Whoever was still conscious inside the shuttle by now was running around with emergency stims injections, sewing kits, and activating medic servo-skulls on the way, as the back of the shuttle turned into an improvised battlefield infirmary.

The shuttle took off, and Elena glanced back at the windows, down to the world they had abandoned, now roaming with cultists and agents of Chaos. But there was nothing to be seen, as everything was encircled with darkness.

Cassia was the first one to gain back consciousness, thanks to Evayne's quick hand. The relief on the young man's face when Cassia rose to her feet was…something, she guessed. Heinrix's state was alarming, but Abelard had seen nearly everything in his navy days and the Seneschal injected the psyker with enough medic stims to either save his life or condemn him to a heart-attack in the nearest second. The crude tactic seemed to work and anyway, they just basically needed the Interrogator to be awake to proceed to his own tending. Argenta would need more attention, considering the important head trauma, but they managed to bring her back, even though the Sister had to vomit twice on the way.

The shuttle accosted the flagship in orbit. They were greeted by a welcoming committee of very worried medics and wardens, and, thankfully, their vox communication system was still up and running on the flagship.

Pushing the medics aside, even though her regal attitude was slightly ridiculed by her miserable limping, Elena pressed forward to the bridge of command. Upon her arrival, Vigdis sighed with relief, and bowed deeply to her.

" Thanks be to the Emperor, you are alive, Your Ladyship ! The vox link had been overrun by interference - vile hymns, screams, and other unholy interference. Several dozen operators went mad trying to monitor your voice through the vox caster. We are most gratified for your return, and the crew is full of zeal to carry out any of your orders. "

From the glass bays of the bridge, the pitch black darkness and the loss of the sun seemed even more unsettling.

" What's the situation down there ?" she asked, though she had a vague idea what Vigdis would respond. Her retinue, following her, stood to attention. Their various wounds caused quite an impression on the officers around.

" I fear that Rykad Minoris is lost. The situation is deteriorating by the minute - we must leave the system at once", replied Vigdis. " However…there are still people on this planet who have not succumbed to heresy and who are worthy of rescue. Besides the small number of our own shuttles, we also have the ones salvaged from the starport. "

Argenta's eyes flashed. " We must save as many as we can. This has all happened for a reason. Saint Argenta, whose name I carry with reverence and trepidation, is famed for saving the people of a dying world through the power of prayer. The God-Emperor himself sent a star from the heavens that lifted the saint and her followers up to the sky, away from corruption and death. We must do as she did - direct all our efforts to saving those people who at this moment look to the heavens in hope of salvation !"

" The lives of peasants are of little value", intervened Pasqal. " Our prime objective is to save the holy relic - the Miraculous Fusion Reactor - and the Electro-Priests who guard and tend to it." Argenta clenched her jaw in response.

Abelard furrowed his brows and made a commanding gesture towards the both of them. " Every moment we spend in proximity to a dying world, we are putting ourselves at risk." He turned to Elena : " Your life, Lord Captain, is far more valuable than all of Rykad Minoris. The von Valancius dynasty cannot be allowed to perish ! And so, lamentable though it is, we must rule out the idea of any evacuation."

As Elena's head started to spin from all these contradictory interventions, Heinrix's dark eyes found hers, as he stated matter-of-factly :

" The world is doomed - and its inhabitants along with it. The disappearance of the star was the final nudge towards death. I once witnessed a similar event - a world that had surrendered to the servants of the Archenemy and permitted corruption to enter too deep. At this moment, millions of people are bowing down before those who promised them salvation, and they are willingly giving over their souls to Chaos. A sacrifice great enough to bring forth a daemon world. Our only hope of stopping this process is to retreat to a safe distance from the planet and conduct targeted bombing of the Electro-Priests' monastery. If we blow up the reactor, the world's oxygen will evaporate…killing off the entire biosphere. In doing so we will save millions of souls from a fate far worse than death, and we will save Rykad Minoris from becoming an outpost of the Archenemy."

