Laong examined the Rogue Trader's outstretched hand. The burdens of chauffeuring capricious bluebloods on Lorasyn seemed to dissipate at that moment. No more ceaseless glances over his shoulder, no more navigating the intricate labyrinths of the hive. Instead, a sense of exhilaration and anticipation surged within him, reframing the events of the day.
Working as part of a Rogue Trader's retinue was the stuff schola kids played pretend during recess. It was the subject of exhausted laborers' and bored guardsmen's fantasies about the Imperium. An opportunity of a lifetime stood before him.
"I... accept," Laong whispered, ensuring he wasn't dreaming, and then, with newfound confidence, he declared, "I accept your grace!"
Rycarion smiled, "Welcome to my service, Shihan Laong." He turned to the rest of the retinue, "A proper ceremony will have to wait until we are starside where you can say your vows in a more fitting place. Right now, we need to get to the port and get back to the ship. And I'm not confident in an Enforcer escort at the moment."
"We would just plunder another," the pirate shrugged, "Pull arms on someone 'til they comply."
"I have cataloged an Adeptus Mechanicus protocol procession nearby. They are following a route which stops by Saint's Ascension Starport." Vesa's augmented eyes were a bright glossy blue again, "The procession is to continue for an additional 61 standard hours before arriving at the spaceport."
"Don't have that kind of time," the trenchcoat man grumbled, "Skip all of this and just sneak on over."
"Sneaking to the starport on foot would almost be as tiring as following the procession," Kordin rubbed his chin, "Captain, you could try to leverage your title and requisition a vehicle with the promise of reward."
Rycarion waved his hand, "No, I'm trying to keep as low a profile as we can, just as is standard operating procedure. I don't want to wave my title around like a parade banner. Nor am I in the mood for another high-speed chase. No offense to your driving, Laong."
"None taken," Laong thought for a second as well, trying to find a way to make a good first impression. He tried to come up with another idea, a plan to quickly and safely ferry them to the starport. "Oh, what if we just found another vehicle and took that? Have your tech-priest-"
"Tech-priestess," Vesa corrected him.
"Have your tech-priestess open the lock and start the engine," Laong suggested, "Then just drive to the starport."
Rycarion looked at the man with an approving eye, "Simple and straight to the point. Vesa, any facilities that might be willing to "donate" a vehicle to our cause?"
"Initializing..." Vesa looked up with blue eyes, "Identified: HCF-84-K. Designation: Manufactorum Civilis. Production: Prefabricated furniture and stonework. Distance: 3.4 kilometers." Her eyes flashed back to a more natural white and brown color, "They are certainly guaranteed to have a fleet of transport trucks which we could hide in."
"Alright, then that's our goal. Let's move out, everyone. Try to look innocent along the way." Rycarion pointed two fingers towards the general direction of the manufactorum.
"REMEMBER: IT IS THROUGH YOUR HANDS THAT THE IMPERIUM BUILDS ANEW. IT IS THROUGH YOUR LABOR THAT WE RECLAIM WHAT IS OURS."
The "workplace motivation" emanating from the manufactorum's laud hailers provided ample cover between its Administratum-approved slogans and workmen's hymns. The group stalked in the shadow of the massive building, its exterior stone bricks easily half the size of any of their torsos. Massive stained glass windows let the light of the hive shine into the monolith of industry, each window flanked by towering statues carrying swords, books, and weapons wrought in aged stone.
The sound of ten thousand hammers striking ten thousand chisels gave a marching pace to the group. Overhead, the shadow of dull iron cranes carrying sections of statues to and fro provided shade for which they used to climb over the fences.
"Transport yard is right ahead," Vesa announced, sure that the sound of industry would cover her voice.
"Alright, here is the plan," Rycarion stopped the group at the base of a statue, "Kordin, Laong, Vesa, secure us a transport and a way out. The rest of us will stay out of sight until you've gotten us a way out."
"The gates should be servitor-operated in this district, especially for civilian facilities." Laong pulled on his memories and experience.
