Shadow of a Doubt

Chapter 24

Etanes grunted with disappointment as he took a look at the streets turned battlefield. It seemed that the Arbiters had been underestimated as hundreds of them now swarmed where his spy had deigned to execute his plans. It also seems that the mortal had perished, although that was of little loss to him; he was simply a means to an end. Of course his plan had perished along with the mortal, to keep the Imperium occupied by inducing chaos on the planet and forcing an Imperial presence on the planet for at least a few solar years. Of course now as well, the Inquisition just may investigate further to see what had been taken from the facility they had attacked. It had taken years for his spy to find the information for him, although it was at least something he was able to accomplish before his death.

The Sorcerer had remained quiet throughout the trip, simply consulting the tome which was secured to his power armour through the brass chain, nodding every so often while flipping through the pages. It meant little to the Word Bearer though, after all his goal would coincide with that of the Thousand Son. The Sorcerer smiled every so often as he read one of his tomes while Etanes gave a small gesture, before the heavy weapon chaos marines stepped forward and opened up from the ramp, heavy bolters and plasma cannons howling as the streets were covered with blood and gore, while Arbiters were ripped apart by the savage havoc marines, who screamed their devotion out to their dark gods even as they reaped bloody sacrifice. Etanes nodded just once, before the Thunderhawk would start taking off for the skies, heading towards the massive Word Bearer Fleet that awaited in orbit.

Kyreg and the Lupi Titania stepped onto the aerodrome grounds, the guards stepping aside without any words of challenge; few mortals would step in front of a Space Marine and four obvious Sisters of Battle. His practiced eye would appraise the crafts that stood there, knowing that he needed to find something capable of warp travel. His eyes would settle on a sleek vessel, toting firepower on it as opposed to the unarmed variants he had seen so far and walked closer to it, being stopped politely by soldier in a dark blue uniform with blood red trim. "Pardon me Lord, but this vessel belongs to the Rogue Trader Captain Hinrich." Kyreg looked at the soldier who gulped visibly as he eyed the Astarte, his Sisters of Battle bodyguards standing behind him with bolters raised clearly affecting the manner which he performed his duties. "I'm sorry sir but this uh.. I need clarification from my commanders." Kyreg gestured for the soldier to do so, the soldier speaking for a few moments on a microbead attached to his left ear. "Lord, the Captain has asked to speak with you, and wish for you to board so that he may meet you in orbit."

With a nod, Kyreg stepped onto the gunship along with his bodyguard, and looked around. While it was relatively ornate compared to any assault gunships he had ever seen, it was all done in a practical manner. There were compartments underneath the seats, as well as various straps and webbings to not only attach cargo to but also for troops to hold on to during assaults and landings. He was impressed; most rogue traders focused too much on the more ornate and often forgot it seemed, about the practical aspects of their equipment. The pilot was rather excellent, lifting up quite smoothly before the gunship began to head into orbit. A slight buzz of electronics and a shudder signalled the activation of a stealth shield of some kind, further adding to the thoroughness of the Rogue Trader in question.

They would fly into orbit, seemingly ignored by the Word Bearer Fleet as the cloaking held up to the auspexes of the various chaos vessels that were in orbit around the planet of Teletyr II. In a few moments however, a small black section would open up and the gunship flew right in. It seems that the entire ship was cloaked as well, and it just might work to Kyreg's advantage. The ship would dock gently, the skill of the pilot once again being demonstrated as he touched down with barely a sound and the rear hatch of the gunship would open. Kyreg would step down, having remained standing on board the entire time as none of the seats on board would have been for his size. As he stepped off, he would see a man standing about fifty feet away dressed in a dark blue cloak of the same colour as the soldiers that lined the path to him, all armed with las carbines with bayonets fixed, their weapons held in the present arms order. The man had a long angular face with a neatly trimmed mustache of blonde with hints of white. His hair was cut close, shaven sides with the hair on his scalp kept long, in a small braid that rested behind him. He wore a naval uniform, with gold and blood red trimmings, a large revolver in a holster casually at his right side and a saber at his left. Beside him stood an attractive woman, in a uniform that fit her figure perfectly it seemed but she wore knee high mirror shined leather boots with a plasma pistol holstered at her side, her brunette hair cut into a short practical bob. Behind them was a heavily built man that appeared almost bald if not for the millimetre long black hair in a narrow strip that covered just the top of his head. The shotgun in his hand was held in a more practical fashion, the muzzle brake at the end signifying perhaps just what sort of calibre the weapon was sized for.

