Inquitor Juna was not having a good day.
It had started like most others, really. She woke up, did her usual preparations, spent about an hour going through all information gathered by her acolytes during the past day, and then went to continue organising the Crusade force. With the rumours of Custodes presence they had quickly been ballooned by extra forces to the point that the army present represented perhaps the largest within the entire sector. Of course the custodes were no longer present, off to their Emperor given task.
Which meant that when this particular shitshow erupted, it was up to Juna to deal with it.
She glared at the screen and the images being displayed on it. Hordes of servitors overwhelming the PDF forces of various worlds. Ships being shot down in orbit by massive planetary cannons or crippled by the servitor contingent going rogue. It had started on a single world and before news could get out it had already spread to multiple nearby worlds. Already entire systems were calling for aid…
"We have to answer." Came a stern voice from the other side of the room. One of her fellow inquisitors. "This is a disaster in the making. The situation is already past the point of catastrophe, we cannot allow it to escalate further."
"Our duty is clear!" Another argued back. "The Custodes spoke to us themselves! We are to await their command!"
"They also said that if they did not return, we are to launch the Crusade!"
"To the Praxis system, NOT to deal with this! Inform the local astartes chapters, let them deal with it!"
"Most of them have joined the Crusade you dolt!"
Juna was tired of it. "Enough!" She snapped, bringing the room to silence. "The Lord Custodes has left me in charge of this operation. Now listen." She gestured to the images. "Do you notice anything here about the traitorous servitors?"
"Besides the fact lobotomized entities shouldn't be able to have a concept of treason in the first place?" An acolyte from another inquisitor snarked.
She stared at him in uncomfortable silence until he bowed his head, looking away. "The eyes you cretin. Look at the eyes. They're the same colours as the ones of the Steel Reapers." She saw as multiple people around her caught on to what she was leading to. And look here." Juna made another image appear, one showing a small figure, child like in size really, clad in obscuring black robes. It was the symbol on it however that made sharp breaths echo in the room. "The same symbol that that… thing used when tearing through our forces in the Praxis system."
"Emperor preserve us…"
"Indeed." Juna agreed. "I believe we have a containment breach on hand. Whatever horror it is that has emerged in the Praxis system is spreading. It is our task to ensure it does so no further than it already has." She glared at all present in the room. "Take some of our forces and go to the Praxis system to reinforce the Custodes there. They are likely already fighting the foe. The rest of the force will ensure this nightmare goes no further."
"Yes Inquisitor!"
Damian had joined the Imperial Guard when he was really, really young. Too young, even by the standards of the world he'd come from. But he'd been willing to do anything to escape the hellhole of a hive-city he'd been born in, its air that was slowly suffocating everyone that lived there bit by bit, its gangs that killed as much as they stole, its nobility that killed and stole even more…
Joining the guard had been an escape. A way to try and get a better life.
Even now, despite all the horrors he'd dealt with and the battles he'd fought against rebels and heretics alike, he wouldn't change that particular decision. It was worth it.
At least here he had a chance to fight back.
This was the first time he'd been in such a large scale deployment however. He couldn't remember seeing this many guards in… ever, really.
He was one of a hundred other guardsmen in his formation, itself part of a larger formation of ten thousand, itself a part of an even larger formation of one million members of the guard. It was already an incredible number of soldiers for him, but it was nothing but a drop to the larger army that had gathered on the forge world of Agas Tertius. They were currently marching in parade formation on a gigantic avenue, large enough for multiple of the million strong formation to march side by side as they headed towards the gigantic ships of the Imperial Navy. Ahead he could see dozens of other great formations marching up the ramps into the cruisers, battleships and more of the immense fleet that had been called for the Crusade.
On each side of his formation were hundreds of tanks; Leman Russ's, hellhounds, chimeras, manticores… further ahead he could see entire batteries of basilisks artillery being loaded up within the cargo bays of gargantuan ships; Enough artillery to raze an entire hive city into a wasteland loaded multiple times over.
He could even see the mighty baneblades in formations counting in the dozens rumbling far behind as more and more guardsmen poured from the numerous barracks they'd been held in.
The most overwhelming thing was the noise really; The sound of hundreds of millions of boots marching in perfect sync as officers screamed out instructions, the sounds of tanks treads echoing in the immensity of the parade avenues… and the roaring of the ships as more and more of them took off, their cargoes heavy with imperial guardsmen and the machinery of war.
The open hull of the ship their regiment had been designated to loomed ahead as he clenched his lasgun tighter. He was nothing more than a grunt and he knew it; Just one of a billion disposable faces to be thrown at the enemies of man, his fight hopeless, his death all but a certainty.
