The Mistress of Threads - John French Read online

  And the Cytos are also not without teeth. Though they are firmly on the side of Imperial authority, and spotless as far as conflict with official bodies is concerned, they are not above killing to defend or extend their influence. The docking guilds on Kias tried to force a better rate during negotiations by commandeering Cytos Cartel goods using loader gangers. The Cytos broke off negotiations and sent in their own forces. No gangers survived. I also found an account that, during the fall of Helx, the holdings of the Cytos forces fought off the heretics so effectively that theirs were the only islands of order in a sea of fire and anarchy.

  As to the House Morio, well, there is a sorry tale… The work on that was a good deal easier than researching the Cytos. I do not wish to cast aspersions on a blood relative of yours, but Cressida Syr Morio was running an operation that could hardly be described as watertight – full of holes would be a better description. They were structurally vulnerable from almost every direction, and their fiscal strategy, while yielding great rewards, also left them open to just the sort of events as took place in the wake of the Storm Break. In fact, I have a suspicion that even before then, there were clandestine moves being made to erode their ability to resist a catastrophe, and so increase their vulnerability to just the kind of approach made by the Cytos. If I was prone to betting – and you know that I never am, at least not with real money – then I would place a large sum on the Cytos Cartel secretly owning House Morio’s debt before they made an accord. Your cousin’s House was stalked, marked and snared like a gamebird, my lady.

  Full report on the Cytos Cartel and House Morio appended to this missive, but I thought you would like the juicy bits upfront. Oh, and I included a list of all Cytos’ holdings and active locations and any information I could assemble to aid in any… direct action that someone might want to take against them. Call it acting on a hunch, but I thought you might find it helpful.

  Anyway, if there is anything else, I am yours to command, quite literally of course, but nonetheless. I look forward to when our paths cross again, old friend – the regicide board and a very fine bottle of siliqua stand ready.

  Cassius

 

 

  Direct order parameter missive

  From: Viola von Castellan

  To: Kynortas, Master-at-Arms, von Castellan Household

  Take action to augment our household forces with elements prepared for direct action – high intensity, fast assault, void and orbital insertion. Also bring in all the markers we have with any of the Dominicus Prime Death Clans and the Blade Cult on Inx. I want a multi-zone force in place ready to deploy on my command. Gather the primary action elements to the Dionysia. Transport ships for the mercenary companies are to be sourced. I will pay promissory bonds at 2% above harbour broker rates.

  We might have to get dirty quickly – make sure we are ready.

  V. von Castellan.

 

 

  Encrypted relay message delivered in binary code

  From: Cressida Syr Morio

  To: Viola von Castellan

  Data files appended to message in cypher compressed packet

  Here is everything I could get. I managed to get into a set of shared trade ledgers. There was not much, but I could build a picture from what was there. It took a while. They have wormed their way in everywhere. Pay attention to our deep orbital cargo stations of Geresh and Ero, they have been particularly busy there. Also the chartist ships Tide Bringer and Journey of Wonder.

  You need to help Osric and I to get out, right now, Viola. They are watching me all the time. They are everywhere. How did I not see it? Every retainer we hired in the last cycle is theirs – I can feel it. It’s true. The new housemistress, Veng, she is like a second shadow walking behind me and there is something in the way she looks at me… like… like I am meat on a platter.

  Get us out. Get us out now!

 

 

  Encrypted relay message delivered in binary code

  From: Viola von Castellan

  To: Cressida Syr Morio

  Cressida – remain where you are. Remain calm. Everything is in motion.

  Viola.

 

 

  Notary exchanged between Viola von Castellan and Cleander von Castellan undertaken by real time signal on board the ship Dionysia

  Cleander: What do you think they are? These Cytos types, I mean.

  Viola: I am not sure. I have theories.

  Cleander: You always have theories.

  Viola: Thank you, brother mine. This is big, though, big and nasty.

  Cleander: That’s one of your theories?

  Viola: That’s the part I am certain about. Something very clever and insidious has made the Cytos Cartel into a sort of mask, like a suit of skin. It is using it to further its interests, its assets and its reach across the stars.

  Cleander: Lots of things could fit that modus operandi.

  Viola: Yes. Yes and no.

  Cleander: You know what they are, don’t you? Come on, I can tell you are dying to educate me.

  Viola: I need corroboration. If I am right, we are going to need to augment the forces I have already mobilised.

  Cleander: That’s going to be difficult. If the Cytos are as dangerous as your silence suggests, it’s a wonder that your truth thief got the transmitter to Cressida. If you want a hard incursion, and you don’t want the Cytos to realise that we are on to them, well, you are going to have to use some of ‘his’ assets, aren’t you? You are going to have to send in some agents of the Throne.

  Viola: Yes.

  Cleander: They are already deployed, aren’t they? Who did you send? Ianthe?

  Viola: Not close enough, and she has been out of direct communication for a while. Xith is trying to track down Talicto’s lost apprentice in the tri-storm zone. Sensus-54-Zeta… well, we need precision, not a blood bath. At least not yet.

