In the Grimdark Sector with a System

Author Notes:

Shout-out to Private senPIE, Private Blod, Corporal Eredir, and Sergeant Donovan Zephyn-Abrams for enlisting! Also, thank you Mr. Giacomo Bruzzi for your 5 dollars donation!

Also, I am legit drunk on recaf when writing this chapter lol

There are advanced chapters on Patreon for both of my fics, with a couple of special bonuses if you read the fine print :D

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For my fics:

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https://www.scribblehub.com/series/1375924/in-the-grimdark-sector-with-a-system/

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Tsavorae, the name of the Palatine that chased me around earlier in the day. She was also the big sister figure in my life before I joined the Imperial Guard and she rose in the ranks of the Order of Our Martyred Lady. Now, after many years of separation, I must admit that I am surprised by how exotic she looks without her power armor. She has pinkish-brown short hair and dark blue eyes. She is tall and has a well-endowed figure. However, she is still lacking when compared to Mama. That said, she has a certain unique youthful charm to her, while Mama is more of a seductive motherly figure.

Right now, I am busy crafting badges for Mama's Order. The process of which goes well into the night. In fact, I won't be surprised if the System sends me my Daily Login reward soon for midnight is almost upon us. Sitting next to me is Tsavorae, gazing at me with a keen and interested gaze as I work. She is a silent observer most of the time, only chatting when I am not hymning holy prayers or carving an intricate piece for the badges. Around us, are holy incense and candles, making the chamber Mama lent to me for crafting surprisingly well-lit and warm. Weirdly enough, there's a big one-way mirror on one side of the chamber. I almost chuckle out loud when I see the mirror. I am not that stupid to miss the obvious surveillance installed in the chamber. Not sure why, but it appears that Mama wants to research me crafting the Order's badges. Even now, I can still sense some presences beyond the one-way mirror, one of them is Mama. Though I notice them, I opt to ignore their spying on me as I don't feel any sort of hostility or malevolence. My skills and instincts make good sure of that.

Moving on, after I finish another badge and tucking safely in a cushioned chest alongside many others, I lean back and stretch my back. I yawn cutely with a slightly sleepy gaze. Closing the lid on the chest, Tsavorae smiles gratefully. "Thank you for your help, Ein. The Sisters would love to wear these badges that were crafted with such care and devotion."

I chuckle while rubbing my eyes. "It's nothing, sis. I only did what I could to support the Order, no matter how little it might be."

Tsavorae shakes her head with a wry smile. "I see that you're still keeping your modesty. Say, I'm gonna deliver this to Ely and grab some recaf. You want some of that, Ein?"

I nod, breathing out. "If you don't mind, sis. I am just about to fall asleep at any moment. I'm gonna need a recaf to walk back to the barrack."

Tsavorae pats my shoulder with one hand, the other is holding up the chest. "You really don't need to do that, you know. Ely booked you for three days here and your Captain is fine with you not being around for that duration."

I shrug. "I don't want to miss out on any duty that may crop up in those three days. The squad I am in is part of the 8th Regiment's QRF. If there's trouble, the entire squad needs to be ready to deploy immediately."

Tsavorae sighs. "Suit yourself then. Going to be back real quick."

Tsavorae steps out of the chamber, her boots echoing across the silent surroundings. Now that I am left alone, I lean back on my chair, gazing idly at the ceiling painted with murals. Oddly enough, peace is not a good sign at all in the 40k universe. Peace means trouble is on the horizon. Cadia is on the forefront, directly across the Eye of Terror. For nothing bad to occur these days are borderline impossible. Knowing just how good my luck is with recent Daily Login rewards, I think whatever comes next will plunge me directly into the line of fire to counteract that. I try to think up every possible threat to Cadia, and the answer is astounding: All of them.

Yeah, let's not think about that just yet. As a mere Corporal, I am in a position where I can only react, not plan.

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Tsavorae pushes open the door to the monitoring room next to Ein's crafting chamber. Inside the room, she sees Canoness Superior Elyzabeth Fortier, Ely, alongside some surprising additions. Though surprised by the new faces, on ingrained habit, Tsavorae pays her respect to both Ein's adopted mother and the esteemed guests of the Order, Salamander Space Marines, and a certain Archmagos Dominus. "Lady Canoness Superior, I have brought the badges with me."

Elyzabeth nods, unlike before with Ein, her face is of an impassive poker face. "Good, submit it to Dominus Belisarius Cawl and Chief Librarian Vel'cona for scanning."

Bowing her head, Tsavorae hands over the chest onto one of many outstretched mechanical limbs of the surprisingly excited Dominus Cawl. Using one of his many metallic appendages, Cawl gently flips open the lid before bringing the neatly lined badges to the nearby Salamander Chief Librarian. The psychically attuned Vel'cona picks up one of the badges with a shocking amount of grace despite his armor-cladded fingers being many times the badge's size. As the Salamander Chief Librarian brings the Order of Our Martyred Lady's badge up to be investigated by his glowing red eyes, Dominus Cawl subjects some of the badges to a multitude of mechanical scanners. Some of the scanners are even installed on the Tech-Priest's hulking body which is more mechanized than flesh. While the two people are subjecting the badges to multiple ways of inspection, both physical and psychic alike, the remaining Salamander Space Marine is introduced to Tsavorae by Elyzabeth.

