40 Thousand Reasons

Chapter 83: Master

The fleet advancing on us from the direction of Badab sector is pretty big for the way most battles take place.

Both the Executioners and the Mantis Warriors have a dozen cruisers and two barges, while the Astral Claws have one cruiser and over 80 destroyers, because they haven't paid taxes in the past 200 years.

The Imperium only just noticed, which fills me with great confidence about their decision processes.

Also, I think they're not after the Forge World, but trying to recapture their lost barge and fort.

"Wentian, Nova Cannon in middle of traitors' escort group." I demand out lout, just to test how the Lamenter's Master reacts.

"Right away, Captain. Targeting. One minute til they enter range." my uncle replies from his Dominator cruiser.

Master Phoros winces in pain. "Do you have to fight them?" he asks in pleading voice.

"As I was saying, the problem all Astartes have is this falling to Chaos idiocy. Doesn't happen for Blanks, or Pariahs, because we simply don't give a throne about the Warp. No corruption, no mutations, not even voices in our heads promising eternal life for our souls. What we need, is a million Blanks to replace all these corrupted and treasonous cretins. Isn't it so, Astartes?" I ask in a teasing voice, and fling three more Nova mines in the path of the three enemy squadrons.

The blinding flare of the Nova shells blocks all sensors, preventing anyone seeing what's happening, so a hundred destroyers simply vanish, after the light subsides. Not obliterated but into my labyrinth, so nobody knows about it.

"Captain...the enemy fleet is decimated, all the destroyers gone, almost!" my auspex officer yells in excitement.

I sigh audibly and key my vox. "You missed three targets, Wentian! Circle around for another shot."

My uncle is too surprised to comment. A hundred destroyers in one Nova shell was beyond believable, even if theoretically possible, on the luckiest shot ever.

"As you say, Captain. We'll do better next time." Wentian answers a few seconds later.

"That was...did you just admonish your clansman for missing three destroyers?" Chaplain Delos grumbles from my left side, while my aunt snickers in amusement.

"... I would have got them all, plus Nova shells are expensive." I answer in a timid voice.

Nobody on my bridge comments, because they probably believe me. My luck is the stuff of legend, and they know it.

Only Hestia shows me a single finger sign, that says "Bullshit!"

Canis mewls and eyes my glove with a knowing look. How can he even know, what I did? Damn bullshit wolf!

"Incoming Vox transmission for the Astral Claws cruiser!" my vox officer claims, but doesn't let it through.

We rarely banter with enemies, unless they are Orks. Orks are fun.

"What do you say, Lamenter? Ready to board their barges after next salvo?" I ask curious, while directing two wings of 100 corvettes to flank the traitors from both sides. Not letting my prizes escape.

The attacking barges already lost a layer of void shields and the cruisers are defenseless now, after getting splashed by my Nova mines.

"Boarding their barges will be very costly. My Chapter will suffer catastrophic losses." the Chapter Master reminds me with a heavy voice.

Yes, hopefully nearly total loses.

"And then, I will provide Blank recruits to replace your fallen Brothers. No more curse, plus amazing reputation for ending the Badab War in a single day. I will even lend you my Blood Angels and a Catachan regiment with Sentinels and Rapiers." I argue while keeping watch on Wentian's cruiser.

Should be in position in a few minutes.

"And we keep their captured ships, for my Chapter?" Master Phoros asks in a calm voice. I know that voice, because Ludvaius uses it when we're about to die. However, the Blood Angels will risk their lives too.

I glance at Delos and raise an eyebrow. "You want a free Battle Barge, Brother?"

The Blood Angel Chaplain laughs, as if he has heard the best joke ever. "Why not, my lord? Let's end this war today."

"All troops on deployment duty, prepare for boarding actions. Fighters, prepare to launch after Nova detonation. Astartes, teleport rooms!" I order rapidly while the Icarus Machine Spirit keeps track of the thousands of vectors and changes coming from our fleet and the enemy.

