Anibeli's POV

  The convoy slid out of the warp relatively smoothly. She noted Transport 01 almost tumbled on exit. It regained control, but it was rougher then she had hoped.

  "Captain, sensors active and pinging unknown ship 72 degrees by -40 degrees off Port at range."

  "Transport 01 reports sabotage to critical systems. She can't jump away."

  "Not even foreplay and dinner before we get fucked..." Anibeli muttered. "All ships, prepare for immediate engagement. Order Transport 01 to full burn away on heading 081/220. Hail the unknown ship, and order Repentance to begin intercept course off their port side." She ordered.

  Their ships began speeding up, and as they approached, their target became more clear, to no one's relief.

  "Captain, ship is classified as an Endeavour Class." Came the call.

  Anibeli blanched slightly. A light cruiser. A rather nasty one too. She was large, with the guns to match a full cruiser at close range. She also had a torpedo silo to make her life difficult.

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  Their saving grace was that she was slow and, compared to her, ponderous. This gave her some room to maneuver, and calmed her, if only by a bit.

  "Response on the hail?"

  "None lord Captain. Shall I req- Wait, our hail is going through. Vid is popping up now Captain."

  Anibeli waited a moment, but the screen was just black and noiseless. She spoke up.

  "This is Lord Captain Anibeli Berekel, of house Berekel. State your intent and cut forward thrust. This is your first and final warning." She stated.

  The blackness on screen churned, and a deep rumbling chuckle sounded out through the bridge. It was unnatural, wrong. Inhuman.

  "Oh? A... warning? Hmmmm? No. I am Jekeiro of the First. Yield or die, mortals. Or don't. That would be more... FUN."

  Anibeli paused. She had never heard one, but grandfather had told her of his very limited experience with space marines. How they were loyal to the imperium without fault. How they were the emperors divine will made manifest.

  But she was not some peasant, ignorant of everything beyond themselves. She was Heir to House Berekel, Void Captain of a ship by grace of the Golden Throne. She knew things were never so simple.

  "State your allegiance, Space Marine. You will not be asked again." She said, her tone firm, but heart hammering.

  A face emerged from the black. It's face was stretched across a helm, stitched and pallid. Ir was set into a rectus of agony. And where it's eyes were supposed to be, glowing red lenses peered at her, like she was a rat.

  "Hmhmhmhm... HeheheAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! You, dear, sweet Captain, will soon find out. I think... I will love hearing you scream as I desecrate your still scrEAMING CORPSE!" The... Thing screeched, then the vid cut out.

  She slowly sat back, face going blank. "So be it then. Let us see what that things corpse and hull are worth to the imperial navy." She said aloud for the benefit of her crew. Her hands were clenched hard on her seat to avoid them shaking hard.

  "Alert the Repentance. Victory or death. Glory to the emperor, death to the heretic." She said.

  A torpedo streaked out toward her ship, and the battle began in earnest.

  BLAM!