NEW TERMS:
These are important terms you will encounter across the story that are not integrated into official fluff. They are key to the story, so they have been outlined here for your convenience. To fully understand the origins of these terms, visit the original thread here.
The Conclave
The Conclave is the name given to the collection of Inquisitors who have given chase to the heretic Basavriuk. They originate from a gathering to discuss factional beliefs, which fell apart with the entrance of the Morianans. Following Basavriuk's trial, and the daemonic massacre he unleashed upon those present, the conclave was formed to hunt down the radical. Though the majority of the Conclave are staunch Puritans, many of them are also Radicals wishing to maintain a good name for themselves amongst the Inquisition. There are also many True Horusians amongst the Conclave, wishing to cleanse themselves of their former brother Basavriuk's taint . The Conclave is considered the protagonists of the story. Their ultimate goal is to locate Nikolai Basavriuk, recently pronounced Extremis Diabolus and found guilty of warpcraft, and deliver the Emperor's Justice upon him. The Conclave is currently lead by Lord Tyrak.
The Ultra-Radicals
The Ultra-Radicals are a conglomerate of some of the most extreme members of the Inquisition, founded in the wake of the Courtroom Massacre. They are composed of Xanthites who believe their practices have been put on trial when Basavriuk was declared Extremis Diabolus, Morianans coming to defense of their creed and master, and other radical elements amongst the Inquisition who are flocking to Basavriuk's counter-revolution amongst Inquisitorial politics. Though they are relatively few in number, they are in command of some of the most supremely powerful psykers and combatants amongst the Inquisition, not to mention all manner of warp spawn; even more powerful, many ultra-radicals remain undeclared, giving them the element of surprise. Their goal is to crush the Puritan ideals, and turn the tide of philosophy amongst the Inquisition. The ultimate goal of the Ultra-Radicals is to gain enough leverage to enforce the grand design of the Morianans. The Ultra-Radicals are currently lead by Nikolai Basavriuk.
Moriananism, or New Thorianism
This is the philosophy adopted by Basavriuk following his excommunication. It was formed in direct retaliation to the Horusians who did not come to his defense based on an internal difference of beliefs.
Moriananism, named in honor of the probable first Horusian, Moriana, is a minor philosophy of the Inquisition that is quickly gaining reputation and followers in response to recent events. The followers of Moriananism are largely either Thorians who have drawn their belief system to a exceedingly radical level, or free-thinking Horusians who have come to a conclusion similar to their Thorian rivals. Their beliefs have evolved and mutated over time, and now bear little semblance to their philosophies of origin. The Morianans believe one simple fact the being that is kept alive by the Golden Throne on Terra is not the True Emperor at all.
The followers of Moriananism have concluded that the carcass atop the Golden Throne, much like Sebastien Thor, was in fact an Avatar, a mortal infused with a shred of the God-Emperor's power. They believe that the 'Emperor' (which they refer to as the Avatar-Emperor, or in more disturbing cases, the False Emperor) was created by the True God-Emperor to serve as a guardian angel for mankind in its darkest time. As the natural cycle progressed, the Avatar-Emperor died defending humanity or he was supposed to. In what the Morianans see as a heresy against the True God-Emperor, the Avatar-Emperor was encased within the Golden Throne, to slowly rot over ten millennia. By not allowing the Avatar-Emperor to die, Morianans believe humanity is restricting the True God-Emperor from sending forth another incarnation, or even the full manifestation of the True God-Emperor himself. They back up their claims with insistencies that a true God would never fall to Horus, and that the current state of the Imperium would not have been so if the Emperor was really leading them. It is the ultimate goal of the Morianans to end the unnatural life of the 'Emperor' atop the throne on Terra, and bring an end to the ten thousand year stagnation the Imperium has suffered.
Morianans view the whole of the Imperial Creed, and the Ecclesiarchy in particular, as heretical. They see the worship of the Avatar-Emperor as a direct affront to their God, and they have concluded that the High Lords are keeping the Avatar-Emperor alive to prevent the True Coming, an event that would see them lose power and a destabilization of the Imperium as it is now. Along with this outlook, they have also concluded that the powers of the warp have been falsely demonized the role of the Ruinous Powers in the Horus Heresy and the death of the Avatar-Emperor were all part of the True God-Emperor's grand design, and because of this, the warp is not inherently evil. Many Morianans even believe that Chaos is the instrument necessary to bring about the True Coming of the God-Emperor. Because of this, they hold practices very similar to Xanthites, including the use of daemonhosts and the employment of other tools of the Enemy.
In a way, the Morianans are a combination of every major radical philosophy within the inquisition they held creeds and practices similar to Horusians, Istvaanians, Recongregators, and Xanthites. The combination of these extreme beliefs have created a faction set to rock the very foundation of the Imperium itself.
The rain fell hard Maeroc IV.
Not that this was anything new a combination of abundant cold fronts and the planet's proximity to its immense star meant that few on Maeroc could remember a time when it wasn't raining. This was irrelevant however, as the fact did not even remotely occur to the solitary figure as he trudged slowly up the stone causeway. As far as he was concerned, rain was rain, and this rain was weighing particularly heavily on his already over-taxed mind. The bleak, depressive nature of the storm did little to help his mood.
Much of Maeroc's continents were covered by expansive equatorial jungles. Nurtured by the moist atmosphere, and without having to fear the destructive nature of sentient races for many thousands of years, these jungles were so great much of them had not even been charted by the scant Imperial colonists settling there. As far as they were concerned, beating back the jungle was all that was required, not understanding it.
That was a mistake.
Millennia ago, the planet had been briefly inhabited by a space-faring race, any description of whom being completely lost to the annals of history. But these people had left one testament to their existence that could still be seen all these ages later, provided you knew where to look. Spotted throughout the vast jungles of Maeroc, there were massive stone monoliths and temples erected in honor of mighty gods. It was here that the long-forgotten Maerocans would gather to engage in their religious rites and practices. Before they left, they deposited many of their secrets and texts in the great stone vaults.
It was the promise of these secrets that had originally led the solitary figure to this remote fortress. He had learned much from what had been plundered from the vestiges left here. So much of it was still left untouched that he had returned, over the years, dozens of times to learn even more arcane secrets of the long dead. It was from here that his true power lay, and it was from here that it would begin.
As he made his way up the great causeway, the figure quickened his pace to get to the overhang shielding the gates from the never-ceasing rainfall. As he placed the flat of his palm against the eight-sided star in the center of the gate, a coursing purple light traced its way through the lines and lattices of the stone, slowly illuminating the massive doorway into a complex matrix of pulsating constellations. As the gate slowly began to open, the figure savored the wail of air escaping the tomb as it was opened for the first time in many years. It had been far too long.
Absent-mindedly fingering the stump just above where his elbow would have been had it not been for an over-zealous fool, the figure turned to look into the stormy sky just before stepping inside. To his trained eyes, he could see the violet flash of a warp-jump translation in the space above the planet. A ship, no doubt a large one of Imperial make, had just arrived in the heavens above Maeroc IV to visit ruin upon the misbegotten world.
The lap-dogs of the Avatar-Emperor, for all their delusions, lacked no small amount of skill in tracking, it seemed. He had tried as hard as he could to mask his path and throw the zealots off course, but what the Puritans lacked in quality they made up for with quantity. One of their ships had finally followed the right trail.
They were coming to get him.
When they found him, they would kill him.
The disgraced, thrice-damned Inquisitor Lord Nikolai Basavriuk would not have had it any other way.
=][=
The Firebird Rising exited the warp slowly, its Geller Field shimmering and then fading away, not needed now that the ship had translated back into realspace. An ex-Navy Q-ship, she had been 'salvaged' much earlier in Tyrak's career, and remained one of his longest-serving allies. Naval salvage rights combined with Inquisitorial authority can go a long way.
In the large training hall, a solitary figure knelt, as if in prayer, eyes closed. The only evidence of psychic power was the frost on the deck radiating outwards from the kneeling figure. The figure was swathed in a long black greatcoat, and a black Naval officers cap rested on his mop of darkening gingery hair.
Footfalls crossed the deck from the hatchway to stop behind the Inquisitor.
"Sir, we have exited the warp on schedule. Are you sure this is the place we seek?"
"Yes, Mr Hayes. The scent of daemons lingers around this planet. This is our where our quarry hides."
Tyrak rose, turning to face Hayes, ice-blue eyes the only hint of anger in his stance.
"And if it isn't, it's where someone else's is."
=][=
Nicole allowed herself to smile as she inclined her head. "Your offer is most welcome, I will alert the Colonel so he may make appropriate arrangements. He served as a Kasrkin at one point before being promoted to his current command. We will have to make the relaxing brief however, I don't want to miss any trails the other Inquisitors uncover before they grow cold. I'm not sure what they will uncover themselves, but I believe they will make ripples simply by announcing their presence in a customary unsubtle fanfare. William, please speak with the Colonel to make arrangements for his presence. Kenneth, please see to additional supplies and equipment for our two guests. They will travel with us for the duration."
Her trainees nodded as they went to follow her orders. She had to smile and chuckle lightly as she had finally gotten William to quit saluting out of habit in more formal situations. Kenneth thankfully as an ex-Arbites was a bit more informal. William's skills as a tracker and marksman were incredibly useful, and he had an eye for terrain and covert operations from his time with the Cadian 84th. He was a promising trainee and she hoped to improve upon his potential with time. Kenneth had an incredible eye for investigative work, as well as an intimate understanding of the criminal element of the Imperium. He was incredibly competent in street fighting and understanding unspoken relationships and politics. She was thankful the two of them survived the campaign with the Mordant 13th... her retinue had taken far too many casualties and drawn too much attention to itself. She had her own skills to blame for that; a prominent psyker she had to engage too many heretical forces in psychic duels for her presence to go unnoticed. The only other survivor was Sister Helena of the Order of the Torch, one of the Orders Hospitaller based from the Convent Prioris on holy Terra. She had lost both her Crusaders, her Sister Dialogus, another Chirugeon and her previous Servo Skull in the fighting. She still had to replace their numbers as soon as the opportunity presented itself, until then she would operate at less than full capacity.
Stopping herself before she became lost in retrospection, she continued, "I do apologize for the inconsiderate rush of preparations. It is merely a question of time and efficiency, there is no disrespect intended. The Colonel and the Cadian 84th are unaware of the exact nature of our pursuit of Basavriuk, I would prefer it to be left that way for the time being. They obviously are aware that there is an Inquisitorial mission being performed, but I've found that the less people that know the true details the safer everyone involved become."
She would have to be careful around this Inquisitor Gabriel Crown. He was sharp, and obviously capable else he would not have been sent. The fact he was of Malleus was no great concern to her; it was natural that the daemon hunters would be most interested in pursuing a heretic involved with daemonhosts. What caught her attention more was the fact that she seemed to have been indicated by the Emperor's Tarot. While not skilled in the art of divination through the cards herself, she did believe those readings to be somewhat accurate, within allowed variances of interpretation and current knowledge. As a powerful psyker herself (a conundrum that some of her own order found radical in nature, though she considered those who did hypocritical fools) she placed faith in information gained by psychic means. It did show curious signs of the current operation which she would have to be mindful of. The game of mutual doubt and suspicion was now afoot, as it always was among Inquisitors with little personal working history together. Thankfully as part of the Ordo Hereticus, she always suspected most everyone.
Still, the commonality of birthplace was better than nothing on finding common ground. Most of her initial training was on Cadia, then in the Schola Progenium and the Adepta Sororitas, a connection that had proven fruitful in her Inquisitorial Career after her psychic potential was discovered. She and her brother had been war orphans, children of Cadian officers, before being placed into the Schola Progenium's care. Kit had quickly demonstrated a flair for tactics and strategy, and was rapidly promoted among the Kasrkin before being earmarked for an Officer's commission. Her own career was no less stellar, although much less public knowledge.
"There should be several hours at least to rest and prepare aboard the Cavalier before our insertion transport is ready. Once it is prepped we should continue any discussions aboard it before we land and begin our work."
Nicole contemplated her situation as the transport with her and her team headed toward Maeroc IV, away from the main battlegroup. She had judged the mission by the conclave as being roughly between a regular investigation and a small military operation, and she still hoped she wasn't leading everyone into a deathtrap. 20 Stormtroopers were aboard under the command of Sergeant Franklin Figaro, who had served with her for some time. There were the two assassins, Celia and Lede, both full of lethal grace that she had attempted to study and learn from. Kenneth and William, Bosco, the servo-skull, and Sister Helena accompanied her, along with Inquisitor Gabriel Crown and his servant, Sergeant Dyna Polarius.
The plan was to allow the transport to ferry them into the atmosphere, where they would land at a suitable point in the Valkyries, which would drop them off then return to the transport. If possible the transport would return to orbit and await her signal for an extraction, however if the situation grew too unstable the transport would return to the main battlegroup. She and her men had ample supplies for an extended stay, including camping and communication equipment. Short of a full scale rebellion they should be alright, if everything went to plan.
Nicole knew better than to think that would occur, however like all of mankind she planned anyway.
Like the knowledge Gabriel was a Xanthite. He had revealed this during their social conversation aboard the Cavalier, in fact he had seemed surprised she hadn't shot him after the revelation. Perhaps she should have, but frivolous deaths of servants of the Emperor seemed counter-productive when they needed their resources to bring down bigger heretics such as Basavriuk. He was extremely cautious and polite, even charming, however she suspected he was attempting to get his way into her good graces. This could be genuine, it could also be a ploy to get her off her guard, or some layered Radical treachery. There was some amount of cooperation between Horusians and Xanthites as far as she could tell, however simply because it was possible did not make it true.
She had resolved to wait and watch. She would watch this Gabriel, and ensure that he did not delve past the point of legitimate heresy. Like all Thorians she was vehemently against the use of chaos and the warp in any amount, whereas the theory that it could be harnessed safely was the entire basis of the Xanthite philosophy. Had he gone too far already? Was he still loyal to the Imperium, despite attempting to use the tools of the enemy? She knew some Inquisitors used the knowledge of the Eldar, and other xenos races successfully without endangering their souls, but chaos itself was another matter. In the end, she had determined that Basavriuk posed the bigger, more immediate threat. The problem of Gabriel's questionable beliefs could be dealt with later.
In a matter of hours they should reach Maeroc IV. She would have plenty of time to deal with Gabriel.
=][=
In his guests quarters aboard the Firebird Rising, Inquisitor Levinski sat poring over the atmospheric readouts his sage had brought him.
"Rain and jungles hmm? Sounds like home...." He said, smiling slightly, and eliciting a fearful nod from his servant. Levinski knew his men were scared of him, and he knew they were right to be, he had condemned whole worlds to painful deaths at the merest hint of daemonic infestation. He'd pleaded with Lord Tyrak to merely virus bomb this world, but the foolish man had refused, typical of those of the amalathian philosophy, still, it was his ship and there was nothing Levinski could do about it.
"Get the men ready, and prep the Valkyrie." He called to his men. Running off to the launch bay, all he could think about was what he'd do to that filthy traitor when he got his hands on him........
=][=
Lady Nicole Pyykkönen, member of the Holy Orders of the Emperor's Inquisition, Thorian Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus, stood on an observation deck of the Mars class Battle Cruiser Cavalier. The Conclave had indeed been interesting as she had thought, however the outcome did not entirely end up as planned. Near her stood the three minds she had wished to speak to, as well as her servo-skull note taker and her cyber-mastiff, whom she affectionately had dubbed Bosco.
"I thought you had decided not to worry about the heretic, my lady," stated Explicator William Thatcher. He had been sent to report back to her after her telepathic communication with Interrogator Kenneth McCormick from the Conclave.
"That is what I publically stated planetside, yes William. However there are many more aspects of this decision to consider. A great number of Inquisitors decided to pursue the heretic Basavriuk directly, but I have reasons to doubt the sincerity of all involved." Nicole did not look at her Explicator as she spoke. William was younger and more recently into her service than her Interrogator, Kenneth.
"You believe some of them may be joining the pursuit simply to make themselves look more innocent than their chosen scapegoat?" Kenneth postulated, eyebrows raising as he considered the notion. "The thought defiantly bears merit, my lady. This is another one of those instances along the lines of 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer' I should think."
"Precisely. How many joining the pursuit are simply doing so to be unexpected allies to Basavriuk when the final battles arise? I always intend to hunt down heretics against our most holy Emperor, William, however I do not always publically announce my intentions. I prefer to be an unexpected player in such games, that way the enemy cannot plan for my arrival."
"I am pleased to hear so, Lady Inquisitor," spoke the deeper voice of Brother-Captain Kyris, of the Grey Knights chapter of Space Marines. "I recall the reports stating that an entity believed to be a daemonhost was seen rescuing this heretic Basavriuk."
"That is correct, Captain. It is for this reason I wished to inform you of my intentions. I will ask Admiral Drayson to follow the pursuing Inquisitors discreetly. If he happens to be in a nearby system on a routine naval patrol his assistance and that of the forces aboard the Cavalier will be available should matters escalate." Nicole turned and looked at the Brother-Captain. His terminator armor easily dwarfed the Cadian woman, and the thunder hammer and psycannon he wielded were comparable to her size without her own smaller power armor, yet he was still respectful of the unseen power she wielded at her command. Nicole was a powerful psyker among an order of witch hunters, well versed in combat against witches and sorcerers both. Her experience with minor forces of the Warp was insignificant next to the knowledge of this dedicated servant of the Ordo Malleus. She was ever grateful for his presence among the forces she could regularly count on. "I did not wish to pursue a foe with such obvious knowledge of the Warp without your advise and expertise. It is true that I have a great deal of knowledge upon possession and battling psykers, however you have a great deal more.. first hand experience than I do."
The Captain nodded, returning to silence and contemplation of the situation. "I assume, of course, the forces of the Cadian 84th and the Blood Ravens will not be informed of the expected nature of any opposition?" inquired Kenneth.
"Correct. I prefer to keep this operation within the scope of my own forces, and possibly a few of the Sisters of the Sacred Rose. There is no reason to risk possible taint and exposure at this time. Lets keep this small and easily contained as long as possible. Kenneth, arrange for an appointment with the Admiral for me where I'll phrase my... request... as delicately as possible. William, inform Sergeant Figaro of our tentative plans, ask him to prepare a platoon of stormtroopers to be on call, as well as several assassins. After that the two of you inform the rest of the retinue what is going on."
"With your permission, Lady Inquisitor, I'll return to my quarters and reflect upon what I know of daemonhosts." Captain Kyris bowed slightly as Nicole nodded, then turned and left the observation deck.
"Something else for you two, and you two alone to consider," Nicole spoke for the benefit of William and Kenneth. "Basavriuk is a self admitted Horusian. There is a good chance that he has delved into other research besides the construction of at least one daemonhost. While their ideas of using the forces of the Warp and Chaos itself are damning and obviously heretical, the do delve into similar areas of the interaction of the Warp and humanity. It's a rare opportunity to get to see such knowledge firsthand and observe it's effects. Keep your eyes open and alert me to anything you may come across in our pursuit. You each know of course, that this was another thing I could not speak of at the Conclave."
They each nodded before leaving to attend to their orders. Nicole looked out at the stars as the secret plots of the Inquisition unfolded yet again, somehow fitting to the dark silence of space.
=][=
The flame was green.
This in of itself was not overly disconcerting - Basavriuk had faced far worse than strangely colored fire in his twelve wasted decades to the Avatar-Emperor - but it was the whispers that made him uncomfortable. There was no one else in the room. Dioq had insisted that no one else be present during the ceremony. He needed to do it alone, to show that he was resolute. And that was why the whispers were so innately terrifying.
Basavriuk had long since become accustomed to terror. It was a strange thing: many Inquisitors would go through their whole career without ever understanding the grip of true fear, but Basavriuk was of a wholly different breed. It was not his blind acceptance of false reassurances that made him immune to horror - it was simply that he was utterly inured to it. From the first moment he had adopted Moriananism, every day brought new terror, and it now elicited something entirely different from him: curiosity.
++You need to approach the basin very slowly. Stay on the pathway, and for the love of the Emperor, don't say a word++
That was Dioq. Basavriuk had put a lot of trust in Dioq, and he sometimes questioned it. Dioq was an immensely powerful psyker - he had sent that message telepathically - but he seemed to lack any formal training that would suggest he was sanctioned in any way. That was worrisome. Basavriuk had made it his life's work to eradicate the daemonic, and he knew as well as even the most blinkered Puritan that an uncontrolled psyker was an open door, waiting to be opened by something foul. That was half the reason Basavriuk kept Dioq around - eventually, something from the warp was going to exploit him, and Basavriuk needed hosts, badly. He had already lost one host after he left it behind on Cortozi for Inquisitors tracking him to find. It had put up a good fight, but the Ordos were prepared that time. That, more than respect for his talents, was why Dioq had not found himself purged yet.
++Okay, Nikolai, you see the basin with the flames in it?++
Nikolai. It was the psyker's informality that irritated Basavriuk the most. He was the only one of the retinue who never showed any damned respect. Basavriuk fought his rage down. This was a petty, small thought. He need his mind clear for what he was about to do.
++Yes, Dioq, I see it. Just tell me what to do. I don't need you guiding me through every step like a child at the scholam++
Basavriuk could distinctly detect a chuckle through the warp.
++Of course master. Is your hand still bleeding?++
Basavriuk glanced down at his left palm. Blood still flowed freely from the deep gash. His acolytes had cut it for him right before he stepped inside the chamber.
++Yes, it still bleeds. I imagine the blood must go into the flame?++
++Right. Don't drip blood anywhere else in the room. Let's not tempt the Warp more than we have to++
Basavriuk held his open palm above the dancing, sickly flames. Several droplets fell into the fire, their sizzling hisses adding to the incessant whispering.
++Eight drops, Dioq. Is it time?++
++It is, master. Just like I told you. Think pure thoughts. Think about the Emperor++
As if you would know, witch. Basavriuk closed his eyes and imagined. Imagined the Emperor. The True Emperor, resplendent in his glory as he finally descended upon the plane of Man, to lead the Imperium into its new Golden Age.
He thrust his stump into the hissing green flames.
And blacked out.
=][=
At a small observation win in the Mid hull of the Firebird Rising Stood three figures Int the Middle stood and older and with a distinguished look. He wore a set of Black Power armor beneath a tan trench coat. At his left stood a Young Beautiful woman clad in a Black Trench Coat and a variation of Sororita style Power armour that had been rather modified to hint a little more at her outstanding figure. Several chains seem to connect her Coat to her armour. Slight glimpses of her neck showed a spider web design Tattoo and her hair in pig tails is jet black. At his right Stood a mankind of lanky even in his power armour, his Grey trench coat hung on his armour. In his hand was something like a coiled spring that he was moving with his hand creating a rhythmic chiming.
Are you quite done playing Mister Palmer? asks a rather peeved Donald Mallard
Sorry Donald. James puts away his toy in a pocket inside his trench coat. Is he here?
If you are referring to the man that quite disturbed our conclave and made fools out of many of us. Then yes, Mr. Palmer can you not feel him? After all you are Psychic otherwise you not been my student.
Uh Yes of course, however I not quite as experienced as you at picking out auras. Says James
Oh he is here alright I bet a dozen Fuji system Mochi he here, and he knows we are here as well. This wont be easy. responds Abigail.
If it was Easy there wouldnt be so many here, and I am sure that there are some Inquisitors who said they werent interested in coming that are here as well. replies Donald.
Wow can you tell that? asks James.
No, Mister Palmer, it is common sense, We may have elements in our group that may try and help our prey, some of the Inquisitors with us are radicals, and many will not trust them. I worked with very few of those present. Only know Inquisitor Tyrak very well and that more by Reputation than anything. Currently he about the only one I would be willing to trust. Too many others are unknowns to me. Snaps Donald.
I shall be an adventure then. Proclaims Abigail.
Well that you can be certain of, Abigail. replies Donald
=][=
Inquisitor Lady Rhiannon Kolbe sank into her chair with a tired groan, brushing a few stray strands of blond hair out of her face and rubbing her forehead in an effort to dispel her growing headache. As the first Horusian to take up arms Basavriuk she had found herself turned into the counter-example held up by the Horusian movement whenever Basavruik's Horusian roots were mentioned; while her role had played an important part in mitigating the political fallout from Basavruik's defection it added even more stress to her already too stressful life. "By the Emperor," the exhausted Inquisitor groaned, "Facing Daemons and traitors is starting to look like a nice vacation compared to Inquisitorial politics."
"Rough day Rhi?" Her retainer Gaelle asked, shooting her employer a sympathetic smile; most Inquisitors would have chastised a servant who spoke to them so casually, but Rhiannon Kolbe had never contented herself with doing things the way an ordinary Inquisitor did them. How Gaelle managed to have an upbeat personality, friendly personality after being raised by the Adepta Sororitas and trained as a Sister of Battle had always mystified the Inquisitor, but over the course of many years serving the Imperium together the two women had become, if not friends, then the closest thing that their differing ranks would allow.
"Politics." The Inquisitor answered simply, taking a few moments to relax and collect herself before resuming her more usual state of decor. "Where are the others?"
"Tamaya's catching up on lost sleep, and ... well you know how Melaina gets when she thinks we've got a big fight coming up. We're all ready to go as soon as you need us; Tam's always been a light sleeper, probably because she's a feral worlder, and Mel's been double checking her gear and taking her hellpistols apart and putting them back together ever since we got a solid lead on where Basavruik was heading."
"And you?"
