M30

Unknown System (NGS-01-001)

Lunar-class Cruiser Vermilion Dawn

From his place beside his fellow Virtues, Raphien looked around the Hall of War.

He remembered how this room once looked liked, when the Vermilion Dawn was just one of many ships fresh from the slipways. It was a drab grey rectangular meeting hall with the most basic amenities and features that aid in displaying important data and information for future or current campaigns. The legion received the ship, then he and his company got busy.

The end result was a marvel of art Raphien is proud to have contributed to. Marble pillars, engraved with beautiful imagery by he and his brother's hands now lined the length of the red painted hall, holding up a vaulted ceiling with tall recesses in between. In those recesses were angelic statues carved by hand by select legionnaires, one of them was him, granted the honour to display their greatest works. Primarily baal rubies, and other gemstones were plentiful, and with the carefully arranged lightning system the hall bathed in a golden light of the dawn when in use.

At the end of the hall was an array of cogitators and pict-screens set in tastefully gilded frames that took up the whole of that section of the hall. Currently displayed was the status of the ship, which to Raphien's and everyone else good fortune was relatively light damages which are easily repaired and a lot less lives amongst the mortal crew lost than expected. But that was of lesser importance now to the information displayed in the main centre screen which showed a map and a large circle on a region of Segmentum Ultima.

The system's name was unknown so the techpriests gave the placeholder name of NS-01-001. The planet the cruiser was burning towards though was given the name of Viriscent Harbour, a naming style much preferred by Raphien and everybody else who aren't mechanicus and their numbers.

The last legionnaire officers absent, Techmarine Valeon and Sanguinary Priest Raphael, walked through the double doors wrought in the heraldry of the legion. That makes everyone of importance are now in the hall, made up of the Auxilia command staff, senior astronavigators, a pair of navigators, senior navy officers of the ship, the techpriest magos, and lastly the other Virtues and Powers of the Blood Angels company crewing this ship.

"You are all gathered here, excellent." Dominion Jopheus began after the doors were closed by two of his bodyguards. Conversations died down at his voice. "Let me begin this meeting by making this one fact clear, that there may be no more confusion on the situation we have found ourselves in."

"We are indeed lost. The navigators have lost sight of the Astronomican."

Disquiet murmurs filled the hall then, with quiet curses gasps coming from the ranks gathered here. Raphien himself grimaced, the thought of being cut off from the Imperium and his Primarch sitting uneasy in his hearts and mind. His fellow virtues were no better than him in that regard, them choosing to keep their heads bare for the occasion bearing obvious expressions of dislike.

"But now comes... perplexing information. According to the good magos," The senior most techpriest in the ship bowed modestly. "And our astronavigators, our current location should be in the Ultima Segmentum which is still well within the illumination of the Astronomican."

"But how can that be that we're lost my lord?" A mortal officer of the auxilia asked, confusion clearly writ on her face. But it was the magos who answered, who looked to the Dominion before at Raphien's commander's nod the heavily augmented priest turned to address the hall.

"I and my techpriests have theories." The magos spoke, his voice harsh and mechanical in tone. "Such phenomena are rare, but there are regions of space which are... shrouded in the warp. With the aid of the navigators, we have determined with 98.07 percent certainty that the surrounding warp space is calm, has been calm, and will be calm for an undetermined long time to come."

"Such regions are a boon for void travellers in that navigating them is smoother and faster than any other routes through the immaterium." One of the navigators spoke in turn, his voluminous hood shrouding his face in shadow. "I know my dynasty keeps charts of such tranquil routes in heavily guarded vaults. But the issue here is that we have no idea which route this calm region of space is part of, seeing as said routes have also been discovered to be shielded from the Astronomican somehow."

"So we are still lost." One of the navy officers grumbled.

"Thankfully there is a chance of that being remedied. Refer to the shaded circle on the map behind me." Dominion Jopheus spoke again, pointing at the large pict-screen, the shaded circle on the displayed map of Segmentum Ultima brightening at his words. "Within that circle is what has been determined to be the ship's current location. With time and more information, astronavigation is confident that they can pinpoint our exact position, and from there chart a course to a region where the light of the Astronomican shines clear and bright."

The good news did wonders in allaying everyone's worry of being permanently lost. He went on to speak some more, the displays behind him shifting into a representation of the system, the symbol of the Dawn slowly moving towards Viriscent Harbour.

"With that in mind, I have determined that we must explore this system and investigate its two planets in the meantime. The signal officers have caught on to a heavy amount of communications traffic coming from Viriscent Harbour, and it is my hope that we have discovered another lost human civilization."

"Perhaps we may finally have some action after so long." Raphien spoke to his fellow Virtues. They easily caught the tinge of excitement in his formal tone by the grin on Urien's face and Maldoron's low chuckle.

"Are the gladiatorial duels no longer enough for you, Raphien?" Maldoron remarked in a low tone. He dipped his head towards his fellow in assent.

"Practice duels let me keep my skills sharp, but only in true battle will I improve my art to newer heights." Because the art of the blade resonates truly in Raphien's being, and such was his skill that now only the captain and his bodyguards can hand him a defeat. This is no unearned boast.

The pair grew silent again when the Dominion continued. "We will make contact with the world. A demi-company of eighty astartes will land and initiate first contact, to be supported by the 9th Fellesian Airborne Regiment. This contingent will be led by Virtue of the Blade Raphien Moiraeus."

At the mention of his name Raphien stood ramrod straight and saluted, fist to chestplate. "I thank you for the honour, Dominion Jopheus. I will not fail."

"I know you won't." The Dominion's nod of confidence in his direction raised his spirits, and came with the subtle pressure to perform excellently. The Virtue listened well as he elaborated on his objectives. "A cadre of diplomats will of course be accompanying you to act as aides and emissaries to the population. Due to our low numbers, the overall goal will remain fluid. If its a small civilisation with a low level of technological development, you are to encourage them to swear fealty to the imperium. Do what is necessary to motivate them accordingly. If not, then make contact only, our future steps to be determined in a further meeting. But in all matters you must impress the populace, be noble in all your dealings and be the beacon of greatness our Primarch wishes for us all to be."

"By your will, and the Primarch Sanguinius' teachings." Raphien replied, remaining confident despite the inherent difficulty of the assignment given to him. He has experience aiding the Dominion and other senior legion officers in such matters during past compliances, and he had learned much. It shouldn't be that hard to meditate on the lessons learned and set the correct path to follow.

"Excellent. I give you leave to gather your officers of the astartes, the auxilia regiment and the diplomats."

And with a final salute, Raphien turned about and walked towards the doors. On his way he accepted the congratulations and well wishes of his brothers with humility, closely followed by the Powers he chose to be under his command and the Fellesian officers of the regiment assigned to support him.

Another world will be brought under the aegis of the Raptor Imperialis, this the Virtue swears. Be it through peaceful dialogue, which though his hearts yearn for battle Raphien wishes to be so. Or with the fury of the angels of the ninth.