Chapter 4 Part 2

Chapter 4: Strange alliances

=ATBS=

Part 2

=ATBS=​

Necron Command Center

Thur'Abis Plateau

Kronus

A quick and dirty interrogation of the captured Intelligence Asset combined with what little reconnaissance assets were currently available and responding to orders, confirmed that while the tactical situation hadn't quite gone to the Krork, it was heading there fast. A nearby peninsula was busy falling in the hands of Warp Abominations and their thralls, the Aeladari had an expeditionary force present on the surface, which was in the process of establishing a forward operation base. They were busy stirring the so called Orks – a fortunately devolved Krork strain, which needed purging before it could evolve and become a credible threat. Next came the primitives – the Intelligence Asset's species, now designated Humanity, were supposedly the dominant power both on the planet and if the Asset could be believed, across the galaxy too. The Necron Lord needed independent confirmation on the later point, from what little he could detect, the humans on the surface might be numerous, yet they appeared to be the most technologically stunted species running amok on the Tomb World. Last and arguably not the least, were the so called Tau, the blue skinned primitives. Recent events, namely a large scale engagement between the available Human, Ork and Tau forces pointed towards the fact that cooperation with the former would preclude cooperation with the later.

That state of affairs was less than ideal. All preliminary projections pointed at a defeat being statistical certainty if the available Necron forces had to engage the various squatters by themselves. The Tomb World had suffered too much damage, putting it back into a semblance of order would take too long even without Aeldari raids, which were a given the moment those pests figured out how weak the Necron position was. Then there were the Abominations as well, which needed to be exterminated with extreme prejudice.

Analysis complete, the Necron Lord made up his mind and returned his attention to strengthening his position. He needed to reasonably secure the complex, fix himself to an acceptable state, including a way to communicate directly with the primitives and only then he could afford to approach one of the two somewhat palatable factions. He had to deal with the rogue reconnaissance units killing indiscriminately everything in sight too, before they made any chance of an alliance a moot point too.

The Necron Lord consulted the ravaged data-net of the facility and headed towards the closest stasis vault containing Scarabs and the parts to build more of those useful automatons. It was high time to put his domain in order.

In the mean time, repair subroutines kept working upon the decayed parts of his memory, struggling to recover even the tiniest scrap of information.

=ATBS=​

Victory Bay

Kronus

Note to self, charging Orks in general, and Ork Bosses in particular, while riding a Chimera and waving a sword like a maniac is a bad, bad idea. I had the metal to prove it – a large part of my right side was now bionic, either because the Orks mauled it, or the Tau and their Emperor damned Kroot fucked it up. Now that the painkillers were out of my system, the bionics itched something fierce, not to mention the parts where they connected with flesh, bone and worst of all, my nerves, hurt like son of a bitch. That was normal too, at least according to the Cog-boys. Filling me with more painkillers would numb the pain, however it would also significantly increase the time it would take for the bionic's Machine Spirits to get comfortable where they were and learn to work in concern with me. Or something in that vein, I wasn't paying too much attention at that point, I was too busy trying to restrain myself from strangling the smug Cog-boy lecturing me with his mechadendris.

My consolation prize for getting mauled nearly to death and crippled, was that the plan worked, more or less. For the time being the Orks were too busy running or fighting among themselves and we shouldn't be suffering concerning attacks from that corner until they managed to get themselves a new Warboss – which would be never if we had anything to say about it. That in turn gave us some breathing space to deal with the other threats on Kronus. The Chaos and traitor incursion on the Deimos Peninsula was the primary threat and we had to purge it as soon as possible. Figuring how to do it with the assets available would be the topic of a meeting I would be having with General Alexander and Captain Thule in less than an hour. Unfortunately, we would be unable to throw everything we had against the Chaos forces – doing so would beg for either the Tau or Eldar to back-stab us and if that wasn't bad enough, there was confirmed Necron presence on Kronus, which was an existential threat as well.

Given the circumstances, the last thing I needed were painkillers that might mess up my judgment even further, which needless to say, made me particularly irritable. On the other hand, the way the common troopers treated me ever since I awoke at the makeshift Apothecarium was a mixed blessing. Everyone who saw me straightened up and stared, looking with wonder and awe, instead of the ill disguised fear and apprehension that I knew would meet an Inquisitor walking in the open. It took me a bit too long to connect the dots and figure out this was all because of my crazy stunt against the Orks. The poor bastard were looking at me as if they expected that I would be repeating that particularly insanity as a matter of course.

That was something I had no intention of doing ever again if I had any other acceptable alternative. The stabbing pain in my side at every movement was a grim reminder of the price such heroic deeds extracted from those brave, or insane enough to attempt such stunts.

"Inquisitor, I'm glad to see you back on your feet!" A deep jolly voice exclaimed behind me and made me jump, which predictably felt like an angry Ork just buried its Choppa in my side.

Anteas' armour clad figure materialized behind me like from thin air and he peered at me. I sensed him give me a curious once over through the Warp before reigning in his power. "It could have been much worse, all things considered. Are you all right?"

"Considering that I should be very dead right now? I'll better than I have any right to be." I answered quietly.

"Nonsense, you acted in the best traditions of the Imperial Guard, and most importantly, it worked." The Librarian smirked.

"If it was dumb and it worked, then you were lucky and the Emperor looked out for you." I shot back.

"There's that too." Anteas nodded sagely. And just like that, the levity he surrounded himself with vanished. "I'm glad you're all right, Inquisitor. We've got a situation requiring your expertise." He stated gravely.

"My expertise?" As far as the command staff of either the Imperial Guard, the Blood Ravens and what little Imperial Naval assets we had in orbit went, I was among the most junior and least experienced, my status as an Inquisitor notwithstanding.

Anteas clearly heard the incredulity in my voice but disregarded it and motioned me to follow him.

"Considering the situation, the opinion of the Ordo Xenos is going to be vital, Inquisitor. Please follow me. I'll explain once we're at General Alexander's HQ."

"I don't like the sound of that, Anteas."

"Don't worry, Inquisitor, you'll like it even less once you know the details." A hint of grim amusement found its way in the Librarian's voice.

What in the Emperor's name did I do to deserve this?!