//------------------------------//
// The Harbinger of Damnation 
// Story: PonyHammer 40,000: Magic of War II | Discord Rising 
// by Dragon Heart 
//------------------------------//

	Back aboard the Retribution, TechDrake Spike was informed of everything that happened during his absence, and approached Hammerheart to thank him some more for saving his hide.

"Thank you for your timely intervention, Commander Hammerheart." said Spike. "I will initiate the repair rites for the items you have recovered. In particular, I shall restore our Termineightor Armor. Also, I have been receiving the data we recovered from the astronomic Array. I believe the ancient space hulk designated 'Harbinger of Damnation' is about to appear in this sector. It may allow us to identify our traitor. Should you require more information, I am at your disposal."

Hammerheart raised an eyebrow, and was curious as to what this "Harbinger of Damnation" was.

"The Harbinger of Damnation has a conglomeration of ancient vessels which have become adrift in space and time." Spike explained. "It travels at random, spending decades or even centuries in the Warp."

"If I may," Twilight interjected, "its travels are not entirely random. Only the Empress can know what horrific planes the Harbinger of Damnation has visited. But its recorded appearances have all been in this sector or in one of its neighbors."

"Yes," Spike agreed, "and because of that, the Astronomic Array had a detailed record of past appearances. A distinctive pattern of Warp anomalies preceded each appearance."

"And that pattern is occurring again?" Twilight asked.

"Precisely." said Spike.

"How does any of this blather help identify the traitor?" Hoovitus asked with sub-subtle impatience.

"The Machine Magic aboard the Retribution is not sufficient to remove the masking on the message you recovered." said Spike. "But there are references to a far more ancient and wiser logic engine aboard the Harbinger of Damnation. With it, I can identify the heretic."

Hoovitus walked up to Spike, curious about his survival on the feral world of Salika.

"Just how did you survive, Spike?" He asked.

"Yes. A good question." said Pinkie as the other Sergeants and Twilight approached him, wanting to hear his story of survival.

"As you may recall, I was in a Lightningeagle during the climactic battle with the Paranids." said Spike.

"I also recall it being blown from the sky." Hoovitus mentioned.

"A Lightningeagle is a resilient craft." Spike continued. "Instead of destroying us outright, the Paranid attack sent us into a desperate dive into the jungle. My sibling pilot used all his experience to guide us into the highlands, where the infestation was less severe." Spike's tone grew more sad as he mentioned the pilot. "He did not survive the crash landing. I was left alone. No transmitters survived and my own cybernetic enhancements were severely damaged. It took me months to successfully enact the repair rites to regain my mobility. I spent the rest of the past year battling my way through to the Astronomic Array."

"Your perseverance does the Chapter proud, Spike." Applejack complimented.

"Perhaps," said Spike, "but I am glad to be in the confinements of a mighty Strike Cruiser once more."

The Retribution headed off to the location where the Harbinger of Damnation would next appear. When they arrived to the spot, the space hulk had not yet come.

"Your cursed ship is hiding, TechDrake." Hoovitus said, still lacking patience.

"Hold your tongue, Hoovitus." Applejack said. "And open your eyes."

A hole was forming in space, slowly growing bigger before a massive ship appeared within a flash of light and darkness.

"The Harbinger of Damnation." Spike said grimly.

The Space Hulk was falling apart piece by little piece, but still held together. Its entire bulk was covered in what looked like asteroids and other ships. It even appeared to be entangled with flesh-like growths from the Warp itself. But its outside could only slightly tell what hellish horrors lurked within. That the hulk traveled through the Warp could only mean that the plane's foulest monsters have made their nests inside.

The Pony Marines looked at the ancient ship, and needed to be ready for a perilous mission into the damned hulk.