'Lord Captain...I have a lead.' the Blade whispered on my brain implant, waking me up.

I checked the shiptime with the corner of my eye, and realized I have slept for almost 7 hours. Damn, I must have been quite tired. I normally got by with 2 or 3 hours of sleep, unless I overused my powers.

'On screen' I demanded while drawing up in my bed. The AI turned on the hololith screen and a holographic map of the Galactic Core appeared, in quite a detailed resolution. Far better than anything I saw, even on top tier Forge Worlds. Maybe having a pet AI would be useful after all.

'The Votann Tethys_Expanse league is providing network access for a fee, to all who can pay. I promissed a megatonne of blackstone in exchange for 100 years of limited bandwith. So now, we have a way in, but I'm not sure what to say.' the Blade said in a hesitant voice.

'Ah, you mean about who we are, or about what we can trade?' I asked while taking out a flask of warm tea from my tesseract. I was probably abusing the valuable dimensional tech with my expedient usage, but tea was a basic human right.

'My provisional legend states that we are a new League, formed after our Fane became a Votann by accident. The Lancefire League. It won't hold to any proper scrutiny.' the Blade disclosed while changing the screen to show our Hold crest and various other Votannic sigils.

'Eh, it's true enough. Well, we can trade gravity and Volkite tech, as well as brand new planetary cores. Don't mention Barrier tech unless it becomes critical for some reason.' I answered after thinking for a minute.

'It might work...the recent Kronus_Hegemony emerged exactly from a Fane's ascension. But our ships and people are not proper Kindred. Anyone with eyes will see that. Should I deploy masking holograms?' the Blade AI countered with a worried voice.

'Nah, that would make everything obvious. We simply hold other roles in the galaxy, beside being a Votann League. For example, I am an Imperial Rogue Trader called Pef Lancefire. Quite famous among some groups.' I offered with a grin, and took a long gulp from my tea. The flask ended too soon, and I realized I was very hungry.

'That's...absurd. And ridiculous. Nobody will believe this.' the AI commented in disbelief.

'Just make sure to mention Federation-grade planetary cores. And some technical data about RAM and ROM and whatever.' I answered in a hurry, then simply skipped through the tesseract to the officer's mess hall, still in my green pajamas and silk sleepers.

"Lord captain, sir?" the cook asked in surprise.

"Breakfast for two. But just for me." I demanded in a hurry, then sat down at the nearest table.

Three of my daughters were having dinner, having just came out of their night shift on the bridge. "Father, you could have your bodyguard bring you food." Leila observed like a smartass.

I nodded, still a bit tired. "Bridge instruments running well?" I asked instead. Blademaster Joghaten would test each type of food, and I would starve until he finished.

"Ah. There have been a few weird things, then everything began running perfectly. We expected quite a different problem after leaving the Maelstrom." my daughter answered as the cook set my plate and fork in front of me. Eggs and bacon and other things. I also didn't care right now.

I almost inhaled my food, and sensed my Omega nanites dissolve and disperse the proteins with great efficacy. In 10 minutes, I began feeling better.

"Well, we have just become a new League of Votann, after our Fane cogitator ascended. This should be helpful as we trade in the Galactic Core. Most humans here are part of the Leagues too." I explained with a casual voice, but since every officer present absorbed my words like gospel, the news would spread fast.

"Protective mimicry? That's rather smart, father." the second daughter commented with a curious voice. I smiled a bit. Aruna was a smart girl, but not yet wise.

"The Lancefire League?" my third daughter asked instead. I just nodded and patted her red hair. I should get Genifer her own Warrant of Trade sometimes soon. Genifer with a G. Nobles would love her.

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"When in port, everyone must wear the blackstone tags and a Lancefire sigil. Spread the word." I demanded as my bodyguard arrived at a sprint.

"Lord Lancefire, don't run off like that!" he admonished me in a stern voice.

I patted his armored shoulder. "You will be our Einhyr Champion , Captain Khan. I suspect the little humans won't best you in a melee duel, right?"

The White Scars Blademaster frowned for a second, then nodded. "Trade negotiations by duel?" he asked to make sure. Nobles Houses did have plenty of vendettas and other similar methods.

"We'll figure it out as we go. These Votann Leagues can mine black holes and scoop out stars, so direct conflict is not advised for now. We'll need to be diplomatic for once." I whispered as if I was confessing a big secret.

'Captain, I've sent the next coordinates to your implant. The Grand_Orion_Compact is a suitable candidate for a new planetary core, and are willling to pay us 500 years of minerals from their vaults. It seems their original Votann core was destroyed by Orks, some 600 years ago. They really want a new one.' the Blade informed me as I teleported to the bridge, this time bringing the Blademaster with me.

Hmmm. A League without a Votann? It should be quite safe as an ingress point. And make the Orion dwarves quite friendly afterwards.

Plenty of minerals too. I wasn't sure how much minerals they were able to scoop in 500 years, but it should be quite a lot. The Galactic Core was far denser in stars and rich mineral planets than any other part of the galaxy.

A month later, we arrived at the Orion Hold, and were recieved with a grand fleet of thousands of warships, plus many more mining barges and Chtonic stellar scoops.

Captain Khan stepped out first, and announced himself as Champion of the Lancefire League.

Another Orion Kin stepped out, decked in a suit of plate armor even more impressive than our Champion's Terminator plate. "You be rather tall for a proper Kindred, Champion Khan." the armored dwarf noted calmly.

"We have lived in the Imperium for centuries, Champion Jorn. The smaller and weakest of us have already died." Captain Khan answered with a barbed tone.

"Aye, you'd be quite strong I gather. Fought the new bugs too?" the other Champion allowed in a more peaceful tone.

"We have fought Tyranids, yes. And Orks, and Chaos and Necrons. Pretty much anything that walks, and many who don't have legs at all. The Rogue Trader even fought the Dark Eldar, and burned their Hold for good." my bodyguard spoke in a dignified voice.

"Have you a Grimnyr to show us?" another Orion dwarf intervened, holding up his own Ancient Staff.

Librarian Valerian teleported next to our Champion, and held out his own Grimnyr Staff. "I am the Grimnyr of our Kin, the one who communes with the Ancient Fane. Valerian Lancefire be my name."

"...Barrier Tech, aye. A bit young to be a proper Grimnyr, but then you said you are a new League. Now, when do we see this Federation core you proposed as trade?" their old Grimnyr asked in a suspicious voice.

I stepped through the tesseract and joined the party as well. "My name is Pef Lancefire, commonly known as a Rogue Trader Noble in the Imperium. Rogue Traders are also empowered by the Emperor of Mankind to trade with other polities and even xenos species, if the Imperium benefits from this. Remember that, when you trade with my kind." I explained in a polite voice.

The Orion delegation measured me, and found me much smaller than my Primaris Astartes escorts. Almost like I was a dwarf among giants, so to speak.

"Hah, you'd be the Squat among your Kin, eh?" their dangerous Champion adressed me with some amusement.

"I am still growing!" I countered a bit annoyed, but the Orions only laughed and cheered at my plight. I was still growing! Really!