Hive Worlds, planets built out of continent scanning cities filled with billions of people. Terranorth was one of these worlds, located in the Segtoria Sector of the Imperium. Above the planet, purple clouds of energy and gas circles around. Like maw opening to devour aportal opened in the space above.
A large cruiser, almost like a cathedral in the stars, flew through it the Warp portal. Aboard the cruiser, Malikoth was reading a book, sitting at his desk. His legs crossed as he licked his finger before flipping the page. He felt the ship shake slightly as it exited the Warp, yet his smile didn't leave.
"I guess we arrived," Malikoth chirped, closing the book down on the table. He grabbed his hat, which was where he usually set it and stood up. Pushing in the chair and stepping out of his office. He placed his hat atop his head, and shadow briefly covered his eyes.
He gaze traveled about the hallway, as people marched like ants. He noted a Sentinel walking clumsily down the hall, holding a crate of some kind. The Inquisitor then began his treck down the halls of this glorious cruiser.
As Malikoth walked past crew members, there was one running towards him from behind. It was Theron, the same person Salazar sent the other day. They were panting heavily as they ran toward the Inquisitor."Inquisitor!" they huffed, causing Malikoth to stop and turn toward the crew member. They gave a tired salute to the Inquisitor, which he found quite amusing.
There was then another moment silence just like last time, causing Malikoth to speak first. "If you are going to call for, please speak as soon as you have my attention. I really do hate the dead air silence brings." The Inquisitor's tone serious as his gaze focused to Theron.
Theron hesitated again, still catching their breath. "Sorry, Inquisitor. Lord Captain Corpman, as he readied the vessel for you in the hanger, he is awaiting your presence."
Malikoth gave a slight sigh. He originally intended to catch Salazar in the bridge to be the one to give the order. He was quite embarrassed to be honest, though he did like the excitement that Salazar brought him, the one saving grace about babysitting a Rouge Trader.
"One step ahead as always," Malikoth mumbled to himself in a slight chuckled. "Now, how about you be one your way and get you a drink, I will be with the captain shortly."
Theron looked at the Inquisitor rather confused. "The Lord Captain wanted me to escort you to-"
Malikoth laughed, his smile wide as he ushered Theron along. "Yes, but I do technically out rank him, and I also know my way around the ship. A little suspense can't hurt him, so go and enjoy your newly acquired free time." The Inquisitor moved ahead of the crew member, chin high.
The journey to the hanger bay was a bit longer than expected, due to the need to periodically make detours to avoid high traffic areas of the ship or maintenance areas. Servitor skulls flew by Malikoth like bugs, while a what seems to be Guardsmen roam the ship alongside the crew.
Malikoth entered a large door as finally reached the hanger. He looked around to see a large variety of ships, from transports to fighters. A large hulking brute, known as an Ogryn, held a crate in hand, being guided by two crew members. Ogryn clumsily misheard one of their orders and knocked one in the face by accident.
The Inquisitor looked around, searching for Salazar, as the crew member called for an medic. Malikoth's eyes fell upon the Naponleonic captain. Salazar was speaking with a pilot, which Malikoth assumed to be for the ship.
The pilot left Salazar as Malikoth made his way toward the Lord Captain. Salazar visibly sighed irritation, looking at the Inquisitor. "Greetings, Captain Corpman, it is pleasant to see you one this fine day," Malikoth greeted, his arms behind his back.
"It's Lord Captain, Inquisitor, I will not tolerate be talk down to if I'm going with you," Salazar responded with edge to his voice. Malikoth merely laughed at the response.
"I'm not talking down to you, captain. If I was I wouldn't be smiling," Malikoth stated walking a bit past Salazar, his attention turning to the ship, an Arvus Light. "I also don't believe in giving a rank to those who don't deserve it captain. You are only a Rouge Trader after all, and not technically apart of the Navy."
Salazar rolled his eyes at the statement. "Only," he muttered with slight venom in his tone. He coughed, clearing his throat to catch the Inquisitor's proper attention.
"Anyhow, Inquisitor, shouldn't we take our leave, the Governor should be expecting us," Salazar stated, gesturing towards the entrance of the Arvus Light, a bit annoyed with the rather chipper mood of the Inquisior. To be honest, Salazar felt the way Malikoth presented himself rather unnerving, he wasn't stuck up like some Administratum, at least not in the same way, nor as serious as most Inquisitors he had met.