"Perfect, Vesa, you go make sure the servitors are looking the wrong way and let us through. Kordin, Laong, find us a truck." Rycarion fished a strange-looking key out of his pocket, a brass rod with a glass vial housed within, filled with some viscous goo, and threw it to Laong.
"Multikey," Kordin remarked, "It's how we got into your auto-carriage. It'll work on anything short of an Astartes tank."
Laong looked at the key in his hand; he was still riding an excitement high from just being a part of the group. Like a new recruit allowed to march in formation during a parade, his hands and feet were filled with nervous energy, eager to prove himself for the first time in ages. "I'm ready. Let's go."
"Good lad." Kordin peeked his head around the corner to see if the way was clear, "Alright, it's empty. Let's go."
Kordin and Laong rushed towards a fleet of empty Goliath trucks, parked by a loading bay connected to the main manufactorum. Rycarion and the others sneaked around finished statues and skull-marked containers. Vesa, being a tech-priestess, felt more comfortable strolling towards the front gate. Her red robes gave her an air of techno-mysticism that ensured laymen would not bother her as long as she appeared busy. However, Laong's chauffeur dress and Kordin's naval officer dress would certainly stand out.
"Watch my back." Kordin leaped onto the back of the Goliath, followed by Laong, as he went about opening the driver's compartment with the multikey.
Laong crouched down and began his sentry duty on the empty bed of the truck. His heart was racing, perhaps out of fear, but just overall excitement. He still wondered if he was dreaming, that there was some part of this that wasn't real. Going from the Guard to auto-carriages, and now the retinue of a Rogue Trader. He wondered when he'd be able to see the full panoply of Rycarion's wealth. While eager to serve, part of him did think of the fabulous wealth the Lord-Captain of House Lumin might possess. No more rat roast and refiltered water for him!
He was so lost in his thoughts that Laong didn't even notice the portly man in overalls and a reflective coat walk out onto the loading dock, foreman's circlet upon his head, "Hey! What are you two doing here!"
Snapped out of his thoughts, Laong stood up and stammered over his words with a pathetic series of "umms" and "ahhs." The foreman repeated himself, marching towards the Goliath, "I said, who are you? Wait, you ain't workers. Who the frak are you? Thieves? Looters? Security-"
"Surprise. Inspection." Kordin stepped forward and leaped onto the loading dock, marching towards the foreman with his chin in the air. His voice was filled with the cold air of authority all Imperials were taught from birth to obey. "Your superiors have suspected a laxity in this facility's ability to follow basic protocols. Based on what we have seen so far, and our inspection of your trucks, their predictions seem to have been correct."
"Wait, just who sent you-" The foreman was beginning to cower as Kordin interrupted him again, leaning over him.
"You and your entire work block should be written up for gross negligence and dereliction of duty, foreman!" Kordin barked as the foreman's face filled with trepidation and more than a little fear, "The things my aid and I have seen today are enough to fill a ledger! Include your current actions. What are you doing? Taking an unauthorized break away from the supervision of your men? Neglecting your duties?"
"N-No sir!" The foreman shoved his hands behind him and saluted, clearly trying to hide something.
"Despicable," Kordin scowled, "In an act of lenient mercy—of which I am unsure you truly qualify for—I am willing to overlook your failure in this regard so long as you remain silent. We have orders to inspect this manufactorum as. It. Is. Do not make some last-minute attempt to impress the virtues you are so clearly lacking once we head inside. If I find ANY evidence of you attempting such an act, I will have every tenth worker flogged and you turned into an overseer servitor so you may not have such thoughts of escaping your duties again. Do I make myself clear?"
"Y-Yessir!" The now terrified foreman babbled out after a stream of incoherent mouth sounds.
Laong blinked once, and the man was already back through the door where he came from, "S-Sorry... I'm not great at talking on my feet." Laong sheepishly admitted.
"It comes with experience." Kordin let out his breath, softening his posture as he climbed back on, "Also at ease, soldier, you aren't in an inspection line."