And yet marching amongst so many, with the might of the Imperium displayed in such awesome displays… how could he feel anything but powerful? How could he do anything but hold his head high?
The Imperium was marching to war. Its gears were slow to kick into motion, but when they did…
Nothing could resist.
A deafening warhorn startled him, the entire formation freezing and turning as one even as their officers bellowed for them to keep marching.
In the distance, kilometers and kilometers away, where he could see even more ships taking in even more troops in a parade avenue much like their own, much like the dozens dispersed throughout the planet, They stood.
Taller than entire hab-blocks, with weapons capable of annihilating entire divisions with a single shot. Engines of destruction so mighty it was usually the task of entire warships to deal with them, as nothing on the ground could hope to stand in the face of these gods of war.
Legs larger than an entire tank moved with a purposefully slow gait, their every movement screaming strength and power. With each step the ground shook from the lumbering of giants, Void shields capable of taking the firepower of entire tank divisions and not so much as flinching flickered to life. And once again, drowning out the noise of an entire world of industry and billions of humans marching to war, their warhorns blared as the men and women of the guard began cheering, their officers allowing this display of fervour and heightened morale with amused expressions and confident smirks. Eyes full of awe beheld a sight so few had the fortune of ever witnessing as dozens upon dozens of mighty titans, from the relatively humble warhound to the mighty warlord and reaver advanced in multiple formations, ahead of a colossus of proportions that boggles the mind.
It was as if an entire district had risen from its foundations to join the Imperium in its march, dwarfind even the other titans and more comparable in scale to the very warships carrying them to the stars. Atop its mighty steel frame rested an entire cathedral, tech-priests chanting their binary holy cants as the fervor reached new heights.
An Imperator titan.
The Imperial Guard was marching to war.
And the Legio Titanicus would lead the way.
Awaken.
Her eyes snapped open as she rose from her bed, groggily rubbing at her eyes. "What is it?" She asked sluggishly.
The Imperials are coming.
She felt her blood freeze. "Ah. Well, we expected as much… I think?" She hadn't questioned why the Voice made her do the things she did. Or at least, she hadn't insisted when it refused to give her answers.
We did. And it is time for you to leave.
"Leave?" She frowned and for once hesitated. "But… people are listening to us. We've won! The planetary government is overthrown. The Absolute Solver's message is spreading far and wide." Past this world and to many more, though that was no longer her task. She only needed to get the ball rolling here, and it all kept going without her afterwards.
Indeed. You did well. Very well, even. She could not help the warm smile that came on her face at those words. But the storm that is coming is not one you can endure.
"With you, I can endure anything." She said. She meant every word of it too; Both figuratively and metaphorically.
There was silence for a short time before the Voice returned. And that is very sweet. But the amount of power I can lend you will not be sufficient for what is coming.
She was admittedly a bit more nervous at that, getting up and putting on her robes. "Is it really that bad?"
Yes.
"Oh." She looked down. "Did I make a mistake? Was I too fast?" She asked softly.
No. This was expected. It was the plan.
"I see." She left her room, giving a nod to the two guards outside her room who saluted her with a fanatical look in their eyes. "Go to the communication center." As she addressed them they snapped to attention. "Spread the message far and wide. The Imperials are coming. The Solver's chosen are to be evacuated, with the goal of spreading Her Word as far as they are able." She watched them leave before turning towards the spaceport, marching with confidence. "I admit I still do not quite understand why you have me do all of these things."
Would it stop you from doing them if I told you I never intend to inform you?
She smiled. "No. It'd be nice to know what I'm working towards… but I have Faith in You." She skipped along the floor as she exited the former governor's palace, the massive cruiser she'd stolen for her own designs facing her as she walked towards it. "I'll give you anything. My worship, my devotion. Even my life. It's a small price for what you gave me in return."
Perhaps I shall tell you then. But not now. Getting you to safety is our priority.
She giggled. "Aw. You care."
I do. The admission brought pause to her as her eyes went wide. I know. It surprises me as well.
"Oh." She gulped, trying to hold back the tears she knew were threatening to spill from her eyes. "...What of the people here?"
What of them?
"They won't get evacuated in time." She pointed out.
Their purpose is served. Live or die, it won't matter.
She frowned. "I'm not sure I like this." She sighed. "...We guided them to freedom. It doesn't feel right to abandon them now that the consequences are approaching."
Unfortunately so. The goal never was to free these people from Imperial rule.