"No need to be impatient, but you are probably right, captain," Malikoth stated stepping into the ship, followed by the Rouge Trader.
As the doors closed, the ship began to activate. Thrusters turn on as they start to hover above the surface of the hanger. The ship remained stationary like it was revving and engine before taking off out of the hanger.
Upon the tallest spire of Terranorth, a plateform, grand, and wonderous stood, framed by the fanciest of this Hive City. The Planetary Defense Force, cladded in dull red uniforms, all holding their Lasguns as attention. Standing at the far end toward was a man in purple clothing with a nice silver trim wrapped arounf his moderately plump body. His face was rather snobby looking, with a neatly trimmed and maintain mustach, though his eye and ear were replaced by bionics. This man was the governor of the world, Samworth Tynth.
A ship was seen in the sky, flying down toward them. The PDF upon seeing it straight to form even tighter. Samworth gave a smile upon seeing the ship, assuming it held the Inquisitor.
"Just like you practice men," he shouted, his voice boisterous and gleeful, much more than it should be.
When the ship landed the PDF saluted. The doors opened to reveal Malikoth and Salazar, with the Inquisitor leading. His usual smile fell upon the sight in front of him. Salazar on the other hand didn't mind it to much, it was honestly better than what he was used to.
"Governor, governor, governor," Malikoth repeated with each step, walking toward the nobleman, every repeat sound slightly more hostile. "I was truly hoping to surprise you, but it seems you know us to well," he stated in an extremely patronizing tone, though there only a growling scowl on his face.
"Thank you Inquisitor, we are so thankful you came," Samworth greeted ignoring both Salazar and the patronizing tone of Malikoth. "Please walk with us, Inquisitor, it would be nice to show you around."
"I would prefer more people don't know I'm here, governor, it would ruin our secret operation. Just give us simple run down of what is going on, and then tell us where you found the symbols," Malikoth stated, his blues eyes glaring down at the governor.
Salazar never really seen Malikoth act like this. His tone was serious yet patronizing, his face only a frown. Samworth nodded like a pround child, though sweat dropped from his brow.
"Of course," Samworh responded speedily, snapping his fingers for the PDF to leave, but one in particular. They had a cape that draped down along their back, and their face under a militaristic mask. "I will have my brother, Nathaniel, give you the rundown."
Samworth quickly left the landing platform, and Malikoth's smile returned as he gave a slight chuckle. The one they assumed to be Nathaniel was staring at Salazar, who kept his usual stoic face.
"He may be a fool, but that governor would make a fantastic actor," Malikoth noted before his attention fell upon Nathaniel. Malikoth led toward the PDF soldier curiously. "You must be Nathaniel,"
"Yes, I am Commander Nathaniel Tynth, leader of of the PDF of this planet," Commander Tynth greeted, putting his hand out for a handshake for the Inquisitor, who gladly accepted it.
Malikoth smiled, "I am Inquisitor Roth, commander, pleasure to meet you." His hands returning behind his back, not before gesturing to Salazar. Who kindly shook the commander's hand. "This is Captain Salazar Corpman."
"Lord Captain of the Regenerator," Salazar corrected. Salazar stoic looked briefly shifted to a kinder form, before reverting. He somewhat in shock from the Inquisitor's change in mood.
"Now, Commander Tynth can you give some background on what is going on?" the Inquisitor asked his hypnotic smile focused on Nathaniel, his gaze studying the soldier.
"We have been dealing with these rebel scum for a few years now, only having a few skirmishes," he began matter-of-factly. "Nothing to far out of the normalcy, then few days ago some of my men discovered symbols in an abandoned rebel hideout, so we decided to contact the you for aid, assuming heresy is in the works."
Malikoth stared at the commander for a moment, noting key details about the way the man spoke. "Could you show us these... symbols then."
"Yes I can, right this way," The Commander stated ushering the two down the catwalk-like pathways, making their decent into the city.
A/N: This was probably my favorite chapter to write so far. If you have any notes or questions, either character wise or lore wise, please tell me.