Gaelle gave a nonchalant shrug. "Equipment's in good condition, and you know I'll do whatever it takes to help you finish your job; plasma gun's good and armor's good, I even got the Chimera prepped in case we're not riding in a Land Raider or something instead. Don't worry Rhi, when we catch up with Basavruik we'll be able to handle him and any friends he's brought along without even breaking a sweat."
=][=
Carrack wasn't sure he was truly awake until the pain washed over him. Real pain. A million knives poked and prodded into his mind, caving and slicing their way into him, out of him. All wanting to be free. Wakey wakey false knight! They want to use me again....
"Varimon! The hood! Emperor save me...."
The medical officers hands were deft as he placed the psychic hood over Carrack's withered brow. "My apologies Brother-Captain, I needed to unhook the serum supply cord first before-"
"Its. Fine. Varimon." Carrack wheezed as he felt the knives in his skull melt away. He was gone, pushed deep back into the depths of his mind, for now.
Brother-Captain Carrack, Nine Hundredth and Fifty First Captain of the Xeros system Grey Knights. In truth he was only Brother-Captain in name. His body had long rotted away, and leading the finest daemon hunters in the galaxy was the work of young men. Something Carrack most certainly was not. He had lost count of his age by now, and spent most his days in drug induced sleep. In truth there was only one reason he had not killed himself years ago, but he would not go there. Not now, with so much to be done in so little time.
"Varimon. Please. Help. Me. Into. My. Device." Talking was harder than he remembered.
The young officer was quick though, and Carrack was in his chair quickly. There had been improvement done upon it by the tech-priests, Carrack could tell. The wheels had been replaced with eight mechanical spider legs, and a servo skull monitored all his vital signs and psychic output. He was grateful for the work, he would not need to focus so much on containing his power as much as he used too.
I'm getting weaker in the mind as well. By the Emperor's grace I hope the hood will be enough to keep others from detecting what's inside me.
He spotted his mute guard, Crusader Zon. He was already in full Crusader regalia for Carrack's awakening. He was the one man Carrack could truly trust.
"Zon. Take. Me. To. Inquisitor. James. I. Can. Feel. Him. Here." Carrack commanded.......
=][=
As the ship Skid, a pearl white Mars class ship, entered real space behind the Firebird Rising and Cavilier, Inquisitor Lord William was deep in prayer at the onboard altar. This situation troubled him so, that someone whose ideals were so close to Thorianism itself could be a traitor of such a great magnitude. As he prayed he was kneeling, sword laid out upon the floor. Soon he heard the door open and a distinctive *clink* of powered armour boots was heard "Canoness, I was not expecting your company" he said, turning around. Indeed William had been right, standing before him was Canoness Katherine, an ebony skinned sister with hair as white as the ship itself. She was equipped in a metallic blue suit of powered armour, typical of the Order of the Sapphire flame, jet pack visible at the back.
"Nor was I expecting you here Inquisitor" Katherine said "my guess is that situation is disturbing to your ideals?"
William managed a small smile, Katherine could always see what was wrong with a single guess, at least when it came to him "you guess correctly, as always" he said, sighing "but I shall not let it prevent my hunt for this traitor".
The Canoness smiled "I can see that your faith remains ever strong" she said "That faith will guide you"
William smiled in return "If you will excuse me Canoness, I must assemble my retinue. I assume you will be accompanying me?" he asked
"Not just I, but a Dominion squad will as well" Katherine explained.
William nodded "I will leave you to you're prayers then" he said, walking out of the altar. As he made his way to the assembly room, known as such as it was where the retinue would be assembled, so that William could choose who to accompany him, his thoughts drifted into prayer. As he made his way into the room, he saw that the whole of his retinue had gathered. Fine people all, but very rarely fielded at full capacity. As he walked through the crowd, he made a few whispers to ten of them. As he stood at the front he said "those who I have selected, fall in line. The rest of you, dismissed" he said, the ten figures assembling as the others left. He looked at each in turn. Crusaders Trevor, James and John, Sisters Gabriela and Grace, both of the Hosptialliter Order of the Ruby Tear, Sister Ange of the Dialougious Order of the Hidden Word, Acolytes Joshua, Leo and Ulrich, each armed with a mancatcher and white powered armour and finally a Preist by the name of Sanju.
William faced the ten "you each know the mission we are taking here" he said, as his Servo Skull flew over to him "we are to hunt down a heretic most vile, one who was within the ranks of the Inquisition itself. We will destroy him, and his wayward beliefs, Ave Imperator"
The rest of the retinue repeated back "Ave Imperiator"
=][=
"Officer on Deck!"
"Thank you, Mr Hayes."
Inquisitor Tyrak strode onto the bridge, his Cyber-mastiff Familiar Rex trotting in his wake.
"Mr Hayes, I am taking a team of six down to the planet immediately. You will remain in charge of the ship in my absence. Keep the copy-rosette on you at all times."
"Aye sir."
The dark-skinned Hayes touched his greatcoat pocket wherein resided his copy of Tyrak's rosette, a privilege that no-one else on board the ship held.
"We will use the Aquila for now, but I want you to be ready to respond to any situation as it arises. Unmask the lance batteries just in case. Mr Serk, you will lead a second team of ten in the Thunderhawk for extraction if necessary. Be ready to launch at any time."
"Aye sir."
"Pick your team from whoever is left. My team will be: Thaddeus (Pilot); 'Huge'; Khalar; Chiiss, Dorak and Shadow. This is jungle terrain, but we'll be using the Hellguns. Full kit, as we could be down there for a number of days, and double rations. Take your Hostile Weather Gear too, and plenty of extra ammunition."
Tyrak glanced over at Thaddeus, who was sitting at the navigation table, black greatcoat left open to reveal the dark Arbites carapace armour underneath. He looked up:
"Sorry chief. I'm on it."
"Get going, but pack your gear too, in case the shuttle gets attacked."
"Sounds like fun."
"Well, I'm sure you'll see it as . . a challenge."
Back in his quarters, Tyrak took a black field backpack down from its hook and began to pack, muttering to himself.
"Right, coat I'm wearing, armour . . ."
He touched the intricate silver power armour he wore under his coat.
"Check; Bolter, check; Sword, check; Chronometer, check; lascutter, check, multi-key, check; medikit, check; Long Duration Field Ration Packs, check; bedroll, check; compass, check; hostile weather gear, check; Infantry Lamp Pack, check; mess kit, check, field tent poles and inner compartment, check - that means Shadow gets the outer layer; Tool kit, check; demolition charges, check; . . . . . . "
Wherever Basavriuk was, he would not find Tyrak unprepared.
=][=
After waiting outside the launchbay for almost an hour, Levinski was starting to get restless. "Tyrak! Open this damn door already! My valkyrie's in there!" He eventually snapped over the on board vox.
=][=
Some distance away from the temple complex in the jungle a small party had paused in their task. At the behest of their leader they'd been circumnavigating the compound, a small cloud of servo-skulls chittering away as they recorded a myriad of data for later analysis aboard the Omnimessiahs Messenger. While the escorts sensors had detected the energy emanations from the facility, Medronicus had desired greater resolution before deciding on his next significant course of action.
Ordinarily, if he'd been planning an extended stay on a world during his quest he'd have landed the vessel in some suitable clearing near to intended work site and mobilized the recovery teams on force. Normally these investigations were fairly routine and often somewhat fruitless and it paid off to complete them in as timely and expedient manner possible before any Omnimessiah blighted Inquisitors showed up to corrupt the integrity of the site and potentially make off with and misuse alien artifacts.
Medronicus made a note in his auto-log to discuss the meteorological conditions of this world with his erstwhile associate, von Orlock, and remind him just how imperative he found it that the Ordo Xenos agent should include notes to this effect when he issued his reports. This Omnimessiah damned precipitation was playing havoc with the augmentations of his servitor, he'd already paused his surveys thrice to conduct the rites of remedial lubrication on the affected joints, and here he was doing so again.
Not that it would matter, the Inquisitor had already left the system a week ago in the company of a Rogue Trader to, as he put it: Seek out new life, new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before, and ... catalogue them for eventual subjugation and extermination. Still, following in his wake had its merits, for the most part, the worlds were pre-pacified, and on their mutual understanding, the research sites as undisturbed as could be expected.
The hulking brute knelt as the tech-adept reached up to the shoulder joints with his mechanidrites, holy unguents of lubrication at the ready to once more combat the squeak that was the tell tale sign of joint wear in his favoured servitor, XM 3.14. 'Xem-Pie' as he was referred to by his menials was a little special, and Medronicus kept him close for good reason. At one time it'd been loaned out to Edward and the Inquisitor had seen fit to have him inscribed with all manner of hexagrammic wards, and as such he was more resistant to the predations of any fool witches who might seek to interrupt his important works.
Speaking of the menials, Rodatius and Todderick, the pair The Adept had brought with him as part of the landing party were visibly nervous and huddled close to the comforting bulk of Xem during the pause, scanning what they cold see for movement with their lasscopes. Jungle worlds never sat well with the ships crew, rumours of nasty, hidden, deaths that lurked on them were rife on the lower decks and Medronicus had long since abandoned trying to control them. At the outset of this excursion he'd attempted to reassure them that the veritable of array of auspexes, sensors, surveyors, and scanners borne by the party would give them ample warning of any significant hazards they might encounter, but this had done little to allay their fears.
Recently, the chittering of the skulls had indicated there had been some spikes in the etheric field readings, an indication of likely warpcraft nearby, that would require investigation and potential subduing. Medronicus made more notes to this effect in his autolog, he was mostly done his detailed surveys and was getting ready to call back his Arvus. When he returned with the contact party hed be sure to include the Psy-Team as a core element.
=][=
Tyrak paused in his briefing.
"Fellow Inquisitors, I and my team will make for the small settlements and attempt to establish contact with the local authorities. There should at least be a member of the Missionarius here. It is possible that they may have seen - to them - unexplained events, lights, or noises that may provide clues for us. It is also possible that they have some scant records about what would make Basavriuk seek out this world."
He paused.
"You and your teams are free to do as you wish. If you require orbital fire from the Firebird, Interrogator Hayes is authorised to act in my stead. I will leave you to whatever course you wish to pursue. Thank you for your time, brothers and sisters. Ave Imperator."
After Inquisitor Tyrak announcement, James and Abby could hear some odd sounds a something like a metal spider crossing a ship floor. Donald shivered slightly in response reminding him of a very unpleasant night. 50 years ago.
=][=
At last, I thought, as the launchbay door finally opened. There she was in all her glory, my own personal valkyrie, the Valorous Heart. I looked at my retinue, taking the time to make sure each and everyone of them was ready and able for the mission ahead. First up was my savant, Darren, an old man, easily over 100 years, he had refused any form of rejuvenate treatments, but for all his physical frailties, I knew I could rely on his mind, if not his body. Next was my two body guards, Liam and Andrew, both veterans of the Cadian 56th, Liam was armed with his trusty hellgun, while Andrew preferred the riskier, but far more deadly plasma gun, I knew I could trust both these men with my life. Finally I turned to see my protégée, Jachai, my interrogator, he had been my apprentice for barely six months, and he was far more accomplished than I was at his stage in training, I have high hopes for this one.
I entered the Valorous Heart, my entourage following closely behind, and set off for the planet below. All I needed now was to find Basavriuk, and eliminate the traitor.
=][=
Xem's servos whined as he stomped his way into the clearing, his currently fitted buzz-saw prothesis having made short work of the intervening vegetation. Medronicus was pleased to note that the landing beacon he'd set in place upon arrival was still there, and that some backward tribe hadn't made off with it as had happened last time he'd set foot on a jungle world. Xem's duties fulfilled, he slumped into a dormant state on the edge of the clearing.
Keen to return to their familiar quarters, away from the perilous uncertainty of the undergrowth, Rod and Todd swiftly activated the beacon and signaled the Messenger to dispatch a lighter for retrieval. Over the Vox came the familiar voice of the ships comms officer.
"... Away teams signal acknowledged, retrieval boat dispatched to pre-arranged co-ordinates. Please advise the Chief Adept that other craft have entered the system in his absence, we're standing by for further instructions..."
With This Todderick turned to face the Adept, only to be waved away by a greasy mechandrite
"I heard Todderick, the Omnimessiah has provided me with superior hearing. For the moment this changes little aside from the fact that I'm going to require you and Rodatius to stay behind and keep watch over this beacon to prevent unauthorized use"
Rodatius slumped, this was something he'd been dreading ever since he'd stepped foot on this miserable swamp. Guard duty. It was miserable, thankless, and carried a good chance of being killed by whatever you were guarding against.
Undeterred by the rain, Medronicus set to reviewing his notes and planning his contact party while he waited for his lift. Rod and Todd took stock of their supplies and set to work pitching a makeshift tent to give themselves a fighting chance of not becoming hypothermic overnight.
=][=
He looked like he was dead. Lotys knew her master wasn't, but that didn't change the fact that he looked like he was. She knew that there were different kinds of 'dead' as well - it's easy enough just to say someone is no longer alive, but once you started talking about dead, things get particular. There was mundane kinds of dead - an old man's heart giving out, a woman being shot by a desperate criminal during a mugging - but in her line of work, Lotys knew there were kinds of dead that it was best not to spend too long thinking about. Torn to shreds by bolter fire, disemboweled alive, having your soul eaten out by daemons. The last one seemed to fit Lord Nikoali particularly well at the moment.
He had completely lost consciousness the second he put his mangled arm into the fire. Dioq told her that the response was completely expected, but even he looked worried. Basavriuk had undergone some form of physical transformation when he put his hand in the flame. There was the obvious change, of course. His arm. Like a reptilian's tail, the arm was slowly growing back, inch by inch. Dioq said Basavriuk was unconscious because of system shock - having one's bones grow back was apparently an extremely painful process, and if Basavriuk was kept out of his lull, it would probably kill him.
But there other changes about the arm. Every bit of Nikolai's arm that grew back, terminating right at the stump where it had been severed, was covered in a strange, outlandish rune. It twisted together and entwined itself like a snake, curling around his arm in a design not totally unlike the one on every locked door in the sanctuary. When Basavriuk moaned or shuddered, the lines pulsated slightly. Thinking about it raised a lot of questions so - as Dioq had suggested - Lotys didn't. Her master was alive, and if Dioq had even half the knowledge he boasted he did, Basavriuk would be healed completely within a few days.
But it was also Lotys' job not to trust anyone, ever. She was Basavriuk's personal protector, which mean that in a vulnerable state such as this, she would have to spend every minute by his bedside. Basavriuk had no doubt surrounded himself with capable men and women, but Lotys found it hard to believe any of them were even half as loyal as she. Of course, she understood that was on purpose. Loyalty was a two way street, and if Basavruik's associates were tools first and allies second, it opened up a whole host of new possibilities.
Chief among those was expendability. Dioq said the first thing they needed to do was test the strength of the interlopers, and the best way to do that was send in a team of specialists. Four APCs packed with ground troops were on standby to set a little surprise at the drop site.
Dioq had touched Basavriuk's embattled mind within the Empyrean and asked for permission to act in his stead until he awoke. Basavruik had sanctioned the attack immediately.
=][=
One Inquisitor Tyrak's announcement had finished Inquisitor Kolbe rose from her seat and turned to Gaelle. "Get the others; we'll be going down with Tyrak's group initially since he's starting from the same place I'd intended to, though I expect we'll end up following different leads."
"Sure thing Rhi." Gaelle chirped.
"Millions of Adepta Sororitas throughout the Imperium and I'm stuck with the perky, impudent one." The Inquisitor grumbled to herself. "Why do I put up with your attitude Gaelle?"
"You like my attitude, and you know it Rhi." Gaelle answered with a smirk. "Well, that and the fact that I can vaporize a Chaos Marine's head at ninety meters with my plasma gun."
"I knew there had to be some reason." Rhiannon countered dryly. "Now get the others, we've got work to do."
Gaelle made her exit and came back a minute later with Melania, who stood a full six inches over the shorter Gaelle and whose long brown hair stood in marked contrast to Gaelle's bob of red hair. Melania's pair of hellpistols looked to have been freshly cleaned and she had her usual healthy supply of grenades. "Tamaya should be right behind us Inquisitor." Gaelle reported, abandoning her informal manners now that the two were no longer alone.
"Very well." The Inquisitor responded. Less than a minute later Tamaya entered, giving an annoyed grunt as the hilt of the large power sword strapped to her back briefly caught on the doorjamb when she entered the room.
"So, now that everyone is here," Inquisitor Kolbe began. "When we arrive on planet we'll be working with Inquisitor Tyrak's forces, but I expect that we'll split from his group to pursue a separate angle of investigation unless Basavruik's activities are obvious. The locals should be friendly and co-operative, so don't cause any trouble and follow the standard rules of engagement. Gaelle, we don't know how long we'll be on-planet so try to save your plasma shots for high-value targets; same goes for your grenades Melania, and we'll be relying on your hellpistols for most of our ranged fire. Tamaya, only use your sword's power field if the target has enough armor to actually merit it; I'll be doing the same with my mace. I assume you've all checked your packs and made certain that all your gear and supplies are in working order, if you haven't do so before we leave. Any questions?"
Tamaya simply shook her head, while the other two women responded "No Inquisitor."
"Right, let's make our way down to the docking bay and wait for Inquisitor Tyrak then; I expect he'll need to coddle his men and prep them a bit longer." The Inquisitor shared a smile with her troops, "Sadly, unlike me he doesn't have the three best soldiers in the Imperium under his command."
=][=
"And you are sure that Maeroc IV is where they're headed?" Nicole looked down at the projected course heading handed her by a Lieutenant. There were far too many for her to bother to learn their names, especially in a ship of the size of the Cavalier.
"Yes, Lady Inquisitor. We've done numerous projections of likely courses based upon their last heading and Maeroc IV has the highest probability of a match. It was ahead of the nearest competitor by multiple standard deviations."
"Thank you, please pass along a request to the Admiral that a suitable vessel for an insertion be prepared for me. I will require transport to Maeroc IV for myself and three Valkyries worth of troops and supplies." Nicole had considered the number of men to bring with her for some time, and she worried about bringing too little troops for what they may face. Reasoning that the first wave of Inquisitors would take the brunt of the attack, she decided that a smaller force would be better suited than a larger one.
"Right away, Lady Inquisitor." The Lieutenant saluted her, then turned and walked down the corridor, presumably to pass along her request. She could demand, of course, but in her experience it was better to allow the Admiral to maintain authority in his environment. She was hardly a fitting commander for enough ships that qualified as a battlegroup, at least, not yet. Perhaps with enough time she could acquire enough experience, but only by watching suitable commanders at work, such as Admiral Drayson.
She thought briefly about the ad hoc collection of Inquisitors that would be on the planet and shook her head. "Too many cooks..."
=][=
Inquisitor James was passing back and forth on the Firebird Rising when he saw a mechanical spider walking towards him
"ah yes, Inquisitor Carrack, I was just about to see you, I hope you are feeling better, my retinue an I were just about to move down to the planet now, I hope you will join us, ah ,there is one of my retinue now" A space marine, at least 8 feet tall walked up "Captain Lysander of the storm falcons, reporting in sir"
"at ease captain"
"Inquisitor, word has come in from your ship, the Ranger, it has been caught in a minor warp storm, and will be in system in a matter of days.
thanks you captain, now come, we must plan the drop to the planet, prepare your squad, and meet me in 1 hour, and Inquisitor Carrack, come , I would love to hear about your...modifications"
=][=
"Ah, Lord James. I was. Hoping. To see. You here." Carrack wheezed from his mechanical breather when he spied the Inquisitor's entourage.
The man was much younger then Carrack, but all men were younger then Carrack. Still, the sight of the younger Inquisitor was a stark reminder of his own lost youth. Papery thin skin were bronzed flesh once was. His arms and legs, once taunt with muscle, now thin and emaciated from dis-use. Carrack must've looked like animated corpse before them.
"Inquisitor. Might I. Have a word. With you? It is about. This man. Basavruik, I think."
"yes?" responded James, looking over Carrack, he was astounded by the amount of machinery on him, he thought it looked like some sort of techno spider."what had happened to make him look like this " James wondered.
"I. Have always. Admired. Your methods, Inquisitor....." Carrack reached out with his mind to gauge his emotional reaction.
"...I wonder. What will. You do. With this man. Were you to. Capture him?"
And now we see his true intentions. Carrack mused to himself.
"Why, Inquisitor Carrack, like any loyal Inquisitor of the God Emperor, I would purge the heretic, destroying him forever" James responded, as he felt a slight presence on the edge of his mind, an he knew Carrack was judging his emotions "well this will show him" he thought, and he projected his voice into Carracks mind "Inquisitor, I can assure you, I am no traitor like that man Basavruik."
Carrack was surprised James had been able to detect his reach. Since the Awakening his already psyker powers and risen ten fold, as did the power of the terrible secret inside him. Channeling such great power was like wielding a lascannon though, not something one could hide from others.
++Forgive my directness, Lord James. It's not your loyalty that I question, but your perception. Do you really think Basavriuk's death will be the end of this? No, I fear more sinister enemies lay at the core of this situation....++
"Inquisitor, yes I believe that Basavriuk's death will be the end of our current problem, what do you mean, "more sinister enemies", surely not other inquisitors?" James responded, slightly shocked.
=][=
The engines of the Thorn of Light sang at full speed as the Cobra Class Cruiser's sleek frame parted a Nebula of multi-coloured particles.
He had just finished his litanies when the Thorn of Light had entered
the nebula. Now he was watching the particles disintegrate against the Cruiser's shields in colourful flashes of light. It gave him peace.
Inquisitor Gabriel Crown, strong hands clasped behind his back, watched the nebula part in front of the Thorn of Light.
The tall, broad-shouldered man was standing in the Cobra Cruiser's Observatorium.
"May this be an Omen of the things to come and clear the path. Saviour of Mankind, Light of my Soul, cleave the Darkness and make room for your Light."
Singing praises to the Immortal Emperor, Crown let his green eyes wander over the nebula and gave a quick prayer, losing himself in thought.
Originally scheduled for Cadia to pick up a squad of Kasrkin for Inquisition training, his mission had changed dramatically when his
Lady Inquisitor had almost been killed by that Daemonhost.
He had just set his boots about the shuttle when he had been alerted. The next hours he had spent praying for His Lady's life and soul at the medical station.
One of her first orders upon recovery had been for her pupil to help in the hunt for the rogue one.
And to uncover, even at risk, what he had learned.
The very fact that Basavruik had been able to bind a Daemonhost to himself was a testament to the Lord's Abilities and radicalism.
Skytear taciturnly furrowed his high forehead.
"Some things are not worth the price."
The words of his mentor echoed through his mind.
Lady Raxia, who now lay, severely wounded in an Inquisitorial medstation, had taught him much more already than would be deemed safe
for most Inquisitors.
But even for a Xanthite, she had always taken a very cautious approach. This accorded her grudging respect with the remaining factions of the Inquisition, she was after all very knowledgeable and more willing to share than most other Xanthites, but it made her an outcast with her own kin.
Now she had sent him in her stead, to maybe act as the one voice of reason that the Xantithes might bring.
After all, Skytear thought, Basavriuk's actions may damn the whole of us. And we've worked so hard, by the Holy Emperor, we've worked so hard.
Crown watched the dust particles evaporating in a rainbow of colours as they came into contact with the Thorn of Light's shields. When they had traversed the nebula, he would get on board a shuttle and transfer over to the Cavalier and Lady Inquisitor Pykonnen. Just in case the message from his Lady had not reached the Cavalier in time, he had been given both a recording of the message and a hand-written, psychically-sealed letter. Lady Inquisitor Nikkole Pykonnen. As himself, she was a Cadian. And every Cadian had fought Chaos before he could even walk or uttered his first sentence. Maybe that would bring both of them a bit closer together. Maybe not. Inquisitor Gabriel Crown had every intention to make the powerful Lady a friend. The Emperor know he might need them if he did not want to get shoot himself, being a Xanthite, walking the dangerously thin line between outright damnation and heresy.
His chronos came to life with a short beep.
Time to get ready, he thought as he fluidly turned around and gathered his gold and black mantle in his right hand, heading for the Corridors.
=][=
The wind whipped at the roofs of the primitive huts, caused by the thrust of the Aquila's engines as it touched down. Through the observation dome Tyrak could see men running from their huts, grabbing black powder weapons.
"Oh good", he commented dryly, "I do love a warm welcome."
Outside, Chiiss was attempting to calm and talk with the first of the settlers when Tyrak strode up.
"I hate this. Too much open sky, open places. Nothing like the deck of a good ship. Made any progress?"
"Yes sir, it seems that the Missionary here serves as the planetary governor. Its only a small community."
"Right."
Addressing the settler, who was still timidly clutching his black powder musket, Tyrak asked,
"Can you . . . I mean . . . could . . . Someone else do it, I can't bring myself to say it."
Chiiss spoke.
"Er . . . take us to your leader?"
Missionary Gelt looked up, irritated, at the first heavy knocks on the door of the chapel.
"The chapel is closed today, you should know the schedule of prayer by now."
What followed were the two words he had hoped never to hear in his lifetime.
"Imperial Inquisition! Open the door."
The old missionary scurried to the door, frantically tugging at the rusty bolt to get it open as fast as possible. Immediately outside were six men, all wearing identical black coats, with varying forms of armour visible underneath. He could see a vessel of some kind beyond. The leader of these men, who wore a black cap in place of a helmet, produced a metal object, coloured dark blue and in the shape of the stylized 'I' of the Inquisition - a rosette to be sure.
