+++ Targinis System, Helican Subsector, Scarus Sector, Segmentum Obscurus +++
The system was in chaos. The dregs of society had risen up to throw off of the yoke of Imperial rule. Yet there was something more to this rebellion. Loyal Imperial citizens told stories of bands of mutants and xenos clawing their way from the deepest sewers of the hive cities. Increased reports of bloodshed and debauchery spread like wildfire in the six months since the fighting flared to life. Only in the last month and half had the Planetary Defense Forces even made any head way in putting the insurrection down.
The Argentum Fax sliced it's way swiftly towards the edge of the system for warp translation. An old Navy Freighter gifted to a Rogue Trader, the Argentum Fax routinely made shipment loops between the interior of the Helican Subsector and the backwater system of Targinis. With its shipment accepted at a loyal space port, the freighter made haste to quit the system all together. Payment rendered; job complete.
"Captain, soon clear for warp jump," squawked the Kroot helmsman, his thick accent evident.
"Couldn't be soon enough, prepare..."
The helmsman cut him off with another chirp of low gothic, "Ship... no, no, ships. Three. Ahead, closing fast."
"Broadcasting any verification?" asked the Captain, his bionic eye scanning for a target to magnify in the view port ahead, "Perhaps the Imperium has sent reinforcements in a timely fashion for a change."
"Cruiser... two escorts. Trouble pulling clear identifications. Lots of distortion," answered the Kroot, "Wait, got it. Cruiser designated Blade of Chemos. Odd, nearly ten thousand years of service... can that be right?"
The Captain turned to his helmsman, "Bring them up on screen already will you," he barked, the magnification of his eye just barely picking out the plethora of garish insignia coating the hull of the leading cruiser.
Above their heads the three ships winked into life on a set of crackling monitors. Two of ships were simply offensive in their embellishments, with crude daubs of obnoxiously-colored paint crisscrossing their hulls. Like a beacon in a storm of madness, the prowl of the Blade of Chemos was flanked by two massive clawed wings of shining gold. The third looked barely space worthy; rust and rot covered much of it's weathered husk and what appeared to be hideous cankers jettisoned sickly fluids into the void.
Unidentifiable geometric shapes strewn across all the ships made the helmsman uneasy and he diverted his gaze back to his control panel for more information. "Still not seeing... wait, got something... Excommincate Traitoris?"
The Captain blanched.
"Captain?"
The Blade of Chemos opened fire.
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