Chapter 3: I Am Loyal!
The atmosphere between the two groups was stretched to the breaking point.
Purser Verre stared wide-eyed at the Marines in their unknown combat suits. He had never seen this model of armor before, but he could be certain these individuals were no Space Marines; the style of their combat suits was far too different from power armor.
Power armor was a precious and rare combat asset for most Chapters, even treated as a holy relic. To make such large-scale modifications to power armor would itself be an act of blasphemy.
"Lucan! What's the deal with these people around you? I can confirm they are definitely not part of the ship's crew, and they were absolutely not listed in the personnel report when you boarded!"
Verre nervously watched Lucan and his men, the muzzle of his weapon still aimed at the Marines.
"These are my soldiers. Before you ask me to explain, perhaps you should first explain why these Chaos cultists attacked me! They even managed to easily reach the most important place in the entire Dynasty, where the Warrant is stored.
Looking at how these people are dressed, they should be from the lower decks, right? How many security checkpoints does one have to pass to get here from the lower decks? You wouldn't be ignorant of that, would you? They even have lasguns! I am here as a candidate to become a Rogue Trader. Am I to understand that someone on this ship deliberately wanted me dead? If I hadn't brought my own guards, I would certainly be dead by now! Perhaps even the Warrant would have been destroyed!
As the Purser, isn't this a dereliction of your duty?"
Faced with Lucan's pointed questions, Verre felt a massive headache coming on.
Looking at the corpses littering the ground, he certainly understood the severity of the situation. The cultists' weapons had clearly been smuggled to them. Autoguns might be jury-rigged, perhaps. But lasguns? With the crude equipment available to the laborers on the lower decks, they wouldn't even be able to produce the power packs.
The defensive installations outside the Warrant chamber had also failed for unknown reasons. It wasn't just here; almost the entire voidship had descended into chaos. He had rushed here immediately because of the Warrant's importance.
Of the three Dynasty heirs who had boarded, all except Lucan were dead. The Vox-Master had been assassinated, the ship's engines were damaged, and the crewmen on the lower decks had rioted and were now fighting the ship's loyal crew. What Verre found most unacceptable was that the current Rogue Trader, Ludwig, was also missing, his fate unknown.
Looking at Lucan before him, he had to accept a hard fact: if the worst had happened and Lord Ludwig was already dead, then the man standing before him, Lucan, was the only person on the entire ship qualified to inherit the title of Rogue Trader.
Seeing the silent Verre, Lucan was the first to ask, "Tell me, what has happened to this ship? Has there been a Chaos corruption? These cultists I eliminated all showed signs of Warp erosion!"
"There are indeed some problems on board, Lord Lucan. Before I explain the situation, you and these soldiers of unknown origin must undergo an inspection. This is far too irregular. As Purser, I must be responsible for everyone. I need to ensure you haven't been affected by the Warp in any way. Please, lay down your weapons for now!"
After a moment of thought, Lucan said to Verre.
"I'm sorry, Verre, but laying down our weapons is impossible. I cannot be sure that some among your people aren't in league with them. If you want to conduct an inspection and verification, then bring your people here. We can do it before the sacred Warrant of Trade. The Purity Seals and anti-psyker wards here can also ensure everyone's safety."
"Very well. Boatswain Delris, go and bring the Confessor and the Navigator here!"
"I'll go at once, sir!"
Watching Delris leave via the elevator again, Lucan whispered to Damon beside him.
"If anyone opens fire on us first, retaliate immediately!" Having just survived an assassination attempt, Lucan was wary of everyone.
"Rest assured, my Creator. You will not come to any harm before we die."
"Call me Commander from now on! Otherwise, it sounds a bit awkward."
Both sides remained vigilant. About twenty minutes later, Delris returned, accompanied by a man in priestly robes and a woman with her eyes tightly shut.
Verre walked over to the priest.
"Father Kaila, please ascertain if Lord Lucan still maintains his faith in the God-Emperor."
Father Kaila walked up to Lucan, holding a silver casket.
"This is a reliquary containing the bones of a martyr. The remains of a devout believer, combined with the ceaseless prayers of the Emperor's faithful over many years, grant it the ability to discern heretics."
"My loyalty to the God-Emperor can withstand any test!"
"Many say that. I have served on this voidship for decades. Many who claimed to be steadfast have, at some unknown point, forsaken their faith in the God-Emperor. My duty is to identify those whose faith is wavering. I hope you too will pass this test."
Kaila murmured prayers to the God-Emperor as he carefully opened the reliquary. When the ashes within were revealed, Lucan clearly felt a wondrous power emanating from them.
Kaila carefully took a pinch of the ashes and sprinkled them towards Lucan and the assembled Marines.
But nothing unusual happened.
Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief at this sight.
"Purser Verre, the martyr's ashes show no reaction. This at least indicates that Lord Lucan is not currently corrupted by Chaos."
Verre nodded and then turned to the Navigator.
Apart from Astropaths, Navigators were among the few sanctioned psykers on a voidship.
"Eunice, please carefully examine Lord Lucan and his warriors for any signs of Warp influence."
Hearing Verre's words, Eunice opened her tightly shut eyes.
"I was beginning to think you couldn't see..." Lucan commented.
"Lord Lucan, perhaps you have not encountered Navigators like myself before. Keeping my eyes closed allows me to perceive more information. The light of the God-Emperor guides us to see in the Warp what others cannot. You need not fear."
"I am not afraid. I am, of course, aware of the diversity among Navigators. You play a crucial role in the Imperium, and I thank you for your service."
"Thank you for your praise. Then let us begin!"
Eunice placed her hands before her chest, making the sign of the Aquila. Then, a distinct Warp presence gathered at her forehead.
Those without psychic talent could not see it, but Lucan, however, saw a deep, third eye appear on her forehead.
It was the Navigator's third eye.
That eye carefully scanned Lucan's entire body, scrutinizing him, trying to find any trace of duplicity.
But no matter how hard Eunice tried, she could not find even a shred of suspicion, not even the faintest reaction from the Warp. In fact, she felt as if Lucan was like a black hole, faintly absorbing the surrounding Warp energy.
It was known that humans were a psychic race. Apart from special exceptions like the Sisters of Silence, everyone else had some connection, however minor, to the Warp. Eunice had never met one of the legendary Sisters of Silence, but Lucan's current state was remarkably similar.
After keeping her third eye open for an extended period, Eunice began to feel strained.
"Whew… Praise the God-Emperor… I detect no trace of Warp energies from Lord Lucan or his warriors. In fact, they are purer than we are… Perhaps he is a special case."
Hearing what Eunice and Kaila said, Verre's tension eased. Regardless of how these soldiers had appeared on the ship, at least they were not pawns of Chaos.
"Since Lord Lucan and your warriors have passed the inspection, please accompany me to the bridge. The ship's condition is terrible… We need someone with legitimate Dynasty blood to take charge of the situation."
"Terrible? How terrible?"
"So terrible that we might be trapped in the Warp forever…"
"Huh?"
Hearing this, Lucan knew that his recent predicament was merely a minor issue; the real difficulties awaited him.
How many voidships trapped in the Warp met a good end? Most were devoured by Warp daemons and beasts.
Or they were forcibly corrupted by Chaos. He was no Imperial Admiral Spire, that five-star legend of the Navy.
"Alright… take me there!"
(End of Chapter)