Chapter 12: Auger Array

"The Mjölnir's Tempest previous Adept tech-priest was discovered strung up and taken apart in a ventilation unit. Undesirable; request sent to train new enginseer to become an Adept. 12th squad reported hostile wildlife within the mountainous region. Inefficient; request sent to transport excavation team with lasguns, additional supplies, and protective gear. Additional report recording unknown entity within the region, designated non-hostile, for now. Curious; request demanded for 12th squad to investigate further." –TE-61's voxlog report

Faust leaned down on the regal holo-table displaying the planetary Auger Array, the sky blue globe of the world rotating at a leisurely pace. It felt wrong to call it anything close to its actual name, Terra. An actual conference had taken place between his most trusted subordinates to decide on a true name, with much heated arguing over such blasphemy. It was a waste of time, since these "Terrans" didn't exactly know about the homeworld of humanity, merely being a coincidental incident. Unholy Terra sounded too daemonic and ineffective to the actual planet. Still, Terra wouldn't work either, for obvious reasons.

Which is exactly why Faust renamed it to Tellus, taking it from his long list of names on his data-slate archives. It wouldn't take Holy Terra's namesake, while still sticking originality to the name; thus, Tellus was the planet they were stuck on.

There were a few other continents separated equally across the planet, but the current landmass they were on was where all parts of his voidship had crash-landed on, so there was no need to explore the others. For now, at least. The stranger part was that Katya didn't seem to have any knowledge or recollection of them, with her simple explanation being that no one had traveled to them.

Surely, they couldn't be that uncivilized without a reason, could they?

The current supercontinent had a very… normal shape. What else could Faust call it? It wasn't strange—other than what was on the pole, but that was for later discussion—it was simply an enormous mass of land that slowly narrowed the further south it went. On both sides, that is. Parts of the land had tiny blurred splotches, with likely interference from Originium causing those empty spaces to appear. But there were enough borders to distinguish what they were working with.

Katya was currently staring slack-jawed after finding out there was much more past the north—and the world, for that matter—leading to the other side of the massive continent, which continued stretching on, similarly ending in a slice of land. Well, that and she'd never seen a global map before that displayed the entire planet. For a civilization that supposedly had massive cities that moved as technological marvels, they were quite unadvanced in their explorations. Or so her stories went, the rumor already spreading amongst the bands of admech across his ship. That would be a problem…

"Our forces have been scattered in a few areas," a diagonal line running across the land, sprouting off into multiple other minor branches. The entrance point where the Clad in Ire had barreled through was near the southeastern portion of the area, finally striking northeast, and barely avoiding the frigid ice zones. Each minor branch gathered around a significant spot, usually to detail where a major asset had been lost. Be it men, ship scrap, or artifacts, they were places worth recovering.

Colonel Reginald was on the side, his flak-jacket hanging off of his shoulders rather than being properly worn. "And this…" Colonel tapped on the dataslate, zooming in closer to the black, blurry area in the far pole, wide as a hive city. "...Has been on my mind for quite a while. I've got no clue on what's going on there, but it isn't good."

Faust glanced at the Ursus in the room, right beside Stazia and Goethia, "Do you have any inkling, Katya?"

"...Huh? What, sorry I wasn't listening…" Katya said, snapping out of her stupor.

"She has ears and yet she doesn't use them," Rulk mused, hands behind his back. "Curious."

"Oh shush, bucket-head," Katya grumbled, pouting.

"The colonel was asking about the blurred readings in the far north." Delta repeated for Faust, mechadendrites interfacing with the. "It is unlikely to be Originium interference, as that would be improbably large, and data recoveries have suggested otherwise. My current hypothesis states a dangerous area to avoid without further research."

Katya deeply studied the massive area, devoid of any splotch of holographic land, before looking downward with furrowed brows. After a minute, she spoke, "...If, and this is a big if, your map can't see it, then it's probably the Crater… maybe. It's past the Infy Icefields, that much I know of."

Faust looked towards the giant polar region of the map, a section of the frosty terrain on the actual horizon if they looked northward from the viewing deck. Some parts of the globe were sectioned off with various names and given corresponding colors for a faction.

Katya was crucial in that endeavor, establishing these new locations that belonged to the countries near them. The closest in proximity to the Clad in Ire was Sami first, Columbia being far south of their current position next to another, Bolivar. To the east lay the "vast" empire that was Ursus, with another nearby, Kazimierz. Dead center of the continent was Victoria, and directly northeast of the Victorians lived the Leithaniens.