As soon as Kyreg's left foot stepped off the ramp and clicked onto the polished plasteel flooring, the soldiers all snapped to attention. Seeing the ceremonial lay out of their welcome, Catriona gave a quick command over the vox, the Sisters snapping their bolters to the shoulder arm position as the Astartes Commander stepped off. Kyreg took careful measured steps, stopping almost exactly four feet from the man whom he towered over, and the man would offer him a salute in the sign of the Aquila. Kyreg returned it as such and bowed his head slightly.

"I welcome you Space Marine. I am Captain Albert Hinrich, Rogue Trader with a Warrant of Trade signed by the High Lords of Terra." The man bowed as he said so, as did his lieutenant and his bodyguard behind him. Kyreg nodded and took off his helmet, locking it at his side as a sign of non-hostility. "I am Vignir, Blackshield Astarte. These are my bodyguards the Lupi Titania, my Battle Sister bodyguards. I require your assistance to stop the madness that has brought these Word Bearer traitors to the planet." Albert looked at him, a slight tic making it obvious on the corner of this right eye, his intentions perhaps misjudged. "Lord, I serve the High Lords at their pleasure, and I gladly give service onto a Space marine with a noble cause. However, I do not believe that my ship has the capacity to take on the entire Chaos fleet.." Kyreg chuckled slightly, earning a slight glare from the Rogue Traders bodyguard while the Lieutenant beside him stiffened just slightly. "You misunderstand me Captain. I have no intention of fighting the traitor fleet. I just wish to go to their objective before they can get there." The Commanders words seemed to relax the Captain as well as his first officers. "Forgive then Lord for misunderstanding. Perhaps we can better discuss this in the war room?" With a hand raised towards the hall that lead away from the docking area, the Captain gestured for Kyreg and his retinue to follow as he lead the way. After a few minutes of weaving through, with Kyreg noting that the bodyguard bore the ranks of an Imperial Navy Warrant Officer as well as his almost parade ground steps as he followed the Rogue Trader, they arrived in a fairly large spacious room with a large granite desk set in the middle. "I apologize, I do not believe if I have a seat that would fit an Astarte, my Lord. Please forgive my lack of foresight." The Captain stated smoothly as he bowed, Kyreg waving his hand at such words. "I have not yet met a mortal vessel that was capable of producing chairs large enough for me. Now then, let me inform you of what is required and what the Word Bearers intend to do."

The others took a seat around the table, except for Kyreg and the Sisters who chose to stand. Kyreg out of circumstance, while the Sisters chose to stand at attention behind him so as to provide a show of force. "I seek to travel to the planet of Jarskarr, where on its small satellite planet exists ruins that perhaps may be of xenos origin. In the ruins is a small cave system, where an artifact rests. I must get to the artifact, destroy it if I have to in order to deny it to the Word Bearers. That is the most straight forward version of the story." The others at the table murmured at the news, while Albert leaned forward with intrigue. "And why do the Word Bearers wish for such an artifact? Is it a xenos artifact? Or Chaos artifact? If it is a Chaos artifact, it must be destroyed. But a xenos artifact… perhaps study is in order of it?"

Kyreg shook his head. "I do not know which it is. Regardless of whether it is xenos or Chaos, it will be destroyed. It must be. It is a device that is capable of storing souls, Captain. That is not something to be studied or trifled with." Albert leaned back, hissing slightly at the mention of its purpose. "That is not a device that should be played with, no. That is a device that should be destroyed from orbit." Kyreg nodded in agreement. "However its destruction must be confirmed. I think everyone in this room can understand just what would happen if one of the most devoted worshippers of the Chaos were to get their hands on an object that would allow them to collect souls at the time of sacrifice." He looked around the room, noting the reaction of the Captains retinue. The Lieutenant had a look of utter disgust at the mention of such an artifact while the Warrant Officer only seemed to scowl a bit further. "Very well, we will assist you in such a matter. I believe that my Warrant of Trade further obligates me to assist you." Kyreg bowed his head slightly. "You have my thanks Captain." The Captain would pick up a data slate, looking through it quickly before handing it over to Kyreg. "I believe these quarters shall prove sufficient to you and your staff?" It was a map that showed a set of quarters closer to the bridge, Kyreg nodding as he examined them. "Very well then, I will have you shown to your quarters. Please, come join me for dinner after you have settled in."

