Also known as the beach episode

Deals took on all shapes and sizes, and some deals actually ended up with clinking glasses and celebrations without a fight – crazy, I know. The past few months had been especially profitable for a certain Lord Captain: with risky Backroom Deals and Shadow Operations.

Rogue Trader Emberlyn Driftwood, clapped in delight as their Sea Skimmer traversed the waves on a small water moon. She’d just secured a minor trade route through this region of space, an important step in claiming this region of space for her Rogue Trader dynasty. The promise of security against space pirates, chaos incursions and xeno entrapments had clinched the deal.

“Do you see, Hethellana? We work hard and we play hard,” Emberlyn said to her personal Aeldari assassin.

Blim the medic slid in front of Hethellana, “Lord Captain, that may be the case, however I must say that I don’t believe your servitor knows how to play at all,” he said, pointing at Greg.

Greg the Servitor stared vacantly at the waves through the pink sunglasses Emberlyn had adorned him with. Zero thoughts, only vibes.

“While I have you all here, as my most trusted confidants, I wanted to announce something,” Emberlyn said. “I know you’ve been wondering what we’re all still doing in this chaotic region of space, especially after the recent Ork Krumping and run in with those pesky Guardsmen. Well, I can now say it: it’s this man right here – The Navigator.”

Everyone looked at the regal Navigator, dressed in blue robes with a gold helmet hiding his intentions. Blim coughed up his drink. “The Navigator standing right there? The Navigator who joined us last week?” Blim asked. “You know you could have just purchased a navigator off any Imperium ship in this sector?”

The Navigator stared silently, his third eye gazing right into Blim’s soul.

“Oh, my dearest, Blim. This isn’t just any Navigator. This is the one Navigator who knows the warp path to the Pillars of Creation. You know that Nebula next to the worst of the warp storms? Nobody has ever made it inside them.”

“It’s probably infested with daemons,” Hethellana, commented. “It’s the birthing place of stars, a cursed place.”

“Or it contains unimaginable treasure from before the Imperium of Man,” Emberlyn suggested. “From before even those who came before: the hidden treasure of star gods long past!”

“That’s such a Mon-Keigh way of thinking,” Hethellana replied, shaking her head. “Just another thing to be conquered, another bloody crusade with expendable lives.”

“The filthy xeno scum is correct, Lord Captain,” Greg said without malice, turning his attention back to the party. “You will find only death there.”

Hethellana drew her sword. “I will cut your metal head from your manufactured body, Greg!”

The two of them wrestled on the deck as Emberlyn basked in the sunshine and clean sea air.

“Lord Captain,” Blim said again, sliding into view, blocking the light. “May I suggest caution with this chaos nebula? I know for a fact that caution on this endeavor would do wonders for the crew’s morale.”

Emberlyn touched the water before turning to her retinue. “Goodness, where is your sense of adventure! But alright, I shall take your feedback to heart. I will send a scout before we make the warp jump. But for now, we’re going to have drinks on the beach!”

As they arrived at the docks, a figure stood there, waiting to receive them. Arms crossed, with a fervent scowl on her face. The Inquisitor.

“Emberlyn. You have to stop interrupting my Inquisitorial business,” Inquisitor Stella said, referring the the events of the previous day..

Emberlyn stepped off the Sea Skimmer. “Are you talking about that Blood Angels thing? I wouldn’t worry about it, Captain Furos seems like a reasonable space marine.”

“He saw your chaos artifacts – you’re on thin ice and hallowed ground,” Stella added. “You’re lucky I could strike a deal with him. Now I need to stop investigating his Chapter and that’s a real wrench in the works for me. I’ve let things slide so far, but now we need to talk about some of those artefacts you have.

“They’re a means to an end. It’s hardly a secret to you. You knew that I have a vast collection of all kinds of warp-tainted artefacts, legendary archeotech and xeno confidants. All heresy from a certain perspective, but you know they’re necessary to both my goals and yours. Hells, you were the one who installed an Abominable Intelligence on my ship,” Emberlyn said, circling her Inquisitorial frenemy on the dock. “Everything we use comes with great risk, but that’s what makes life worth living!” Emberlyn said as she passed Stella her empty glass. “Our partnership has been fruitful Stella, wouldn’t you say? How many Spy networks, enemy sympathisers, compromised agents, saboteurs and diabolical rituals have I led you to or helped you thwart?”

“Quite a few,” Stella muttered. “A lot actually – you’ve probably single-handedly helped stave off chaos from the sector, a quite-frankly bizarre fact as you’ve lost almost every ground-battle you’ve gotten yourself into. I just don’t want you to fall to chaos, Emberlyn.”

Emberlyn nodded. “Understandable – it happens all the time. But I won’t.” Emberlyn said, waving her finger, “I’ve got something other people don’t have.”

“Me?” Stella asked, perking up.

“No, I have a kroot pup. Have you ever seen the kroot fall to chaos? Didn’t think so,” Emberlyn stated. “Now tell me where those assassin’s are. They deserve a promotion for their recent performance.”

“They are Officio Assassinorum. Their only promotion is death,” Stella explained.

Emberlyn frowned. “Well, that’s very grim and dark.”

“Where do you think we are?” Stella asked, motioning to the sky and the void beyond it.

A melancholic gust of wind blew between them, lengthening the silence and moral distance between them. They looked into each other’s eyes, almost coming to an understanding – then the Rogue Trader grinned.

“Exactly where we need to be. Now come, the beach awaits!” Emberlyn exclaimed as she strutted down the docks.

The Inquisitor asked herself how she put up with the Rogue Trader. They were both agents of the Emperor’s will, their outlook diametrically opposed, but both propelled by His light. 

Although they walked on the same road, her Inquisitorial side was cast in shadow and darkness, compared to the Rogue Trader’s which was… Not light, not dark. Hell, it was probably a disco ball.