Chapter Text
If I had learned anything in my twenty years of life, it was that when Palatine Rhianella paced, you should pray to the God-Emperor, for you were surely in danger. Palatine was the youngest of her rank in the Order of the Sanctified Rose and after her accession, was tasked with training the Novice Sisters at our home convent on Alutine.
Alutine was an interesting planet with a major hive city towards the northern pole of the world as its capital, while the religious heart of the planet was in the southern half at what was once the beachhead for the holy warriors of the Bloody Rose who freed the world of its Xenos taint. We resided in the convent that the daughters of Mina had established, just outside of Angel’s Landing, where the hive city petered out and the agri fields that cut the world in half began.
This led to an interesting blend of people on the planet, represented by the three Sisters and I, as we stood before our pacing superior. I was an orphan from Angel’s Landing, where the majority of the population worked either in the many temples and churches or with the pilgrims that came to see them. My pious worship at the temples as a hungry and scared child had attracted the attention of the Sisters who would occasionally make their presence felt by helping the Arbites on their patrol routes.
Sister Sopha stood next to me, tallest of the four, shifting restlessly from foot to foot. She was built with strength in mind it seemed as I knew from many training exercises against the girl that she was made of hard muscle and taut sinew. Her build and her tan that stood out from her dyed white hair made it clear she had come from the fields. She had little patience for any strategy or talking, preferring to charge her way in like a dumb grox. She barely met the bare requirements of her studies and prayers.
The next Sister in our small lineup was two years younger than me and Sopha, but had somehow managed to be placed in our squad. Where I was lithe, and Sopha was muscular, Venus was… shaped like any number of joy girls in the capital city from where she came. She almost looked like a proper Sister in her armor, with her well-maintained bob of white hair, that somehow always had more volume and shine than anyone else’s hair, and a small fleur-de-lye under her eye, which stood out from her pale hiver skin. Yet I wasn’t fooled as I knew how many tattoos were under her armor, signs of her times in the hives underbelly. I had noticed many had been either removed and replaced, or merely covered with devotional tattoos. Her look was also somewhat ruined by the black eye she was sporting, though her grin made it clear how proud she was of it.
The last of our number was the only one wearing a helmet. In front of the Palatine, this seemed rude at best, blatantly disrespectful at worst. She stood at perfect parade rest, not seeming to move in the slightest. Sister Circe was always quiet and only took her helmet off for food or prayer. This surprised many as she had a stunning beauty, with striking green eyes and a flawless complexion that many nobles would strive for with hundreds of thrones of products. From what I had seen, she must have been from off-world as she looked nothing like any native I had seen. Many wondered why the drill abbess’ and the Palatine, in particular, were so lenient with letting her wear a helmet during even drills where everyone was required to not wear one. She was at the top of the class when it came to scripture recall and identification, muttering them at all times even during the rare amounts of leisure time we had. Yet her temper was legendary, any comment about her looks, or talk of men set her off without fail.
Our instructor paused in front of us. She had shortly cut brown hair, a show of her time with the Order as much as a choice as only veteran Sisters could choose their hair color and style. Her armor was like ours but obviously tailored to be more utilitarian, primarily silver with the corset being lavender talberd between her legs while the piece that flowed behind her was a robins egg blue. Bronze highlights were all over her armor, but unlike ours, she did not have sleeves or gloves for her arms, only silver and lavender vambraces. She was known for being one of the fiercest unarmed fighters in the Order, but with a large power sword on her hip she was lethal. She rubbed the bridge of her nose as she stopped.
“So, who would like to explain how I have not one, not two, but four Sisters who are in need of disciplinary action?” Before anyone could answer the obviously rhetorical question, she continued. “And all from the same squad!” She scooped up her dataslate and punched a few runes much harder than the priests would have liked.
“Sylvia, you criticized the actions taken by our parent Order at the Battle of Angels Landing?” She glared at me as I swallowed.
“Simple tactics could have led to fewer losses of life among the subjugated peoples of the planet.” I told her making her shake her head.
“I’m guessing you didn’t ask why they didn’t do that but claimed they were inept for not doing so?” Sopha chimed in happily to answer her.
“I believe her words were uncaring for the lives of the Emperor’s servants.” I glared daggers at the taller girl who smiled smugly.
“You bit…”
“Hold your tongue both of you!” She snapped. “You need to learn how to discuss strategy without spitting on the heroes of the past if you ever wish to be taken seriously.” She then turned to Sopha. “And you, falling asleep during prayers? Again?” The bigger girl looked sheepish, as her distraction failed to divert the older woman’s wrath. “And you two? The report was sparse, what started the altercation?”
“This hivescum slut was trying to seduce the delegation of guardsman!” Circe proclaimed as the hiver in question rounded on her.
