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Chapter 16: Tenuous pacts

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Part 5

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Victory Bay

Kronus

Random tingles went up and down my new arm, while my shoulder itched something fierce. Originally, I had thought that there would be almost no circumstances under which I would consent to let someone fuse a Necron arm to my body. Recent events changed that particular calculation in a hurry.

While the primary threat – subversion was very much something to worry about, the potential threat vector changed. All it took was a report from Karom. The Necrons didn't need physical contact to infest some poor bastard with Mind-shackle scarabs. Releasing those tiny horrors in the general vicinity of anyone without proper counter-measures would be enough. In that regard, everyone

who leaves Kronus would be screened both after boarding one of the Imperial ships in orbit and at the final destination. Including us Inquisitors. Or should I say, especially us Inquisitors?

Of course, this bit of intelligence didn't mean the Necron gifts were safe, just that they didn't need them to subvert us if and when they turned on us. That's why, when the news about finding the Daemon's prison arrived, I agreed to get myself a new arm in a hurry, to go along with the rest of the gifts.

The Necrons looked like they approved of my choice, though it was hard to tell.

According to Amberley, I was a reckless fool. However, every little bit would help when facing a Daemon.

There was just one immediate problem with my hasty choice – the Daemon failed to materialize. We found traitor corpses inside, and while void of blood, they were more than fresh enough to tell us what happened. Closer examination of the area by General Alexander's Psykers and an Eldar Warlock pointed at a ritual taking place while the final assault on the Deimos Peninsula was underway.

The only surprise there was the fact that an apparent Greater Daemon of Khorne had chosen to return to the Warp instead of trying to ruin our day. The current theory was that it fled because there was no prospect of glorious bloodshed. If it manifested within that Emperor's forsaken desert, the Navy would burn the region to the mantle, denying it combat, blood and skulls anyway.

Instead of finding and fighting a Daemon, I returned to Victory Bay with a few Eldar stalkers in tow. I still wasn't sure why they came. I was merely being polite, all right, trolling the bastards with an invitation to come to visit and witness the official signing of the alliance between the Imperium and our new Necron friends.

They weren't supposed to accept!

Amberley wasn't happy. My security detail was even less happy. General Alexander looked at me as if hoping he could give me all the shit details he could think of until I died of old age.

The Necrons might have found it hilarious.

The Eldar ended up with a huge security detail, to protect them from the locals. Said detail had at least one unit of Necron Warriors attached to it, who went out of their way to be polite and helpful.

No one knew what to make of it, including the Eldar.

At least Selene liked the flight and meeting new people. Thinking about it, the Eldar might have accepted because they were afraid I would sic her on them otherwise…

As a consequence, I was beginning to regret my inability to get bloody drunk. On top of that, I suddenly didn't have any pressing duties to attend to so no distractions either. That's how I found myself in the Blood Raven compound, visiting Anteas who finally got himself a new arm as well. I found him at the Apothecarium and explained my current predicament.

"Inquisitor, I'm not sure if I should congratulate or pity you." My large friend peered at me from a large metal slab that passed for an operating table around here. Meanwhile, an Apothecary waved all kinds of scanners over me, looking for unpleasant Necron surprises.

The Blood Raven found nothing, not that, was saying much.

"Tell me about it. Pray, say, do you nice fellows have alcohol that works for you? If so, I would love to borrow a few bottles."

"After the last deployment, the first three Companies of the Chapters were declared dry. However, we might have a bottle or two of Fenrisian Ale in the Reliquary." The Apothecary rumbled.

I looked up at him questionably.

"That's one of the few good ways to keep Space Wolves off your back when they become rowdy. High doses of sedatives help as well." Something whirled in his gauntlet and a huge needle poked out, "however, those are much harder to administer. Bribing them causes fewer headaches for everyone involved."

"I'll have a word with the Captain when I'm out of here. Speaking about leaving?" Anteas looked at the Apothecary.

"You will sit right here for a few more hours to confirm good graft and no residual corruption." The Apothecary pointed the big needle at Anteas' chest.

"I'll leave you to rest then."

"Keep safe, Inquisitor. For what's worth, I know you've got the Emperor's blessing to guide your way. Keep a stout heart, no matter what."

I nodded at his words, while my wings preened and fluttered.

"It's a good thing we aren't a Chapter of the Blood or I won't hear the end of it." The Apothecary grumbled looking at my wings. "They're insufferable around Saints."


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"You're still alive." Amberley peered at me in a manner very similar to the way Anteas looked at me earlier.

This time, it was Karom whirling around, poking me, and whistling in Binary as if it was the Sanguina.

