I exchange a few words with Brigid while keeping an eye on Ephrine strides towards me. Other guests see Ephrine coming and hurry out of her way. I wait for her at the bottom of the stage steps.

  Brigid looks Ephrine up and down as she approaches, then wraps her arm around my waist. A sense a touch of exasperation and disdain from Ephrine, as if she’s seen Brigid’s reaction a thousand times before.

  “Good evening, Magos Issengrund, Lady Brigid. Thank you for showing my sisters in such a good light.”

  “You’re most welcome,” I say. “This display, though ironically rather graceless, serves us all.”

  “I was hoping we’d get at least one scream out of them,” says Brigid. “Even with my warning. I’m honestly a bit disappointed.”

  Ephrine laughs, “Just so, Lady Brigid. Those blessings were well timed, Magos. The rest might not know, but I am quite aware none of my sisters can call on the Emperor in such a manner.”

  “It was the Emperor that blessed them, not I.”

  “Come now, Magos, no need to be so coy. You were always going to play your hand once you knew what my sisters and I are here for. We are far too valuable to ignore.”

  “At least you know your worth,” Brigid sighs. “Did you come over here for something specific, Canoness, or are you purely here to give your genuine thanks?”

  Ephrine squints at Brigid, unsure if she is being complemented or insulted. I suspect it's a bit of both.

  “I wish to petition to join the Stellar Fleet, run a recruitment drive, and requisition resources.”

  I clasp my hands behind my back, “What are you expecting from this relationship between the Stellar Fleet and the Order of the Valorous Heart? The Stellar Fleet has plenty of space in its ships and schedules for formal worship and informal religious gatherings. It has no time for zealotry.”

  “Sisters Repentia will find no salvation here,” Brigid says.

  “Oh, I quite agree,” says Ephrine. “Zealotry is a bane.”

  Brigid’s eyes widen and I lean forward.

  “From your comment, Lady Brigid, I can see you have done some reading of our Order. How far along are you in your studies?” says Ephrine.

  “I have read that your order was founded by Alexis XXII,” says Brigid, “A rather long-lived successor to Sebastion Thor, in M36. It was founded in honour of Saint Lucia. Saint Lucia was the youngest of the five companions of Alicia Dominica, the founder and patron saint of the Adepta Sororitas.

  “Sebastion Thor was the Ecclesiarch who reformed the Faith and opposed the renegade High Lord, Goge Vandire. The Order of the Valorous Heart seeks atonement for the Adepta Sororitas who joined Renegade Vandire during his Reign of Blood in M36 after being deceived by his proof of the Emperor’s favour.

  “I believe the myth,” Brigid continues with a slightly amused tone, “is that the Adepta Sororitas were misled by the protection offered by a Conversion Field, a rare trinket of the Mechanicus.”

  Ephrine nods, “I don’t know if that last bit is true, but it is certainly the most prevalent story. Your brief summary of our history matches the one I was taught as a young girl. I believe that our history neatly explains why we sought out your husband, Lady Brigid, but the greatest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place, so I will add a few clarifying points.

  “The Order of the Valorous Heart takes all rumours of the Emperor’s divinity, and specifically his favour, far more seriously than the other Orders. We see it as our duty to prevent others from being deceived as we were by checking out credible rumours wherever and whenever is practical.”

  “A reasonable explanation for why you are here,” says Brigid, “but not why you wish to stay.”

  “Patience, Lady Brigid. You might be able to speak without breathing, but I need a moment to catch my breath and organise my thoughts.”

  Brigid sighs, “I suppose I was interrupting. Please, continue.”

  Ephrine gives Brigid a neutral smile, “Magos Issengrund’s policies on education and enhancements, as well as his genuine miracles, offer a unique opportunity for the Order of the Valorous Heart in multiple areas.

  “First it is an opportunity to perform our duty protecting the Emperor’s chosen, replacing our previous failures with success. A chance to scrape clean the scourge of Original Sin.

  “Second, under his guidance, we can further our knowledge and prevent ourselves from being deceived by technological marvels once more. Sisters are far better educated than most Imperials, but there is always room for improvement.

  “Last, the enhancements that Magos Issengrund hands out to his people offer a chance to end the primary blight on our order, the chance to survive our Original Sin long enough to open our hearts to forgiveness.