A patrol of the Rogue Traders soldiers would show up at the door and bowed deeply towards the Astarte, who along with the Sisters, would follow them down the hallways until they arrived at the rooms. Kyreg was given a room to himself while the Sisters were bunked two by two right across the hall. Kyreg looked around the room, it had a platform bed that seemed to be much richer than the type he was used to, the mattress covered in a silk mattress cover while the pillow was of a luxurious purple fabric that was richly gilded with silver lacing. He chuckled slightly as he examined the rest of the room, his eyes resting on a desk and a chair that of course would not fit him. He simply shrugged before exiting the room to find that the Sisters had only peaked in before standing back out again. "I thank you for your vigilance, Sisters. Please, go find yourself a meal and some rest, I know your metabolisms are not the same as mine." Catriona cracked a rather humours grin. "Thank you for your concern Vignir, we will return here should you need us after." Kyreg chuckled and began walking towards the bridge, where a uniformed stewardess with white gloves would bow lowly to him before gesturing for him to follow. "Please Lord, the Captain has had a dining room prepared for the two of you and wishes to converse." Kyreg followed him further up, taking a set of elevators that went to the tenth floor where they would disembark. This level of the ship had polished granite floors, and brushed steel walls decorated with various artifacts. He would stop in front of a well-kept Crusade pattern bolter, smiling at the insignia of the IX Legion on the golden gilded bolter. He would walk past it and looked at an alien blade that rested in a display case that he was sure contained a rather potent stasis field, a drop of blue toxin resting just on the tip of the blade. Kyreg smiled at the weapon, knowing exactly what race it had been taken off of and just how much trouble the Rogue Trader might be in if certain elements of the Inquisition were to see that.

The room opened for him, two blue uniformed guards armed with more sensible combat shotguns for the enclosed interior of the ship who bowed at him as he walked in, returning their greetings with a nod before the door was closed behind him, the two guards remaining outside to prevent others from intruding on those in the room. Inside was a richly decorated room, with rare nalwood decorating the interior of the walls while gold leaf trim lined the base board and the ceiling. There was an enclosed fireplace that gave off heat and burned on logs deposited in automatically by machinery while preventing any smoke from entering the actual room itself. In front of it were the pelts of animals from different parts of the world that had been hunted successfully. To the Legionnaire Commander, it meant very little. It was easy to kill an animal with the right firepower but to truly prove oneself as a hunter, it had to be done with blade and nothing else. Albert sat at the end of a long beautifully engraved wooden banquet table, where large throne seats were available for him, while crystal glasses were placed according to the high protocol that such a dining environment required. As Kyreg walked to sit down at the next available seat just to the right of Albert, the Rogue Trader stood up and presented a bow. "Thank you for the honour of dining with me, Lord. I think that we have much to discuss. I believe from my end, that I have many things I wish to ask." Kyreg tilted his head and nodded slightly as he sat down, Albert doing the same and a white jacketed stewardess would lean forward and filled all four glasses in front of the two. One glass was filled with a rich amber amasec, another with a soft sweet beverage. One of the less ornate yet still very elegant crystal glasses was filled with ice cold water, and the last glass was filled with a deep rich red wine.

Kyreg smiled and picked up the glass of amasec with an armoured gauntlet with a gracefulness that spoke measures of his experience and demonstrated the precision he was capable of as the tiny glass looked out of place in his massive gauntlet. Albert toasted him and the two took light sips from the glass. He could taste various hints of ginger, soft vanilla, and an underlying hint of blackcurrant. The alcohol was neutralised immediately by his enhanced Astarte system but he could appreciate it for what it was. "I am most curious, Lord. Why do you go around as a Blackshield? Do you not worry about the Inquisition?" Kyreg thought about his question as he placed down the empty glass delicately. "Let me answer that question at the end of dinner. I promise you I will enlighten you." Albert smiled and took a sip from his water glass. "I can appreciate secrets, Lord. As you can guess surely, I have quite a few of my own." Kyreg chuckled as the first course was brought out to him, devilfish medallions seared lightly on each side with tasteful seasoning and a savoury wine sauce. Albert dug in with obvious relish while Kyreg tasted it slightly; the portion set for him was frankly enough food for the rest of the journey. However he still cut off a few pieces out of politeness more than a frank desire to eat.

