Fuck That, I'm Going To Be A Rogue Trader: Chapter 5 (Patreon)

Chapter 5

Not a day passes by in the Port of Selene where her docks were not bustling with activity. She is the gateway to the heart of the sector after all, and every waking moment for those that call her home is one of motion. There is always a ship that needed to be tended, something which Octavian found himself drawn to.

Seeing all these ships wearing through the heavens as he gazed out of his carriage brought a smile to his lips. Perhaps it was just the child inside him, but he had always been drawn to them. Be they naval or voidborne, it mattered little as the wonder they sparked inside his heart never faded. Perhaps it was why he seeked the stars themselves.

Eyes wondering, he gazed out to the marina longingly. From the smallest of barges, to mighty merchant men kilometers long, ships of all sizes raced to and fro Selene's mighty harbor, bringing with them people and cargo alike; A truly mesmerizing sight. They however, were not the apple to his eyes.

No, as impressive and colorful as this array of ships were, his eyes would be drawn elsewhere, to ships far grander in purpose. Eyes trailing above, he smiled widened as the shadow of one of these colossi passed overhead, stretching on for what felt like forever. Truly, no other ships could compare, these queens of the void; Warships of the Navis Imperialis.

They were the Ommnisiash's finest creations, cathedrals of Macrocannons and Plasteel. While many cargo haulers were bigger in size, these Voidcraft had a deadly beauty to them. With hulls thicker than a man's breadth, and technologies that only the finest of Forge Worlds could supply, they were no doubt, the best that the imperium could offer.

"And the few things which the Imperium cares about," He thought to himself wryly as he watched countless serfs work away at the chains hauling the massive ammunition and bountiful supplies which these ships needed for their fight to give the Imperium just one more day.

"Such a waste of manpower," He grimaced, before he pushed those thoughts away. Despite the abject display of misery, they were a necessity. Humanity did not have the luxury of automation from the years of decay taking its toll.

"Maybe one day I could find something to help this, but that was not today, not when I still have my own problems" Turning away, he reached out, grabbing hold of her beloved's bell, stopping her just short of having half her body out of the carriage. "Very cute problems."

"By the Emperor," Oriane gasped, her eyes sparkling with child-like awe even as she hung precariously out the window, "They're even bigger up close!" This wonder would prove infectious as he found himself grinning once again.

For all the misgiving, they were still worthy of awe and wonder. How else were humans supposed to dream if not for the promise of something grander than themselves and few would come close to these vessels.

Born from industry incomprehensible scale and countless millennia ago, they remain unbowed before the passing of time, remaining resilient despite the countless scars they bore. Even if his story was to end today, these ships would remain.

It made him small, humbling him as they made their way to one such beauty. "If they seem big to you right now, then wait till you find yourself at the helm," Amelia chuckled, drawing his eyes to her as she reclined in her seat. Smiling fondly as she stared off into the distance, she mused, "Why, I reckon that you can fit a Knight Inside the main bridge!"

"Oho?" Oriane purred, his attention now entirely on the woman, "Quite the boast you made there, Captain," With a grin, she plopped back down on her seat, much to the annoyance of her brother who startled awake from his nap, "Perhaps Rocinante and I could put that to test!"

"She might not be the largest of Walkers, but she's still quite the hefty steed!" Oriane declared, making the Felinid smirk.

"Is that so?" The brunette purred, her ears flicking and tone eager as she leaned closer, "Perhaps a wager then?"

"They're really getting along well, aren't they," He thought to himself as he watched the two banter, discussing what they would place on the line. It seems that his fears were nothing more than such excitement filled the cabin of their carriage.

Still, as heartwarming as the sight was, he needed to foot down. "Now, as much as I love a good wager, I don't think that would be a good idea," He chuckled, making the two glare at him lightly. Raising his hands, he reasoned, "Aside from the obvious dangers of trying to force a walker inside the narrow corridors of the ship, do you really wish to test the patience of the Tech Priests aboard the Enterprise?"

