(Bridge, Chaos Brigade dreadnought Vengeful Spirit, Chaotic Space)
Warmaster of the Chaos Brigade, Abaddon Horusson, looked out upon the horrors and splendors of the chaotic space just outside his ship. He knew that the raw and primal energies of unreality were kept out only by the shields which let only the barest trickle of the psychic radiation through. And yet, looking out upon the chaotic dimension, he felt stronger, more powerful, than he ever had, as though he just needed to reach out, and he could grab those energies by the throat and master them.
As far as he knew, the Nomads of the Chaos Brigade were the first to bask in the glow of the chaotic space, the first to make use of the Hellwarp Drive developed by Black Star. Even Mollen, with all his excitement for leaping into situations that would make any sensible, sane person shy away, had not wished to test the Drive. Perhaps he had reasons for that, from whatever source he ‘discovered’ the drive in.
It was obvious to him, even if others did not see it, that Mollen had discovered some cache of Lost Technology on his planet, which allowed him to create the Hellwarp Drive, and to predict the rifts that formed in Coldana and Sol. There was no other way that he could have had all his ships in place, just coincidentally armed and ready to help out when the rifts opened. Mollen had as good as admitted it to him the last time they met.
Oh, it hadn’t been so much a formal declaration, or anything like that. But he hadn’t missed that the man talked about multiple drive systems in development. And he hadn’t even flinched at the emphasis on how he had ‘discovered’ the Hellwarp Drive. No, it was as good as confirmed, in his mind, that Mollen had access to Lost Tech.
Of course, that truth brought new questions, such as why, if he had the tech, wasn’t he selling it, or otherwise making use of it? The answer to that was simple enough, if you thought about it. Lost Tech got lost for a variety of reasons, but the two main reasons was that the technology was either too dangerous compared to comparable tech, or that it was a technological dead end, inferior to other technology, useful as a curiosity, but nothing that could be packaged and sold. And he didn’t doubt that Mollen would find a way to sell even the unsellable, or he’d hire someone who could.
The Warmaster chuckled as the thought unbidden crossed his mind of Mollen selling ice to Eskimos, and making them think they got the better of the deal. No, he did not doubt that whatever technology the man had found, he would find some way to use it to improve Black Star’s position in the galaxy. And, if being Black Star’s friend meant that the Chaos Brigade got some special access to that technology? Well, that was all the better for him, and his growing legion.
And the legion was growing. The last time they had been in ‘civilized’ space, they had visited one of the worlds ravaged by the Imperial Civil War. The planet’s infrastructure had been wiped out during the conflict, and people were starving. He needed only promise that there was food, and that they would be going away from that ruined world, and he had all the volunteers he could handle.
Nomads, too, were joining up. Most were roleplayers, like himself, looking to live out the fantasy of playing the armies they had run on the tabletop in real life. Most, but not all.
There were always those who, for one reason or another, thought that they were ‘owed’ something, or who simply wanted an excuse to let their urges run wild. And there were no real-world consequences for indulging in your fantasies here. Even if those fantasies involved drowning in blood, and stacking skulls into a throne fit for a god.
Finally, the Vengeful Spirit and the Eternity of Pain were up to full strength, no longer running on undermanned crew shifts. Even better, two more ships joined the Herald of Fear to escort his troops. The Illusion of Pain and Red Scourge were corvettes like the Herald, primarily concerned with sensors, and having torpedo launchers to aid in the defense of his ships.
Even more importantly than the two new escorts, however, was the fact that he now had enough crews and pilots so that the fighter and assault craft aboard the Vengeful Spirit would not lie idle and unused. The fighters and assault craft were Black Star designs, of course, but made to the Chaos Brigade’s specifications. The Vengeful Spirit only had two squadrons of fighters, and thirty assault craft, since it was a battleship, not a carrier, but it would do. Yes, it would do nicely.
“Warmaster, the auspex detects a fluctuation in the warp ahead.”
The voice of one of his underlings brought him back to the moment, and he looked across the bridge at the sensor technician. “What is it, then? You had best have more than a ‘fluctuation’ to tell me.” He left the threat implicit. Made it more threatening when he allowed them to wonder what horror would befall them if they were bothering him with foolish nonsense.
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
The technician gulped, and then said, “Yes, Warmaster. The readings indicate that we are coming up on a system. Resonance ratings are increasing, indicating a large population of psychicly active individuals.”
“Excellent! Contact the fleet, prepare to leave chaotic space! All hands to battle stations. Weapons to the ready, shields to full. Perhaps all we’ll find is a weakling world, ready for the slaughter. But, if the dark gods will it, we may find someone worthy to fight against us!”
(Bridge, Chaos Brigade dreadnought Vengeful Spirit, Unknown System)
Abaddon was watching the auspex readings as they came out of the rift opened by the Hellwarp Drive. They were right on target, or as close as could be done when making such a long jump. The Chaos Brigade now had another ‘first’ to celebrate, along with the first clear of the Usurper’s Torment raid. They were now the first group to cross from the Orion spur of the Sagittarius arm of the galaxy to the Perseus arm.