"Tell me something Captain, the xenos sword displayed outside. Do you not worry about the Inquisition?" Albert daintily dabbled his lips with a clean white linen towelette and smiled. "To be honest, I do and I do not. I worry about the Inquisition seizing it, as I know they are more likely to take it as their own treasure and deny me a symbol of my victory. However I do not worry, as it is the Inquisition. They can have me killed just because their ploin juice was too sour, so I see no point in being overly worried about such a thing." Kyreg laughed lightly as he took a sip of the wine. It had spicy undertones with a rich fruit bouquet, something that made him recall something as he looked at the glass.

"Something wrong with the wine, Lord?" Albert cocked his head as he looked at him curiously. "No. Where did you get this wine?" The Rogue Trader closed his eyes for a moment. "I believe from a planet called Lanssten IV. Why do you ask?"

The garrison there drank from the nobleman's gifts, casks of rich fine wine that the planet was well known for. The fight against the Imperials could wait a night, after all they were far from the front lines and their brethren in the 19th Infantry Division were holding up the lines. The troops there drank heartily that night, feasting on mountains of roast meat. They had held the invaders so far, the Imperials unable to break through their lines due to the Lanssten Heavy Regiment liberal use of multi-barrel auto-cannons that have held at bay their mass infantry assaults so far. In the morning, the men rose and resumed to the front, being trucked back to relieve their tired but still standing brethren, jokes and tobacco tubes being exchanged, their spirits high. Soon, another Imperial attack happened, and the auto-cannons began firing. However, as the powder fumes filled the front lines, it reacted with something in their blood, something ingested the night before and the men started dying by the hundreds. An hour later, the Imperials walked into trenches empty of life, the last soldier choking on his own blood as his blood clotting abilities disappeared completely, drowning in his own blood as blood vessels popped. The entire Imperial Army gathered simply pushed through, and onto the unprotected vulnerable cities beyond the battle lines, a single Astarte in dusk blue armour standing in the capital as the High General was arrested at gunpoint by his very own Royal Lanssten Guard regiment, each of the men casually scratching at a section on their ribs, where underneath their uniforms and body armour was a small tattoo of a green hydra.

"Just memories, Captain. Just reminded me of something from a long time ago." Kyreg replied, smiling slightly as he remembered Compliance 553, one of his first tasks as the Captain of the 8th's elite Stealth Company. Albert nodded, slightly confused before the second course as brought in. Fresh peppers, and tomatoes diced in a nice piquant dressing resting on a small bed of root vegetables that had been baked at a high temperature quickly. The Astarte tasted it, and smiled. This one was quite simple but pleasant, something that reminded him of Tyven V for some reason. "I do not blame you for what you may have in your armouries or even your ship Captain. Imperial technology is fine for the Imperial Guard and those that serve in its ranks but as we both know, those with specific missions often must utilize more than just Martian las rifles and bolters." Kyreg sent out the bait, lightly probing at the Rogue Trader as he knew that like Inquisitors, Rogue Traders often had weapons in their disposal that would be deemed heresy if they were in the hands of someone lesser placed. "Albert smiled quickly, although he tried to maintain a neutral expression. It would have been enough to fool anyone else but as a veteran of the XX Legion, Kyreg was used to deceit. "I believe Lord, that Imperial Technology is excellent. However, sometimes needs dictate, especially in my role when I am in a place lacking any Imperial outpost that may assist me.."

Kyreg leaned forward at the Captain and smiled thinly, presenting a threatening face. "Is that why you have a Tau shielding cloak on your ship, Captain? That is something that I believe was traded for and installed by a member of their Earth Caste, I must imagine. Something taken voluntarily, was it not?" Albert paled for a moment before taking a large gulp of his refilled amasec glass. Even the white jacketed steward looked slightly concerned. "I, uh. Well it was necessary at the time Lord.. sometimes those of us with a Writ of Trade must do what needs dictate at the time.." Kyreg laughed and leaned back in his massive throne chair. "Relax Captain, I happen to agree with you. Tau stealth technology is decades ahead of Imperial cloaking devices. Even my brethren must rely on out dated technology of cameoline if they choose that path. Just ask the Raven Guard and their successors what they must do in order to ensure silence in their missions." Albert sat back and laughed nervously, his hand clutching the glass harder with tension. "I am not a purist, Captain. I do not intend to execute you or throw you to the Inquisition for equipping yourself with the best tools for the job."