That was all she could give, as she only remembered the general areas of some places but not the areas of all of them, just the names. It was plenty enough valuable information to have at their disposal. Faust didn't like their proximity with Sami, as it would be an unpredictable factor in their interactions. However, based on Katya's own testimony, it appeared that they already had a tumultuous relationship with Ursus—something that could be useful in the future.

Colonel Reginald scoffed, warily making his own mental notes on the abhuman, "I'd appreciate more clarification, rather than such basic information. Why is it like that?"

Katya shrugged, "No one really knows; its legends and hearsay in Ursus. It's also too dangerous to reach on foot, and I don't think any nation with half a brain left would explore that death zone. Even the Wendigos, or I guess whatever's left of them, never ventured past Infy. Ursus tried sending an expedition there once. They didn't come back the same…"

"And the danger?" Rulk inquired.

"Collapsals," Katya replied plainly, staring blankly at the Crater zone. "Daemons; actual ones, not the Sarkaz. My father spoke of other units encountering them to defend the country. Few people actually know about them if they're not a historian, as many of the Ursus Soldiers tasked with defense of the north… don't exactly like talking about their experiences, but my father had a few ties to furthering his own understanding. I can't say I enjoyed those bedtime stories…" Katya looked around when not a word in response was made, the sudden tension so thick Faust could cut his sword through it. "...Did I say something wrong?"

Faust clenched the hilt of his sword absentmindedly, gaze boring into Katya to make sure he could see her expression clearly. "Katya… I want you to repeat those words with undeniable certainty. Are you absolutely sure they lie in the north?"

Katya glanced around, all eyes on her with varying reactions. Some worry, other's silent hostility, as if the very mention of the word was not to be said. "Y-Yes, I'm pretty sure. W-What's with all the looks? Have you guys… faced them before?"

Faust sighed heavily, hand gripping his hair in frustration.

Delta's mechadendrites wiggled erratically as she was plugged in, the entire zone in the far north turning violently red in seconds. Colonel Reginald seemed to look distantly at the holo-table, while Goethia was calming down an already panicked Stazia. Even Brogg seemed highly uncomfortable, as he shifted around nervously, fiddling with his mask.

"What the hell are you guys freaking out about?" Katya spoke, looking around for someone to answer her about what the big deal was.

"Because they know this planet has enemies that seek the extinction of everything, to the point the more radical members of the Imperium would sign the death warrant for an Exterminatus, the destruction of a planet…" Rulk looked distantly before continuing, "How far does the corruption spread?"

The hopelessness surrounding the air caused the Ursus to shrink, "N-Not far, they're just in the Icefields now but… destroying a world over that?" Katya said meekly, her last sentence barely a whisper.

Faust recovered from his despair, his face contorting into a harshness like no other while his knuckles remained bone-white. "Many worlds have been scourged by worshippers of the Dark Gods, twisted beyond belief." He said quietly, each member around the holo-table instinctively recuperating in their own manner.

Rulk lowered his head, hands behind his back, "Their… gifts are anything but. Too many times have we faced such monsters. Too many times, have we fought their servants, even to cleanse those rats scuttling aboard our holy ship. Our Archenemy."

Brogg saluted in solemn silence, "Had'ta kill some good people cause ah 'em. Dey didn't look tha' same; didn't act like it neither. I didn't like tha' look 'ey had in der eyes…"

"I lost my world to those fragging…" Goethia trailed off, clenching his cane to make sure he didn't fall. He didn't continue, letting his solemnity speak for itself.

Colonel Reginald took off his helmet, tracing a finger over the goggles. He sniffed, "They're a threat we've always faced. One we can never truly defeat. They always come back, and each time, we push them back from where they came."

"Casualties have always been reported as high when dealing with such scum," Delta said, her voice devoid of her usual emotion other than resentment. "They disrupt the flow of progress for humanity, corrupt the machine, and are more than a simple nuisance to be rid of."

Faust sighed, straightening out his dress coat, "And it is for that very reason that now… good men must die to defend their lives. My life. Our lives. It does not matter whether you are of pure heart or great strength, many fall in the face of evil from the powers they bestow. None retain their sanity when they give in. How many times has your empire cleansed foul worshippers?"

"...None?" Katya answered plainly, rescuing herself from the despair around. "I… I've never even heard of anyone ever worshiping them, just defending against them. I-I didn't even know they had gods. I know corruption happens, but that's usually after death, not… before it."

Rulk grunted, his mask focusing more on her, "There are always those that seek their wretched guidance, girl, surely you've–"

Katya growled, her eyes fierce with a fire within, "There aren't! I don't know what you've all experienced, but I'm not from where you're from. Humanity, for as long as it's existed, has always fought them, never joined them. I'll try to find a history book for more about it, but I know how much we've fought for our lives. Sargon even lost one of their rulers to them, but in the process they completely erased them from the Hotlands!"