"This is my authority, granted by authority of the Immortal Emperor of Mankind. We need to speak with you, and examine any records you have regarding the planet and its history."
Gelt could manage no more than a frightened squeak. The Inquisitor seemed unconcerned.
"We will talk inside."
All six men followed Gelt inside, the Inquisitor's guiding hand on Gelt's shoulder. The chapel door closed behind them with a thud.
=][=
Inquisitor Lord William rose from where he had been sitting, polishing his blade. The retinue and Katherine's squad had arrived back, the former in jungle gear and the latter in shining metallic blue armour. He turned to both "This mission is going to be harder if we have too many of us, I will take my retinue for the primary stages of the investigation, to be replaced by Dominion Squad Righteous Flame when the mission becomes more intense, as this is a jungle world, vehicles are to be kept to landing only, even the Dominions. Ave Imperator" he explained
"Ave Imperator" came the reply, the sisters dispersing back to the altar. As they left, William looked at his retinue, each of them wearing Hexagrammic Wards "You are all prepared, good" William said, noting his own wards "Now, to the lander" he said, the retinue following him.
=][=
Syanx had been elected Subaltern of the raiding party by merit of ritual combat. He had another scar to add to his ever-growing collection as proof of that.
Finding the Imperials had not proved difficult. All the hustle and bustle, it was surprising the villagers had not shot them down themselves. Fortunately, the colonists had not stolen Syanx's glory, and he was eager to prove his worth against imperial forces for the first time in far too many years.
The soldiers, some 40 in all, had spread in a loose circle around the village. Dioq's command had been clear: scorched earth. No mercy, no quarter. Civilians were, in this case, collateral. Syanx watched through his omnoculars as the party leader entered a small chapel of the False Emperor.
"The cowards are seeking cover, using these poor people as shields" announced Syanx to his men. First rule of a civilian massacre, always make your troops feel they are in the right.
"We will not shy from this treachery, brothers. Scramble grenade launchers, wide formation."
=][=
The chapel door opened.
"Stop confusing the missionary, the Imperial Inquisition already got here", muttered Tyrak, "Come in, come in," he dropped his voice, " and under no circumstances look around, we're being watched."
Inquisitor William moved inside, giving no indication he had received Tyrak's message.
Inside, Tyrak turned to his men.
"Code 3, gents, there's an ambush set up for us outside. I hope its not Basavruik himself. Psychically enhanced senses are no match against an effective psyker. I believe there are around 20 out there, but there could be more. Make what cover you can, Inquisitor William that means you too."
Tyrak concentrated a moment, sending his telepathic message up to the Firebird.
++Code 3. Ambush. Scramble Thunderhawk support immediately for extraction. Thaddeus, evacuate the shuttle and make for the chapel.++
He pulled out his bolter from under his coat, and prayed whoever was watching them outside the chapel wasn't able to lipread.
The thought had barely crossed his mind when the first grenade struck the chapel roof.
"Feth" William said "my retinue is based on assault, not shooting". Despite these words he pulled out a bolt pistol "the rest of my retinue, make cover, its the best we can do currently".
=][=
Preparations for her operation were well underway. Data on the planet had been obtained, and after reading what knowledge there was Inquisitor Lady Nicole Pyykkönen had concluded her original idea was the most prudent. With any thick sort of terrain vehicles were almost more of a hindrance than a help, so the Pallas Athena, her Phobos pattern Land Raider, would stay safely aboard the Cavalier and her Stormtroopers would not be bringing any Repressors. Instead three Valkyries, Lenneth, Silmeria and Hrist from the aircraft aboard the Cavalier were being transferred to a transport which would take her and her team to the system, hopefully covertly. Especially after the imagined landing she could picture the more Puritanical Inquisitors embarking upon. With any luck, all of the enemies attention would be on the initial group, and she should be able to approach relatively undetected. Inquisitorial Stormtrooper squads 609 and 501 were preparing themselves and going over applicable equipment, and two of the assassins in her employ, Celia and Lede, would be joining her.
Her retinue had taken many casualties in the battles with the Mordant 13th in their most recent campaign throughout the Scarus Sector. As an Alpha class psyker of the Ordo Hereticus, she had lent her assistance to the campaign in order to provide protection from sorcerous servants of the evil powers, able to help guard entire regiments with her sole efforts. While she had been engaging in psychic battle with many servants of Chaos, a stray Titan shot had hit the building she and her servants had been guarding, with expected lethality. Although she had learned to harden herself against such losses, she still grew angered as she remembered it. Herself, her two trainees and Bosco had essentially been the sole survivors of that incident, and Bosco only because he was highly repairable. Sergeant Franklin Figaro had been the soul survivor of the then current squad 609, after taking cover with a group of Marines from incoming missiles from a traitor Reaver Titan. So many losses, all for the safety of the Imperium.
A communication from the bridge of the ship interrupted her thoughts. "My apologies Lady Inquisitor, however a Cobra-class Destroyer, the Thorn of Light, has approached and is requesting to send a shuttle aboard. There is another Inquisitor who wishes to speak with you in person." Admiral Drayson sounded slightly ruffled... apparently all the Inquisitorial attention he received did not sit well with him.
Nicole frowned at the unexpected message, however acknowledged it. "Please see to it straight away, Admiral Drayson. I would be quite honored to receive a visit from one of my brethren." She headed down towards the docking bays, after all, with one of their own number turning rogue it would not do to appear any less than eager and on the up and up.
=][=
The thunderhawk had just touched down outside the village when James could hear the firefight going on "men", he shouted"move out",drawing his power sword "lysander, take your squad and flank the village, Captain Johnson, form up your squad and come with me" "Now FOR THE EMPEROR, CHARGE!" James shouted, running into the village with his stormtrooper close behind, blowing the head off one of the raiders in the process with the stormbolter attached to his artificer armor and decapitating another with his power sword.
=][=
Syanx had grouped all of his grenadiers on a hill over looking the village in its entirety. With their vantage point, they could see anyone and anything scattered amongst the hovels making up the settlement.
He had ordered the regular foot to advance in step from the north. A good thirty of them, bayonets attached, were slowly advancing down the hill towards the Town Square. Several snapped off potshots into the houses and barns, hoping the drive the populace out of their houses.
From the east, the flame troops came. Four of them, weapons belching fire like warp-dragons of legend, fell upon the houses, setting alight building and person alike. The strategy was not one of mindless slaughter though. Faced with the growing inferno from one direction and the advancing enemy en masse from another, the villagers ran to the only place their feeble, deluded minds could think of: the chapel.
Ignoring the fragmentation grenades raining down all around the chapel, the civilians threw themselves against the great, bolted gates in waves of flesh and blood. Screaming as death fell upon them from above, the people pounded against the doors, clawing at wood and breaking glass. Even as they fought to break open their only defense, more of them continued to die. The flame troops set about lighting up the buildings and the surrounding terrain, as the infantry formed up around the chapel and added their own brand of noise to the cacophony.
Syanx glared at the besieged chapel, holding resolutely against the triple assault. "Fight back" he whispered to himself, staring at the enemy's position, "Fight back, dammit!"
He turned to the sound of screaming and gunfire. Boltgun fire. No one in his detachment had bolt weapons.
Emperor damn them, the Puritans had hit the rearguard!
Syanx turned back to his force disposition. The rest of the party was engaged. He couldn't pull his grenadiers out, or the sea of civilians would eat his primary elements alive.
Instead, he drew his chainsword and turned to the eight men behind him. No words were needed. Releasing a guttural cry, he plunged into the thick of it.
=][=
Inquisitor Kolbe looked over the village, less than impressed by the crude black powder weapons the villagers were sporting. She watched as Tyrak and his men entered the chapel, joined shortly afterwards by Inquisitor William and his retinue, then turned to her own trio of bodyguards. "It would seem the chapel and local priest will be quite well attended to, no reason for us to crowd in there as well. Perhaps the locals will have some useful information though."
The Inquisitor made her way into the village itself, but the villagers were distinctly unhelpful and had a habit of fleeing in blind terror whenever they saw her and the heavily armed guards accompanying her. Kolbe was feeling tempted to simply smash down the door and force someone to speak with her when the attack began, with grenades tearing through the simple wooden buildings and their inhabitants.
While most of the locals fled in blind terror a few tried to respond to the attack, but their crude black powder weapons lacked the range and accuracy to strike the attackers, and any shot that did strike would have had little effect against someone wearing modern armor in any case. The Inquisitor herself had somewhat more success, calling on the forces of the warp and lashing out with bolts of lighting that tore into the trees one of the attackers was using as cover, leaving him a charred husk and the trees in only slightly better condition. Melania drew out her hellpistols and unleashed a one-woman firestorm; each of her pistols had been modified to allow automatic fire and given a power pack with a larger than normal capacity, and while she only scored a single glancing hit on the shoulder of one attacker she forced half a dozen of them to take cover and cease any attack. Tamaya began her own advance, moving carefully to close the distance to the enemy so that she might put her power sword to work, while Gaelle remained close to the Inquisitor, guarding her superior and holding fire until she had a good shot; unlike Melania's hellpistols that could be reloaded simply by exposing the power packs to sunlight or any other source of heat, a plasma gun's ammunition was a limited and precious resource.
The Inquisitor quickly scanned the area, trying to get some idea of how many attackers they were facing, but a grenade landing nearby forced her to take cover, and she was grateful for her armor as she several small bits of shrapnel ping off of it. "Any idea how many enemies we're facing?" The Inquisitor asked Gaelle.
"Looks like about a dozen in our sector, and from the sounds of it the rest of the village is under attack ... maybe fifty or so total." The former Sororitas replied.
"Good thing the other Inquisitors are here, or we might be in trouble." Kolbe responded, giving a tight smile of satisfaction as one of Melania's shots smashed into face of one of the attackers as he peeked out from his cover, and another was disarmed when Tamaya burst out from cover and he used the weapon to block a stroke from her power sword, resulting in the launcher being cleaved in half. "As it is," Rhiannon continued. "I think we'll be fine."
=][=
The Sound across started to get softer clearly it was not coming their way after all.
Well, I guessing we should get going, seems that they are leaving without us. Says James noting the couple of Craft leaving the ship.
Agreed I am sure Jethro has everything ready by now. Says Donald.
The three move to the hangers sits Three ARVUS LIGHTER Borrowed from their hosts reserves. Where he got so many is a question better not asked.
Jethro, is everything ready? shouts Donald.
Yes Sir. replies a Storm trooper Sgt. His Hair is Salt and Pepper grey, He look like he could spit in the face of Bloodthirster. maybe he had at some point.
The three Inquisitors grab their readied weapon and when into one of the Landers.
Hey Ducky why are you in here? Shouldnt you be with your Retinue? asks Abby.
I want to make sure you and Mr. Palmer dont get killed upon landing. replies Donald.
Awe you really care about us. replies Abby with a slight mocking tone.
Better than my own Children. Replies Donald with flat monotone.
Really? says James just before the crackle on the com.
Over the Com come Jethros voice Zone is Hot, Drop and leave for the Lighters. Be ready!
Well you want adventure didnt you Abigail. replies Donald.
Got to love it! says James pulling out a Plasma Pistol.
On of these days that thing is going to blow you hand off and that is if you are lucky. says Donald.
Given this job, has hazards like being Bloodthirster bait, having you soul sucked out of you and some other things that are even worse, Ill take the risk Replies James.
The force manages to land on the far side of the combat, Donalds retinue charges towards him as nearly every one looks for cover and evaluate what is going on.
=][=
A ship emerged from the warp at the edge of the system. Inquisitor Stanislaus looked over the roster of troops that he had taken with him and smiled.
"Ah I doubt that any of the others would be able to even be willing to call upon so much manpower let alone have the ability to do so without drawing attention to themselves" Stanislaus had quite a reputation among the malleus as a wild card
"Which troops will be readied sir? asked Lt. La Faire
"Take half of the catachans on board and deploy them on the opposite side of the planet that the other inquisitors are playing on. Deploy them around the ruins that the reports spoke of, use alpharius to find them before deploying."
"What shields should we use during scanning Sir?"
"You have my permission to turn on the geller field Lt. And also ready the Inquisitorial stormtroopers, and the mystics."
"Yes sir." La Faire saluted briskly then left to complete her tasks.
Looking at the read out of the composition of the other inquisitors forces Stanislaus almost laughed. "They may be prepared to kill this single heretic but not hold the planet, like I am against his friends. That is unfortunate for whatever sorry fools decide to turn this time. "
=][=
...Thorn of Light Docking Bay...
The message from the Cavalier had been relayed to his retinue by a young warrant officer.
Crown had already been on his way to the docking area when it had
been patched through to his person.
He allowed himself a brief smile. It felt good to be welcome for once.
That earned him a quick look from the female soldier in his retinue.
Her Kasrkin helmet tucked under her left shoulder and Plasma gun strapped casually on the other, she drew a couple of looks from Imperial Soldiers as she casually strode down the corridor along with her Boss, who moved with the poise and grace befitting of someone who
embodied imperial Authority.
"All of our things are on the shuttle. I signed for the crates personally. Double-checked it."
She was always utterly relaxed, which had been a reason Gabriel had taken her with him.
Kasrkin Sergeant Polarian gave him a brief sneer before she continued.
"Even the things I thought we might loose are here. A pity noone wants to steal from us. Nothing like a naval execution."
The Redhead gave an amused smile, Battlefield-Humor, before returning to her usual, businesslike face.
It had taken Crown some time to crack up Polarian's facade, but she actually had a nice humor underneath all that military armor.
"Thank you Sergeant. You make me rest a little bit more at ease."
Indeed, Crown considered the woman a blessing by Holly Terra herself. She was a dead good shot with her plasma rifle and she could organize equipment almost unnaturally good.
Gabriel gave her a smile back, which resulted in her eyes flashing in
appreciation.
"Thank you, Sir. Trooper Varius is powering up the shuttle as we speak."
She briefly touched her throat-vox, activating the device.
"Status on the Shuttle, Trooper Varius?"
After brief static, Varius metallical voice answered the request.
The Trooper had his natural voice replaced by a vox-caster due to an accident. He was still the best pilot Crown had found.
"Ready to go in 5."
The Inquisitor and his Bodyguard passed two Guardsmen who gave them
sharp salutes.
"Be there in 2."
...Shuttle, en route to Cavalier...
The Cavalier was a big ship. Crown's eyes studied the massive frame of the Mars Class Battle Cruiser as his shuttle traversed the length of the vessel. No match for a Cobra Class, definitely not. The Nova Cannon barrel alone was more immense than whole ship he had been traveling on.
"You have clearance to Land, please proceed to Docking Bay 14-Sigma."
Crown felt a brief stutter in the engines as Varius changed course to match the new directions.
The Inquisitor lowered a datapad to briefly inspect Polarion.
"You look sharp. You better."
Crown's crisp and smooth voice had trouble contending with the powering up, howling engines of the shuttle.
Polarion searchingly rested her grey briefly on Crown's face.
"Inquisitor Lady Pykonnen, I've heard about her. You know her, Sir?"
"Sure don't. But since I've been assigned to her for this operation, I am fairly sure she is competent enough to handle me."
Polarian gave him a smile.
"Now if that ain't something."
"Pardon me, what did you say, Sergeant?"
"Nothing, Sir."
Polarian's face straightened, but her eyes gave her away for a tiny fraction of a second more. There were signs of a unit-spirit developing between
all of them and that was desirable. They had to get attached and depend upon one another. He returned his attention to his
datapad. Polarion regarded him for a short while before she continued speaking.
"We're going to see some fellow Cadian's over there, are we not, Sir?"
Polarian had been looking forward to seeing some of her family on Cadia, as had Varius, who had a wife and two kids waiting for him.
Noone said anything, but he did not have to read their feelings to know
that they were glad to be seeing some kin finally.
It was the Inquisitor that finally broke the silence with a smile.
"Yes we are."
=][=
It was the locals that saved Thaddeus.
Running from the shuttle, he made a prime target for those attacking the village, but since they had attacked the chapel first, that pitched the locals squarely against them.
Black powder weapons could do little against the attackers, but they distracted them long enough for Thaddeus to get clear of the shuttle before it got hit.
He just reached the shelter of one of the settlers' shacks when a frag grenade struck the ground near him, sending shrapnel tearing into his left leg and bringing him down. Alternately cursing and gritting his teeth, he dragged himself into the shack and, sinking down against a wall, dug out his medikit.
"Firebird 18 down. Repeat, Firebird 18 down", he spat into the microbead on his helmet.
All he could do now was wait.
=][=
Tamaya slipped through the chaos of battle, easily hiding the sound her movements in the thunder of exploding grenades and the screams of the dying. Carefully moving between blasted buildings she slowly made her way towards one of the grenadiers, who was too focused on his target to notice the woman's approach until it was too late. A single swipe of her blade cleanly removed the man's head from his body, and with a grimly satisfied smile Tamaya repeated one of the first rules that had been drilled into her during her warrior training on the primitive battlefields of Elgon II. "A true warrior never lets their enemy know where they are."
"HEY!" Melania shouted out at the raiders, long since caught up in the enthusiasm of the battle and emphasizing her point with a burst of hellgun fire. "I'M RIGHT HERE! C'MON! COME AND GET ME! WHAT'RE YOU HIDING FOR! I'M RIGHT HERE!"
"Having a distraction helps too." Tamaya muttered to herself before moving off to find her next victim.
Meanwhile, Gaelle saw an opportunity to put her plasma gun to good use when she saw a man who, judging by his slightly better armor and equipment, might have been one of the higher-ranking attackers. He certainly seemed more experienced, carefully moving from cover to cover and not allowing Gaelle a clear shot, and he was slowly moving to flank Melania's position. The Inquisitor used her power to launch a blast of power at the man, but when the spell-lightning faded he continued moving forward, having been protected from the attack by using a fallen stone pillar for cover. "I've got him Rhi." Gaelle said with a grin, taking a bead on the man's position and firing; the pillar absorbed the bulk of the plasma blast, but that shot instantly converted a large chunk of the pillar into white-hot and partially liquefied stone, and this proved to be quite fatal as it flowed over the raider.
Unlike her companions, Melania was having little luck taking further enemies, who had begun to frustrate her by using cover, instead of presenting themselves as target. Determined to score of kills, Melania's hand was halfway to one of her grenades when she remembered the Inquisitor's words about trying to conserve limited resources like grenades, and then a particularly devious thought occurred to her. Melania quickly bent down and picked up an appropriately sized stone, and then hurled it towards the nearest enemy; the man, hearing the impact of a grenade-sized object near him while facing an opponent armed with grenades, did the sensible thing and put as much distance as possible between himself and the sound of the impact. Or, a bit more accurately, he would have fled the area if Melania hadn't gunned him down as soon as he broke cover while fleeing from the blast radius of Melania's "grenade".
=][=
I hadn't even landed when the fighting started. Swinging the Valorous Heart around I made for the battle, charging up the newly fitted plasma cannons on the front. I could see them now, plenty of big juicy targets on the hill overlooking the village, but before I could get off a shot, a stray missile caught the wing, sending the lander sprawling right in to the jungle at the side of the village.
Screaming to my men to buckle up, I tried as hard as I could to try and level our descent, but despite my efforts the crash was extremely..........uncomfortable.
"Stay here, I'm going to join the fight, Liam, you're with me, let's go." I said, picking up my bolter and exiting the crashed valkyrie, immediately being forced to take cover from enemy fire.
=][=
The man was alive, just. Several scars adorned his face, and he was dressed in what might have once been a uniform. Blood slowly seeped from the wound in his side as he regarded Tyrak with a fierce glare.
"Leave him alive" Tyrak ordered.
Chiiss knelt down to administer a drug that would knock out the prisoner.
"No, save it", instructed Tyrak.
He kicked the prisoner in his wounded side. The man screamed. He kicked again. This time the man blacked out. Hurg lifted the man over his shoulder, and followed Tyrak towards the waiting Thunderhawk.
=][=
On the thunderhawk gunship stood a man. A man that had seen countless heresies crushed and defeated by his own two hands. Pointing his finger forward the man yelled out in defiance to all that would oppose him in finding the heretic on that planet whatever his name was.
"NANANANANANANANANANA DOOM RIDER! HELL YEAH!"
"Wade get in the thunderhawk." Stanislaus said over the ships laud speakers.
"Hey I'm busy here, And you can't tell me that you wouldn't tap her like the righteous fist of the emperor." Wade replied now pointing at a female menial bending over to finish removing the thunderhawks mooring bolts. Stanislaus made a small mental nudge into the female menial's mind and waited for three sounds, first the sound of the twenty pound wrench she had used hitting Wade in the face, second the sound of an eversore hitting the deck unconscious, and third any sound without Wade talking. To him they were all good sounds.
"Load him on board and take off. Lt. La Faire you have command in my absence." said Stanislaus while the thunderhawk took off and sped towards the side of the planet that had not been "catachaned" as Wade would put it. What everyone watching failed to notice was the last of the single squad of storm troopers that had got on the leaving thunderhawk was not who she appeared to be.
=][=
Colonel Kit Pyykkönen stood at attention in the docking bay, power sword in its scabbard and his master-crafted plasma pistol in its holster, his pet fox sitting 'at heel' next to him. The banner of the Cadian 84th was nearby, as was his command squad, including his sanctioned psyker, Commissar Jessa Dajus (standing out as always in her dress Commissar blacks), and his Ogryn bodyguard, Gaab. In parade formation behind him was Alpha Platoon, his hand picked platoon of hardened veterans. About fifty in number and technically First Platoon, First Company, they were the best troopers his regiment had to offer. Their skills were equal to that of the Kasrkin Stormtrooper platoon under the leadership of Lieutenant Jerimo Sagar, only their skills had come at the cost of brutal battlefield training, as opposed to more advanced basic training.
They stood as always with stoic, iron, Cadian precision. They had each practiced the ways of war since they were born, learned the proper use and care of a lasgun before they learned to read, and had served in numerous battlezones with honors. He had even grown used to designing combined strategies with such legendary forces as the Blood Ravens of the Adeptus Astartes and the Battle Sisters of the Order of the Sacred Rose from the Adeptus Sororitas. Strangely enough, he was even becoming used to the shadowy operations of Inquisitors such as his sister, Nicole Pyykkönen. He didn't know what operation she was up to, where it was located, or what it's objectives were. In truth, he didn't want to know. Not knowing made his job easier; all he had to do was show up with his army if he got the call, and kill anything declared hostile until it was pacified into submission or destroyed, whichever came first.
He would be damned if he couldn't give whoever her guest was a good, professional Cadian show of force welcome however. It wouldn't do for other members of the Inquisition to think his men idle. Something tickled in the back of his mind though, a strange sense of importance of the secret mission he knew nothing about other than it was occurring. He resolved to listen to his intuition and keep his men ready and have transports and plans already drawn up. His intuition had served him well before, well enough that he had been awarded the Macharian Cross. He would continue to listen to it, and with it serve the Emperor proudly as his people had always done.
Nicole Pyykkönen waited in the docking bay for the unexpected passenger of the shuttle. Her long blond hair was done in an elaborate hairstyle that would look completely non-combative if it were not for the rest of her clothing and demeanor, and hung over her left shoulder. Her black and red power armor was in a style mirroring the black body armor and red fatigues of her Stormtroopers, save the tan sleeveless tabard she wore open over it. Her force sword was at her belt on her left hip, a quiver of bolts for her combi-bolter/stake crossbow next to her auspex at her right. Said bolter-crossbow was worn on her back. Like her brother she was Cadian, an aura of cold professionalism was as natural as breathing. She looked quite honestly physically young and icely beautiful, however her expression was one that could be considered detached and aloof in anyone else. Whether it was the power of her profession, or her obvious air of otherworldliness from her psychic ability one could not say. Likewise her age was indeterminate; as an inquisitor she had access to only the very best medical care.
Next to her were her servo-skull, Bosco her cyber-mastiff, and her two trainees, Kenneth McCormick and William Thatcher. Kenneth was a man obviously marked by battle. In point of fact, the left half of his skull from the cheekbone upward had been replaced by iron and steel, including a cybernetic eye. Such was the cost of service in the emperor's name. Kenneth was a veteran of the Adeptus Arbites, and still carried his issued shotgun and boltpistol. He had changed the color of his fatigues from blue to red, however the black carapace armor was able to stay. Nicole actually preferred working with Arbites; they had a very real idea of what was possible versus impossible, a nose for detail and investigation, and something she affectionately called 'grit.'
William was younger than Kenneth, and was actually a former Imperial Guardsmen from the Cadian 84th. Nicole still used him as a go-between when she was too busy to send messages to her brother personally. He had been serving in the Seventh Company, or "The Seven Deadly Sins" as they styled themselves, a light infantry company. Her brother allowed his men to assume Company identities and history, reasoning the increase to morale and Regiment Identity and pride was worth the technical breach of discipline. She happened to agree with him, as thankfully did the Commissars (having seen the effects). William was a veteran of numerous scouting and infiltration missions, and had actually served with her in the field before and impressed her with his natural skill and intelligence. Commandeering him was a natural course of things when the rest of his platoon was lost but he survived along with several of the servants she brought with her on that mission. Kenneth had also obtained a shotgun and bolt pistol for the young lad, and had taken him under his wing with many of their duties, freeing Nicole for other tasks while she continued to teach the pair.
