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THE SAINTS OF GOTHENBURG
(Les Saints de Gothiquete)
Part 1
Ancient support beams and power couplings groaned as the
massive battleship heaved into realspace. Over fifteen millenia old, the
Emperor-Class *L'Rimouski Oceanique* powered its weapons and recharged its engines as its
escort fleet disengaged from the warp in close proximity to it. One of the oldest,
if not the oldest, of its kind, the original commissioning of the "Rimouski", as
it was fondly known to its crew, had been long obscured by the endless sea of time between
the laying down of its hull and the current millenia of Imperium. Re-fitted and
reformated countless times throughout its long history, the Rimouski was last
re-commissioned on 4036217.M36 as "L'Rimouski Oceanique." Rimouski is one
of the seven sub-capitals of Quebe'croix, the capital planet of the Yves System, and the
battleship was named in honour of the majestic and bountious L'Ocean du Quebec, of which
Rimouski served, at the time, as one of its most prosperous harbors, and one of the
Imperial Guard's main foodports.
Standing at the bridge of *L'Rimouski Oceanique*,
Solar-Admiral Etienne Lafayette scanned the various monitor banks, watching as each ship
and squadron under his command re-established contact with the Rimouski. He was the five
hundred and second commanding officer of *L'Rimouski Oceanique*, as well as its
last. After one final mission, the ancient battleship was to be put into permanent
spacedock around Quebe'croix. The great battleship, which had once supported the
glorious campaigns of the Primarchs in the aftermath of the Heresy, and had even borne the
Emperor Himself during the Great Crusade, was destined forevermore to be a silent icon for
the people of Quebe'croix, a glorious reminder of their proud heritage under the Emperor,
a religious symbol viewable from the planet's surface.
Etienne suffered his glood in silence. "Madame
Rimouski," as he himself privately called her, had been a beautiful ship, a flower of
destruction in the gardens of evil sowed so many times by the forces of Chaos. But
the decision had been made, and in a year's time, Admiral Lafayette would command the
maiden launch of the Retribution-Class *L'Montereaux Oceanique*. Montereaux, another of
Quebe'croix's sub-capitals, and located on the opposite end of the Quebec, had long ago
replaced Rimouski as the main harbour and foodport of the legendary ocean. Etienne
himself hailed from Tadoussac, a small fishing village near Rimouski. While he knew
that *L'Rimouski Oceanique* was adored and loved by all of Quebe'croix, he couldn't help
but feel sad, and old, by the battleship's retirement. He was saddened that the cherished
region of his childhood would no longer be physically manifested as Quebe'croix's
flagship, and felt aged knowing that his retirement from active command would coincide
with his beloved ship's. After commanding the first mission of *L'Montereaux Oceanique*,
the ship would be handed over to Fleet-Admiral Sylvain Fortas, who was second-in-command
behind Etienne, and who had proved himself worthy of the rank of Solar-Admiral.
After that, Etienne was to become the head instructor at L'Spokannais, the orbital
fleetyard of Quebe'croix.
"Sir?"
The Flag-Captain's voice awoke Etienne from his thoughts.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Sensors are reporting small energy surges near the
planet's halo. We believe there is a ship in hiding." The planet was
Gothenburg, a large agri-world which was in danger of a nearby Ork Horde rampaging through
the sector. Only one city, after which the whole planet was named, existed on
Gothenburg, but its importance was enough to warrant a full battlefleet to cleanse and
protect it.
"Have...we...determined the exact nature of the
source?"
"No sir, but it is most likely a capital ship of some
size; its specific designation is not yet known."
"Then send *L'Merveilleux-Pere* and her sisters in for a
look, and have *L'Domaine* and her escorts close in and provide cover." Without
answering, the Flag-Captain began communicating the orders to the fleet.
*L'Merveilleux-Pere* was the command Dauntless of a squadron of four of the
Light-Cruisers, while *L'Domaine* was a Dictator-Class Cruiser being escorted by two
Lunar-Class Cruisers, *L'Concepcion* and *L'Redempcion*.
Admiral Lafayette looked out at the fleet assembled before
the "Madame Rimouski." The ten capital ships, known collectively as
"les Habitants," that formed the fleet's core were separated into three
"trinities," or groups of three, with one ship remaining alone. The main
"trinite" consisted of *L'Rimouski Oceanique* herself, and two escorting
Mars-Class Battlecruisers, *L'Dechaillons* and *L'Deschambault* (which was currently
serving as Admiral Fortas' command ship).
Flanking the Rimouski to her left was the Dictator-Class
*L'Domaine* and the Lunar-Class Cruisers *L'Concepcion* and *L'Redempcion*. To her
right was the Dictator-Class *L'Bostonnais* and her Lunar-Class Cruisers, *L'Ascencion*
and *L'Assumpcion*.
The lone ship was the Dominator-Class *L'Montbeillard*, which
cruised astern of the Rimouski, ready to provide its long-rage support when and if needed.
Supporting "les Habitants" were several escort
squadrons as well as just over twenty additional capital ships, most of them
Lunar-Class Cruisers such as *L'Croix Imperiale*, *L'Grace Morte*, *L'Briller*, and *L'Fue
Sanctifieux*.
As the Dantlesses closed towards the planet, the Rimouski's
sensor readings spiked wildly. Etienne watched with blunt, unfeeling fear as a
savage, metallic hull glinted in the cold rays of the sun. To the Admiral, fear was
a feeling long ago deadened by decades' worth of battles and similar situations.
As the ship closed distance, everyone aboard *L'Rimouski
Oceanique* realized that they were facing a Repulsive-Class Grand Cruiser, a hated symbol
of the foul treachery of Chaos. As the archaic Grand Cruiser slithered forward from
its hidden nest, its numerous cohorts came blazing out from scattered detritus fields and
Gothenburg's nearby moons.
Solar-Admiral Etienne Lafayette realized the trap that had
been sprung...
(to be continued...?)
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