Chương 191: Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-One

"I wondered when this would come up," mutters Raphael.

"So you knew," Verlin crosses his arms. Raphael drums his fingers against the table, "Possibly. I would expect my account to be different to yours. I do not have first hand experience with the conflict." Verlin says, "We sent some brothers to the Deathwatch, only for Inquisitor Skald to return to the Barghest chapter a decade later and make war upon us.

She is the reason why Magos Issengrund is building new vessels for us as our fleet losses were significant and none have been willing or able to replace our vessels. Our chapter has never forgotten, nor forgiven the betrayal." I frown, "How many marines in your strike force do you have that are from that time?"

"Not many, it was over three hundred years ago: two veteran sergeants, myself, and Brother Balor. I was the only Deathwatch to survive service with Inquisitor Skald and I was imprisoned for a time when I refused to fire upon my own chapter."

"What reason did Inquisitor Skald give you for attacking the Barghest Chapter?" I say.

"Inquisitor Skald stated that we were impure," says Verlin.

"As you know, our chapter accepts renegade and lost marines who are no longer welcome, or cannot return to their chapter, but still hold the Emperor in their hearts. This causes much trouble with our geneseed and we suffer from more degradation than most, but providing a space for lost marines keeps many from turning traitor.

"Skald did not want marines with substandard geneseed to propagate, nor was she fond of our auxiliary forces as typically those who do not complete the full transition to a Space Marine do not survive like ours do. Out in the Koronus Expanse we cannot afford to be fussy. Skald disagreed." Domhnall says, "Is this going to cause trouble between the Barghest Chapter and you, Inquisitor Horthstien?"

"That is up to them," says Raphael.

"I have no emotional investment in the conflict, only my duty to the Imperium." I steeple my fingers together, "Are you sure that Inquisitor Skald told you the truth, Force Commander? You say you were incarcerated at the time. Having the full picture of an event that was no doubt covered up and obscured as much as possible does not help, but most telling is that Inquisitor Hamiz survived, or perhaps Chapter Master Lir Brackin let him go. You clearly didn't stay imprisoned yourself.

You should not have been promoted after shooting Inquisitor Skald either. There is likely more to this tale than you know."

"I am aware that my direct involvement taints my judgement," says Verlin.

"Inquisitor, what are you willing to share?" I say.

"I would rather this is sorted now, in private, than on the operating table when I have to piece one or both of you back together." Raphael winces, "That is not a pleasant image. Everything Force Commander Verlin has said is true. He's missing half the story though. Chapter Master Brackin and the newly promoted Inquisitor Hamiz covered up what really happened. Enough time has passed that there is little harm in sharing the rest of the pieces.

The conflict was a stain on both parties and the Force Commander and Tech-Marine will not like what I have to say." Verlin grunts, "Better the truth than a lapse in trigger discipline."

"Quite," says Raphael.

"I'm afraid that Major-General Noake does not have the required rank, nor does Tech-Marine Roan, for this information." I sigh, "Then we shall take a brief break and share a cup of tea to clear the air. Please excuse us gentlemen. Inquisitor, Force Commander, follow me to my office." We stand and move to a new room. There isn't much here, just a standing desk, a sofa, recaf table, and a few potted plants.

"I don't think I've ever seen a tech-priest with as great a collection of xenoflora as you do Magos," says Raphael.

"You really do put them everywhere." I shrug, "So long as they are useful. That they are pleasant to look at and improve morale is just a bonus." Raphael says, "Oh please, Magos. We both know you grow them to ease the mental burdens of your crew more than any other reason, otherwise you would have filled your corridors with tubes of algae. I have met loving mothers who coddle their children less than you do your crew." I sit behind my desk, "What answers are you searching for, Inquisitor?"

"Nothing, nothing. It is just an observation."

"Well, if you'd rather live off soylent viridans, and breathe hot, choking air I'd be happy to accommodate you.

"No need!" A Servitor enters carrying a tray with tea and shortbread. The Servitor is two metres tall and androgynous. A light servo-harness with two mechadendrites is strapped to its back. An undersuit, faded red shirt, and pale yellow dungarees cover most of its body. Its exposed hands and face glow a reassuring blue and white with their active warding electoos. Its face is an almost featureless porcelain-white mask with only a slight hint of a mouth, nose, and eyes.

'Servitor' is embroidered on their dungarees and on the back of their shirt. My crest is on a patch sewn above their left breast. The Servitor then places the tray on the table and beeps a query. I reply with a brief burst of static. The Servitor bows and departs.

"Must you make such creepy Servitors?" says Verlin. I stare at Verlin for a moment, "You find them more creepy than the half butchered bodies of criminals and clone spawn?" Verlin hums, "I have tested them. You can hold a full conversation with one on most subjects. If they were not labelled, I would think they were awkward, over-educated menials with odd face masks." If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Janus Pattern, correct? I have never seen such a mass deployment of advanced Servitors," says Raphael.

"They are usually the gilded curios of nobles to be mocked and marveld over. Not competent and discrete labour."

"They're not quite Janus Pattern," I say.

"They have a full brain, vat grown and stuffed with implants, rather than organic circuitry and cogitators. I did not wish to skirt too close with the AI ban like a traditional Janus Pattern. I once lost all my Servitors to possession and had to bombard the whole facility from orbit while I was still on the ground so now all my Servitors are heavily warded too."

"So that's what the glowing runes are," says Verlin.

"I'd call it a waste of resources, but a Space Marine and an Inquisitor criticising you for paranoia would be rather hypocritical." I laugh then sip my tea, "Indeed."

"Where did you get the knowledge for the creation of such protections?" says Raphael.

"The hull of Distant Sun." Verlin nibbles on his shortbread, "I've seen those same tattoos on your crew. Are you telling me you turned everyone into small void ships?"