That quickly pulled the wind out of their sales as the two winced in unison. Among the mundane, nothing brings fear faster than a Tech Priest on a warpath. "Those fiends, must they ruin my fun everytime!" Oriane growled, clenching her fist as she gritted her teeth, "So what if I push Rocinante hard? She responds to me does she not!"

"To be fair, your little acrobatics wear out Rocinante's joints and suspension like no one's business," Garathos teased, making his fellow blonde pout, "She's a finely crafted machine, but even she has her limits."

"I know, I know," Oriane muttered, crossing her arms, "But Rocinate loves it, I could feel it!" Flashing his brother a grin, she asked, "And what kind of rider would I be if I could not give my steed what she wishes?" Smiling wistfully, she sighed, "She's born to run and am merely her instrument to reach her full potential."

Shaking his head, Octavian turned away. Sometimes, he felt almost jealous to the attention which she showers her Walker, but seeing the way her eyes shine as she talks with such passion brought a smile to his lips.

Truly, the bond between rider and their steed ran deep, something which seemed universal as the smile on Amelia's lips softened. "She must really love you then if she allows you to push her to her limits," The woman said as the carriage rolled to a stop.

"And I love her all the same," His lover nodded before giving her a nod, "Perhaps the Enterprise would love you just as well."

"We can only hope," Amelia replied as her ears perked at the sound of the door opening revealing the mooring of a ship while countless workers milled about, tending to her needs; They finally arrived.

Reaching out, he offered a hand, catching her attention. "Well, what better way to see if that's the case than asking her yourself?" He grinned, making the woman pause as she looked down on his hand. "Ready to meet her, Amelia?"

Swallowing nervously, she glanced towards Oriane who gave her a reassuring smile, before glancing back. Breathing out, she nodded as she grasped his hands firmly. "I'm ready." It was now time they met the last member of their motley crew.

With bathed breath, they stepped out of the carriage and gazed up in wonder at the sight before them. "There she is, my family's pride and glory, the Enterprise." He whispered as Amelia slipped away, eyes gazing longing upon her mighty brow as they bore witness to her wake.

Laying there in her berth as the fumes of incense wafted up her ceramite plated hull, countless hands worked to wake her from her slumber. They who worshipped the cog canted their prayers in holy binary as they stoked away at the star inside her heart.

From deep inside her engine, they felt her roaring to life, this deep rumble echoing out and shaking their very bones as her batteries started to move. With power coursing through her veins, she made her presence known. "And she's quit the diva," He chuckled as he walked up to the Felinid who had been stunned silent by the Enterpire's majesty.

Together, they stood in silence, content to admire her until the litany of prayers came to a halt. The Enterprise was alive and rearing to go, but for now she returns to her slumber. "I've never seen a more beautiful ship in my life," the former officer breathed out.

"It is said in my family's chronicle that Malcador the Sigilite himself gifted her to my ancestors on the promise that she would explore the farthest reaches of the Segmentum Ultima," he started, remembering fondly those simpler times spent under the lamplight as he listened to tales of a brave young woman who faced countless trials, beating rivals, and racing to the very end of the galaxy itself.

Shaking his head, he noted, "I always thought that the chroniclers stretched the truth a bit too much." Such practice was all too common as people forget about their ancestors. "Bu whether the Sigillite truly gifted this fine vessel or such detail was a later embellishment, one thing remains true."

"And what is that, my lord?" Amelia asked as she turned to him.

"That the Enterprise helped my ancestor fulfill a promise," He smiled, content at the knowledge that his ancestor had completed the task given to them. Why else would the sector which his family rule straddle the very edge of the ghouls' stars?

Turning to her, he asked, "So what do you think, Captain? Is she to your liking?"

"Yes," Amelia choked out with a smile as tears brimmed from the corner of her eyes, "She is all that I could have ever asked for." Still, as much of a brave face she tried to hold, she would be unable to hold back her tears.