Elena tried to keep her composure, to think for herself in the midst of all these gazes lingering over her with so much expectation and insistence.

Doubt is a weakness.

Do not show any weakness.

Do not doubt yourself.

She felt something in her consciousness twist in a knot at the idea of saving people. The oceanic loss she had felt, looking over the crowd during her Triumph, the horror - she could not save them. They were another predator's prey, she felt it in her core. The planet was bound to a new master. And snatching its preys from the predator would irritate it deeply. She could feel, in the depths of her own mind, the distaste and anger of the predator. You cannot save any of them, it seemed to say. They're all mine. At this alien thought, her wound hurt again, and she had to tighten her grip around the railings of the bridge.

Evayne Winterscale kept silent, pale, though it would be his right to intervene in her decision ; but surely the young man didn't envy her place right now. She had no time to waste. Elena had never been entrusted with a decision this big before. How many people lived on this planet ? Millions ? One part of her dictated that she followed Heinrix's advice, right now. There was no time to lose. Another part of her rebelled, asking her to show mercy to those whose bravery and faith made worthy of salvation. Hadn't she been shown pity in her darkest moment ? How could she betray the ones who had called to her ? Elena called forward her precognition abilities, trying to decipher the consequences of her choices, and realized all of them led to death and pain. The choices were bleak.

Then she'd have to think like a Rogue Trader. Like Theodora did. What would an experienced Rogue Trader do in a case like this ? Surely the Imperial creed commanded to conduct an Exterminatus, if at all possible. But if you were able to think out of the box - wouldn't you take the opportunity to get a miraculous, incredibly powerful archeotech artifact for yourself ? And after all, didn't the Omnissiah bless them today, by saving their lives ? Surely that was a holy sign.

The thought made her feel even more dirty. She had to think about what tools would prove the most beneficial for her and her protectorate in the end. That was the new world she lived in. Still, her inner compassion protested. What kind of leader was she going to be ? The one able to make the hard choices ? The cunning and shrewd one, able to survive it all ? Or the benevolent one, able to carve her way to salvation in the bleakest times ?

God-Emperor, have mercy on my soul. I am failing you today. O Motive Force, give me the strength to see it through.

" Vox master, here is my command : use the ship shuttles to evacuate the Cenobium and secure the holy relic of the Omnissiah. Any other available shuttle and the ones salvaged from the starport may be used for planetary evacuation," she told Vigdis, maintaining her cold composure as best she could, though she felt her heart beating uncomfortably inside her chest from the stress and the anxiety.

Abelard refrained himself from showing any emotions, but Heinrix's eyes flashed with something new, as a shadow fell upon his sanguine mask. He stepped forward to address her, all traces of his usual politeness gone now, as he commanded imperiously :

" Lord Captain, do not let yourself be led astray. Every second passed is dooming millions as we speak. If you indulge in your vanity, you're sentencing the whole planet. By taking away the reactor on your ship, you deprive yourself of the only means capable of saving their souls. Surely saving a few people from death is not worth condemning millions to eternal torment ! "

Elena's hands tightened even more over the railing and she turned to face the Interrogator, glaring directly into his eyes with barely refrained anger, as his commanding tone sent her blood boiling.

" Heinrix, do not forget yourself. I will not be second-guessed on my own ship by a guest. Know your place, or else I forgot about delivering you to Footfall entirely !"

The utter distaste with which he looked at her now was utterly offending. Something passed in between them then, as the tension rose. They glared at each other, and there was no gentleness in either of them as they tested each other's limits at asserting power. Through gritted teeth, the Interrogator finally relented :

" Have it your way, Rogue Trader.. And mind that the Electro-Priest you save are not corrupted. This one is on you, Elena", he said, low enough only for her to hear, and he stepped back, pale and stiff.

Infuriating.

Argenta cleared her throat, breaking the tension between the two of them, and stepped towards Elena.