A visit from another Inquisitor was curious given the relative secrecy she set about her mission with, but could be either fortuitous or disastrous depending on what emerged from the shuttle. Her psychic senses had given her no sign or foresight, so she would simply have to wait and see.
=][=
Jumping out of cover, I put a bolt through the first soldiers head. The second, and thankfully only, other soldier in sight was felled by sustained hellgun fire from Liam. "Let's go." I said, running off towards the village, leaving the rest of my retinue to guard the downed valkyrie. The village was closer than I had expected, and in only a few minutes I was at the church. Knowing that Tyrak would have ordered the front door to be locked, I immediately demanded to be allowed in over the vox we were all using to keep in touch throughout the mission.
"Lord Tyrak, looks like I won't be going after the traitor alone after all." I said after being allowed in.
=][=
Syanx was going to die. Helmet less, his leg practically torn off at some point in the melee, and nearly out of ammo, he pulled himself upright and opted to end the fight on his own accord. Ever since his first battle, he had always kept a few extra shots in his pistol just in case.
He had pulled together the six remaining able-bodied survivors and sent them off. The men weren't happy about running away from a battle, but Syanx wouldn't have any of it. As it was, he had to shoot one to get the other five moving. Watching the men disappear into the underbrush, Syanx fitted the barrel of his laspistol up against the roof of his mouth. Almost as an afterthought, he pulled the pins out of all three grenades left on his bandoleer. Emperor knows, he might get lucky.
Syanx didn't waste any time on preamble or reflection. He pulled the trigger.
=][=
Miles and miles away, Dioq watched Syanx die. As the back of the Subaltern's head burst, Dioq pulled his mind farther out to get a better view of the field. Dozens of villagers lay dead, as did most of the raiding party. Even two of the five message runners had already been cut down. The Imperials had taken a few casualties, but it seemed they had a living prisoner to show for it. Dioq was uneasy. Many of the soldiers were dedicated, if not straight-up fanatics, but several were also mercenaries and would spill anything they knew. Dioq had no idea who the Conclave had taken, but it was best to err on the side of caution. Dioq pulled out completely and returned to his body.
Standing up uneasily from the stone slab he had been prone upon, Dioq waved over a red-robed acolyte.
"Begin the Awakening ceremony. Things are about to escalate."
=][=
---30 seconds before touchdown, Mars Class Cruiser Cavalier---
"I guess we're going for a Pattern B insertion here, Inquisitor?"
Pattern B - for beautiful. Polarion was found of Codenames.
The Kasrkin's Carapace, redyed in the black and red of the Inquisition looked striking and intimidating at once. To signify her new posting, Polarion had added a stylized Black Lion onto the right shoulder.
The Black Lion was Gabriel's Icon and the nickname he had been given after he was nearly killed by a chaos lion. Gabriel knew that her comrade in the Pilot seat would look akin - Kasrkin were as capable as they were presentable.
The Inquisitor had found out people were easily impressed by appearances and had worked to utilize this.
It were those who were not concerned with his appearance that either were his enemies - or his trusted allies.
In either case, he wanted to leave a good impression on Pykkönen and the women and men serving under her.
Counting close to 4o imperial standard years, excellent surgery, drugs
and frequent use of Inquisitorial medical stations had ensured he did not look a day over thirty. Black, close cropped hair, a high forehead
and piercing green eyes gave a stern yet handsome look to a face with a pointed, some would stoical chin and a soldier's wide jaw.
Directly on his forehead sat a tattooed red inquisitorial I.
Trained to be a Daemon Hunter, Crown stayed in perfect shape mentally
and physically, resulting in a broad, chiseled frame and alert, watchful eyes.
Gabriel himself wore the artificer armour that had been gifted to him by his Lady while he still served as her acolyte.
The masterful black armour, with accents of red and gold had been specifically tailored to accentuate his build and more than hinted at the bulging muscles of its owner.
Adorned with complicated mystic warding runes and sigils that he had painted and sanctified himself, the armour stood as a very real statement to the might of the Ordo Malleus.
The black chest carapace depicted a magnificently sculpted red I, the symbol of the Inquisition, flanked left and right by an Imperial Laurel. Embedded in it, directly over his heart, lay a refractor field.
It had just recently been bestowed upon the young Inquisitor and he was sure he would prove himself worthy of that honour.
Indeed, Gabriel had spent the better half of a year learning how to move in the ancient and ornate armor and the rest of it had been spent learning anew how to fight in the mighty suit. The servoes were old, and the Techpriests had refused to disturb the machine-spirit of the old armour, so he had been left with no choice but to endure the pain until his body had gathered enough strength and muscle mass to master its handling.
Over it all rested a black fur cape made of a slain chaos lion.
While an acolyte, he had been assaulted by this crazed beast while investigating near Cadia. He had barely survived and parts of his heart had needed a bionic replacement but in the end, Gabriel had emerged the victor. He had been given the right to wear this is a personal trophy after it had been reconsecrate and cleansed. Now, the rich black fur glistened and the Lion's fluffy white mane over his shoulders once more added to his impressive signature.
He gave a quick inspection of the psycannon mounted on his right forearm. The magnificent weapon had saved his soul and life and the souls and lives of many times and times over and the trusty and powerful weapon had become his favourite.
His right leg holster held his most recent acquisition, a hypnotically carved obsidian-black rod, engraved with runes painful for psykers as himself to gaze upon. He had made the mistake of trying to decipher the runes once, which had almost cost him his natural eyes. They had bled for quite some time.
The psyker's own energies contested with the rod, causing constant sparks of crackling psionic anti-resonance, turning it also into a deadly close combat weapon.
Crown could practically feel how the rod sucked his own psychic energy
out of him. Yet, he had opted to use it in battle. He had also found
it completely negated any psychic abilities directed against himself or those near him. And had begun to use this to great efficiency when speaking with those he did not trust.
Standing a good head less tall than a space marine, the Inquisitor still came across as a very tall human. Clad in his armour and all his attire, he was even more impressive.
"Looking fine as always, Sir. Almost as good as myself."
Polarian mustering smiled at him and gave him a thoughtful look.
He had left the choice of weapons to Polarion herself. The Sergeant
had opted for a plasma-cannon. She had always been fascinated with Plasma weapons, but Kasrkin were not trained in the handling of large plasma cannons.
Normally much too bulky to handle without aid, she had commissioned for anti-grav suspensories to be added to it. It had taken a while to requisition and gather the parts and even then she still had to put in a lot of training to develop the muscles to operate the mighty weapon. But the Kasrkin had such a strong will that there was simply no room in her red-haired head for failure. A typical Cadian, she had just endured and her stubbornness had paid off.
When Crown had been informed by the medics that she had even had her bone structure artificially reinforced under great pain to be able to handle the weapon, he had smiled knowing he had selected just the right person for his new to construct retinue.
He gave a nod before he focused himself and turned to the shuttle door.
"Look sharp as always. May the Emperor bless us."
Pykönnen. Gaining her trust in deed and word would be his primary goal.
After that, he could work with her in bringing Basavruik down. And hopefully speak to him beforehand. If it was still Basavruik in his body.
As the shuttle door slid open, it gave way first to a tidy and
large hangar room.
The first thing the Inquisitor noticed while stepping out of the shuttle was the troops that had been gathered to welcome him.
He instantly recognized the poise, heraldry and colours.
Cadians.
Behind him at his left flank, Polarion took position, her heavy black and red plasma cannon orderly holstered on her right hip.
Crown's eyes meanwhile found the Lady Inquisitor Pykönnen. Strikingly alluring and beautiful, she stood out in statue and demeanor.
Flanked by two of her retinue, capable looking males, she seemed
perfectly in control, perfect in poise and stature, the Inquisitor
had no doubt she had her men Loyal and motivated.
Crown strode towards the Lady Inquisitor and put on a humble
yet impressed smile.
"In the name of the Holy Emperor of Terra, I request permission to come aboard and aid you in your search for the rogue Basavruik."
He made a short pause, briefly scanning the Pykönnen's eyes, before he continued.
"I hope and pray my request is accepted in good spirit and both of us may work together in his name."
He smiled again.
"I am Inquisitor Gabriel Crown of the Ordo Malleus. I'm doubly honoured that you greet me with so many men. Most of them Cadian. I almost feel at home."
=][=
Nicole inclined her head, "I welcome you aboard the Cavalier. You will find that there are no shortage of Cadians aboard, as the famed Cadian 84th is present, under the command of the decorated Colonel Kit Pyykkönen." Nicole gestured towards her brother, who saluted Inquisitor Crown formally. She than continued, "It is not quite a true homecoming, but it is the next best thing I should think. I am Lady Nicole Pyykkönen, Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus. These are my associates, Interrogator Kenneth McCormick, and Explicator William Thatcher. If you will kindly follow me we can discuss Basavruik." As she turned and headed out of the docking bay, Bosco trotting alongside her, her trainees allowed Inquisitor Crown and Sergeant Polarion to walk ahead of them.
"I am impressed you learned of my involvement in the search, Inquisitor Gabriel. It was not designed to be public knowledge. It is true that I will soon be departing the Cavalier for Maeroc IV, to assist in the searching of Basavruik. I am doing so without advertisement to hopefully be relatively unexpected and unopposed. I am sure the majority have begun encountering resistance by now, and may need rescuing. Your arrival is unexpected, although not unwelcome."
She had made note of the inborn professionalism of Gabriel and his escort. She always admired professionalism, it lent a good impression that it wasn't a hodgepodge operation doomed to failure. She turned to look at her guests as they walked through the corridors of the ship. "I have my reservations about what the majority of the Inquisitors who went with Tyrak to Maeroc IV will do once they are planetside. Zealousness is an admirable trait, provided it is given proper direction and held back to appropriate levels. I am curious as to your involvement in this, as I do not remember you present at the Conclave where Basavruik was discovered."
=][=
After making the necessary call to the Skid, William looked at the departing Thunderhawk. Sighing he hopped onto the Valkyrie (SP?) he had called, with the rest of the retinue, taking off back to the Skid.
=][=
Inquisitor Lady Kolbe and her retinue made their way over to Inquisitor Tyrak, and Rhiannon eyed the prisoner he had captured with approval. "Glad someone else thought to take a prisoner for information; I had Melania try to take one of the attackers alive but her leg shot accidentally severed his femoral artery and he bled out. Nasty business. In any case, I assume you want to put the man to the question and get us some information about where Basavruik is and what forces he has at his disposal ... anything I can do to aid my fellow Inquisitor?"
=][=
The thunderhawk landed outside the largest of the ruins on the catachaned side Without complications despite the rain falling thickly. This was where Colonel Stigg had stationed her command center while on Maeroc IV. The stoic death worlder was taking no chances with her women despite the flora on this planet and had deployed defensively. Stanislaus walked calmly out of the thunderhawk towards the honor guard. To the casual observer the inquisitor would have appeared as anything but, clad in olive green fatigues, a pair of black guard issue jungle boots, a pair of radiation glasses, and a dark green duster thrown over his shoulder. all of which was worn casually, the sleeves rolled up past his elbows revealing the metal left arm, and the bottoms of his pants were worn over his boots instead of tucked in. Being close enough for the honor guard to talk to normally, They saluted lazily.
"Nice ride Sir?!" asked the sergeant. The scars coming up from her collar and going until her jaw Stanislaus recognized as being from an acid spore mine. Been a long time since they saw action against the nids he thought.
"Yes the storm clouds weren't as rough as I expected. I take it that colonel Stigg is in the command tent?" asked Stanislaus
"Yes Sir!" The squad broke up and surrounded Stanislaus protectively, and began to march towards the camp. The inquisitor got his first real look at the site and was amazed at its efficiency. The camp centered around a series of tents spread out among the clearing in front of the ruins. The main defenses were foxholes and barricades along the edges with a fifty meter kill zone in every direction. The part that would claim the most kills however was not visible and it took Stanislaus' history of working with the catachan's to know that at least twenty five percent of the troops here were past the treeline. Ambush teams, Snipers, and deadly traps were going to kill more attackers by their surprise then the ogryns and sentinels in the open.
Halfway to the camp Stanislaus took his eyes off of the sentinels deployed in the camp to look at the squad that walked beside him. Like every catachan they wore open combat fatigues and most wore bananas or the odd beret on the corporal and sergeant. All still had their camo painted on their face. The sergeant, corporal, and flamer carried Devil's claws with their assault weapons. The rest of the troopers carried catachan fangs. One fang had a dark red stain on its handle. Mentally scanning the woman carrying it he found her name was Hax.
"Private Hax run into some violent locals?" asked Stanislaus smiling. The entire squad stopped to circle him, like wolves fighting an invader. The sergeant spoke up next.
"Thats right your supposed to be a psyker aren't you?"
"If spotting blood on a knife makes me a psyker then every arbites precinct is a spook house." replied Stanislaus jokingly."well come on now you obviously won what is there to worry about?" That seemed to put them all at ease. most started laughing and Stanislaus didn't need to be a psyker to know they stopped thinking about himself as a liability, which made him more comfortable. finally arriving at the Stigg's tent The squad stopped outside and allowed Stanislaus to enter. Knocking first he heard "Enter" from inside and did so. Taking a moment he looked at Colonel Stigg, a woman with a wiry frame that belittled her abilities to fight in the thickest parts of battle. The lone glow globe shone on her dark hair and green eyes as she worked methodically to clean her weapon.
"So what is the problem this time?" asked Stigg still keeping her eyes on the flamer she was cleaning with her Night reaper knife and a cut off piece of bandanna.
"An unknown amount of Inquisitors that I don't know the intentions of. Are you still cleaning your flamer with a poisoned knife?" answered Stanislaus.
"Their your problem, not much we can do to them until they start shooting at us. And when don't I keep catachan's finest on my blade Inquisitor?"
"It may be if they unleash something here. I need you to have servitors document every ruin that your women have occupied."
"Such a boring task why didn't you ask for an archeological regiment?" Stigg mused
"Because I have no use for weaklings that can't hold their own or be trusted."
"That is not the only failing of pen-pushers." Said Stigg with a smile.
"Complaint noted I will be sure to tell my servitors in charge of paper work their inabilities. I hope you aren't going to use that flamer to finish your reports."
"It would appear that your investigative mind is as sharp as ever Inquisitor, did you also predict that I was planning to use it on Wade?. How bad is it?" Stigg asked turning serious.
"I'm going to go find out. Have all of your women ready to pull out with an hours notice. all other inquisitors are off of this planet as far as I know. whether or not they are regrouping or planning to kill the planet I don't know."
"So there is an Inquisitor that cares about the ones he commands."
"I am empowered to protect the imperium of man from threats within and without. Last time I checked Inquisitors were in both of those groups. Take care Stigg, I don't think I could find another catachan commander with your skill."
"What did I tell you about looking at my legs?" Replied Stigg with a smile. Stanislaus could feel the warriors fear of the things that her knife could not cut was the cause of the sudden innuendo. The mask of duty she wore was all but invisible.
"All the more reason to do it while you posses the patience to keep yourself from throwing your knife at me." Stanislaus replied walking out the door, and back to the thunderhawk. "Pilot take us to the battle we saw on the other side. And get me Lt. La Faire, I want to know how many Inquisitors are in system and how many ships we have to watch."
++Hailing all Ships in system report purpose and composition, Under Authority of Inquisitor Stanislaus of His Divine Emperor's Most Holy Inquisition++
=][=
Donald and his forces move towards the Village pulling towards Tyrak. Donald Communicated with his force with Rapid hand signals. through the Vox that they were all using. "Sweeping the outer village area. Enemy forces in a pull back." An Explosion just 100 meters from his Storm troops halt Donald's transmission for a moment. Donald re starts transmitting "Maybe we should align our Chronographs better." Donald turns off the vox. "Damn it this guy is making us look like fools. If I get the chance I am force feeding this Heretic bolter shells."
"Woah, Ducky I never seen you this upset." Says Abby.
"That because You weren't around when my Ex-wife said she was leaving and taking the kids and that I never be allowed to see them ever again. I nearly shot her then and there."
=][=
"Ok here's the deal. We take the prisoner back to the cells in the Firebird, psychically interrogate everything out of his mind, copy it down, dispose of the body and sift through the data to see what he knows. Knew. Whatever.
None of this 'torture', physical interrogation is so uncivilized.
That sound good?"
"That strikes me as a wise course of action, Inquisitor Tyrak; right now this man is our only source of information, and if we resorted to physical torture he might be rude enough to let himself die before we obtained all the information we need from him." Inquisitor Kolbe paused a moment to look over the blasted village, then turned back to face her fellow Inquisitor. "I might want to make use of an astropath while we're on your ship as well; if Basavruik has enough men available to throw away fifty of them on a nuisance raid he must have a fairly substantial following. If that's the case I might want to call in a favor or two so we'll have a bit more force available."
"I find your grasp of the overall situation to be somewhat lacking, Inquisitor Kolbe. That was no 'nuisance raid', assassinating myself and Inquisitor William would have had a lasting impact on the resources the conclave has at its immediate disposal. I would draw the opposite conclusion, that Basavruik has limited resources compared to us, and was attempting to pick us off piecemeal. If he had more troops available then I am certain he would have committed them to delay any reinforcements that might be sent before they had accomplished their objective."
Rhiannon gave a cool chuckle at Inquisitor Tyrak's answer before giving her own response. "You give your own guards too little credit Inquisitor; there is no way the forces Basavruik dispatched against us could possibly have overcome your own bodyguard, especially with the aid provided by Inquisitor William and myself. Besides, if Basavruik were truly desperate would he not he have taken the field himself or used his thrice-damned Daemonhost against us?"
Inquisitor Kolbe gave a tight smile a slight shake of her head. "Whatever the case may be with Basavruik, we will learn his capabilities far better by interrogating our prisoner than by debating between ourselves. Shall we?"
=][=
"I welcome you aboard the Cavalier. You will find that there are no shortage of Cadians aboard, as the famed Cadian 84th is present, under the command of the decorated Colonel Kit Pyykkönen."
"Then you are in good company indeed."
Crown thought for a moment, then respectfully saluted the imperial regiment.
"I served within a Kasrkin regiment as a sanctioned psyker, some time ago. I owe much to my old unit."
Crown singled out the sanctioned psyker standing near Colonel Pykönnen with his green eyes.
"Unfortunately, my duties do not allow the time to speak with you as much as I would presently."
He gave a quick and regretful smile to the command squad's psyker.
As the Lady Inquisitor introduced the rest of her retinue, Crown gave individual nods to each of them, before signaling Polarius with his eyes. She stepped forward, gave a very short bow to the Lady Pykönnen, before she raised a controlled, feminine voice.
"Sergeant Dyna Polarius, Inquisitorial Stormtroopers, Black Lion Detachment, Cadian. Greetings, Lady Inquisitor."
She gave a calm smile to the room, then fell silent again, giving a quick nod to her Boss who took over.
"My pilot will stay aboard the ship and see its properly refueled."
As the Lady Inquisitor turned around and invited Crown to follow her, he quickly stepped up to her right side, paying careful attention to have her lead the way but staying close enough to speak personally.
The Inquisitor noted that her tabard orderly and manneredly covered
most of her feminine form, drawing attention to a face full of authority and smart and watchful eyes. He approved of that.
As she spoke he listened attentively.
"I am impressed you learned of my involvement in the search..."
"I thank you for your words. I am acting solely under orders from my superior. I am sure that my Lady has her ways of knowing things."
Crown was grateful that some secrets where not shared with him by his Lady. He had long stopped to marvel at the near prophetic abilities of his Mentor. Among the Xanthites but also among other Inquisitors, she had a reputation as a diviner. Taking on Crown, who was a more soldier-like and charming personality had to some come as a surprise, but she had told Crown she needed a capable second in command with tactical expertise, not a second seer.
He somehow would feel bad lying to Lady Pykönnen. Instead, he choose quite the contrary. He was trying to get on her good side. And he valued truth.
"It then seems the Light of the Emperor guided me here right on time, Your Ladyship. If Fate has allowed our paths to converge for the Grandness of the Imperium of Man, then I am grateful indeed."
The last time upon his Mistress' ship, he had been allowed to use her library and to his uncomfortable astonishment had found texts of Eldar origin, detailing the practice of foresight and the study of the warp to watch for future events. He could not ascertain if these strange texts had been used to gather forbidden knowledge, but he had no doubt that the Loyalty of his Lady belonged to Holy Terra. Still, she had used that knowledge to further increase her divination ability she gained from the Emperor's Tarot, an act what might be branded blasphemous. But she had done much good for Mankind with that knowledge.
Knowledge is power if used wisely, she said. This Creed had accompanied Gabriel Crown throughout his entire career.
"Thank you again for your welcome. I will bring what I can muster to bear."
Being a Xanthite had its privileges as well. Such as having otherwise heretical knowledge at your fingertips and being able to make use of it. Not as despicable and heretical as to use daemon-powers themselves, but certainly a way to combat the threat Unseen by means most unconversational.
Crown took a quick moment to study Lady Pykönnen's face. Smooth and clean, nothing hinted at the age of the woman and even more so, although being trained to read people like books, at the emotions underneath her finely shaped power armour.
"...Your arrival is unexpected, although not unwelcome."
Her calm voice came across as unreadable as pleasing to the ears.
Gabriel decided to take them for earnest, why not, and chose to relax.
Nonetheless, he had to pay attention to the way he said things. He was after all speaking to a Lady of the Ordo Hereticus. And he was a Xanthite. Did she know? He was not sure, but even if she did, it would have changed nothing. He would die a servant of the Emperor, wether felled by the foul forces he was sworn to combat or the righteous fury of Lady Pykönnen. He decided not to tell her at the moment but wait till the first appropriate moment to do so.
"I'm positive that it was the right time to do so. Everything was aligned by the Tarot."
Gabriel had always focused more on the martial, practicable aspects of Daemon Hunting. Which had maybe been the reason why his Lady had sent him here. He was sure he would take to books soon enough. There was a time for everything, Emperor willing.
Lady Pykönnen turned to him and he returned her gaze with his eyes.
"I have my reservations about what the majority of the Inquisitors who went with Tyrak to Maeroc IV will do once they are planetside. Zealousness is an admirable trait, provided it is given proper direction and held back to appropriate levels. I am curious as to your involvement in this, as I do not remember you present at the Conclave where Basavruik was discovered."
As she spoke her words, Crown gave praise to the Emperor in thought.
The Tarot had indeed chosen wisely, augmented by eldar sorcery or not.
It had led him to the right place.
"I was boarding a cruiser to Cadia to select reinforcements for Stormtrooper training. My Lady was present at the Conclave."
He paused slightly.
"She was nearly killed as the Rogue One made his escape."
Briefly searching Pykönnen's eyes, he continued
"You must have left a good impression on Her, if she sent me to
join you. She does not like to share her troops."
He was not sure about the first part. Being such a strong believer in the Imperial Tarot, she would have sent him here either way.
The second part however, was very true. She valued his service and company much more than she would let on to others.
Again, he failed to ascertain any emotion from Lady Pykönnen. He did what he did best in those situations. Use a charming smile.
"I've been ordered to assist you in your quest to the best of my abilities. What I have is yours to command. Should you have any questions or wish to speak with me in person, please feel invited."
Crown steered his massive armoured frame to the Lady's right side again and kept up his smile.
"I have brought some fine wine from Cadia. I usually drink it on my own, but I would share it. I believe there will be much bad and evil to see and overcome in the Name of the Emperor. We might as well start with a more friendly memory."
He gestured to Sergeant Polarion and the retinue.
"Your retinue and the Colonel as well as his command squad are duly invited, of course. The good things of Cadia belong to Cadians."
=][=
Later, aboard the Messenger.
Medronicus communed with the spirit of the ship, mentally flicking through on-board records and auspex reports. There was little that went on aboard her that he wasn't aware of. He took note that the crew had taken their planned stay on the planet as a chance to catch up on routine geller-field maintenance, swapping out the spares to refurbish the running gear. Other captains may have had to rely on mean of remaining informed, but as a priest of the machine he had transcended those crude methods.
Having concluded his review of the internal goings on, he turned his attentions to the external logs, to his great dismay it seems that considerable Imperial forces have made land fall on what should have been a fairly pacified world. Sensor reading indicated Inquisitorial iconography, Medronicus prayed to the Omni-messiah that they were there as a coincidence however unlikely this was. Hed have to be careful.
In light of this, the adept put preparations in place to land in force, his first wave would be himself, thirty skitarii and junior adepts to supervise operations and assist in securing the landing site, the boats would then return for the research teams and sentry guns. Once assembled his task force would use the routes hed scouted on his previous trip to approach the site of interest and establish a defensive perimeter. The boats would then return to the ship, which in turn would maneuver behind the moon and enter into silent running mode, keeping a close watch for their signal on the passive augers. There would be no point in attracting more attention than they had to.
Mean while, planet side.
Rodatuis watched the jungle nervously; on a better day he might have noticed the warriors skulking in the underbrush and had a fighting chance. Today wasnt a good day, and the cultists poisoned dart picked off the weak spot in his kit under the arm pit. With a gurgle his neck swelled from the toxins, his wind pipe cut off, he rapidly asphyxiated and slumped to the earth.
The thud of his comrade hitting the turf startled Todderik out of the stupor hed fallen into as are result of the tedium of watch, and the fatigue of duty. Convinced that it wasnt safe where he was, he broke for a hiding hole hed spotted earlier near the edge of the clearing. Right into the arms of the waiting cultists. With a sharp blow to the head, he was out like a light.
