Lyre says, “You would all dismiss my expertise and oppose me?”

“No, Inquisitor,” says Abbisine. “We do not oppose you, nor will we be blindly led to slaughter. I agree with Trader Winterscale. Magos Issengrund is a character worthy of our suspicion. The last time an individual with so much potential power on their hands appeared within the Imperium we ended up with Goge Vandire and the Age of Apostasy.”

That bitch! I can’t believe she just compared me to the most hated megalomaniac in a galaxy full of them. I dare argue that Goge Vandire is more hated than Abbadon the Despoiler!

Thalk slumps slightly in his chair. “I, too, have my doubts about Magos Issengrund. Inquisitor Hamiz is correct that he is too good to be true. The history of our great Imperium is littered with similar stories where some great hope came to us, only to lead to doom. It is equally filled with people and technologies that could have saved us that were destroyed due to suspicion or suspicious circumstances.

“As the good Logis will no doubt tell us, it is vital that we focus on what we do know, and what we can do about it. Forget for a moment that Magos Issengrund might spark a schism, or be a Warp entity. Do we have the means to dispose of him? We would only get one chance.”

Thalk taps his finger against the table a few times then continues, “To maximise success we would have to wait and see if he can actually deliver on his promise of turning Inquisitor Horthstein or Champion Verlin into a Blessed Imperial Hero. Only then would we have an idea of the firepower required to terminate the Magos should it prove necessary. Even then, it is not something the Navy can afford to interfere in. The Adeptus Mechanicus would not take kindly to one of their own being targeted and Battlefleet Koronus would suffer for it.”

Abbisine says, “It would have to be sanctioned. There are three ways this could be played. I could try and argue that Magos Issengrund is using his resources irresponsibly, handing out knowledge and dangerous technology, or wasting archeotech. This would not be received well as even a shallow investigation would prove otherwise. I could also argue that he is using xenos tech and is a heretek. This has more weight.

“Unfortunately, not only is he a Rogue Trader and shielded from such accusations to some degree, but he used his knowledge to Improve Inquisitor Hamiz’s fleet. This makes it look like the Inquisition has endorsed Magos Issengrund’s use of xenotech. A masterful move, I might add. It also erodes Inquisitor Hamiz’s claims that Magos Issengrund is trying to make friends in the selfless manner Hamiz implies.”

I cackle. I never even thought of that! How serendipitous.

Abbisine drones on, “Converting xenos to the Cult Mechanicus is not against our tenets. An accusation that Magos Issengrund is allowing xenos to learn the workings of Imperial Technology would permit me to brand him as a traitor to humanity, however. I did look into this during my inquiries. Chapter Master Lir Brakin actually chased me down to tell me that had already investigated the accusation of xenos cooperation and given his approval to whatever plans Magos Issengrund has for the xenos and did so while a Custodes was present.”

“See what I mean?” says Calligos. “We’re not going to out smart him. Not when Magos Issengrund can give out gifts that are too valuable to refuse and force us to play nice. That only leaves skulduggery of our own.

“We know that Magos Issengrund can solo an Ork Warboss and the only people who have a chance of matching him in this system are the Space Marines and Logis Vakul’s story suggests that they would not help us. Additionally, Magos Issengrund has already sent his medicae and cybernetics specialists to the Astartes to recover the marines entombed in their dreadnaughts.

“They have already had some success and, for the first time in almost ten thousand years, Space Marines are stepping out of their sarcophagi with tears in their eyes. He also sold the Astartes a vast amount of crusade era equipment, which also backs up Logis Vakul’s theory of Magos Issengrund’s origins and he has agreed to build the Astartes many void ships.

“That should answer the Vice-Admiral’s question. None of us here can kill him and be absolutely sure we got him. We know he can teleport. I’ve even heard rumours he bested Inquisitor Hamiz’s assassin without even trying, then repaired the Inquisitor’s gellar fields. Technology that meant Inquisitor Hamiz could actually get here before the Warp became too tempestuous. Even when you spit in his face, Inquisitor, Magos Issengrund has been generous to you and your Ordo Xenos.”

“Exactly!” says Lyre. “He doesn’t need to play nice, yet he does. It’s almost like he’s afraid of the Inquisition. Most would call that good sense. A person with Magos Issengrund’s resources? Groxshit. He didn’t even bother with a bunch of excuses and endless delays. I never should have accepted his poisoned gifts.”

Wow, Lyre really got that wrong. I am afraid of the Inquisition. They have a lot of power, answer to no one, and take ‘by any means necessary’ to its most gruesome extremes. He’s literally proving my point the more vitriol he spouts.

