Edmund Latham

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Forty-Two

Thank you to VaneixusPrime and Basit Nisar for their generous donations to Herald of the Stars!

The Servitor in the middle of the table passes a report to Thalk, Calligos and Lyre. None of them look at the report and stare at Abbisine with neutral, almost bored expressions.

Abbisine clears her throat, an entirely unnecessary action as her voice box is a speaker, then says, “Imagine if you will, you are the Commodore of a moderate strikeforce patrolling the Koron...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Forty-One

A huge thank you to Braden D and Riccardo Gilioli for sponsoring Herald of the Stars.

Fial says goodbye and hangs up. I sit on the edge of my sleeping pod and stare at my hands, repeatedly clenching and unclenching them. I’ve always known that, objectively, the Imperium of Man is like a cracked jar of poisonous, cannibalistic insects. It is quite another to experience it for myself. I had hoped that my fellow man would show more restraint, that all the obvious ...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Forty

A cheerful welcome to broeks, Tin, Austin Noble, and Tomas Fuk for joining the Herald of the Stars Patreon. Thank you so much for keeping my story alive.

Fial says, “Stellar Fleet crews are disciplined because they are well trained and educated. They obey because they know everyone will die, and how, if they are too slow. They are trained when to question, and when to obey. They are confident in their skills and the power of the Fleet. They trust the competence...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Nine

I am delighted to welcome Faeblood, Mathew Deer, Flo T., and broeks to the Herald of the Stars Patreon. Thank you so much for aiding my endeavours!

I end my meditation and panic for a brief moment; there are four large snakes hissing in my face. I get up, replace my nutrient packs, then lie back down. There is a lot I need to do and consider and I’m still waiting on a workshop to be delivered.

I am utterly done with the constant grind of crisis and reve...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Eight

Thank you, Really_Big for signing up to Herald of the Stars.

With the primary Machine-Spirit of The Barber’s Blades lying in ruin, I feel confident about hiding the bomb inside the vent in the makeshift breakroom. After shoving it up there, I use my pilfered privileges to connect the bomb to the vessel’s communication network and close up the vent.

With my new bolter in hand, and a gun dog and skull at my side, I trudge through the ship to the main vox ...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Seven

The Cyber Mastiff growls and shifts its body, ready to dash off.

Gently scratching its head, I say, “Go back down the corridor and put the bomb in the improvised rec room, then protect our rear. I don’t want to get flanked or lose our mission objective so late in the game. If all our signals go down, set the bomb, then make for the hangar and beam a report back to Torchbearer.”

The mastiff barks, its electronic voice underlaid with static and beeps. It nuzzles my hand...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Six

A warm welcome to ethpsdu and a big thank you too all my Patreons who recently upgraded their subscriptions.

Ten minutes after leaving the station, we arrive at the centre of the vessel. Once again, we are confronted with the bane of all adventurers, a locked door. This magnificent specimen is a single slab of adamantium alloy six metres wide and four metres high. An embossed and painted Cog Mechanicum dominates the door and holds multiple s...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Five

The next station we pass is also littered with the chewed remains of Servitors, leaving me with more questions. Why are there Ur-Ghuls, a Drukhari tracking species, on this vessel? Where are all the Plague Zombies? Most importantly, why does eating people’s souls make me feel hungry, rather than a sobbing wreck!? I know I’ve become fairly ambivalent about death over the past century, yet this is a whole new level of horror and it’s one I’ve never even thought to question before...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Four

I hum a nameless merry tune as the train trundles through the voidship at a sedate twenty kilometre per hour. Every two hundred metres or so, it pulls up at a station, waiting for more passengers that will never come.

The Barber’s Blades is in poor condition with broken conduits, dripping pipes and random holes ripped through the superstructure.

Light from the underslung torches of the penitent’s laspistols flash through the dark of the tight tunnels that encompass the...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Three

I find a room with a large panel on the wall covered in white lines and blinking lights. Beneath it is a desk of switches, dials, and gauges. There is a thin layer of dust over everything as if the last person to sit in the chair facing the panel left mere weeks ago, rather than centuries.

The back of the chair has an oval cut out along the spine, so I am able to sit without my mechadendrites getting in the way. I close my eyes and lean back, reviewing the instructions E-SIM gave...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Two

SwiftFate, Maximilian Lang, and mustapha yakubu bako, thank you so much for donating your Throne Gelts to the Iron Foundation. Saint Alpia will pray for you!

The Cyber Mastiff and I plod around the deck, grabbing everyone and pushing them into the maintenance room. I am rather irritated that no one has mag-boots. I consider them so essential that neither Alpia nor I thought they would need to be issued as everyone would already have a pair.

I am rather ir...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-One

A huge thank you to William Stark, Seth tompson, Stryker, Dr. Öttinger, and Chimera9139 for supporting Herald of the Stars. I really appreciate you going the extra AU to keep this story burning bright!

