“Well, at least we know what decade it probably is!” says David. “That’s an acceptable margin of error.”

I say, “I prefer to time things to the pico-second, but alas, the galaxy runs on its own time.”

My comment is followed with a round of polite laughter. A new round of food comes out. This one is a pasta dish. Once again, xeno flora is present, though it is still non-toxic.

“Trader Modren,” I say, “As most of the news is coming from you, how about you pick the next topic?”

“I am fond of scandals and bounties,” says David. “I will start us off with one. It was 703.M41 when Erasmus Haarlock vanished from his family estate, leaving it awash with the blood of his family. It’s rumoured that he was the one to do the deed, but that is unconfirmed. It’s always possible he was the last survivor of some plot.

“What I do know is that it triggered a succession war between all the Haarlock heirs, a series of fleet engagements that took place throughout the Calixis Sector and Koronus Expanse. Erasmus Haarlock is known to have defeated three heirs within the Koronus Expanse, as well as two other Rogue Traders who joined the conflict for unknown reasons.

“Some fifteen years later, in 717.M41, Ember Nostromo, of the Nostromo navigator house, mutinied against outlaw captain, Buros Han, and took control of a pre-Angevin Crusade relic vessel named the Monarch of Whispers. She gathered a huge coterie of warp-witches and killers from the hated Saynay Clan and became a pirate.

“Her stated goal was to gather enough power to hunt down Erasmus Haarlock in revenge for the death of her parents during the Haarlock purges. A navigator turning on their captain, however, is a serious offence and made the Nostromo House appear unreliable, greatly affecting their business interests. As such, there is a huge bounty on the Monarch of Whispers. Both Ember Nostromo and Erasmus Haarlock are still sighted from time to time. I am unsure if Haarlock won his succession war.”

Mattius shakes his head, “Neither of these individuals have ever visited Cobalt.”

“Possible bounties are always worth knowing,” I say. “What ship class is the Monarch of Whispers?”

“No idea,” says David.

“A Mars-Class Battle Cruiser,” says Lyre. “Erasmus Haarlock was recognised as Rogue Trader Haarlock in 737.M41 when he presented his family’s Writ to the naval base at Port Wander and, officially, at that time, he was the last remaining Haarlock. Since then, Erasmus Haarlock has gone to considerable efforts to replenish his dynasty with over twenty registered heirs. Much of the Haarlock assets have been lost, however, and the House is declining.”

David says, “A mystery solved at last! What can you tell us of the Mars-Class, Commodore Horthstein?”

“Not everyone likes the Mars-Class,” says Raphael. “Many navy captains consider it under-gunned for its size, so very few shipyards make them these days. Like the Lunar-Class, however, it has a good mix of weaponry and is fast for its size. Its Nova Cannon, lances, and strike craft are not to be underestimated, as it can outrange most other vessels, and has a fully armoured prow if it needs to close in, and the macro-cannons to make the most of a shorter engagement distance. It is an excellent patrol vessel. I’d be delighted if I had one in my fleet.”

“That sounds like the perfect vessel for any aspiring Rogue Trader,” I say. “Did you not fancy the bounty yourself, Trader Modren?”

David says, “I do not think I could capture such a vessel. Not without the help of another Trader.”

“An alliance would raise questions of who got to keep it,” says Sciéno, “Or who takes the blame if the Monarch of Whispers escapes. It is always hard to hunt a ship full of psykers as they often see when you are gunning for them.”

“Alas, I can only take comfort in Ardent Bane,” says David. “She has yet to let me down and trying for a better ship may well be the last thing I do.”

Mildred smirks, “Where’s the legendary ambition of a Rogue Trader?”

“My dear general,” says David. “I never said I wasn’t going to try.”

Sciéno swats David’s arm with her fan, “You spent all your ambition when you seduced me, David. I wouldn’t go chasing a lass who has a bigger cannon than you. That would not fit your tastes and you do so hate to share.”

Mildred and Brigid snicker, while Mattius and I grin. Raphael and Lyre, however, manage to keep a straight face.

I shake my head, “I don’t have any bounties to share. Commodore?”

“Off the top of my head, I can only think of one,” says Raphael. “It was issued by the Navy for Rak’Gol Marauders. In 811.M41 the merchant brig Daughter of Regals and her escorts were lost with all hands between Port Wander and Lucien’s Breath. Since then the marauders have only become more bold and many of the polities at Footfall have added to the bounty.

“That’s a wide area to search,” I say.

Raphael nods, “I’ve done two patrols along that stretch and never caught sight of them. It’s possible they are collaborating with Dark Eldar raiders and launching strikes from the Webway, but that’s just a personal theory of mine. There is no definitive proof. However, Rak’Gol raiders have few places to sell their loot and captives and Commorragh, the main port of the Dark Eldar, is the easiest and most profitable one to go to for them.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Talking of xenos,” says David, “The Stryxis have set up shop among the asteroid belts and lifeless systems on the trailing edge of the God-Emperor’s Scourge, a strange storm-like anomaly. Not Warp based, as far as I know. Their trade centre is called Rust Palace. It was first sighted in 789.M41 and moves about a fair bit, but if you travel to Magoros first, there is always a guide to the palace available. They’re an odd sort, with strange values. They trade anything and everything with anyone, so long as you aren’t Eldar, which makes the Stryxis alright in my book.”

“Not a fan of Eldar, Trader Modren?” says Lyre.

David glances at his wife, “No. I despise the lot of them.” He smirks, “I’ve been bitten far too many times to hold any affection for the creatures.”

