You enter the bridge to find Jace already waiting for you. He holds out a dataslate to you, "you are going to want to read this."

You take the slate and power it on, "and this is...?"

"a clear-text transcript of Magos Rex's transmission."

You read the slate.

>> Authoritative: Magos Explorator Alieus Rex (Shipmaster: Chrysus (Voyager-class salvage ship)) claims this salvage for the Adeptus Mechanicus. Authoritative / Threatening: All scavengers are to disperse at once.

"Arrogant bastard isn't he. Does he realize just how out-ranked and out-classed he is?"

Jace tilts his head. "Is he?"

You hand the dataslate back to Jace. "I may command the fleet, but you are the Shipmaster of an Ark Mechanicus."

Jace stands a bit taller. "Mu'randa, open a communications channel please. Terra Incarnadine to the Chrysus. Communication will be in Techna-Lingua, so rout a clear-text transcription to Tristan's data-slate here for archive purposes."

Mu'randa taps away at her terminal for a moment, then gives Jace a thumbs-up. "Communications channel active and recording for archive."

Promptly, a hash of noise echoes over the bridge speaker. Jace rolls his eyes and plugs in a cable. It must lead to an internal headphone, because the noise stops. You glance down at your slate.

>> Rex: Authoritative / Threatening: Why have you not decamped?

>> Echo: Statement of fact: Archmagos Jace Echo (Shipmaster: Terra Incarnadine (Ark Mechanicus)) This salvage is already claimed by the Adeptus Mechanicus, and is being salvaged with the assistance of House Von Sebastion (Rogue Trader House / Warrant Authorized 0 313.421.M30 by the Omnissiah).

Stolen novel; please report.

>> Rex: Incredulous: Why is House Von Sebastion involved?

>> Echo: Statement of fact: Mass of archeotech salvage (5,335 Tons) requires a multi-decade salvage effort. Salvaging of ships (list of hulls appended) requires a multi-century salvage effort. Presence of habitable planet (NGC 2051 1 / Designation: Oasis) requires a colonization effort, to provide a local base of operations for said salvage operations. House Von Sebastion is providing material support to all three requirements in exchange for one usable archeotech artifact (individual-scale) per two tons salvaged, or one usable archeotech artifact (ship component-scale) per ten tons salvaged.

>> Rex: Statement of fact: Understood. Skeptical: High presence of Xenotech detected. Query / Skeptical: intention?

>> Echo: Statement of fact: Intention is to not salvage Xenotech. Deathwatch Strike Force (Authority: Inquisition / Ordo Xenos) is en route (ETA: ???) to evaluate.

>> Rex: Statement of fact: Understood. Moving to assist in Archeotech Salvage efforts.

Rex closes the connection, and you put down the data slate. "And how are our Imperial Navy guests reacting to this?"

Jace shrugs and disconnects his cable. "They haven't changed their positions, though they did briefly come to battle stations until the Chrysus was identified."

"And we have no good indication as to the expected arrival date of the Deathwatch Strike Force?"

"Correct. We know that they are coming, but do not know their point of origin, so cannot calculate an estimated time of arrival with any degree of confidence."

Mu'randa chimes in from over by the sensor displays. "Warp signature detected. Single ship, Light Cruiser rage. IFF shows Ordo Xenos / Deathwatch prefix, ship name Ebonheart."

"Go head and pass our greetings to them Mu'randa. Full formal phrasing, I think, as we don't know who's commanding it."

"On it." Mu'randa drops into the communications console seat and take a moment to adjust her appearance before starting the transmission.

Momenta later, she motions you over. "Message from Inquisitor Ironsides. You are invited to the Ebonheart for a conference on the status of the system and what to do with the Malignus Maximus."

"Alone? Or am I to bring others with me?"

"The message didn't specify, so it is probably safe to bring along some officers."