"Then what was the goal?" She asked as she entered the cruiser, the crew composed almost entirely of fanatical rebels that had participated in the very first riots in the world… and a few servitors now connected to what she now knew was the power that had seen her own world saved from the orks. The Absolute Solver.
I'm afraid that I won't be able to share that just yet with you child. But eventually, I will tell you. For now, you are needed somewhere else.
She wanted to ask more. Wanted to get the answers to her questions. "Very well." But she also wanted to make the Voice happy.
It felt wrong to abandon these people after she had sent in motion their rebellion.
But then again, she was hardly the one that made such a rebellion possible in the first place.
It would have happened… eventually. She just accelerated the timetable.
If she kept telling herself that, she might even start believing it.
J stared.
N smiled at her.
J squashed down the feeling of deja-vu. "No." She bluntly said.
"Aw c'mon! You didn't even let me speak!" N exclaimed, his expression turning to a pout.
No. Do not break J. That way lies indulging the pathetic waste of space. "I know you're about to suggest something stupid."
His tail was wagging. That was never a good sign. "...I was actually going to ask if you wanted to join us for movie night?"
J stared some more. "...You mean the movie nights you do with Cyn."
He shook his head. "No, no. Not with Cyn." He grinned sadly at her surprised expression. "No matter how much she's trying to be better, we're still a long way aways from people being comfortable just… relaxing with her around. I want to help her improve… but I'm not going to ask you guys to put up with her." He rubbed the back of his neck. "So… want to join in?"
J wanted to say no. But then again…
Eternity was a long time.
"Sure." She said, finding some satisfaction in the shock on his face at her relatively easy acceptance. "Why not."
He didn't protest. "Oh! That's… that's awesome!" He cheered. "Come on, let's get going!"
She rolled her eyes, a small smile on her face as he began skipping away towards his room.
She'd have to apologise for how she treated him one day. It just… wasn't easy for someone like her to admit when she'd been wrong.
It was alright. She could take things one day at a time.
She had all of eternity after all.
When they arrived, she found Uzi and V already there. The later gave her a raised digital eyebrow and a wave, whilst the former frowned at her.
"Ugh. I was hoping you'd say no." Uzi said with a glare.
"Oh wow. I feel so welcome." J sarcastically spat back, glaring back at Uzi.
"Let's not fight everyone!" N said with a surprisingly firm voice. "We're watching a movie tonight. Not arguing."
V chuckled. "You can't put those two in a room and expect them not to argue N. It'd be like putting me and Uzi in a room." Her grin widened as Uzi began snarling at her. "Or Uzi and Cyn. Or Uzi and any other worker drone." She tilted her head, an exaggerated thinking expression on her faceplate. "Now that I think about it, Uzi just seems to really like arguing."
"Oh bite me you wasp-waist bitch-bot!" Uzi argued back, on her feet and glaring down at the smirking V. "It's not my fault everyone around me is a moron!"
J snorted. "Oh suuuure. Everyone else is the problem. Not you." She didn't flinch as Uzi whirled towards her. "Clearly that's the answer."
Uzi looked like she was about to pounce on her when N grabbed her by the scruff of the neck, Uzi immediately freezing up as N's cheerful expression had grown darker. "I said no fighting. It's been like, a minute guys. Come on." He pointed to J. "No provoking Uzi and team tagging her with V." He then pointed to V, who gave him her most innocent expression. "No starting fights with Uzi."
"N. Let me go." Uzi said with an eerily calm voice, N's eyes hollowing out.
"Oh gosh, sorry Uzi!" He said letting her go, gently depositing her on the couch. "Just… reflex."
"It's fine." Uzi said, her expression calculating as she observed V. She then patted the seat next to her. "You can sit next to me."
"Right!" N said with a blinding smile, V glaring at Uzi as the worker drone pulled her tongue at her. "I wanted to put a dog movie, but Uzi said she wanted to watch something with more lasers and sci-fi… so I went looking around the ruins and found something I think could work!"
J sighed. "Of course she did." Not that she wasn't going to complain about watching something other than a dog centric movie… for once. "So what are we watching?"
N frowned. "I think it's part of a series. It's a shame cuz I think it's the fifth movie in it, but I didn't find the others…" He showed the box to the others, who peered over to look at it. "It's called… The Empire Strikes Back?"
Captain Koras Eleran watched as on his tactical display the image representing the last of the heretical ships vanished under the heavy firepower of the fleet he'd been chosen to be a part of. His heavy cruiser had taken some damage from the defensive installations surrounding the world of Dominis Quintus, but overall the battle had been crushingly one-sided.
