Post by Rev. Ben Blythe on Feb 14, 2005 18:34:13 GMT -5
The Imperial Escorts drifted far away, the Avarice lulled through space, her own kin behind her sleepily watching the trail she left behind. Inside the ships men ran about, swearing cursing as sailors do.
“THEY CAME FROM THE SIDE!” The death cries of the captain of the Hydra, a part of Gorgon Squad.
“ALL AHEAD FULL!” Men were running on the bridge diverting energy from guns to thrusters. Burnstead’s crew were scared though, the dark rumors of the dread pirate Fortis whipping at their backs, driving them to their duties. The fear bore down on the men, like over packed mules.
Far off Purgis was fighting his own battles. He hated Burnstead for needing to be his escort, such a task was below him, and now his men were going to die. A Squadron of Light Cruisers and a Heavy Cruiser were bearing down on his ships. “Admiral Purgis, we can’t take any more hits! Our shields are about to overload!” Purgis listened to the voice of a dead man, it was Bain a member of his council and Captain of the Heretics Twilight.
“Captain and friend Bain, you know what the Emperor would have you do at this time.” A cold silence came, followed by a stern and resolute “Aye Admiral”.
The Heretics Twilight lunged off course, she offensively flew into the Fortis’ line. The guns of the Decadence and her sister squadron relentlessly fired at the Heretics Twilight. The shimmer of fire and the energy of shields caressed the aura of the Twilight. The colors stopped, but the guns didn’t and nor the flames. Torpedos gracefully slid through the shields of the Twilight striking deep into her hull. The shields fell and the guns flew into the ship until she was reduced to a flaming hulk. Purgis thanked the God Emperor that the souls of the Heretics Twilight passed in service to Him, the hulk drifted pass Fortis’ line. The guns ceased their fire, for a time there was peace while guns were being re calibrated to more pressing enemies.
Fortis filled with pride. An Imperial Cruiser was no small prize. “Good job my lord,” Morgain cooed.
“This job is not over, all guns onto the flagship!”<br>
“Sir we are still getting heat from the destroyed ship” a crewman warned.
“Merely the fires of my rage, I am not concerned!” As if ignited by Fortis’ hubris The Heretics Twilight split into two, and as it opened; pouring out her soul, a green shock wave cut through the void around the Decadence. The bridge shook, spilling delicate navigation systems, life support tubes, and people. When Fortis came to his feet, and pulled a chunk of shrapnel out of his shoulder, he found Morgain lying twisted on the floor, bleeding from the mouth. Fortis leaned next to her to support her, the only light in his dark heart.
As blood gurgled in her throat, her last words as she parted this world were “You were never loved.” When Morgain laid dead, Fortis threw her from his embrace.
“Pick that up you worm,” a crewman skulked away carrying her corpse.
Burnstead tried as he could to push his men onwards , they were sick with fear. Despite the poor crew’s bumbling the transports were able to outrun the pirate fleet, its blood sacrifice the crew of Gorgon Squad 1, who with the rest of Gorgon Squad set up a line used to block the onslaught of pirate escorts. “I want some answers!” Burnstead cursed the Empire, and knew they were responsible for this attack.
All was quiet. Fortis’ ships glided through space. In his quarters Fortis was enveloped in darkness, it made him feel safe. He thought about Morgain, her death, and her parting words then he looked at his own wounds. The wound seemed to be infected, but it was far too soon only a day since he received it. He heard the buzzing of flies, and soon felt an immense sorrow for Morgain. It was there he sat waiting for some unseen friend, among the flies, the putrid puss festering from his wound and the body of his un requited love.
The Numerator scuttled through the cargo hold. Counting crates, and piles of goods. He had spent two whole days taking a count of the cargo, and everything seemed as it should be, until he heard voices. These were crude voices, he peaked at the source from around a corner. He saw two guardsmen next to a crate that shouldn’t belong, he quickly scuttled to his masters quarters to report the news.
Some time later, Burnstead threw open the doors to the cargo hold, 10 men followed in his stead. They grabbed the two guardsmen. Burnstead walked up to the crate, it was covered in metal, and had two tanks on the side probably a fuel to keep it refrigerated. The crate was nearly as tall as him. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the guardsmen struggling. He found the opening mechanism. Steam poured from the crevasses of the crate. As he looked through the cloud of steam, and his eyes adjusted to the distance a fetal insect opened its eyes, and screamed…<br>
Captain Mathis had spent the last two weeks looking for Burnstead, early reports said he landed on a nearby planet, others claimed that they had seen most of the merchant fleet disband and scatter. “Captain Mathis, are you ready for today’s briefing?”<br>
“Yes Annah I am,” the daily briefing was something he always enjoyed, he liked setting his goals and labors for the day.
“To start off sir the last captains log entry of the Heretics Twilight was recovered.”<br>
”Aahh and what was it?”<br>
”Sir it seems to be the Prayer of Ignition,” when Annah said this, Mathis’s soul seem to be lighter, “also sir, we have several Space Marine vessels joining our fleet.”<br>
“WHAT? Why are they joining with us.”<br>
“Well actually sir, I guess we will be joining them, but it seems that the upper echelon isn’t happy with Burnstead being lost.”<br>
“No surprise, but the Emperors Angels sailing with us? Truly this Rogue Trader must mean more than we are being told.”<br>
”Aye Sir.”<br>