Every weapon on board the Space Marine ships and the allied Mechanicus vessel slammed into the hostile cruiser's prow. Lances, lasers, vortex bombs, and plasma blasts sent the enemy ship into the dust of the void. "Target destroyed," said Ufrat. "Finally."
"Firemane's Fang is signalling," said one of the servitors. "They're picking up the saviour pods of the Enterprise."
"How many?" No one answered the captain. "How many?"
"Of 434 aboard... 47 left and that includes Gana and Gabriel Angelos."
"Send our thanks to the Fortran Bodmas," Ufrat said as her fingers touched and bent. "On the up side, there's so little of them they won't overcrowd the Garden World."

"Hello, Captain Angelos," snarled a hairy, even more gigantic Space Marine as the Blood Raven stepped out of the tiny escape pod with Serf Optio Gana. "A stroke of ill fortune?"
"A stroke of internecine idiocy," said Angelos. "Who attacked us?"
"Yar Daystrom, a Mechanicus Magos who thought your catch was an affront to her version of the Omnissiah."
"And the other?"
"Another Magos, and she thinks the opposite. We didn't get her name."
Limping towards the Space Marines, a furious Dr McCoy said, "Dammit, guys, what are we going to do now? What?"
"You're welcome," said the Space Wolf. "Puny mortal, I am Wolf Lord Kiod, and you can stop waving that beepy box at me."
"You're Human," McCoy muttered obliviously. "But I'm reading the same as I got from Gabriel. Klingon DNA, Augment DNA..."
Kiod has McCoy suspended over his head in less than half a second. "Stop babbling fool. I just saved your life."
"Yes, well done, thank you. What will you do with us now?"
"You will go into a hotel on the Garden World below. Do not cause trouble or you will die. If you cause trouble, Leonard, you will die by my claws. Representatives of the big delusion, the Ecclesiarchy, we see you. May all your crew pass... except you."
"Thank you for your support," sighed McCoy as he returned to the ground. "If you don't mind, I'd like to check the rest of my crew."
"Go away then. Away from me."
"If you don't mind, I'd like to check the rest of my crew."
"Go away then. Away from me."

"Who is still alive, Doctor?" Spock demanded. He failed to see why the Blood Raven Battle-Brothers had crowded around the holo-link, but they had. In the background were several escape pods and a few shuttlecraft in a huge cavern.
Behind him, Talunas held a PADD that had a list of names.
"Spock, Jim's dead. Chekov, Sulu, Scott, Uhura, they're alive."
"You predicted correctly, Commander," the admiral said.
"Naturally. Anyone else?"
The doctor brought a few more familiar faces forward. "Masters, Palmer, Haines, Landon, Arla, 45 in total."
Spock nodded. He recognised Arla despite them never really meeting. She was one of Masters' friends, but had the dubious distinction of being one of Charlie Evan's victims, specifically the so called 'woman with no face'. The Thasians had undone this, but the nickname had stuck. "It is regrettable, but we have to move on. I assume you plan a memorial service?"
"We are, somewhere."
"Doctor, you appear to have trouble breathing. Have you been injured?"
"No... yes, Spock. I offended this Augment Klingon Human bruiser."
"As I predicted. I will see you on the planet with the admiral. Spock out."
"Doctor," called Uhura from the other side of the room, "shall I sing to raise morale?"
"Am I in command? I am in command. Are the Space Wolves OK with this?"
"We may join in," said of the darker ones. This one was definitely a Klingon.
"Proceed, Nyota."

It's been a long road,
Getting from there to here;
It's been a long time,
But my time is finally near.
And I can feel the change in the wind right now,
Nothings in my way;
And they're not gonna hold me down no more,
No there not gonna hold me down.

Cause I've got faith of the heart,
I'm going where my heart will take me;
I've got faith to believe,
I can do anything;
I've got strength of the soul,
And no one's gonna bend or break me;
I can reach any star;
I've got faith,
Faith of the heart.

There was only some murmuring amongst the crew and some slow clapping, but McCoy could see the smiles.
"Impressive," said the Klingon Space Marine. "Our Chapter Serfs can sing the Imperial Anthem. You will not hear our march yet."
A group of rugged females stepped forward, clad all over in fur. "The Imperial Anthem," they said together.

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.

