Today was a tragic day for the von Valancius dynasty. Following a particularly grievous Warp incursion, engineered (I can hardly bear the thought of writing it, as if it would make it even more real and not the dark ramblings of an old man's mind) by the Master of Whispers himself, Lord-captain Theodora was murdered by some heretic's hand. Her life, her dear life, brought to such an end by such villainy! For ten years had I served her, and that even a low-life would fail to see the radiance of her power, and be humbled by it, and renounce his evil plans, dumfounded me. It is properly scandalous that such virtue as was hers failed to deter such a heretical action.
Thankfully, Lord-captain Theodora, as per her usual keen foresight, had brought aboard the Emperor's Mercy her presumptive heirs – and one of them has proved to be singularly apt to the task. I was told she had once been a Commissar in her former life ere her heritage was discovered, although the circumstances of her dismissal appear somewhat unclear. But the late lord-captain would never have ratified her if some redhibitory trait had been found; I have to trust the late lord-captain on that. The Emperor knows my faith in her was absolute! Her heir — Katov von Valancius — was true to the noble blood that courses through her veins, as she almost single-handedly took back control of the ship. Sister Argenta and myself, of course, were of help — as well as those officers left both breathing and sane by the Warp, but I dare say it was the pair of us that was most instrumental in bringing Lord-captain Katov into her inheritance. O, Sister Argenta, whose silver hair belies her youth! I could never sing your praise enough, as on our way to the bridge you smote heretics and demons alike with the rightful fury of the Faith! Alas, despite our best efforts, the treacherous Master of Whispers managed to escape from our clutches, probably thanks to some twisted heretical device. How else could anyone flee a voidship at Warp — with its Gellar field down, too?
Katov von Valancius, as for herself, fought against Warp horrors on the bridge with the skill and determination one can expect from a former Commissar — enough to assuage my fears about the former part of the title. Commissars are amongst the most upstanding of us, bringing a much needed resolution to soldiers prone to cowardice and laziness; I never even knew it was possible to leave that career except when afflicted with the most grievous of injuries. Yet lady Theodora's heir proved she's not only able-bodied, but extremely competent, and it is a great consolation to me that the Rogue Trader Warrant will pass to one who can surely hold up such legacy.
We all had a much-needed rest after yesterday's battle and grief, and today was mostly devoted to shipwide clean-up. The flagship of the von Valancius dynasty cannot be allowed to be defiled by blood and gore any longer than strictly necessary. Machine Spirits were soothed by the appropriate rituals. Repairs also began, although at a much slower pace than I would like, due to the death toll we endured. Many of the more competent and dedicated died; we shall need to find their replacement as soon as we can get to Warp again and reach Footfall where, hopefully, a commercial alliance can be brokered. In the meantime, we shall have to suffer hobbling about the Rykad system.
Lord-captain Katov held her first briefing of the officers. Where lady Theodora was flamboyant in these meetings, ruling by sheer charisma alongside an iron fist, lady Katov appeared more subdued. One might even have called her mild-mannered, as she listened and watched intently all that were assembled. Quite unusually subdued for a Commissar, I have to say; I had a hard time picturing her shouting enthusiastic battle cries while threatening to shoot the unwilling of her regiment. Anyway, I digress. The briefing started well, until our Master of Ordnance showed himself to be quite hostile to our new lord-captain. The man always was hot-tempered and loud-mouthed, but he never would have dared to speak so to lady Theodora. So rude, so vulgar, so… I dare say, near heretical, was he than, even before I could signal the bridge guards, two of the closest grabbed him and shoved him to the ground. Mutiny cannot be allowed on a Rogue Trader's ship, no more than on any Navis Imperialis vessel and we were all shocked, I think — hope — know — to witness that kind of rebellious speech.
The lord-captain herself became extremely pale. She has a severe face, where strong eyebrows sternly stand above dark eyes, and her dark hair, squarely cut in the fashion of those who care more about practicality than style, does little to soften her expression. While the Master of Ordnance squirmed under the guard's grasp, hopefully taking in the gravity of his actions, the lord-captain rose from her chair and slowly went down the steps to the bridge. I found none of lady Theodora's bravado in her walk. Still, there was determination in the way she carried herself, and by the time she reached the Master of Ordnance there was nothing subdued about her anymore. How could I have misjudged her so, while I had seen her fight only yesterday! The lord-captain irradiated cold wrath.
She looked grimly down at the man at her feet — middle-aged, face shoved against the waxed floor, one eye closed with pain. He flinched when she spoke and said: 'I have shot better men for less.' Her voice, low and grave, echoed against the pillars of the room. As her hand started to reach for the handle of her bolter, she pursed her lips. Out of the corner of my eye, I searched for the closest Servitor that could grab a bucket and a mop.
You could have knocked me down with a feather when she next spoke, instead of lodging a bolt in the insolent's head.
'Count yourself lucky that we lost so many yesterday and that I was told you are reasonably competent. You shall be brought back to your post.'
At a sign of her hand, the guards dragged the man away. I cannot overstate how shocked I was — how shocked I still am while writing these lines. Of course, I respect her decision and I understand her reasoning, although that last part isn't needed for my obedience. But I do worry about the impact on ship's morale. News travel like fire here. It wouldn't do at all that people mistook the lord-captain for weak. It wouldn't do at all that I, Abelard Werserian, the lord-captain's seneschal, had reason to believe her weak.
I may have overinterpreted Her Ladyship's orders yesterday. The Master of Ordnance was duly brought back to his station — as per instructions — but, to ensure there would be no more shenanigans on his part, I also got him chained there. If he needs to go somewhere, anywhere, he must first clear it with me (and it's a shame that I'm not always available), going through Vox Master Vigdis (who also has important things to do). I have been told that he already soiled himself twice. Anyway — whatever my feelings on our new Lord-captain's way to deal with the unruly, my duty lies to House von Valancius and I will have its authority enforced.
It warms my heart to report repairs are advancing at a better pace than could be hoped. We may be stranded in this system until we find a new Navigator, but we can sustain normal ship operations and move without fearing the hull will tear itself apart. It means I had to request an audience with Her Ladyship to ensure that she knew about the original goal of our journey here. The Rykad system is hardly a popular spot of the Koronus Expanse.
Lord-captain Katov wasn't surprised. I guess she had spent some time going through Lady Theodora's desk, as she told me she had found a handwritten letter containing our — for lack of a better word — orders. Not that anyone can really order a Rogue Trader around, so it would be more fitting to call it a request. But let us not argue semantics here; the important thing is that she agreed to go on with lady Theodora's mission, and I am relieved to write she did so with the enthusiasm befitting a true servant of the Emperor.