In the Grimdark Sector with a System

Author Notes:

Big thanks to Corporal Skullknight43, and Private Ashley Macdonald, Private Thistle's Dragon, Private Akumawolf, Private RulySol, Private Connor Maccann, and Private SvenGTX! They have joined as the newest wave of supporters, and it's an honor to have them aboard!

I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and don't forget to spread the words around~!

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Unsurprisingly, Mama took me to the Chapel of the Order of Our Martyred Lady. Fortunately, I managed to pass on the blueprints and the like for the Tech-Priests. They will be able to figure out the constructions and adaptations of those on their own. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they even manage to create something entirely new as a side-effect.

Let the Tech-Priests cook what they want, I guess. More importantly, however, Mama is pulling me along by holding my hand tenderly. The sight of myself in my dress uniform being cared for by a Sister of Battle must have been eye-boggling for the random passerby. They're bowing to Mama, of course, but most are directing glances with varying degrees of curiosity at me, a Guardswoman.

It's weird, but not something I am discomforted by. I focus on keeping my Mama accompanied instead. On the way to the Chapel, Mama chats with me, hoping to make up for our time apart.

"My daughter, I must apologize for the delay in my return. The Xenos on Sylvia proved themselves to be more cunning than we expected. Nonetheless, they proved to be no match for our faith and bolters."

"Mama, you need not apologize for acting in the service of the Emperor. I am not disappointed that you returned to me late. Instead, I am glad you returned, safe and sound and in victory at last." I honestly reply. "To prevail over a dangerous foe is to do the Imperium a great deed, Mama. I am honored to be your daughter."

Mama laughs before patting my head. "Now that's my daughter! Heh, to speak like that, you have matured, Ein."

Mama sighs jokingly. "Kids these days, they grew so fast."

I look up at her with an eye-roll. "I am only 16, Mama. I am literally still too young to be called mature." Somehow, that made me annoyed. I still have much to learn to be considered wise and mature, in my opinion.

"But more importantly." I change the subject. "Were there any casualties on your extended deployment, Mama? I hope that the Sisters are fine..." I speak from my heart for I am on amicable terms many Sisters in the Order of Our Martyred Lady.

Fortunately, Mama just smiles before gently squeezing my shoulder. "Don't worry your cute little head over us, my dear. The Order is blessed on this deployment. Aside from some injuries, all of us return alive. In fact, even the injured only need some medical attention and care, they weren't even hurt to the point of disability. It shocked even me, you know, for the Order to win such a major victory with little to no loss."

Mama chuckles before continuing. "Such cases are rare and far in between."

I smile in relief. "It seems the Emperor had blessed you and the Sisters with her Light, Mama. I know that Sylvia was teeming with Orks. For you to emerge virtually unscathed was nothing short of a miracle granted by Her."

"You spoke my mind, Ein. All other Sisters thought the same too... Many of us noticed it was only after we proudly displayed the Order Badge, handcrafted by you, Ein, that our efficiency was elevated by many levels. Curious, don't you think?"

I tilt my head, not understanding how the badges I made in bulk for the Sisters improved their already potent strength. I don't think I ever get any skill related to enchanting objects, right? As I juggle the possibilities, I miss how Mama eyes my very being to search for something. Mama soon softens her inquisitive gaze when she sees my honestly confused demeanor.

Ultimately, I chalk it up to the Emperor blessing my Mama and her Order in their time of need. I don't think I am anywhere near powerful enough to give out a permanent buff, right?

Mama says after some time. "Ein, after we returned from Sylvia, the Order has accepted new Sisters to bolster our ranks. If you are able, can I trouble you to forge new badges for them? I can contact your Regiment and request for your leave."

Seeing no issue with that, I am happy to aid my Mama, I agree. "Sure, Mama. Though depending on the number of badges I will have to make, it will take some time."

Mama pats my hair again with a smile. She really loves patting me, huh? "Let me take care of that for you, daughter. You need only focus on crafting the badge."

"I understand, Mama." I nod.

"Speaking of crafting," Mama speaks in a happy tone "It seems that you have not stopped on the path of self-improvement, Ein. Imagine my surprise when I saw reports of your prowess among your peers. It seems you inherited my sharpshooting skills quite nicely."

I chuckle. "Mother, we are not blood-related though. If anything, I just learned from you and the Sisters back then."

Mama shrugs in her power armor. "A lady could dream, Ein. Right, back there in the Archive. You seem to have presented something really nice for those Priests to stop spouting binary. I didn't catch all of them, but I heard it had something to do with optimizing the Lasgun?"

I nod." Indeed, Mama. In short, I thought up some improvements for the Lasgun and any of its derivatives. The Tech-Priests were kind enough to appraise my blueprints and agree to produce a batch for trial. The goal is to make the M36 Lasrifle more effective than it already is and to incorporate the improvements into other Las weapons." I then go on to explain the potency of the updated Las design.

