It barely took 15 minutes for the requested squads to assemble, they no doubt felt inspired by the trigger-happy commissar in a foul mood. I would love to tell a grand tale of hunting down a secret cult of heretics, culminating in an epic battle with a minor daemon. But I would be lying. The soldiers entered the section on lockdown and found the heretic believers already bound and ready to be given the Emperor's mercy. It would seem the regular crew had already snuffed out those spreading propaganda against the Imperium and attempted to restrain them. This had caused conflict with the followers of the heretical thinking, both those who did so in the open and those who were hiding, no doubt to further spread the malicious influence onboard my ship. The result was a minor brawl that had been resolved before we entered and in the hopes of being spared a heretics death, the loyal crew had done our work for us. This was not enough for Elris or our young commissar, and they organized a thorough interrogation of every individual that had been inside the section in question, and for every heretic they found, their entire social circle and work colleagues were brought in for further questioning. In a single day they had rooted out and killed no less than 152 heretic believers, a not insignificant amount, but it was what it was. The rest of the ship sector was rounded up after the interrogations and gathered in a nearby hangar holding Valkyrie gunships.

As they stood around nervously, surrounded by my guardsmen and murmuring amongst themselves. As I approached, flanked by Elris and the commissar, and Trokk lumbering close behind me, I could smell the fear in the air. They feared for their lives as they rightfully should. On most other ships in the Imperium, they would simply be shot and fed to the reactor core, as pragmatic and abrupt as the Imperium could make it. Can't be a heretic when you are dead, and the engine can always use more fuel.

However, I had very different plans for these people. They were indentured workers, doomed to an existence of back-breaking and mind-crushing labor until they broke down and died, or tried shirking their duties and got killed or turned into servitors. No pay, lousy and never enough food, cramped living conditions even by Imperial ship standards, frequent physical punishment, casual abuse from the voidsmen, high mortality rate, and low life expectancy. They lived in a concentration camp from back home, and most considered it a comfortable, if bleak, existence. I was about to become the closest thing to a god these people had ever laid their eyes on.

We stopped as we reached the middle of the hangar and I felt the eyes of the gathered workers fall on us.

"How do you wish to proceed with the rest of the workers, captain?" The commissar asked as we came to a stop, and I thought about it for a short second. Better to give the impression that I desired their counsel in this situation.

"I would hear your advice before I decide," I told them, and they wasted no time in informing me of what they would have done.

"Grant them the Emperor's mercy. Who knows how many of them still believe in the heretics' words." The commissar uttered without hesitation.

"Let me take them to the Ecclesiarchy's chambers once we reach Bakka. They will soon enough know what they know!" Elris said, glee and malicious intent oozing from her words.

"No need for such frivolities. Better to send a clear and strong message, both to any heretics in hiding, and to the rest of the crew. That insubordination and radical thinking will be met with a swift death!" The commissar bristled at Elris's words, and I had suspected he was measuring the cost versus gain on the fly and found it to be an extravagant use of resources that could be better spent on more tangible things, like soldiers on the frontline and firing squads for deserters.

"What better message to send the unbelievers, than one of warning that they WILL be found, and brought to justice?" Elris retorted and I sensed a larger conflict brewing between the 2. It was bound to happen, the 2 conflicting branches of the Imperium would always see their organization first, the Imperium second, though they would state the opposite whenever pressed for answers, and in a twisted way, they did see it as the ultimate truth. In their minds, if their organization flourished, so did the Imperium.

I cleared my throat and both Elris and the commissar snapped their heads to me before remembering that this was, in fact, my ship. And as a now full rogue trader, my authority was on par with the most powerful and influential individuals in the Imperium, at least on paper. I still had no legends tied to my name, but that would come in time. For now, I just needed the 2 to remember that the decision was ultimately mine, as the crew in question was a part of my ship.

"What are you thinking, captain?" Elris asked, the strain of self-control evident in her voice and I now understood why she had never advanced beyond infiltration. She was emotional. She took things personally and had difficulty keeping personal opinion, and Imperial duty, separate.

