The next day, Hive Port.
Vanessa was transported into the starport and found the vessel assigned for this journey—a massive cruiser adorned in gold. On the ship's port side were four insignias, two for Lunar-class cruisers and two for Storm-class frigates, each a trophy of past battles, symbolizing the cruiser's victories over these formidable Imperial Navy ships.
This display stirred a sense of discomfort in Vanessa; after all, these insignias represented the Empire's own fleets.
"This is the *Path of Glory*," a voice sounded behind her. She turned to see Yorn, a member of the Honor Guard.
Yorn, a "Pariah," or untouchable, made her uneasy simply by his proximity, nullifying any use of her powers to sway his mind.
As Yorn pointed to the insignia on the cruiser, he said, "We've never fought against the Imperial Navy. This cruiser's inaugural battle shattered the ragged fleet of a rebel governor within the Tyron Sector."
"I see," Vanessa replied, giving him an innocent smile. "You must be the 'Pariah' Honor Guard the Governor mentioned. Thank you for taking the time to ensure my safety."
"Safety?" Yorn shook his head. "If that were the concern, the *Path of Glory* and a few ground troops would more than suffice."
Vanessa offered no reply, understanding that he wasn't here for her protection. Her mission to petition on behalf of the Sector Governor was a test. Should she fail to prove her value as a liaison, her intentions would be seen as dubious, leading to...consequences.
"Prepare for transit," Yorn instructed, communicating with the vessel.
Vanessa nodded, her years of experience made her immune to the unsettling feeling of traversing dimensions.
Moments later, both were transported to the *Path of Glory*'s bridge. Vanessa noted that Tyron's warships differed greatly from civilian vessels—the bridge was quiet, and the crew seemed encased in armored pods designed for both protection and evacuation.
Curious, she inspected one of these pods, which came equipped with shields and escape systems.
"Get inside one of the pods," Yorn instructed, already stepping into one nearby.
Lying back within the cramped space, Vanessa noticed a cable with a neural link plug, though it was useless to her; she'd undergone no modifications, lacking even the common neural interface found in nearly every hive world denizen.
As she lay waiting, she took out a quill and parchment, slipping on a pair of goggles adorned with the double-headed eagle.
The cruiser began its transit through the dimensional passage, slipping from one sector to the next in mere seconds.
Vanessa's goggles analyzed the journey, generating a report. However, the report's contents bore numerous "unable to analyze" labels, with few coherent conclusions. The only remarkable observation was the report's note that, while they experienced mere seconds, the journey had technically taken centuries within the dimension.
Despite knowing this, Vanessa continued recording, for such was the decree of that distant voice, echoing from ages past.
…
After forty jumps, the cruiser had left the Tyron Sector far behind. Her psychic powers, now fully functional, allowed Vanessa to manipulate the minds of those operating the dimensional engine, directing the ship into the hazy sector of a distant, uncharted system.
The cruiser came to rest in the orbit of a hive world. Vanessa and Yorn teleported to the governor's quarters below.
Upon meeting the planetary governor, he treated Vanessa as if she were a revered mother, providing the finest quarters, meals, and scores of servants—a direct result of her psychic influence.
The days passed as Vanessa and Yorn wandered the depths of the hive's underworld, where even the most ruthless gangsters and bounty hunters obeyed her every word, and wild hounds guided her path.
On the fourth day, Vanessa led Yorn to a forsaken ruin in the underhive, a place resembling an ancient temple. As they moved through its vast halls, Yorn looked around, his gaze passing indifferently over the grand columns and relics.
"So, after days of prowling the underhive, you've brought me here to…open treasure chests?" he asked.
"Treasure chests?" Vanessa replied, bemused.
"That's what bounty hunters call scavenging in the underhive ruins," Yorn explained. "But what is it you're really after?"
Without answering, Vanessa approached the far wall of the temple and stopped. A figure emerged from the shadows, tall and imposing, cloaked in darkness.
Vanessa silently handed a parchment to the figure.
"This is all?" he murmured after reading it, his voice thick with suspicion. "Why would the Master of Tyron want a Sector Governor's title? What purpose could it serve?"
"It's merely a test," Vanessa sighed, casting a sidelong glance at Yorn.
The dark figure nodded, tucking away the parchment but lingered a moment. "There's news," he said. "Admiral Quarren's fleet was ambushed near Agripinaa, suffering severe losses. The navy can no longer protect its forge world; Tyron's fleet must be persuaded to intervene."
"Admiral Quarren?" Vanessa scowled in exasperation. "I warned him to remain vigilant. Why didn't he listen?"
"Prophecy does not spare one from its course," he replied. "Some fates cannot be avoided, forcing one to helplessly descend into the abyss."
"Very well…" Vanessa sighed, burdened by the task ahead, aware of the difficulty of convincing the Tyron fleet to protect an unrelated forge world.
"Thank you for your efforts, sister." The dark figure respectfully saluted before retreating into the shadows.
After he disappeared, Yorn looked at Vanessa. "Is that all?"
"Yes, but now a new task awaits. Life is full of unexpected twists," Vanessa replied with a weary sigh.
Together, they turned back, preparing to return to the *Path of Glory* and make their way back to Tyron.