Uljuy saw the white, blocky craft land at the spaceport a few miles from the primary garden. He'd seen the explosion as he was about to go to sleep- everyone had. He later heard that a rogue Mechanicus faction had attacked an archeological find, but didn't think much of it. "What do you know," he asked his boss.
The adept master, a small, hooded creature, hissed back, "They're coming down here. Get ready." A small, cybernetically enhanced hand, gave the retail adept a data slate. "Learn. Get this shop ready."
Uljuy did just that. Back home, the stranger had been hidden away and Jedra had gone to the palace without a problem, so perhaps his secret was safe. Just as the store opened, a group of women in brightly coloured dresses came in and took a look around. Some of them had gold stripes on their sleeves, one of them had blue skin & antenna. "Welcome," he said, as he said to all customers. "Blessed be the Throne."
"Er..." The antenna-one bobbed her head up and down for a second. "May He protect you."
"Are you looking for something in particular?"
"Not yet, we're new to this time period. Actually, do you have any weapons?"
Uljay thought for a moment and decided to cooperate. "We have a selection of machetes, anti-plant grenades, las-locks, and other assorted items. Are you planning a campaign against a Jungle World?"
"No, we're marooned in this millennium and need to be self-sufficient."
"I see. I will need to see ID for weaponry."
A blond female dressed in bright red took out a form that read 'Blood Ravens Protectorate, Martha Landon.' It had a photo, a fingerprint, and the seal of the Chapter.
The adept was glad he didn't need to draw his own weapon. As befitted the militaristic state that was the Imperium, all the Garden World staff were armed at all times with at least a laspistol. "If you need further assistance, please come to us."

"What do you think, Yeoman?" Talunas asked Landon afterwards.
"Why would a shop like this stock small flamethrowers, Admiral?"
"Who cares?"
Landon smiled. The last paradise she'd been on had been a nightmare. She reasoned that hand flamers may give the crew a better chance should the ex-Enterprise crew go to another nightmare world. "Admiral, this shop sells gardening tools. I'd expect trowels and rakes, but weapons?"
"I've seen worse. From what I hear, this time period is full of hostile worlds, violence, and war."
"This isn't what I signed up for, Admiral."
"No, but remember that in this Imperium we're in, desertion is often punishable by death."
"Admiral!" called the rough figure of Commander Scott from one of the paths. "I've located the Romulan life sign!"
"Why are you telling me?"
"I can't find Mr Spock."

"I told you you wouldn't like our teleporter," Brother-Sergeant Tulka said as he and Spock entered the primary garden. They'd appeared just off the main entrance, and the brief journey through the Warp had left the half-Vulcan's head spinning.
"It was a painful experience," Spock agreed.
"Hold on," said the giant. A group of natives who, to Spock, looked like they'd come out of Earth's 18th century had just stopped the Space Marine. One of them took out a small device that resembled a PADD or perhaps a 21st century smartphone. "Yes, mortals, I will allow a selfie."
One of the natives wrapped her arms around the power armour's centre, while her brother leaned onto Tulka. The Blood Raven himself bent down a bit to be visible.
"Done, mortals. Now leave."
"Do you get this a lot, Sergeant?" Spock asked.
"No, thank the Unknown Primarch."
Spock and Tulka took a stroll through the gates, the Space Marine and guest being allowed through without question. In the distance, Spock heard a siren. As they wandered past the tourist buggy-trains and the rather unremarkable trees, the commander also heard indistinct vox chatter coming from people carrying lasguns and wearing camouflaged flak armour. As he continued, a set of vehicles all marked 'Reolaz Constabularly' rushed past blaring sirens. These wore the same colours. Tulka pushed Spock out of the way when they reached a corner as another set, this time including a car with a turret, rushed past. More constables stood at points near trees, buildings, and crossroads. Around were a few natives but plenty more tourists from all over the Imperium. Spock didn't yet know the planet names in the 41st Millenium, but he recognised Humans, Rhaandarites, Vulcans, Orions, Klingons, Deltans, Andorians, and Bolians. He also saw a group that included people with burnt-out eyes, some shorter Humans with bare, hairy feet, and some regular sized Humans with wrinkly noses.
The Vulcan and the Space Marine came within sight of a huge, bulbous glasshouse. Tulka walked on until he reaslised Spock had paused. The unemotional Vulcan had a look of horror on him.
Around the glasshouse, rows of bodies were hanging from gallows and in fact another was being put on. To get closer, Spock had to walk past a constable supervising a machine gun post. An adept pushed a trolley carrying dead bodies away to a 'fertiliser processing' truck. Throughout all of this nightmare, the indistinct vox chatter continued. Spock said nothing- no was bothered.
"Would you like to go in?" Tulka asked. "I have the guidebook."
"That would be agreeable," Spock replied. Plants would be a relief, surely?