The sight that greeted them was intriguing, to say the least. The local star was a normal type, normally found around life-bearing worlds. Three rocky planets, with five gas giants, and a large asteroid belt between the second and third planets. Third planet in the green zone, possibly life-bearing.
More than possibly. Even from this distance, as they emerged near the second gas giant, it was clear that there were signs of civilization, with at least two stations in orbit of the planet. Well, life, at least. Civilization was debatable, given what he saw.
“Readings coming in, Warmaster. Forty-five vessels in system. Nine corvettes, twenty-seven frigates, nine cruisers. Readings indicate biological components in the ship structures.”
“Biological? Have we found ourselves some X’thari to hunt, then?”
“Unclear, Warmaster. The ship sizes and numbers suggest X’thari, but ship designs do not match any known X’thari models that we have records of, including those provided by Black Star.”
Abaddon considered this for a moment. “Readings on the habitable world and the stations?”
“Nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere, other trace elements. Station is semi-biological, like the ships, and appears of similar design. Population impossible to determine at this range.”
“Status of the ships?”
“They are moving to engage, Warmaster. Formation appears to be based on X’thari Full Hunt deployment. Energy readings suggest that they are readying weapons.”
And that settled it. As much as the mystery of these not-quite-X’thari intrigued him, he wasn’t going to risk his ships or his crews over solving it. There would be plenty of time for such things after the battle was won.
“All ships, move to attack! Time to show the X’thari how the Chaos Brigade handles those who stand in their way! Slaughter them all!”
(Alien Station, Unknown System)
Abaddon could not keep the smile off his face as he awaited the slaughter to come. These aliens may have ships that look like X’thari, but they clearly were not of the same mold as the X’thari that Known Space was familiar with. It was a shame that they would not get a better fight, but he would not pass up a chance for slaughter when the dark gods had so graciously put it in his path.
The aliens had been completely unprepared for the Dragonbreath torpedoes that his ships had launched. The three ‘cruisers’ and two of the frigates were reduced to dying hulks in the first barrage. From what his analysts could tell, they had what little point defense they had on manual, and their shields were little better than tissue paper compared to the might of the Dragonbreath.
The readings indicated that the shields were better suited to shrugging off gravity lances with ease, rather than defending against anything else. They were serviceable against basic energy weapons, but against physical attacks? They would keep debris from impacting the hull, but that was about it.
Their weapons, too, were pathetic. Oh, they were powerful enough, as far as they went. The grav lances appeared to be 10% stronger than X’thari lances, with 15% greater range, and a firing rate that was 17% faster. But that still meant that they were short-range weapons (short for space warfare, at least), and fired every 50 seconds, instead of every 60.
Oh, the grav lances were powerful, but with his shields up they posed little threat unless several hit together. After all, these shields were designed by Black Star, and they knew the threat of grav lances all too well. The aliens did not even seem to have any other weapons, that they could find. They certainly didn’t live long enough to use them, even if they did.
His chief tactician offered up one possible theory on why these aliens, despite clearly knowing about war, were so badly prepared for our coming. If these not-X’thari were isolated, having only ever met the X’thari, and only ever fought them, then their weapons, shields, and armor would be designed solely against the threat of the X’thari. You don’t design armor to withstand rifles if all you’ve ever seen are swords and spears, after all.
Which was why the Full Hunt, if it could be called that, was now a series of slowly spreading debris fields, while his ships only had minor damage, which would be repaired soon enough. The slaughter had been quick, and brutal, as he liked it. When the fighting was over, he would have people go out and collect what they could. The grav lances may have been useless against his ships, but the technology would still be worth something, especially to Black Star.
Now, however, he had a different task at hand. His breaching pod, along with the others from the Vengeful Spirit, were just now crashing through the hull of the station, laser drills clearing the way. He had promised his crews blood, and blood they would have!
The ramp fell, and he felt an impact as a bolt from a blaster that was all too similar to X’thari designs hit his shoulder, bouncing off the composite alloy that made his armor some of the best defensive gear one could find, anywhere in Known Space. It did not matter. He was here to conquer, to kill, to rip and tear, until it was finished. He would not let mere blasters hold him back.
“SLAUGHTER THEM ALL! FOR THE GLORY OF CHAOS UNDIVIDED! TAKE THEIR SKULLS AND SPILL THEIR BLOOD!”
As he yelled out that cry, he charged forward, massive gleaming sword in one hand, and razor-sharp talons on the other. At his back, the warriors of the Chaos Brigade yelled in answer, and followed him. They crashed upon the hastily-arrayed defenders like a tidal wave of black and gold, and the blood did flow.
As he cleaved a warrior in two, Abaddon Horusson, Warmaster of the Chaos Brigade, roared in pleasure. This was how it was supposed to be! This was what it meant to follow the eightfold path! They would take this station, slaughter those who lived upon it, and learn everything they could about them, so that they could see what use they might be to the cause of Chaos.
This was what it meant to be Warmaster.