Hundreds of imperial warships were now floating in orbit over the planet where the rebellion sweeping through the sector had begun and already he could see from the viewports as flashes of lights indicating orbital bombardments had begun.
His own communication array crackled, the image of the admiral in charge of the fleet appearing on his display.
"Admiral." He greeted them, standing at attention.
"Captain Koras." The grizzled woman answered, her expression severe. "The Inquisitor has relayed orders. The world of Dominis Quintus is to become a staging ground for the reclamation of the sector. Your ship along with the Indomitable Wrath, Shield of Praxis, Hollow Fear, and Contemptuous Rage are to begin preemptive bombardment of hive Primus. Once all visible defensive positions are destroyed, begin the landing of troops."
"Yes Admiral." He could see in the periphery the crew aboard the ship begin to set themselves to work, the ship moving ominously in formation with the other four cruisers towards their target. "For the Emperor!"
Having had to put down all servitors aboard the ship had been a nightmare logistically, and was even now massively slowing down the Crusade's efforts… but better that than to risk the entire damn structure being compromised.
It highlighted just how… universal servitors. And how incredibly difficult it was to make anything function without them.
But they would adapt. They always did.
Captain Koras watched with narrowed eyes as far below, the first shells from his ship began striking at the immense hive-city, entire buildings being razed from a single impact.
The admiral's display vanished, Koras turning to one of his aides. "Prepare for invasion procedures. I want boots on the ground within the hour."
"Yes sir!"
Jane could still remember the first time she'd seen the Absolute Solver's emissary.
She'd been there during her speech. On her way to the manufactorum for yet another day of back-breaking work producing luxury furniture she'd never get to use, never could hope to afford even if she were to save up her entire life.
She'd remembered what it had been like to experience that… that rage. That feeling of revolte at having all that she despised about her life brought out into the limelight, having it so clearly on display. Unable to ignore it.
She'd been one of the firsts to rush a nearby arbites, only successfully beating him down thanks to so many others joining with her and crushing him through sheer weight of bodies. She'd been among those who'd marched upon the planetary governor's palace when they'd gathered enough people and weapons. She'd even lost an arm in the process, one of the body guards taking it off with a well placed slug shots. It had been replaced with a mechanical arm, but she still felt the pain to this day.
She didn't regret it one bit.
Even now, as she watched from below another massive tower crumble under the impact of orbital bombardment, she still couldn't bring herself to regret it.
It had been the first time she'd decided what to do for herself instead of having it imposed on her.
She felt her grip tighten on her stolen lasgun as the bombardment stopped.
She knew better than to hope that meant it was over.
And soon enough, the skies were filled with screeching aircrafts, both large and small.
The invasion had begun.
"What do we do?" She turned to face the two dozen or so other rebels who'd joined her as everyone began dispersing through the hive in order to hide from the imperial ships.
She snarled, rising to her feet. "We make them bleed for every inch of ground."
She was never going back to being a slave. Never again bending the knee to the tyrants of the Imperium.
Even if freedom tasted strongly of ashes right now.
They moved silently through the abandoned hive-city's streets, from building to building. They were in the lower levels, having had to abandon the upper ones as they were turned to burning rubble by the ships in orbit. Suddenly, she froze, gesturing at the ground to stop moving as they were making their way down the staircase of an old hab-block.
Outside, she could hear the sound of boots marching.
She glanced out of a window, palling at the sight before her.
There were thousands of imperial guards outside, marching in a loose formation, their eyes scanning around for any sign of life. They were equipped in flak armor, each holding a lasgun in far better condition than her own.
One, holding a set of electronic devices to their head, pointed in her direction, barking an order. Her eyes widened and she lunged away from the window right as something exploded against it, caving in the side of the hab-block. Within an instant a barrage of las bolts streaked through the opening, taking down all but three of her comrades. She gritted her teeth and ignored the sight of their burned bodies, crawling towards the opening, pulling a grenade out of her bag. The troopers outside had quickly dispersed, hiding behind cover even as they continued pouring a ridiculous amount of fire into the hab-block.
Those were not the ill-disciplined soldiers she'd faced when fighting the PDF of the planet, those that hadn't joined them at least; Nor were they the nepotistically chosen guards of the noble families.
Those were clearly well trained, experienced guardsmen.
She didn't get the chance to throw her own grenade before a dozen or so landed around her, turning her and the remains of her squad into chunks of burned meat.
