Our time in Savaven had been full of research and unrelenting legalities, and I spent most of my time behind a desk or surveying the monumental libraries that stood bestride the palaces of the cardinals. It was mostly uneventful, save for handful of moments the various members and adepts of the ecclesiarchy tried to jealously keep certain vaults out of the hands of my retinue, but in that I brooked very little argument. Emmaline and I worked alongside one another for some months, her eye for detail impressive, though after a few hours she often found herself thinking of less professional matters or wishing to stretch her legs. When she heard Savaven did not have any icecream she groaned. I admit the distraction did help my mind relax before I redirected my focus back on the ministerial task at hand. However, four months before our completing, there had been a misshap on the bridge of the Caledonia, where Lucius Raj had broken the leg of one crewman and shattered the sternum of another, and Emmaline was tasked with ascending to keep an eye on the Thunder Warrior while I finished my work on world. 

I could have called Lucius Raj down, but the ecclesiarchy would ask too many questions on the nature of him, and if they found out we had procured one of the legendary thunder warriors from a xenos cage, we would have more problems to deal with than the usual liturgical interruptions. And while I could throw my weight around, it was an inquisitor's duty to only do so for the good of the imperium, not their emotional desires. Although we did manage to obtain, or stumble upon, some scraps of information about the enigmatic warriors of old terra. It seemed they died quickly, usually for one of three reasons. Combat, of course, but also faulty organs from the less-than-safe flash cloning initiatives in their primitive creation, and thirdly, their bouts of insanity could literally tear their own muscles apart. It seemed, given luck that Raj could survive battle and be one of the more fortunate with a stable body, if we could keep his sanity in check, he could potentially live for quite a long time. And so for four months, Lazarus and I spent nearly eleven hours every day pouring over different texts and scripts, until finally I concluded we had gathered all intelligence that we could. 

Finally, we could return to Pacitus. 

As Lazarus, a few member's of Urien's crew, and I ascended to the Caledonia, I felt somewhat uneasy, despite my through examination. There were so many unanswered questions, I knew it would be difficult to unwind. However, I had a feeling Emmaline would find a way to get me too, despite my dogged thoughts. Once we entered through the bridge, I gave a quick chat to Urien, and he was ecstatic to be sending me home. As good friends as we are, he felt a need to explore the stars as much as I needed to feel Pacitus under my feet. I saluted him as a cordial gesture, as he would throw a celebration soon to liven up his crew, thanks to new supplies gifted by the ecclesiarchy from Savaven. 

I went to my quarters to retire, a near kilometer of a walk, remembering when I had escorted a very drunk Emmaline down the same course not so long ago. I stripped my hands of my gloves, and opened the door to my chambers...