Veiled Faces- a 500 word sample text for a BL short story competition

Inquisitor Alabel stood in her command pulpit, staring out of the glassteel windows, waiting for the sign that would spring the trap. She was on the bridge of her Inquisitorial ship, Santo’s Sin, a Lunar-class cruiser that has been with her through countless battles, prevailing against the raging tide that often consumed the lesser willed.

Further ahead, Erebus’s Battle Barge, Destiny’s Hand, remained motionless. Coated in blood red, the ship occupied nearly a third of the viewing screen, enormous barrels and massive pivoting turrets clearly visible. Terrifying effigies of deformed daemons sprouted along its hull, occasional gouts of incandescent energy spouting along vents on the hull of the ship.

A shimmer of light and a hint of movement beyond the Chaos ship signaled the Eldar making their move. Powerful energy lances speared into the Chaos warship, chunks of metal and flailing figures spiraling into space as the Eldar craftworld revealed its presence.

Taking the cue, the Imperial Ships moved into action. Lamentus maneuvered into position, bringing its massive broadside to bear on the Chaos ship. Its powerful armaments and ordnances began pounding Destiny’s Hand.

Torpedoes, shimmering white lances and Fury interceptor squads streaked to their target.

“Shields to full. Reserve gangs on standby. Dispatch Furies. Starhawks to flight-ready.” Inquisitor Alabel commanded.

Santo’s Sin shuddered into motion beneath Alabel’s feet, its powerful plasma engines pushing the grand cruiser towards the target, to exact the Emperor’s justice.

Destiny’s Hand, once a legendary ship that sailed through the stars spreading the Emperor’s holy word- now, it was reduced to a raving, slave driven ship where blood was its fuel and fear its weapon.

Well aware of its vulnerable position, the Chaos warship dispatched streams of ships out of gaping holes beneath the ship. A sickly pulsating shield simmered as projectiles from the surrounding Imperial and Eldar ships struck it, the volleys growing ever stronger.

Even from where she stood, Alabel felt shockwaves of detonations rippling across space, where armaments on the Chaos ship destroyed incoming torpedoes. The blinding light from exploding plasma balls made her squint.

A warning klaxon sounded somewhere in the bridge.

“Status?” Inquisitor Alabel asked her helmsman.

“Escalating energy presence detected in Destiny Hand’s prow,” came the reply.

Alabel nodded in acknowledgement as she took in the scene.

Scores of fury squads and Chaos fighters danced around, some trailing debris from damage components whilst others letting loose lascannons and anti-starfighter missiles. The Dark Angels cruisers Maul of Faith and Spirit of Vengeance had sped on ahead, a wall of wreckage and criss-crossing torpedoes and lances between them and Destiny’s Hand.

“Boarding ships dispatched,” A monotonous tone of a servitor sounded.

Alabel’s attention shifted to a growing opening at the armoured prow of Destiny’s Hand. She frowned as she magnified the viewing screens. A massive barrel appeared; its muzzle glowing bright as the cannon charged to full capacity.

More klaxons sounded around the bridge, shrill with warnings of escalating energy readouts.

Alabel cursed. A Nova Cannon was aimed at her ship.