A few days later the two leaders of the Marlikath Dynasty meet the heads of her newest crew members at one of the port authority conference rooms. "Ladies and gentlemen, I do hope that you have had a chance to look over your new home? I know that it is rather unconventional and can use a little work. I vow to make the Zirnitra as fine a ship as any you can find in the Scarrus or Gothic sector, but that is going to take a lot of time and work from all of us. So I would like to hear about what you can do to aid in our future endeavors?"
A young woman steps forward like it was no question in her mind that she was going to go first. She wears a well tailored but otherwise plain greatcoat with matching tricorn hat that has the eye of the Navis Noblis embroidered on the sides. "Of course Lady Captain Marlikath, Katrina Barbazon is ready to serve. While I am not the most experienced, House Barbazon has molded me to be your guiding light in the cacophony of the Warp to your designation." She says with an overly formal bow to her new employer. Coming back up, she says, "Though I did noticed that there were a few makeshift farms for sumprats, razorgrain, and hullcaps that your crew has already set up. They are ramshackle operations, and my hobby is horticulture. If given some leeway, I could help in more ways than just guiding this ship through the warp. I can make it truly live with several gardens and hydroponic bays expanding upon what they already have down there. If I have your leave Lady Captain?"
Lichern gives a nod, "We have enough funds for what she has in mind. Would also save us a few thrones in the long run..."
"Yes," Aeysha says with a slight smile, "You both have sold me on that. It would certainly help morale to know we have a steady supply of fresh food on board, something better than what ever mutated things are crawling about the Darkholds."
"Speaking of the Darkholds, my crew is rearing to scrounge through the worst hell you got in search for good $#(&!" The last coming out as an electronic beep-screech from the tech priest that wears a hazard yellow set of armor rather than the traditional red robes. He has only one replacement eye, a breathing mask covering his nose and mouth, and oddly enough a full head of whispy hair that stands almost straight up. "Engiseer Prime Halek Morcock ready to lead the 5th Rescisco Explorators to find Archeotech and kick @$^T#)!" He says in more colorful language that you would expect from a member of the Mechanicus, more like someone in the Underhive wanting to sell you some slate. "Were ever we go, we'll )@(%^@* have those shiny bits of tech, examine it, and get it ready to @%)(& roll in the Omnissiah's name."
This leaves Aeysha speechless for a few minutes, "Well... that's great... Glad to have such fervent archeotechnologists on board. We can certainly need it with our current equipment."
"We also noticed the advanced cogitators and have set aside some hull space for a proper Laboratorium."
"@)(@& Crakin' @)(%@!&." Morcock responds with an affirmative thumbs up.
The next member of the crew step forward, an older gentleman in a light green and dull yellow armor with a matching officer's hat tucked underneath one of his shoulderpads. "Mam, Colonel Alistair McKinnley of the Calrissian 2nd Airborne Regiment. Can't wait to start kicking ass for you on the land or in the sky."
Lichern says, "It's rather odd to find a regiment that works both aerospace craft and infantry together so closely due to the whole separation of Navy and Gaurd thing."
Colonel McKinnley turns to the blond man, "Well I don't know if you've ever been to Calrissia before sir, but it's a gas giant that's upper atmosphere is breathable. We all live on large floating platforms above the endless abyss below us, so ground vehicles are particularly useless. So Lightings, Avengers, Valkyries, and Marauders replace Salamanders, Leman Russ, Chimeras, and Basilisks respectively on our world. While they might not be as powerful as the space superiority fighters, our pilots can fly circles out of them with regardless. You'll be hard pressed to find a better group of men as suited to flying through the airs than a Calrissian."
"That's excellent Colonel. We are going to need both space and ground fighters in ample supply. I'm glad that you were available to serve in my fledgling fleet," Aeysha says with as honest a smile as she can muster.
"Personally would have went with the Cynda Storm Troopers," Lichern mutters mostly to himself which earns him a really dirty look from his superior. Trying to change the subject quickly he shuffles some papers to say, "Finally we have Chiergeon Maxcilla Orbest of the Hospitaller Order of the Twin Serpent."
"I thought that we couldn't afford more than your typical medic, let alone a Hospitaller?" Aeysha asks rather confused looking at the woman in white and green in front of her.
"My Lady Captain," The older woman says with a proper bow, her impeccable hands showing some of the bionic reinforcements to keep them stable poking through her natural flesh. "I am here by request of Grand Inquisitor DeSaine who feels that you are going to need a fully functional Medicae Deck in your travels. I am only too happy to oblige my lady with this request to save the poor souls in the Ixaniad Sector."
