Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Ninety

I am away for the next seven days and will not be replying to comments or messages during this time. Chapter releases will continue as normal.

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The day of the big meeting arrives and I am most pleased to return to Torchbearer. I am sure that Rapturous Spirit and the Imperial Navy are only too happy to no longer have me breathing down their necks. I promote Enginseer Prime Threnseus Oserael to Fleet Overseer and the two Imperial Fleets will be following us to Port Wander. His tactic of following me around paid off.

As I approach the officers’ common room near the primary bridge where we are holding the big meeting, I feel a small tug upon my mind, as if a weak psyker is trying to make a connection but does not know how. The connection is obscured somehow, and I would not have noticed were this young psyker not specifically calling for me.

For now, I ignore it and enter the officers’ common room. The tables have been rearranged into a U-shape and the room’s extra comfy chairs are still present. Normally for big meetings, I have comfy chairs swapped out for plasteel to encourage people to be brief. Today, however, is destined to be a long one no matter what; I’d rather keep everyone in good cheer.

Herald Primarus Domhnall Noake has had the forethought to swap bodies today, rather than take up half the room in his Praetorian frame. He’s standing next to a wall-sized pict viewer that cycles through images and data of every world and system the Stellar Fleet has visited.

Artisan Laisren Toolin, Head of Acquisitions & Assimilation for Stellar Fleet SOL, and his Fleet Command peer, High Factotum Seraphine Lebarcham, are chatting with Domhnall as they reminisce about Marwolv and the long journey they have taken to Footfall.

Opposite the cycling images of stellar bodies is a wall of digital portraits that show the current officers on duty and the list of their responsibilities. Master Psyker Reina Benetek, Confessor Emyr Driskel, and Aeronautica Marshal Igraine are standing in front of the portraits, though they aren’t looking at them.

Igraine expresses her uncertainty as to why she has been called to attend today’s meeting as she is not a member of Fleet Command. She is one of my highest ranking officers though. Reina and Emyr offer their opinions and encouragement.

Built into the third wall is a shrine and a door leading to a string of meditation rooms. At the rear of the shrine, statues of the Emperor and the Machine-God hold the two-headed eagle standard of the Imperium of Man aloft. The eagle perches on a hammer inside a cog, grasping it with its claws.

The Iron Foundation have been busy with their unsubtle proselytizing, I note. 

A book of my quotes is on the altar, placed on a small stand as if it were a bible. A silent, holographic depiction of myself, standing to the side of the altar, gives a lecture. A low power noosphere connection blares its intent to connect to vox implants to add the audio from my recorded lecture.

Fleet Marshal Lonceta Ridel and Master of Whispers Inquisitor Raphael Horthstein are having a whispered conversation as they kneel before the shrine.

Order of the Valorous Heart representative, Canoness Ephrine Stern waits for Lonceta and Raphael to finish their conversation. She stands with an unlit incense stick in her hands, as far from them as she can manage while still being within the boundaries of the shrine. Her face is serene as she recites prayers under her breath.

Rogue Trader Caligos Winterscale peruses the small shop attached to the Officers’ common room where officers can purchase small luxuries unavailable to most of the vessel. 

I say shop, it’s more a collection of vending machines, organic printers, and an order terminal. Calligos points out specific objects in the vending machines to Chaplain Riordan of the Barghests and his new apprentice, Tech-Marine Ottavio. Calligos explains the objects in the vending machines to Ottavio, who has not seen most of them before, only to be promptly corrected by an amused Riordan. 

Magos Biologis JK-404 chimes in as well, exaggerating the health benefits of a heavily spiced, Indian takeaway. Calligos can’t take his eyes off JK-404 and JK-404 ignores Calligos. Her cold shoulder only encourages Calligos’ fascination with the perky Magos.

Lathe Worlds representative, Logis Abbisine Vakul, sits at the table with Thorfinn Ursus, Head of Civilian Command. He’s not interviewing her this time, though he is quizzing her on her thoughts about the Battle of Footfall. Abbisine is being far more careful with her words than she was the last time those two talked.

Imperial Navy Representative, Navigator Leonis Aleene, sits by himself, sipping Tanna Tea and staring wide-eyed at all the people in the room. Fortunately he isn’t so surprised he’s opened his third eye as well!

Last is Tanthus Moross, Liege of Footfall. He sits stiff backed at the end of the table, dressed in rich fabrics, looking like he’s about to attend his own execution; Tanthus has many questions to answer today.

We are still waiting for my wife and daughter. They’re not late yet, though they’re cutting it close.

I approach Riordan, Calligos, JK-404 and Ottavio as they’re having the least serious conversation. If I try to insert myself into any other group, I’ll just end up killing their private moments with my presence.

The nearer I get, the stronger that baby psyker call gets. Curious, I meet the gaze of each person, ending with Ottavio. The moment I meet his eyes the connection snaps shut and I immediately know his health, position, and mood.

Ottavio kneels and bows his head, “Father!”

His voice is strong and kills every other conversation in the room.

Well, there goes my discreet entrance. 

Keeping my face and tone neutral, I say, “Stand up, lad. Astartes kneel before the Emperor. No one else.”

Ottavio appears bewildered by his own actions and Riordan helps him to his feet.

“A fine sentiment,” says Riordan. “Steady yourself, Apprentice. That looked like an unexpected Barghest psy-link to me.”

JK-404 says, “Fascinating. I did not foresee this.”

“I didn’t think you had it in you, Magos,” says Calligos.

I give Calligos a bland stare then say to Riordan, “Ottavio is one of the new Astartes, correct?”

“He is,” says Riordan. “We sometimes see that reaction from new Astartes towards our oldest brothers, though the word choice is different. I did not expect to see that from young Ottavio when he is standing next to me, let alone to you, Magos Issengrund. From your question, it would seem you have an inkling for what is going on. An explanation is required.”