"No Mind-shackle scarabs that I can detect." The Magos Biologis proclaimed. "While I would prefer to open your brain and check directly, remote scans will have to do for now." He sounded disappointed.

Karom was obviously still salty I got him arrested.

"You know what? I don't care anymore. Just do me one single favor?" Amberley smiled at me in a very unnerving fashion. It was unnerving enough that my wings tried to spread around me in a protective posture and I had to consciously hold them back.

"What do you wish, Inquisitor Vail?" I asked politely and attentively.

"Stand down and don't do anything that might get us shot until you're no longer my problem!"

"It's not like I go out looking for this kind of trouble! Besides, there are only two things on our to-do list in the foreseeable future!" I reasonably pointed out.

We sent feelers to the Tau to see if they were willing to negotiate and would deal with them soon if they failed to respond. The other thing was a standing invitation to attend a Mechanicus ceremony tomorrow when they would finish excavating the Titan cannon. We would attend it, of course! It would be the polite thing to do. The Propaganda Department would love it, and so would the crowds. In theory, unveiling that weapon would serve as a reminder to everyone watching that the Imperium didn't deploy its most destructive assets to Kronus.

"Just stay out of trouble, or I'll leave you to deal with the next Inquisitor who turns up alone!" Amberley threatened. "Magos, what can you tell us about your patients, before my colleague summons more problems on top of our heads?"

"The Crypteks tried an obvious solution – they sent deactivation codes. Unfortunately, they didn't work on Trazyn's Mind-shackle scarabs. Our current theory for removing them is to suspend them using energy fields, then physically get them out, while fixing any damage we might cause in the process. There are obvious downsides to this approach. It can cause permanent memory loss among other issues. The Inquisitor might need implants to repair her afterward. We can provide those."

"Of greater concerns was a deep scan provided by one of General Alexander's Psykers. Necron scans offered a partial corroboration. Inquisitor Greyfax's memory has been modified by Psychic means. The Necrons don't possess the means to do so. It had had to happen sometime before she ended up in Trazyn's hands."

"I might be able to help." My wings twitched eagerly at that. "These come with various new abilities I'm still learning about. However, it might be best to try after you've removed those things from her head. I don't know how they'll react to a Psychic intrusion. I won't be just looking, but pocking around."

"We'll make a test run on the Corporal late tonight." Karom continued, ignoring my input. "After that, we'll decide how to proceed based on experimental data. The best-case scenario is we'll begin treating the Inquisitor tomorrow evening. Our current projections show that with Cryptek aid it should take no more than twelve hours to remove the devices. Or it will if we're on the right path."

"Carry on and inform us of any relevant developments," Amberley ordered. She pointed at me. "You're with me. It's high time we began writing a comprehensive report for the local Inquisition Conclave. We'll have to figure out a good way to explain all of this to our reinforcements. The next group should arrive in the next few days."

So much for finding the time to properly go over the user manual of my new arm. It was supposed to have several built-in functions I had no idea how to use at this time.


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Part 6

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Victory Bay

Kronus

The Propaganda Department went all in. Priests from all over the region arrived early in the morning. They led steadily growing crowds until the streets were packed to bursting. Incense and blessed oils burned, covering nearly a quarter of the city in billowing clouds of smoke. In all of this, a single long street was mostly empty, with whole Infantry Regiments lining the road and keeping the rapturous onlookers away.

What should have been a relatively simple ceremony became the centerpiece of a victory parade. Today was going to go down in history. The only question was how.

Three PDF Regiments headed the parade. The local boys and girls marched with pride to thunderous ovations.

A veteran Infantry Regiment came next, calm, composed, and gleaming thanks to their polished Carapace Armor. Officers, Commissars, and Sergeants marched in front of infantry blocks, while military marches came to life thanks to Mechanicus' efforts. Hundreds of modified Servo Skulls floated above the crowds transmitting the music, while even more of the gilded devices buzzed around, carrying burning incense.

Flags fluttered in the light wind, either waved by the citizenry, or rippling around the walls of buildings as far as the eye could see. Banner bearers marched proudly at the head of every formation, leading the way.

A trio of Aeronautica Imperialis craft roared through the sky, the only operational pair of Lighting Interceptors and a single painstakingly repaired bomber. Again and again, they flew above the parade, executing the ancient Missing Wingman Formation for every lost pilot during the fighting to save Kronus.

The armor came next. All kinds of light vehicles drove slowly, so everyone could see them, followed by the armored fist of the Guard, its tank formations. Seals and decorations covered each vehicle displayed their accomplishments for all to see.

Right in the center of the formation rumbled the Baneblade. It was freshly painted, blessed, and sanctified after the fighting on the Deimos Peninsula. Nearly a thousand Purity seals blessed by a hundred Priests covered its hull.