  Cleander: So, Tervaize, then. There is no one else, so it’s got to be her, yes? It’s all getting a bit ‘keeping it in the family’, isn’t it?

  Viola: Tervaize is not family.

  Cleander: Not technically, but…

  Viola: Technicalities matter.

  Cleander: And Cressida? When are you going to get her out?

  Viola: Not yet. We aren’t ready. Move too early and everything goes to hell. She stays where she is. We might have use for her yet, too.

  Cleander: Throne of Immortal Light, and there I was assuming that you were actually going to help her…

  Viola: Never assume anything about me, brother.

 

 

  From: Viola von Castellan

  To: Tervaize Astra, Agent of Inquisitor Covenant

  Mission Parameter Order – delivered by Inquisitorial courier

  Under the authority vested in me for this instance by your master, the most noble Inquisitor Covenant, I, Viola von Castellan do direct and command you to undertake the task here detailed with all haste using any methods you deem necessary and stinting in no degree in pursuit of its completion.

  Now that’s out of the way, on to the task – all the details we have are attached, my dear. We don’t have much time so you are going to have to use that improvisational streak you have developed. The key thing is that we need a physical specimen – dead is fine, but intact is essential. I think the targets might be very, very dangerous, so bear that in mind, too. And it has to look like something other than a hit. Nothing official, nothing smelling of, looking like, sounding like or feeling like us or anyone else, all right?

  Fortune go with you – the Emperor Protects.

  Viola

 

 

  Encrypted relay message delivered in binary code

/>   From: Cressida Syr Morio

  To: Viola von Castellan

  They have taken Osric. He just vanished two nights ago and has not reappeared. The housemistress Veng says he took a shuttle south to go hunting. He didn’t. I just know he didn’t. They are watching all the time. They know. I just know that they know. GET ME OUT OF HERE.

 

 

  From: Tervaize Astra, Agent of Inquisitor Covenant

  To: Viola von Castellan

  Post mission message – delivered by Inquisitorial courier

  You said they were dangerous, but you sold them short.

  Here is the fast summary of operations – I picked out the orbital dock facility at Carthos from your list of places were the Cytos are active. It is on the storm edge and the guilds there are barely holding order together. Communication is patchy at best. I figured it would be the best place for what we needed to do to go unnoticed.

  I took an eight-strong team into orbital dock. They were good too, all people I know, all Throne-bound and hardened. We identified the Cytos. There were thirty-three of them present in the dock. Half of them hiding their faces in void suits, the other half floating around in grey white. There were riots going on down in the low dock levels, but the Cytos did not seemed bothered in the least – just went on with their business like nothing was happening. I picked out one of their party that seemed to have a lot of autonomy. The rest went around in groups but this one sometimes peeled off to whisper to dock controllers and cargo masters. He was the definite leader and coordinator.

  Anyway, we hit them hard. Fermented the riots up serval notches – sorry, we did some damage to the state of law and order, but you said time was short. Diverted a chunk of the fire and violence in the direction of the Cytos while our target was on his own in the dock section. We took him out. That wasn’t easy. As soon as the first shot was fired the psy-frost was crawling the walls. All of the dock workers started twitching, then moving like they were on strings, and suddenly we were on the wrong end of a battle with a couple of dozen heavily augmented cargo-gangers.

  We did it though. It cost me five people, but we did it. One dead specimen. We got out with the corpse in a stasis chest and delivered it to the Inquisition Bastion on Malence. But you don’t need to wait for the dissectors or xenos-biologis to report. I know what that thing was. Not a hair on its skin. Eyes like cut amethyst and a row of ridges under the skin sliding up its brow, barely noticeable unless you know where to look. Near human, but not quite, not really – human with something else buried down in its gene-helix. I have seen the like before, in the Pale Drift a long way away – there they took over cities, raised temples in bone to many-armed gods. Different but the same. It’s a Corporaptor Hominis infestation. The Cytos are a devourer cult, a nest of the corruptor breed, what the void tales you told me give the name genestealers.

  If you are waiting to act, don’t. Set the fire to them now.

  Tervaize

 

 

  From: Viola von Castellan

  To: Inquisitor Covenant

  Message delivered by hand by Inquisitorial Courier Venetia

  My Lord,

  We have primary confirmation that the Cytos Cartel is a front for a xenos-hybrid cult of the Corporaptor Hominis. The cult is widespread and established. I believe they have been using the name and access granted by House Morio to move their alien primogenitors and other members of their cult out of the path of the spreading storms. They are fleeing the storm’s path and searching for new places to infest, and are using the fabric of Imperial commerce to do it.

  While it lies outside of the sphere of interest of your ordo, my advice is that you move to deal with it directly rather than pass it over to one of your peers of the Ordos Xenos – the more time and room the Cytos have, the more chance they have to survive.

  I have taken the liberty of gathering intelligence on the Cytos and drawing up a multiple-location purge plan. Forces from your retinues and the von Castellan household are standing by for your order, but given the combat effectiveness of such cults, I would advise that you requisition specialist Imperial assets to augment operations.