"Promote them," I said flatly, and they both stared at me like I was a talking tyranid that had just asked them to go get tea and crumpets. "I'm serious," I said after a moment of stunned silence. "I can always use more dedicated voidsmen. They would be bound to the ship, no different from their current situation, there would be soldiers around them at all times along with the officers, they would serve the ship for the rest of their mortal lives, and it would show the rest of the crew that not only is Imperial duty expected to be followed, but doing it well is also rewarded. If we do this, I do not doubt that more heretics will suddenly be ousted by people that realize the folly of listening to heretical thoughts and opinions, in the days to come. Besides, what better way to ensure loyalty, than binding their service to my ship? Part of the ship, part of the crew."

I could hear the wheels in their heads turning as they mulled over my words. My logic was sound and it would not only spare the Imperium the resources, meager as they were, to replenish said indentured workers, but binding them to permanent service onboard my ship by freeing them from indentured servitude would show I was more generous than most when it came to excelling at your duties and obligations to the Imperium, thus increasing overall crew loyalty. They were hesitant around me as I was still an unknown entity. They had no idea if I was a spoiled noble son from the upper spires of a hive world, the heir to a long and ancient dynasty of rogue traders, steeped in tradition and etiquette, or a newcomer. My mood and my reactions were unknown to them. I might shoot a messenger, or reward him for bringing me news, good or bad, swiftly and without delay. This action would cement to the entire crew that I was strict but far more generous and fair than they could have ever hoped for.

"That is... Quite benevolent of you, considering the circumstances." The commissar said.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"What circumstances? They did their Imperial duty upon discovering heresy in their midst. What more could you ask of them?" I countered.

Elris interjected, "Heresy should never have found its way in there, to begin with!"

"By that logic, we should punish every single person on board, ourselves included. No, my desicion stands. These men and women are to be freed from indentured work, on condition they enter into service as voidsmen on this ship. Unless, of course, one of you wants to start giving orders on my ship?" This was the first time I assumed a position of authority over Elris and the commissar, but not only was it my right to do so in this situation, as it involved the crew on my ship, but it was also about time I showed them that I was no pushover.

Of course, captain, it will be as you command." Elris responded with the slightest hint of amusement in her voice.

The commissar took a little longer to accept things, but eventually managed a "very well" before he turned on his heel and walked out of the hangar.

"Well, captain. Your subjects are waiting." Elris said and made a theatrical gesture toward the large group of crewmembers huddled together under the watchful gaze of a few dozen guardsmen.

I took a few steps forward and cleared my throat before speaking to the gathered workers. "Loyal citizens of the Imperium. You have been put in an extraordinary situation and acted like true Imperials. As a result of your swift action upon the discovery of heresy, the apostates were granted the Emperor's mercy before they could spread their cancerous beliefs and thought any more than they already had. The Imperium thanks you for your service, as do I. Therefore, those of you that may wish it, will be offered a chance to enter into my service as voidsmen, a significant promotion from your current life. There will be a period of training and testing, but I am confident that you will all prove more than capable. Those that do not wish to take this opportunity may leave at once. Those that wish to become sworn voidsmen may stay and a sergeant will come to assign you to your new living quarters. Ave Imperator!" My last words were echoed by everyone present and for a short second, I felt the power of having thousands of people ready to obey your every command.

The roar from the workers was loud and enthusiastic, and when I looked over the crowd, I saw nothing but adoration and gratefulness in their eyes. "It would seem you were not mistaken. Rarely have I seen such sad fates, look at their lord with such reverence. It is usually fear and duty that motivates the troops. I must admit, this confuses me, Björk. How did you ever think of this as a viable option?" Elris sounded genuinely intrigued, as if the thought of treating those beneath you like anything other than dirt, was as alien to her as the idea of not killing a heretic.

I shrugged slightly before responding, "You gain more favor among the men with Rahzvod than Rotgut."

Then Elris did something I had not heard before. She laughed. Not a controlled chuckle, or an amused snicker, but a bubbly laugh that was better suited for a young innocent woman, than the centuries-old killer in front of me. She laughed until the tears rolled down her cheeks and she gasped for air. "That's a good one! I will have to remember that one! It might even make an Astartes laugh!"