With all my implants operating off my back up potentia coils and nary a hint of Warp energy, I feel as if I am back in my sarcophagus, staring out from behind the armourglass at the withered skeletons of my fellow experimental subjects. I actually feel physical e...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty

Ryan Mahoney, Frame, Raul Chavez, Thiago Cleto, and Wicked Soul, thank you for supporting Herald of the Stars!

++Reboot successful. Welcome back Operator Issengrund.++

++Fatal Error: Warp Tap destroyed. Solution: construct new unit. Error: User Issengrund has not deciphered Warp Tap Ⅰ. Automated construction disabled. Solution: demonstrate knowledge of Warp Tap Ⅰ construction.++

++Lower torso: destroyed. Batteries destroyed: Main power at 80%. Emergency Power at 0...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty-Nine

A big welcome to YungSanguis, Sancruse, Active Ragdoll, Writer-Man and B light for contributing to the Herald of the Stars Patreon. I do hope you all enjoyed binging the massive cashe of chapters!

I shake my head, “We need to get rid of it. I cannot shelter you from the Inquisition for a book like that Quaani. I’m not sure I should.”

A bitter expression passes across Quaani’s face, “Then I am damned for all eternity.”

“I’m willing to ...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty-Eight

A huge thank you to grant, Kisaragi_cult, MacDoc-101, Richard Paull, and payforthat for supporting Herald of the Stars with their time an money. Some argue that one is much the same as the other, but for me, both are equally as important!

“Geist,” says Thorfinn, “is a highly illegal narcotic that boosts a person’s psy-rating. I came across it when I visited Footfall with Quaani. For someone about as psychic as a plasteel foil hat, it will give them just ...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty-Seven

Trigger Warning: Child Abuse reference.

“Unfortunately, dear, I don’t think any of us can navigate some of these gifts,” says Brigid. “Nevertheless, let’s start with the least troublesome and go from there, otherwise we’ll never be able to concentrate on the rest. First are some xenos artefacts, an Eldar Force Shield and Runes of Witnessing.

“An Eldar Force Shield is a personal energy shield similar to a conversion field, only fifty percent stronger...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty-Six

Siva Chandan Chakka, Bunny Waffles, Really Big Lover, and Samuel Lim thank you so much for signing up to the Herald of the Stars Patreon. I am delighted by your efforts and it encourages me to do the same. These chapters seem to be getting steadily longer and longer!

“It’s not entirely Alpia’s fault,” I say. “She isn’t responsible for the actions of others, even if they commit their deeds to her name. I really thought she would have learned from the l...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty-Five

Today's chapter is dedicated to all the free members who've updated their subscription to further support Herald of the Stars. Patreon does not present the data in a manner than makes it easy to name you all individually, but that doesn't mean I don't notice, or appreciate all that you have given. Cheers!

It has been a month since the disastrous banquet and, despite the rapidly improving supply of soylent viridans and other edibles, the Stellar Fleet are steadily...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty-Four

Thank you, Artman, and Joseph M for sponsoring Herald of the Stars. I really appreciate it!

Alpia says, “Dad, before we try a new power, can you tell me what the weird creature diving in and out of the dataslate is? Those wings look like flippers. The golden crown is cool though.”

“It’s a Royal Penguin. Back when Old Earth still had oceans, you could find them on Macquarie Island in the South Pacific Ocean. It’s an aquatic bird. Some species of pe...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty-Three

A huge thank you to t3chn0fr34q, Raiden759, and Matthew Walker for supporting Herald of the Stars. I couldn't keep this story going without your support, so I really appreciate it!

I restore my aura protection and Abbisine scrambles upright. She stares at my arsenal of weapons currently pointing at the ceiling, then departs immediately. Thalk and Ephrine follow her out, expressing their gratitude for a fine party. Only Chaplain Riordan remains.

“Do you re...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty-Two

Randall Cook, Syntex, and Crankier, thank you for joining the Herald of the Stars Patreon. It always brings a smile to my face when new people sign up!

This chapter will be taking the background plot in a new direction. It's about time Aldrich's actions impacted the galaxy at large. I'd love to know what you all think and the different directions the story could go.

I don’t want to risk teleporting over as I don’t have my armour on. Ins...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty-One

Sabrina Fite, thank you so much for joining the Herald of the Stars Patron.

“You sure know how to flatter a man, Cybersmith Paorach,” says Calligos.

Ròsìn raises a finely crafted eyebrow and Calligos clears his throat.

“What I meant to say is that I am in a position to offer you a Freeblade contract.”

“Whatever would I do with that? Trader Calligos. I am to remain in this system and oversee the construction of Charon. I have little n...

Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty

I have updated the previous chapter with a couple of extra paragraphs thanks to reader suggestions.

I received notice from Patreon that anyone who subscribes via their app using the Apple App Store may be charged an additional 30% as per Apple's policies.

If you are subscribing to Herald of stars via Apple, I would suggest you do so via the Patreon website instead, rather than their app. Patreon charges everyone too, including me, but at least you won't ...