Hammer of the Gods (NMC -1 Mjolnir Development)

[Lash]

Lash stepped out onto the deck of the Carnifex and looked out the forward view port at the asteroids in the distance. Hoth had been chosen for the test and the three Percursator Mk IV-class Fast Destroyers sat on the edge of the belt awaiting the order to commence testing. The new weapon system had been developed by Lash's Engineering Team as a gift to solidify his position in The Imperium. Many members had initially objected to allowing the Chiss under Lash's command to join. But after the battle with Deschart and Greth at Javin the Imperium Triumvirate had allowed him and his people to join as engineering and test consultants. Lash knew it was just a formality, he and his people had been allowed to work and server as any other Human. The fact that these humans impressed Lash was paramount to he and his peoples loyalty. He did not like the Grand Admiral but he respected the man after their battle.

Beside him Grand Moff Greth stood looking out at the same scene. The massive twenty kilometer asteroid they had designated as Grey four four seven. It was a massive rock and would work well as the target for the test. Beside him the Supreme Commander of the Imperium stood quiet and motionless like a statue. Lash entered in a set of commands and then Turned the the two men.

"The weapon is primed and ready to fire. I await your command."

 

[Joran Greth]

Grand Moff Joren Greth stood looking at the rock in the distance. It seemed such a waste to him. There had to be some mineral wealth in the asteroid that could be harvested. Yet here it was about to be the target of the new matter cannon. Greth understood the need for such a weapon but the price of its development and the fact that aliens were the ones who built the system left him disillusioned with the entire program. He had fought the Chiss over Javin and while he had been soundly out maneuvered and beaten by the blue skinned man, he still was not sure about their place in the Imperium. He knew Deschart felt the same. They had seen the Chiss in battle and that fact was the only reason they had been allowed in. It was better to have them as their friend then their enemy, that was made very clear at Javin.

"Admiral Lash, Your work here is impressive. I believe the Supreme Commander should have the honor of giving this order."

[member="Decimus Meridius"]

 

[Not Ordo]

[member="Joran Greth"]

His ever calculating mind was already running through scenarios as he stood watching out the I viewport. His hands clasped behind his back, face a weathered mask of calm. Air scrubbers doing their job kept the barest motion of air in the room as the Chiss crew moved about their duties. The smell of durasteel and cleaning fluids tinted the air as they stood waiting for this demonstration. He cared little for the Chiss as a whole but his practical mind always held usefulness higher than species and these beings were showing their abilities to be of use.

He looked at the blue skinned admiral briefly, the fatherly expression he used with most beings under his charge was kilometers away as he fixed the being with his gaze. The red photoreceptor eye narrowed as it focused on his features before he turned back to looking out the viewport.

"You may fire when ready Admiral Lash, " he said in his heavily accented and aged voice, "and I expect to be impressed. Don't disappoint me, please."

 

[Joran Greth]

Greth stepped back away from the two men as he had little to do with what was happening here. He had joined the group out of curiosity more than necessity and he admittedly missed his days as an admiral. He generally left the R and D to those more qualified but this project had been to important and Joren flet he needed to be present for such a momentous occasion.

"You heard the man, Impress us." Joran said as he sat in one of the chairs along the command station. He could see fine from here and did not see a need to stand at the front of the gantry with the other officers. He was content to watch from the comfort of the chair.

 

[Lash]

Lash nodded to the two Triumvir then turned to his engineers. The CHiss men had been busily preparing for the test fire while the officers talked. Lash knew his men were the best there were. They were Chiss, these humans had no chance of being as good as them. Lash knew they ran the show and respected them for humans but in the end they still were not Chiss and therefore inferior. The men finished their calculation and plotted the firing solution. They input the final numbers then looked at Lash.

"Very well gentlemen, I feel you will be impressed." Lash nodded again to his engineers in the lower pit then turned his gaze to the asteroid in the distance. The ship vibrated slightly then shook as the massive beam exploded from the prow mounted Neutron Matter Cannon. The beam instantly struck the asteroid converting the light energy to neutrons which struck the meteor with near infinite mass cracking the massive rock then shattering it into small fragments. The beam continued to energize the asteroid further breaking it down as the Neutron pairs continued to strike the debris. The bean extinguished almost instantly leaving a field of space debris the size of a mans fist or smaller where the massive twenty kilometer wide asteroid had once been. Lash turned to the Supreme Commander and spoke.

"Are you Impressed Triumvir?"

[member="Decimus Meridius"]

 

[Not Ordo]

[member="Lash"]

Decimus stood working his jaw then pursed his lips for a moment as he scanned the debris with his sharp eyes. It was incredible and he was not easily impressed. The Chiss had more than lived up to their reputation and thus solidified their worth in his mind.

