Aboard the Regenerator, the crew members worked without their captain. The current commander ship was Lieutenant Arrius Unova, who stood on the command platform of the bridge, leaning the rails. Her red firery hair tied into a militaristic bun, her uniform a blue and silver overcoat that draped down her left leg.
Below, the crew members tapped away on consoles and screens. Arrius rubbed her eyes, staring out the window. Communication has been down for over 12 hours. They haven't been able to contact Lord Captain Corpman nor Inquisitor Roth. The lieutenant knew that if some was wrong, it was her job on the line.
The door opened behind her, her neck turned toward it, hoping for good news. At the door way was Officer Maxis Theron, Corpmen's messenger, and now her advisor. Theron stopped in front of Salazar's 2nd in commander, and saluted her.
"Did you manage to get communications back up?" Arrius askee, her voice tired. She turned back toward the bridge, looking out the cathedral-like windows into the void beyond.
Theron shook his head sadly. "No, ma'am, the Tech-Priest we aboard says there is nothing wrong with the Vox Caster." Arrius gave an irrated sigh, her hand gripping tightly on the golden rails. Theron noted this, choosing not to finish his thought.
Arrius muttered something under her breath, inaudible by all those in the room. "Let's do a sweep of the planet's orbit and see if we can't discover the source of the interference," she finally stated firmly. The crew in the room nodded as the ship shifted a bit, where the planet and one of its three moons were in the view on the bridge.
The yellowish hue of Terranoth was beautiful alongside the orange glow of the moon. Maxis Theron step forward beside Arrius, staring out the window with her. "Its nice not having that inquisitor on board for once, he unnerved me."
"I would say heresy if I didn't agree with you, plus we haven't had a proper job since he decided to babysit us," Arrius grumbled a bit, resting her forearm in the rails.
"Plus, who smiles that much, I mean it's uncanny," Theron admitted before the two gave a small laugh. "I can't wait for everything to be back to normal, just you, the Lord Captain, and my promotion."
Arrius gave Theron a deadpan look before letting out a small laugh. "It's not a part of my job, Theron," she stated with a small smile. "But when we regain contact with Salazar, I will discuss it with him."
Below was a crew member looking at a screen. Their eyebrow raised as they were confused. There was an unknown vessel being picked up on scans. He hesitated for a few seconds, before coming to the conclusions that there is another ship in atmosphere. The crew member turned his head toward the lieutenant.
"Lieutenant, we are picking up an unknown vessel on scanners, and they are closing in fast." The crew member reported to the lieutenant. Arrius raised an eyebrow, her focus moving from Theron to the bridge in general.
Before Arrius could speak, passing behind the curvature of the planet, the massive frame of the Labyrinth marched toward them. Its guns are aimed directly at the bridge.
Arrius eyes widened as did Theron's. "Raise the void shields!" she shouted, the crew member frantic flipped switched and pressed buttons, as the Labyrinth opened fire.
BANG!
The cannons sounded, indicated to Arrius to run. Arrius pulled Theron with her, quickly making her way to the door. The void shield began to wrap around the ship, but the shot made it through. Windows shattered as the firery ball erupted. The metal began to metal as the explosion pushed Arrius and Theron forcefully out just as the door closed.
Arrius landed harshly her head banged against the metal floor, amd everything went black.
Back on Terranorth, Malikoth stood on a balcony, watching the night sky and other spires poking from the ground like mountains in the distance. He always had a hard time sleeping. He always needed to focus on something besides his own personal thoughts.
The night sky of most planets gave him time to properly focus on something, unlike the quiet of his room. He focused on the case, as many things did not make much since to him just yet.
The ritual for one already seemed more or less completed when the first PDF troops raided the building, yet ther was nothing. It was a fearful sight, but it felt more like test. They knew the PDF was coming somehow, judging from barricades and the autogun in the catwalk.
