Chapter 5: Acting Captain
The Warp Engine returned to operation, and the entire voidship stabilized.
"Emperor preserve us, you actually did it!"
Verre's gaze towards Lucan changed. He found himself increasingly unable to fathom the candidate before him. He had read Lucan's file; he wasn't a particularly outstanding candidate. Was technology from the Dark Age truly so miraculous? Lucan had just saved everyone on the entire voidship.
Lucan exchanged a few pleasantries before eagerly walking over to the SCVs.
Normally, SCVs required personnel to operate them, but these two SCVs had no drivers; they were fully automated.
Lucan opened the cockpit hatch and sat down inside, searching the control panel before him.
[Identity Confirmed: Supreme Authority Creator]
[Access Granted]
When he saw the options for Barracks, Factory, Starport, and other buildings, he nearly shouted in excitement.
"It's really possible! If I can construct these, then I can start mass-producing many things!"
Lucan could also see the required materials on the construction details: 50 tons of scrap metal and 500 Psy-crystals were needed to build a Barracks. The costs for a Factory and Starport were much higher. Most importantly, he needed sufficient space; the interior of the voidship wasn't large enough to construct a Factory or Starport, only a Barracks could possibly fit.
The control panel also indicated that the Barracks only produced equipment, not personnel. Only by directly expending Psy-crystal units could Lucan manifest both the equipment and the personnel into this world.
"Only equipment, no personnel... A pity, but not a major issue. Isn't the one thing the Warhammer world doesn't lack people? That shouldn't be hard to find, right? Many of those Marines and others in StarCraft were convicts; if even they could operate the gear, then the humans of the Warhammer world should have no problem at all!"
Climbing out of the cockpit, Lucan saw a heavily augmented mechanical face looming over him. Its large electronic eye flashed red with the owner's excitement.
"Lord Lucan, what exactly is this mechanical creation? I implore you, please let me study this sacred artifact! I am willing to pay any price!"
The Adeptus Mechanicus's fanaticism for unknown technology made Engine Seer Pavian disregard his image and crowd closer. He had lived for over one hundred and fifty years, but what had just happened still exceeded his comprehension.
The existence of machine spirits made many impossible things possible, and what the SCVs had just done, wasn't that simply the machine spirit being greatly pleased?!
"Study it? Alright, but I have conditions too. I need a sufficiently large chamber and a large quantity of metal—any kind of metal will do. I believe you can find that for me on this voidship?"
"Yes! I completely accept this condition! I will have my servitors gather it with all haste; this is not difficult!"
Pavian agreed to Lucan's request without hesitation and immediately ordered his tech-adepts and servitors into action.
"I can vacate my personal forge workshop for you, but organizing the items within will take some time!"
"No problem. Just notify me when you're done."
Meanwhile, Purser Verre stared intently at Lucan. This candidate was simply too mysterious. In such a short time, he had saved everyone on the ship. His actions just now had also completely dispelled Verre's concerns; if Lucan were a lackey of Chaos, he could have simply sat back and watched the Warp Engine fail.
The Rogue Trader's fate was currently unknown. In this time of crisis, they needed someone with the appropriate status and capability to lead the ship's crew through this ordeal.
Although he was the ship's Purser, he was only the Purser. If he were to take temporary leadership, many would not accept his authority.
But Lucan possessed the noble bloodline of the Mongorte family, and his recent actions would grant him sufficient prestige. Moreover, Lucan had originally been the captain of his own voidship.
Verre walked up to Lucan and said solemnly, "Lord Lucan, by the God-Emperor, thank you for saving everyone on this ship just now. As the Purser of this family flagship, I request that you temporarily assume the duties of Captain. Lady Ludwig's disappearance has already caused widespread panic among the crew of this voidship. They need a strong and capable leader."
"Is this… really appropriate?"