"This is the Salamander Space Marine Chapter Master, Tu'shan. He's here alongside Chief Librarian Vel'cona and Archmagos Dominus Cawl on official business, to confirm something that pertains to Ein."

A sinking feeling suddenly appears in Tsavorae's stomach, as if knowing her fear, Tu'shan steps forth to reassure her, and a kind smile appears on his scarred face. "Be calm, young one, what we're trying to figure out is not at all harmful to your sister or your Order. I give you my word that little Ein is not to be harmed by any of us. In fact, should our suspicion prove true, the opposite of which may happen instead."

Tsavorae promptly nods. "I understand, milord."

Elyzabeth sighs at the conversation before chiding Tsavorae. "Really now? You thought that I would wish harm to befall my daughter? I am disappointed in you, Tsavorae."

Hearing the jest in Elyzabeth tongue's, Tsavorae thinks it's safe enough for her to quip. "We both know what will happen if the things I fear are to be the truth, Ely. We will still do it all the same, but none of us will be able to stomach it after the act."

Elyzabeth smiles mysteriously, though the people around her can find it to be a fake one. "Indeed. My adopted daughter has somehow grown to not just be a source of our strength, but also our weakness."

Tsavorae shakes her head. "If I had the power, I would have sequestered Ein away deep into the heart of our Order..."

"But alas, a caged Ein is not the Ein that we all cherish." Elyzabeth finishes the words for Tsavorae.

Hearing their conversation, Tu'shan chuckles. "Ah, it appears your Order now has one more thing to care for. Looking at the child beyond the glass, I find myself grappling with a term to describe her status in your eyes... What is it again, a mascot?"

Both Elyzabeth and Tsavorae raise their eyebrows at Tu'shan. Heck, even Vel'cona and Cawl have to stop what they're doing due to the sheer ridiculousness of what they just heard coming from Tu'shan's mouth.

"My brother in Emperor, where in the five segmentae did you learn of that word?" Vel'cona exclaims.

Tu'shan holds a curious look on his scarred, obsidian face. "What's wrong with it? I overheard some of our Space Marine Sisters discuss a topic involving something... Cute, I think? I joined the discussion back then to further ingrate myself among our fighting brothers and sisters."

Though Tu'shan answered the question quite nicely, his response raised their curiosity even more. Just what sort of accursed topic that was borderline impossible for Space Marines to even think of did Tu'shan join? Indeed, it's more common to discuss cleaner ways to kill Heretics over a fine dinner than to find a Chapter Master talking about something cute.

Seeing the four people looking at him weirdly, Tu'shan finds it best to change the topic. "Tell me, have you two figured out anything from the badges?"

It's a forceful derailment of the topic to be sure, but it's not in any of them to mull on non-critical conversation for longer than it should be. Cawl, fitting for his augmentations, is the first to present numerous data and readings in the form of a holographic projection from one of his metallic limbs.

"The composition is normal and showcases no negative readings. If anything, I must comment on the craftsmanship of the youngling. No material was wasted in the construction. Despite being manmade and using no measuring devices, each badge for the Order was crafted with impeccable precision. Great care was given to every single badge indeed." Cawl turns his upper half, towering a few times over that of a normal man. "I have also taken the liberty to purview the blueprints of improvement the youngling made to the Cadian Lasrifle. I must say, she will make for a fine Tech-Priest."

Now that's high praise from the Archmagos Dominus. Before any can comment on that, Vel'cona adds. "Dominus Cawl does prove that the badges are good, untainted by the nefarious Warp. However, what he hasn't informed is that each and every single badge is carrying traces of the light."

Vel'cona directs his glowing red eyes, gazing at everyone. "Minute, borderline microscopic if Dominus Cawl was to put it, the badges each carry with it the Light of the Imperium. The Light of Her who sits upon the Golden Throne."

At first, nobody really knows how to react to the revelation, bar Cawl himself who is scanning Ein with a variety of instruments on his body. It takes exactly three seconds for Tu'shan to open his mouth. Yet, before he can even speak the first syllable, the atmosphere changes. Time seems to stop as the world around lost its color. Shockingly, such widespread phenomena do not bear any noticeable Warp stain.

Out of habit, the people in the monitoring room draw their weapons, with Cawl himself pulling out enough firepower to vaporize a Dreadnought many times over. They do not question why they can still move when the rest of the world seems to pause. The only thing on their mind right now is to brace and prepare to kill whatever may cause this freak time-stopping event.

"As expected of the sons and daughters of the Imperium." A majestic, singsong voice that penetrates their very core can be heard rumbling across the frozen space. "My children, do not be afraid. For it is I, your Revelation, has come to your doorstep."

"Vigilance is expected, but one shouldn't repay civility with hostility unless necessary."