The Sister of Battle tilted her head respectfully and had a most discreet gesture of her hand towards her arm. " Thank you, Lord Captain. I'll be on my way to lead the evacuation." Straightening and despite her wounds, the Sister left the bridge towards the shuttles.

" I'll help with that", said Evayne Winterscale, trailing behind the Sister.

Abelard had retreated towards the other officers and had swallowed any traces of disapproval back, to help with the supervision of the evacuation as best he could. At least their quarrel in the lower deck had bore its fruit. He was appraising Heinrix's behavior from the corner of his eyes, looking tense.

" Lady Cassia," said Elena, turning to the Navigator, putting her squall aside. " I believe now is time."

Cassia bowed. " Indeed. Do not worry, Lord Captain. The Navigators of House Orsellio have never lost their course. I shall bring you to safety."

Cassia left the bridge to the Sanctum Navitis.

That left Pasqal, who softly stepped to her.

" Lord Captain, I, for one, thank you for bestowing your protection upon the sacred relic of the Omnissiah. It will not be forgotten. ." He bowed as well. " I am afraid I have to ask you for your help in another matter. During the time I was aboard your ship as your Chief Enginseer, I studied the extent of the sabotage wrecked by the heretics that killed your esteemed predecessor. The ship's spirit grieves the tampering that the warp-sextant has suffered, and will not allow it to function. If we are to make warp travel and leave the system, we ought to rectify this error."

" Great, perfect. How does that concern me ?"

" I have concluded that your participation is necessary to do so."

" Fine. Lead the way then."

As Pasqal led her to the main cogitator over the bridge, she couldn't help but glance at Heinrix, whose face had returned to its original mask. He pointedly ignored her, which unnerved her even more.

Focus on the cogitator , she thought. Actually, Pasqal leading her away from the bridge may be a blessing in disguise. She could tell the stress from the battle and the decision she had to make was beginning to wear her down. At least the Magos didn't seem to care enough about her appearance to make any comment on her trembling hands, that she hid by crossing her arms as imperiously as she could.

The main cogitator was encircled by a dozen of Tech-Priests, burning incense and chanting soothing, binharic arias to the machine spirit. They bowed and stepped back respectfully as Pasqal and her advanced to the cogitator.

" This machine was created for your predecessor and uses the biological signatures of dynastic blood in its computations. The spirit should recognize the ship's mistress and submit to her will. Should", he explained.

Another Sentinel situation , she thought.

" I understand", she replied.

" Servants of the Machine God", commanded Pasqal to the others Tech-Priests assisting in the ceremony, " heed my command. Recite the prayer to generate a current data report. Operations will be marked with the campanological protocol : "Omnissiah rejoice !""

The machine was hauntingly beautiful, as blinking lights flashed on its hundred vids and lumens. Elena had no idea what any of this meant, but she noted the presence of the head of a cyber-gargoyle, with fangs. The same one as she'd seen in the Warrant Chamber. Without hesitation, she pressed her hand into its jaws, to Pasqal's surprise.

" You could have waited for my instruction, Lord Captain. Such a brusque touch is vulgar " said the Magos reproachfully. He stepped closed, his mechadendrite soothingly dancing around him. " The laws of the Ominissiah know no exceptions, and so in this ritual I will stay by your side to placate the wrathful machine spirit in whose abode you will be intruding. Follow my liturgies, Lord Captain, and may we receive his Blessing."

Elena nodded, glad that Pasqal would tell her what to do for a change, because she had not even the faintest idea of what she was supposed to do with this cogitator.

As Pasqal guided her by reciting the liturgies, she repeated them in the most faithful way possible, the fangs of the cyber gargoyle all along pressing into the flesh of her hand. Behind her, the acolytes of the Omnissiah proceed to offer the machine cleansed data slates and exaltation prayers.

Elena felt her head spinning once more. The battle was taking its toll on her. But she would not slouch, nor show any traces of weaknesses. Stubbornly, she focused on maintaining her composure, not showing Pasqal anything about her exhaustion. The gargoyle was taking more than its share of blood this once too. That ship will bleed me dry.