“It was innocent flirting you prudish, ice drake! You’re just jealous that men like me better!” They turned to go to blows but instead they both yelped as they both fell flat on their backs, looking confused at how the Palatine had materialized and swept both of their legs. Sopha and I tried to hold back our laughs as Rhianella fixed us with a death glare.
“I will not stand for Sisters fighting amongst themselves!” She roared as we all shrank back, as we had never seen her lose her temper like this off the battlefield before. “You’re all this close to becoming the youngest damned Repentia in the Order if you don’t all straighten out!” We all were surprised by this and looked at her shocked. “Get up.” She told the two stunned Sisters on the ground before putting her head in her hands. We formed back up as she walked behind her desk and looked at a dataslate on her desk.
“Look, your Sister Superior has already been requesting you all to be moved to your own squad.” She sighed.
“But our doctrine is built around ten woman squads.” I pointed out making her shake her head.
“She believes that her and five sisters that are disciplined and work as a team is a superior force than her current team with all of the infighting you all cause.” I blinked rapidly at this. She wanted to get rid of us? We were that much of a detriment? “And currently? I can’t disagree with her. You are all so skilled, but you’re all held back by your weaknesses. However, I don’t want to see all of your potential wasted…” She admitted looking pained at the thought. “So, against my better judgment, I’m going to give you all one last chance.”
“We will accept any mission you give us Ma’am.” Sopha said quickly. She finally seemed to be realizing the situation we were in. “We shall fight into the depths of the Rift if that’s what you ask.”
“Good. Though it is nothing so difficult.” She nodded as she crossed her arms. “I have been requested for a small squad of Sisters by the local Arbites.” We all quickly traded glances. It was common knowledge that patrols were usually given to veteran squads as their excellence and strong faith would bolster the citizen’s morale and faith. “I know this usually a task for proven Sisters, yet this is no normal route to parade across. And as I lack an active battlefield to throw you into, a mission into the slums of the underbelly is the best I can do to give you the crucible of fire that most strengthen their squads in.” She explained. “And as a special treat, you will be going there in a rhino.” We all groaned at this, as we knew while the city was close as the crow flies, the undercity was a tangled mess of roads and poor maintenance led to many of these roads being prone to being impassible at the worst times. This meant that we would be cooped up in the transport for hours on end. “The Arbites believe that some radicals have twisted their beliefs past what is accepted by the church. Your job is to find any of these fanatics and purge them before their twisted image of the God-Emperor spreads into the populace.”
“Sounds simple enough.” I nodded but the Palatine shook her head.
“I remember when I was naive enough to think that…” She muttered to the ceiling. “Nothing is ever as easy as it seems Sisters. Remember that, and you might just survive long enough to become Celestains.”
“And who will be in charge Ma’am?” Sopha asked making me glare at the bulky girl.
“It’s obvious that it’s…” I started.
“No!” Rhianella snapped rubbing her nose. “I already need to see a hosplitaller after this conversation so I am in no mood for your squabbles. Sopha and Sylvia, you may both take the equipment afforded to a Superior, but for this mission, you two will share command. Neither of you has any kind of command over each other, so you will have to work together, got it?” She asked crossing her arms and glaring at us.
“Understood Palatine.” We both replied meekly.
“Uh, Palatine…” Venus started but was cut off.
“Yes, you can take a flamer or storm bolter, but I will not be risking a melta on your mission.”
“Ma’am permission to speak?” Circe prompted as I saw the vein on the side of the older Sisters’ head start to pulse.
“You may take one of the novice Simulacrums, now get out of my office before I change my damn mind!” She kept her voice low but sharp before hurling a dataslate at me, which I just managed to catch.
“Yes Ma’am!” We needed no encouragement and rushed from the room, and as the door closed we heard muted cursing and the sound of a target dummy getting thrashed.
“So that’s why that dummy was in there…” Venus muttered as I activated the dataslate.
“Get any kit you need from your bunks, and meet at the armory in ten!” Sopha ordered and the other two were quick to run off. “Hey, didn’t you hear me?” She asked with a glare.
“First of all, I already have my kit. Secondly, I am reading up on our mission so we can get the appropriate weapons for the job.” I told her looking up at her, refusing to be intimidated by her getting so close. “Thirdly, you don’t order me.” I told her.
“Well, while you’re reading I was getting our squad ready to move out!” She argued.
“Yes, and notice how I didn’t say that was a bad idea, just that you don’t order me specifically.” I told her coldly. “Now, do you have kit to retrieve?” She glowered at me for a moment longer.
“Yes.” She admitted.
“Then, I suggest you take your own advice, the clock is ticking after all.” I grinned as she turned to run. Granted I could probably use to grab a couple more rations, but I decided against it, as I’d prefer to bask in my victory as I headed to the armory.