Kalos System Edge, Beyond the Fence of the Gods | Outer Patrol Ship
Ship-Leader Zizane phased onto the bridge of his patrol frigate, the Hippos’ Eye. He had just finished a sleep cycle and was now prepared to take over for his subordinate executive officer, Ship-Sub-Leader Hogarn. The bridge of the Hippos’ Eye was a brilliant cerulean color, it’s exposed ship stations pearlescent white. To the multi-spectrum eyes of Zizane it was comfortable and beautiful. He turned his head from side to side, his elongated neck giving him a towering height, seeing what the crew were about. A series of AI-androids were working diligently at their stations. Hogarn was sitting in the Ship-Leader’s chair behind the pilot’s station.
“Welcome back onto the bridge, Ship-Leader,” smiled Hogarn. Hogarn was a homo sapiens, whereas Zizane was Kalosian. Even having grown up alongside other humans, the manner in which humans displayed their aggressive mastication tools as a sign of happiness or friendliness was still disturbing on various levels. But Zizane knew that Hogarn was simply being her usual cheerful self.
“Thank you, Sub-Leader Hogarn. Has anything of note happened while I was absent?”
“No, Ship-Leader.” Hogarn stood up and adjusted her hair. Her brown tresses were kept neat within an intricate number of intertwining weaves, hanging long enough to reach the middle of her back. “Everything is as quiet as a wajrik.”
“In that case please feel free to go down to your quarters and--.”
*WREEE WREEE WREEE*
The ship alert sounded and the bright lights of the bridge dimmed, casting everything in dark, blue shadows. Zizane quickly sat in the command chair.
“Report!”
One of the androids’ heads turned 180-degrees. “Unknown anomaly appearing off the ship port-bow, fourty-nine thousand kilometers.”
Hippos’ bloody eye! That’s too close! Zizane could feel his sweat ducts tighten along the rear ridge of his head’s spine fin.
“Power to engines, full thrust,” ordered Zizane.
“Identify and analyze,” ordered Hogarn, taking her seat next to the sensor station.
“Anomaly unknown. Multiple forms of radiation and unknown energy-types are being detected. Wait! Metallic object appearing out of the anomaly.”
“Its…it’s a ship!” said Hogarn. “Correction – ships! Multiple ships appearing through the anomaly.”
“Open a hailing channel,” ordered Zizane. “I’ve never seen such a form of transportation method, but this anomaly must be something like a faster-than-light portal.”
“Four of the unknown ships have targeted us with various weapon systems, cannot yet quantify,” reported another android crew member.
“What?!”
Three macro-cannon batteries, a lance battery, and a bombard cannon unleashed a fusillade of firepower simultaneously. The range was, unfortunately for the Hippos’ Eye too close to evade effectively. A macro-cannon shell tore through the entire ship, the two others missing by a few hundred meters. While the single hit would have been enough to assure the destruction of the Kalosian frigate, it was hit by the lance strike a microsecond later. The ship was already mid-explosion when the bombard cannon’s shell exploded by proximity within a kilometer.
Infernus-class Battleship Imperator Triumphant | Flagship of the 3rd Crusade Fleet
Lord Admiral Fulrian von Markan smiled as his fleet successfully translated out of the warp. Three grand cruisers surrounded the larger form of the Imperator Triumphant, each in turn flanked by picket groups of Cobra-class destroyers and Firestorm-class frigates. The quick detection and destruction of a scout ship that happened to be so nearby after leaving the warp was a happy stroke of luck. Fulrian was taking it as a good omen.
In the wake of the Imperial Navy ships came a number of fleet tenders and a large vessel of ancient origin, an Ark Mechanicus.
“Shipmaster,” Fulrian turned to his flagship’ captain, “Send a message to Lord Commander Corbulo that he may begin to prepare his men for combat. Prepare a full sensorium analysis of the system and distribute additional target data between the ships of the fleet.”
“Aye, my lord.”