"...I wasn't even trying to be funny..." I murmured, which only increased her laughing fit. To their credit, the guardsmen had hurried the soon-to-be voidsmen away as, unsurprisingly, none had opted to remain an indentured worker. Sure, being a voidsman was not much better, but you got paid, meaning you could escape reality with alcohol or drugs for a few hours when you were not on duty, and you had the occasional shore leave whenever the ship made port. All in all, I had massively upgraded their quality of life, or at least given them a chance at getting said upgrade.

For the entire rest of the day, Elris would snicker every time she saw me, and I had to admit it was getting annoying. Was this universe so bleak that a badly performed crude joke was enough to warrant this kind of reaction?? Maybe I should have tried to become a comedian instead! Then again, comedy is usually based on satire, and if there is one thing I know the Imperium lacks, it is enough self-awareness to laugh at themselves.

With this minor incident well over with, things quickly fell back into the routine of warp travel. My prediction also came true, as several more groups of heretical thinkers were exposed in the following week. I had a few more complaints from the voidmasters, on account of the new recruits I had thrown at them and the sudden drop in their worker numbers, but they knew better than to do more than light complaining. Besides, I was planning to let them do a run for indentured workers at the next hive world we reached. Press-ganging regular Imperial workers into indentured servitude was not a thing I was proud of having to do, but it was the way of things here.

It still took another month to get near where I wanted us to be, and one fine morning, drinking my recaf and pouring over the local maps of the Segmentum, I was called to the bridge and informed of a vox communication from Bakka Naval base.

"We are being hailed, captain." The vox operator informed me as soon as I left the elevator. "Bakka station is demanding we identify ourselves before we continue further.

"Well, don't keep them waiting. And inform them that I desire to speak with an Astartes representative at the earliest convenience. Be polite and make no demands, only requests. We would not benefit from insulting the Emperor's angels." I ordered and took a seat in the command chair overseeing the bridge. Bakka Naval base was, as the name implied, host to Battlefleet Bakka, under the command of the Ultramarines. The poster boys of the Imperium.

The spitting image of duty and going by the book, anything not supported by the Codex Astartes would not be undertaken. Thankfully, a rogue trader carried the same authority and freedom as an Astartes chapter master, meaning my authority over myself and anyone under my command was absolute. Well, except for the Inquisition when they desired something from me, but that is the price I have to pay for my freedom in a universe where such a word is considered quite filthy.

The communications flew back and forth for a few moments and we were granted safe passage, for which I was sorely grateful. Having an Imperial naval base manned by Imperial fists, and the homeworld of the Crimson fists being located in a sector close to the naval base only added to the danger of approaching Segmentum Pacificus without proper authorization. Now the only choice left would be what to do once I had dropped off Elris and the commissar that had finished his duties in ensuring Trokk was loyal to me, and was now needed to train more abhumans for the frontlines.

I could visit a hive world, replenish the indentured workers that had been uplifted, pick up some trading goods for my travels, and head out in search of new and unexplored worlds.

I could visit a feudal world and stock up on food and possibly exotic goods, able to be sold at a great profit down the line. Maybe even pick up a few specialists in close combat to train my guard regiments. Being on a ship, close combat was inevitable, and if my troops had received superior training they would stand a better chance at surviving and succeeding.

I could go hunting pirates and renegades, though this was a dangerous gamble. My ship was still only equipped with basic las burners and I only had one. Going pirate hunting, I would have much better chances if I could secure an escort ship or two.

Or I could start digging around the underhive bars and communities, putting my ear to the ground and finding any rumor, tall tale, story, and adventure I can, and start looking for the answer I already desire with deep desperation, How do I get home? But this carried its own risk, my lacking reputation and lack of accomplishments granted me precious little goodwill when it came to doing things of... Questionable behavior, as far as the Imperium was concerned. It could draw the exact kind of attention I did not want, both from inside Imperial ranks and from the ruinous powers.

So many options, and so little room to act.