"Send a scanning team to survey the debris field for radiation and hazards. I want a full report on my desk before anyone goes on liberty today." Decimus turned to the Chiss, "Give me a full explanation of how this is projected to effect ground targets during orbital strikes as well as how it effects deflector shields."

He stepped forward at his full height and met the Chiss's eyes.

"I want you and your crews to personally work on fitting this on our ships." he paused, "I am most pleased Admiral Lash. Most pleased."

 

[Joran Greth]

Greth took a drink of the ale he had poured before the test. He had to say the carnage he had just witnessed pleased him. The power of this new weapon was truly fear inducing. That is something he truly relished, he wanted fear. Fear from his enemies, fear from his troops, fear from anyone who ever whispered the name of the Imperium. This weapon would incite just this reaction in people once it had been used against a foe. The power of the Chiss weapon was just what Greth needed to solidify the Imperium in the galaxy. Greth stood and waited for Supreme Commander Meridius to finish his conversation with Admiral Lash. He walked over to the men and spoke.

"Admiral, a truly formidable weapon. I believe your place among our ranks has been well earned on your part. Welcome to the Imperium Admiral."

 

[Lash]

Lash nodded to the two Triumvir and awaited their departure. He knew his engineers would not fail. He knew the two humans would be impressed it was after all a Chiss design. He looked out once more on the debris field in the distance. It was clear how powerful the weapon system was. For now the three Procursators under his command were the only vessels fitted with the system. They would act as the prototypes for twelve more ships of the class as well as for the new Imperator X-class he and his engineers had been asked to join. The future of the Imperium would be one of strength and order, something Lash and his men sorely longed for.

"Captain, Launch a team to investigate the asteroid debris." Lash said as he turned to walk out of the bridge and return to his new Quarters aboard the Carnifex. HE had much to think about, his new home, his new people, and the new order he had found in the Imperium.

 

[Joran Greth]

Grand Moff Greth thought about what he had just seen aboard the Chiss ship. The power the Imperium wielded was growing stronger every day. The men and women of the Imperium were the best in the galaxy. If not they would not have been accepted. The Chiss were not human but more than proved their worth today and every day for that matter. He had known Lash for a long time now and more then once been impressed by him. His sound victory over Javin when they had faced off had been the tipping factor that opened up a spot for him and his people. They were truly a tool the IMperium would use in the future.

"Major, See that we get the admirals report once he submits it to the Supreme Commander. I am interested in what it says." said Joran to his aide. The two walked up the ramp of the shuttle and sat waiting for the craft to lift off the deck of the Carnifex and take them back to the Repulse. They had to finish the clean up in the Hoth system and make look like they were never there.

 

[Lash]

Hours later Lash sat in the command chair looking out at the asteroids in the distance. The rest of the fleet had now left the system with the reactor core on there way back to Imperium space. He and his group left behind to finish the last of the tests on the now decimated asteroid. The cannon had performed admirably and Lash had solidified his position among the hierarchy of the Imperium.

"Admiral, The last of the engineering teams had landed and the ship is secure for transit." said the Chiss captain to his left. The man handed a data pad to a lieutenant then sat in the chair beside Lash.

"On your order admiral." he said as he entered in his security code for his chairs console. Lash nodded then answered.

"Very well captain Konit, Take us home." The ship began to turn away from the asteroid belt and move off away into a clear trajectory for hyperspace jump. Lash closed his eyes for a moment contemplating the future of he and his men. The Imperium gave them purpose, Order, and a future. Something he had not truly felt since before his excommunication from the Ascendancy. His men deserved a home, a place they could feel free and have lives other than service and ship. They had been living in space for far to long. Now was the time to lay down roots and let his people have the lives they had surrendered in following him when he was forced out of the ascendancy.

Lash watched as the ship came to a stop, before him he saw the blackness of space. A place he knew as home. The imperium gave him options for life other than this. Life where his feet touched earth. Worlds to call home. Lash knew he could never truly be abated by a world other than his own. His life was this now. A life of service and order. He did not want his life, his punishment of be that of his people. He wanted more for them, yet he knew they did not feel the same. They cared not for the things Lash wanted for them. They were honorable and faithful to him. They followed him through hell and he knew they would continue to do so no matter what he wanted for them.

The darkness of space exploded into a brilliant display of blue and white as the Carnifex jumped to hyperspace. The destroyer having proved it mantle and worth now had one finale test. It had to prove its worth one more time against a man Lash had come to respect but not like. A man he had chased here to this new Imperium with intentions of killing. Now an ally and commander Deschart was the last test of the Carnifex. It was a test Lash had taken before but with lesser ship. A test he had passed then and intended to pass once again.