convince them to believe the revolutionary army was the evilest people on the world.
She knew this. Because the aliens were humans.
Humans just like her, like everyone on this world.
At first she couldn't believe it. However at the same time she felt they couldn't be so different from them. Maybe reach a talk, reach an alliance.
But all that was useless now.
Would they be hunted? Probably.
With such technology as described by her spies they wouldn't have any problem with dealing with danger beasts so easily. Imperial armies would also find a really hard opponent if they chose to fight against them.
It was even worse with other three warships as those.
Impossible could be an answer.
She puffed another cloud of smoke and looked at the table.
There it was that strange artifact over the wooden table. Bad things had started to happen after finding that.
She reached for another cigar. Yet she found the package empty. It had been her seventh package today and she was sure wouldn't be the last.
She had been smoking too much these last days.
[X]
Captain Dravastis Fane looked through the reinforced glassteel contemplating the world under him.
It was a verdant one, a planet good for life. Yet, if the informs received previously before his arrival were true, the megafauna on this planet was quite interesting. And looked like humanity had thriven here.
He looked at the mountains and seas, its two continents divided by a giant sea. He wondered if the Primarch would have left some clues here, some data, some steps to follow. Many had told the foolishness of his quest, yet his stubborn spirit as an Imperial Fist had kept him on track. Never relenting, never stopping.
He saw at the strike cruisers, six thousand meters behemoths.
"Milord, the table is ready. The rituals are completed." A female voice called for him. It was young and filled with respect. The serf in charge of communications, a Monitor. Dravastis looked at her, he had find her three years ago on a destroyed feudal world in his quest for truth. She was found standing, the last survivor of a city destroyed by Greenskins. This had called for his attention, after rescuing her she had swear loyalty to the chapter and had offered her services. Dravastis had accepted and since then she would act as a messenger.
The Captain turned and walked away, towards the holopicts around a table. He wouldn't spare a single word to the woman. Looking at her eyes was enough contempt. Such was life for servants in the Imperial fists.
Other two figures were projected by the holo-table. Mariscal Hectorus Bretch from the Black Templars and Company Lord Kainu Hizaru, Harvester Prime from the Carcharodon Astra.
He contemplate at both of them, measuring their might and will power. They are veteran commanders. The Black Templars coming from Vigilus, the Carcharodons coming from the void further than the eastern fringes.
All of them had followed the message sent by the astropath upon this planet.
"Hail, cousins." Dravastis was the first to spoke. "I'm aware you have acknowledged my words."
"I have." Was the answer of the black Templar.
The Carcharodon simple gave the slightest nod.
"Then it will be easier to start a plan. All three of us received the Inquisitor's encrypted message. A new corridor seems too god to believe." Was the words of the imperial fist.
"This world's skies are also free from the shadow of the cicatrix. Surely must be a powerful amount of black stone inside this planet." The black Templar spoke.
"I can feel there is ancient relics from the old night here. I just can feel it." The Carcharodon said.
"Shall we crush them under the Emperor's banner?" The black Templar suggested. "It would be easier and faster"
"It would be too soon and easy." The Shark spoke. "We should bleed them, make them fear and hate each other."
Both suggestion matched the personalities of such chapters. Both were well known close combat warriors. However, the imperial fist was reluctant to so ruthless actions.
"Attacking a planet with our forces right now would be too reckless. Savants' estimations numbers at least four billions of humans on this world. We barely number three hundred Astartes and a few dozen vehicles in total."
"Afraid of simple mortals?" The space shark mocked.
"Mortals who could become useful man power once we stablish the imperium's rule upon them." Dravastis countered. "However, we must first contact high command and Lord Guilliman. We must reinforce this world with enough regiments and fleets."
"The scions of Lucius have sent their regards. They say will install on the magnetic pole of this planet. For now they don't wish to interfere on this world politics until they have recorded enough." The black Templar informed.
"Leave them for now. They are not needed immediately."
"So, what do we do?"
"We will contact with the Inquisitor. We will realize contact with the locals when night has reached this hemisphere. The Ordos agent must have prepared the terrain for us."
"I agree." Hectorius said.
"We should show our strength too." Kainu finished.
Dravastis fane turned off the holopicts and was about to turn when his helmet received a single message. A short message he understood in a nanosecond.
[X]
It was cold.
How much time had she been here? Her skin was getting pale, her hair was freezing.
It was cold.
They had gave her food, or whatever it could pass as such. Some kind of porridge and bars made with something. Both were horrible. They had gave her a hood and mantle to keep her body temperature.
But still it was cold.
Just where the hell they are? Right after awaking she had been throw to some metal room and jailed. She received food and was monitored. They had healed her wounds and interrogated her. She had spitted half everything, at least tried to. But she wouldn't be surprised if these metal heads were far smarter than her.
Today looks like they were in good mood. They had gave her some kind of chemical fire and some packs of dehydrated food and dried meat. A soup, she would make that, that would give her some heat.