"Ixaniad? I didn't say anything about shipping off there. I was planning on doing some work here in Scarrus before moving on." Aeysha says getting even more confused by the minute with this chiergeon.
"Didn't the Grand Inquisitor mention that your warrant also came with a claim on Archimain's Conclave of Nobles? I hear that there are several problems with the nobility and the local inquisition causing some instability with the sub-sector's leadership." Orbest says rather plainly.
"Archimain.... " Aeysha says taking a step back in surprise at this development. "That's my home world, how did that get into my new warrant? I can't believe it's simply a coincidence..."
At this Lichern is busy going over a copy of the original warrant, "Well I knew that this wasn't a brand new Warrant, but from some old dynasty that has fallen into disrepair. Here we go.... Yes, it's the old Kalithern Warrant signed in the 36th Millennium by... Oooh Goge Vandire himself."
"Really?" Aeysha asks rather uncertainly, "I couldn't make out the name on the original warrant, the High Lord's signature itself was particularly horrible pile of chicken scratches. Now I'm having second thoughts about this whole Rogue Trader thing."
"Come on Aeysha!" Lichern says trying to steer her back to the more profitable path, "This is fabulous wealth and freedom we're talking about, so much if one of the worst bastards in the history of Mankind signed it. This can do a lot of good in your hands. Besides, the Kalithern dynasty survived that time of troubles rather unscathed. It wasn't until 219 this Millennium that the last known holder died in the Meritech Wars and their house officially fell."
"At least tell me they were on the right side of that War..."
"...Half on it, seemed like he was trying to double deal both ends and got caught in the middle." Lichern says reluctantly. "But when did a little hint of heresy make you shy away from doing what's right?"
Letting out a long sigh Aeysha crosses her arms to say, "Not often, or else I wouldn't be in this mess."
"As I was saying..." Maxcilla says with a slightly annoyed throat clearing at the diversion the conversation took away from her. "It would make sense that a member of their line would be discovered on their home world that avoided all of those troubles. From what I gather your role would be an auxiliary to the system's admiralty board to help in times of emergency as well as being a tie breaker in case the Conclave becomes immobile due to gridlock."
"For the most part, you just have to stop by once every year or so to make sure the Conclave, SDF, and mercantile fleet are running fine." Lichern adds in, "Then you can go on your own profitable way. I didn't think it would be a big deal."
"It's an additional leash on my progress..." Aeysha says with a slight sigh. "Having me check in regularly I can't get into too much mischief and be forced into a defensive role. It is not ideal, but something I can handle some politicking along with fighting for profits on the edge of the Imperium."
"You haven't spent much time in the noble circles Lady Marlikath?" Maxcilla asks to inject herself back into the conversation. "I can assure you, they can be as deadly as any battlefield if you aren't careful. I hope that your psychic prowess includes divination, you are likely going to need it."
For a minute Aeysha was silent thinking about how useful one of the few schools of Psychic powers she didn't know could keep a power dagger out of her back. She states simply, "Do not worry Maxcilla, we will have enough time to sort out the intricacies of maneuvering through court on the way there. Though I think we had a good first meeting, now let us get to work in making our ship the best in the sector!" She says with a smile while moving out of the meeting hall leading them towards the berth that the Zirnitra was being held.
Aeysha's progress is halted by a mass of people blocking the entrance to the arm of the space station their berth was. It was filled with a hundred or so people bearing various holy books while a well dressed cleric standing on a crate ranting to his loose congregation. "And Lo, the Admiralty have decided in an audacious moment of overstepping their bounds, have appointed an abomination to ply the void between the shining lights of the Imperium. The new Lady Captain is warped in mind and body into something far from the Pure Ideal of Humanity! For this corruption, she is being rewarded a freedom for no better reason than some of her twisted genetics match in some way a family that have consorted with hereteks and paid the price? That is a sin of the highest order! I say to you good Emperor-Fearing people, we need to prevent this psyker from taking to the void, where she will inevitably go mad, betray us, and lay waste to worlds in her wake! Will we let her do that!?!?!?"
"NO!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Well this day just got far more interesting..." Aeysha growls to herself.
[ ] The Sergeant: An Imperial Guard sergeant leading his unit into battle. A sign of service, resolute action, and execute.
[ ] The Noble: A king in front of a castle loaded with wealth. A sign of well-being, someone to be obeyed, and the way of things.
[ ] The Administrator: An adept behind the desk directing where papers fly. A sign of management, advancement, and knowledge.
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Whew, sorry it took so long, but the power went out twice during the week while I was writing this thing. I hope there's still people here that enjoy my writing.
