They traveled in the warp for what seemed like three weeks. When they burst out, finally, they discovered that they arrived a day after they had left, in real space.
Katrina and her commanders were aboard the Sentry, and had left sister Luka to command the Vengance.
“Breya, have you seen the inquisitor lately? We have arrived at Okassis and I do not have the clearance codes to land.”
“I will go to his quarters to look. If he is in there, he will not return a message on the vox.”
Breya made her way through the ship to the highest point, an observatory platform that Malekai had converted into his personal quarters. Though small and simply adorned, when she entered almost all of the surfaces were covered in scrolls, data crystals, and logic-engine readouts. Amidst the chaos, Malekai sat pouring over a text. He looked disheveled and had not shaved in a week. He had taken off his robes and was clothed only in a black vest and pants. He didn’t look up as she entered. “Inquisitor?” she said cautiously, “we are out of the warp. We have arrived at Okassis and Cannoness Katrina needs the clearance codes to land.”
“that doesn’t make sense”
“Sir?”
“there are three known things that can cause astropaths and other witches to act as the ones we observed did. Nicassar attacks can do this, and Tau have these xenos in their fleets, but I observed no Nicassar ships. And anyway they need to be close enough to be seen to do such damage. Large concentration of H’rud can cause psychic feedback that will fry any psykers brain, but of course we were in space when my astropath died. That’s impossible then. That leaves one thing.” With this he threw the book into a pile of data-slates, knocking them across the floor. Malekai stood up and stomped across the room and began donning his robes and high-collared cape.
“Sir?”
“what?” said Malekai, turning around swiftly.
“The third possible cause. Of the witches deaths.” Replied Breya timidly.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I must discuss this with Ordos Xenos members. They surely can provide an explanation, because the third thing is surely impossible. The third possible cause that I know of is……Tyranids....”
The word hung heavy in the air. worlds stripped to bare minimum in days, entire crusades destroyed and converted into more alien monstrosities.
Malekai and Breya headed for the bridge. the inquisitor entered the codes to acess the Okassis inquisitorial landing dock. "All ahead full! make haste for the Cardinal world." |