Thalk says, “It’s time to move on lest we end up talking in circles. Are there any specific points of influence that are of significant concern?”

“I am unsure if Magos Issengrund is to blame for this particular issue,” says Abbisine. “I suspect his wife, Chief Purser Brigid Issengrund, is responsible, so I shall refer to it as a scheme of the Stellar Fleet as a whole. Their bank is exceptionally dangerous and arguably their best innovation.”

“Yes, that does make sense,” mutters Calligos. “Damn that’s subtle.”

“How could their little monopoly possibly concern us?” says Lyre. “Every fleet and planet has a scrip or credit. Only Throne Gelts, Munitorum Scrip, and Navy Promissory Notes actually matter in this region. All of those pale in significance to raw materials, food, and manufactured goods.”

Abbsine sighs, “Because Magos Issengrund has created a universal currency based on energy that quantifies a unit of work, regardless of if it comes from flesh or machine. He has turned the Motive Force into cash.

“The reason no one has dared do so before is because it cheapens the Adeptus Mechanicus’ spiritual beliefs and no one was crazy enough to try. At the same time, it’s measurable, repeatable, and universal application is elegant and efficient. It is everything that the Mechanicus stands for. A universal force as a measure of exchange? One could argue that every trade becomes either an act of faith or one of heresy.

“There are other ramifications as well. We often exclaim that our lives are the Emperor’s currency and that only he can spend them. Well, Aldrich Issengrund just slapped a big label on what they’re worth down to the watt, not some vague promise of payment, bushel of grain, or other fiat currency. There will be much blood and oil shed once this gets out.”

Stolen novel; please report.

Oh come on! How unreasonable can a person be? I just wanted a currency that everyone can understand, to facilitate trade across the galaxy and actually unify the Imperium through a more humane currency than blood and iron. How is that heresy? Follow current novels on novel·fire.net

Damn the Imperials and their Byzantine faiths!

“It gets worse,” says Callgios. “Magos Issengrund has also quantified the value of a Favour, the primary currency of the upper echelons of the Imperium. His Stellar Requisition Credits are based on the value of an average Sword-Class frigate. This value can even be converted into bytes if you can count the number of zeros without going cross-eyed.

“SRC’s value is also decided by a man who has advanced Servitors, skilled artisans, and possibly more Standard Template Constructors than most Forge Worlds. It would take considerable effort to out compete Magos Issengrund on the value of an SRC, meaning anyone else who creates SRC or a similar currency is going to lose resources.

“Everyone knows that while you might pay for a ship in Thrones, you buy it with a favour, odd though that sounds. It doesn’t matter if you are a Rogue Trader, Admiral, Forge Master, or Governor. A currency like this is incredibly convenient to use. All those who come for a void ship, or to sell scrap, are going to do so with SRC and Bytes because that’s the only exchange Magos Issengrund accepts.

“A huge number of people are going to want his superior vessels and other trade goods. That bank will dominate the Koronus Expanse by the end of the millennium. There will be much praise for Magos Issengrund facilitating easier trade and he will be able to track and collate every single transaction, possibly linked by psychic servitor between different branches.

“Once his bank is established, he’ll have an excellent idea of what people are planning and what they need, letting him out compete others because he’ll be way ahead of the trends and can stockpile the correct resources in advance, or invest in ventures at a scale few others can manage. So long as the Adeptus Mechanicus don’t label the man who brings them an STC a heretic,” Calligos laughs, sounding slightly unhinged, “letting that bank take root would be handing Aldrich Issengrund the keys to the Koronus Expanse. From there it will slowly spread to neighbouring sectors.”

Brigid is going to be unhappy that her grand scheme was uncovered so quickly. At least they won’t find our astropath relays as I can make as many as I like now that I can clone psyker flesh. Not only that, I can bring foreign Tech-Priests into the bank, giving the high ranking Mechanicus members a personal stake in the Stellar Fleet Bank and thus far more accepting of it. Maybe. I really hope Abbisine is wrong about an energy currency being heresy.

Either way, my currency won’t spread quickly or without an ungodly amount of sabotage from other parties. It will, however, be really hard to stop completely. Once the bank is well known, I could even use establishing one in a system as a way to gain soft power and create prestige for myself and my allies.

Brigid is using an ancient and well known playbook. I am certain that there will be many copy cats if the Stellar Fleet Bank proves successful. So long as I can create and control my own astropath relays and maintain the first mover advantage, I am confident that it will be the Stellar Fleet Bank that prevails. I suspect that only a major Forge World, Navigator House, Rogue Trader, or the High Lords of Terra would have the connections and resources to compete.