Faust shook his head. "You can't just erase them, not easily at least. No matter the obstacles they encounter, they will always slither back into place without reinforcement."

"Not these ones," Katya reinforced, her arms crossing. "Otherwise we'd have died out a long time ago. Ursus has always wanted to get rid of them in the north, but it'd be too costly and demanding to get all the nobles under one unified banner. So, damn near impossible, considering they're all selfish jackasses."

Faust raised a brow at the unfamiliar curse, his lips threatening to curve upward. He maintained his disposition as Colonel Reginald stood straighter.

"Explain. How's that possible?"

Katya shook her head, "Well, I don't exactly know all the details, but under a combined effort, Sargon's king and the old Kaghan of Nightzmora completely got rid of them. It's still a wasteland, and it's not like I could confirm it by going there, but… if what my father said is true, then they aren't present down there anymore."

"Yet they remain in the north…"

"Unfortunately, but yeah. Not like Ursus could do much about it…"

Delta looked at Faust with a glint in her eye, signaling that she had something to speak of.

"Go ahead, Delta, but I'm sure I know what you're going to say."

Delta retracted from the holo-table, slithering to stand next to Faust, "If what Katya stated is true, then the potential research data would be worth scouring for. If we find its source of origin, then the chances of our usage of its abilities rises to one-hundred percent, perhaps even benefitting the Imperium at large. It could also increase our arsenal's variety when dealing with warp entities."

"But what if it turns out to be a waste of time and resources, Lord-Captain? We cannot afford such a mistake when some of our rarer armaments may be limited for however long we're stuck here," Reginald asked.

"It may well be, Colonel, but I've always had the habit of chasing after such ghost stories. Legends come from history, and whether they're unfounded remains to be seen."

Faust straightened his coat, scratching the itch on his nose, "Katya, you said they're already being kept at bay, correct?"

"Err… yeah, why?"

"Good. It means we have the most valuable resource in the world."

"Time?" Brogg asked, scratching the back of his head.

"Indeed. Delta, give Rho-Q the order to prioritize our recovery teams to seek lost equipment. We'll need properly armed men for when we venture north. Colonel, start guardsman recruitment processes with what we have, penal legions if you must—make sure they've got a commissar to keep them in line. Meanwhile, it seems we're going to have to learn more about Tellus' history. What better way than doing it on foot?"

"Tellus?" Katya whispered to Rulk

Rulk leaned towards her sideways, "Terra. We're… not enthused about a world sharing the same name as the Imperium's capital, Holy Terra."

Faust ignored their whisperings, leaning forward on the holo-table. "I'll take a brief visit to the Hotlands with whoever wishes to come aboard. Maybe we'll find something. Afterwards, we'll come back to recover and search northwards." Faust paused in his rant, remembering the huge amount of tasks already needing to be done before he could even venture out. They still needed ground facilities that could easily transfer supplies, learn more about the abhuman populations and their civilization to understand how to interact with them, recapture the vault they had left in the prison camp, and the lower-decks still weren't fully reclaimed. The Lord-Captain sighed, "...Though, I suppose that can wait until after we've finished more of what's needed."

"Understood," Colonel Reginald said, already preparing to fulfill his orders as he walked away. His face bore a more at ease look, almost relaxed at the aspect of fighting an ancient but familiar enemy of mankind.

"I shall get right on that, Faust, though, I hope you already know my answer for when you go out further than our surroundings."

"Of course, Delta, carry on."

Delta gave a small bow as she took her leave, slithering off. She likely already sent the orders and was just leaving as a formality.

…Or she was going to do one of her experiments again. Faust was more than okay not being a part of those.

"So…" Katya started, walking forward to the holo-table. "...you guys also have a history with Daemons, huh?"

Rulk scoffed, "More than most."

"You mentioned Sarkaz, Katya?" Faust asked, making sure that tidbit wasn't forgotten. "I'm curious as to why you would even consider them related to Daemons."

"Oh. Them… It's… derogatory, if that makes any sense, since they sort of look the part. They're… warmongers. I mean, that isn't really true for all of them, but… they're more trouble than they're worth."

"Hm, hired arms could be a beneficial prospect, Faust. Though, I don't particularly enjoy working with supposed… devils," the Navigator hissed in disgust, his thoughts already swirling as his hand laid on his helmeted chin.

"I wouldn't," Katya stated. "They've got that reputation for a reason."

