BEEP BEEP BEEP. This was not a new sound to the space traffic control operator manning the auspex, yet he could only stare at his screen in confusion. The signature that the auspex was detecting was coming from the wrong direction. Bam his machine went as he tried to fix what he assumed was an error from his console. But his dumbfoundness and confusion remained, just like the reading from the auspex.
"Ma Ma Magos, we have an unidentified warp disturbance at sector thirteen " he squirmed out. His senior officer hurried over to double-check the results.
"Magos, incoming vessels, " confirmed the officer in a more firm and authoritative voice. "But we don't have any scheduled arrivals" he continued while checking his data slate.
"Magos Admiral Bugler has also detected the ship and has dispatched 5 cruisers to intercept it. He is requesting backup from the long-range fire support" called out the communications officer
Tesilon-Kappa who stood at the centre of the room hooked up to Emeli's Gift responded in his usual mechanical voice "Understood. Alert the Council and tell them we have a potential threat." As he began bringing the space hulk's weapons to bear on the approaching vessel.
Bang Bang Bang
I let out a loud groan as I groggily woke up. I knew drinking too much was a bad decision and it was about to get me killed, but as Zerayah got older I found myself having less chances to drink my miseries away. Shakily I reached for my boltpistol that I kept under my pillow, I knew my would come, the Council finally had caught onto my betrayal and came to punish me. But before I let out a shot in my drunken haze, I laid sight on Jurgen, my most loyal aide. Slowly I lowered my gun and let out a sigh of relief.
"I apologize for waking you My Lord but there is a situation" stated Jurgen calmly, ignoring the moment of panic I just had as he handed me a Pancreas.
"What sort of Emergency" I said hastily, injecting myself and feeling the effects of the hangover dissipating as I quickly moved to get dressed.
"Warp activity has been detected, sir"
"Is it one of ours? '' I asked optimistically, knowing deep down that it wouldn't have triggered such a response. With the Borgs repairing the massive fleet we gained after freeing Adumbria and many more planets joining the Cainite Protectorate, we were able to set up some trade between the planets. Meaning Warp activity was no longer a rare occurrence on Slawkenberg.
"Negative sir, there are no scheduled ships expected to arrive any time soon and the warp activity is nowhere near the designated arrival points."
"Alright," I said, leaving the room with Jurgen following me.
The sounds of footsteps echoed around the halls of the palace. A flutter of activity was going on as many different workers and aides bustled about as we tried to sort out this latest emergency.
I saluted the USA guards, as they opened the door to the council room for me. Walking in I noticed that I was the last to arrive, well last person who would be attending in person. Admiral Bugler and Magos Tesilon-Kappa were both attending virtually as they were needed at their stations.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I apologize for waking you at this hour, but it appears a new threat has arrived on our doorstep." I started, addressing the Council in my most martial like voice, as this is what they would expect from me in such a situation. " Our job is to discuss how we should respond," I continued as I took my seat. While one of the technicians brought up a map of the system, highlighting the incoming vessel in red, while showing ours in green.
"Admiral Bugler, Magos Tesilon-Kappa what do you have to report"
"At 2:26 Slawkenberg time, warp activity was detected in Sector 13. Upon further inspection it appears to be a single ship, Imperial in design, model unknown. According to our calculations, the incoming vessel should arrive in orbit in 86 hours 37 minutes 12 seconds out." Stated Tesilon-Kappa in his heavily mechanical voice.
That was closer than I expected and if it was Imperial, they were far more aggressive than I thought they would be. Standard Imperial doctrine was to warp to the fringe of the system, not directly in the middle of it. It was obvious whoever was commanding this ship was preparing to launch a lightning assault in the hopes of catching us off guard. Although I was a little worried about the lack of ships that appeared with it. Where were the escorts, or the other troopships? Surely if the Imperium wanted to recapture the planet they would launch a larger force then just one ship. Even the idiot Karamazov bought multiple troop transports, unless they felt like only one ship was necessary.
"General, prepare all ground troops, we may be facing an Astartes drop pod assault."
"At your will Lord Liberator" replied General Mahlone, calling over some of his aides to begin organizing his men.
"Excuse me Lord Liberator, I don't think that will be necessary" replied the mechanical voice of Admiral Bugler, however this time it was not due to his vocal cords being replaced, but was due to the projector he was using to attend this meeting. " I have 5 cruisers moving to intercept and Magos Tesilon-Kappa has trained Emeli's Gifts weapons onto the incoming vessel. If it makes any move against Slawkenberg it will be destroyed." He continued
"Even so, I think it would be prudent to get the troops prepared for the worst," I responded. If we were caught off guard, the USA response would be slowed. Meaning there was more risk to my life. Even if Zerayah was in the palace I did not like my chances of being able to hold out until she could save me.
An aide of Admiral Bugler's entered his screen.
"Excuse me Admiral, the Righteous Truth has made vox contract with the unknown vessel. They say they are the merchant ship Rosea Panther and have been heavily damaged by pirates. They request immediate aid and wish for assistance with repairs."
I could distantly hear Jafar mentioning that the ship appears to be friendly, while General Mahlone was saying that this could be a trick. But I was zoning out of the conversation, time seemed to slow since the name Rosea Panther was spoken. Something about that name seemed vaguely familiar. Obviously, my current state didn't go unnoticed.
"Lord Liberator, is something wrong?" asked Krystabel
"No, everything is fine", I waved off the question, "Just something about that ship's name sounds familiar. Proceed with caution Admiral." and I felt my hands begin to tingle. An indicator that there was something I was missing about the situation, something that would turn the situation from bad to worse. The meeting continued as we prepared for the worst, but with no idea what it was, we wouldn't be able to create an effective plan against it. I gave a couple answers and the required nods and questions, but my mind wasn't in the meeting. I was still stuck thinking about the incoming ship and where did I hear that ship's name before. As the meeting began to close everyone began preparing to carry out their assigned duties.
"Magos Tesilon-Kappa, I will see you shortly on Emeli's Gift". I called out as Tesilon-Kappa was about to sign out. Throughout the meeting, I was unable to shake the feeling that I had to be among those who first question our unexpected guest. Of course, if I knew how much trouble they would cause me I would have ordered the ship destroyed before it even made port, family relations be damned.
Author's Note : This is part 1 of 3 in a series explaining my theory on why in this universe Cain could be related to Inquisitor Clousseau. This was an idea that I spent way too much time thinking about. This whole idea started when I thought it would be funny for Cain to somehow join the Concilium Ravus and meeting the other Inquisitors. The only possibility for this is by having him be introduced as Clousseau's successor due to being related to him. Then the more I thought about it the more I thought that it could really be a possibility that they are related in this fic. The next two parts are the reasoning for why this theory works. I don't know if I will continue this story, however.