118 Chapter 16 Part 3

Chapter 16: Tenuous packs

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Part 3

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General Alexander's HQ

Victory Bay

Kronus

"Can someone explain to me what just happened?" General Alexander walked tiredly into the briefing room we used for the negotiations, but only after we were done, the lucky bastard.

Amberley's scholar and Scipio were in their own world, surrounded by all kinds of data storage devices, good old-fashioned scrolls, and at least a metric ton of velium. They were busy scribbling and muttering to themselves.

"We have an agreement in principle," I explained, while Amberley was draining her second glass of amasec as if she just crawled out of a desert.

"What's this then?" The General waved a scarred hand with few obvious bionic fingers at the table we sat at. What wasn't covered by data storage and velium, barely held several Necron devices. Their gifts of good-will and because I helped Herald against Skulltaker, losing an arm in the process. Incidentally, now there were two necrodermis arms on the table, supposedly ready for implantation.

"Gifts." Amberley twitched. "I know many Inquisitors who would kill for this." She waved at the table. "Who have in fact killed for less. I also know a lot of people who would shoot first, ask questions later, if they see someone wearing that."

"I'll appreciate an explanation. How likely are we to be shot by our own people because of your Inquisitorial shenanigans? I believe this isn't something too much to ask?" He joined us at the table and produced a large metal cup from somewhere, then he mugged Amberley's bottle.

"Well, it's like this…" I explained, while my fellow Inquisitor went to pour herself another drink before the Guard could drain her precious amasec.

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We got through the major points of the alliance quickly, and with minimal bargaining. As expected, the real sticking point there was that the Necrons offered more than we could accept. Which was idiotic in itself and made me almost despair for humanity. If the Emperor watched this, he might be weeping or shaking Holy Terra with his rage.

What almost torpedoed the whole initiative were various smaller details the Necrons insisted on. I was sure those things might appear very reasonable from their Xeno viewpoint. From where we stood, on the other hand, their minor requests were anything but minor or trivial.

All those issues centered around one simple fact.

"You want us to do what?!" To give her credit, Amberley didn't quite screech at the suggestion.

It was even enough to get Scipio and Mott to pay attention and look beyond the storage devices that until now took their whole world.

"Is it not normal to send Diplomatic representatives and offer liaisons?" Amarkun asked.

His confusion appeared genuine too. I knew that sending diplomats and representatives was a normal thing when system Governors and even the nominal leaders of whole sectors cut deals with their peers. However, those were humans.

"There are a few rare precedents that Ordo Xenos or Rogue Traders occasionally use. It involves a great deal of paperwork, and it is no protection against more traditional elements in our society." Inquisitor Vail tried to salvage the situation.

"She means fanatics you can't reason with," I explained.

"What he said." Amberley. "The term is Sanctioned Xenos. As long as the paperwork is in order, and the alien remains in the company of an ally who can both vouch for them, it is technically possible for," she grimaced, "friendly aliens to operate in Imperial space. "While it happens, it is not a pleasant experience for anyone involved. I'm afraid it is almost a guarantee that sooner rather than later, someone would offend or attack your representatives if we go that way."

"We can take care of ourselves." Amarkun waved away Amberley's worries. "We'll have our Crypteks talk details and arrange the paperwork later. Now, about liaisons with you two." The Necron Lord kept rolling as if everything was right in the world. "Trazyn already has his eyes on your Pariah child, Inquisitor Veil. Because of that particular problem, we decided that her reward for foiling him would be a permanent security detail."

I was sure that if he could, Amarkun would grin at me, and pat himself on the back for a job well done. The worst thing was I was tempted to accept.

"I must stress that sending Diplomatic representatives with us to local Imperial authorities will be a bad idea at this time." Amberley tried to be the voice of reason. "However, I must admit more security for the child won't go amiss." She added sweetly.

Wait, what?

"Then it is agreed! We'll have the permanent members of the Pariah Selene's guard in place shortly." Herald of the Void clapped once and sounded almost happy. "Next minor point, not of diplomacy, but honor, is your well being Inquisitor Veil!" He pointed a metal finger at me. So there would be no mistake I guessed.

"What about me?" It wasn't like these negotiations were currently the greatest threat to my continued survival or something, right? At least this time I managed to keep my odder thoughts to myself. That was surely progress!

"You, Inquisitor Veil, keep losing body parts during combat. And you keep getting into personal combat. Analysis of your past actions leads us to believe you will continue to do so. Despite recent developments," Herald jabbed that offending fingers at me again, this time at my wings in particular, which ruffled in irritation, "sooner or later you'll get your head cut off, rendering you useless. This simply wouldn't do! With negotiations practically complete, I must insist you take a Necron liaison with you. He'll facilitate communication with any other of our kind you might run into and do his best to keep you in one piece!"

"The same goes for you, Inquisitor Vail. By all accounts, you two are among the more reasonable among your kind. It would be in our best interest to keep you intact to facilitate future negotiations." Amarkun added.

