Count Formal was now traveling in one of those metal vehicles, the same kind that had so devastated the conquest army. Looking around the roomy interior, he temporarily forgot about the Primarch and that he was apparently about to enter the sea of stars. How such a heavily armored carriage could move at all, let alone so quickly and without anything visibly moving it for that matter, fascinated him.
Eventually, after not being able to make heads or tails of how the thing functioned, he decided to ask the Primarch.
Count Formal: Lord Taranis, what exactly is this contraption and how does it move by itself?
Arik Taranis: The transport we are currently occupying is an RH N0 armored personnel carrier Deimos pattern or Deimos Rhino as it is more commonly known. It is designed to protect elite infantry while moving them to the battlefield before providing light fire support. To move, it uses two Mark II Mars Pattern adaptable combustion engines, connected to a pair of dynamos which power a duo of electric motors which move the tracks.
Honestly, Arik Taranis knew that the feudal worlder wouldn't even understand half of what he just said, but if he wanted to inform anyone on Imperial technology then he would have simply found a tech-priest, not that he would ever seek out those cybernetic maniacs if he could avoid it. Sure enough, Count Formal was only further stupefied by Arik's description, but before he could make any more inquiries, their driver's voice could be heard on the Rhino's intercom.
Arbites Driver: My lord, we have entered the space port, we'll be arriving at the landing pads in five minutes.
Arik Taranis: Excellent, maintain course driver and inform the lighter we will be arriving soon.
Five minutes later, the Rhino pulled up in front of the awaiting Arvus Lighter. After Count Formal exited the vehicle and saw the machine that would supposedly take them into the heavens above, he truly wondered if something that didn't even have wings could fly.
After Count Formal exited the vehicle and saw the machine that would supposedly take them into the heavens above, he truly wondered if something that didn't even have wings could fly [https://img.wattpad.com/c09162902caa9fb57de53f3b78eace962562d539/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5336686a36685041423854556a773d3d2d313336343336353834382e313737333735356433646336313139343431333530363931363533352e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
{Image from forgeworld.co.uk} (As you can see the Arvus Lighter doesn't have actual wings, but that's sci-fi for you)
Arik Taranis didn't share Count Formal's trepidation though, he had been on vessels such as these more times than he could count, if he hadn't been given a perfect memory by his creator and trusted the reliable ground to void craft.
Arik Taranis: Well Count Formal, how long do you intend to delay our journey?
Count Formal realized that while he had been contemplating as to whether or not the aircraft could fly, he had not taken a single step towards it and hurried to catch up to the much faster superhuman.
After both of them entered the lighter, they sat down into its crash seats, a Primarch sized one having been prepared for Arik, and buckled the impact webbing, although the superhuman had to help the clueless Count in fastening his own. For the Count Formal, it was an embarrassing experience, making him feel like a toddler being taught how to sit on a saddle without falling off.
When they were secured, Arik ordered the pilot to take off, a prompt "Yes Sir" came in reply as the aircraft began to hover above the ground before shooting up into the atmosphere. The experience was harrowing for Formal who had no prior flying experience. Clenching his teeth, closing his eyes and gripping onto his seat, he desperately held back a scream as the vessel shook from the turbulence of shooting through the sky.
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Moments later, the shaking stopped and a weightless sensation fell over Count Formal. Opening his eyes, he saw Arik Taranis grinning at him as he sniggered.
Count Formal: W-What just happened?
Arik Taranis: There is no need to fear, Count Formal, we have simply left Terra's atmosphere and are now leaving its orbit.
Count Formal: Y-You mean we are now in the celestial realm?
The Count asked incredulously as he looked around, but the small craft had no windows so he couldn't discern with his eyes if what the Primarch had told him was true.
Arik Taranis: You shall soon see for yourself.
Was all Arik said as the lighter made its way to the void ship that he had arranged for them to land in.
Apocalypse Class Battleship "Terra's Fury"
A short time later, their machine entered the void battleship "Terra's Furry". Count Formal marveled at the enormous hanger bay as he exited the Arvus Lighter behind Arik. In terms of size, the hanger put to shame even the grandest amphitheater in the Empire. Its interior was bustling with activity as maintenance crews and pilots prepared Fury Interceptors and Starhawk Bombers for patrol.
Count Formal: I-Is this truly a floating palace that can move between the stars.
Arik looked behind him at the bewildered noble before replying.
Arik Taranis: If you follow me, I can show you the truth of my words, Count Formal.
The amazed mortal and the guiding Primarch left the bay and boarded a tram, a necessary means of efficiently transporting personal and supplies on the massive spaceship. Count Formal tried to think of how long this structure must be to require its own track system and decided to ask his guide.
Count Formal: Lord Taranis, just how large is this vessel?
Arik Taranis: This vessel is an Apocalypse Class Battleship which average 5.4 Saderan leagues in length, two leagues in width and 0.72 leagues in height.
The Primarch's answer caused Count Formal's entire body to go stiff and sweat began to appear on his forehead. Were those actually the dimensions of this construct? How was such a large ship possible? By the gods, it was bigger than most cities in the entire world known to the Empire! The Count doubted that all the steel in the Empire could make such a monstrosity.
Eventually, the tram stopped and they walked a short distance to an "elevator" as Arik informed. The doors of the lift slid open automatically as they approached it, making Formal ponder what kind of magic these Terran's had to use it for such trivial tasks. Upon entering the elevator, Arik pressed a rune and the doors closed before Count Formal felt the floor beneath him rise.
The elevator then halted and doors opened once more. They walked a bit further and another door appeared, this one lavishly decorated with a golden Aquila at its center holding a ribbon with the words "Ave Imperator".
Arik Taranis: This is the bridge of this void ship, once you walk in, you will see that I have not spoken a single lie in my claims.
The Primarch typed in an access code into the keypad next to the door and it slid up.
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When Count Formal entered the bridge, what he saw would forever remain with him. On one side, he saw the world that he had walked upon just an hour ago and on the other, he saw the sun. Directly to the front, he saw the long spine of the ship he was in, covered in turrets and ending in a ginormous prow.
Arik Taranis walked in as well, at his presence the bridge crew, those not performing tasks absolutely necessary to the ships continued operations, kneeled, with the captain of the vessel greeting him.
"Terra's Fury" Captain: Greetings My Lord, to what do my crew and I owe for the honor of having a son of the Emperor aboard our ship.
Arik Taranis: You need not trouble yourself Captain or your crew, I am simply showing a guest one of the Imperium's greatest symbols of power.
After a few more exchanges, Arik walked up to the Count and stood beside him, the two standing quietly together. Inside his mind, Count Formal was pondering over all that he had been told and seen since coming to this "Imperium". The prosperity of its cities, the might of its warriors, the flying castles it built that could travel into the great void. He recalled how Arik Taranis had said that this Imperium spanned across over nearly a million worlds and that with each passing minute it grew larger, how its Emperor had the power to rival the gods, yet remained wise, not falling for the same moral failings of self-aggrandizement and pride as so many dictators had.
At that moment, Count Formal made a choice, a choice that would change the destiny of the world which he came from. A choice to protect the people of Italica, to protect his family and most importantly, to protect his daughter Myui.
Count Formal: Lord Taranis, you said that you saw me as a potential ally, can I ask if I may offer my allegiance to this Imperium and your Emperor.
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