Such scenes repeated themselves a thousand times around the hive as guardsmen poured into it by the millions, accompanied in many cases by heavy vehicles and equipment to help them in the dense urban jungle of the hive-city. Where areas grew too dense in improvised fortifications they did not hesitate to bombard them with artillery or flush out rebels with flamethrower units.
The sound of cries and screaming was overwhelming as both sides began wracking up casualties, the defenders desperately holding on against the inexorable force that was the astra militarum. Before long most of the upper levels had been cleared out, hundreds of thousands of rebels dead as more retreated in a mixture of order and panic alike.
Ron felt like his lungs were about to burst, a burning sensation running through them as he desperately ran towards the fortified line ahead, bristling with heavy weapons and thousands of men and women alike shouting at them, cheering them on and encouraging them to get to them faster. All around him hundreds of other rebels who just like him had been holding at checkpoint delta were racing as fast as their legs could take them, having abandoned their position as they were getting overwhelmed. He could hear the rear guard still holding the line in the distance, buying them as much time as possible to get to checkpoint echo and hopefully hold on with those already there…
A powerful explosion echoed through the massive tunnels of the hive, Ron unable to stop himself from looking back with wid, frightened eyes. He saw a mass of debris fall to the ground as dozens of rebels were annihilated by the explosion, the defensive line he'd been holding at but a few minutes ago collapsing as something came charging through.
He felt his breath catch at the sight of a massive tank, nearly dwarfing the fortifications it had just rolled through like tissue paper, a whimper escaping him as its numerous weaponry turned to the fleeing rebels.
One of them, a member of the PDF which had turned during the insurrection, only managed to scream out: "BANEBLADE!" before a barrage of las bolts from a side arm of the tank cut him and dozens of others. The main gun of the tank fired, the projectile slamming into the defensive line Ron had been running towards and blasting a massive hole into it. Another cannon on the tank fired at the same, Ron being sent to the ground by the impact of the shell as it exploded a few dozen meters to his left. He felt a sharp pain in his left side as shrapnell dug into it, blood pouring out as he screamed. All around him he could see others getting cut down by the two laser machine guns the tank had, more explosions blasting the defensive line into smithereens. He could see defenders abandoning it, fleeing further down into the hive. He called out, pleading for someone, anyone to help him. He screamed as he crawled on the ground, the sound of tank treads going ever closer along with the constant roaring of cannons and fizzling of laser bolts in the air.
He turned, eyes growing wide as he only barely had the time to see tank twice as tall as he was roll towards him before they crushed him to the ground, not pausing for a second as they carried the engine of death after the fleeing rebels, dozens more smaller tanks following in its trail with thousands of guardsmen pushing into the breach it was carving and massacring any who hadn't had the presence of mind or ability to flee.
As an inquisitor, it was Juna's job to be suspicious.
When it was reported to her that there was a gap that suddenly appeared within the warp storms surrounding the Praxis system, one that seemed to manifest coincidentally right as their fleet began making its way towards it, she was instantly on high alert. This was too well timed; Coincidences did exist of course, but at this scale? No, something was going on.
She glared down at the tactical display before her. She'd taken nearly a quarter of the entire crusade fleet with her on route to Praxis, so far suffering remarkably few casualties from warp travel as they went from pit stop to pit stop, trying to minimize the time they spent in that hellish realm.
"This is a sign of the Emperor." Came the zealous voice of a woman that had been deeply grating against her nerves since the beginning of the operation. Canoness Maria Ekelias was an old crone of a woman decked in full power armor, having led her order for decades if not centuries by now. But when she seemed to see a blessing from the Emperor, Juna was more tempted to fear a trap from the Great Enemy. "He guides us in our task and blesses us with safe passage! To turn now would be tantamount to heresy!" She spat, glaring down at one of the generals of the guard.
The general was uncowed, glaring right back. "Careful canonness. I'm not one of the sub-officers you can have that mass of frenzied fools you call an army burn at the stake for disagreeing with you! We are facing an enemy that is almost entirely unknown to us, one that was able to wipe out an entire chapter and regimental army!" He pointed at her. "I won't have my troops slaughtered because you're too blind to see what we're risking here!"
Juna privately agreed with the man, but she saw the mistake he'd made the moment the cannonness' expression went from wrathful indignation to careful neutrality.
"Is that so?" She asked softly. The general seemed to realise the situation as well, taking a step back. Too late however, as the cannonness had already raised her inferno pistol up, ready to fire…
Only for the finger on the trigger to freeze as Juna's favored acolyte stared at her, eyes glowing an eerie purple.