Sciéno giggles, “No xeno could ever withstand your affections, my love. Far too many hot pokers.” Sciéno shakes her head, “Enough of your silliness, David. It is hardly dinner conversation. How about you, Purser Issengrund? What would you like to know?”

“The three greatest threats in the Koronus Expanse,” says Brigid.

Sciéno snaps her fan shut and taps it against her crimson lips, “Well, that’s a little tricky. Threats are relative to one’s personal capacity for violence. Could you help me out, Commodore? What does the Imperium view as vital information for their allies?”

“I do not think I can quite get it down to three,” says Raphael, grimacing. “I will speak of the Battle of Agusia in 742.M41 and The Strangling, in 813.M41, however.

“The Battle of Agusia is the largest known engagement in the Koronus Expanse to date. It has been extensively studied and we’d be here for days if I started getting into it. I’ll provide a dossier on it for you, Trader Modren, Magos Issengrund, and Governor Stigstaff.

“The battle had a lot of knock on effects that are still being felt. Especially by Battlefleet Koronus, who have had to respond to many more emergencies since the battle. A dozen Rogue Trader Houses, including House Winterscale, engaged the archeo-pirates and renegades of the Amerat Union and their Dark Eldar allies, the Cabal of the Bloody Libation, around the Cemetery World of Agusia.

“The combined Rogue Trader fleet was victorious, but all forces took heavy losses and the enemy survivors and the unknown object of contention may still exist. The Rogue Trader Houses are yet to recover from all their losses during that battle as there just isn’t the capacity to repair or build that many ships so fast within the Koronus Expanse. It is far too dangerous to tow vessels through the Maw for repairs in the Calixis Sector.

“As for The Strangling, in 813.M41, the Warp storm that separates the Calixis Sector and the Koronus expanse surged and the Maw, the route between the two sectors, snapped shut. Yes, the passage and the planet have the same name, even if they aren’t even in adjacent sectors. Again, this had severe consequences and I will forward you all the data. I mention this because what can happen once, can happen twice, and it would be best to prepare for it. Especially Governor Stiggstaff. Imperial assistance would be catastrophically delayed should the Maw close again while you require help.”

Mattius says, “Thank you, Commodore Horthstein. I will take your warning to heart.”

Raphael gives Mattius a curt nod, “As for the greatest threats, I believe that Lyre is best equipped to address the issue. His experience is broader than mine.”

Lyre sighs, “I cannot share much, for it is confidential. The first is an unnatural disaster, the Tyrant Star, an unexplained phenomena in the shape of a baleful black star that presages destruction, madness and death. There have been six sightings in the Calixis Sector over the past Millennium. I will send you the dates and locations so that you can avoid these places. They’re either quarantined or destroyed, so you absolutely must not visit them. The Imperium will hunt you down, no matter your status, should you break its edicts.”

“There is enough madness in the galaxy already,” I say. “I see no reason to chase it down on ashen worlds.”

“Agreed,” says David. “We will abide by the Imperium’s strictures.”

“Very well.”

With a discrete ping, all the data mentioned by the navy officers so far appears on my MIU. They must have been reading my guide while holding a conversation, or faking their incompetence with the systems they’ve had installed. I really did assume a lot earlier and may have made more of an arse of myself than I realised. Fortunately the two officers are not easily offended.

More food comes out, this time it’s genuine surf and turf with actual bovine and lobster meat that closely matches the genetic profile of the original Terran species. The sea vegetables are xenos in origin. These ones are even digestible and nutritious!

With so many usual foods served to us, I release a small quantity of my medichines and send them to Brigid, rapidly purifying her body of all xeno flora, just in case. I do not help anyone else as I don’t know what implants and auspex they have installed and they are too far from me for my Warp and Weft module to remotely power the nanites.

David smiles, “Now this is a rare treat. Animals bred on Terra itself and worth far more than its weight in gold. If you could hold off your threat assessment, Adjunct Hamiz, so that we can enjoy this delicacy with the respect it deserves, I would appreciate it.”

“Is it really that great?” says Hamiz.

“Adjunct,” I say, “This was a luxury meal served in late M2, or so my records tell me.”

“You have records going back that far?” says David.

“Not many,” I say. “They are a prized possession of mine. I grabbed them off the Space Hulk I crashed into. There is no useful technology on the files, and much of what they knew was wrong, but the snippets of how our ancestors used to live, when we only had one planet, make for good bedtime stories for my children, even if it was not a peaceful era. My children have long since stopped listening to such things, but I have not forgotten the data.

Lyre says, “That is an unusual collection. How valid is the data?”

“I can not be certain how accurate any of the information is. Some of it seems quite fanciful, like Terra being seventy percent water. It seems strange that was the case when they called the planet ‘Earth’. I question their global mapping skills, when all they had was a compass and the stars, rather than satellites, lasers, and cogitators.”

I have to hand my expressions off to my Machine-Spirits so that no one can tell I am laughing my ass off in my head. Coming up with a good mix of truth and lies is terribly amusing.

“I would love a collection of old Earth data,” says David. “Would you trade for it?”

“Sure,” I say, “So long as what you have to offer is equally as rare and unique.”

David nods, “It will take me a few days to locate suitable items and present you with some options.”

“That’s fine. How about you, Commodore, Governor?”

“My personal funds do not stretch that far,” says Raphael, “no matter how much I would like them.”

Mattius frowns, “I am much the same, nor do I have much interest in such things.”

“A shame,” I say, “but understandable. For now though, let us follow Trader Modren’s advice and eat this rare food while it is fresh and hot.”

Brigid smiles, “It’s only you who hasn’t started yet, Alrich! This really is delicious.”