The Death World of Catachan is home to some of the most fascinating plant life in the galaxy. This Spore Tree came to Reolaz in 308.M40 and is one of the few outside Catachan itself. The dangling flowers typically launch spores if they detect movement that often chokes the victim to death but still lets the spores travel. The nutrients of the victim will enrich the soil.

"Fascinating," Spock sighed. What else could he say?

"We have found the Eldar already," said the planetary governor. She wore carapace armour shaped like a ballgown and a wig so huge that she could attach equipment as decoration. Scotty saw guns, ration packs, and a med-kit, and he wouldn't have been surprised if there was more.
"What did he say, madam?"
"He's not talking and Eldar are not the easiest to interrogate. We will get answers. Who helped him, for example."
Behind Scotty, a female adept shifted nervously. Scotty glanced at her and then turned back. "Just as long as the Romulan is contained, I'll be fine. There's plenty of Klingons about though."
"Everyone here is Human, probably, Commander. Enjoy the rest of our world."
Scotty wandered out of the palace, still not knowing where Spock was. "I have to admit, the red brick, gothic style is astonishing. Aye."
"This is quite a sight," said the adept who'd been with Scotty. "I've worked here for a long time. I'm Jedra."
"Hello, Jedra. What else in this, uh, garden do you recommend?"
"Treetop Walkway is astonishing and the pagoda is magnificent. However, be careful around Governor Kharlod's Cottage. The security there's higher than it is here."
"Thank you, lass. Good day."

Scotty only got 100 metres away when he heard the first sirens blare and the first constabulary vans drive up to the palace. He guessed they were after the Romulan/Eldar, but his jaw dropped as the police officers forced one adept to the wall at gunpoint and surrounded Jedra. Another woman in a carapace dress and an equipment-decorated wig stepped out of the van.
"Lady Elle?" Jedra asked.
"Jedra Ar, you are charged with apostasy and treason. The Constabulary has investigated and the evidence is overwhelming. You are required to answer all our questions and anything you say will be taken as evidence. If you remain silent we will regard you as guilty."
If Scotty had anything to say, it faded when he saw the Space Marines joining the police and clearly approving of their actions. The last the engineer saw of Jedra was the adept walking into the van.

"Greetings, Mr Sulu," Spock said as he joined the helmsman at the garden shop. "It is agreeable to see you after what I saw in the Palm House."
Sulu, who was inspecting a large machete, said, "Hello, Mr Spock. I don't know what you saw but I love this blade. This shop is full on wonders."
A Constabularly van drove up nearby, alongside a small, green car that had been parked earlier by a tourist. Spock saw one of the retail adepts, who he believed was called Uljay, look up at the van as though a savage sehlat bear was about to ravage him. A nearby constable muttered to his partner how a traitor had been found.
The science officer ignored this and continued listening to Sulu drone on about the plants, his botany hobby, how that odd lifeform Beauregard in the Enterprise's arboretum would find more of it's species on Reolaz, and how Sulu sometimes wished he could go back to full time science. Being as dignified as ever, Spock patiently listened, or at least appeared to, while secretly scanning the shop.
"Open the door!" screamed someone.
Spock and Sulu spun around and saw that Uljay had ran into the green car and started to drive off. The constables were remarkably restrained, choosing to run after and shout at him rather than just shoot him dead.
"What's happening?" Sulu asked.
"I believe we've found someone who was helping the Romulan."
The green car sped on, when a grey, bigger car marked 'Research Vehicle' swerved in and cut Uljay off. Several constables and some of the retail adepts now pointed their laspistols and lasrifles at the green car, while some tourists backed off. Vox chatter filled the air, including some Spock could make out as "1.4 metres, take alive."
"The adept should give up," Spock said. "I do not believe this will be the case."
No. Instead, Uljay reversed and almost hit one of the constables, who fortunately had fast reaction skills. Another ran forward, smashed the car window, dragged Uljay out, and threw him into the Constabularly van. The van drove off, buzzing it's siren as it left the bewildered customers and staff to consider what happened.
"The Romulan has been found and so perhaps his Human helpers," Spock said to Sulu.
"That's good, sir. Will we be asked to help?"
"I hope not. I am beginning to believe this time period is not the best place to be."