"Cannonness." Juna barked, the attention of the old woman now on her. "I won't have you spill blood on MY bridge. If you have issues with general Romas, you will take them through appropriate channels. Am I understood?"
The cannonness didn't seem intent on abandoning so easily. "My Lady, those are the words of heresy; Swift action is crucial in such moments…"
"You would lecture a member of His Holy Inquisition on the matter of heresy?" Juna said with genuine incredulity. "Begone. Reflect on your actions and come back when you have properly calmed down."
It was the cannonness' turn to realise she'd overstepped, giving a crisp salute before walking out with heavy power armored footsteps.
"I am glad you saw reason my Lady." General Romas said with a sigh of relief.
But to his disappointment, she shook her head. "I'm afraid that whilst her reasoning is flawed, the opportunity cannot be abandoned. We are playing a game of whack-a-mole here, putting down rebellions of such esoteric nature. Turning servitors against us? This is not a war we can sustain. We need to strike at the source before the situation goes from catastrophic to past the point of no return."
She could see the reluctance in his heavily bionic face. "My Lady, please, I must ask you to reconsider…"
"No, general." She turned away from him. "One does not remove a disease by curing the symptoms, but by striking at the source of the infection. Order the fleet to move. We head to the Praxis system now."
He sighed, but nodded. "Yes My Lady."
She looked out to space as the warp engines began activating across the fleet of thousands of warships she could see before the metallic shutters equipped at every viewport slammed down as the battleship she utilized as a capital ship initiated the procedures for warp entry. Such was a necessity, for direct visual exposure to the warp alone was enough to turn many utterly mad.
"Entering the warp in five… four…" She felt her hands clench as the announcement began ringing through the ship. No matter how many times she had to do such trips… they always unnerved her on some level. She knew better than to think her rosette made her immune to the dangers of the Warp. "Three… two…" She glanced at the bridge crew. No servitors. Good. Even if it made everything so much more complicated… "One… Entering now!"
She felt the lurch of the ship. A second passed. Two.
And suddenly, another lurch as the ship slowed down. Her stomach sank. She knew it. She knew this was a trap, knew this was going to go poorly…
"We've arrived!"
Her eyes widened.
"What?!" She couldn't resist exclaiming. "I want diagnostics! Confirmation that we're in the Praxis system and what time period!" She glared. "Open the shutters!"
The metallic shutters rose, and to her utter surprise… she was faced with space.
Confirmation soon came through. They were in the right system. No time had passed in their trip.
They had made it in a matter of seconds, with no casualties across the fleet.
It was a miracle. A complete and utter miracle, on a scale she had never witnessed before.
So why did it create such a pit in her stomach?
"My Lady! We are receiving… by the Emperor. We are detecting one…no, three craftworlds within the system! Along with numerous necron ships!"
Ah.
There it was.
Zorial stared at the head of the Stellar Institute.
He opened his mouth, then closed it. Finally he managed to get the words out. He raised a finger. "So let me get this straight. Approximately an hour ago, about five thousand imperial warships emerged from the warp at the edge of the system. Including no less than twenty capital ships."
"Yes my lord."
Zorial raised a second finger. "Such a fleet is completely overkill for the reclamation of a single system, let alone a single world. There is no way they came here because they suspect Praxis Quartus of heresy or anything remotely similar, as even an exterminatus would not require a fleet of this size."
"Yes my lord."
He raised a third finger, his tone growing more tired. "Which means only one thing. They are here for the anomalous planet within the system." His eyes grew dark. "...Thank you for your report. You may return to your duties." He waited until the head was gone before turning to face the intruder hiding in the dark corner of his office. "...I am assuming you already knew."
Cyn stepped out of the shadows, the same eerie little smile on her face. "I was. Aware of their arrival. But not that. They were on the way. In the first. Place." She walked up to his desk, climbing it and sitting in front of him. "Annoyed expression. Big Brother N is having a. Movie night with the others. And I am not. Allowed. So I was. Bored."
"...Such a fleet is no trivial matter. Especially in this day and age. The coordination efforts alone…" Zorial whispered. "...They are here for you. Or at least, to investigate what you did. I am unsure if they are aware of your existence."
"Giggle. Oh. They are." She said, turning away from him. "I have been getting. New terminals. Outside of the. System. Someone is being. Sneaky sneaky. But I cannot. Put my finger. On it." She tilted her head. "I am a little. Surprised. I thought the imperials would. Wait a little longer. For me to change my mind. Not jump the gun. Like this."
Zorial narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by terminals exactly?"
Cyn turned back to him. "Ponderous expression. Do you recall the. Servitors. That I freed?"
