Unholy Star, Beyond Faith

Holy Crossroads (Genesis of a Reformation)

Sam could feel the heat of the large, nearby candles on the back of her head, but the discomfort was nothing compared to the hot stares from a room full of assassins whose lives she had personally placed in danger. It was then, she realised, in the minutes that followed, her life could be forfeit or she would set in place a movement that would change the very fabric of society in the galaxy--it all depended on what happened next.

"Members of the terminatio die militem and our faithful crews, now is the time for you to decide. Follow the true sight or, without prejudice in the eyes of the Church, return to your duty."

All in the church remained silent as her words hung in the air amidst the candle smoke.

Finally, a short man from the second row on the left aisle stood, his chubbiness almost hidden by his black cloak; the grin that spanned his face belied his words spoken with confidence, "Sam, Sam, Sam. What have you done? Yes, we have all seen Eiko's undoing. I have watched it too many times and fear that the look upon his face before his end will haunt my sleep for the balance of my days--as ugly as it was." The Churchman paused and seemed that his smile widened if that was even possible. "What you ask, is difficult, although perhaps long overdue, and any path that our humble company takes will be dark and full of the killing that you argue we must surrender--I see much more killing in fact, should we uphold the Dean's undoing.

"I can not speak for my brothers and sisters, but I will speak for myself." The smiling priest finished his speech with a pause for effect, "I am undecided." Before sitting back down on the pue.

Sam's exhale in response was audible amid a scattering of chuckles about the Church. All members of Death Squad 8 knew Father Race, Captain of Black Wing as a habitual joker and none were surprised by his noncommittal declaration.

Regaining composure Sam, responded, "As is your right Father. Let us then hear from our first senior, Father Koopak." Sam motioned to a woman whose grave countenance was in stark contrast to the jolly visage of her peer and other most senior in the gathering, Father Race. An ugly pink scar ran down the dark brown skin of her face from the temple over her right eye and down her cheek.

The Captain of the Dominator stood and was about to talk, but the Ascent's first officer, Harris shot to his feet abruptly, along with two other augers in the room. The church filled with the sound of thirty weapons readying. But Harris was unarmed and held his hands out to confirm. "Apologies for the interruption, but Captain..." He addressed Sam, "Five--no--Six Skyean destroyer class warships have exited phase on the outer edge of the system, and there is an Akira class carrier, the Duilleag!",

"It's a war grouping!" confirmed another auger, who had also remotely interfaced their ship's SIS.

Koopak assumed command addressing Harris, "Any inbound communication threads Commander? Jump distance?"

"Negative on coms; and two-point-two-five hours Captain."

"Good, we have time." The experienced Churchman looked to Sam and walked casually over from her front row seat to join her at the altar. "A grouping against our three cruisers? An overwhelming force, no doubt." Announcing to the congregation, "They're here for us. The King wants his quart of blood for his torched platform."

A taller woman, she looked to Sam with her good left eye, the glass eye under the scar glared at some fixed point in another direction, "I admire your guts. I can't say that I would've had the courage to blow the shit out of that place, but that was his last order to you, 'kill me' Eiko whispered, and you did. Had you let him live, then the retributioners would have killed him and raised him one thousand times, and the pain of his tortures-- every one of them-- would be on your hands." The senior cleric drew apart her heavy robe and drew out a blade. It was well known that the antique dagger was as precious to her as the twin pistols were to their former Dean. "Here is my answer to you Sam."

Sam winced, but the blade was not meant for her, as Koopak drew the dagger back over her shoulder and threw it at the great wooden 'X' that hung in the apse behind the altar. The hard steel buried with a thunk into the heart of the x-cross that was the universal symbol of the Church.

"I don't know if we will live to see the change that Eiko has set in motion, but I will stand with you as will my crew."