  “As Lady Brigid implied, the Valorous Heart sees far more Sisters Repentia than other orders. Sisters Repentia are women of our order who seek atonement through death in battle for lapses in judgement and faith, both real and imagined. Some, should they survive long enough, are welcomed back into the fold of the Adepta Sororitas proper.

  “The Valorous Heart’s teach us to seek atonement for an ancient sin by sisters dead over four millennia ago. The imagined failings of young women are many and thus we lose far too many faithful stars to the carnelian embrace of the Repentia than other orders. Not because these young women lack faith, or discipline, but because they believe they have failed the Emperor. No matter how much we might encourage them to return, their faith imprisons them with their own failures, no matter how slight. So many young women die before the wisdom of age and the experiences of life teach them to forgive themselves. Most never learn to do so.

  “This is a common, though not unifying opinion in the senior ranks. The obligatory enhancements available in the Stellar Fleet offer the chance for the Repentia to live long enough to earn forgiveness, within or without. I don’t want my misguided children to die, Magos. That is why I serve. Not to purge worlds in fire and faith, but to cleanse the sins of our minds.”

  I say, “We all worship the Emperor in our own way. Thank you for sharing your deeply personal take on faith. It takes great courage to speak one’s beliefs, even more so when they are contrary to others.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “I wanted to take your measure, Magos. Your stature does not disappoint.”

  “Thank you for the compliment, Ephrine. I am unwilling to give you an immediate answer without consulting Fleet Command. I may have the final word, but there is little point in me gathering a group of advisors if I do not give them an opportunity to speak. You can, at least, expect a positive response.

  “I suggest you talk to Owen Broin. He is in charge of spending for religious matters. Brigid decides how many resources Owen gets, so you will need to speak with her too. Maeve Muire and Lonceta Ridel should be consulted on your expectations upon integration.

  “No matter how much I am moved by your plea, I can only give you the chance to talk with my peers. Find the numbers, put a plan together, and give me a decent executable and I will do my utmost to make your dream come true.”

  Ephrine’s stern expression gains a slight blush, “Thank you for your time, Magos Issengrund, Lady Brigid. I will follow your advice and submit my requests through the proper channels. Please, excuse me.”

  “Enjoy your evening, Canoness Ephrine,” I say.

  Brigid says, “I will have the Machine-Spirits prioritise your messages.”

  Ephrine smiles, turns, and leaves.

  Brigid voxes me, “Idiot. That sincerity of yours is a killer.”

  “Sorry, Love. I didn’t want to slight or alienate her by not matching her passion. It would have been rather rude after she presented her valorous heart to us both,” I send.

  Brigid tuts, “Well, at least she has good taste.”

  “Thanks, Love.”

  “So long as she lets me borrow her flamer purge your terrible Dad jokes, I will like her well enough. Really, Aldrich, the children are on the other side of the hall!”

  I laugh, “What was it you said? Bolters and baby oil? She wasn’t like that at all.”

  “She was always going to ask you for something. Everyone does. Unlike others, her plea didn’t have a hint of greed or self-interest. Why couldn’t she be easy to hate? Her sincerity makes me feel inadequate and spiteful and my illogical jealousy misplaced. I want to hate her more to avoid facing my own feelings, but I just can’t. She’s too nice!”

  “Feel free to be as irked as you like, Love,” I vox. “There’s nothing wrong with defending your territory. I find it rather flattering. Endearing too. Really, there’s nothing wrong with being a little contradictory. It’s good to remember we’re still Human from time to time.”

  “Lean down a moment so I can kiss you.”

  I lean down and Brigid tugs on my coat lightly, then she kisses me on the cheek.

  “There, territory marked. Now go mingle. I’m going to encourage the children after they managed all those greetings.”

  “Good idea. I’ll check up on them half way through the evening. For the Unity.”

  Brigid mimes using a flamer at me while making whooshing noises, then leaves, swaying a little as she walks, a quiet cackle slipping from her lips. Brigid is swiftly intercepted by Lyre.

  I see Abbisine Vakul heading for Ròsìn and vox Thorfinn, asking him to head her off. I don’t want them chatting to Ròsìn too much and deciding she is a heretek. Calligos, the sneaky git, spots the interception and pulls Ròsìn into a conversation instead. Ephrine is already talking to Owen.