Mama raises an eyebrow, understanding the insinuation of my project with the Priesthood. For all their strength and unwavering faith, the Sisters and the Space Marines are not anywhere overwhelming in number. The honor of that goes to the Imperial Guards with trillions of soldiers awaiting their finest battles or otherwise... More often than not, the Guard Regiments are the first to respond in conflicts of any kind. They're also one of the first to be sent to secure a beachhead for more powerful forces to be deployed. In combat against the Traitor Astartes, it's not unusual to see the Heretics being outnumbered twenty to one. In favorable conditions, twenty Guardsmen can kill a Space Marine. If the effectiveness of their Lasrifles is improved, then the number of required Guardsmen will go down to fifteen or even ten. It's not unheard of for a Guardsmen Platoon to defeat a Traitor Space Marine or two, albeit after heavy sacrifice. Now, if the entire Astra Militarum is upgraded with the new rifle... Even Space Marines will shudder when faced with thousands of Lasrifles, much less the improved design.

By the time Mama and I reached the Chapel, we already shared a lot about what we had done in the months apart. I laughed whenever Mama mentioned a particularly funny bit about the Orks and how they would fight among themselves even while being shot at by the Sisters.

Pushing open the door of the Chapel while being greeted by a pair of Sisters on guard duty, Mama leads me inside. The Chapel acts as a base of operations and a religious center for the Order of Our Martyred Lady. Inside, the Sisters of the Order are either praying to the Emperor or are up and about to perform their daily duties. The Sisters are either wearing black power armor and red vestments or other clothing with a similar color scheme. Perhaps it's only here that one can see more than two dozen Sisters at once. However, entry to the Chapel is limited to only the affiliates of the Order. I am lucky to have Mama as my guide and that I can be considered a friend/daughter of the Order.

Why does that sound wrong, really?

As we move deeper inside, presumably to Mama's quarter, I am forced to duck down and roll away. Midroll, I pull out a blade behind my back, hidden by my coat. Finishing my roll, legs bent and my left hand pushed against the ground, I propel myself back where I was. Holding my blade, a yoroi-doshi otherwise known as an armor-piercing tanto, I first bring the blade up to parry an overhead swing of an armored fist. Sparks fly as my tanto diverts the fist to my left, and with a tilt of my body, the fist misses me by a hairsbreadth. Not stopping there, I reverse the grip of my tanto, before bringing it down on the gaps between the armor and the helmet of the assailant. I am stopped short when a hand grabs my wrist.

"Mama?" I ask, my voice perfectly level as I stare at the one that tried to ambush me while wearing the marking of the Order of Our Martyred Lady. Living for this long and with so many things left to do, I am understandably merciless against threats of any kind.

The other Sisters have already stopped whatever they're doing due to the earlier clash. They're now watching the scene with curiosity and intrigue, a few of them even wave at me with a smile, seemingly unbothered.

"Ein." Mama soothes. "Calm your blade, my daughter. This was but a test of your mettle, approved by me. Some Sisters from far away were skeptics of my claims about you, so I use this chance to dispel their doubt. However, what none of us expected was you to go for the kill after the failed ambush. I must say, that was such a perfect counter from you, my daughter. I also did not expect a Sister of mine to ambush you before you can even get comfortable in the Chapel."

Hearing Mama's explanation, I stop putting more force in my captured right hand. Eventually, Mama releases her grip on me with a proud nod. Slowly, an exasperated expression appears on my face. Finally, I sigh and sheath my tanto in one smooth motion.

"This is not how you treat your daughter, Mama, adopted or not." I complain with a pout before leaning down to offer a hand to the Sister who fell earlier. She used too much force, too easily exploited by me. "I am sorry for my action, Sister. I do not wish to offend you."

Instead of showing any anger, the Sister gladly accepts my hand as I help her stand up. However, the weight of her armor caused me to stumble somewhat, earning myself a laugh from her. I cough in mild embarrassment. The Sister that ambushed me then removed her helmet, the figure beneath it caused my eye to twitch, and my shyness evaporated.

"Tsk, you shouldn't have stopped me, Mama."

"Oi! Are you seriously trying to kill me now!?" The Sister protested with a similarly twitching eyebrow.

"If that means one less pervert on Cadia, then yes!" I say without any hint of remorse.

"Damn it, Ein, it was only one time!" The Sister protests.

"You went into my bathroom when it's already occupied!"

"Someone removed the sign! Wait, we're both girls! So why are you harping on this again!?"

"You push me down with your hands on my breasts!" I cover myself to emphasize.

"I slipped!"

"You commented on it perkiness."

"It was instinctual!"

"You said I would make a fine wife."

"That was a compliment, damn it! Wait, I didn't even say that line back then!"

"So you do remember everything when I told you to forget it!" I point my finger at her in accusation.

"By the Emperor, how can I forget that sight!? You practically screamed allure!"

"Pervert!" I shout before running behind my Mama, who is now struggling very hard not to laugh at the Sister who keeps digging a hole for herself. Unlike Mama, the other Sisters around us are just full-on laughing and giggling at their Palatine's expense.

Knowing just what sort of thing she just uttered, the Sister Palatine slumps her shoulders in defeat. "I just walked into that, didn't I?"

I poke my head behind Mama's, putting my tongue out. "Yes, yes you did Sister Tsavorae. Now, you will be welcoming your societal death in full." I wink, adding salt to her injuries.

Looking at me with a very annoyed expression, Tsavorae says with her dark blue eyes promising righteous retribution for my prank. "Mark my words, Ein, vengeance will be mine!"

To that, I reply. "Get good, scrubs."

What follows is just the wailing of a banshee and the uncontrollable laughter of many amused Sisters of Battle and Mama as I am chased around by a very angry Palatine.

Why was I here again?