919.M30.
Eastern Galactic Edge, Praedis Zeta System.
The Tenth Chapter's fleet transitioned from the Warp. Starlight fragnted the dark void as ship after black ship erged from the Mandeville point.
Aboard the 36th Company's flagship, the Fland, Sasebo Tezuka stood on the observation deck, gazing at the ships in the void.
He said, half-jokingly, "I've heard people in other Chapters say our Lord has been imitating Father, from his appearance to the Chapter's emblem."
"Our Chapter's symbol is a shadow-painted rose. Like the Legion's emblem, it's shadow."
"I don't think so." ron erged from the shadows.
"The Captain and the three liutenants often erge from shadows."
"Believe , they have so kind of... shadow power," the Telepath said with certainty.
"They're hard to detect when they hide in shadows."
"They are Court Brothers. They wield the power granted by Father." Sasebo's voice held a note of longing.
"Yes, we've also been put on the observation list." ron said quietly.
"Six new Chaplains have recently joined the company. The Master of Chaplains, Pat, has also co to the Chapter."
"If we don't want to lose our chance, we need to be careful."
"I will adhere to all the tenets, as I always have." Sasebo said confidently. He had always been a role model, from the lunar training base.
It was his outstanding performance that had allowed him to stand out, pass the screening, and be chosen as a Shadow of Order.
They walked down the corridor towards the strategy room.
As the airlock pumped, ron looked into the room, at the fifteen squad leaders around the hololithic tactical table.
Five of them had been promoted after the integration of Zos.
Grey forests appeared in the Telepath's eyes. He instinctively searched the shadows.
Not under the cogitator's shadow, cast by the lun lights. Not in the elongated shadows of the black armor...
'None?'
He thought, puzzled. In his eyes, a grey tree was suddenly touched by a shadow.
SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH!
Three shadows appeared.
'The three liutenants.' He thought.
He slowed. Invisible telekinesis rippled from him, spreading through the strategy room.
'Hmm!' He found the last shadow only as he reached his position.
He suddenly turned, looking at the data-interface to the Simulus Chamber. The darkness there twisted, and a figure erged.
A black-armored giant.
'The Captain's mastery of shadow power is clearly greater than the liutenants'.'
The Confessor Captain reached the table. He spoke, his voice low.
"You have read the data provided by Father."
"The world we are to bring into compliance, Praedis Zeta, is being invaded by Likho Fishn."
"The 1st Company's vanguard has already broken through the Likho Fishn fleet's center. Their bowl-shaped ships' cannons are no threat to our auto-recharging void shields."
As he spoke, one of his liutenants aid a control rod at the table.
The image shifted to a view of the 1st Company, shared through the Simulus Chamber network.
Red runes of bowl-shaped ships swirled around black Gothic runes.
Red beams shot at the black ships, but each volley reduced their shields by only 0.01%.
'Powerful auto-recharging void shield technology. An ancient relic from the Phallians.' He thought, recalling data he had read in the Librarius.
When Father went to dusa to retrieve Ferrus Manus, he had shared the auto-recharging void shield technology he had discovered there.
But compared to the complete technology possessed by the Phallians, the dusa discovery was only a simplified version.
Simulations showed the Phallian auto-recharging void shields could withstand 36.5 tis the damage of the dusa version, and their auto-recharge rate was 61.8 tis faster.
'Praise be to Father. He defeated Russ and preserved this ancient technological treasure. It will reduce our losses.'
As he thought, the Confessor Captain continued.
"Since the xenos ships pose little threat," he paused deliberately, "and the Lord has conveyed Father's command to capture Likho Fishn."
The Confessor liutenants and "Listener" squad leaders' eyes lit up. Having served in the Honor Guard, they knew their Father's preferences.
Xenos, various peculiar ores, and rare plants, these were what he most enjoyed.
Sasebo, hearing Father was interested in the Likho Fishn, thought.
'Is it because they're really delicious?'
"Therefore, we will use boarding tactics in this void battle." The Confessor Captain ordered.
"Use hunting guns loaded with Nucerian anesthetic."
"Finally, I remind you: be careful with the Likho Fishn. My experience is that most creatures Father is interested in possess peculiar powers."
Two standard hours later, black boarding torpedoes slipped into the darkness like silent hunters.
Sasebo, his body pressed into his seat, said to his squad, Shadows of Orders in Mark III power armor.
"According to auspex matrix scans, so Likho Fishn have already landed on Praedis Zeta's surface. The hangar deck is not our primary target."
"Our target is the main airlock. It will yield the most valuable prizes."
'This operation, with my outstanding performance, I will be selected for the Honor Guard.'
As he thought confidently, the pilot's voice sounded on the vox channel.
"Prepare for impact. 2.5 seconds."
"Restraint clamps releasing. Good luck."
The Shadows of Orders quickly took hunting guns from the weapon racks, anesthetic needles loaded, and moved to the assault ramp.
Sasebo was the first to leap onto the ramp. He raised his gun, aiming at a fish-headed xenos.
He saw a pale green dot ignite in its bulging, grey eyes. It arched its body, spitting a glob of disgusting sli.
He rembered the Captain's warning and shouted to his n.
"Jump!"
Magnetic boots left the ramp. The Shadows of Orders leaped.
The thick, green sli struck the ramp, crackling, quickly corroding a large hole.
THUD!
As he landed, he fired repeatedly.
The hunting gun spat anesthetic needles.
The needles pierced the slippery skin. The anesthetic entered the Likho Fishman.
Its bulging eyes rapidly grew heavy, retracting into their sockets.
WHOOSH!
Two Fishn's eyes ignited with cyan flas. They puffed their cheeks, exhaling cyan fire.
The cold flas struck Teresoldi and Ordonez. Their bodies froze for an instant.
A sheen of blue frost covered their black armor.
Sasebo and the battle-brother beside him imdiately aid at the xenos.
POP! POP!
Anesthetic needles pierced the Fishn.
"Three in a line!" Sasebo ordered. Using the frontal defense of Mark III power armor, they withstood the Fishn's sorcerous attacks, continuously firing needles.
CRACK, CRACK, CRACK...
As they advanced, xenos after xenos fell.
A smile even crossed his stern eyes.
Monts later, he ordered his n to secure the spoils. He took two n to reconnoiter the adjacent deck.
Though he had already captured the most valuable prizes, the adjacent deck likely held more xenos.
He saw black shadow runes of friendly forces flash. He shook his head.
'I'm not the only one who's clever.'
As he and his two n returned through the slippery passage, his nose twitched.
The scent of blood reached him.
He quickened his pace, rushing onto the deck.
He stopped abruptly, his pupils dilating. He stared at the two n kneeling on either side of a Likho Fishman, clutching handfuls of flesh.
"Teresoldi, Ordonez! What are you doing?"
"Sasebo, Likho Fishn are really delicious. I think that's why Father wants them." Ordonez's mouth was stained with blood. He offered a handful of flesh to Sasebo.
Sasebo's gauntlet slamd into the flesh, splattering it.
"Enough!" He roared, but his throat quivered.
"We are Shadows of Orders. Not ghouls."
"We only consu xenos when necessary for intelligence."
He was admonishing his n and himself. He felt his body stir. He craved xenos flesh.
'I cannot join Father's Honor Guard now.'
'I must deal with Teresoldi and Ordonez.'
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu
User Comments
0 comments from readers