As the woman struggled to control herself, with her hands wiping away at her cheeks, he reached out to comfort her. It would take her a moment, as well as Oriane presence joining them before she could gather herself.

"I-I'm sorry, I must look quite silly right now" She laughed, choking out a strangled self deprecating laugh as tears threatened to burst out once more. "It's just that I never thought I'd live to see the day that I would captain my own ship."

"Is this not a dream?" Gazing up to her pleadingly as doubt ate away at her, she whispered, "I-Is she really mine to command?"

Reaching to grasp her hands, he squeezed tightly. "So long as you remain my captain," He replied, "Then you are free to man her helm."

Smiling shakily, she knelt down before him, grasping his hands as she answered back, "Then I shall serve you forever, my lord" With her head held high even as her body was wracked with cries, she choked out, "And so long as I live, I shall cherish her as my own."

"Then rise Captain Amelia," He replied, returning her gesture as he helped her back to her feet, "So that you may serve by my side."

Unable to hold back her excitement, Orianne whopped, "Three cheers for the Captain of the Enterprise!" With barely contained giddiness, she raised her fist, "Hip hip!" What cry he might have made or any of those around them would be lost as great sound drowned out their very thoughts.

For a moment, they stood there in silence along with the rest of the docks as the static of speakers filled the air. "Wait, did the ships just?" Oriane whispered in disbelief, gazing at the still ships, yet none of them could deny it.The sound was simply unmistable. The ship answered their very call.

Octavian was just about to ask a nearby tech priest if he had heard it right when a great roar, thankfully a bit softer this time, echoed out to the side. "You blasted fool!" The voice screamed in monotone, belaying great anger despite the even blast of vox through gritty speakers. "How dare you drop those holy vox casters!"

Gazing toward the commotion, they watched as a tech priest mounted upon an arachnid half scolded a gaggle of lowly acolytes shifted uneasily under their mentors gaze while the remains of a large wooden crate along with sprinklings of hay lay scattered around a giant speaker the size of a man.

Looming over the tech as he inspected it with his many mechandrites, the elder hissed, "If I see one scratch on the sacred casing, I'll personally render you down to scrap myself. You won't even be fit to be a servitor once I'm done with you!"

Unable to hold it any longer, he burst out laughing along with the rest of his companion. Rubbing the edge of her eyes, Amelia sighed, "For a second, I thought that she spoke."

"Oh I'm pretty sure she did," Oriane replied as a playful grin graced her lips, "And I think she's happy to have you as her new captain."

"And that I am inclined to agree with," Lord Garathos nodded, "The Machine Spirit can be a fickle thing, but they move with purpose."

Beaming, Amelia nodded. "You flatter me, Lady Oriane," Turning towards the ships, she whispered, "I just hope that I would be enough for her."

"Well, if that's what you wish then are you going to keep your lady waiting?" Octavian grinned.

Amelia was about to open her mouth when a flash of yellow suddenly bolted past them. Turning, they quickly found the retreating figure of Oriane as she made a mad dash to the ramp leading to the ship. "The last one on the helm is a rotten egg!"

As Amelia reddened and fumed, he laughed. "Why you!" The Felinid shouted, giving chase as he was left behind with Lord Garathos who wasn't so keen in giving chase, not when Oriane already had quite the head start. "Come back here!"

Octavian considered for a moment to warn the girl, before a hand reached out and patted him on the shoulder. "She'll learn," Garathos grinned as he walked pass him, "But as much of a fool's errand it is to try and catch her, best not to keep our ladies waiting yes?"'

Shaking his head, Octavian followed suit, trailing behind his brother-in-law and making small talks as they were guided to a nearby elevator. Though the subject was inane at best, Octavian still enjoyed it as it eased his mind on other matters. Perhaps, this would be the last chance he'd have to talk as the door closed behind them.

-x-x-x-

After a quick inspection, and beating the two exhausted girls to the race to the bridge, Octavian would bring them over to the ship's library. There, they gathered, sitting upon the ornate seats of the ornate chair that dominated the center of the room. It would be at the head of the table where Octavian would find himself as he gaze unseeing at the report before him.