"We shall see if it comes to that, but for now, I appreciate the words of advice. What do you wish for, Katya?" Faust asked abruptly.

"H-Huh? What do you mean?"

Faust's palm traced around the table as he circled around it, "Exactly as I say, Katya. I don't mean this as an… interrogation—such as what Delta does—I ask this because I still haven't quite figured you out. You've integrated yourself spectacularly with little issue other than the occasional gawking. If I may be so bold, what is it that you are seeking?"

"I… like where I'm at, Faust, err Lord-Captain? Oh, whatever… Thing is, the place where I'm from is… not a great place."

"As are the lower-decks or the Imperium's front lines, beastie, your point?" Rulk chimed in.

"...Well, considering if I were to be in Ursus at this moment, I'd have been executed for not being in a mine. Or conscripted against my will if I wasn't afflicted, to fight a war I don't want to. Though, everything I hear about the Imperium on this ship is how, well, worse it is to Ursus. It's cruel, fanatic and probably just as bad a place to live in for me—no offense. But what nation isn't in the long run? Or, I guess I should say, the longest run. An empire lasting myriads of years is bound to degrade at some point."

Katya chuckled hollowly as she walked towards the railing, peacefully watching the stars in the night sky. She fiddled with her mane of hair as she spoke. "But that's also what us humans do, isn't it? We survive no matter the cost. I keep hearing about a grand war across the… galaxy—that's the word, right? Yeah, a war across the galaxy, for the survival of humanity each time I talk to someone here."

"…I can't even imagine a war like that, so grand and so deadly, and yet some people here have actually seen it. From the veteran soldiers to the kids running about. No wonder some people don't see me eye to eye; it reminds them of when they faced something terrible. But there's good people too, and a reason for me to stay here."

Katya turned to face the two, "I mean, there always are good people. Just the other day, I lifted a heavy crate for a guardsman. It was filled with a bunch of guns and whatnot, and I didn't think too much of it. I just saw they needed some help. They thanked me. Cautiously, yeah, but they thanked me. And they remembered me when I saw them again. A smile was all they gave. Or Delta… oh goodness, Delta. She's uh… a handful."

Faust disguised his snort with a polite cough into his hand; Rulk wasn't as good.

"But she's a good handful. I see the way she treats me. Pure curiosity. Exactly like some scientist, even with the amount of wires poking out of her robes. I've never ever met someone like her."

Katya relaxed visibly, "I don't want anything, Faust. This… this is good enough for me to live with, but I still have some things up my sleeve so don't um… shoot me if I do something unexpected."

"...As long as you do not warrant danger in such a decision, then that shall never be. Or, tell me in private, so that I can evaluate whether it is a danger."

"Y-Yes. I will."

"Thank you, Katya. Your words are appreciated.."

Katya bowed before briskly wandering off. Faust watched as she left before moving towards his throne, sitting down comfortably.

"The girl has hope. It is an oddity I rarely see amongst the worlds we have traveled across."

"I noticed that, Rulk. What's your judgment about her?"

"She is not a threat from the powers of the warp, although…"

"Although?"

"Something else bothers me about her. That Oripathy lesion… I am not sure why, but the currents are interrupted in the process of flowing around it—not in the way Otto does. No, less than a shield, and more a shear. There are cuts in its ribbons from her spike, but not enough to fully protect her from its influence."

Faust raised an eyebrow, "Hm… keep an eye on her then. And perhaps it's time for Delta to continue on her research about Originium. Maybe… we can use that."

Rulk scuttled off without warning, leaving Faust alone to his own devices. There was still so much to do. Faust sighed, resting his eyes for a bit, before accidentally drifting off to sleep on his throne.

Kukuhimpor: ...actually caused me some psychic damage from that second comment. That was not my intent. Had to reread it and... it seems fine, to me at least, but I can see what you're referring to. The goal was to display Faust's cockiness and his prowess against what were cannon fodder. And, I do mean cannon fodder. The Blackspike gangers are supposed to be stupid and overzealous, who didn't realize they were outmatched, outgunned, and out of their depths. Faust and his retinue were talking during this because, well, they've faced much worse than a few idiots with guns. To put into perspective, imagine Fallout raiders trying to kill the MC. Nine times out of ten, if you have a good build, you're going to wipe the floor with them. Now, imagine raiders going against several MC's with varying builds, backed up by a small army with advanced weaponry, and not in the mood to take prisoners. Cockiness was the goal, but it won't be for every combat encounter–duh. I despise modern marvel dialogue, and now, I'm going to have to triple check my dialogue or wording. I hope this chapter doesn't feel like that either, but that is the writing process as a newcomer, isn't it? Roseblade out.