Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Eighty-Seven

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I arrive at Obsidian Emporial. The plaza in front of their main building is patrolled by their troops, many of whom bear dressed wounds and damaged armour. Towering over them are the Heralds of Alpia’s Close Protection Company, all equipped with Rogue Pattern Power Armour.

Two squads of twelve, Assault Pattern Cyber Mastiff Riders range in and out of the plaza, patrolling the surrounding streets. A squad of Blink Pattern Cyber Mastiff riders patrols the plaza. These Heralds are hilariously conspicuous as both the Cyber Mastiff and their MOA Carapace wearing riders are bright red from the ruby stealth coating on their armour. Personally, I think it makes it all the more amusing should they need to suddenly disappear.

Four, Mars Pattern MKⅡc Rhinos are parked outside the primary entrance to Obsidian Emporial. Yes, I know that the Stellar Corps doesn’t typically use Rhinos because of their lower transport capacity, they’re 27% smaller, and higher cost. However, they are used by Power Armour Companies and Close Protection Companies because they have all the internal connections required for interfacing with Power Armour, providing power, data, and fuel as needed. 

The ones I use have also been altered to use Promethium NN as the special fuel is less volatile and reduces the number of oxygen tanks required. Thus, these Rhinos have a lower risk of burning up or exploding when under assault, and carry slightly more ammo or other supplies than the standard version. There’s still no way to transport more than ten people in the back though. Space for up to three crew does provide some flexibility though.

I did investigate the Mk.Ⅲa Mars-pattern Rhino that the Sororitas have exclusive use of in the Imperium. It is 17% smaller than the Chimera at the cost of a higher profile, 4.1 metres compared to the 3.6 of the original. The design is more refined with superior auspex. 

The extra height, adjusted view ports, and hatches make it easier for observers to spot and engage enemy targets sooner in dense, urban environments. However, the higher profile creates unwanted vulnerability to anti-vehicle weapons. Given that the extra height does not allow the Mk.Ⅲa to hold more infantry, it wasn’t worth tweaking the noses of the Sororitas to add it to the Stellar Corps vehicle list.

One of the Rhinos parked outside Obsidian Emporial has six Noosphere Operatives hiding within it, supplementing their cogitator capacity and vox range with the Rhino’s systems. I could look for where the other half of the squad are hiding by chasing down the huge amount of signals flowing to and from the vehicle, but revealing my daughter’s hidden protectors would be dumb.

Obsidian Emporial’s facade is not the usual Imperial Gothic. Its sharp, geometric patterns remind me of the intricate interior of islamic domes. I was expecting pure black. Instead, I am greeted with a riot of colours, primarily a mix of red, green, and blue arranged in polished, mosaic chips set outlined by black edges. I’ve never seen so many colours of volcanic glass in one place and the effect is quite marvelous. Given the cost of importing them, finding this design on a void station is even more impressive.

However, Obsidian Emporial’s extravagance and elegance pales in comparison to my daughter. 

Alpia hovers in front of the open doors, her four meter frame further heightened by her custom Power Armour. Her armour bears a strong similarity to Devastator Centurion Power Armour and the Geist Pattern Dreadnought, though it is slimmer and more feminine. At this point, the hexagonal patterning and sharp edges of Rogue Pattern Power Armour is just as much a symbol of the Stellar Fleet as the cog and hammer stamped on her shoulders. 

The hexagonal patterning isn’t strictly necessary as I used auramite Alpia’s armour’s outer layers, not just the special composite armour formula from the Rogue Pattern Power Armour STC. The hexagonal pattern is used because the armour composite can only be formed as a flat surface, but auramite is not so limited. I wanted Alpia to feel like she fits in with everyone else though, so I didn’t round off her armour.

Auramite is an ultra rare metal that is supposed to only be used when the Emperor gives permission to do so. The Custodes and the Emperor are the only ones I know who use it for armour. I doubt anyone will call me out on it for ‘wasting’ it on a Saint though.