"I did! As much as I appreciate discussing my creations, that is not why we are here. We are here to indulge in Raphael's favourite pastime?" Raphael looks confused for a moment, "Ah, right. History. It varies over the years, but approximately thirty percent of the Barghest chapter is based on a mutated version of the Space Wolves. The Space Wolves are always under observation by the Inquisition and there is significant bad blood between both factions. The Ecclesiarchy are not too fond of them either.

The Barghest chapter is no different, though they are far less unruly than their founding chapter. Inquisitor Skald was correct when she evaluated them as 'impure'." Verlin's face turns red and he growls, his remaining organic teeth growing and becoming more pointed.

"Peace, Force Commander," I say.

"You asked for the whole story. Now you must live with it." Raphael continues, barely glancing at Verlin. He closes his eyes, sips his tea, and continues, "Like the Space Wolves with their Cup of Wulfen, the Barghest Chapter has a similar artefact called the Horn of Ghosts. The Inquisition has no records of where it came from though it looks like the horn of an Old Earth bovine. It alters any blood placed within into an ingestible serum that introduces the DNA of a large black dog into the imbiber.

How it does this is unknown. The serum works on both ordinary humans and Space Marines. It must be taken before geneseed is implanted to be effective and causes a mutation within it.

"When a normal human drinks from the Horn of Ghosts they become the canine equivalent of a Felinid. The engravings on the Horn of Ghosts suggest there is another similar device that could revert the changes. One theory is that this precious archeo-tech was nothing more than an elaborate version of a costume change or party trick, absurd though that may seem to us." I get an unwanted flashback to a furry flash mob at the student union bar when I was at university and suddenly the idea does not seem so far-fetched.

I have to override the automatic emote program for my body so as to not give anything away.

"Like the Cup of Wulfen, the Horn of Ghosts introduces additional instability into Space Marine geneseed. Without constantly receiving new members out of so-called charity and comradery, the Barghest Chapter would quickly become extinct as after seven to ten generations, geneseed exposed to the Horn of Ghosts is no longer viable." Verlin goes from beet red to corpse pale rather quickly, "I did not know that."

"What do they get in exchange?" I say.

"Perhaps the Force Commander would be gracious enough to share that."

"We get a minor psychic link," says Verlin.

"A Barghest marine always knows where his Battle Brothers are, and if they are close, he will get a sense of their intent. It isn't much, but a burst of aggression, caution, or focus lets us coordinate without vox. Our senses are slightly enhanced, but not enough to be worth forgoing a helmet. Loyalty and obedience is higher. No Barghest marine has ever turned traitor and no matter how far apart, we never feel alone." Raphael nods, "That last point is why the chapter has been allowed to persist, but there is more."

Verlin glares at Raphael, "Those with a stronger gift can induce mind numbing fear, a sense of impending death in our enemies, that leaves them unable to act.

"Finally, our bite: rather than spit poison like most marines, our bite can turn an enemy into a mindless, humanoid canine that will attack every living creature that isn't a Barghest marine. While not always contagious, some converts can spread the conversion. It has... gotten out of hand often enough that such tactics are only permitted on doomed worlds."

"I'm starting to see the origin of this 'disagreement'," I say, "and the reason for Inquisitorial and Ministorum scrutiny." Raphael presses his lips together, "It wasn't collateral damage that brought Inquisitor Skald's heavy gaze upon the Barghest chapter, but a cadre of apothecaries and tech-priests who continued to implant geneseed into possible recruits beyond the degradation cut off.

"They were attempting to create artificial Wulfen, Space Marines who have lost their battle against mutation with the canis helix, or rather the Horn of Ghosts equivalent. They are immensely powerful and can slaughter most Space Marines in close combat with ease. Some Magi have hypothesised that Wulfen are a twisted atavism of the Thunder Warriors, the Space Marines predecessors.

"Like the genetically and mentally unstable Thunder Warriors, a rare few Space Wolves somewhat maintain their sense of self after mutating into a Wulfen and still fight with their chapter, though the Space Marines keep them hidden and refuse to admit they exist. The Barghest's gene-wrights were hoping to achieve the same and create powerful shock troops they could drop on the enemy with little need to worry about the consequences.

"We will never know if they would have succeeded as Inquisitor Skald uncovered the research, terminated the guilty parties, and destroyed everything. However, there is a disturbing note in the account that implies that the new Wulfen could spread their infection to Space Marines, turning them into mindless beasts.

This swift purging was over zealous as now there was no significant proof as to what a portion of the chapter had been up to, and it looked like Inquisitor Skald had suddenly attacked the Barghest chapter for no reason. Unsurprisingly, after such an act, their own word was insufficient proof of misdeeds."

"The two fleets went to war. Once Inquisitor Skald was killed in the fighting, the new Inquisitor Hamiz called for a ceasefire, with Chapter Master Brackin and Inquisitor Hamiz covering the whole thing up because they were embarrassed that both sides had caused a huge amount of damage to each other before either party really knew what was happening. Nor did Chapter Master Brackin want to risk proof of the dangerous research resurfacing as that would mean the Barghest Chapter would be hunted down."

Verlin says, "Then how can you be sure that is what happened?" Raphael says, "I cannot. There is only Inquisitor Hamiz's account of what happened and a few pict recordings of the lab. Enough to warrant an investigation, but not enough to condemn a whole chapter of Space Marines. Especially one with a record for loyalty that, in theory, is able to purge a whole world with a single bite. The small bits of proof recovered during the fighting were enough to get the Chapter Master to back off though."

"Fuck! What a mess," says Verlin.

"That is not what I wanted to hear." Raphael says, "No one ever likes to hear what I have to say."