Tergum Cultro Chapter 14

In the ruins of the atrium silence finally fell as the last of the Stormtroopers lay bleeding out and voiding their bowels in death and the victors took stock. The Skitarii and the Space Marines stood apart eyeing each other warily, their temporary alliance was ended and no one knew what would happen next. Standing alone Toran dropped the corpse of Inquisitor Canesh to the ground and let it lay as it fell, then he reached down to pull the energised blade from his abdomen. His Larraman cells flooded the wound and sealed the damage but he knew he would need the attention of an Apothecary once he returned to the Chapter.

The battle had been hard fought and victory was theirs but the true cost of the prize had yet to be revealed. Toran knelt down and searched Canesh's body, finding a hololithic device the size of his palm. It flickered mysterious images above the projector that were undoubtedly the lost archive of STC secrets. Toran looked at the device and could not help but wonder if it was worth the death and betrayal wrought in its name. For a second he wanted to smash the damned thing but then he lowered his arm knowing it was pointless, he could not undo the crimes of Canesh so easily.

He sighed and went to stand up but paused and almost as an afterthought he took the Psyk-out grenade too and clipped it to his belt. Toran straightened and examined his spoils of war; lifting his arm to look at the power sword in his grip. It was clearly a masterpiece of craftsmanship, tested and honed and it shimmered along its edge as his blood burned off. The grip was a little narrow for his hand and the blade somewhat short for his reach but the Chapter's Techmarines could rectify that. Toran briefly considered keeping the sword for himself but the vows of privation he had taken upon ascension forbade such hubris. Tradition demanded that the blade would be presented to the Masters of the Chapter, who would reconsecrate it and present it to some worthy hero in due course.

While the Sergeant was lost in thought Castabore had floated up from behind her cover and drifted forwards over the cooling bodies. She looked at Toran standing over Canesh's corps and made a 'tsk tsk' noise before declaring, "You have deleted an Imperial Inquisitor, this is most perturbing, I must file a full report as soon as possible."

There was a sharp cough and the pair of them turned to look at Halis who had approached quietly. He reached up to pull off his helm revealing a hairless scalp and a clean shaven jaw. He glanced at the corpse of the Inquisitor and said, "Magos you seem to have forgotten that our armour has visual recording systems too and that we now have detailed footage of you personally killing Inquisitorial personnel."

His mouth twisted in a sly smirk as he said, "It would be most unfortunate if this footage were to fall into the hands of the rest of the Inquisition."

Castabore tensed under her robe and floated higher in indignation as she spat, "Statement: That is Blackmail!"

Toran could see exactly what his cunning brother was attempting to do and grasped the Chapters' need for such an act. Yet it sat ill with him, he had just recommitted himself to the path of honour and he did not want this affair to become base and sordid. He stepped between them, hands raised as he tried to reconcile the conflicting obligations, "I prefer to think of it as a long-term working arrangement, you have proof our involvement and we have proof of yours. It will keep everyone trustworthy."

Castabore processed the concept for a moment and there was the faint noise of her cogitators whirring as she ran the variables, then she asked in a suspicious tone of voice, "You are proposing a course of action?"

Toran replied, "We all know that the high Lords plan to make an example of the Storm Heralds, you will use whatever influence you have to withhold Mechanicus backing for such an endeavour. Without the Tech-Priest's blessing such a motion could never pass through the Imperialis Senatorum, in fact without the Mechancius no Imperial expedition could even leave port."

Castabore sank low on her grav-repulsors and said, "I cannot defy orders from the Fabricator General."

Toran responded, "Then be creative in interpreting your orders, remind your masters that the Storm Heralds can be most valuable allies."

"And the STC archive?" queried Castabore with an undisguised hint of avarice in her voice.

"Keep it as a gift," replied Toran tossing her the Hololith, "It shall remain our secret and none shall know you possess it."

Castabore practically quivered with delight: the knowledge and power he had just handed to her would change her life entirely. She waved a probe over it and the flickering images sped up before her eyes. She crooned over it, drinking in the data then declared, "This bounty from the Omnissiah will revolutionise my technical designs and the information I choose to release could direct Mechcanicus research for centuries to come."

Halis leaned in with a glint in his eye and said, "Do not forget the prestige that will come with it, your star will be in the ascendant among the Tech-Priests. Play your cards right and you could well be master of your own Forge-World one day."

Castabore's head snapped up and flickering lights under her hood showed her mind encompassing this new concept, then she said, "Such a high-ranking Magos would be well advised to have alliances beyond the Skitarii. A Magos who could count upon the support of the Adeptus Astartes could rise high indeed."

Toran nodded and said, "Then we have an accord?"

Castabore floated closer and looked him in the eye as she said "Your proposal is acceptable."

Toran did not smile for such an affectation would be wasted on the Magos so he said, "Before we make grandiose plans let us first dispose of these bodies."

"I suggest you let me handle that," said Castabore holding up her Volkite Serpentia, "It would be best if you departed."

"Very well," replied Toran eyeing the exotic weapon, "I look forward to a long and fruitful partnership between us."

He made the sign of the Aquilla and she returned the symbol of the cog. Then he and his Brothers turned and marched away, leaving the Mechanicus troops behind to gather up all evidence that they were ever there. As they walked away Novak glanced back and said, "I am confused, what did we just do?"

"What had to be done," Toran replied grimly, "We have just secured a new future for the Chapter."