The colourful one will be appeased by this morsel, feeble as it is. Go now and prop the other one up again, we cant have them suspect their peril until its too late
=][=
The first thing he noticed was that it was very, very cold.
Nikolai didn't remember it always being this cold. Had he forgotten what being awake was like? How long had he been out?
For a moment, Nikolai thought he might be blind. As thoughts frantically sped through his mind, he then remembered he had not yet opened his eyes. Blinking them open, Basavruik sat up, viewing the world in a perfect clarity he had apparently also forgotten. It was all...so different. He didn't remember anything being like this, everything being perceived so much more sharply.
Basavruik swung his legs around and got up off the slab. To his surprise, his legs had not atrophied at all. In fact, they felt stronger than ever. Almost as a test, Nikolai jumped into the air. Had he ever been able to jump that high?
Then he remembered. The arm! Excitedly raising it so that he could see it, Basavruik stopped dead. What was wrong with his arm? It wasn't right. It was covered in shapes and lines, like a madman's scrawl. What had they done to his arm? Basavruik swung the arm back and forth, testing it's flexibility. It seemed to be working alright. But why did it look so strange?
Then his arm started tingling. Basavruik held it up to his face, staring at the limb quizzically. The marks began to light up, a sickly violet glow running through the tattoos. What in the Emperor's name?
As the glow finally made it to the tips of his fingers, he felt his hand grow hot. Holding it out ahead of him, he suddenly yelped as a bolt of light shot from his palm, incinerating the table stand across the room with a hiss.
The door burst open, and a red-robed attendant peered in.
"Sir-?"
Basavruik turned on the man, eyes alight with fury.
"Get Dioq. Get him now."
=][=
William, now back on the Skid, decided to contact Inquisitor Lord Tyrak. At the vox-screen, he relayed his message "Inquisitor Lord Tyrak, I assume you made it out with little injury. If you wish to obtain information out of your prisoner, then you may need to try physical methods, after all this person may have been near that damned Daemonhost, and may be used to mental and psychological attacks as a result." After pausing, he added "I've personally seen what happens if you try to torture a man who has been near a daemonhost, it isn't pretty"
=][=
Maeroc IV
As the Cobra class destroyer Sanguine emerged into realspace above the heretic world. If Ryas had his own way he would have preferred to just scorch the world with cyclonic torpedoes and virus bombs but the situation had called for a conclave. And he had been specifically called in by old contacts.
He felt the deck drop for a moment as the modified Starhawk bomber launched from the hangar of the Cobra with a lurching drop. The eighty metre length of the modified vessel dropped its void shields coming online for the descent into the planets atmosphere. He opened a communications channel with the Inquisition headquarters on the planet. "This is Inquisitor Ryas Colax of the Ordo Malleus, requesting orbital approach and landing pattern." He could hear the comments away from the microphones as they discussed his arrival before they responded.
"Welcome to Maeroc IV Inquisitor. Transmitting approach and landing vectors now."
Inside of ten minutes the Starhawk descended into the atmosphere its gatling lascannons hunting for enemy targets fortunately finding none. He didn't bother calling up his astropath, he'd refuse to come anyway and for good reason. Ryas didn't employ untouchables for a reason. He didn't need to. He was one of the few Inquisitors who actually was an untouchable himself. A possessor of the Pariah gene his very nature blocked Psyker trickeries, and flimsies of the Warp. As such he would be an important addition to the Conclave.
As the craft settled on the starport landing site Ryas looked around in his black power armour edged in gold and covered with Inquisition iconography. In his right fist he held an Incinerator and the right was a mighty chainfist. In its holster was a master-crafted plasma pistol and on his head was settled his helmet. But upon his back was a jump-pack of the mighty Astartes built for him specially by the Adeptus Mechanicus.
He was certain someone would be there to see to him soon enough and decided to wait.
=][=
Tyrak stepped off the ramp of the Thunderhawk onto the landing bay. Taking in a deep lung full of ship air, and feeling the engine vibration in the deck plates underneath his boots, he muttered,
"Much better."
"Sir?"
"Its nothing."
Hayes walked into the landing bay.
"Sir, we've received a message from an Inquisitor Stanislaus, requesting permission to dock. Do you want me to proceed?"
"Very well Mr Hayes. Lets get this over with. Take the prisoner to the cell bays. Mr Serk, you and your squad of ten will remain here to act as an honour guard. This shouldn't take long. Hopefully we can all get it over with and get on with what we are supposed to be doing."
Out of the corner of his eye he could see Hospitaller Superior Laureine berating two of his men, who carried Thaddeus on a stretcher. Obviously they hadn't given Thaddeus the right stabilizing drugs. Or too many. He'd have to wait to check how fit Thaddeus would be by the next mission . . .
Inquisitor Kolbe glanced over briefly as the prisoner was escorted away by Tyrak's men, then turned to regard her fellow Inquisitor. "As he is your prisoner I shall the interrogation in your more than capable hands for the moment unless you wish me to present; I would like the opportunity to make a few inquiries of my own with the man once you finished your business with him but before he is disposed of."
Calling out to Inquisitor Tyrak, Donald says "I should remind you that their might be more than our Heretic at work here. We should be mindful of this. Is it possible to keep this area secure so that we have a safe landing site?"
"Inquisitor Mallard, I will go back to the planet to secure the landing site, I need to find out if the Valorous Heart will ever fly again anyway." I said, as I exited Tyraks thunderhawk, quickly thanking him for giving me a lift back to orbit. "I could use some stormtroopers though, if anyone has some available?" I finished, before leaving to find tech-magog Alasor, my personal envoy to the adeptus mechanicus, as I knew I would need his help if I was ever going to get the valkyrie flying.
"You can borrow my Ten Storm Troopers. Jethro join this unit and secure the area."
"Thank you Inquisitor Mallard." I said, gesturing to Alasor to enter the dropship we would be using to return to the planet, and then entering myself, Mallards men following in close behind, I could see these men were well trained, and I knew I would be able to count on them if a fight started.
"Go right ahead Inquisitor, I'll see you planetside soon. Could you please send personal files regarding your men to tech-magog Alasor though, I'd like to know what I can expect, and it will make it easier to provide accommodation for all of them if you wish to make an extended stay." I said, in response to Inquisitor James' request to land.
Of course ,I will send you all of the information to tech-magog Alas though, but it is not complete, as my scanners were not able to penetrate the jungles"
[planet-side]
"Inquisitor Levinski, a pleasure to meet you" James said, as he walked out of the Thunderhawk, onto the landing strip "I hope I can have your support, I plan to make an expedition into the jungle, but I only have the veterans of the Storm Hawks, and my personal stormtroopers"
"Welcome to Maeroc IV Inquisitor James, I will offer what support I can though I regret that my resources are limited, and I am currently in charge of keeping the landing zone safe. If you wish I can send 5 of Mallards men with you, though I should probably clear that with him first, and I doubt they will make a huge difference as the forces you have available should be enough. I have noticed that our scanners are unable to penetrate the jungle as well, it is curious, the jungles do not seem particularly dense, perhaps it is the result of the traitors warp-worship, I'm sure we'll find out soon enough."
"my thanks Inquisitor Levinski, yes, I believe my troops should be enough, but I believe that overkill is a necessity in this case, I also believe that the jamming is the heretics fault, so I want all I can to combat him"
"Very well Inquisitor, I will send a message to Inquisitor Mallard to see if he will allow some of his men to accompany your expedition, and I will also send my protégé Jachai with you, he is a fine warrior and an intelligent man, I'm sure he will be of use to you." Levinski said, before sending the message up to Inquisitor Mallard.
"Welcome Inquisitor, our plans are to execute the traitor, beyond that we are currently simply securing the landing zone, making it safe for the others to land. Inquisitor James is making an expedition in to the jungle as well, to try and find the source of the jamming of our scanners." Levinski said, as the new arrival exited his Starhawk. He found it an odd sensation not being able to read the new Inquisitor, he had never liked untouchables. "This cult, a chaos one I presume?"
"One would assume so, his robes were covered in crude warp spawned icons, not the traditional sort but that is to be expected of such non-standard cults. The Gods are probably the same just with different names and icons according to local custom. Or perhaps they worship the lesser powers of the warp. In truth I cannot say with certainty the psykers intent. He seemed to dislike trying to get close." One of Ryas' Stormtroopers laughed aloud for a moment before stifling it. The Cultist did squeal like a girl after all.
He stepped over to the crude maps gathered on a makeshift table barely noticing certain of his colleagues take steps back, close was safe if unnerving, too close was repulsive to a psyker. Ryas had long ago ceased noticing when his fellow inquisitors decided to keep their distance even if they were happy to practically hug him if an overly powerful psyker or daemon was present. He looked at the maps of the jungle. With a typical monodominants heavy hand. "Have you considered just bombarding the forest? Never mind we need to see Basavruik dead." A bombardment of melta torpedoes would have made identification difficult.
"If Inquisitor James would feel comfortable with it Id join him on his expedition. If witchery is involved my own nature would disrupt it the closer we got, my actual presence would allow one of our ships to target the site from orbit, we evac and bombard. Unless we had something else in mind?" Ryas was uncomfortable with the level of planning that seemed to have gone into this. The plan wasn't to execute the traitor, that should be the result of the plan. A plan is how one goes about getting that final result.
"We should also have the fleet Astropaths trying to find usual or overly powerful psyker activity, I doubt they will discover anything but there is a chance Basavruik made mistakes in his preparations." He said hoping some of his colleagues would step up and get some indirect activities happening as well.
"Bombardment was my first though as well, but alas, Lord Tarok would not have it, and he is essentially in charge of this operation." Levinski said, gesturing to tech-magog Alasor to join them. "I'd agree that having the astropaths looking for powerful psyker activity might be a good idea, but there are a lot of inquisitors on Maeroc IV, many of which are powerful psykers themselves. Ah, magog, is the Valorous Heart battle-ready?"
"No my lord, not yet, but I am confident I can have it working within the next two days."
"Very well. Inquisitor Ryas, I will take my leave now, I have other matters to attend to, and I'm sure you and Inquisitor James have many things to discuss."
"I thought about bombarding the forest too, but ,what if he escapes? I think we should go in and kill him ourselves, and use bombarding as a last resort." James said to Levinski "Levinski, I think we should proceed into the forest immediately, what do you think?"
"I believe that may be a wise course of action Inquisitor James, but I myself cannot go with you, I have duties to attend to here, Inquisitor Ryas has offered to join you though. Does anyone have a clue where he might be?"
"I understand Levinski, I don't know where Ryas went, he just stormed off, I'll go find him"
"Very well. What about the traitor though, any knowledge on his whereabouts?"
"No, all I know is that the traitor is hiding in the jungle, my plan was to head to the place where the jamming was the worst, and hope to find him there.
"That's a good plan Inquisitor, I wish you both luck, but now I really must attend to my Valkyrie."
"No, all I know is that the traitor is hiding in the jungle, my plan was to head to the place where the jamming was the worst, and hope to find him there" Inquisitor James commented.
Ryas returned examining the map. "I doubt he'll be there but the jamming needs to be destroyed in any case. With my Starhawk we can at least get somewhat closer, maybe start a few fires."
"What about the trees?" Somebody asked, Ryas didn't waste his time trying to determine who.
"I crashed into an oak forest once, landing jets just cut out."
"And?"
"I used the wood to refurnish the Starhawk. When you have a ship that weighs close to 6'000 tonnes mere trees don't really worry me."
"Good ryas, Im glad to have your support, how about you go in your Starhawk, and Ill use my thunderhawk, we can start where the jamming is the worst and work out way out"
=][=
As the transport soared towards the planet full speed, Inquisitor Gabriel Crown cast out his gaze over the roomy cargo bay. Polarion, always by his side, had sat down on a heavy steel crate and was rechecking the circuitry of her plasma-cannon. They had made some last changed to it last night no one should know of. Gabriel liked to keep aces up his sleeve. And being in the Inquisition, much more so a Xanthite gave you an extremely interesting arsenal of aces.
He had enjoyed the last night. The wine had been good, and Pykönnen had proved herself
a polite host. He had tried to talk with her at length, but regrettably, even admirably, the cadian, blonde-haired lady possessed a sense of duty so strong she had not allowed her mind to relax. Gabriel agreed with her there were more pressing matters at hand. Maybe, he thought, they would have more opportunity to talk at a later time. But still, he had wanted to set aside time for both of them to get to know each other, before embarking onto their mission. The results of that, to him, had been worth it. The cadian inquisitor lady had not cast him out of the system or worse upon learning of his membership within the Xanthites. And if she disliked him, she hid it masterfully. He sensed potential in that. The physical appearance aside, Nicole Pykönnen promised a sharp mind, martial skill and was connected to high-ups within the cadian military. A nice package. A Xanthite could always use every friend in his quests. Gabriel was no tactical genius, he had never been and he doubted ever would have time to study and hone his tactical skills to perfection, but he was good with people and a talented diplomat and he had the martial skills not to be labeled a hypocritical pretender. People usually followed him out of personal loyalty and because they believed him not by Inquisitorial decree alone. The black-haired cadian delivered on the things he said.
It all checks out, Boss. Energy Output is at 120 percent.
Polarians voice sounded satisfied.
120 percent? That is 20 percent over the safety margin. If it blows up, youre going to be dead for sure.
A nearby trooper had decided to comment on Polarians violation of standard security safeties on Plasma weapons.
Want to see my Inquisitorial permission, Trooper?
Polarion shot the cadian a charming smile and then reached for her left thigh, her hand wandering suggestively over her tight-fitting bodysuit.
I have it hidden&somewhere here. Now lets look, shall we?
That was one of the things she had picked up from her boss. Smile hard and smack back. Only that Gabriel was not a woman.
Sometimes, the Inquisitor thought what social arsenal of weaponry he would have at hand if he was. It frightened him.
Uh, no. Its alright Maam.
The trooper turned around to his squad who welcomed him with amused laughter.
Morale was good, apparently. Polarian gave her boss a playful smile.
They never follow through, too bad. About time I get a vacation.
Then maybe you should get another job. I hear theyre always looking for farmers on agri-worlds.
Crown returned her smile as he inspectingly turned his psycannon.
Polarion gave him a lengthy mustering look before she returned her attention to her weapon.
You know any good spots, Boss?
Lots. Were headed for one of them right now.
Polarion again smiled in agreement.
Thought so. I better get her pretty and me in shape then.
With that, Polarian connectively slid the energy cable from her backpack into the rear conduit of her weapon, which started to hiss and hum with renewed vigor.
Beautiful , she said with a smile.
=][=
toward the end of the system, a disturbance could be felt in the warp, as a ship was coming out of it. As the endeavor class light cruiser (look it up un BFG) came into orbit, the word "ranger" could be seen on the side of it.
(aboard the ranger)
"bring the heretic in here" said James, as a guard brought one of the heretics captured in the battle up to him.
"Thank you captain, you may leave now" Jaes said, as he went and locked the door,"now heretic, lets see what you know..."
James wiped his head, interrogating the heretic had proved hard work, when captain Lysander walked up"sir, we have lost contact with th admech force on the planet, last reported near some ruins, what should we do?"
"Prepare for a combat drop, we are going to find out what happened to those men"
"Should I inform the other Inquisitors, my lord?''
"no need, they don't need to know about this"
=][=
The doors flew open, striking the walls with a bang, and Dioq spun away from his work, his look of annoyance quickly vanishing as he saw it was Basavruik.
"What have you done to me, witch?" snarled Basavruik through his teeth. "Emperor damn you, what have you done?"
"There was...a...a slight complication in the re-grafting process" said Dioq, "An aberration"
With a roar, Basavruik grabbed the psyker by his collar and hoisted him up against the wall.
"Damn your subtleties! Tell me now, simply, precisely what you have wrought!"
Dioq attempted to reply, but only gurgling issued from his mouth. Basavruik held him there for several moments and savored the sounds of Dioq fighting to breathe.
He released Dioq, and the man fell to the ground, massaging his neck and gasping for breath. When he looked up at the inquisitor, his eyes were full of fear. Finally thought Basavruik a measure of respect.
"Something went wrong" explained Dioq "we don't know how or why, but some denizen of the warp violated the ceremony. It reached the conduit in the basin, and when you stuck your arm in it...well...it entered your body. A partial possession."
Basavruik couldn't even speak. Trembling with rage, he hoisted the psyker to his feet, pulled out his bolt pistol, and pointed it right between Dioq's eyes.
"Give me a reason, Francois. Give me a reason I shouldn't end your miserable life right here for what you've done!"
"But it's a gift!" shrilled Dioq, "An advantage! The daemon that has entered you is only a minor one, possibly just a beast or a hound of the Gods"
"You've not convinced me", said Basavruik, pulling the slide back on the pistol.
"Listen! The fact that you are still sane - the fact that you can still control yourself - means the daemon is too weak to overcome your mind! You can coexist with it, use the benefits. This is a tool, just like a daemonhost! You've always said the warp was just a weapon waiting to be used!"
Basavruik thought about this for a moment, and then returned his pistol to its holster. Turning his back on the psyker and stalking out of the room, Basavruik turned to Dioq just before leaving and stared into his eyes.
"You've stayed your execution one more day, witch. But you owe me. I want you to find these Puritans for me, and eliminate them. I'm no longer in the mood to play games"
"Kill them?" wailed Dioq "But together, the Conclave is too much to simply kill!"
"Maybe for you, perhaps" sneered Basavruik.
=][=
Inquisitor Ryas looked around the desolate strip. He'd been mistaken in referring to it as a Starport, more accurately it was a Crater that someone had dropped a few landing lights around. His navigator had informed him the trajectories and vectors had been transmitted by one of the ships in orbit. Already his landing had acquired interest and probably no small amount of attention from the enemy. His micro-bead ticked. "Inquisitor, Im detecting a psyker in the crowds." Next to him the six calm figures in thick hessian robes didn't twitch. Arco Flagellants never did until it was too late.
"Open a channel to the Firebird Rising." A moment later a tick over the comm-bead connected him to the vessel. "This is Inquisitor Ryas Colax, I have just deployed to the Surface, I seem to be attracting a crowd and my Astropath seems to have found a psyker somewhere in the crowd."
"Inquisitor, message acknowledged and being passed on." The response came as four Stormtroopers exited the Starhawk to flank Ryas and raised their weapons. It was fortunate they were within the Starhawk shield envelope. The crew began to cycle up the guns to active. The crowd seemed remarkably calm for an excitable lot of primitives.
One of them stepped forth from the crowd. Cowled in the robes of a local priest Ryas recognized the symbols of the archenemy etched in gold and red. The gold seemed to glow for a moment before the figure howled and stepped back out of his untouchable effect. It was the Psyker.
"You aren't welcome her dog of the false emperor!" It uttered in broken low gothic. We do not like intruders into our domain." Ryas laughed aloud making the Psyker even more uncomfortable around his negative presence.
"You are merely vermin squatting upon the God-Emperors domain. While not our main target we'll be happy to give you our eviction notice." He lifted the Incinerator and triggered its small flame ready to ignite blessed promethium.
"We share the same enemy, but that does not make us friends!" The Psyker roared before casting some warped obscenity that took him and his followers away on the wind as ash. Ryas had no doubt they would be formed again elsewhere.
=][=
"So are you going for the rugged archeologist look?" asked Wade.
"What do you mean?"
"Well from the autopsies I've seen Inquisitors appear to find armor in style."
"What Inquisitor did you dissect Wade? Do I need to turn you in? I mean come on, I'm already on bad enough terms with some of them as it is."
"It was only an interrogator.
"Thats a relief. Who's interrogator did you dismember?
"Actually it was an interrogator and his Inquisitor."
"I would ask but."
"But what?"
Stanislaus pulled out a combat shotgun and aimed at Wade. "This with your cancer causing every cell in your body to regenerate every six seconds I don't need to worry about the repercussions of this." BAM! Pulling the trigger Stanislaus painted the interior of the thunderhawk with Wade's skull. A helmeted head poked through the doorway with a hellgun leveled and scanning for hostiles. The black faceplate slid up revealing a scarred face that wasn't surprised at what it saw.
"For Something he did or to make sure he didn't ruin your meeting with lord Tarok Sir?" asked the Stormtrooper
"Both"
The thunder hawk approached the ship and waited for docking clearance before proceeding to the landing bay. "Time to go." said Stanislaus as the Stormtroopers filed in behind him. The thud of the transport setting down sent a tremor through the compartment. The hiss of decompression heralded the opening hatch and invaded the space with light, Stanislaus was already walking down the ramp.
=][=
Medronicus reviewed the situation after the fire fight, theatres like this could quickly corrode a force of its combat strength if precautions weren't taken. Munitorium records suggested that deathworld regiments were more resistant to these impacts, but very few of the omnimessiahs domains matched that description. He'd already lost a sixth of his combat strength, a fifteenth permanently, the balance recoverable when the support wave arrived, assuming nothing interrupted it.
The senior adept began to pen the missive he would have the astropath transmit when he arrived, this was seeming more and more like a task for Edward, and less and less like anything he wanted to be involved in. Understanding alien archaeology was something he pursued, confronting cultists like the ones who lay dead amid the plasma burns was something to be left to those who enjoyed that sort of thing.
=][=
Ryas climbed back into the Starhawk and reviewed the sensor data and found an Inquisitorial party landing at a more isolated site. In seconds the Starhawk was on its way.
At the landing site the other Inquisitorial agents looked up at the vast bulk of the Starhawk bomber as it descended on VTOL jets. Its black outline was unmarked by any symbols and its weapons scanned constantly. It touched down with a heavy thump and the colossal forward ramp lowered to the ground. The ten men of Ryas' combat retinue emerged from the Starhawk. The Arco-flagellants forming a placid line and the four stormtroopers a cautious guard of the ramp as Inquisitor Ryas descended in his powered armour. Those with psyker abilities found them snuffed out as Ryas came closer his untouchable quality making their skin crawl. "Brothers, it seems that Basavruik isn't the only cult here." The others stared for a moment.
"I was interrupted at my initial landing site by a Cultist psyker and his followers. He implied that intruders into their domain were unwelcome, later implying that Basavruik was one of the intruders." He didn't bother elaborating. Trust was scarce but information like this was likely unsurprising and unlikely to be questioned. "As I am a new arrival what are our current plans and directions?"
=][=
Tarok paces the landing bay waiting for Stanislaus
Seeing a man in power armor frantically pacing back and forth Stanislaus still wearing his green fatigues started walking forward his white hair blazing in the glow globes light. The space in front of the irritated man was empty and obviously for the intended dignitary that was supposed to be here. "well it looks like my humility in having my pilot land in the normal spaces was a bit unexpected for him." he said to himself. Stepping forward into the fully lit space where Tarok had intended him to land Stanislaus stepped into full view and hailed Tarok "Greetings and salutations Inquisitor lord Tarok."
"Ah, Inquisitor Stanislaus, glad you could join us. What is it you wished to see me about?"
"I wished to find out what brings you to such a mundane planet. All I am here to do is catalog the ruins then leave, surely it is a task only one inquisitor is needed for. So the question is why would multiple inquisitors be sent to preform such a simple job? Why instead of mass manpower to complete the task they have brought only their retinues and some extra firepower. And why is a second team of inquisitors coming to help without me being notified of their arrival?" Stanislaus asked sharply looking directly at Tarok.
"You are not aware of our reasons for being here?"
Tarok looked warily at Stanislaus.
"At a recent conclave, I convicted Inquisitor Basavruik of heresy and warpcraft. At the passing of sentence, he summoned a daemon to facilitate his escape, killing in excess of 30 Inquisitorial operatives. I managed to take off his right arm with bolt shot, but was prevented from further pursuit by . . . unforeseen complications. I am leading the cell to track down and execute Basavruik, he was last tracked to this planet. We have already fought and defeated one of his foul creations, and were attacked by some of his cultists when we first attempted to make planet fall. Two prisoners were taken, one has already been interrogated by Inquisitor James."
Tarok stopped pacing and faced Stanislaus.
"The fact that you are not aware of our purpose is frankly suspicious. As such, those suspicions must be allayed."
From under his coat Tarok swiftly drew his bolter and pointed it firmly at Stanislaus. Tyrak's men fanned out, aiming their weapons at Stanislaus' men, who in turn raised their own weapons. Menial servitors in the landing bay turned from their tasks, combat implements extending from their arms.
"I am taking you into custody, Inquisitor Stanislaus, along with your men, until I can ascertain exactly what your part in this is. Please order your men to drop their weapons, assuming all goes well they will be returned to them at a later date. Cooperate fully, and I will not have to resort to violence or interrogation. You will be confined to quarters, rather than a cell. You may keep your rosette."
Tyrak's ice-blue eyes matched Stanislaus' stare.
"I'm sure you understand."
Stanislaus looked directly at Tarok. "You and your men must leave this place. you will not find what you seek here." Turning Stanislaus started walking towards the thunderhawks. Hearing the sound of a bolt pistol being cocked prompted a different response. "Wade." The lights exploded and smoke filled the landing bay. A monster ran throughout Tyrak's stunned men, gun shots rang out against bulkheads, and men screamed. The thunderhawks engines roared to life as the pilot gunned it out of the bay after laying an unusual surprise that would jam the Comms system of the ship long enough for Stanislaus to get away. Surprisingly when the smoked cleared there were no casualties among Tarok and his guards besides a few bruises. Like an after thought a piece of paper drifted down in front of Tarok, it stated simply: Leave while you still can.