  In faith,

  V.

 

 

  From: Inquisitor Covenant

  To: Viola von Castellan

  Message delivered by hand by Inquisitorial Courier Venetia

  The order is given. Begin with all speed. Set the time and begin the count. I will summon Those Who Stand Vigil.

  By the will of Him on Terra, who is all and who all serve,

  Covenant

 

 

  Encrypted relay message delivered in binary code

  From: Viola von Castellan

  To: Cressida Syr Morio

  My Dear Cousin,

  I am sorry. I know that what you have endured has been terrifying, and I offer every apology that I can make for not answering you sooner or getting you out. You must trust me that this will all be over soon, but, Cressida, there is one more thing I must ask of you.

  The Cytos emissary you call Sonnus will be coming to the manse. It does not matter how I know this, only that you know it is true. He is coming to see you. Your behaviour has them worried and Sonnus is coming to make sure that the cartel’s use of House Morio is not in danger. You must wait until he is there and when he is there, when he is in your presence, send this word – Birthright.

  Viola.

 

 

  Direct order parameter missive

  From: Viola von Castellan

  To: All units on Viran planet, and by proxy to all units involved in the purge operation

  Stand by. The sword rises.

 

 

  Encrypted relay message delivered in binary code

  From: Cressida Syr Morio

  To: Viola von Castellan

  Birthright.

 

 

  Edited transcript of interrogation of Hed-Sut, Servant Attendant 2nd Class, Morio House, Sunlight Manse Estate, after the Viran component of the Cytos Purge

  ‘Believe me, oh, please by the pity of saints believe me, I don’t know anything. I had only worked at the manse for a winter. There were lots of new people coming and going all the time. I just held the doors and brought the food. I… [weeping]’

  [question redacted]

  ‘I was in the room. I had been ordered to bring refreshment for the mistress while she met a guest. I had… I walked in… They were in the Pinnacle Embassy Chamber. The sun was rising across the sea – from up there you can see right across the bay to the tide towns to the south. The walls on two sides of the Embassy Chamber are crystal, and the manse just drops away beneath it. You walk in, you forget that you are at the top of a big pile of stone and glass. It feels for a moment like you are floating. That must be what it is like to be them, to be like Mistress Morio or Master Osric – floating above the world…’

  [question redacted]

  ‘Yes, he was there, Master Sonnus of the Cytos and five attendants and guards. Huge things, some in void suits, some in those grey robes they like to wear. Big, all of them. I… I didn’t like to look at them too much.’

  [question redacted]

  ‘I couldn’t see their faces. Not then. Not until–’

  [question redacted]

  ‘Yes, I had seen Master Sonnus before. He was a regular visitor to the master and mistress.’

  [question redacted]

  ‘I was alone in the chamber with them for a few seconds before Mistress Morio came in. I bowed to give her the refreshment I had brought but she did not take it. She looked…Well, she looked frightened.

  ‘As soon as she was
through the doors, the House senior closed them and I heard locks thrown. That was when I started to–’

  [question redacted]

  ‘Sonnus greeted her, yes, but his guards started moving as soon as the doors closed. Mistress Morio did not move from where she stood but I saw her bring her fingers together to press a stud on a ring on her left hand. She was shaking, I saw. The guards had moved to circle the room. I had backed towards the locked doors…’

  [question redacted]

  ‘Yes, it was then that I spotted it. It was just a dot, out on the horizon above the sea. Mistress Morio was really shaking now, like she was in an ice gale. And Sonnus was saying something about debts or it might have been doubts. There was a light in his eyes. And… and I swear I could taste burning sugar and ozone. Then housemistress Veng let out a cry. Sonnus and his guards spun around like they were pulled by cables. The spot was bigger now. Much bigger, and you could see that it was not one thing anymore but several – aircraft flying close together, getting closer with each second.

  ‘Sonnus turned back to Mistress Morio, and his eyes were circles of lightning. He had his mouth open and… and there were teeth, teeth like needles of bone that had pushed out of the flesh inside his lips. He did not look… he did not look human.

  ‘The missiles hit then. I saw them launch, saw the fire flare on the wings of the aircraft, and for the length of an eye-blink I saw them flash silver in the sunlight. They hit. The whole manse shook. Then the planes were arcing close, and I could see them firing down into the lower levels. One came right at us. It fired. A cannon or something. The glass walls blew out. Veng and Sonnus were shrieking, and I could hear the sound in my head. It went on and on and I think I was screaming too.’

  [question redacted]

  ‘Sonnus’ guards started shooting. The aircraft was flying straight at us. Figures came out of the doors in its front. They wore black. Huge black blurs, jumping across the gulf between aircraft and shattered window in an eye-blink. Then the aircraft slammed vertical and vanished out of sight into the sky. The roar of the jets shattered the last of the glass. The figures in black… I… I have never… they were so fast. Three of Sonnus’ guards were dead just like that. Heads blown off. Red and pink… I don’t want to think…’