"The security implications alone…" Amberley spluttered.

There was that angle too.

"Consider our offer an incentive to upgrade your data security. It is practically non-existent."

Both Scipio and Mott spluttered at that.

"Well, the Adeptus Mechanicus might like the challenge. And give them something else to focus on. Perhaps this idea had some merit after all…

"Then we have an understanding! We'll have your liaisons in place by this time tomorrow at the latest!" Amarkun declared.

Something in the way he said it, made me think there would be no more discussions on this particular topic.

I looked at Amberley, who looked like she just swallowed a whole lemon.

"We will do our best to make this arrangement work. However, I must stress this point! We can't make any guarantee on how other human authorities or individuals would act towards your representatives. For ten thousand years, every human had been taught to loath, mistrust, and hate the alien. Such things can't be ignored or overcome easily, neither easy nor fast."

"We understand and won't hold you accountable for the actions of others." Amarkun hurried to reassure us.

Was it just me or did he kind of radiate smugness and condescension? Bloody Xeno!

At that point, I had a thought. "Perhaps your liaisons might use a disguise? If successful, such a gambit can spare us all some trouble."

Amberley perked up at that. "It might work. The same goes for your Diplomatic representatives. A disguise might reduce the odds of random attacks."

"This is acceptable." The Necrons immediately agreed. "We will instruct our agents to prepare appropriate disguise before reporting for duty." Amarkun declared grandly.

"Now that the principal negotiations are over, we can proceed with offering gifts!" There was no mistaking it. Herald sounded positively gleeful now. "Inquisitor Veil, honor requires you to receive an appropriate reward for risking life and limb to aid me during the battle against trans-dimensional entities, from now on, designated Warp Abominations."

Herald waved a hand and his guards surged forth. They locked their weapons on their backs and items materialized in their hands.

"First, I'm honored to present you with the hyperphase sword you used to vanquish the entity known as Skulltaker."

A huge leering Necron walked gracefully in front of me and offered me the hilt of a familiar sword. The only difference was the cross-guard – it was now in the form of the Imperial Double-headed eagle.

"I'm honored to accept."

"As a matching gift from the Nepheru Dynasty, a shield." Amarkun apparently didn't want to be outdone. "So the next time you might not lose another appendage!" He declared happily.

Sure enough, now there was another Necron in my face offering me a large slab of dark green metal covered with symbols almost identical to those on Amarkun's regalia.

"Those are magnificent and humble gifts." I nodded happily. First, the gifts were great. Second, even if they weren't, I wasn't about to tell them that and fuck up a barely acceptable deal.

Scratch that. My smile froze when they offered me a pair of metal arms each. As spare parts.

"If necessary, we can offer you new legs." Herald kept talking, while I stared at the necrodermis limbs.

"My colleague is simply speechless from the consideration you offer him," Amberley spoke in a honeyed voice. "I feel compelled to thank you on his behalf, Lord Amarkun, Lord Herald of Victory."

"I can see why. He expects to lose his legs too soon, doesn't he?" Herald of Victory nodded in understanding. "Worry not! We've taken his odd tendency to misplace bits and pieces during combat! Behold, our Crypteks crafted armor to help keep him in one piece!"

The Necrons in front of me put the spare arms on the table, then more items materialized in their hands. Those were pieces of dark meal armor. Most of it looked utterly normal, bless the Emperor.

"A breastplate to keep vital parts functional" Amarkun ignored my stunned disbelief."It is inscribed with heraldry proclaiming your deeds so far and your status as a friend of the Nepheru Dynasty and the Kronus Research Center!"

Anyone of ours who could read this would be doing their best to shoot me and ask questions never.

Then there was the helmet. The first thing I noticed was the stylized symbol of the Inquisition etched on the forehead flanked by two small ornate skulls. The eyes glowed green. And the whole thing was shaped like a Necron head because of course, it was.

"I am left speechless…" I managed to croak.

"The back of the chest armor can retract and fold to account for the wings too!" One of the Crypteks pipped up, however, I was in no state to respond.

If anyone saw me in this away from Kronus, they would declare me an abominable Xeno or a traitor with predictable results.

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"To summarize. We agreed not to shoot at each other, so we can shoot at other people." General Alexander began. "They'll help us remove the Tau from Kronus, offer technical expertise on developing our own version of their anti-Warp technology as well." He took a long pull of his cup as if the amasec was regular ale. "So far so good. You are going to have Necron infiltrators as part of your retinues trying to keep you alive. I don't know what to say about that. Better you than me, I guess. Good luck not getting us all shot by Sector Command. The Emperor knows that would take a miracle."

"My thoughts exactly. It might be worth it if the Pylon technology spreads." I shrugged.

"Why aren't you drinking?" Alexander glanced at me with suspicion.

"Thanks to these," my wings waved at him, "and the rest of the Emperor's blessing, I can't get even a buzz from any normal amount of alcohol," I admitted. And wasn't that a kick in the nuts? I needed a drink damn it!