Laong looked down and realized he was standing at perfect attention, arms behind his back, and heels snapped together. As if he was standing before a commissar, Kordin's barking voice and air of authority had triggered such a reflex in the ex-guardsman.
He loosened his muscles and walked over to the now-open door where Kordin was waiting, "It's just a single seat for the driver. There are two external gunner positions and the cargo bed. You know how to drive these things?"
"Not this pattern specifically, but looking at the controls, I have an idea of how to already." Laong looked at the wheel and the control panel.
Taking off his chauffeur's cap, Laong sat in the seat as it swung back around and moved into position. The stiff springs brought a bounciness he was unfamiliar with, and the whole cabin smelled vaguely of sweat, grease, and processed snacks. A bag of Kroot Chips on the dashboard confirmed it.
"Here, multikey should work on the ignition as well." Kordin threw Laong the skeleton key, and just as promised, it activated the engine.
Maneuvering the wide truck through the containers of stonework and statues proved easy enough. Soon, Laong backed into a hidden corner formed by three containers where the rest of the group was waiting. He watched as Kordin helped everyone up onto the empty bed, and then lifted some boxes onto it before throwing a tarp over to form a concealing tent.
"Take this..." Kordin opened the driver's cabin and handed Laong a comm-bead before disappearing under the tarp as well.
"Cozy place this is," Rycarion said over comms.
"Aye, put a campfire in 'ere and we've got ourselves a pretty lil tent." The voice of the pirate came next.
"And presumably also suffocate." The voice of Trenchcoat was, as always, so reassuring.
"It'll be enough to keep us hidden while we go." Kordin hushed everyone, "Pick up Vesa, and let's get a move on."
A quick stop later at the now-open gates, the tech-priestess joined everyone else but stopped in front of the vehicle and put her hands together.
"What are you doing?" Laong asked over his comms.
"Performing the customary Litany of Locomotion, lest we are stopped by a malfunctioning engine." Vesa closed her eyes and began her chanting.
Rolling his eyes, and still wanting to show off to his new boss, Laong clasped his own hands together while turning off the rumbling engine of the Goliath.
"Gracious machine spirit. The key, connects the circuit. To the circuit, be their motion. Pistons that churn and drives that never falter. Made swift by the application of blessed fuels. Onward and onward. Blessed by thy steel and hollowed by thy motions. Chesum Validas."
With a turn of the keys again, the Goliath came alive once more, this time its rumbling engine softer and gentler. The entire body of the beast seemed more stable, and even the springs were gentler. Vesa looked up in an equal mix of curiosity and shock, letting out a chirp in binaric.
"Please enlighten me as to how a layman learns of the Litany of Locomotion in such an... abbreviated manner?" Her tone was more intrigued than suspicious.
"Militarum litany. Get in, I'll tell you the rest of the story once we're out of here."
Vesa climbed aboard and huddled under the tarp as well as Laong drove the much smoother Goliath towards an arterial highway.
"Your story, layman." Vesa reminded Laong sometime later as they were driving.
"Back in my old unit, tank crews were expected to know how to do some limited fieldwork on their tanks. That included memorizing some prayers." Laong recalled.
"And the abbreviations and lack of proper tools?" Vesa asked.
"When you're in the middle of a battle, you don't usually get enemies who are understanding enough to not shoot at you while you're trying to fix a track or get the engine to start again." Laong drove under the upwards spotlights illuminating massive manufactorum walls that were as tall as rockcrete canyons. "New enginseers are usually stickers. Older ones end up being more understanding."
"Is it because they lose 'em metal bits?" The pirate asked.
"No, it's because they're the ones who don't try and do a full ritual under artillery fire."
A burst of laughter came from the more lighthearted members of the team, Rycarion included. Laong just smiled, pleased with his humor, as traffic picked up on the road toward the starport.
