Chapter 10

As the ship moved through the warp Harry couldn't help but miss his planet as he returned to Terra and the weak willed sheep of the so called magical world.

They wouldn't know danger if it stood in their chest cavity and even then they wouldn't believe they where in danger until they were already dead.

Harry found these so called witches and wizards to be fools who will blindly follow those in power and with the greatest experience since they seem to have an unhealthy belief that those in power can do no wrong. But that was not the reason he was going to this world, he was going to learn control and figure out how they managed to keep the taint of chaos from corrupting them.

While these thoughts went through his head he continued to go through data slates detailing what was going on in the different theaters of their expansion into their former territories.

As far as Harry could tell the only losses they had where related to Gellar Field failures and warp transitions that didn't release the ships that entered.

Still no actual losses due to battles or planets coming under attack, still it was just a matter of time, Harry remembers the reports of battles yet to fight and where they were in the star maps. He hoped that the dates and times could be trusted but wasn't holding his breath and would rather they be proactive in this new found advantage they had on the rest of the galaxy.

But he was not the war master and would trust in the tactics Horus chooses to deploy, after all Terra had yet to enter its golden age and wouldn't enter it centuries more but at least the galaxy will have settlements ready for them when they arrive.

As Harry continued to go over the data slates Emma has had enough of her youngling sitting around and reading from the device.

So with a huff she moves towards Harry and then with out warning she pushes him out of his chair and onto the floor where she grabs him by the scruff and begins to drag him out of his chambers. Harry was at first surprised by the action then became indignant at being treated as a pup, so he quickly reaches up and grabs Emma by her jaw and uses that as leverage to try and hop onto her back.

Knowing what he was trying to do Emma simply turns her head and tries to unbalance him so he won't land but Harry had been in this situation more times then he would care to admit.

So he landed on her back and using her as leverage pushes himself to escape her jaws and straddle her back with as much dignity as he could scrape together.

Emma feeling Harry settle on her back she tries to roll onto him to get him off to show that she will not let some youngling get the better of her.

But Harry hung on with a tenacity breed from centuries of doing this very thing with his bonded time and time again, so with nary a grunt or loosening of his fingers Harry held. Emma once back on her feet decided it was time to test him aging and see if he could still ride her when she was on the move.

So with a sudden start and a jolt she ran through the ever winding corridors of the battle barge with servants and crew already on the sides, used to the antics of their lord and his mount.

As swiftly as she could Emma ran a gauntlet through out the ship that would have dislodged any mortal who would dare to mount a Fenrisian wolf, but Harry was no mortal.

As he sat upon Emma's back he turned and maneuvered with her as if he was a part of her as if they were one being rather than two.

Soon enough Emma began to slow down and as she did Harry realized they were near the training halls and that his bonded had the right idea, he should get some training in rather then reading data slates all day. So with a large grin on his face he prepares to dismount in his usual way and get ready to train for the rest of the day as the doors open into the training hall.

A small group of the Grinning Moons guardsmen exit and upon seeing their lord and his bonded they quickly move to the side as he jumps from Emma's back and sails forward towards a fighting pit which housed a small group of Ogryn having a mock spar which Harry soon joined in.

Emma soon joined in and then the sparing became even more intense, luckily many Medicaid's where kept on stand by in the training halls for just such a situation.

All the others training at that moment stopped and went the the sparring pits to watch their lord in all his glory even if death wasn't the goal it was still an amazing spectacle to witness for the mortals. They all knew that they had been blessed to even be upon a battle barge since they where commonly used for the Adeptus Legions rather then simple soldiers like them.

Luckily because it was their lord who required the ship he was given the battle barge to use as his capital ship for when he must travel away from home.

Hours later and many injured Ogryns Harry and Emma finally left the sparing pits and went to the machines of the room to continue exercising while the soldiers went back to their own work outs.

Many signed their admiration of their lords skill and Harry was happy to see his men in good spirits signing back that he was simply exercising like they are. Soon enough the room had gone back to its previous set up before their lord arrived minus some Ogryn in the pits but no one really worried about them staying down for too long.

After a few hours more of training Harry and Emma retired from the training halls and started to take the trek back to their quarters when a notification signaled itself in hairs com bead.

Quickly activating the communication he was give a request to come to the bridge with due haste and to arrive in full armor for it may soon be needed.

So with haste being necessary he jumped on Emma's back and had her run as fast as she could and managed to make it to his quarters in less then a minute and his servitor was awaiting with armor ready. Within a few minutes he was fully outfitted and Emma was galloping towards the bridge as fast as her legs could carry them, not even two minutes later he was bursting through the bridges doors and sliding off Emma's back to address the captain.

With no waste of time Harry immediately ask. "What is the situation?" The entire bridge saluted him which he returned and let them get back to their work.

The captain began signing away letting Harry translate it with an ease as if he was being talked to rather then having symbols thrown at him.

"We will be coming out of the warp a whole week ahead of schedule but that is due to the fact someone has gone before us." Harry felt a feeling of trepidation crawl along his spine.

"All data readings are pointing to a Xenos vessel that is similar in size and technological level as the Aeldari Harlequins along with similar signatures of that nature." The captains entire disposition seemed to scream what he thought of this. Harry couldn't help but feel that this was something that could end either very well or end in a large loss of forces for the imperium, but he had a duty to preform and he would see it through.

"Captain prepare all forces for deployment of boarding enemy vessel while this happens try and open a vox channel with these Harlequins so we may see if they are allies or a threat to be put down with extreme prejudice."

With a salute the captain began signing at his bridge members to relay Harry's orders and to begin the process for a possible fight.

Harry meanwhile was hoping that they wouldn't have to fight, after all Terra was at the end of this and if these Xenos decided to cause problems they could end the Imperium before it even truly begins. Soon enough his captain was returning to him and signing that a vox channel had been opened up with the Harlequins ship and was awaiting his attention.

He motions for him to activate it on the command table and it instantly springs to life with the image of a tall lithe figure covered head to toe in bright clothing and armor.

It's face covered in a pantomime of a laughing mask with tears falling from its eyes and bright green hair in a Mohawk atop its head wether it was real or not even Harry could not tell.

Just as Harry was about to speak the Harlequin bowed and swept its hand in a grand gesture before saying. "Great lord Potter it is a privilege for this one to meet you."

Hope you enjoyed the chapter as a make up for being late, anyway please leave a comment and review and have a good day or night.