She heard the door unlock and one of those ugly and scary metal things appeared. It was a small girl, or a bizarre imitation of that. A servitor. It had been assigned to her.
The servitor opened the door fully and a second figure appeared. This one was one of those soldier kinds. She had managed to understand some differences between them. This one was a special trained kind. Heavily armored and armed. Its weapons glowing in a bluish halo.
"The Magus calls" It spoke in a rasp and hard metallic tone. It was all but human.
Leone served some soup on a cup she had asked for. She adjusted her robes and walked. There was another two of these metal soldiers outside. Electric rods ready in case she tried something funny. Leone was not foreign to situations like these, but she also wasn't sure if would be wise to try to escape. With so much cold they could be on a mountain.
They guided her through the walkway. Always watched on all sides. She could take down one metal soldier and use its weapon? No, they would shot her right away.
As they walked she felt the temperature low even further. With each step her skin chilled more and more. She sipped the soup trying to keep herself warm and covered the cup among her robes.
There were more of those servitors. One of them carrying some kind of drill, another had pincers as hands and other had some kind of strange flamer. All they chanted some strange language undescifrable for her, grunts, screams and other inhuman sounds coming from them.
They finally reached a big and heavy metal door. Ice covered it just as stalactites hanging from the ceiling. She gulped a big sip of hot soup she almost burned her mouth.
A sound started and the door started moving. The ice broke and felt, a whirlwind entered as snow particles did it too.
The cold wind hit her, she wanted to hide in her robes. She should ask for another two to be at least a bit bearable.
Then, when she finally managed to open her eyes she almost dropped her cup of soup.
All she could see was an incessant swarm of thousands of metal beings walking from one side to another. Working, building and preparing. Files and files of more metal soldiers waiting there quietly over the snow. Whatever they were made of it was keeping them heated.
Dozens and dozens of strange and powerful vehicles floating on the ground, some in the weirdest wheels she had ever seen. There were hundreds of servitors working the heaviest works, carrying all the materials needed to build some kind of fortress that was starting to have a form. She saw the servitors get out of a cave carrying lots of minerals towards some kind of forge releasing its smoke.
There were giant ships, at least twenty of them ordered in perfect files.
She saw the skies filled with flying things like bats. More of those metal soldiers. They were just too bizarre to see.
As they walked soon they reached a giant metal thing. It was just some contorted thing of steel. She wasn't sure what would be for. However, she recognized the spider legged metal thing she had seen after awakening.
Its metal tentacles were moving all in different directions, each one performing a specific work. Some were cutting, othere were twisting and others melting metal. It was all weird view.
The red robbed spider thing turned at her, just a second later it talked.
"You have been rather quiet. I like that." The Magos spoke. "Have you been eating properly?"
"Well, if you can call that porridge food…" She tried to joke. But she felt stupid after seeing nobody reacting to it.
The magos looked again at the twisted steel. "You want to know what this is?"
Leone didn't respond, she just nodded knowing that somehow the tech-priest would see her.
"It's an antennae. We will contact the Imperium through the Inmaterium. Though we could end losing our last astropaths."
Her eyes opened wide at hearing his voice. "Wait! More like you? More like you will come here?"
The Magus looked at her in a puzzled expression. "Of course. We have to contact the Imperium. Tell them we found a safe path."
"A safe path?"
"Yes, Dear. A safe path. We can start sending forces to Imperium Nihilus from here. Such is the null protection here we suspect there must be huge amounts of black stone inside this planet. We don't have a device to locate it so I guess we will have to drill everywhere."
"What does this black stone looks like?"
"It is as black as the void. So dark it looks like stealing light itself. Just the slightest touch can deactivate certain effects and interfere with technology."
Leone felt something was familiar. As if the description of black stone matched something she had experienced not long ago.
"… Does… Does this black stone inabilities Relics if you touch it?"
The Magus' eyes glimmered at seeing to her. It was disturbing. Its multiple eyes scanned her and switched colors. An exact second was all it passed before the Magus speak again.
"Do you know the location of black stone?" Even if his voice was monotonous, she still could feel a heavy glitch of curiosity.
"Y-yeah… I… think so… We found something like that and got it locked in my base. I can take you there, though I think it may take a while."
The Magos stopped everything he was doing and turned fully at her. It was in that moment when she heard a sound she had never heard. Her eyes were fixed in the flying machine that was descending behind the Tech-priest. It was like a bat. Its wings like one, almost like a flying reptile. Its door opened and the Magos walked in there.
He stopped for a moment and turned his head at her.
"What are you waiting for? Get in."
[X]
So, what do you think? You think it was good?
I wanted to use Astartes in this too, don't worry, we will have more and more 40k elements as this continues.
I always have considered Teigu as some lost Dark Age of technology stuff. Hope the concept works out.
I decided to use Carcharodons. Mostly because I want to give AGK characters a multiple POV about Imperium. Black Templars show the religion, Imperial fists have the diplomacy and space sharks give the retaliation and brutality.
Tell me if you like more chapters about this.