Saint's Ascension was one of two starports on Lorasyn. And one of the few places where one could see the open, polluted skies above, where the hive sprawl had not completely enclosed it. A main central pillar rose miles into the air, past multiple levels of the hive, some sectioned off with enclosed glass windows or view slits. Others with barely a bright mesh barrier net. Massive rockcrete wings jutted from the pillar, slowly rotating as transports and haulers took off and landed, directed by the air traffic controllers in the central pillar.
They were in the foundation of what was once supposed to be a space elevator, such plans long since abandoned due to an ancient war against the Orks. It had been repurposed into a direction tower with alternating levels of windows and communication dishes. Inside, hundreds of controllers barked orders and directions at pilots, the buttons for the servitor-controlled AA guns located at the end of each one of the landing wings not far from their fingers.
At its base, a line of bored and impatient teamsters waiting before its main entrance gate, waiting to be filtered into one of two dozen separate security stalls. Armed guards were now patrolling the perimeter and inspecting each vehicle as it came in.
"Captain, there's a problem." Laong spoke up while looking through the windshield "Guards are checking every vehicle that goes in. They don't look like port wardens, armor is too ornate."
"Dammit." Rycarion cursed, "I just remembered, Jelme de Moinz just got married to Anywa al-Bahaid."
"And House Al-Bahaid controls most of the toll gates and transport hubs on Lorasyn." Laong filled in the rest of the information gained from overhearing gossip as a chauffeur for the nobility.
"I'm surprised they're calling on their marriage alliance so soon. Didn't I receive an invitation to their wedding Kordin?" Rycarion asked.
"And you soundly declined it, my lord," Kordin responded.
"I'm starting to wonder who exactly you guys kidnapped and got killed for them to do this so soon." Laong wondered.
"A name for another time." Rycarion brushed Laong off, "Are there any other ways in?"
"Nope. Looks like they're guarding pedestrian access as well." Laong leaned over the wheel, "If I had to guess, either all of the port wardens have been replaced, or at least notified of what to look for."
"And this tarp isn't what I'd call rated for stealth." Rycarion began to quickly put together a plan, "Okay, this is the only way star side we have. By the Throne... Okay, Somni, create a distraction so we can zip in, ditch the truck, and run for the shuttle."
"Will do. It will be a fun reference as well!" Somni looked over her shoulder and gave a thumbs up to the back of the tarp. Everyone just ignored her.
"The lander is on Landing Arm 21, Ward J, Section Theta." Vesa's speech turned more robotic than normal for a second, "We will have to find a gyro elevator to it."
"Not a problem, we just need in. Everyone get ready to move once it all goes down."
The Goliath rolled into the security inspection station 20. An automated announcer shouted, "Entry, approved! Next vehicle approach!" A man in fine, decorated carapace armor walked up as the barrier lowered, a golden lasgun strapped to his chest. He looked up with a bored expression and said, "Halt. ID and transport manifest."
"Yes, yes... umm one second..." Laong had gotten up and opened a side panel to let the guard's voice in as to not arouse suspicion. Unfortunately, his search of the cabin had yielded nothing. Even if he did find something, it wasn't anything he could use to bluff his way past.
"Sir, ID and manifest." The guard repeated, boredom turning to annoyance.
"I know, I know!" Laong started to panic, "Just give me a second."
The guard let out a long sigh, "Look for your ID, I am going to inspect the back manually. Do not move until the vox speaker allows you."
Whatever the guard was expecting, it certainly wasn't a group of armed individuals under the tarp. Nor was the flash of light from Somni's hand that sent him flying off the back of the Goliath. When he finally got up with a mouthful of groaning, the guard immediately demanded the vehicle be placed under arrest, but everyone around him just watched in confusion.
He repeated his orders but again, no one did anything and just stared, looking at him like he was talking another language.
"Jantine Battlechant." Somni giggled, "No one in the sector speaks it!"
Despite having his native tongue forcibly changed, the rest of the guards were wise enough to piece together the orders through the man's frantic waving and pointing. Vesa then stepped in, peering from under the tarp with her blue data-eyes. Suddenly all of the barriers to the port rose and the vox announcer crackled to life.