The third course was brought, a light delicate avian broth with small chunks of meat and onions with small fish eggs floating on top. Kyreg looked at the dish and lightly took a small spoon of it as Albert picked at the fish eggs and ate them with relish. "I wish to make this clear Captain. I will shoot you, if you hold back what assets you have because you think there will be ramifications from me. We are going up against the Word Bearers, a group of traitors that still remain organised and resolute in their beliefs. They are just as dangerous as any loyal Astartes. They will not finick the way that others might, or chase after easier targets." Albert gulped a little and nodded. "I am glad you feel that way. In truth, my Writ was given to me as punishment. The men with me today, they are former members of a regiment I used to command. The Writ was offered to me as the alternative to being taken prisoner by the Inquisition. Forcing my hand, I had no choice but to do so." Kyreg looked at the man with surprise in his mind but his features remained neutral.

"Tell me of why you and your men were in that situation." Albert looked at the Astarte for a second and then sighed, before emptying the glass of amasec beside his plate. "We were entrenched, and we had no real way of fighting back against the enemy. The Tau had their long range snipers engage my men at any moment. I used to command a regiment of over eight thousand, and by then I had barely four thousand left. But the order remained the same. Hold the line, but we can only hold so long. That was when I ordered the men to advance, if we are to die then we are at least to die with a purpose, not stuck in a trench with our heads exposed or hiding and cowering every day, waiting for the screech of a tau rail gun to end another life. That attack was a success. It cost me a thousand of my boys, but we took the tau position and overran them. In weeks, they retreated. Our allies were able to finally push their armoured units into their flanks and forced their retreat. But the Lord General.. he did not share the same beliefs as I did. You see, a regiment from his home world was enroute and he had a plan to bring his planet more glories. How could the glory go to a simple Fallschirm Regiment from Dnieper when the honour so obviously belonged to a Grenadier Regiment that was the Lord General's own? But my father.. my father served on the Crusade Staff and so it was made plain to me as the Lord General wished to have me executed and handed over to the Commissars, even the Inquisition on charges of treason. After all if a Great Lord General was unable to take the territory, I must have been on the Tau's payroll." Kyreg chewed on a piece of root vegetable thoughtfully. He recognized Fallschirm as Drop troop, a phrase rooted in the Germanic tech barbarians of Terra who used to use them. It was no surprise it had spread to other planets of course. "And how did you end up here then?"

Albert sighed again as the next course was served. This time was a slow roasted grox on the bone with a delicate corn and pepper salad. He would slice the meat expertly off of the long thin bone it was attached to before taking a bite out of it. "My Writ stated that I must constantly explore boundaries, as well as make visits to planets near the edge of the Astronomican. I sometimes wish that I had other options other than this, but my boys have stuck with me loyally. They soldier on. My Lieutenant, she was a Naval Cadet at the time and volunteered to accompany me. So quite a few other members of the warship we were billeted on, they had heard of what had happened and chose to accompany me rather than become fodder for the Lord General's next glory hunt. Warrant Officer Skultz, he's a good man. He would have been promoted to Chief Warrant Officer of the 12th Fallschirm's elite Grenadier Company but he chose to stick with me. My actions cost us a thousand lives but it gave us a purpose in that instance, and it gave us a sliver of glory. Of what had caused so many to sign on to fight with the Dnieper 12th Fallschirm Regiment. They were all volunteers, not draftees like the Siege Regiments or the Panzer Regiments." Kyreg listened to him speak and smiled as he picked at the roast meat on his plate.

"Now we are approaching the end of our meal, Lord. I believe you owe me an answer to my first question." Albert sat back, his eyes slightly moist as he quickly dabbed at them with a handkerchief. "The chef always puts too much pepper into this dish, my apologies." Kyreg nodded, although his advanced taste buds tasted not a single fragment of pepper. He however, could understand.