  I start making my rounds through the chartist captains, answering their questions, while I use my sensors, and those embedded in the room and its furniture, to observe multiple conversations simultaneously.

  “Logis Abbisine Vakul?” says Thorfinn.

  “Yes?”

  “Good evening Logis Vakul. I am Remembrancer Thorfinn Ursus. I run the Stellar News Network, the Stellar Fleet’s Imperial propaganda and noosphere media for our Tech-Priests, Adepts and Apprentices. Would you be willing to tell me your impression of Magos Issengrund’s gifts, or talk about the traditions and factions of the Lathes? I’d love to hear what you have to say about your experiences, both home and beyond.”

  “Noosphere media? I have little concern for the gossip of forums.”

  “Our records of the Lathes are dry and factual,” says Thorfinn. “They do not speak of its glory and achievements, or tell us who’s worth talking to. I’m hoping you can make that clear, Logis Vakul.”

  That was not subtle at all, Thorfinn! Of course Abbisine thinks she is worth talking to. Abbisine wavers for a moment and Thorfinn continues to slather her ego with sacred oil.

  “Our apprentices are young, many barely out of their growth tanks. They are both nervous and excited about visiting the Lathes. You’ll be their first impression of a whole system of Forge Worlds said to rival Mars itself. How could they not be thrilled? Come, regale me. Should our people join the Lathes and all its wonders, or should we continue our quest for knowledge?”

  Oh my! He just baited Abbisine with the Mechanicus’ most sacred quest. Is he trying to imply the Lathes no nothing, or everything? Well, whatever his goal, Thorfinn is swinging his metaphorical mechadendrites in her face and I see her give Thorfinn her full focus as she bites.

  “What, specifically, do you wish to know, Remembrancer?”

  “Your delegation spent several days observing Iron Crane’s shipyard. Magos Isengrund often likes to do the same. He finds the antics of the Machine-Spirits entertaining, but what had you so enraptured?”

  “He does, does he? You speak like he can see them.”

  “He can. They look like holograms wherever he looks, covering every surface, protecting the machines they inhabit. He once sent me a data-feed from his eyes. It was rather overwhelming.”

  “I’ve never heard anything of the sort!”

  “Then you should try for yourself,” says Thorfinn. “Some areas of our vessels have holo-viewers that the Machine-Spirits appear in. They only do that if they like you, or you really annoy them though, so most people will never see them.

  “In theory, any spirit, for any device, could appear on any dataslate, or in the noosphere, but they very rarely directly answer queries and will only interact with you through the function of the device they inhabit. Few are powerful enough to converse beyond the reference of their device. You’re not going to get more than a diagnostic, or a repair guide, from the dung beetles that inhabit most lasguns, for example.

  “You will have far more luck with the Primary Machine-Spirits of the vessels, such as Aruna and Sadako on Distant Sun and Iron Crane. They create and assign some work orders and coordinate with the officers. Their priorities, such as the preservation of Imperial ships and worlds, are broad enough in scope that you can have a wide variety of conversations with them.

  “They won’t waste cogitator cycles on pointless queries though, so don’t bother asking unless you have the clearance, and a reason, to receive an answer. I’d show you now, but Ardent Bane is undergoing repairs and cannot be queried so freely. Not only that, but you are a guest, not crew. It will likely ignore you unless you mess with it.”

  “For a moment I was concerned that the Machine-Spirits in the Stellar Fleet were prone to moving off task. Still, I am surprised to hear the Machine-Spirits of the Stellar Fleet are so active. I will have to call for an investigation.”

  “We have a glut of Machine-Spirit cores right now, so I’m sure that if you put in a request for one to be examined, it will be granted.”

  Oh! Thorfinn is talking about the millions of Machine-God blessed cores that we have. A handful of those will be enough to distract the delegation for years. I vox Thorfinn a side on picture of a smartly dressed man wearing sunglasses at night that’s about to step into a puddle. The puddle is deeper than the man is tall.

  Thorfinn immediately fires back a short animation of a Kreigsman dancing between landmines. His only partner is his entrenching tool, that he is holding close in his arms. The rest of his squad is lying in a long line of bodies behind him.

  By the throne that’s morbid!

  Warhammer 40k Lexicanum, , and . I've also enjoyed opinion pieces such as: , The via Gamespot, and . While not strictly 40k, they are good for inspiration and IRL explanations.