‘Hailing Dauntless-class cruiser, designate Unbroken Vow,’ it says. ‘This is watch officer first class Topher Gallion of defence post Lux Terminalia. Make full-stop, and resubmit ident-codes immediately.’

Okash frowns. ‘Do as they say,’ he says.

The bridge crew set to slowing the Vow. The stress of it makes the ship’s bones creak. I am certain that I hear the armaglass at my back flex.

‘How did we miss them?’ Okash asks his bridge crew.

The helm officer shakes his head. That, too, is a judder. ‘A-apologies, shipmaster,’ he says. ‘The d-debris field concealed their signature.’

‘Are they running out their guns?’ Okash asks.

The helm officer nods. ‘Aye, s-sir.’

Okash looks to his vox-officer. ‘Run a second check on their ident-codes, and then open the return link, but maintain the encryption.’

She nods, and sets about rechecking the codes.

‘I beg forgiveness, Lux Terminalia,’ Okash says. ‘But I fail to see the need for such hostility.’

There is another crackle. Another hiss.

‘I’m afraid we do see the need, shipmaster. Since the opening of the Great Rift, the enemy have come over and over again, seeking to desecrate this place. It has cost us everything just to keep them from reaching the surface.’

The vox-officer turns in her seat and mouths the word clear at Okash. It does nothing to dispel his frown.

‘But we are not your enemy. We have been sent here on a sacred duty to recover the Shield of Saint Katherine. Our mission is ordained by the Holy Synod, and the Convent Prioris. By the God-Emperor, Himself.’

The vox-link hisses for a long moment, but Gallion’s voice does not return. He does not answer. Okash stands from his throne.

‘Arm the lances,’ he says to his bridge crew.

‘We cannot fire on them,’ Elivia says, her voice clear and cold. ‘They are people of the faith.’

‘I know, Canoness,’ Okash says. His pale skin is waxen under the bridge lumens. ‘With the God-Emperor’s grace, I won’t have to.’

He looks again to his crew. ‘Arm the lances.’

The helm officer turns, trailing cables. ‘We w-will have to siphon power f-from the forward shields, sir.’

‘Do it,’ Okash replies.

The helm officer turns back to his station, and does as he’s told.

‘Okash,’ Ravara says. ‘This is a risk.’

The shipmaster looks at her from the command dais, his dark eyes even more so under the harsh light.

‘I beg forgiveness, inquisitor, but I swore that I would get you to the surface, no matter the cost.’ He looks to his helm officer. ‘Finalise a targeting solution on the Lux Terminalia, but do not fire until I say. Until we must.’

I cannot stand by any more. I start to protest, only to be cut off by a squall of vox as Gallion’s voice returns.

‘You are here to seek the Shield of Saint Katherine,’ he says. ‘Is that what you said?’

‘That is what I said,’ Okash replies.