From where I stood, surrounded by various local dignitaries and guests, I could see ghostly shells fueled by faith around every vehicle. Those construct

sprotected their crews and Machine Spirits from Chaos corruption.

As soon as the vehicles appeared, all present Martians began their chants, uttering prayers and litanies praising the Omnissiah's gifts. And be

side us, standing on a hastily but carefully constructed scaffolding stood the prize of the day, draped with huge red veils. Countless seals covered it, and it nearly swam in steaming sacred oil. Dozens of Martians surrounded the massive Titan weapon and prayed to it.

I could see Selene in a lower corner of the stands, sitting on Sergeant Bron's shoulders and waving at the parade. From time to time she would look shyly up as if to check if I had vanished.

Not a few meters away sat our Eldar guests. A Warlock, the crew of a single tank, and Rohan the Ranger. Their armors did an excellent job hiding their faces. However, I could feel their bubbling emotions. And they were delicious.

They knew what today represented and probably could detect the Necrons hiding around us, watching everything. The Emperor's radiance still bathed Kronus, and I hoped it was a sign that we were on the right path, instead of making a terrible mistake.

It was too late for second thoughts now. The pact was sealed. We did that early this morning at General Alexander's HQ. It was simple and to the point. What we were doing right now was a show for the citizenry and the military who might have to work with the aliens in the future.

It was also a message. One we were sending loudly and clearly to our Eldar guests, their masters, and the Tau who undoubtedly watched.

The Baneblade slowly rumbled past us, with Colonel Roval waving at the crowds from the top of the cupola. He looked positively tiny, which served to reinforce

the sheer size of the super-heavy tank.

It had to drive slowly through the street, or it would risk clipping one of the troopers keeping the crowd from doing something stupid. The mob itself kept screaming itself hoarse, yet their cries of joy didn't splutter out. Their jubilation was almost contagious and resonated through the Warp. Their raw emotions flowed straight into it and under the Emperor's cage, there was nothing to poison those feelings. Or consume them.

I knew it wouldn't and couldn't last. However, those of us with the senses to see had the privilege to experience the Immaterium how it was before the Eldar murder-fucked and tortured it into insanity. Frankly, for a moment I didn't know if I could hold myself back from lashing at Rohan and his party on general principle. My mind pulsed with the echoes from the emotions of hundreds of thousands. Their faith flowed into me, first like a trickle, then like a small river, which passed through on its way to the Emperor.

My wings shone brighter than ever before, and soon a soft golden glow surrounded me. This only fed back into the crowd, which went wilder.

I took a moment to look over the stand, trying to distract myself from the emotions bombarding me. General Alexander and his party were to my left, with Captain Thule and some of his commanders towering behind the Guard Officers, just like Anteas stood above my shoulder. Amberley and her retinue were to my right, between the Eldar and me.

Local notables stood around us, basking into the glory and screaming their support as loud as they could. Many of them were even genuine in their jubilation. I made mental note to point out those who weren't to Amberley and the Arbiters.

The Baneblade came to a ponderous stop right in front of the park where the Hellstorm Cannon stood. So did twenty Leman Russ tanks and four Blood Raven Predators. A pair of Dreadnoughts heavy with seals of all stripes walked by until they flanked the super-heavy tanks like an honor guard.

Binary chanting rose in volume, and the music changed. A hymn to the Omnissiah silenced every other sound in the city and even the crowd

s quieted down, straining to listen and see. Thanks to a pneumatic system, our stand slowly rotated, so now we faced the Titan cannon.

Heat haze covered it, and the holy oils smearing it bubbled. Even some of the purity seals covering it began to smoke.

That wasn't right… I narrowed my eyes at the immense weapon. I could sense my fellow Psykers warily let out their senses spread through the Immaterium as well.

There was something here that didn't belong. A foreign, presence that was simply wrong, and it was stirring. The Emperor's light sh

one here, and the concentrated prayers of a whole world bathing this place stood ill at ease with whatever that thing was.

The Eldar Warlock figured out something first and recoiled as if struck.

It was deep within the cannon, entwined with its components, hidden and slumbering for eons. Yet, now it stirred, irritated, and weakened by a power that was anathema to its very existence surrounding it,

pushing it down and containing it. Soon, it was going to awake.

My wings went out to their full spread in a threatening posture. Rot and decay assaulted my senses. Corruption and nihilism practically radiated from the heart of the cannon. Now that I saw them, I couldn't unsee. I couldn't understand how could such a thing remained hidden, instead of making every Psyker on the continent vomit and choke in revulsion as soon as they touched the Warp.

Sweet merciful Emperor, what did those crazy bastards dig out?!


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