This seat used to belong to his father, and his father before him. It was in this seat and on this table where much of his family's history was made. From the voyages of his ancestors, to civil wars and minor rebellions. This was the seat of the patriarch or matriarch and now it was his seat. "All because you thought you were invincible up your castle in the clouds," he thought grimly with a wry smile.

So wrapped up and coddled was he in his spire, doing his best to be a good man that he didn't even realize his family's doom before it stared him right at the face. The enemies were now at the gate and what's worse is that his very own sister might be the one to bring them here. "So was this it, the end to my family's ten thousand year story?"

No, not yet. He still drew breath. "You failed your father," He closed his eyes as he clutched the symbol of the Emperor under his grip, "But you will not fail those that you hold dear." Yet as he gazed up from the report and towards those that he had gathered in the short time he had, he wondered if this was the right call.

Those close to him might be safe for now, but how about others less fortunate and those people whom his family had ruled over? There was still space in his ship, space that could take one more family in, but it would be far too much. There is only so many he could take before it becomes a liability for all of them.

"You're no hero," He reminded himself as he hardened his heart, "You can only save so much so best that you save who you could." Yes, he was just one man and what a pathetic man he was to not have prepared.

"It's time you wake up Octavian," He scolded himself as he leaned back against his seat, his mind whirring with possibilities, "It's time you face this brutal galaxy and play the game which you had been avoiding."

Taking stock of what he had, he frowned. Aside from the Enterprise, and much of the staff of the Palace, he didn't have much. Yes, the Knight House of Lancel was clean, something which he knew, and hoped deep in his heart, as well as that of Uncle, but he couldn't rely on them.

He only had himself and his ship and those were the variables he knew he could control. His ship was his life, and thankfully, his family had not neglected it. While much of the ship's armament were in need of inspection, her machinery and amenities remained intact.

The Enterprise had remained a faithful companion family even as they settled down. While they would not be used to the extent of his ancestors, she still served many functions with one such being her family's show of wealth to their neighbors. Can't exactly show off when the family transport was stuck in port after.

She also served as his family residence whenever they visited the other stars in the sector or beyond, something she was thankful for as she remained well kept and read accepted by her new residents. Speaking off, he glanced towards the empty seats on the table.

Sans his brother in law, much of the seats have been filled. Oriane was to be his master at arms, responsible for his troops. The former headguard of the palace, Jacques, on the other hand was responsible for internal security. His family's butler, Marley, meanwhile was the representative of the civilian staff and serfs. Amelia of course occupied a seat, serving as his right hand man on the ship, which brought him to one of the noticeable absences; the Navigator.

Eyes glancing away from the set decorated with the symbol of the Navigator Families, he turned to his attention on the letter on his end of the table. "If this is about the stupid Cult which your sister had tried peddling to my family, then no, go away and get out of my home." He read, staring at the card with much amusement.

To think that his invitation would be rebuffed by a post card of all things and with such pointed language. Now while the Navigators were a powerful bunch, such language would have been tantamount to politicial suicide. His Navigator, however, and her family to a large extent, were his family's friends.

They were the same Navigators which had served his ancestors, and as such were given much leeway, something which he found refreshing. "I should invite her to tea," He chuckled as his eyes strayed towards the other seats. The other absences were to two included two seats of black iron reserved for the priesthood of mars, a plain seat that his future spymaster would take and one very peculiar seat.

Staring at the red gem embedded on the bonewhite chair, he wondered if he was merely mistaking this for something else, but no, this was the genuine thing. Why was there a seat dedicated to an Eldar, and one made of Wraith Bone of all things…

He dearly hoped his ancestor didn't have an Eldar lover out there because he was sure they'd still be out there. Shaking his head from the thought, he sighed, hands resting on his hand as he scanned the room. There were other seats, but those were reserved for guests such as Garathos, but he had taken the seat next to him, one that was supposed to be for Oriane.