They could've finish it, unless it was a warning, but warning for what and why. Malikoth pondered on these thoughts for a moment, until he noticed the blue uniform of Salazar walking toward him.
Salazar held the container holding the ritual knife, and offered it to Malikoth. "I believe I translated most of the inscription on the knife" he stated with a slightly tired sigh.
"Fantastic, might give me some answers," Malikoth chirped turning to Salazar and grabbing the container from his hands. "What did say?" he asked his voice filled with sudden excitement.
"Nothing useful, a mentions of heresy such as a Renegade God, while renouncing Darks Gods," Salazar explained to Malikoth, looking up at the night sky, avoiding eye contact. "I'd say it gave more questions than it answered."
"No, it gave a possible culprit, these worshipers are follows of this false god," Malikoth stated with smile observing the knife carefully. Malikoth noted Salazar's body language, he was hiding something. "Did do anything else, captain?"
Salazar sighed not wanting be put in a deeper hole than he was when he first meant the inquisitor all those years ago. "Yes, it gave me vision, one of glory and fire, tempting do something I do not know."
Malikoth put the container in a pouch, located near the back of his belt, before putting his hand behind his back. "I must thank you for telling me that, it proves to some extent you are not a traitor nor heretic to the Imperium, I might actually leave sooner than planned upon, and actually do something exciting."
"And I might be allowed to do my job," Salazar stated bluntly causing the inquisitor to let out a small laugh at the comment. Both unaware of the carnage above.
Above the Labyrinth continued its bombardment of the Regenerator. The bridge of the Lord Captain's ship in flame, while the void shield now protected the rest it. The guns roared and boomed through eternal silence of space.
Arrius groaned as her eyes opened. A piercing ring entered ears. She saw fire everywhere, the ceiling collapsed slightly. She slowly attempted to get up stumbling in the process. Her vision blurred, nothing recognizable.
She could make out the faint silhouette of a body next to her. The ringing faded slowly, replaced by the defening roar of flames and sparks. "Theron," she muttered weakly, the response she got was a pained groan from the body, as it shuffled.
Her vision became clear, and the body was in fact Maxis Theron. "I'm awake," he muttered stumbling to his feet as Arrius did. Theron looked around seeming in shock. He was in intense pain, letting out a small yelp before falling over.
Arrius ran over toward the officer, concerned. She grab a hold of Theron, wrapping his arm around her neck. "What happened," his grunted gritting his teeth in pain.
"A vessel opened fired on us and it the bridge before the void shields were activated," Arrius explained helping Theron past the blazing inferno and rubble. "But I'm not sure how long they can last."
Arrius and Theron soon began to make there way away from the destroyed bridge. They saw everyone is in absolute chaos, crew members were putting out fire. The guardmen and Ogryn aboard were arming themselves in case of boarding. Some laid dead or wounded on the ground being looked after by a medic.
"We to get everyone out here, we are sitting ducks," Arrius muttered under her breath, Theron nodding, leaning against the lieutenant in order to walk properly.
One of the guardsmen, a sergeant, noticed Arrius enter the halls. "Lieutenant on deck!" he shouted, marching to the weak Arrius and Theron. Everyone stopped and stood at attention for the lieutenant.
"Sargent, status report," Arrius ordered, trying her beast to stand tall and firm. The faint sound of explosions heard, slamming against the ship.
"Most of the crew status is unknown, most are assumed alive. What's going on at the bridge?" the sergeant asked the lieutenant, who looked down in sadness.
"It was destroyed. How long can the void shields hold," she asked her voice shaking a bit. Before the sergeant could answer the ship shook violently, answering her question for her. A sound was heard far down the hall, the clanking of armored marching. Everyone turned their heads toward it, terror slowly entering their eyes.
Chapter Master Kathal now stood in the firery halls of the Regenerator. His crowned helmet sat upon his head. Around him the demonic Space Marines stood, holding their bolters, swords, and axes im head.
"Kill them all," Kathal shouted, and the Marines dispersed.