Tarok stared grimly at the comms jammer on the deck of the landing bay. He picked it up and handed it to a servitor.
"Void it."
Knowing the inter-ship vox would be disrupted he concentrated on Hayes' mind up on the bridge, calming himself for the telepathic message.
++ Hayes. As soon as the comms are back up send this message in the clear to all ships and all Conclave Inquisitors.
"Inquisitor Stanislaus has violated the authority of the Conclave to conduct its investigations, being fully aware of our circumstances, and has attempted to impede our investigations despite being aware of the necessity of his full cooperation. He is hereby declared in carta extremis, and has three days to present himself before a panel of 3 Inquisitors chaired by myself to explain his actions. If he does not, or if he offers any further violence against the Conclave, he will be considered to have thrown his lot in with Basavruik and be declared Diabolus and Excommunicate Traitoris.
Witnessed and given here by my authority: Inquisitor Tarok, Ordo Malleus. Transmission ends"
Send that message as soon as possible Hayes. ++
Tarok felt anger rise in his throat, and stiffened, then relaxed, muttering under his breath,
"Control . . . retain control. Calm."
It seemed as though this rift Basavruik had caused was having wider repercussions than anticipated. He would have to sit back and re-plan. Turning, Tarok swept from the bridge and headed for his chambers.
=][=
The men had all geared up and were waiting for insertion on the planets surface.
The descend had been going on steadily and without problems. No planetary defense fire, no missiles, no flying beasts had tried to down the vessel.
With a hiss, the ornate helmet of his armor, sculpted as a fearsome beast of legends long forgotten, clicked into place, sealing his armor. Polarion had donned her Kasrkin equipment and was standing near him, keeping a watchful eye on the planet that rapidly became more visible as their landing craft soared towards the surface. Pykönnen had not yet made it clear what her plan was but the Inquisitor did not deem it important: Emperor willing, they would meet with success. They were armed well enough to survive a medium to heavy skirmish. Crown used the few precious moments left before he would have refocus on the mission again to let his thoughts flow. Gabriel preferred small groups to larger armies. It was more personal to him. The Inquisitor understood the nature of personal combat his own resolve and spiritual integrity being constantly tested by forces he willingly or unwillingly sought to combat and understood, the Cadian had learned how to form will into a hammer or a scalpel, adapting to the situation at hand. If there was one fight in the universe worth dying for, than it was the one the Inquisition had been fighting for thousands of years - and would keep fighting for eternity. A Xanithe had learned and understood that this was a fight against a foe that would never cease to exist. But instead of facing this foe stubbornly, armed with the blessed ignorance of a purely devout follower of the emperor, it was sometimes better to glean understanding, even if rudimentary, of the foe you were about to face. A heretical approach, for sure. But also an efficient one. If it was not efficient, there would be no Xantithes. Above all things, the Inquisition worked. And it worked well. The rumbling crackling of a vox interrupted his thoughts. It was Polarians voice.
My targeter says were approaching the LZ. ETA in 2, Sir.
Then this is it. May the Emperor bless us.
He turned his vox into the general comm-frequency of the ship.
Men and women, sons and daughters of mankind, we are about to embark on this planet under Inquisitorial Authority. I expect each and every one of you do his part as a human and as a member of this strike force. Never forget that we act in the name of the Emperor and that we are blessed by divine mandate and absolute righteousness. There is no higher authority than our verdict and no more truth than in the just fires of our wrath. In the Emperors name, lets do this.
=][=
Nicole sat aboard the Valkyrie Lenneth, glancing over at Gabriel and Polarion. They were conducting themselves well, but that was to be expected. With them were the two assassins, Celia and Lede, and her own retinue: Kenneth, William, Sister Helena, her servo skull, and Bosco. The other Valkyries held a squad of Stormtroopers each; Sergeant Figaro and squad 609 (carrying two grenade launchers) was aboard Silmeria while Sergeant Anderson and squad 501 (carrying two meltaguns) was aboard Hrist.
She remembered the various mini-briefings she had given before everyone had loaded into their transports. The scene came back into her mind as she went over her plans in her head...
"Alright, playtime is over gentlemen." She had walked into the cargo bay, catching the last words of playful bantering between the troopers and Polarion. She had faith that Sergeant Figaro would take care of anything before it got out of line. He didn't disappoint her trust. "Alright boys, you heard the Lady! Get your lazy butts into line and stand at attention before I decide you actually belong in dresses serving tea to actual servants of the Emperor! Come on now, move move move!" His deep bass voice carried across the entire hold in the manner only a drill sergeant could produce.
Franklin "Frankie Figgs" Figaro was a large black man, his head shaved for easier care in combat zones. Cadian by birth but obviously of offworld blood, he had worked twice as hard for half the respect as some of the natives. He was one of the few men that had served with her brother in the Kasrkin that was still alive. When she had decided she would be better served by having a few squads of Stormtroopers she could trust and needed a NCO (non-commissioned officer) as a go-between to supervise said Stormtroopers, she had sent Colonel Pyykkönen a letter, and he had sent her a recommendation. Meeting the Sergeant and seeing him in action on the training field was all that she needed to requisition his services for the Inquisition.
"Thank you, Sergeant." Nicole addressed Frankie with a nod before continuing. "Our pilots and I have gone over the following approach plan that I am now informing you of. We will be leaving the warp on the outermost edges of our target system. The pilots will determine the location of any local vessels at that point and aim to keep as many planets and moons between us and any other ships so as to create the most sensor blind spots as possible. We will be going in on the bare minimum activated systems as possible, this will be a dark and silent run. Once we are close enough to the planet the pilots will re-activate the appropriate systems to enter into the atmosphere, where the Valkyries will drop us onto the planet. We will pick a landing zone once we reach the atmosphere. The Valkyries will provide any needed fire support for our insertion, then return to the transport. The transport at that point will return into orbit and hide itself as best as possible among the moons and asteroids of the system until it is time to retrieve us. If it comes under fire it will exit the system, returning to the Cavalier. We will be on our own until our mission is complete. You will note there are extended supplies carried in the Valkyries. Squad 609 will be aboard Silmeria, squad 501 aboard Hrist, and everyone else with me aboard Lenneth. Squad 609 will secure the landing area, followed by 501, and my team under cover from the Valkyries. Further instructions will be provided when they are necessary. Make yourselves ready. Dismissed."
"Alright, you heard her now go and get your gear packed and ready! We're moving out so don't get comfortable and if I find out a single one of you leaves so much as a sock on this ship you'll be wearing a pink tutu of shame for a month! I don't care if it's a jungle down there, you'll be wearing it in the field so all of the heretics know what a girly pantywaist you are!" He paused as the troopers hopped to their duties to look at Nicole and Polarion, "Er, no offense meant sir, sergeant."
"None taken, Sergeant, carry on." Nicole chuckled as she went about her own preparations. Her brother had recommended well.
... Nicole was brought back to attention by chatter over the comm from the cockpit.
"We've entered the atmosphere. Angels deploying in five.. four.. three.. two.. one.. go." A slight lurch as the Valkyrie left the transport and it's own engines came online, and they were in flight.
"Roger, Lenneth deployed."
"Silmeria deployed."
"Hrist deployed."
"All Angels are deployed, pleasant hunting Inquisitor."
Nicole worked her way to the cockpit and looked over the pilots instruments and scanners. "There," she pointed. "See the smoke rising on the eastern horizon? Take us down about 16 kilometers* from there."
"Right away, Inquisitor. All Angels, mark our current objective and prepare for drop off."
Nicole smiled grimly and worked her psychic talents to attempt to mask herself and Inquisitor Crown. "We're coming for you, Basavruik..."
=][=
The troopers had disembarked flawlessly, they were well trained. Before the valkyrie had touched down, half of them had already left the transport and scrambled to the LZ, looking for cover and scanning the area. Crown had heard no comm-chatter. Either they were good enough to coordinate blindly or they were using a secure channel. He was impressed with both. Pykönnen had good men. Cadians at that. He was not concerned that he had not been included in the frequency. It was not his unit. Hed have to earn Pykönnens trust. Polarion nimbly hopped out of the Lenneth and fluently lowered herself on her right knee, bringing her cannon upward in perfectly drilled movements. Gabriel himself followed her, but choose a more valiant introduction to this forsaken planet. Trusting in the Emperor and in the protection of his artificer armor, he confidently strode out the Valkyrie and inspected the LZ for all to see, then unhurriedly checked the white-golden psycannon mounted on his left arm. It looked rather peaceful, the jungle invitingly stretching out around them. The sounds would have sounded eerie, but none of the troopers or officers here was going to be hindered by that. They had seen much worse. Pykönnen and her retinue left the Valkyrie after him, as smoothly and graceful as Pykonnen had.
You should not leave yourself unprotected, Inquisitor.
Polarions voice sounded protective.
Oh, I am not. The Emperor protects. And you to too, dont you Sergeant.
I wont let you down, Sir.
A voice full of resolve and loyalty. He decided to reward this with something nice.
I know. I trust you.
Polarion didnt answer, but he was sure his reply had the intended effect. A moment afterwards, Polarion rose up and scuttled toward a nearby wood. Gabriel did the same.
The smoke came from South-southwest, coordinates are on my hud.
Well move with the rest of the force and take the left flank. Wait for Pykönnens orders, as Ive been tasked to help her.
Affirmative.
=][=
Walking into his own hanger bay Stanislaus wondered how Tarok was fairing with his. Greeted by Lt. La Faire and Chaplain Folkvar Stanislaus wasnt surprised. Welcome back Sir> Said La Faire whilst saluting.
Inquisitor Stanislaus. Was all the chaplain said.
So I take it that Stigg found objective Bravo.
Yes and with your permission the assault squad and I will be deployed. Said Folkvar.
Rendezvous with Stigg when you reach planetside. Have the Catachans found objective alpha La Faire? Folkvar Called out to the marines behind him to mount in another thunderhawk. Its cargo space easily accommodated their armored bulk. Getting the all clear from the bridge the pilot took off for the planets surface.
No they are still looking for it.
Not surprising.
Inquisitor perhaps you should rest for awhile. You look exhausted.
Dealing with inquisitors is always exhausting. But I shall find my peace with the Emperor in the chapel instead. Stanislaus left the hanger bay and headed for the ships chapel.
=][=
"Hear my cry oh Holy Emperor, guide my path as I remain so far from my Battle Brothers. Allow me to serve in Your name as I do in the name of my Primarch." The short prayer echoed around the Spartan room, as the massive figure slowly rose to it's feet and blew out the candle that lay in front of it. Slowly it turned and the light caught it's silver armour before blood red robes silently glided around it. Captain Corvinus of the Guardians of the Covenant slowly placed his ancient helm upon his head once again before drawing the hood of his robes up and over it. As he began strapping his weapons to his armour he reflected upon his current circumstances, and wondered how much longer it would be until he was returned to his Chapter as promised. As he gripped his chainsword in his right hand he let the light play upon the intricate blessings inscribed on the golden casing, finally stepping out of his chambers he proceeded to the lower launch bays.
As he arrived he glanced at the flurry of activity around him momentarily before stepping towards an Aquila Lander nearby, "Prepare the vessel for departure immediately, I wish to be upon the surface as soon as is possible." The captain of the lander nodded and headed into the cockpit as Corvinus stepped aboard the vessel. The doors closed behind him as he strapped himself into a chair and repeated a short prayer to the Emperor as he checked over his equipment one last time, his plasma pistol was at maximum capacity and hummed slightly in his grip. His chainsword was of an antiquated design but had been a symbol of his company since his chapters founding, his armour however was ancient beyond most others scope, artificer armour of the Mark Five variant, lovingly upgraded with custom armour plating and a small neck brace to protect the vulnerable neck joint. His armour still retained the studded shoulder and legs that marked this suit out as a symbol of the Space Marines ancient heritage.
He felt the lander slowly pull out of the bay and tear towards the planets surface away from the Dauntless class cruiser Unyielding Faith and with a final muttered prayer prepared to touch down on the planets surface at the secured landing zone.
The lander gently glided into the atmosphere passing over terrain rapidly before slowing rapidly as it approached the safe landing zone, at the last moment it flared backwards slightly and began to descend. It touched down gently and the whining of it's engines cooling down was the only sound to be heard for a few moments before the hiss of decompression, the hatch opened and a figure stepped out of the transport it's red robes swirling slightly in the wind as it's gaze traveled around the camp. Captain Corvinus slowly observed everything there was to be observed, the ancient and rare autosenses in his helmet were identical to those found in current Tactical Dreadnought Armour and increased the amount of information he could process far beyond that of any other type of power armour. Truth be told he was unsure why he had come down to the planet, however he had felt a strong urging, a need to come here born deep in his soul, and until he found the reason for that disturbance he would not return to the ship. The dark purple glass of his helmets 'Eyes' swept over everything one last time before he focused on what appeared to be some Inquisitors not far from where his lander had touched down, grunting to himself he began to walk towards them strapping his chainsword to his side and pulling his hood forwards slightly on his helmet underneath his iron halo.
Noticing the new arrival, Levinski turned round and walked over to him. "Welcome to Maeroc IV, I assume you are here to aid in the hunt for Basavruik?" He said, facing the giant space marine, clearly a captain, though he was unfamiliar with the chapter.
The Captain gazed at the Inquisitor taking the man in, judging him silently for moments, the wind whipped gently at his robes causing the purity seal on his right shoulder pad to softly flutter. Finally he spoke, his voice given that artificial buzz that came from wearing power armour,
"Greetings my Lord, I know not of this Basavruik of whom you speak but I assume from the forces gathered here already that he must be a powerful Heretic to draw the forces of the Inquisition in such number."
Captain Corvinus paused momentarily weighing up his next words with care, he knew full well the attitude of the Inquisition when it came to 'Strange Sensations' that drew someone to a place, especially one where there appeared to already be a significant heretical presence.
"I am Captain Corvinus, Commander of the 5th Company of the most devout Guardians of the Covenant. I am on Detachment from my Chapter as of late, I was requested to serve in Inquisitor Lady Umbra's retinue during her recent mission as a translator, since that ended I have been awaiting transport back to my Company. However I felt that I would be more quickly returned to my Brothers if I were to... 'Assist', in your investigations."
The Marine crossed his arms his helmet impassive as he gazed down at the Inquisitor, awaiting his reply.
"Very well captain, simply put, Basavruik is a traitor and a heretic, here." Levinski said, handing the space marine a data-slate. "This contains all the information you need to know."
"I have never heard of this 'Umbra', but that is irrelevant, what forces do you have with you?" He finished, leading the marine towards the large table holding the map of Maeroc IV.
The Captain took the data slate and began to look it over in some detail, committing it to memory as he continued to listen to the Inquisitor. He was a little shocked at the blatant heresy that this Inquisitor Basavruik had committed but were the enemy's of the Emperor not both cunning and sly? They had to be, how else could they survive.
"Aboard my vessel is the rest of my Retinue, they require only my permission to land and they shall join us, I thought it best to check that our presence was allowed before summoning them to join me. Other than my Command squad if I were to be granted access to your communications array then I could get in contact with my Company and have them here within three days depending upon their current position."
Looking down at the map he took in the features of the world he stood upon, he studied it's various intricacies with interest his mind already going over tactical possibilities and possible troop deployment.
"Tell me Lord Inquisitor as to the current disposition of the forces already deployed upon the planet."
"Several inquisitors have landed here to hunt for Basavruik, in orbit we have Lord Tarok and some others I believe, including inquisitor Mallard whos men you see here" Levinski said, gesturing to the 5 stormtroopers who had not joined inquisitor James on his mission. "And on the planet we have myself, my retinue, and inquisitors James and Ryas, both of whom have entered the jungle in an attempt to neutralize the jamming signal that is interfering with our scanners.
Feel free to have the rest of your men land, and I would recommend placing the rest of your company on standby, though I hope their presence will not be required."
The Captain nodded to the Stormtroopers as the Inquisitor gestured at them, listening intently as he explained the current layout of forces and locations. He was already calculating a dozen different plans in his head for where to begin and where to assign his company if they were needed based upon the information that the Inquisitor had provided thus far.
"My Thanks Inquisitor, I will attend to the disposition of my men post haste, Ave Imperator Inquisitor, and may the Emperor guide your Soul."
Tarn turned away and stalked back to his lander where he quickly dialed into the Vox unit that was connected with his mens transport currently holding orbit above his position. He clenched his teeth and whispered a prayer for the souls of his men, praying the Emperor guided them safely to ground.
"Attention Eternal Castigator, bring them in on the landing site, and re patch comms to cast back to the Unyielding Faith."
There was silence for a moment or two before the voice of the transports captain came back strong.
"Yes Brother-Captain, coming in on your position now, Emperor guide us."
Tarn re-centered the Vox units casting array for the location of the 'Faith, and praying that the Machine Spirit would guide his message true began to call out.
"This is Captain Tarn Corvinus to the Unyielding Faith, I have Inquisitorial permission for an immediate message to be sent to the Battle Barge Sword of Fury, message reads, relocate to planet Maeroc IV. Standby in Orbit for full Deployment upon my order."
A return message came through that the authorization was acknowledged and received, the message would be sent with the powerful communications array aboard the mighty vessel. Even as the message came through he had stepped away from the Aquila and signaled for it to clear the area, as it's engines heated up it began to pull away from the surface, however even the sound of it's engines as it cleared the landing area were deafened as a massive shape dropped through the cloud cover. The Eternal Castigator was a Thunderhawk Crusader, it's lines black and silver with the immense plating all over the vessel covered in illuminated script from the Requiem Angelis and the Codex Astartes. In his hearts Captain Corvinus felt a swell of pride and awe as the immense vessel dropped towards the ground spinning slowly to touch down in the appropriate position, even as it's landing gears sank slightly into the ground and the roar of it's three engines slowed down he moved towards the lowering rear doors, standing smartly at attention he heard the first sound of movement. The steady sound of armoured boots echoed down to him as he greeted the first of his men on this planet with a salute, the white armoured shape of Apothecary Magnus emerged first followed in short and orderly fashion by Interrogator Chaplain Ezekiel and Company Champion Allucius. As the three Marines came down the ramp they were followed by their Battle Brothers Jude and Grigori wielding a Heavy Bolter and Multi-Melta apiece, before finally the rust coloured armour that signified Techmarine Adept Aeneas appeared his Servo arms twitching slightly as he glanced around himself.
"Greetings Brothers, it is good to serve by your side once again. We have a new mission to fulfil, we shall be working independently of the Inquisitors already on this planet to bring a Heretical being to justice, by our will he shall be brought into the light and exposed as the vile and contemptible creature that he is. We begin our search Brothers by venturing into the jungle and destroying whatever Jamming devices we find. On me Brothers!"
The small group moved off towards the jungle, Apothecary Magnus holding an Auspex in front of him to ascertain the location of the Jamming signal, whilst the others formed into a slightly staggered line and headed into the jungle, their weapons primed and ready.
Watching the space marine captain leave, Levinski couldn't help chuckling to himself, His men certainly know how to make an entrance. Turning back to the map, he thought of his interrogator, Jachai, hoping he and the two inquisitors hadn't run into any trouble.
"Well then Jachai, what do you expect, that there are other Imperials in this area, or that is a set-up by Basavruik, what do you think?"
"Honestly Inquisitor, I don't know, but it seems most likely this is a trap from Basavruik, it's possible there are other imperials in the area, but why would they not let us know they are here?"
"I don't know, I hate to say it, but I think some inquisitors may be in league with Basavruik, that could explain this, or he could be trying to trick us, either way, I think we need to search more"
=][=
The Valkyries engines protested as the pilot pushed the limits of the craft. It had been a near run escape, for what appeared to be primitive savages, they'd been extraordinarily well armed.
"Medronicus to Messenger, requesting emergency retrieval and prepare for warp jump. Party inbound on ValkOne. Arm Tubes one and two, and plot an attack run over the landing site."
The landing had been disastrous. His vassals had been slaughtered by the dozen. Only by the quick thinking of his pilot and Xems brute force had he managed an escape, ignominiously clinging to the servitors leg as it hung from the aft ramp of the drop ship. Thankfully the Omnimessiah smiled once more upon his servant and his metallic skin had remained impervious to the projectiles employed against him. As far as he would be able to, he'd miss those Skitarii, they'd been loyal to the last and had sold their lives dearly to buy him the few seconds it took to flee. Regretfully, they'd be unable to continue their service as part of his Servo-Skull swarm.
Once he'd regained his ship, it was the adepts plan to bombard the landing site from orbit with torpedoes, and with any luck obliterate any physical trace of the missions failure and prevent any proprietary kit from falling into unauthorized hands. His next course would be to immediately quit the system for the nearby forge-moon of Feole tertius III, where at least he'd be able to put in for new armaments and with luck a new compliment of Marine-Skitarii* During the bombardment he'd have his surviving astropath inform Edward that he'd forgotten to wrap up his affairs on that world, and would expect him to be more careful in the future when designating planets 'Mostly Pacified'.
=][=
"Inquisitor Tarok, is there some manner is might I can aid our cause better? While I have lent my Stormtroopers to the landing party. I was wondering if there some way I or my two friends can help this investigation better.' asks Donald as Hayes gets off the Vox unit.
Tarok glared at the vox-unit from his seat, huddled in his coat and perched on the edge of the Captain's chair like a vulture from ancient Terra. Hayes, being the officer of the watch, moved smoothly to answer it.
"My apologies, Inquisitor. Tarok is currently unavailable, he likes to work alone and will probably catching some rest. He's on duty for the morning watch when the prisoner needs interrogating. I'm sure you will be able to find something to do, the facilities made available to you when you arrived are still open for your use. Why not catch some rest yourself?"
By the time he had finished speaking Tarok had slipped silently down the passage to his chambers in the bowels of the ship. No telling whether Mallard would come up to the command deck to talk to Hayes in person.
His chambers were cold, despite the proximity of the engines, just as he liked. The deck vibrated with the comforting throb of the engines. Tarok stood in the doorway and glanced around to make sure everything was as he left it. Ahead of him his bed stood against the far wall, clean sheets stark against the gunmetal grey bulkhead. Beyond the far end of the bed a door was set into the wall, leading to Tyrak's private library.
To the right the wall was bare, and in front of it, on a polished wood table, was a pict-caster, set to cast onto the blank wall.
To the left, his desk stood against the wall, by far the busiest area of his chambers. It was cluttered with books, papers and dataslates, along with various writing implements and, at the back, a stand for Tyrak's sword, bolter, naval pistol and rosette. In the left corner of the desk, a phonograph rested, dormant.
To the right of the desk, in the corner, hung Tyrak's dark blue Naval Dress Uniform.
To the left, in that corner, stood an empty stand for Tyrak's armour.
Above the desk was nailed a wood plaque engraved with the Navy Officer's motto, "Watch and be Sober", and under the desk lay Tyrak's Familiar, the Cyber-Mastiff Rex, curled up and deactivated.
Tarok closed the door quietly behind him, revealing the pegs on the back of the door, one with standard dark blue Naval fatigues hanging from it. On the back of the door, under the pegs, was emblazoned his personal crest, as tradition dictated using the dark blue and white colouring of the noble House Carpinius, a member of which had adopted him back on the Endurance. He hung his coat on the second peg, and tossed his cap lightly onto the bed.
"Finally", he thought, "A chance to get out of this armour." He unclipped his sword and guns, placing them on their stands, and retrieved his rosette from his jacket pocket, putting it on the desk. Stripping out of his armour, he replaced it with his standard Naval fatigues and sat down at his desk.
Sifting through the debris on his desk, he eventually located his liquid-crystal Tarot card deck, a gift from House Carpinius upon his gaining full Inquisitorial status in the Ordo Malleus.
"Thee I invoke, oh our Emperor, that thou wilt infuse these cards this hour; that thereby I may obtain true insight of things hidden, to thy glory and to the salvation of humanity", he muttered under his breath, and picked the first card. Soon seventeen cards lay face down, two inside a circle of five, inside a circle of ten. A complex reading.
He drew a card for the signifier, opening his dark blue covered notebook as he did so.
The Inquisitor. The picture shifted, the armoured man changing to resemble Tyrak's face.
"Ah. Myself, my signifier. So, this reading relates to me or events around me or in which I am involved.", he muttered, placing it back in the deck.
He scribbled it down. First card, in the centre.
The Starship. The form changed.
"Not the Firebird, too large for that . . . battleship? Yes, Emperor Class."
That went in the notebook too. Looking back at the card, Tarok noticed the ship seemed familiar. He looked closer. It was familiar.
"Domine Canis," he breathed. Why would Admiral Cyrus' ship appear in the Tarot?
He flipped over the second central card.
"The Nova, facing away."
The picture changed. It seemed to show not an explosion, but the disintegration of a large asteroid. Tarok could see vague outlines of machinery built into it.
"An Ork Rok? A pirate base? Hmm. In the future."
He turned over the cards in the second circle.
"The Fabricator, the Inquisitor again, placed together, both facing away. The Angel Primarch, facing towards, and the Judge, facing away. Unusual. The Traitor, facing towards."
Tarok turned to the outer eight.
"Above the Traitor, the Savage and the Harlequin . . " Tarok went pale at the sight of the Harlequin card, but continued nonetheless. "The Savage faces towards, but the Harlequin faces away".
"The Judge precedes the Warp, Judge being Mandatio makes it blessed rather than cursed, facing away. And the Assassin too, facing towards."
Tarok frowned. Maybe he should have attempted a basic reading.