Rather than being an oversuit for Power Armour like the original Centurion Power Armour, Alpia fills out her custom armour all by herself. Two wings rise from her back. One bears gold tinted, white feathers and the other has silver, metallic feathers gleaming with runes. Despite their physical weight and presence, the folded, twelve metre wings phase through the back of her armour like an old PC game with bad clipping.

Little extras, like shoulder-mounted micro-missiles and lasgun munition swatters are also present, much like my own armour. Alpia also has four heavy duty mechadendrites and two slimmer ones. The original Centurion pattern called for chest mounted missiles. I altered the design because it made Alpia look like she had rocket tits. 

Alpia thought rocket tits were hilarious and wanted to keep them. She only relented when I said I wanted us to match as close as possible so that everyone would see we were family. I had to accept being labelled as adorable by both Alpia and Brigid and thought the sacrifice well worth it. That and build matching Power Armour for Brigid, myself, Quaani, Annette, Dareaca, Luan, and Fial to keep up the ruse. I had to requisition so many resources my personal savings took a noticeable dip!

If anyone asks, I will deny hiding an auramite layer behind the hexagonal composite on the other matching power armours. The other suits are far smaller than Alpia’s and based off the Rogue Pattern, but at least they’re all the same Mars red and bronze trim with my family crest painted on the shoulder.

A Heavy Arc Rifle, oversized for Alpia’s large, armoured hands, dangles from a strap around her chest. Her left arm has a Volkite Incinerator built into the arm and the right has a fixed Lascannon. A Power Hammer, far larger than the one I wield, dangles from Alpia’s hip opposite an upsized heavy bolter, loaded with Warp bane rounds, that my daughter is quite capable of firing one handed.

Just in case her flight, powers, weapons, and Conversion Shield weren’t enough overkill, three of her mechadendrites hold reserve weapons: a Graviton Gun, a Conversion Beamer, and a Plasma Culverin. The fourth mechadendrite holds a Power Shield bigger than I am.

For a moment I question how Alpia expects to use so many weapons simultaneously, then I remember that she has technopathy and telekinesis. Alpia is limited by how many ways she can split her attention and the intelligence of her supporting Machine-Spirits, not the number of weapons she can hold.

Despite her intimidating arsenal. Alpia’s radiant smile as she spots me completely ruins her serious image. I am torn between deciding if she looks like a gender-bent Frank Castle getting ready for a night of carnage in Hell’s Kitchen, or a crazed, gold and red Magus Dominus who spent too much time reading the adventures of Old Man Henderson.

Alpia explodes into motion and sprints across the plaza so fast it almost looks like she teleports. My bodyguards barely manage to dive out of the way as she glides between them with engineered grace. They spring back upright in perfect combat rolls and close ranks again as if nothing unusual has happened.

“Dad!” yells Alpia as she picks me up like an iron doll and squeezes me against her unforgiving, auramite chest. “Are you OK?” Alpia extends her arms and holds me up to her face from my armpits. She has a shit eating grin on her face.

Trying to embarrass your old man, eh?

“Yes, Sweet Pea. Now that I have seen you I am all better. Can you put me down please?”

Alpia stares at me for several seconds, giving me a close up of her face. Like Quaani, she has been heavily altered by the Emperor, though in a far more controlled and aesthetically pleasing manner. Alpia has the same, uncanny beauty as an Eldar. Prettier, even, I would argue. 

Unfortunately, it was not mine or my wife’s efforts that gave Alpia her looks so I have been stripped of the right to feel unbearably smug about it. Yet another privilege the Tyrant has denied me. A scowl flits across my face and Alpia pouts.

Alpia says, “No. You are still grumpy. I am going to carry you until your embarrassment is so great you forget about whatever it is that is bothering you.”

I cast The Course Untravelled. One moment I am dangling from Alpia’s crushing grasp, the next I am hovering in the air, a metre from her hands, my grav-skates causing the air beneath me to ripple slightly.

“Thank you for coming, Alpia. A smile, a hug, and an hour or two looking at the galaxy’s artefacts and relics with you and I will be just fine. Funny though it might be, I am a few millennia past being hoisted in a game of ‘uppies’.”

“Awww, but you used to love throwing my brothers and I to incredibly dangerous heights. It was awesome!”