Hearing Verre's words, Lucan felt immense pressure. He had originally just been a rank-and-file worker, never having managed anyone. Suddenly being responsible for the lives of the tens of thousands, perhaps more, aboard this voidship made Lucan incredibly apprehensive.
"I believe this is the best option right now. You possess the great bloodline of the Mongorte family! I am confident you can do it!"
"Alright then… I will do my best. In that case, I must know how much of this voidship is currently under our control."
"Please return with me to the bridge; it is the safest place. I will have everyone report the situation to you there!"
Returning once more to the bridge, Lucan sat down in the seat reserved solely for the Captain. The heads of the various ship departments stood before him, curiously observing their new Captain.
The previously chaotic bridge began to operate in an orderly fashion once more. Fallen crew members were replaced, the assassinated Vox-Master's position was filled by his apprentice, and various pieces of information were compiled on the Cogitator before Lucan.
However, the entire voidship was still suffering from personnel shortages. The ship's technical specialists were not laborers who could be easily replaced.
The areas from the Officer Decks upwards had almost all been retaken. Only a small number of Chaos traitors remained hidden, but finding them was merely a matter of time. Unfortunately, the person who had facilitated these traitors still hadn't been identified.
Interrogations of the captured traitors revealed they had no idea who that person was.
The biggest problem lay in the areas from the lower decks downwards. Some loyal crewmen or laborers were still resisting in the regions below the lower decks, but facing enemy numbers dozens of times their own, without reinforcements, their complete annihilation was only a matter of time.
Completely losing the lower decks was unacceptable; maintaining the operation of the entire voidship depended heavily on the countless shipwrights and workers there.
The rebellion was spreading, with more and more people falling under the influence of Chaos corruption and joining the ranks of the traitors.
Enforcer teams and crew units sent down from the upper decks were holding defensive positions at the security checkpoints, repelling the assaults of the rebels, but several attempts to push deeper had been beaten back.
The cargo bays were also located below the lower decks. The traitors had broken into the warehouses, obtaining large quantities of weapons, which significantly increased their combat effectiveness.
"Master of Discipline Scott! Do you care to explain?! Your duty is to maintain order on this ship and prevent riots! Now the lower decks are in this state! Is this how you demonstrate your loyalty to the God-Emperor? You must accept punishment!" Verre accused.
"Purser Verre, I admit my dereliction of duty. No explanation can change the fact that the lower decks erupted in rebellion. But I implore you, at this critical juncture, please allow me to remain at my post. I am familiar with the situation below. I will lead the Enforcers to deal with those traitors and uphold the Imperium's honor. After this rebellion is quelled, I am willing to accept any punishment the Dynasty deems fit!"
Scott knelt on one knee as he spoke.
Verre then looked towards Lucan.
"Captain! How to deal with him is your decision!"
"Let him remain for now. Changing commanders in the middle of a battle is not a wise decision!" Lucan stated. The reports indicated that Scott's two deputies were already dead; no one on the entire voidship knew the situation below better than Scott.
"Thank you for your mercy, my Captain! The soldiers fighting on the lower decks have sent a communication. They are requesting reinforcements! An unknown plague is corroding their bodies; they need rotation for treatment and require more manpower! Could you dispatch your powerful warriors beside you to support the battle on the lower decks?"
"I will. Lieutenant Damon will lead his soldiers down to the lower decks. Tell the men to hold on! Damon, you will proceed to the lower decks with Purser Verre."
"Rest assured, Commander, I will complete the mission!"
Lucan needed Psy-crystals, and killing those traitors was the fastest way to acquire them. He was only 300 crystals short of being able to construct his first Barracks. Once it could produce equipment for Marines, Firebats, and Marauders, he believed the battle situation would change immediately.
Watching the group leave, Lucan also discovered that even when the Marines and Medics left his line of sight, he could still perceive them. Closing his eyes, the viewpoints of all the units he had summoned using Psy-crystals appeared in his mind.
"This ability is really useful."
(End of Chapter)