"The Fabricator precedes the Fallen Citadel, facing away and the Space Marine, facing towards. The intervention of the Astartes, that should be good, there's no Discordia nearby. An Astartes/Mechanicum alliance?"
"The Inquisitor precedes the Falling Star, facing towards, and the Daemon, facing away."
"The Angel Primarch precedes Death, facing towards, and the Palace, facing towards. That could be past, Sanguinius' end in the Great Heresy. A relic of his, here?"
Tarok leaned back. This would be complicated. Studying the cards he saw that the Savage resembled a renegade human, perhaps a pirate. The Harlequin was darkened, showing only the outline of the figure. Something unknown, yet to be revealed. Or even a puppet master - Basavruik? No, the reading was about him. A traitor on his staff, in the Conclave? The Harlequin faces away, it leads the Traitor on? The Traitor was well-armoured, yet it had a cloak, coat or covering of some sort over the armour (A disguise revealed?), and something near its feet that he couldn't make out.
The Fabricator undoubtedly resembled a Mechanicum representative. With the Fallen Citadel - a great loss? With the Space Marine - retribution? Yes, the Space Marines avenge whatever the Mechanicum has lost. But the Space Marine faces towards. Am I involved in causing the loss? Or do I aid in the retribution? Has Basavruik taken something from the Mechanicum? Can I expect aid?
The Angel Primarch represents loss and sorrow, caused by Death, obviously. Pointing towards me? My death? A death on my staff, in the Conclave? The Palace? The Death and sorrow is linked to the Imperium? Is it caused by the Imperium, or does it happen to the Imperium? The repercussions of the defections of an Inquisitor causing great hurt to the Imperium? Basavruik?
The Inquisitor was not Tarok, that much was certain. It looked like Hayes. Yes, definitely Hayes. Hayes, as an Inquisitor, suffers great loss and ill-fortune, after banishing a Daemon.
The Judge. Unusual. Facing away, but the Assassin facing towards. The Assassin didn't look like one from the Temples, it looked like another human, well-armoured. Indistinct, but dark-skinned, but holding a Rosette and a Mandate. An Inquisitor, definitely. The finishing move, the scalpel in the dark while the hammer strikes elsewhere? The Judge also has a Mandate, that could represent Imperial Law. The Warp, that's change, blessed because of the Judge, but facing away. The Imperium changes for the better with whatever the Law has sent the Assassin to destroy gone. There must be a traitor in the Conclave.
Tarok paused. He thought he had reached a conclusion.
"The Navy destroys a pirate base, everything revolved around that. It must be in the past. It must have come from some information I provided Cyrus in the past. The Traitor must be a pirate survivor from there. He comes to the Conclave, but is unknown. His work misdirects the Conclave. Stanislaus? Hayes is promoted destroys a Daemon, but suffers great ill-fortune and maybe a loss, as a result of the Traitor. The Traitor will lead to great sorrow for me, possibly my death, and this will have repercussions in the Imperium. The Traitor also causes a great loss for the Mechanicum, and the combination means the Astartes are sent to retaliate. The force of Imperial Law sends an Inquisitor with them, not me, who will deliver judgment on the Traitor. The removal of the Traitor will be beneficial to the Imperium."
Regardless of the details, the outcome was beneficial to the Imperium. He would have no qualms about promoting Hayes to full Inquisitorial status. The man had been carrying a copy-rosette for some time anyway.
Tarok placed the cards reverently back in the deck, and headed for the library.
=][=
Donald Checks the Vox decides that no reply is need and makes sure it is off.
"Blasted Why did I bother come on this pursuit, Do one seems to need my old bones"
"Because it what you do, Inquisitor Mallard."
"Yes Mr. Palmer, it was a rhetorical question."
=][=
Stanislaus slowed down as he approached the large doors of the ships large cathedral. The golden doors portrayed scenes of heretics being smitten by blue armored figures lead by a man in golden armor. The Emperor. Stanislaus said to himself. Pushing both doors open Stanislaus stood in the door frame blocking out the light from reaching the inside of the cathedral. Stepping over the threshold he let the doors close behind him and he was shrouded in darkness. At the other end of the sanctuary the statue of the Emperor was bathed in light. Shining like a star in the void of space, the light given off from it illuminated everything surrounding it. Walking forward blindly Stanislaus knew when he had passed the final pew by the time he had been walking even if he couldnt see it.
I wonder which you seek truly Inquisitor. said a deep voice whose owner kept hidden in the darkness. Is it the light of living, or the darkness of death?
One may find peace in both, I wish to rest. He replied to the inquisitive voice.
Then what keeps you from the embrace of sleep?
My enemies, and the unfinished business I have with them.
What burdens you so much that even in the presence of His will you cannot be free without them?
The wounds my enemies have sown amongst myself take their toll and prevent me from resting even when not fighting.
Stepping from his hiding spot the owner of the questioning voice appeared before Stanislaus. I had heard from La Faire that you made it back from the meeting without injury. Said the hulking form of a marine.
One casualty burned beyond recognition. Only the ship log of who went with me allowed identification.
So they attacked you? I thought that you had expected that.
I did but I gave them a chance for peace.
You are becoming weak again. You should have stayed hidden.
Except that I am here for them as well. Even though they may think poorly of me they are still imperials. What are you looking for in my mind this time librarian Magnus?
The dreams have been plaguing you again.
Every night that is why I cant sleep.
=][=
In Tyraks room a noise made the inquisitor turn. Seeing an assassin he immediately reached for his weapons. Leaping with enhanced agility the assassin pushed him away from his weapons rack and put her finger on her lips indicating silence.
Please do not try to call your guards. I need to speak with you in private about Inquisitor Stanislaus.
"Why should I call the watch? I detected you at the doorway, much later than normal but detected nonetheless. Your research about me should have told you about my abilities. A psyker's mind is his most dangerous weapon, a Divinator's arguably more so. You did do your research before coming to see me?"
The assassin made no move. Over the vox came the soft ringing of the ship's bell. Three bells.
"Hh. Still, some would have been more unnerved had I not reached for a weapon. Some do not believe I am holding them at weapon point unless can see the weapon. Just remind yourself you cannot disarm me. You're no Culexus, I would know. Speak your piece, and then we shall see where this takes us."
Saying nothing the Assassin Pulled an ornate rod from a pouch and pressed a rune on it. Tarok became blind to the warp. "And I have been a stowaway on a psykers ship for six months. My name is Domino. I was the first assassin assigned to Stanislaus, the one that was abandoned."
"And I have said speak your piece, unless you wish to attempt to sever my limbs in a somewhat futile attempt to completely disarm me."
"It is not you that I seek to inhibit Inquisitor lord Tarok. You should already know by now that Stanislaus too is touched. Did you not see that he wears no armor and carries no weapons? Even though you met only once so far you should be more observant. I use a null rods to prevent prying eyes from seeing what they should not."said Domino. Looking at Tyrak's quizzical look the assassin knew what he was wondering. "How I came to be here is not important, know that I am a callidus and be content with that. Now Inquisitor what do you know of Stanislaus so I know what I can skip?
"No more than most. He's an Inquisitor, he employs a suitably skilled retinue, has access to a high level of technology with regards to transport, and appears to have his own ship. That is all."
Inside Tarok was kicking himself for letting the mask slip. No-one should see his reactions, no-one. That would not happen again.
"If you are here to prevent, ah, "prying eyes from seeing what they should not", you've come to the wrong shop. This is the Inquisition, we take the Emperor's light into the darkest places regardless of danger, regardless of cost. Strike one down, and two more will rise in to replace. You can try to hide things from the Inquisition, but you will not succeed."
Tarok crossed to his desk chair, turned it to face Domino and sat down.
"If you want to conceal something, then you need the Inquisition's cooperation. We have just such a place for fell knowledge, assuming it is too dangerous for even the purest to study. If it is, it will be destroyed. I'm sure we know what I speak of: The Librarium Daemonica, and the Grey Knights who utilize its knowledge. No free-running Radicals using knowledge without sanction."
Tarok looked at where the Assassin's eyes should logically be, hidden though they were.
"Its no use hiding dangerous knowledge within reach of those who wish to use it for their own ends."
As for why I choose to use my methods that is not something that you should question. If I can hide on this ship then others also may. On the subject of Stanislaus you should know that he has made contacts on every planet of all the systems he has been in at every level of imperial society, none of which are written down. He also is here to& Domino stopped what she had been saying and turned towards the door. Someone is coming I will find you later. Saying that she left Tyraks room. A few moments later an orderly knocked on the door.
Lord Tarok? The astropath said that a null zone was present I have been sent to make sure that you are alright.
"Chiiss, I know you're new to this ship, but that is no excuse for not following the rules. If you feel there is something amiss, consult the Officer of the Watch. What I do in my quarters is my business, I have much classified data from varied sources and methods of communication to attend to. Don't - interrupt - my - privacy - again! What don't you do?"
"Interrupt your privacy, sir."
"Good. Get out."
Chiiss retreated swiftly.
Tarok sighed. It was already seven bells. Another rest period lost. He picked up a metal object and his knife, and began to continue the inscriptions on it, glancing occasionally at the pict of Hayes' personal Coat of Arms. Techpriest Elbe had already completed the still-dormant coding, it was just up to him to finish the rosette itself. He had settled on a similar to design to his own, a blue and silver shield (Hayes was now an adopted member of House Carpinius too) with his personal arms, and the stylized red I of the Inquisition down the centre of the shield. In the centre of the 'I' was a polished silver skull. Tarok had now finished replacing the skull on his own rosette with a gold version, denoting the fact that he had trained at least one new Inquisitor. Now all he needed was to finish Hayes' rosette, and find two other Inquisitors to approve Hayes' promotion.
The muted chime of eight bells over the ship vox interrupted his thoughts. Leaving Hayes' rosette on the desk, he pocketed his own and strapped his sword and customized Naval Pistol to his belt. The bolter wouldn't be necessary for a regular watch.
On the command deck, he found Interrogator Serk had already arrived to replace Interrogator Kretschmann as Second Officer of the Watch.
Hayes muttered in his ear as he left the command deck,
"You have the ship, sir."
"I have the ship" Tarok responded automatically.
"Interrogator Serk, you take the ship, that prisoner needs interrogating."
"Aye, sir."
=][=
Nicole was hidden in the jungle, peering through a borrowed pair of macrobinoculars at the remains of a village. Most of the buildings had been burnt and destroyed, some of them burned still, providing an eerie orange haze through the early morning light.
Various signs of battle and bloodshed were obvious in the streets. Most of the bodies hadn't been moved from where they fell, this told her the battle had been fierce and survivors, if any, had not yet had the time to pick up their lives again, if they ever would. She handed the binoculars back to Sergeant Figaro as she gazed at the scene from where she crouched behind a fallen tree. "Thoughts, Sergeant?"
"Something hit them hard, fast and unexpected. Many of those bodies were shot down in the street, most seemed to be trying to get into the Church there. Whatever attacked though, they didn't have any artillery. All the damage seems to be fire or small arms fire. Most of the bodies don't have any body armor, I'd say it seems like some sort of gang or tribal warfare... small groups, not very organized or well equipped."
Nicole nodded. Kenneth and William were ahead on a scouting mission to the village, they should be able to determine what happened while not making contact. William was specifically trained for this sort of action, and Kenneth had worked on enough Arbites activity to be decently sneaky himself.
It had been a long hike from their initial insertion point through the jungle to the source of the smoke. Nicole had an inkling that the mostly Puritan Conclave would come in fairly obviously, and attract some sort of attention to itself. She was hoping her guess was correct; she would hate to have wasted a day of hiking through rainy jungle on a hunch that proved false. The hike by night would have been longer and more treacherous, so they had taken a break for sleep partway. At least until they understood the local flora and fauna, it was better to be cautious.
Gabriel and Polarion were getting along with the mostly Cadian troops well. Presumably they had missed the company of their fellows in their own Inquisitorial duties. She knew the difference it felt to her when she was lucky enough to get to travel with a Cadian Regiment on Crusades or other military actions, sometimes even an Inquisitor just missed home. Despite this early comradery, she could not allow herself to lower her watch of the Xanthite, especially when at least one heretical traitor, Basavruik, was already on the planet.
Gabriel hadn't yet done anything to create greater suspicion; perhaps she had finally encountered what she had previously assumed was a mythical creature... a Xanthite that didn't require immediate execution for heretical use of the Warp. Xenos knowledge and technology didn't bug her as much as some Puritans, it was Chaos that was the true threat and enemy as far as she was concerned. That was most of the reason she emphasized her research into the Saints of the Ecclesiarchy whenever possible. They were the key to understanding the nature of interaction with the Warp without corruption, as well as leading to greater understanding of the Emperor's Divinity. In a strange sense she was thankful for so many Chaos incursions following the latest Black Crusade, though she could wish all the traitor Marines damned, it did give her lots of opportunity to see and study Warp space-Real space interactions in person.
Nicole raised her head as she heard what sounded like an Avian whistle. Waiting a moment, Kenneth and William reappeared out of the bushes. Bird calls were a trick William had learned in the Cadian 84th, and one that at least Sergeant Figaro had learned from her brother in their days as Kasrkin. It was a subtle means of communication that couldn't be decoded. Unfortunately, Nicole had to rely on her companions to perform it... she had never been able to whistle.
William and Kenneth walked over to her to report their findings. Gabriel and Polarion joined them, as did Sergeants Figaro and Anderson, as well as Sister Helena. Kenneth reported first. "Whoever the attackers were m'lady, they caught the Conclave. Several of the attackers died by bolter shell, those blast marks are very distinctive. The survivors of the town are mostly huddled up in a few of the remaining structures, I didn't question them at all, other than to guess about 80% of the townsfolk died in the attack. I didn't really see any obvious Conclave casualties."
Nicole nodded. She didn't expect any of Tyrak's Conclave to fall to barely armed rabble, but Amalathians always did surprise her upon occasion. She pondered this new information and then looked over at William. "There were some signs of the Conclave moving back to drop ships and leaving the site. They were some tracks of someone being drug, as well as some blood spatters. I would guess they took a captive and are interrogating him elsewhere."
"That would make sense, they obviously are in need of information to plan their activities. Unfortunately that doesn't help us much." Nicole frowned as she pondered.
"No m'lady it doesn't, but they didn't catch everything when they were here." William smiled, a twinkle in his eye showing that he was rather proud of himself. "What didn't they catch?" Nicole quarried. Inquisitors were usually fairly thorough, granted the attack may have rushed them.
"Five or six attackers fled the site of the battle. Two were caught by gunfire, one by a grenade, but three escaped into the jungle. Their tracks are faint, but fresh. I'd guess a day, maybe two, though the rain makes it a bit harder to judge. They head off to the North-west and no one has pursued them yet."
Kenneth smiled and patted William on the back. Sergeant Figaro chuckled and nodded to Anderson, the two of them moving over to the men to get them ready. Nicole smiled as well. "Well done, William. We move North-west in pursuit. You two have point. Celia, Lede, protect Kenneth and William until we find our survivors and see what we can learn." The two shadows of the assassins moved after the departing trainees as Nicole readied her own bolter-stake crossbow for the jungle trek. With any luck, they would at least learn who was behind the attack on the Conclave as well as where they were currently holed up. If the Emperor's light shined upon them, they may even catch a garrison in service of Basavruik.
=][=
The thunderhawk touched down in the jungle, and James stepped out. "Lysander, is this where the jamming is strongest?"
"yes, the jamming was strongest in this sector, but we can't pinpoint its location, what should me and my men do"
"I think we should search the area for tracks, maybe they will lead us to Basavruik"
=][=
Fulkvar paced inside the thunderhawk, the marines around him standing at attention. Today is a blessed day in the eyes of the Emperor. Folkvar paused while looking out of a window at the approaching world. Can you not taste it? Half a century and finally, the means for our salvation is before us. What Is Today Marines?
The Day Of Our Salvation.
When Do We Earn Our Salvation?
Fighting the enemies of man.
Why have we not done so?
Because we have been weak and few in number.
And what lies at the end of today?
Death or glory for the Emperor. We shall be remade stronger or perish trying.
Seeing that the marines knew beyond doubt the importance of the mission at had Folkvar turned to more strategic matters. The Catachans on planet have set up jamming devices around the objective. This should make it harder to find for anyone else tracking us. Everyone except the Catachans are to be treated as hostiles until proven otherwise.
Sir what if we encounter Astartes? asked a lone voice
Then the Emperor wishes to test us all the harder. Remember no one but the Mystics chapter can use what is down there, If someone else is trying to take it inquisitor or astartes they are stealing the life from our very selves and through us the Emperor. Show them no mercy.
=][=
James and his retinue had been searching the jungle for a while, when James came across something peculiar.
"Lysander, what do you think of this?" asked James, picking up something, and motioning for the captain to come over
"sir, it appears to be a powerpack for a Lasgun, standard Imperial style" Lysander said, looking closely at the power pack
"interesting, I did not know that other Imperials had gotten this far"
"yes, but James, what if its a trap?"
"Good Point Lysander, have the men on full alert"
=][=
The sniper lay hidden in the brush overlooking the village. Cadians she spat with venom as the rain fell lightly. Looking through her sniper scope she spotted a sergeant, however the shot would be blocked by a soldier. Fine then a crippling will have to do. Taking aim the sniper shot. BANG! The sergeants knee flew backwards in a spray of blood and soldiers panicked. Shouldering her long las One shot faded into the jungle Ill have to tell Stig, shell want a few too.
Near the jamming beacon day two
In pouring rain, watching the astartes Spring and her squad were impressed. They had managed to avoid two traps so far but the next one was set up specifically for soldiers like them. They all spotted the double trip line trap. And all but one stepped over the real one located on the far side of the wires, the heavy bolter carrying Marine did not. While avoiding the supposed trap the heavy weapon marine stepped on the hidden plasma mine. With a click the mine went off and a credit to his reflexs the marine only lost the lower half of one of his legs. Slinking back from their concealed position while the marines were distracted by their injured, Spring smiled to herself as she made off for the camp, they would have their own astartes to help today, but before they got here they could have some more fun.
Not far away squad 8 watched their third kill among the Stormtroopers, this time a spiked log blind sided the last man in the squad. First pierced, the man was caught by the logs momentum and sent flying ten meters off of the path. Sergeant Silent knife watched another success and wondered how many the group could take before it broke and ran.
On board the spaceship Magni day two
Stanislaus looked at the gray green orb that filled his field of vision. Images of places distant started coming back to him: fields of the dead, the skies of carrion, and scars that even a planet could hardly bear. Thinking about Avielstrom? interrupted wade.
Always, it was there that I was damned. But here that I may seek salvation.
=][=
Donald, Mr. Palmer and Abby have landed on the planet again.
"So Mr. Mallard what are we doing here now." asks Mr. Palmer.
"Hopeful some here well find our help useful. We came as guests so Either we help or it might be a very boring trip out here."
Encountering some of another Inquisitor's Storm Troopers. Donald asks "Where is Inquisitor Levinski?"
Next to the downed Valkyrie.
"Inquisitor, Inquisitor Mallard is looking for you." The voice on the other end of the vox said. Ordering the Tech-magog to continue with is work on the downed valkyrie, Levinski headed back towards the landing site.
"Ah, Inquisitor Mallard, a pleasure to have you back here, may I be of some assistance?"
"Actually that his line." replies Abby before Donald could speak.
Donald Sighs, "I have come to help in what ever way I can."
"Very well Inquisitor Mallard, I'm afraid not much is happening right here at the moment, but I have been hearing reports that some Basavruik men may be attempting to spy on us, I've been unable to investigate myself, but perhaps you could find out if the rumours are true."
=][=
Outside the holding cell containing Tyrak's prisoner a lone servo skull hovers over a man waiting. The man stands against a bulkhead patiently waiting, across from him stands two guards heavily armed and armored. In his hand the inquisitor flips a card, its surface like polished onyx, the relief of a martyred lady catching the dim light. Humming to himself he flips another, this one bears the harlequin. Inquisitor Blake Decklan pauses in his card turning getting an unexpected chill down his spine. Placing the cards back into their protective casing He looks over at the guards. Asking in the language of his underhive homeworld, " You jots eva been rock-side?" Just then the servo skull turned and began clicking in a strange mockery of language. "Tank ya Olmes." Just then the sound of armored boot steps resounded down the hall as the imposing figure of Inquisitor Lord Tarok turned the corner.
Speaking in plain gothic this time, "Good Morning Lord Tarok. Guess you don't sleep much either? Its understandable, our job doesn't give us much time for it." Just then "D" steps out from the bulkhead and into the dim light, the two guards snap to attention with practiced swiftness. With a flourished bow D states, "Inquisitor Blake Decklan, at your service." The rosette of his office hanging from neck catching the light.
With practiced ease and a resigned sigh Tarok pulled his naval pistol off his belt and shot both his guards between the eyes. Both slumped to the deck, shotguns falling from their hands.
"Inquisitor Decklan, if you wish to be anywhere outside passenger limits, you require the permission of the Officer of the Watch. Kindly return to your quarters and remain there until you go through proper channels. I assume you were intending to conduct an interrogation, so I will attempt to leave the prisoner alive for your convenience."
Tarok walked straight past Decklan, speaking into his head microbead,
"Elbe, I'm going to need an extra cleaning-servitor down here. Mr Kretschmann, rouse up the off-watch for duty on the prison deck."
A servo-skull with a long scroll slung underneath, and writing implements attached to its 'arms', followed Tarok into the cell.
As the cell door swung shut behind Tarok, he muttered under his breath,
"You just can't get the crew these days . . ."
=][=
"Now tis's a 'quiz tats all business... You get dat recorded Olmes?" Waiting silently above him the servo skull "Olmes" clicked once and beeped. "Silver. Right'n les 'ope that down'n escort don' fess up to losin' me. Odder wise Tyrak'll run outa servants afore this is over." Walking down the halls back towards the passanger quarters Inquisitor Decklan snaps open the case affixed to his belt and begins to shuffle his cards once more humming to himself.
Thinking to himself " Fortress of integrity this Tarok, but where he falters is his assumption that everyone will play by his rules. I'll have to keep my eyes open for sure. I've a feeling this renegade has a plan for any ship-born interference. Man in his position wouldn't have left himself that open. I'll keep on my preparations. Basavruik has daemonhosts at his control we're gonna need the proper firepower here... Hope I brought enough psycannon bolts for this."
=][=
jungle heading North-West from initial Conclave landing site/village, Maeroc IV
"SNIPER!"
The shot from the sniper's long-las took out Anderson's knee unexpectedly, as Nicole's troops reacted in a flash. Instantly they all dove for cover, dragging Sergeant Anderson behind a tree. Sister Helena attended him as Sergeant Figaro and Nicole took out Auspexes, scanning for life forms. A corporal took out Anderson's auspex while Helena attempted to save what remained of Anderson's knee.
Nicole reached out with psychic tendrils, smiling grimly as she felt a life form heading roughly east of their location. "Celia, Lede, east!" The two shadowy assassins vanished after a few steps, infiltrating their way through the woods rapidly... snipers were good, but in her own opinion her assassins were better. A sniper couldn't shoot what they couldn't see.
Inquisitor Crown looked over at her as she frowned. "I am not pleased... there is obviously more afoot here than we expected. Helena, how is Anderson?"
"He'll live, my lady. I've got a brace on his knee and it should be roughly functional, but I'll need more time to work when we make camp. I'm cautiously optimistic I'll be able to restore regular motion with surgical procedures and rough augmentation... it won't be pretty but it will do until we can get to proper medical facilities."
If Helena was cautiously optimistic, Nicole was now unconcerned. Granted Anderson may never be entirely organic again, but honestly, how many in the galaxy were? It was a small price to pay in service to the Emperor.
"Sergeant Figaro, prepare to advance. Assume the sniper was not operating alone and we are in hostile territory. Take appropriate precautions and have soldiers analyzing Auspex readings constantly." She looked over at Inquisitor Crown, "Thoughts?"
Nicole thought for a moment, then smiled grimly. "Actually Inquisitor Crown, perhaps your first suggestion is more applicable than you think." Raising her head she double checked the ammo clip of her bolter-stake crossbow and that it's sight was still secure. Looking back at Gabriel she smiled, "Logic dictates that the attackers of the village were based out of some camp or central location, which they are most likely fleeing back to after their defeat. If we continue to pursue them we can simply commandeer their own camp and use it to lure out whatever agents were sent to observe who showed up at the village, including our mysterious sniper. Hopefully Celia and Lede will be able to take out the sniper and follow us as we track our runners."
Nicole nodded to Sergeant Figaro who directed the column to move out, albeit with a great deal more caution. They would all endeavor not to be surprised twice.
*****
Celia and Lede ran after their quarry, years of skill at stealthy movements aiding them as they worked their way through the terrain. With any luck they would find the sniper soon, or learn more information to report back to the Inquisitors. They would do what they have been trained to, deliver blood in the name of the Emperor.
=][=
The Jungle, Northeast from Landing site-----
The Marines had moved quickly through the Jungle, unhampered by such mundane things as a need to rest. They had caught scent of their objective and were rapidly closing in on what they believed was the source of the jamming signal, weapons were clutched in tightened hands and emotionless helmets scanned their surroundings piercing the undergrowth with a steely gaze. They had spotted the tripwires and carefully avoided them, but as they went to continue their progress Brother Jude felt and heard a click he threw himself backwards as the blossoming plasma explosion tore off the lower half of his lower left leg. He gritted his teeth as his eyes flashed around the area, and for a moment he swore that he saw a brief flash of movement, but it was gone as quickly as it had registered in his field of vision.