"My my Octavian, it seems that you've gathered quite the crew," The man noted as he rested his head against the table, his arms tucked beneath his cheek, "Not only did you have the Former Guard Captain of the Palace Guard, but the Butler as well."

Glancing up, he asked, "Are you sure you are not going to fight for the mantle of Governor?"

Scoffing, he shook his head as he glanced towards the many holy symbols that his ancestors had collected in her journey. Maybe he should toss more of them inside his sister's room just to be sure, but perhaps at a later date.

"As tempting as it is to claim my birthrate, no." He replied with a frown. Fighting right now was suicide, especially when he didn't have any eyes out there. "My crew is simply due to my current circumstances." Speaking off, he glanced as a messenger slipped into the room with a letter on hand.

"My lord," The wiry man spoke, his face blank as he handed it over, "A letter from the soup kitchens."Quietly, he thanked the man before sending him off.

As he opened the letter and read its content, his frown deepened. While he had neglected to find a man dedicated to the shadowy arts, he had something better; the mouths of a thousand hungry souls who were all too happy to gossip about their employers.

It was all too easy to have loose tongues wagging about if one didn't feed their employee's family, but right now he didn't like what he was reading. "Other than the house of Lancel and a few others, most of the nobles hold loyalties to the cult and now they plan to proselytize openly after your siblings' ascension with your brother, Tiberius chief amongst them.

"Damn it all," He hissed as he gritted his teeth before leaning back against his seat.

His frustration wouldn't go unnoticed as Oriane paused from her talks with Amelia before slipping off to his side."Otto?" She asked as she atop the low back of his chair and wrapped his arms around his shoulder, "Something wrong, my love?"

"Just a little set back, dear. There's nothing to worry about," he replied with a strained smile. As anger bubbled up his chest, he pushed it down, bottling it up.

He had suspected his brothers were into it, but to read confirmation of it still stung. He had been complacent for far too long and it rankled him to no end. Still, it was not the end of the world. "Just let me handle this one," He replied with a reassuring smile.

Oriane, however, would see through his lies as she frowned at him. "Octavia…"

He really couldn't hide anything from her, could he? Shaking his head, he sighed, "I'll talk more on this later. Just wait a bit because we still have one last guest to arrive." It would simply be far easier to do so. "Speaking off, has the Lord Captain arrived yet?"

He asked, looking around to see if he had missed the man's entrance and just in time as the door opened once more. "He is here and he is famished," his uncle replied with just a bit of annoyance in his tone as he slipped inside to join them.

"Octavian, my boy, you better have a good reason for calling me over to the Enterprise when it is supposed to be my lunch and an even better reason for getting the squadron to weigh anchor-!" The man grumbled before pausing as he stared at the seat he had grabbed. "Wait, isn't this the one of the chairs of Saint Sabbat?

"Yes, but that's not important right now," Octavian replied, "And believe me, I wouldn't have asked you all those favors we had in our talks earlier if not for the situation we have on our hands right now."

With all eyes on him, he swallowed thickly. This was it, he was finally going to tell them everything now that the important pieces on this little plan he had been brewing were finally in place. All he needed to do now was speak up.

"Octavian," Oriane spoke up, her voice dripping with concern, "What's going on exactly?" Holding his hands tightly, she whispered, "I know the death of your father has taken its toll, but you've been acting strange lately…"

There was no more room to hide. Taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart, he steeled his heart. "I have something to admit," He whispered as he gazed down on the shaking hand which Oriane held, "Something I've been hiding from you all since before the night of my fathers death"

Pausing briefly to gather his thoughts, he gazed up and told them the truth "I believe my sister, my brothers, and much of the nobility had fallen to Chaos and our world is now at the heart of an incident." Grimacing, he turned away, "One that would bring the Inquisition bearing down on all our heads."

Silence quickly reigned inside the room as the words slowly sunk in, one that his uncle would break as he spoke the words that summerized their collective thoughts, "Fuck…"