I clear my throat, “That’s not quite the same thing and you know it. I’d much rather hear about your experiences directing the support ships. Did you enjoy yourself?”

Alpia folds her massive arms, “You’re supposed to ask if I achieved my goals or if I did well! It wasn’t a play trip. Everything was super serious with lives on the line. You always tell me off if I joke about this stuff. You are being a total hypocrite right now, Dad.”

“Oh, so I’m not allowed to tease you and you get free reign to embarass me,” I smile. “Is that how the next few hours are going to go?”

“I’m not going to waste cogitator cycles on rhetorical questions. And yes. I did have fun. I have a whole bunch of news to share.”

I sink to the ground and Alpia and I walk towards Obsidian Emporial, ignoring the stares we are getting.

“I look forward to hearing all about your adventures, Alpia.”

“I expect nothing less. I’m too awesome for anything else.”

I chuckle.

Alpia continues, “Do you want help picking out something for Mum?”

“Yes please. Annette, Quaani, and baby George too. We should get something for your brothers as well. We can leave it here for them to pick up when their patrol reaches Footfall. It will be a nice little surprise for them, so that they know we’re thinking of them.”

“Good idea. Mum is annoyed with you. She wanted you to help her with her latest weird project. Instead, Mum has roped poor Anette into helping her upgrade Dawn Garnet, even though the woman is busy looking after George and Quaani, and is still going through her tech apprenticeship.”

“Damnit, that girl really needs to learn to say ‘No’. Why is Brigid messing with the family dog?”

“Mum got inspired by seeing a holovid of the Barghest Pattern Cyber-Mastiffs in action and decided that I need a dog big enough to follow me around and keep me safe. She freaked out after reading some report about the Penitents. She was in one of her moods, so I didn’t bother asking for details.”

Ah, I can see that. Brigid must have read about the Penitents raping and murdering the citizens of Footfall. Brigid knows she can’t really keep the Penitents or similar zealots from Alpia without the Stellar Corps having to put down a riot. Alpia doesn’t need protecting from those dregs, but that doesn’t stop having a loyal Cyber-Mastiff watch her back from being a good idea.

I can’t say I’m any better either as I just hired the Order of the Valorous Heart to be Alpia’s personal army, though that was a planned, rather than a reactive decision. Maybe I should get Alpia some Ogryn too? They would go well with a 3.7 metre tall, invisible, teleporting Cyber-Mastiff. I bet Obsidian Emporial has some Ogryn available.

...At this rate my daughter is going to be single her entire life. I will have to discuss this with Brigid and see if we can find Alipa a paramour without making it obvious. She has friends among the Psy-Erants, right? Little George will need some cousins and a grandchild might get Brigid to stop monopolising Annette.

“I’ll have to make sure my gifts are extra special,” I say. “No pressure.”

Alpia laughs.

Unless Obsidian Emporial has an STC, I really don’t see how I balance out the blatant favouritism between Alpia and my sons. My boys are a practical bunch and understand the need for all the extra support I give Alpia, but that doesn’t mean it won’t hurt them in some way. 

An officer commission and 25 years service from an escort vessel does not equal 10,000 armoured nuns, at least in the eyes of young men, even if the void ship is far more expensive. Yet another issue I should discuss with Brigid once she’s less laser focused on over-sized, killer pets.

Alpia says, “Are you getting anything for yourself? Maybe me too?”

“Of course I am. There’s no way I could surprise you with something special at this point. Do you want to pick something out or should I take a wild stab at what you want?”

“We can pick something for each other together. I think that would be more fun. It will give us more to talk about to distract you from your terminal grumpiness.”

“Whatever Milady, Saint, Princess Issengrund demands.”

Alpia smirks, “At this rate I’m going to end up with more silly titles than you.”

“Urgh! Don’t remind me. That’s the reason I’m annoyed with the Barghests.” I gently pat my cheeks with my cold, armoured palms, “Enough of that, hit me with some good news!”

“Let’s wait until we’re inside first and have a look around. I don’t want my story to be interrupted by whatever over-the-top greeting we’re going to get.”

“That bad, huh?”