" Let this mechanism awaken in renewed purity", said Pasqal solemnly, as he entered a sequence of commands. He watched at the vid-screens, and something troubled him as his mechadendrites retreated. " No…" was all he said, as he surged into action and, not paying attention to her, started entering command after command deftly. Elena had no idea what was going on, but she chose to remain silent and let the Magos do his work. She wasn't going to be able to help him anyway.

One after the other, the data slates gifted to the machine by the acolytes started to emit sparks and caught fire. " The offering did not appease the machine spirit", said Pasqal at least, mournfully. " The warp engine cannot be filled with Motive Force. We are trapped."

Elena's heart filled with incomprehension. Trapped ? After all they had done ? Were they going to die like this, in the wake of a daemon world, lost in the darkness ?

Not on my watch, she thought grimly, and glared at the machinery. Elena often glared at her problems. She found it cathartic.

Pasqal kept muttering new ideas or scenarios to try to appease the cogitator, but she let his voice fall to the background of her attention as she focused her diviner abilities on to the cogitator. Under her eyes, the machinery fell upon itself, deconstructing into a kaleidoscope of possibilities. Something new started flickering on a vid-screen, lines of dialog…She couldn't make out most of it, but she recognized the words "injury, rescue, query" upon it. Exactly like the Sentinel did to her the first time !

" Rescue ? Yes, machine spirit, rescue us !"

Pasqal reacted to her phrasing dryly : " Your Ladyship, addressing a machine spirit in such a brusque manner is categorically unacceptable, even in critical circumstances and -" he stopped, as the various vid-screens began to stabilize, one after another. Data status reports now updated themselves upon the vids.

The Magos's voice crackled in shock as he reported, thorough and clinical : " Registering : warp-sextant activated. Registering : data steam stabilized. Registering : zero data errors found. Reporting : the warp engine is ready for translation. I am also reporting evidence indicating a category-three miracle fulfilling the criterion " Thou shall witness the mechanism that toils in glorification of its function and in defiance of desactivation."

The gargoyle's grip over her hand released, and Elena got it out swiftly. She didn't understand what had just happened or what Pasqal was saying, but there was no mistaking the gleam of awe in the acolyte's eyes.

Her vox crackled. " Lord Captain - Ravor here. I don't know what you did - but the warp's engine is up and raring to go. As soon as the shuttles come back, we'll be ready for warp translation. Should not be long now."

" Perfect. Begin the preparation for warp translation.."

" Understood."

Elena pressed her mutilated hand to her chest. Now that their survival was not threatened anymore, she felt the weight of the day crushing into her shoulders. She turned to the Magos standing at her side, who was still hovering over the cogitator. He seemed completely enthralled by his report.

" Thank you, Pasqal."

" Praise be to the Omnissiah, Lord Captain. The Omnissiah has indeed blessed us today. "

Elena left the Magos to his work and went back to the bridge, which was now entering a new state of purposeful agitation under Abelard's orders. Heinrix was leaning on the side. As she approached the main officers, Vidgis turned to her :

" Lady Orsellio is ready", she said.

" Shuttles are back. The relic's safe, and we have new refugees on board. The Sister of Battle is chaperoning them into deck 6", confirmed Ravor. For the first time since Theodora's death, she thought she heard a hint of appreciation in the Helmsman's voice.

" On your command, Your Ladyship", completed Abelard. The Seneschal, for all his wounds, kept a stoic posture and he looked up at her with resolve.

Elena purposefully walked towards Theodora's throne, and took her place at the top of the bridge, stubbornly ignoring her own wounds.

" Begin warp translation."

The shutters on the glass bays slowly closed in, enclosing the ship in Gellar fields and darkness as the ship entered the Immaterium.

" Your Ladyship, how is your ankle now ? Can you walk ? ", asked the Chief Medic.