I also have my secondary option, using the tesseract to keep an eye on the system.

Then, another flare and more Nova mines, plus a few plasma warheads inside the main Astartes barracks on board the barges. The cruisers' bridges get vaporized by more plasma warheads, because I intend to give these valuable hulls to Forge Angstrom.

Cruisers are too big to get vaporized, so they have to stay. Nobody says they need to be intact.

The traitors had a bit too many space marines, by going over legal limits, but I also can't make it too easy for the Lamenters. Their Rage and Thirst curses have returned, but much stronger than before.

Not one of them can fully control their curse, and in battle they fight to the last drop of blood.

And then, there's the bad luck and aura of melancholy, which are certainly Warp consequences of their damaged gene-seed.

Perhaps the Emperor isn't happy with them, or some Dark God plays a tragedy with their souls. Maybe both of those things.

Hestia gestures for permission to go as well, and I allow it, for all the Sisters.

Pariahs will keep things honest, as Lamenters didn't have psykers or Librarians, nor did they have blackstone armor and Rosaries shields yet.

Four enemy barges, thus four squads of Ogryns get to go as well. In melee, they are worth two space marines each, and boarding actions always have melee. Battle damage is inevitable, so why not use the big sticks?

"May the Emperor have mercy on your souls!" I whisper as the ship boardings begin.

It is not pretty at all, but we have combat servitors, and they don't. Serfs are not as effective in tight spaces, plus they still feel pain and fear.

The tech-priests and the Catachans follow after the whirlwind of bolter fire and secure deck after deck, snipers targeting Librarians and other psykers, while the Silent Sisters act as magic shields, preventing Warp-fire or other spells from incinerating the front lines.

Neophytes and Aspirants are all thrown in the grinder, all three Astartes Chapters bleeding themselves dry at the bidding of a Chaos follower and a greedy Rogue Trader.

The fight keeps going for a week, because Astartes die hard. My Blood Angels die even harder, taking 5 enemies down for one of theirs, but they are not invulnerable.

The Lamenters fare much worse, and lose 900 Battle-Brothers for less than 800 kills. Perhaps howling in rage and foaming at the mouth isn't the best strategy.

But one by one, the Battle Barges are conquered, and then the cruisers and even some support ships. The Blood Angels keep calm, and capture a hundred Astartes of each traitor chapter when they offer to surrender.

The old Chapter Master is mortally wounded and asks to see my in their apothecary. He shouldn't even be alive, grievous wounds probably caused by a chainsaw and a dozen bolter holes have shredded him beyond recognition. And yet he still lives.

"Lord Lancefire, you have to promise. Save my Chapter somehow, be the next Master. Do anything in your powers. I saw the Angel...and now he stands by your shoulder. Sang...." he whispers and dies, as I glance to my side, to see a vanishing wing.

I wasn't the only one to see the Sanguinor appear. The Sanguinary Priests, the Apothecaries, a dozen techmarines...they all saw him. The Angel of Death came to collect.

"Chapter Master! You are now our leader, Lord Pef Lancefire. There is no doubt." their Chief Priest announces to the mourning Lamenters.

"Alright. I have the Blood Angel gene-seed, but it shouldn't be much problem. It's from the same Primarch." I muse out loud.

"Oh, that explains some things...though not why are you still a Rogue Trader and not on Baal receiving the organs." the priest asks me in a curious voice.

I think all the Lamenters have the same question.

"I'm not a Space Marine though. This Angel gave me his blood, when I was injured on Estaban. Even gave me the Red Thirst, which was pretty bad for a few hours. But I got better!" I answered with a wide grin.

They're not sure if to believe me. "Really?" A techmarine asks in surprise.

I nod politely. "Take blood samples...if you want to check. It's not like Sanguinius genes can't be seen on a medical auspex."

And they do. A whole battery of tests in fact. I'm used to tests, but I wish they knew about anesthetics.

I endure and get over it. It seems I will need even more concubines. Oh well. Perhaps I could find more Silent Sisters.