Two Terras

Halo Stars

Piercing Verdict was a Retribution Class Battleship. It was a massive vessel sporting six batteries of Plasma Macro Cannons and three High Power Lance turrets. It had a compliment of over a million crew and highly trained armsmen. It boasted hundreds of attack craft and atmospheric fighters. It had meters of armor and a dozen banks of void shields. Yet even it, in all its glory shuddered as it passed through the small gap in the Cicatrix Maledictum known as the Nachmund Gauntlet. The Battleship and its substantial escort passed over several other fleets engaged around the Gauntlet, the various variants of the Imperial Navy spat fire at traitorous scum and chaos infested dredges trying their hand at a possible glory. The Fleet continued on solemnly, ignoring the oaths of hate and distress calls from below. "Commodore, status on my vessels? I'd like to know if we came out of this dread place unscathed or not." Peggi nodded and data pulsed a quick registry to Castius's command throne. He looked over the list, committing the new captains and their ships to memory.

-Grand Cruiser Avenger, Echo of the Seventh Son, Captain Boyle [++3++]

-Tyrant Class Battlecruiser, Deus Rex, Captain Elam [++2++]

-Mars Class Battlecruiser, Heaven Shrike, Captain Nanni [++4++]

-Overlord Class Cruiser, Leveller, Captain Sevrain [++5++]

-Lunar Class Cruiser, Intrepid, Captain Advea Van Stone {=][= Inconclusive =][=}

Castius frowned, so many new Captains, so unlike his old fleet. Castius couldn't help but feel that his mission was near to suicidal, almost as if the Lord Commander had sent him to die. Suddenly, Castius realized what he had just thought. The thought was summarily executed in his mind, Castius's hands clasped together in a quick prayer to the Emperor for forgiveness. "Admiral?" Peggi's voice broke through Castius's shame and he looked up. "We've exited the Gauntlet. The Halo Stars are 4 solar hours away, Emperor willing." 

Chapter Master Ustalvar stood facing the black expanse in front of him, his Mk VIII amor settled around his body. Servos growled as he lifted his hands and brought an ornate gauntlet to the armorglass window of the observation gallery. "Soon brother. Soon." he muttered before drawing back at the sound of a door opening. "Chapter Master, The Imperial Navy is minutes away. Preparations on the fleet are complete." The serf stood straight but did not look the Chapter Master in the eye. Ustalvar nodded and turned to the serf. "Contact them on arrival, have them join on our coordinates. Be polite, but do not ask. Tell them." The serf nodded. Ustalvar had been told the Lord Admiral had authority on this mission, but he knew all there was to know about the damned place known as the Halo Stars. He wanted to make that clear with the admiral as soon as possible. 

Castius felt the most inadequate he had ever felt in the presence of Chapter Master Ustalvar. The marine had not removed his helm once during their meeting. The green lenses shone with malice and a cold disregard, betraying the soothing tone of the Chapter Masters voice. "I assure you Chapter Master, your experience in this sector has not gone unnoticed and its value is more than respected." Castius repeated, Ustalvar nodded, the answer pleasing him. "I am glad, when do you plan on entering Lord Admiral?" The question paused Castius and he knew Ustalvar noticed. "I will speak with the other members of my fleet's command, I would appreciate your presence." Ustalvar was not blind to what the Admiral was suggesting, and the Chapter Master did not like it at all. "You need my support in whatever decision you make. True subordinates would not question the word and judgement of their superior, why would your 'command staff' question yours?" Ustalvar looked down at Castius as he thought for a moment. "The Lord Commander has given me command over many forces, many of whom I have no relationship with. I am only a Lord Admiral of the Imperial Navy, I have no true knowledge of how other forces of the Imperium operate. It would be best to trust their judgement rather than mine." Ustalvar scoffed but kept the sound muted, instead he simply nodded. "Very well, I will support your decisions. But my brothers grow restless, they may not tolerate delays. And I am but a Chapter Master of a single Chapter." Ustalvar exited, his insult apparently unnoticed by the Admiral who let out a small sigh of relief.