Abbisine raps her knuckles on the table, “I will reiterate, Magos Issengrund’s technology is merely a ‘vessel’ for his schemes. If you all take nothing else away from this meeting except that terrible pun, let it be that. As Trader Winterscale already pointed out, the Lathes cannot and will not support undermining Magos Issengrund.

“Were it discovered that we sought to sabotage a Magos who was travelling to sell an STC to us, our reputation would never recover. We have already covered the logic and outcomes of potential attacks. They were not in our favour. The bank is dangerous. It was worth discussing. It’s not as important as an STC. To my shame, I must acknowledge that I lost this game before I was even dispatched to SR-651.”

There is a brief moment of silence.

“I’m not going to fight a man who has done me no wrong and is so obviously favoured by the Emperor,” says Calligos, fiddling with a ring on his finger. “I stand to profit from all that he does. I do not fear his monetary schemes as I have no doubt I can simply buy financial data so long as I remain on good terms, to deal with him in good faith.”

“What then, is your final verdict, Vice-Admiral,” says Lyre, practically spitting the words out.

“I see little need for action. I will get my hands on some of these SRC in a few days for a minor favour. Why must I oppose Magos when his void ships are going to end up with me? If that falls through, I know the location of plenty of wrecks I can tow to the Yards.

“I have Magos Issengrund’s children as my junior officers. All I have to do is train them as I agreed, ensure that they make friends and connections, then wait for the favours to roll in. As we discussed, favours mean void ships and little else matters to me. Magos Issengrund’s bank will not affect the Imperial Navy. There is no guarantee that the scenario Logis Vakul and Trader Winterscale have proposed will come to pass. It certainly isn’t something I have to worry about in my lifetime or that of many, many of my replacements, nor do I care if he brings order and prosperity to the Koronus Expanse. It would make my job easier.

“Should the Magos prove false and be a Warp entity or other horror, I need do nothing. He has Astartes bodyguards. The Astartes will kill Magos Issengrund themselves if they are betrayed. I can even be confident of the Bargest’s loyalty, for it was Inquisitor Hamiz that exonerated them of any taint.”

Lyre tuts.

Thalk ignores Lyre and continues, “I have witnessed the birth of a Saint! Magos Issengrund is currently risking his life to fight abominations while we debate his loyalty! Morale, crew, and matériel reserves are the highest they have been in over a decade! We have discussed ships that could pull the Navy out of its doldrums by the bootstraps!

“Who cares if his methods and reasons are opaque? Every man and woman of power has their schemes to advance themselves. It’s how we all ended in our positions, sitting at this table discussing Magos Issengrund in the first place. The Emperor helps those who help themselves, and I fully intend to help myself to Magos Issengrunds resources. The Imperial Navy does not need permission from the Inquisition to do its job.”

Lyre abruptly stands up, his chair scraping across the plasteel floor, “It seems that, once again, it is up to the Inquisition to protect the Imperium and its citizens from themselves. Your arguments might sound reasonable, but this is exactly how Warp entities and other malicious actors infiltrate our Empire. There is no Hope, no Glory, only Death!” Lyre slams his palm into the table as he says ‘death’. “When you are done deceiving yourselves,” Lyre takes a deep, calming breath, then continues in almost a whisper, “I will remind you all of the one thing we could agree on. Magos Issengrund is guilty.”

With that proclamation, or even mentioning what I might be actually guilty of, Lyre exits the room with a vigorous stride. I cut the recording and gently massage my temples.

I have absolutely no clue what Lyre is after, or if he even believes the nonsense he’s spewing. I’m glad that Calligos, Thalk, and Abbisine were not swayed by his words. Calligos’s supposed enlightenment was a great surprise. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that I just watched a play. Those four swapped information and expressed their stances. I am certain that I witnessed a portion of truth. These canny individuals true feelings and objectives, however? That’s much trickier.

My Rapid Decision Engine is good at helping me cold read people, giving me percentages for how likely it is that someone is being honest, if they’re hiding something, and taking known information about the individual to give me the top three potential motives and rating them.

The problem is, I don’t have that much data on these twits. Calligos is known to be unstable, you never know what might set off an Imperial Tech-Priest, Thalk was amused by a private joke the whole way through, and Lyre was performing for drama class.

A seventy percent chance of being truthful when there’s a ninety percent rating of hiding something that I don’t have the data to guess at, just isn’t enough for me to base my strategy on. Normally I would read their emotions to fill in the gaps, but I can’t do that from a recording. I can only make my choices based on each individual’s public stance.

No wonder Lyre is always so stressed!