“Governor Bartan, we simply cannot increase production to meet demand and cover projected losses from pirates!” shouted Girwin Nikris, his minister of production. He was a stern middle aged man, his coffee coloured hair was flecked with grey and his chestnut coloured eyes were turning pale with age. “The manufactorum cartels will not stand for such drastic reductions to their profits and we would soon have workers losing their jobs because the cartels are unable to pay their wages.” The scribes sitting around Artus scratched out the ministers’ argument on long curling pieces of paper.
“Perhaps you should focus more on the defence of our convoys.” General Rymian Calderias said loudly, his voice booming across the council chamber. “We lost the Shield of Mirvii six months ago, meaning our planetary defence fleet has been reduced by three ships in under a year thanks to the Ork menace. Not to mention the convoy ships and their precious cargoes.” A small part of Artus’ mind amused itself in the thoughts that the General and the minister
“I have scores of reports to the Administratum to explain our predicament and to send assistance, but my pleas have gone unanswered.”
“I still believe we should send an astropathic message to one of the space marine chapters in the vicinity,” Calderias boomed, slamming his fist down on the table in front of him. “Demand that they send some assistance so that we can rid ourselves of the Ork menace!”
“I had considered that option, but our situation is not sufficiently desperate for such an action.” Artus stated, steeling his nerves for the barrage that was about to come his way.
“Not sufficiently desperate!” Calderias roared, his face went red from the effort. “We are one of the worlds of the Imperium of Man and they have a duty to protect the Emperor’s citizens from the xenos!”
“I am well aware of their duty to the Emperors domain but if every backwater planet with a xenos problem called for their help they would have no strength to fight the important battles against the Tyranids and other threats to the Imperium.”
“But without these backwater worlds as you call them, the regiments of the Imperial Guard and the Space Marines themselves will not have the supplies to fight in those battles.” Calderias sat with his face still bright red, the veins on his neck and temples bulging.
“I agree with the Governor,” Nikris said, sighing heavily. “I have heard too many stories of Space Marines coming to a world like our own to assist and laying waste to the world they were meant to be protecting. We will most likely have to expend more trying to repair the damage caused by the Space Marines that would be better spent trying to defend ourselves.”
“Very well,” Calderias stood up quickly, his chair falling backwards from the speed at which he got up. “If you feel that this is the only course of action then I will go and arrange additional training for the planetary defence forces.” Calderias stormed out of the chamber and the two remaining men sighed again, listening to the slowing scratching of the scribes.
“If that is all, my Lord, I shall take my leave also. Several of the cartel heads wish to speak to me before the day is out.”
“Thank you for your time Minister Nikris, you are dismissed.”
“Emperor watch over you, Governor.”
“And you, Minister.” Artus watched the Minister walk out of the chamber and close the heavy wooden door behind him before leaning back in his chair and listening to the scribes shuffle out of the servant’s door at the side of the chamber. He closed his eyes, feeling his head throb at the temples. In the silence of his chamber he could hear the muffled sounds from outside, apart from a curious slow creaking sound from across the room which he assumed were the old floorboards settling again. He opened his eyes again to look at the data-slate sitting upon his desk and stared wide-eyed at the figure standing in front of him. It was a tall and impressive looking figure with skin the colour of blue steel and wearing a set of ornate jewel encrusted robes of white and tan, carrying a pair of strange objects coloured gold with a large gemstone set into the ends.
“Greetings Governor Artus Bartan, I am Aun’El T’au Kri’vus of the Empire of the Tau. I come with news that I have a solution to the problem which your world possesses.”