"You are correct, I do owe you an explanation. Where do I start.. bear with me Captain." Kyreg took another sip of the wine more out of habit than a true need for it. "I want you to imagine a man. A great man, a man destined to rule over the galaxy who through his time spent hidden as a figure in society finally revealing himself and creating for himself an army. But this man, he needed Generals. No man alone can conquer the stars just by himself. And so he brought forth eighteen sons, each with a skill and expertise in an aspect of war that they were born with. No amount of training could ever reach their skills in such matters of war. And those Generals were given command of armies, vast armies. Their sons, forged with their gene codes to create warriors without par. Some were noble praetorians, other bloody butchers. And everything in between." Albert nodded, understanding what the Astarte alluded to. "And through the stars, they re-united humanity. Lost civilisations were rediscovered and brought back into the light of Terra. The Emperor himself fought beside his Generals, rediscovering his sons that were cast away from Terra by the actions of those who feared him. But he found them again, one by one. And one by one they pledged themselves to his service, where they lead these armies. They were giants amongst the stars and they created rolls of honour to their names."

Kyreg paused for a moment and smiled lightly. "You understand what I am speaking of, Captain?" Albert nodded as dessert was placed in front of them, some sort of pastry drenched with sweet syrup and garnished with flakes of chocolate and rich cream. "Now these sons, half of them turned away from the Emperor and his dream. These sons gave up the glory they already had and decided that one of their own was more worthy of ruling than the Emperor. Now they gave up the brotherhood that had united them and chose instead to fly the flag of rebellion. For the first time, brother fought brothers. Brothers killed brothers, and they stirred the Emperors domain into rebellion. But not all of their sons sided with them. Some of the fallen sons purged their own ranks. Others failed to do so, assured of their sons loyalty and the righteousness of their actions. Not all of the Generals sons sided with them. Some escaped their circumstances and fought against their fallen brothers. Others wandered the galaxy in search of something else to replace what was lost to themselves forever. Others sought to carve out their own empires, their own fiefdoms and rule. But some of their sons remembered still why the Generals were born in the first place, why the Emperor placed such trust in them, and why the massive armies of the eighteen sons were always treated with reverence. Eventually, the arch fallen son and the Emperor fought, they fought and the son was killed, unable to stand against the raw power of the Emperor, but the Emperor was also greviously wounded. Interned in the Golden Throne, the Emperor could only maintain the Astronomican and watch as his empire was torn asunder with strife and conflict. The fallen sons retreated, some having died on Terra. His loyal sons chased, some chasing them and fighting with the fallen while others mourned."

Albert looked at Kyreg and tilted his head with a questioning look on his face. "And what of you then Lord? Which son are you?" Kyreg smiled for a moment. "Some of the Generals sons, they remembered whom they owed their allegiance to. Their true allegiance. So they fought, and they killed. And they scraped through the war and struck back at their fallen brothers in the only way that they can." Albert nodded, and looked at the Astarte. "So who are you then Lord?" Kyreg smiled back. "That is only a story, Captain. I promised you a story explaining much, and I have delivered such. I promised that I will enlighten you, did I not?" Something in Albert Hinrich's mind clicked together, and he nodded. "I understand Lord. My forces will ensure you victory." Kyreg smiled and stood up, his dessert untouched while Albert remained behind, his mind questioning everything he has heard as the words that the Astarte spoke seemed to trigger things in his mind, showing him visions. That night cycle as he went to sleep in his bed, he tossed and turned.

Visions of flames, of giants wading through withering artillery and bolter fire with weapons too glorious to be imagined. He groaned in his sleep, his rest filled with turmoil. He would try and claw his way out of his visions, but he saw it clearly. He saw the Hydra coil around men of iron, of diseased figures, of wolves now painted black and crushing them. He saw baying blood covered berserkers killing only to be brushed aside by a claw of the Hydra. He saw enemies, human and xeno continuing on their conquest only to be coiled further and further by the tail of the Hydra until they were crushed with a simple flex of the Hydra's tail. When he finally awoke soaked with night sweats, one word echoed in his mind. And he finally understood the true meaning of what the Astarte had said. Hydra Dominatus. He knew then that it was his destiny to serve the Blackshield Astarte. The Emperor Expects.