"The Lord Commander has given you seniority Admiral. We respect your decision." The Tempestor Prime said flatly, the masked soldier had said nearly nothing the entire meeting, only commenting on matters of military strategy and even then she allowed her more talkative colleagues in the Guard handle that. "The hell we do! The Admiral has no idea what he's in for." The mustachioed and rounded face of the Major From the 73rd Kendall Armored was filled to the brim with frustration. "He wants to go in now while nearly half my damn regiment hasn't even been resupplied. How the frack are we supposed to do anything without any damn shells in our cannons?!?" The Admiral was about to respond but the Magos Domina Hecta-Beta did it for him. "The 73rd Kendall Armoured have a 58.364% accuracy rating, perhaps those shells are best kept elsewhere for the time being Major Stour." Stour turned to the Magos with a face full of red. "Shut your trap you lousy tin can, I've got enough to worry about without your irradiated arse butting in." The Magos had an emotion akin to anger and embarrassment run across what skin remained on her face. "My radiation levels are perfectly in tune and far below fatal levels. I detect high amounts of blood pressure building in your body however, Major."

 Stour's moustache shook from side to side and a vein was brought forth. The Magos only fixed him with a cold stare. "The flesh is weak." Was all she said in response to his anger. "Really? Last time I've checked even metal can rust, Magos." Stour responded, leaning in close. The other assorted imperials looked on in either amusement or embarrassment. Castius looked over at Ustalvar, as always the marine was as still as a statue. Unmoving and silent. Castius noted however, as he looked at the Chapter Master he thought he noticed the deftest of nods. A simple inch of inclination. Castius took a deep breath and decided too quell the fire before it raged out of control.  

He drew his las pistol and set it at a blank shot, the noise more than enough to be threatening but the shot itself less than lethal. He'd only used it once before but always thought it entertaining. The loud crack and accompanied flash of light shocked all except the stony Ustalvar and the Tempestor who no doubt noticed the Admiral's plan far ahead of time. "I thought that would get you both to quiet down, now Tempestor? Do your forces stand ready?" Castius looked at the Tempestor who simply nodded. "The 47th Donata Talons stand ready." She said in a toneless voice, the only emotion present was a microscopic touch of pride. Castius nodded and looked to his right. The sky blue uniform of the 808th Carcosian Rifles and the predatory smile of Colonel Adrima and her similarly intimidating Commissar was all that met him. They both nodded. Castius looked at the grey greatcoat of Colonel Finnika, who just nodded as well. Castius lingered on her blue eyes for a second, noting a hidden message there. He made the note to speak with her later. The olive drab of the 673th Cadian Motorized and its head, Colonel Octus, met him next. The Cadian puffed up his chest slightly and spoke with pride. "Cadia awaits your command." Castius smiled and looked in turn to the rest of his commanders. Stour grumbled but eventually said he was ready, and the 73rd would accept his command. The Magos deemed his command acceptable but still shot glares at Stour, who did the same. Canoness Cervalanne told Castius she had no doubt in his ability, if the Avenging Son deemed him worthy then so did she. The twin sisters of Knight Houses Vigilata and Intella reacted much the same. Their oaths to the Emperor bound them to Guilliman and in turn Castius. Finally Castius looked at the head of the table, the dark eyes of Colonel Pytan van Gor regarded him with an unreadable expression. "Impressive stunt with the pistol Admiral, you've earned mine and the respect of 432nd Mekband irregulars."  

Castius last looked up at Ustalvar, who stepped forward, the growl of powerful servos made Stour shudder and the Magos smile. "The White Watch stands ready Admiral. Do you?" Castius took one look at his subordinates and picked up his pistol from the table. He looked at the engraving on the side and smiled. "Vacui Vocat. The Void Calls." He looked over to the corner where the attendants and aides of all the commanders were positioned. Peggi's firey hair was distinct from the crowd, as was her malicious grin. "The Battlegroup Warblade sails in 30 solar hours."