Board Thread:Warhammer 40k General Discussion/@comment-7699236-20150618150629/@comment-75.141.217.62-20151210190158

So, say I had a story idea where a battlefleet gets lost in the Warp and ends up spat out in a sector of space that's been cut off from the Imperium for 1,000 years. A warp event fractured the warp to laberythine channels of passable space. The sole survivor of the fleet, which had been dispatched to restore a world lost to Heresy, come across an Imperial planet that due to a local microbe has lost the Y chromosome. They've managed to perpetuate the species with some lost technology and a space station of protected males. However, the protagonist, an imperial governor, learns this 'fractured space', with narrow and twisting passable areas of warp, is full of all kinds of hostiles.

Long story short, the world worships the Mother of Mankind, the Empress. If that wasn't shocking (and dangerous) enough...

"Father Eluchard, how can you be so calm about this?  They think the Emperor is a woman!  A. Woman!  I know Lords who would burn this world to a cinder for that statement!"

"And should this world be returned to the Empire as a whole, that very well may happen, Govenor.  But there are worlds who believe the Emperor is their primary star, or the king of the spirit beasts.  In fact, their mistake of gender has happened before on severed worlds where isolation brings drift from his true word.  What matters is that they accept the Emperor, whatever his form, as the ultimate authority, that his power is absolute, and that they recognize your authority through him."

"I just thought you'd be more... something."

"Oh I think it a shame, but worse would be to waste the opportunity to correct this world and return it to the fold." The Eccliarch chuckled, "There's a time for fire and sword, believe me.  And if such a time comes, you will find me much more... something.  But for this world, a more patient hand is needed to correct their mistakes.  In the mean time, you have much more pressing concerns." Heavy footfalls on the deckplates announced the arrival of space marines. Only power armor walked like that. The father rose with a generous smile as the door hissed open. "Greetings noble warriors of the Emperor.  I thank you for--"  He cut short as if he'd miraculously swallowed his tongue, eyes bulging.

Govenor Maximillian Alexander could sympathize. The blue black powerarmor before him put the 'breast' back in breastplate.

The father, however, pointed a finger at the trio of blue black and silver space marines and cried out, "Those are not Astartes!"

Instantly, two of the three drew their bolters. They were an odd design. Longer and leaner than the usual storm bolter. "Are you certain now is the time for fire and sword, father?" the Governor asked lightly, stepping in front of the apoplectic priest, "Ladies, it is an honor to meet such... er..." He faltered as the third loomed over him. These weren't just jumped up sisters of battle. Each was at least eight feet tall.

"We are the Fangs of the Mother of all Humankind!  We are her vengeful claws!  We are her eldest daughters.  We are not 'ladies'.  Those you will find on the world below." She put a fist to her chest. "We are the Void Panthers.  Is this understood?"

He stared up at her, and clapsed his hands behind his back. "Is it customary for warriors of the God of Mankind to draw weapons in the presense of his deligated servants?" he asked with a frown.

"We have yet to see proof of your claims," the leader replied. "If they are false, we shall kill all of you for your perfidity."

"Of course.  And rightly so.  Father." He said, gesturing that the elder man should present his writ of authority. The priest simply stared in shock. "Father Eluchard!" he snapped, and broke him out of his reverie. "The space marine wishes to see the Emperor's authority." If things were going to be awkward, then let them be awkward all around.

The old man coughed and walked to the chest, withdrawing the scroll. The nanovellium materiel, a thousand times stronger and more resillient than mere paper, had not just words of authority from the Lords of Terra, but the vital seals of the Adminitratum, which when properly analyzed, would prove his credentials. Of course, if they rejected them then this sector was lost to heresy, but he could hope and pray to the God Emperor that this would all make sense.

"For a thousand years, silence.  For a thousand years, so many feared we were all that remained of the Empire.  I knew this day would come, however.  That our faith would be rewarded and vindicated!" she said, and then reached up and removed her helmet. Short blue hair and fierce blue eyes met his as the hard faced woman knelt before him. Instantly, the pair holstered their bolters and knelt as well. "I, Highmother Athena Aldathia, place our chapter at your command, Govenor."

"Well... that's nice..." he replied evenly.

---

"This is a blasphemy.  An outrage.  I can not believe that this sector would commit such an atrocity!" Elucard said as he paced back and forth. Athena, having dismissed her subordinates, stood at ease, watching the Eccliarch as one might watch a crazy uncle at a banquet. Maximillian had plenty of familiarity with the expression.

"You were so sanguine about them thinking the God Emperor a Woman.  Why does this outrage you so?" Maximillian asked with a wry smile.

"How can you ask that?" he blurted, gesturing at her. "They have perverted the flesh of the God Emperor!  How can this not be the work of ruinous chaos?!"

"Take care, Father," Athena warned. "Our records acknowledge the God Emperor, but the modification to his gene seed was not done lightly.  As I said, when this sector was severed from the Empire, many feared the Empire as a whole had been annihilated.  Chaos introduced the Venus Microbe to Andalthis to decimate with disease that which they could not take with force.  Within a year, ninty nine percent of the male population was sterilized or dead.  Were we to simply die and hand over an Imperial world to the ruinous powers?"

"It would be better than what you have done," the father said sternly.

"And so some argued a thousand years ago, but we refused.  If we were the last of the Empire, we would do what we had to in order to maintain the Emperor's word as long as possible.  With the aid of the Myrrmadonian Tech Priests, and the sacrifice of over a million volunteers, the gene implants were adapted and altered to function within women.  The transition was not perfect, but it was also not the result of ruinous mutation."

"So you claim," Elucard glowered. "The changes you have made, however, will have dire repercussions when this sector is reunited with the Empire."

Athena smiled and bowed her head. "Should the Emperor demand it, we will let our chapters end and be stricken from the records.  Our gene seed will be destroyed.  The Void Panthers seek only to protect the Imperium from its foes."

"How many chapters are in this sector?" Maximillian asked curiously, wondering just what he had to work with.

"Four, govenor.  The Void Panthers work in this system primarily in space to keep what little trade we have flowing and to prevent the worlds of Helmsreach, Higharc, and Lamminus V from being cut off.  The Wild Tigers are engaged with the orks on Helmsreach.  The Ebon Lionesses defend Higharc from Chaos.  And the Silver Cats keep Lammius V secure from Xeno intruders, the Khul."

"Silver Cats?" Maximillian couldn't help but smile at the name.

"Do not under estimate them simply for their name.  They are worthy of the respect of any Astartes.  A lone Silver Cat will harry and terminate an entire Khul squadron over years if need be, with no support or resupply.  They've kept the enemy occupied and disorganized for centuries."

Ah well, just some brain drippings.