After warp translation, Doctor Jane Valess had basically ambushed Elena into going to the medbay. The Chief Medic was a small woman, with pale skin and high cheekbones. Her cybernetic eyes studied the Rogue Trader skeptically as Elena took a stroll around the room.

" Perfect", replied Elena. Her personal infirmary was a cozy bay with high-end technology and comfort. Apparently, Theodora had a profound distaste for medics and would only come here if she was actually dying. Elena didn't share the feeling. She liked to be able to trust her body and abilities.

" We are so exalted for that." The Chief Medic smiled. Jane Valess was a pleasant woman, always smiling. " I have done everything I can, Your Ladyship. You're as good as new."

Elena nodded, satisfied. She did indeed feel much better. Now was time to get some rest.

She made her way back to her chamber. The ship looked like a prison now that all viewpoints were shuttered. When traveling through the warp, there was also a sense of unease, of not belonging. Like swimming in the dark depths of the ocean, unable to let go of the pressure, unable to stop wondering if anything would come out of the dark for you. This feeling would only worsen as days passed, putting everyone on edge. Fortunately, this wasn't a first for anybody.

She wanted to find the sweet oblivion of sleep, but she knew that even that would not be allowed to her. Eidetic memory would proceed to fill her mind with memories of the day, of the crowd and the people she had condemned to a fate worse than death. Regrets and guilt weighed her heart down. What have I done ? she wondered, the burden of her responsibilities not lost on her.

She'd saved a few hundred souls, now cowering on her ship, under the careful and compassionate gaze of a Sister. And she'd managed to protect a holy relic, to Pasqal's delight, even though deep down she knew full well that she did it out of perfect selfishness. She just wanted the Holy Reactor to be on one of her worlds. It was too potentially useful a resource to waste, for a Rogue Trader. Heinrix's words came back to haunt her, all the more infuriating because his accusation of vanity was indeed true. She wondered just how much of her thought process he had guessed at.

Something caught her attention on her office table. A book, wrapped in a beautiful, purple fabric threaded with gold.

The last she had expected from this horrid day was a gift.

" Cassia", she said to herself, and somehow this brought her a quiet, sad smile. She unwrapped the present to find a precious-looking booking, entitled The History of the Rise of House von Valanciu s. As she manipulated the book, a soft note fell down from it and onto her desk. She picked it up.

Lord Captain,

Following our conversation in the library, I have finally chosen a book whose narratives could prove interesting to you. I thank the God-Emperor for allowing our paths to cross. Your dynasty is millenia old and numerous Rogue Traders have made a name for themselves, as did the illustrious Lady Theodora, your predecessor. Do you know she was rumored to be quite the eccentric and wayward Rogue Trader when she was younger ? But it is said that, in the last years, she tired of the trade empire she had built in the Koronus Expanse and, before her demise, was often found wandering the darkest past of the Expanse. I wonder what she found there.

I have no doubt that, in time, your name will shine as bright as hers in the history of your ancestors.

Cassia Orsellio

Elena put back the note preciously, moved by the attention Cassia had paid to her. She flipped the heavy book as names flew by, page by page : Lord Yvan Marrick von Valancius, Lord Isberth Malos von Valancius, Lady Asharay von Valancius,...the names kept coming, thousand of them, notes and biography, planets conquered, system explored, circumstances of death, all the fates and demises of her ancestors written down in a few paragraphs. Lady Theodora von Valancius. She had one whole page dedicated to her life, which was more than most. Elena turned the page, and saw that Cassia had added another page. In her delicate handwriting, she had written down her name : "Lady Elena Martyr von Valancius."

She couldn't disturb her Navigator during warp travel, but she made a note to thank her for her attention when they reached Footfall. She felt a bit less lonely now, as she laid on her bed, returning to the beginning of the book, to the very first chapter. " Founder of House von Valancius."

She didn't think anything could soothe her mind from the horror of the day, but this present did.