“I quite agree,” I say. “You were the lead researcher, Magos JK-404, and are a Biologis. Your insight will be far more accurate than mine.”

“You flatter me, Magos Issengrund. It was your machines, your data, and your recovered technologies that made my research possible. We were successful beyond our wildest predictions.” 

I nod and smile. Internally, I am screaming into the void.

JK-404 continues, “I propose that Apprentice Ottavio’s reaction is due to an unusual reaction to Magos Issengrund’s Navigator status and the use of his DNA in creating pure strain Humans before implantation. To preempt any outrage and confusion, Magos Issengrund was not always a Navigator. 

“The DNA records we used in our experiments to improve Barghest geneseed organ implantation success predate Magos Issengrund’s reforging under the implacable hand of the Emperor. I cannot say at this point if the so-called ‘psy-link reaction’,” JK-404 uses her mechadendrites to emote her quotation, “is unique to Ottavio or will propagate through all new Astartes.”

Riordan says, “Our Apothecaries spent some time gushing over the purity and age of those samples. The one they were most enamoured with came from M3 and it was used extensively. Would that be yours, Magos Issengrund, or were you one of the other samples?”

The metaphorical Gyrinx is well and truly out of the Munitorum crate now and the xeno-feline shredded it on the way out. I could clam up and deny everything yet my emotions recoil at the thought of continuing to hide and skulk. Still, a little creative retelling is required.

“Yes, the M3 sample is mine. To follow in JK-404’s footsteps, I shall preempt a few questions. No, I did not live through the Dark Age of Technology. By the grace of the Emperor, I spent millennia frozen in a sarcophagus and was later revived after a power failure on an ancient science station. The only possession I had was a note from the Emperor wishing me good luck and a data chip, granting me the codes and authority of a Magos Explorator. The note promptly burned and shoved a brief outline of the state of the galaxy into my mind. I was furious. For many reasons.

“I fought through the Space Hulk, with nothing but a pipe, an Auto-Sanguine, and the guidance of the Machine-Spirit implanted in my skull. I faced Daemons, Orks, Tyranids, and Cultists. I followed the rites of the Mechanicus from the records gifted to me by the Emperor, restored Distant Sun, revived Odhran, then set the vessel free. 

“We escaped pursuit from Tyranids, Orks, and Eldar as we fled the on Distant Sun. The Space Hulk was ripped apart by Daemons and destroyed when it permanently ran out of power shortly after we left. I travelled the Koronus Expanse where I eventually encountered Marwolv and uplifted its people, teaching them the rites and skills that had saved me.”

There are a lot of incredulous looks around the room.

I continue, “If I hadn’t lived it, and someone told me that story, I would call them a liar. I will not be offended if you think the same thing.”

Calligos gives a full bellied laugh, “Stranger things have happened in the Koronus Expanse, Aldrich. You are in the right company.”

“I appreciate your candor,” says Riordan. “I will withhold my opinion until I have had time to consult with Force Commander Odhran.”

“An expected outcome,” I say. “I am uncertain of Odhran’s thoughts on our first meeting. There was a lot of shooting xenos and cultists involved. Dare I say he enjoyed himself with a bike stunt and a few spectacularly deadly traps? He is sparse with his expressions.”

Riordan chuckles, “Amusing anecdotes aside, we will have to test this psy-link. Magos JK-404, did you inform the Apothecaries and Genetors to whom the samples belonged?”

“I said they all came from Magos Issengrund. Perhaps I should have been more precise with my wording. Either way, it would not have mattered. The Barghests would have gone through with the experiment. It was a chance to mitigate your geneseed compatibility issues and was a direct request of Chapter Master Lir. The research was a key part of the alliance with the Stellar Fleet.”

“I do not criticise your logic,” says Riordan. “Blame is a waste of time and will not solve the issue at hand. Neither will I speculate on the consequences until we have definitive proof of Aldrich’s accidental psy-link to our chapter.”

Ottavio clears his throat, “How should I address you, Magos Issengrund?”

“It depends on the setting. Most of the time, Magos Issengrund will do just fine. If there are too many Magi in the room, causing confusion with their similar titles, Explorator Issengrund is a good bet, or you can use one of my other titles, like Novator, Trader, or Lord Captain. Use your best judgement. 

“If our link compels you to do otherwise, Ancestor Issengrund will suffice. It is sufficiently vague that none should feel that such a title comes with expectations from either side while having the benefit of being true. Considering how old I am, half the galaxy could be related to me and I wouldn’t know.”

“That is agreeable,” says Ottavio. “Brother Riordan, do you have any objections?”

“No. Magos Issengrund’s solution will suffice.”

“Then I will pass the word to my many brothers,” says Ottavio.

Abbisine speaks up, “You are more storied than I expected, Magos Issengrund. Will the Stellar Fleet be trading its research into improving Astartes creation?”

I say, “So long as the Barghests are willing, so too, am I. Perhaps the Lathes will agree to sponsor messengers across the galaxy?”

“I would be delighted to organise such an endeavour,” says Abbisine. “The Divine Light of Solex will need to verify the research before they put their name on it. However, if it is as revolutionary as Magos JK-404 implies, the ships should be sent out by the end of the century.” 

Tanthus says, “When would that be?”

“My chronometer estimates that we will welcome in a new century in fifty years, and the new millennium in 150,” says Abbisine.

“Ah, Footfall is running a decade behind from the wider galaxy,” says Tanthus. “I will update our clocks when I return.”

“Should you be permitted to do so,” says Raphael.

Tanthus says, “Perhaps, Inquisitor. You are not the man with the final word here though are you? That privilege lies in the hand of Magos Issengrund. Not even the Saint will oppose him.”