The shuttle ride through the void was turbulent, but uneventful. Back onboard the Illustrious Vexation, Emberlyn was back on her feet and asking too many questions. Too many questions out in the open and not behind closed doors. The Kroot from the Starhowl Kinband took their share of cargo as payment for services rendered and departed with satisfied clicks.

“Do your vents usually make that sound?” Inquisitor Stella asked, on their way through the lower decks. This was a bad day for the elevators to stop working.

Everyone paused to listen. Centuries old voidships tended to regularly make strange sounds, but in this instance, a chittering got louder as the hallways began to bend in an unnatural way. 

Inquisitor Stella’s sanctioned Psyker senses felt a vibration in the warp. In a flash of golden light, several Adeptus Custodes, in their glorious golden armour appeared, smashing through an illusionary veil hiding chaos space marines. Suddenly, the deck was ablaze with  warpflames coming from the Rubric Marines, led by their Infernal Master. Only Inquisitor Stella recognised them as the Thousand Sons, fear of psychic dominion taking her mind. Whether by chance or fate, the foul taint of the warp had followed her here.

“What is going on here in my ship?!” Emberlyn screamed as she led her crew away in the opposite direction. Suddenly, dozens of vicious Genestealers clawed their way through the ceiling and floor, blocking their escape.

“I don’t know what I expected, what Rogue Trader doesn’t have some foul genes aboard their ship?” Inquisitor Stella taunted. “And we appear to be in the middle of this reckoning.”

“Not on my ship,” Emberlyn growled.

The following battle claimed many lives of the Voidsmen, who valiantly threw their lives away to ensure the Rogue Trader lived. Once on the command deck, Emberlyn ordered the several lower decks to be completely vented, ensuring no foul genes or dust remained. Many crewmembers were lost for the greater good of the ship.

A few days later, Inquisitor Stella sat inside her new office aboard the Illustrious Vexation. The office, gifted by the Rogue Trader, was an old command sanctum. Crew had renovated the space, but it was slightly too spacious, with too many shadows for potential spies to hide among.

A view of the cold, unforgiving vastness of space loomed out of the window of the Command Sanctum. The stars hiding just as many secrets as the Inquisitor. The peace and solitude of her new office didn’t last long. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud thud thud. Stella winced as she heard the telltale footsteps of the Rogue Trader’s spiked boots approaching. She was feeling better it seemed.

Emberlyn Driftwood entered the Sanctum and strutted around the holo-table. She put one hand on her hip and pointed to the Inquisitor with her other.

“I’ve seen your orders to your inquisitorial agents and disagree, so I contested them. My ship, my rules. If I’m honest, I think my Warrant of Trade succeeds your Inquisitorial Rosette,” Emberlyn exclaimed.

“What? No it doen’t,” Inquisitor Stella replied as she fed some compromising paperwork into the shredder beneath her desk. “The Inquisitorial Rosette gives the Inquisition ultimate authority in the name of the Emperor.”

“But my Warrant of Trade was signed with His blood, the High Lords of Terra themselves empower me in the name of the Emperor. Full autonomy to expand Imperium interests in any way I see fit,” Emberlyn replied, stepping closer. “And you’ll also find that this is my ship. My rules.”

“I’m not arguing with you, Rogue Trader. Besides, your ship and rules are falling apart,” Stella said, standing up. “And this is now my sector. Which contains your ship.”

“This is my… dynasty, my destiny!” Emberlyn retorted.

Stella rubbed the bridge of her nose. “This is pointless.” 

“This is, of course,  just a hypothetical – until my Administratum Solicitor returns my calls, but that’s just how Imperium bureaucracy is,” Emberlyn continued. “In this corner of the galaxy, Imperium command is flexible at best and cut-throat at worst. Knowing where you stand among various factions can save your life, even with Xenos. I’m your key to that, you said that yourself.”

“Right you are. I’m sure my agents are fulfilling your every whim. So can I help you, Rogue Trader? I’m currently attempting to uncover a network of spies working for the Arch-Enemy. They may even be aboard this very voidship. And now I hear my agents have been told to leave your voidsmen alone. They’re not even allowed to pet the canids.”

Emberlyn sat on the table, displacing a stack of unimportant papers. “Yes – you can dismantle this spy network, but leave my loyal crew alone.”

Stella sat back down – eye height with the Rogue Trader’s spiked boot. The boot had clearly seen some action.

“But talking about some quid pro quo… Inquisitor, I want you to help me board a passing voidship – it has heresy up the wazoo. Right up your alley,” Emberlyn said.

“No. Rogue Trader. Emberlyn. Your ladyship. If our partnership is going to work, I really should focus upon this network of spies who are operating on your-”

Emberlyn leaned in. “I’ll give you some information in exchange for your time.”

Stella leaned back, putting her hands together. “Continue.”

“There are some Xenos who are in possession of the star map you’re looking for. Oh yes, I know about that. You’re not the only one with eyes and ears on this ship. I’ll tell you where they are after we loot this passing voidship.”

How did she find out about the starmap? Why had she gifted the Inquisitor an entire Command Sanctum aboard her ship? Why was she so vexing?

“Fine,” Stella answered. “I’ll do it. We have a partnership and we’ll support each other’s interests.”

“Okay, thanks. Bring your Force Sword and your brain.”

With that, the Rogue Trader strutted back out of the Command Sanctum, leaving the Inquisitor to her thoughts.