"Entry, approved! Entry, approved! Entry, approved!"
The vox had been put on a looping repeat. At first, no one knew what to do, and even the guards were confused. But it only took one impatient driver to barrel through for others to follow suit. Soon, trucks were flooding through the open stations, guards desperately trying to wave them down to dive out of their way.
"Floor it!" Rycarion ordered."
Laong sped up and away from the gate, disappearing into the mess of confused traffic and rushing trucks. Even the guard who now only spoke Jantine Battlechant was overwhelmed and forgot about them. A harrowing few minutes of trying not to play demolition derby later, the Goliath was parked safely in a forgotten corner with the group running far away from it towards the landing wings.
Their run to the gyro-elevator was more focused on speed than stealth. The commotion at the gate had directed all focus toward that instead of the landing wings. Once inside an elevator, the group took a second to catch their breath as a masked servitor silently carried its pallet of goods between them.
"Captain." Laong had a realization as someone slammed the button on the panel to take them to Landing Wing J, "How are we going to get launch clearance? Won't they know who we are?"
Rycarion smiled as the elevator moved sideways then up then to the side again, "In my dealings, I have often found it is best not to make yourself too well known. I know there are some Rogue Traders who enjoy a more theatrical show of their arrival. I am not one of them."
Laong gave a puzzled face, humility was certainly not one of the words he thought when thinking of Rogue Traders. Nor was being purposely drab, but one look at the transport that the group had used to arrive on Lorasyn proved otherwise.
When the doors opened, everyone casually strolled out onto the landing wing. Rycarion pointed to an Arvus Lighter in the distance, sitting on an elevated metal platform with steps leading up to it.
It was an unremarkable little thing, unmistakable in how common it was. Had Rycarion not pointed it, Laong wouldn't have been able to pick it out from the other dozen or so Lighters on neighboring platforms. Its light grey color was accentuated by faded blue paint on its stubby wings and outlined the cockpit. The only sense of adornment came from the word "DH-LV 501" stamped in big, bold, industrial lettering on its wing tip and side.
"That's it?" Laong was both shouting to confirm its location and questioning if such a bland vehicle belonged to a Rogue Trader. In his mind, he was expecting gold trim, exotic weaponry, or at least the seal of House Lumin on its side.
"Its duty outshines its regalia." Kordin arrived first and opened the entrance ramp, "Everyone, get in."
The pirate was the first one in, quickly running to the controls and starting the engines. Vesa was next who anchored herself next to the pilot and began another binaric prayer. The interior of the Arvus showed some richness at least. Soft pillows that cushioned the inbuilt seats, smooth metal walls with neatly organized cables, a rack of inert servo-skulls hung above them, and a line of humbly embossed panels under their seats.
"Well, good work everybody!" Rycarion sat back in a seat and buckled up before kicking an embossed panel with his heel, producing a hidden compartment with a bottle of wine, "Drinks?"
Laong's mouth dropped at the sight of it. From the distinctive, flowing shape of the bottle and the runes on the label, he immediately recognized the wine to be Eldar in origin and an exclusive vintage as well.
"Craftworld Olen'har. M38." Rycarion poured everyone a drink into small crystal chalices and explained directly to Laong, "Crystal chalices courtesy of Sayonia VI, they're known for their crystal mines and artificers."
A two thousand-year-old vintage, just stored in a dull-looking Arvus along with priceless crystal chalices. Laong had heard stories of nobles murdering each other for a drop of Eldar wine. And here he was being offered an entire glass of it!
"Pour me double, I fly better boozed!' The pirate pilot laughed.
"If we do that, the new lad is going to hurl and there's no sick bags in here!" The trenchcoat man snubbed out his lho stick against the floor and took a glass.
Rycarion looked at Laong with a smile and nodded his head while raising the chalice, "To your new life, corporal."
"To... to my new life." Laong excitedly held the chalice in both hands, ready to take a sip when the thruster engines roared to life.
