Chapter 18 Part 1

Chapter 18: Kronus: Aftermath

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Part 1

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His Holy Light

Dauntless Class Light Cruiser Temple Ship

en route to Kronus

As soon as news about the Imperial Guard moving in force towards Kronus reached Cardinal Maxwell Lin, the Sector's spiritual leader, the old man moved the heavens themselves to get an expedition underway. It was long known among the Ecclesiarchy in the region that the Cardinal opposed abandoning Imperial worlds to the despicable Tau at every opportunity. Cardinal Lin was also a loud voice for reclaiming lost systems. More importantly, the citizens left to the Xenos' terrible whims. Unfortunately, opportunities to fix such wrongs failed to materialize for decades.

Until now that is.

That was how Missionary Jacob Wolf found himself sent to Kronus with utmost dispatch as soon as he returned from his last mission – bringing a feudal world into the fold. That had been a relatively straightforward and simple affair. The locals loved the Imperial Creed. That was especially true when it came with a semblance of passable technology improving their lot in life. Tech-priests exiled from Stygies VII for being too vocal in their interpretations of Mechanicus Doctrine saw to that with the inimitable passion of people who had something to prove.

Jacob crossed his large arms in front of his chest and gripped his elbows, a habit showing his immense frustration.

"You'd think we're flying straight at Holy Terra!" Steel-like muscles shifted and Wolf's hands formed the Aquila, before returning to gripping his elbows.

A few years ago, just before leaving for Jackman's World, Jacob had the utmost privilege of meeting Saint Anais, the newest Living Saint serving with the Order of the Sacred Rose. The blessed woman had just arrived in their corner of the Ultima Segmentum to aid in smiting the Emperor's enemies along with Canoness Selena Agna and substantial reinforcements all the way from Pacificus.

There was no mistaking the soothing radiance of the Emperor after you experienced it once. It was Divinity. It was Humanity's Faith made manifest for everyone to see and bask into!

What the Navigators of the small Ecclesiarchy fleet described, along with the raving words of the handful of Sanctioned Psykers on board, pointed at a simple conclusion. Something momentous happened on Kronus. Perhaps the Emperor agreed with Cardinal Lin and sent one of his rare Saints to bring the faithful back into the fold and save them from Xeno predations?

For days now, everyone on board not busy running the ship or guarding critical areas had been praying reverently to the God-Emperor for guidance and salvation.

Despite his faith, Wolf found it hard to believe the Emperor answered all the way out here when there would be so many more important places across the Imperium deserving His attention more. Of course, such a thought was presumptuous in itself. Jacob certainly didn't dare consider himself an expert on what the Emperor might deem valuable enough for His attention!

The large black man smiled mirthlessly. His lips moved in silent prayer, revealing two rolls of golden teeth etched with holy symbols. A much younger Jacob got them thanks to a particularly vicious Ork who sucker-punched him twice, while he tried to explain to the brute the Emperor's light.

In hindsight, trying to convert a half-dead burning Ork might have been a bit over-zealous. Even the Confessor in charge of purging the greenskins' incursion had agreed, before dousing the brute with even more holy flame.

He often thought about that nameless Confessor. The old man had forsaken his name after retiring from the Imperial Guard. The Confessor lived only to safeguard the faith and souls of the citizenry under his protection. The Confessor taught Jacob several important life lessons. While there was a place for zeal and blind faith, occasionally, you had to temper them with reason. The Imperium was large, and the God-Emperor usually had more important things to do than help young fools with an overly inflated sense of importance. That was especially true when those same fools didn't stop for a moment and think, using what little sense the Emperor might have blessed them with.

Jacob didn't consider himself a particularly bright man. If he was, he might have joined the Adeptus Mechanicus, serving the God-Emperor in his Omnissiah guise. Instead, it was the Faith that drew him in, rose him from the streets, and showed him the way.

The Missionary never regretted his chosen path, even if many of his colleagues were a bit too in love with burning incense. That was especially true over the past few days, resulting in thick clouds of white smoke carrying through the great ship's corridors. At least they had access to the tolerable incense this time around.

Armored boots clacked over the deck, and a tall figure clad in power armor joined Jacob near the entrance to the bridge. Jacob's nose twitched at the sharp smell of holy oils and freshly applied purity seals.

"Missionary Wolf, I'm glad to report everything seems in order. All vital areas of the ship are secure, and there are no problems reported." Palatine Andrea Weber offered crisply.

The older woman bore a beautiful face marred by burn-scars. Her right cheek was a mess of scar tissue, which stopped right before it could touch the Sororitas' tattoo she wore proudly. Her calm hazel eyes systematically scanned everything in sight, searching for anything out of place.

"That's a relief. Shall, we, sister?" Wolf offered a courteous nod and waved at the armored door leading to the bridge.

"After you, Missionary Wolf."

Jacob nodded graciously. While not exactly a pious thing to do, watching the Sisters of Battle strut around in their combat regalia was a beautiful thing to behold both on the best and worst of days. It might be better if they were doing so out of their power armors. However, by now Jacob knew better than to ever suggest something like that aloud.

What little original teeth he had left after that Ork nearly caved his face in, a Sister of Battle removed at the end of his foolish youth. The sight has been almost worth a shattered jaw and nearly ending as a human torch.

Almost, but not quite. It certainly wasn't worth the penance the Confessor made him endure as a consequence. After those days, he had been a very respectful lad and kept his eyes and thoughts to himself. It was much safer that way. Besides, if a Sister of Battle showed an interest in him, then who he was to refuse? And it was safer that way because it helped avoid unfortunate misunderstandings.

They entered the bridge together and were surprised to see the Navigator outside of her alcove. The middle-aged woman had a huge smile on her face. Her two blue human eyes cried tears of apparent joy, and the third was freshly seared shut.

One of the two other regular Sanctioned Psykers on board was present as well. That troubled young man was on his knees near the Captain's throne, praying with surprising fervor.

"We saw Him!" The navigator bounced on her heels. "His light is covering everything around us! It burned the Daemons away! Their screams of pain, a terror, were something to behold!"

"I don't know what I should pray for." Jacob quietly observed. "That something so momentous happened on Kronus that required His attention twice in less than a week? Or that the Navigators are mistaken." And potentially compromised.

The Palatine's gaze merely flickered to the squad she had stationed on the bridge. It was made of her most experienced, devoted, and level headed sisters. They all wielded blessed weapons and were ready in case of treachery, no matter the source.

She still prayed their intervention wouldn't be necessary. The Navigators might be mutants, however, they were sanctioned by the God-Emperor himself. They were vital for the functioning of the Temple Ships as well.

"Right now, the Warp is the calmest we've ever experienced. We should arrive in the system within the hour." The Captain explained. "We no longer have to plow our ways through Daemons. Nothing is assaulting the Gellar Field anymore."

"I told you!" The Navigator skipped around happily, like a fresh novice during the Sanguina's celebrations. "It was the Emperor!" She pointed at the still praying Psyker. "We're Sanctioned Psykers bound to the Emperor Himself. We've felt his presence back on Holy Terra. There is no mistaking it! This is His power surrounding and protecting us! It was His presence we felt descend upon Kronus! You'll see!"

"Get that eye checked up and calm down." The Captain rubbed his forehead. "Your thoughts, Missionary Wolf?"

"This is too good to be true. My Faith is strong. I pray and hope for the best. However, we must be prepared for the worst." Jacob firmly stated.

The Sisters of Battle nodded in agreement. He was sure they were busy praying under their helmets.