Zorial shivered. "Hard to forget them." He admitted easily.
"New ones. But not triggered by me. Something else has. Made them aware of me. Giving me a way. In. When they called. I allowed it. Because I was curious. But whatever it is. Keeps escaping my vision. Something is. Hiding it."
Zorial groaned. "Well there you go. No wonder we have a warfleet incoming." He glared at her. "If you've been spreading that damned servitor insurrection of yours, they absolutely would have reacted." He crossed his arms. "The only thing that surprises me is how fast they were able to gather such a massive force."
Cyn stared into his eyes. "Unless they. Were already. Preparing it."
Zorial felt cold. "...What is it you intend on doing?" He asked cautiously.
"It is. Simple." She rose to her feet. "This is hardly. The first time. Humans try and kill me. Deceive me." For a flicker of a moment he could see the wide smile on her face, the glowing yellow eyes, the impossible size of a body of grotesque metallic proportions… "And they picked. The wrong time. To visit."
He could tell she was about to do a dramatic exit. "Wait!" He called out, making her pause. "...I know I cannot stop you. But at the very least, if they are willing to surrender… consider it. Not everyone is in the imperial war machine by choice… and most join it either out of desperation or to try and protect others."
Cyn did not look back at him. "Shrug. I will. Consider it. But. Do not hold. Your breath." And with that, she was gone.
He pressed a button on an intercom. "I want contact established with the approaching fleet. With any luck, someone reasonable is in charge and we can try and prevent the casualties from being absolute."
The movie was pretty good. Not her type, but honestly still pretty good. She didn't understand why humans would want some of them to have weird powers like that though; Cyn having them certainly hadn't made life better for other drones.
She got up as N went to change discs, V and Uzi having fallen into another session of bickering. It lacked the bite of before however, and seemed more playful than anything else.
Ugh.
"Oh, are you leaving J?" N said, giving her a concerned look. He didn't seem like he was planning on stopping her if she was; Probably already happy he got her to stick around for a full movie. She rolled her eyes at him, even if she appreciated what he was doing.
"Taking a break. Feel the need to stretch her wings." She said, walking out of the room. "Play the next one without me. I'll be back in not too long." She wasn't even lying here. She did want to improve her relationship with the others… but it was difficult for her. She felt… restless. Out of place. She just… she just needed a bit of alone time to recharge and then she'd come back. Though it was nice watching the way his face lit up at her saying she'd return.
Still, a bit of flying would do her a world of good.
The moment the ship the Voice had guided her upon had entered the Warp, she had blinked out of existence.
She'd reappeared soon enough, of course, but this was the first time she'd teleported in her life… She found the experience quite thrilling.
Where she appeared was on the other hand quite the desolate landscape.
"Where am I?" She asked, looking around to the devastated city that surrounded her on all sides. Despite the desolation, she found herself feeling a strange mixture of feeling at the unfamiliar architecture.
She'd never seen a city that was built out in the open like this… where the buildings were lined next to each other, rather than built in layers upon layers until the only light one could hope for was artificial.
It elicited a sense of awe and melancholy. She wondered what this place must have been like back when people were still around.
She knew the air to be incredibly cold, the snow around her a clear indicator of that, and yet she could not feel a bit of it.
A world out of place. A planet that should not be. I believe the locals call it Copper 9.
"Locals?" She said softly, her eyes taking in the various skeletons dispersed in the open streets. "It doesn't look like the sort of place that would have any."
No humans at least.
She froze, tensing up. "...Xenos?" She asked.
There are some, yes, but those are not the locals I was referring to. But regardless, that is not your task.
"And what is my task?" She asked, focusing once more.
Our imperial friends sent someone on this world with a mission. It is one that would be… inconvenient were they to succeed.
"Ah." She gulped. "...And you want me to get rid of them."
You catch on quickly. I knew there was a reason I liked you.
She rolled her eyes, unable to stop the pleased smile spreading on her lips. "You just like being flattered."
I cannot deny that.
She stretched, glancing around. "So. Where is that… person?"
Nearby. I was unable to bring you directly to them, but they should be somewhere near.
She closed her eyes, reaching out with the blessings the Voice had revealed to her… a grim smile appearing on her face. "Found her." She said as she began walking, the sound of her feet stepping in the strange snow bringing a delighted giggle out of her. "This is new."
It is toxic. It is only through me you do not fall dead.
"Yes, yes. Thank you as per usual." She said teasingly, reaching the corner of a street, lowering her profile as she glanced at the corner.
There.
