Part 4

The Red Redemption
The sounds swiftly resolved into a crowd of fleeing humanity, from their appearance nothing more than common citizens of Port Wander, some armed, most not, many of those who had weapons were attempting to act as a rear guard for the crowd, turning and firing back at an as yet unseen enemy, but most just ran.

The House Krin Enforcers quickly opened up on the crowd, mercilessly gunning down dozens. Bale was appalled. “Stop firing! Just take cover and let them pass!” He was ignored as the Enforcers continued their slaughter, the Rogue Trader's party took cover and attempted to take stock of the situation. The pursuers eventually resolved into a number of figures, most hardly better off looking than the people they killed, but certainly better armed, accompanied by a number of robed individuals carrying poles topped with the Imperial double headed eagle.

The Imperium of Man is said to stretch over a billion worlds, and every person of those worlds owes allegiance and worship to the God-Emperor of mankind, who for ten thousand years has guided humanity from the Golden Throne on Terra. While they all worship the same Emperor, the details are as varied as the people of the Imperium, yet the eagle topped staff is among the most common symbols of the church.

For some reason, the Eccleisarchy of Port Wander were gunning down civilians, and House Krin was helping them. Bale itched to order his men to open fire, on the “priests” the enforcers, or both, but did not know the full situation, so remained silent, thinking, as the two aggressors finished off the crowd.

That indecision would come to haunt him later he knew, but for now there was nothing to be done about it.

The line of Frateris Militia advanced, their priests behind them, the Krin Enforcers didn't seem concerned and the House Krin Emmissary strode forward and gave a cordial greeting.

“Greetings to you, oh brothers of the Red Redemption.”

From the Rogue Trader lines, Rasputina waved in a friendly manner. Bale quickly whispered, “Don't wave at the Emperor botherers, especially if you have visible mutations.” The Navigators hand swiftly came down.

“House Krin passes through this territory, we have no interest in your conflict” he continued.”

A balding priest in a tattered robe, apparently the leader, stepped forward, “Greetings to House Krin, your forces are protected by treaty, but the Red Redemption has made no treaty with... Rogue Traders.” He turned to Bale “Who be ye?”

Bale whispered to his group “Stay quiet and try not to piss of the priests, I'll see if I can talk us out of this.”

“I am Issaac Bale of house Bale, these are my crew and guards, we are on the way to business dealings with House Krin when we were interrupted by... whatever this is.”

The priest smirked. "This is justice, Fallen One. Not that I would trust thee to know it. Everyone has business with House Krin. The Red Redemption has not signed a treaty with thee. If ye wish to pass through our sacred ground, tribute must be made to the Emperor. What is thy tribute, Fallen One?"

“What an excellent question, what tributes does the Red Redemption accept in the Emperors name?”

Rasputina whispered over the microbead “what do priests like? Wine?”

Gaetan contributed “New robes perhaps”

“Little boys.” Came the suggestion from Pilot Swarznedruber

There was silence as the party contemplated this.

"A very good question!" crows the priest. "Seldom are we asked. It is by the Emperor's mercy, nay, his RIGHTEOUSNESS, that we are delivered from evil. And yet, even He requires souls. The forfeiture of that most sacred property so that His Light can shine through the Galaxy. Tis only fitting that such a tribute be made to the Red Redemption. A Rogue Trader such as yourself must have thousands of idle hands aboard your ship. Give to us these wayward hands, and we will put them to the Emperor's work."

“I knew it was little boys.”

“Shut up” whispered Bale "You are correct in your guess priest, our ship does have thousands of souls aboard who are even now being taken to a world in the Expanse to do penance for their sins, I would love to allow them to serve it here with you instead, but to do so would mean breaking a contract, and yes, although contracts are meaningless in the Emperor's eyes if they impede the goals of the righteous, my house must maintain a reputation or it will be unable to serve His cause effectively."

"I say this not to tell you no, but to say that I can' say yes without other guarantees."

The priest nodded theatrically "Expansion of the Emperor's domain is a most worthy cause, Lord-Captain. But an even worthier cause is the decimation of His enemies. If hands are needed, then perhaps the plowshares may be plucked out of the dirt and turned into swords. What weapons do you offer the Red Redemption?"

Eric “Sugar Glider” Swarznedruber was a surprisingly moral sort, and watching the slaughter in the trade processional hurt him deeply, his own experiences with priests both during and after his extended ordeal on the hulk of Innocent Blood, his old posting, meant that restraint was hard to come by in this situation, much harder than his captain knew.

“I've seen what you do with weapons!” He shouted, pulling his gun and moving towards the priest, “So I will offer you this, one bullet, right now, in your head, or you let us pass right now.”

Bale cursed, the priest flinched, for a moment the situation balanced on a knifes edge. Then the Krin emissary spoke. "That is enough. You are harassing esteemed guests and I will not have this. If the Red Redemption wishes to continue receiving material aid from House Krin, you will allow us to pass this instant."

The priest's face puckered like a lemon, but no one moved. "The Inquisition will hear of this."

The Frateris Militia withdrew enough for the party to pass, and with the Krin enforcers leading the way, they left the Red Redemption in the corpse strewn trading hall.

“I knew we should have teleported.”