-+-+-+-+-+-
Lord Commander Flavius Corbulo stood in his ready-room, looking at his reflection in the mirror above the small sink next to his cabin closet. His bedchamber door behind him was open, revealing a luxuriously apportioned sleeping space and four-poster bed. The floor was carpeted with a thick red rug that one’s feet simply sank into like warm sand. Even here, in his ready-room, there was gold gilt and ornamentation beyond what was truly needed. But it fit his station – as a scion of the noble House Corbulo.
He remembered an off-hand comment that his subaltern once made. ”Who ever ordered such apartments; somebody’s son and heir?”
“Somebody’s son and heir, indeed,” Flavius murmured to himself. He checked his reflection for the third time, making sure his shave had been adequate. Humming loudly beside him was a servitor, mechadendrite appendages covered in silver gilt.
“Is the shave adequate, Master Corbulo?” the servitor inquired, it’s voice strained through a metal vox grill surgically attached to where a mouth would be on a normal human being.
“It’s adequate. Please see to cleaning up the mess.”
Flavius turned back to his bedchamber and finished dressing. His manservant, Dorr, silently helped Flavius into his jacket and vest. Then came his belt, attached to which was a power sword, curved into a sabre, and an ornate las pistol. They hung on either side of his hips comfortably, even though Favius had never actually had to draw them in anger in over a decade.
“It is still hard to believe that we’re exploring new space…in a new galaxy,” said Flavius.
Realizing that his master wished to speak, Dorr dutifully responded. “Indeed, my lord. I imagine that many in the battlegroup are eager to claim glory in the endeavor.”
“Glory indeed,” nodded Flavius, sagely. “Though one wonders...”
“Yes, my lord? One wonders what?” asked Dorr, mentally shrugging.
“Why, Dorr. Why? That is the question. Maybe that is why Inquisitor Androcles tagged along on our flotilla? He knows the ‘why’ of it.”
“One would hope so, sir,” said Dorr. “Seeing as how he’s an Inquisitor and all.”
“I’ll have to try prying it out of him,” Flavius grumbled. “In the meantime, there’s a campaign to prosecute. Dorr, please alert all the officers to assemble in the strategium in one hour.”
“Yes, my lord.”
-+-+-+-+-+-
The strategium on the Imperator Triumphant was a grand, oval chamber that had a number of chairs arrayed in descending rows, all parties facing a central stage. Upon the stage was a holo-projector which had a slightly flickering image of the Kalos System being displayed above it. A cadre of red-robed Mechanicum acolytes were standing in the background, murmuring prayers to the Omnissiah. Most of the surrounding seats were taken up by Imperial Guard officers: senior officers, attached commissars, and perhaps a tactica aide in attendance. Half the seats were taken up by holo-projected officers who were stationed upon other ships in the fleet.
Flavius’ personal bodyguard, black and silver carapace armored stormtroopers, parted to allow him through and onto the stage. A small cheer erupted spontaneously, mostly from the younger officers. Flavius gave a bit of a wave in acknowledgement.
“Gentlemen! We are, as Lord General Plautus would say, about to embark on a great crusade. This place and this time? It’s ours. This is our place. This is our time. We’ve already had first blood – a fact that our Imperial Navy brethren are sure to hold over our heads for a little while until we manage to make planetfall.” Flavius spoke with his best oratory skills.
“As I speak the fleet is coming close to the fifth planet of the system. We’ve detected two moon-based colonies and a construction yard. Each needs to be taken so that we may quickly establish a foothold. As easy and straightforward as any God-Emperor loving soldier could ask for,” continued Flavius, a number of agreeable grunts and a few small laughs echoing.
“My 20th Hellraisers will remain in reserve for now.”
The statement brought several long seconds of silence. How often was it that an expeditionary commander was willing to allow any other regiment of soldiers to claim glory above his own?
“Instead, I shall be assigning the 203rd and the 88th regiments – each to a single moon respectively. As for the construction yards, that target shall be assigned to the Mantuan 1st,” declared Flavius.
Silence reigned at his pronouncement, which was then slowly raised into a torrential applause. He raised his hand to quiet the room.
“Above all, my good soldiers, remember that we act here today in the name of our Lord Governor and the God-Emperor of Mankind. Imperator vult!”
“Imperator vult!” roared the officers.
War was coming to the Kalos System, whether the indigenous peoples wished it or not.