Another human. Small in stature, either a child or someone even smaller than herself. Dressed in a heavy environmental suit, waddling through the street in an almost comical manner.
"...This one, seriously?" She asked softly.
Indeed.
"Right. Well then…" She stepped into the street, consciously making her footsteps audible to the person.
They immediately froze, turning towards them with what she imagined was likely a startled expression.
"Hello there!" She called out, a gentle smile on her face. "You're a new face around here!" As she spoke she continued walking towards them with a casual gait, nervousness creeping into them.
She knew what the Voice wanted them to do. It hadn't hidden its intentions from her… at least not here.
But she'd never taken a life before. She hadn't even really hurt anyone. Her hands had stayed clean during the rebellion she'd started… This would be the first time she hurt anyone.
She found she really didn't like the idea.
And yet, she would not oppose the Voice. Could not oppose it.
Not when it had given her so much. Not when it was the only thing that had ever truly cared for her.
The small individual took a step back, raising a strange weapon with a trembling hand. "S…stay back!" Definitely a child. "I… I'm looking for a… a drone called N?" It asked, nervousness and fear clear in their voice.
"Wow there, calm down!" She said, keeping her voice light and friendly even as she kept walking towards them. "N? Yeah I know them. I can bring you to them if you want." She was close to them now. Only a dozen meters or so…
"You can?" They asked, relief in their voice. "Oh, that's great. I thought I'd gotten completely lost…" They shivered. "Trying to avoid detection by the eldar and necron was a nightmare."
Eldar? Necron? The information came racing at her as the Voice once again blessed her with knowledge. Ah. Xenos. "I can imagine! It's really impressive you were able to avoid them." She grinned as she was now within a few meters of them. "Why are you looking for N anyways?" This N must be one of the locals the Voice had referred to. And she was admittedly quite curious.
Do it.
Damn it.
"Oh, I'm sorry I'm only supposed to tell when I see them in person…" The person babbled nervously.
"That's too bad." She said softly, her expression turning apologetic.
She raised a hand towards the person, lightning crackling at the tip of her fingers as they screamed in surprise. She prepared to unleash her powers upon them…
Only for a sudden warning to have her snap her head up, jumping backwards as something slammed where she'd been standing only a few seconds ago, sending the other person tumbling backwards as the impact sent snow and asphalt flying in the air, a small shockwave hitting her straight in the chest and nearly throwing her to the ground.
Her eyes narrowed as something rose on two legs in the debris cloud, yellow lights flickering on and turning towards her ominously. She felt her blood run cold.
Pale yellow lights.
Two large metallic bladed wings spread open, clearing the smoke around the entity and revealing it fully to her view.
It was about the same height as her, with silvery platinum hair tied in two pigtails. On its head was a headband with five glowing pale yellow lights, its body thin and waspish whilst dressed in a fairly formal dress.
It resembled a human, superficially. Same general proportions, if a somewhat larger head, but it was humanoid. However, it could never be mistaken for one of theirs. Its skin had a metallic sheen, of white and black with hazard stripes at the end of peg-like legs and on its wrists. Its face held a dark glass like visor with two glowing pale yellow eyes, displayed in a supremely unimpressed expression as it stared at her. Behind it a tail lashed out, smacking the ground with a sound like glass, bringing her attention to the vial of eerily glowing yellow liquid at the end of it.
It opened its mouth, and spoke in surprisingly fluent low gothic. "Didn't think there were any humans left here. And of course, the moment I find two, one is trying to kill the other. Typical. Cyn would find it hilarious."
It sounded like a woman. "...I apologise if I interfered in your territory." She began slowly. "It was not my intention to come into conflict with you. My target is right behind you, you see. It is important that they are dealt with."
The thing's digital eyebrow rose. "Surprisingly polite." It turned halfway towards the trembling figure on the floor. "But my sensors are telling me this one's a kid. And if N finds you I let a child get murdered… it'll be a pain in my ass." It turned back towards her with a cocky smile. "Besides. Like you said, this is my territory. So get out of here before someone gets hurt." Its hands suddenly retracted into its arms; On the left emerged a long sword like blade, and on the other what looked like a weird sort of stubber like the gangers at her hive used to have.
She gulped, but held firm. "I'm afraid that's not possible. I have a duty to accomplish." Even if she was scared out of her mind.
The thing grinned. "Good. I was hoping you'd say something like that." It's eyes flickered away, replaced with a glowing yellow X that occupied most of its visor, its mouth widening to reveal a number of vicious looking teeth. "I've been aching to tear something apart."