His brothers had closed around him their helms scanning the ground and area for further traps as Techmarine Aeneas knelt beside him with Apothecary Magnus, "Hold still brother while I attend to your wound." Magnus moved swiftly over his armour detaching the charred shin armour with practiced ease and taking in the severity of the wound. He reached for his battlefield kit he kept strapped to his side and withdrew a serrated blade touching a button on the side it began to whine as the teeth sped up, he made a mumbled intonation to the Emperor before touching it a few inches above the burnt stump. The blade was muffled as it sliced through the flesh and began to chew it's way through the bone, Jude hissed slightly as the vibrations carried along his leg, but Aeneas was already moving, one of his servo arms had produced a box of components that had been strapped below his powerpack and he was rapidly assembling something just out of sight. Jude cursed his ineptness in treading on the mine in the first place, a sickening crunch could be heard as the blade severed his hardened bone and sliced through the other side of his stump. Aeneas loomed into his view and spoke, "receive the blessings of the Omnissiah Brother, and may the Machine Spirit of this device accept you."
The other marines had formed a circle around Jude, their weapons gently playing over the foliage as their helmets switched through various spectrums to ensure that no enemy could approach whilst the Techmarine and Apothecary did their work. Captain Corvinus had been trying various frequencies in an attempt to search for other Imperial forces near their location but this close to the jamming beacon he was having no luck, finally giving up he instead tightened his grip around his plasma pistol and narrowed his eyes in anger at the unseen enemy that had brought down his battle brother. Behind him he heard the sound of Aeneas chants of dedication to placate the machine spirit of the rough augmentation he had constructed from the emergency components he insisted upon carrying with him everywhere, Magnus worked with him assisting as the device was attached to the stump. Between them the operation went rapidly, no more than ten minutes had passed since the initial explosion but brother Jude was already struggling to his feet, the bionic device whining slightly as it moved, Aeneas attempted to soothe the machine spirit with placation's and the whining quieted down considerably as he did so. "I am ready to proceed Brother Captain." Judes voice was firm as he hoisted his heavy bolter up once more, and Captain Corvinus fondly nodded at Jude as the Techmarine packed away his tools and spare components along with the blasted remnants of Judes shin armour.
"We move out brothers, watch for further traps and shoot anything that does not declare itself a servant of the Emperor, with sword and flame brothers we shall cleanse this world of the vile heretics that inhabit it." His brothers replied with voices of consent "Brothers let us assume a tight search pattern, cover one another and let the Machine spirit of your helms search for traces of the heretics we face, we continue onward, to glory!" His men returned the ritualistic call and they moved out forming a tight pattern as they continued on in their search, closing ever onwards to the source of the jamming beacon, with eyes now wary and searching for anything that may present an obstacle.
=][=
Crown gave the area in front of him a careful sweep. Polarion stayed close near him, watching his six. Her plasma-cannon hummed readily.
Counter sniper operations was not what I had in mind when I set foot here.
Polarions voice sounded somewhat annoyed over the comm-channel.
"Thoughts?" The Lady Inquisitors voice.
He scanned Pykönnens face briefly, before returning his attention to the heavy and dense jungle.
If that traitor has a comm, then theyll know where here&.and our current position. With the jungle this dense, hed have to be rather close. If we had more time, I would turn the whole thing around, entrench myself in a good position and draw him out. But I would suggest we move on for now. I would not want this whole operation be delayed because of one sniper, by the Emperor, nay. I suggest we move into deeper cover for now.
=][=
James had been searching for bit longer, when he heard an explosion"what was that?"he said, drawing his sword "sir, it sounded like a plasma grenade, not to far from here"
"could it be a trap?, I mean we already lost a trooper to the garrotte, and another to that pitfall, I don't want to lose any more"
"I don't know sir, but better safe than sorry"
James thought for a moment, the said"all right men, move out, we are heading toward the explosion. They hadn't been traveling far, when they burst into a clearing, and saw a squad of catachans pointing their lasguns at them"all right, hands up" one of them said.
"I think we're in trouble" James muttered.
=][=
The assassins found the trail quickly. It reeked of sweat and fear. Their prey was running scared after feeling the intrusions of Pykkonens gifts. One broke off to flank and watch for ambushes as the other kept on the trail. Running on the path rife with broken branches and torn pieces of clothing and skin in some places, the assassin was amazed at how far ahead the sniper must have been in order to not be heard by the enhanced senses of the hunter. Entering the clearing the assassin looked around for where the trail continued, The phenomenal smell of fear and sweat seemed to end here, thinking that the target meant to double back, Lede was almost out of the clearing when the shot went through her head.
Watching Celia saw the muzzle flash 200 meters away. Heading towards it stealthily she crept through the jungle, she almost made it without being spotted. 100 meters and the first shot rang out. It missed Celia, but by then she was running again the adrenaline pumping her muscles full of endorphin. The shots fired almost at random and were increasing in frequency but still the sniper couldnt land a hit with the heavy caliber sniper rifle. 50 meters the sniper had grazed her shoulder but it was a minor flesh wound, celia jumped over a fallen log and ran along it for cover. 25 meters she ran through the short bush straight at the sniper closing the distance. 10 meters the pounding in her ears was cancelling all other noise, the sniper took a final shot at the charging assassin that was out in the open and scored a direct hit the body falling limp to the ground. Then Celia burst into the Snipers position from the side, blades shining in the light brilliantly as she sliced open the prone body in front of her drawing crimson streaks of blood. Having finished with the sniper Celia looked at the scared local she had used as a diversion who lay dead on the ground. Strangely the man wasnt bleeding on the ground, Celia looked to see if he was still alive, but he wasnt breathing. Celia realized with horror what had happened, and realized that the light was shining on her because the cover had been removed completely in one direction. The last thing to go through her mind was the Catachans poison.
Taking her longlas, One shot looked at the local sniper that had been killed by the assassin bled out. She left the killed sniper covered in their own blood as she ghosted through the jungle. The rain washed away all the blood after she had left.
Near the jamming beacon
Spring ran her squad along quickly arming a few traps to keep the astartes occupied and on their trail: nets, Fake soldiers among the trees, and pitfalls, while they made their way to the ambush site. The rain was still pouring as she came to a sink hole with a log across it. after her squad had crossed it Spring stomped on it three times and continued on.
In the mud using reeds to breathe, Croc ignored the rotting leaves and plant matter that covered her body practically freezing cold, and listened with her head on the log of the bridge. She felt the vibrations and knew that a squad was crossing. She waited for them to identify as friendlies after the vibrations stopped. Thud thud thud. So the target is the next squad that crosses, Croc thought to herself as she pulled the rope attached to the next devil who would pull the string of the next one, until the squad was ready. Croc knew that for her squad to be used for an ambush that they had to power armored or tanks. Thats why they had hidden themselves in this sink hole, The temperature difference between the warm surface water, and the freezing decayed plants at the bottom made heat seeking and normal scanners useless in finding them. Croc went back to listening to the log waiting for the unlucky individuals who were their prey.
Rain watched Spring and her squad cross over the ambush spot from her vantage point twenty meters above. Get ready their going to be marines from how fast spring is moving her squad. Her squad was already ready before she had finished.
At the Jamming beacon Day two
Stig paced inside the mess hall, Damn it! Sig, has One shot signaled yet?
Not yet Stig.
Those Astartes should be here by now. Where are they?
We cant check the scanners due to the jammers were using and the clouds make it impossible to use spotters.
A high pitched scream tore everyones attention away from their activities. A sudden gust of wind buffeted the tent almost taking it off the ground with its force. As the wind passed so did the sound of a Thunderhawks engines growing softer as it got farther away. Stig ran to the tent door and flung it open getting a mouthful of mud from the dirt and rain on the outside of the tent. She saw ten power armored figures falling from fifty meters. Dont waste any time on a landing Folkvar. Stigs sarcasm was met with an impatient response from the black figure that practically fell in front of her not bothering to use his jump pack.
I did not. As that there is no time to waste while the seeds of salvation do not rest on the Magni. The chaplains red eyes gleamed out from underneath his skull mask.
=][=
-----The Jungle, Near the Jamming Beacon-----
The Marines had given up hope of traversing the jungle relying solely on their equipment, the foliage was too dense and there were far too many opportunity's for them to be ambushed with a trap or other nasty surprise. Interrogator Chaplain Ezekiel raised a gloved fist to halt his brothers before they blundered too much further ahead, "Brother Captain, may I be lent your ear?" Captain Corvinus nodded and walked back to the black armoured Chaplain, swathed as he was in blood red robes. "What is it Brother, what causes you to halt our advance?" Ezekiel raised his head to look at the sky and the foliage, "Brother do you remember your teachings in the Codex Astartes?" Corvinus paused as he saw the words he had inscribed on his heart flash before his eyes. "Yes Brother I recall them well, what is it that you imply?" Ezekiel grinned inside his helmet and lowered his head so that his fearsome skull mask was barely visible. He raised his arm mounted flamer and the hint of satisfaction could be heard in his voice, "Yea, if there be Darkness, then shalt thou bring forth the light to guide thee..."
Corvinus nodded and stepped back his brothers kneeling down to keep the area clear and playing weapons across the foliage fingers millimeters away from squeezing down on their weaponry's triggers. Chaplain Ezekiel Grimaced one last time at the damned foliage that surrounded them, "And if there be darkness Thou shalt scourge it with holy flame" Lowering his arm he flicked his wrist and activated the twin streams of holy promethium sweeping them around himself with satisfaction, quickly the jungle lit up like a bonfire as the flames licked at the trees and bushes in his way. "To me brothers! We march in the name of the Emperor and the Lion!" The squad stood up, the massive flames already spreading rapidly through the jungle nearest them, Techmarine Aeneas touched a hand to the side of his helmet briefly as the shroud that clouded his Machine Spirits voice was lifted, "Brother Captain! I have a clear line of communication, I know not how long it will hold!" Corvinus nodded and patched into the clear line that connected back to their Thunderhawk, "Eternal Castigator this is Brother Captain Corvinus, relay our position to the Inquisitor at the landing site and advise him that there is a high chance that there will be a large jungle fire spreading towards his position soon, and Castigator?" Corvinus paused to regard his brothers, and took in the sight of Jude's new Bionics, "Awaken Brother Cadmus." The line quickly filled with static again, Corvinus cursed and nodded at his men who formed a circle around the chaplain who lit their way forwards with short bursts of flame that quickly began to consume everything their path as they marched grimly onwards their guns playing across the inferno that surrounded them.
-----The Landing Site-----
Aboard the Eternal Castigator the small crew of Marines paid close heed to the slightly garbled message that came through, they had managed to lock down the Captains position and the part about the incoming fires. But the part that gave them pause was the last, "...Awaken Brother Cadmus..." The on board Techmarine looked at the pilot and nodded moving quickly to the rear hold he approached a darkened shape in a recess in the hull. Gently he anointed the massive shape with holy oils, incarnating the ancient rituals as he moved. "Heed my call Brother, awaken from thy slumber, serve thy Brothers once more." So saying he struck the first rune on the control panel with a wrench anointed in holy oil, "Awaken my Brother, thy Chapter has need of thee." He struck the second rune and lights flickered on all over the shape, "Heed my call Brother, come to us and Aid us." Striking the third rune the Techmarine gingerly pressed down on the large panel marked 'initiate activation sequence'. The shape began to stir as the Techmarine poured a small amount of holy libation on the ground as offering to the ancient Machine Spirits he was calling upon. "Oh holy Omnissiah grant this servant of your will your aid and stir the Machine Spirits." The Shape stood fully erect, massive power cables jettisoned from it and the Techmarine bowed backwards and out of the way in supplication, it stepped forwards into the light and its large clawed fist span as it tested systems, the large twin autocannon on it's arm rose in the light and the huge armoured 'Head' of the ancient Mk.IV Dreadnought regarded the Techmarine, "I Have Awoken Brother, what need do you have of me?"
The rear gangway leading down to the dirt of the landing zone resounded with heavy footsteps accompanied by the whining of the ancient mechanisms that powered the mighty Dreadnought that contained Brother Cadmus His form paused for a moment framed by the internal landing lights before he marched down the gangway, and sighted a man who appeared to be in charge, his massive feet sank slightly in the dirt but he moved steadily towards him until he was stood close to the man. Leaning slightly to take in proper sight of him Brother Cadmus, several centuries interred, and loyal servant of the Emperor spoke: "I bring urgent word from Brother Captain Corvinus."
-----Aboard the Battle Barge Sword of Fury, Orbiting Caladonia Prime-----
The crew paced anxiously aboard the Bridge, they had received word an hour beforehand from the Imperial Vessel Unyielding Faith and now they awaited word that the Navigator was prepared for the journey to Maeroc IV. Finally a Servitor scuttled up to the large armoured Captain and spoke in that halting way the Servitors used when not communicating in their peculiar syntax "All. Is. Prepared. Captain. You. May. Engage. At. Your. Will." The Captain grunted and the Servitor scuttled away to accomplish whatever task it had been assigned next. "Helmsman engage Engines, take us into the Warp." the Helmsman nodded and responded with a terse "Aye Captain" Before the massive vessel slowly slid forwards, the Captain smashed his fist against his chest in a steady beat and the rest of the crew on the Bridge followed his lead, the resounding echoes of their armoured fists beating upon their armoured chests filling the room and carried over the ships internal communications where the rest of their Brothers in the 5th Company accompanied the beat. The Helmsman moved rapidly his fingers dancing over panels and buttons to engage the massive engines in full burn as they prepared to slip into the warp, all over the vessel the sudden sound of chanting accompanying the beat of their fists could be heard as the vessel slipped slowly into the warp "Rector nos Sanctus Imperator ut nostrum hostilis ut nos can offendo lemma in vestri nomen quod exuro suus malum ex galaxy..." As the last of the vessel slowly disappeared into the warp the 5th Company rode to war and to the aid of their Captain.
=][=
Turning to face the giant armoured sarcophagus, Levinski was awed by the sheer size of the ancient machine. "Yes, ancient one, what news do you bring?"
After listening to the dreadnoughts report of the fire headed their way, and dispatching some men to prepare for the fire, a hooded young man ran over. "For-forgive me Lord, but y-you may want to see this." He said, handing Levinski a data-slate.
After a brief pause, the inquisitor turned back to the ancient dreadnought, and spoke: "Ancestor, you should be aware that a new threat has arrived. An ork space vessel has entered the Maeroc system and is heading this way."
"Thank you ancient, for now you should simply prepare, the orks are still at the edge of the system, and they will have to go through Tyraks ships to get here. How many of your captains men are still at the camp on the thunderhawk? If you have a techmarine my ally, Tech-magog Alasor, could use some help getting my valkyrie flying again, I fear we may need all the help we can get if those xenos land."
Cadmus leaned his immense frame back slightly scanning the night sky his massive power claw clenching and unclenching as he did so. "Xenos, Scum. By the Emperors Will they shall fall burning and screaming to their perdition, their flesh ripped from their bones and their foul unclean souls sent to the warp." His amplified voice echoed with tones of hatred and he rotated his frame down to view the diminutive figure of Levinski, "Where do you need Me most?" His large autocannon gleamed slightly in the light and ancient seals of purity fluttered slightly in the wind, a tattered red tabard was draped across the front of his sarcophagus and every inch of his armour plating was inscribed with illuminated passages from the Requiem Angelis. "I have been ordered to aid in the defense of this camp, and to assist you with Tactical knowledge if you desire it." The Dreadnought rotated slowly to gaze at the Jungle, scanning it as he calibrated systems after his awakening.
Cadmus turned and regarded Levinski, "Aboard the Thunderhawk is the standard crew of Four Marines, assisting them is a Techmarine and five Servitors of various designations." Cadmus stood up to his full height, towering over the man as he stepped backwards a few steps, "I will inform them that they're help is required in the defense of this camp. Praise to the Emperor." Cadmus turned and stomped back through the camp and ascended the ramp onto the Eternal Castigator, He halted before the Techmarine who had awoken him and leaned forwards again to talk to his Brother. "Brother your assistance is required in the camp, we will need to ensure that this camp is adequately defended in case those filthy Xenos decide to land." The Techmarine nodded and bowed, "Of course Ancient one, I will inform the others and we shall descend into the Camp to aid these people." Cadmus bowed his Baroque 'head' at the Techmarine and turned to leave the craft, pausing at the top of the ramp down into the camp to gaze over the area he had been tasked with assisting, and sighed to himself as he thought of his Brothers lost out in the Jungle as they were. "Remain strong my Brothers, soon I will come to your assistance, Emperor willing."
=][=
Alone in his room Inquisitor Blake Decklan was checking his equipment for the fourth time. He'd cleared his mind as much as he could and was slowly placing cards from his onyx tarot deck in a spiral pattern on the floor. All the while he intoned an old terran prayer for guidance. He could smell the incense, the oiled walls, the promethium. Decklan paused in his reading, was their a fire? No, Olmes would have let him know long ago. Clearing his head once more he resumed the prayer and placed another card. *KKRAACK!.... BAANGBAANG!!!*
Jumping to his feet the inquisitor drew both of his bolt pistols. He could definitely hear gunfire outside now. Standing back to the wall arms braced he elbowed the door open button and swung around. What he saw next took his breath away. It was a jungle. THE jungle. Down on the planets surface fire was in the distance, the reek of promethium and gunsmoke in the air. The heat from the flames palpable even from this distance. From the bushes just in front of him there was a feral yell. "WAAAAGGHHH!!!!!!" Just then an ork sporting a very large axe and blue tattoos rushed at him. He'd put three bolts into it before he'd even registered it. The beast fell to the ground with a thud leaking sickly blood from where its head should have been.
Inquisitor Decklan looked around more confused than ever. He was once again standing on board The Firebird Rising, in the hall just outside his quarters. Olmes floated just to the left of the door right where he'd left him. The only thing that had changed was a dismembered servitor lying on the floor its severed arm clutched a dataslate. A layer of frost coated the walls of his quarters as well as the servitor and the floor. Slowly the inquisitor knelt down to retrieve the dataslate. It was the Intel he'd requested just earlier about the planet below and the current data on the hunt. A single red icon flashed on its screen. He thumbed the icon and read the words that followed. [General Warning: Xenos Vessel detected in system| Blockade fleet is engaged]
"Well Thats gonna muck things up a bit... Olmes, send for a tech priest and convey my sincerest apologies to them..."
=][=
"Throne damn it!"
Tarok shot out of the prison deck, flicking on the microbead as he raced for the bridge.
"Mr Kretschmann, power up all systems and beat to quarters. I want every man fully armed and prepared and at his station within the hour - servitors too, get Elbe working on it. Unmask the guns too, Orks will attack us regardless of how we are armed. Send a priority communication to Admiral Cyrus, tell him to prepare for code beta and get the fleet on the move and in system as soon as humanly possible. I want them leaving Cypra Mundi in no less than six hours! Tell him I will transfer my flag to the Domine Canis as soon as he arrives. Abandon the blockade and order the fleet into position to repel incoming - use diplomacy with the Astartes, but otherwise pull rank - I'm the Inquisitor leading the Conclave and a former ranking Naval Officer to boot. Also, send a servitor team to pack all my possessions for transfer to the Domine Canis. I'll be in my quarters helping them pack."
Tarok cursed under his breath. They would need the Emperor's help to hold off the Orks. Chances are they would be unable to stop the hulk, but there was a chance the Orks would simply head for the planet and ignore his ad-hoc 'fleet' for the most part.
=][=
Aboard the Mars class Battle Cruiser Cavalier, outlaying system ~1 week distant, day 2
"Captain, you need to see this."
Captain Fisher walked over to the communications station aboard the command deck of the Cavalier. "Yes, Lieutenant?"
"Sir, there's a priority communication to Admiral Cyrus in Cypra Mundi from an unidentified vessel from Maeroc IV, requesting immediate aid and assistance from his fleet. The message bears Inquisitorial authority."
Fisher looked over the information himself, scowling and cursing lightly. It wasn't from their Inquisitor... despite the fact she was non-military, Inquisitor Pyykkönen had been somewhat adopted by the Cavalier due to her record of service and polite extended interaction. They were pleased she had the common sense to let the sailors do the sailing, and was very respectful of allowing them to have regular shipboard operations. Fisher knew she was on some sort of mission on Maeroc IV, and now the system was the origins of a distress call to another naval fleet. He was tempted to call this the message for reinforcements the Inquisitor had prepped them for. An opening door and a quick glance at the source of the noise told Fisher that thankfully he wouldn't have to make the call. Admiral Drayson was entering the bridge, along with Colonel Kit Pyykkönen of the stationed Cadian 84th. Despite being in the Imperial Guard instead of the Imperial Navy, Colonel Pyykkönen had uncanny luck in terms of being around to receive important news in person, an asset to the fleet as it meant the stationed Imperial Guard troopers were always readily available for assistance.
"Admiral, you need to see this." That was all Fisher had to say. Admiral Drayson came over and looked at the screen, as did Colonel Pyykkönen. Drayson spoke quickly, "I should think this is close enough to the Inquisitor's request to suffice. Ready the fleet, we move in response. Most likely we'll only arrive to pick up the pieces, but if the Emperor is willing we may arrive sooner."
Kit had only one thought as the Naval Officers went about the process of getting the fleet moving, "I hate it when I'm right..."
=][=
-----The Jungle, Near the Jamming Beacon-----
The Marines watched in satisfaction as much of the offending area was scorched away, the weather was far too damp to allow for more widespread flames to spread, sparing them the unfortunate likelihood of being consumed within the radius of the flames. With a larger and clearer area around them their helmets autosenses were working at a much greater efficiency allowing them to see deeper into the jungle around them and watch for traps that may be lain with an eagles eye. So far a great deal of their hindrances were gone, pitfalls had been spotted easily and avoided and now they closed on a sinkhole up ahead with a log lain across it. Captain Corvinus held up a fist and his squad dropped down to their knee, their gaze scanning the area. "Brothers I do not like this, I sense a trap lays before us." Chaplain Ezekiel nodded his agreement and as one they edged a little closer before halting again and scanning the area. Ezekiel lit up the rest of the foliage that lead up to the sinkhole letting it burn away with a hellish delight, "Brother Grigori, Brother Jude. Clear that hole, we shall cut a fresh log if we require it." The battle brothers reached down to their equipment pouches and withdrew a frag grenade each, arming them they threw them clear into hole, quickly followed by another two. As the grenades bounced down into the hole the first two detonated just above the surface sending irregular chunks of shrapnel exploding out in all directions, the second two followed suite filling the immediate area with white hot shards of shrapnel that filled the area in all directions, quite capable of perforating anything in their path. "Well done Brothers, let us close in and sweep it one last time." Cautiously they edged further towards the sinkhole, scanning the area around them and in front of them for further traps.
=][=
"get ready" James whispered to Jachai
"What?"
"hey, no talking" one of the catachans said,"or you'll get a taste of this" drawing his knife.
"NOW!" shouted James, elbowing the Catachan nearest to him, and drawing his sword, while pushing Jachai to the ground. "stay down" he shouted.
"FOR THE EMPEROR!" yelled Lysander, firing his bolter into the catachans, who were fighting back with knives and lasguns.
"fall back" one of them said, and the catachans retreated back into the woods.
"hold your fire Lysander, and give me a casualty report."
"sir, we've lost two more troopers, and one is seriously wounded."
"thanks you, we will stay here and search for clues on who those men were."
"My Lord Inquisitor, we must give chase! Catachans are smart, and these men will undoubtedly return to their base of operations, get backup and come for us, we cannot allow that!" Jachai said, while nursing his shoulder from where he had hit the ground hard. He noticed one of the dead troopers was from Mallards detachment of stormtroopers, he did not relish the thought of having to report that to his master.
"Youre right, me, you, lysander and his squad and 5 stormtroopers will follow them, the rest of you stay here, and Jachai, are you okay, I apologize for shoving you, but it seemed necessary."
"Very well, lead the way my Lord. And I'm fine, but next time let me fight, I'm a perfectly capable fighter."
"again my apologies, but there was no way I could tell you what I was planning, and I didn't want any friendly fire incidents, next time I will tell you, now come on, lets go"
=][=
Tyrak's Chambers.
"Get that desk packed away!" Tarok ordered the Servitors.
His chambers were now almost bare, nearly everything had been packed away for transfer to the Domine Canis. Tarok picked up his dress uniform, and reverently laid it in a crate held by a Servitor. He had changed into his battle-dress, and now wore his full armour and coat, with his weapons securely strapped in place. His cap had been replaced by the helmet for his power armour, which Tarok held under his arm as he directed the Servitors. His Bolter hung on his left hip, his Naval pistol on his left hip, and his sword was sheathed across his back,
His library, possessions and other equipment had already been transferred to his Thunderhawk in the launch bay under heavy guard, and would remain there until it was time to depart the Firebird Rising. Gently he unhooked the shield bearing his coat of arms off the back of the door and handed it to the last Servitor. As it trundled off down the corridor, heavy footfalls signaled the arrival of Senior Techpriest Elbe.
Elbe, like most long-serving Mechanicus officials, was almost entirely mechanical, a patch here and there of greying flesh and his mechanically attuned mind within his metal skull the only evidence that he was once human. Four mechanical arms replaced the normal two for a human, and a fifth came out of his spine and arched over his head like a tail, or a scorpion's sting. The red robes of the Mechanicus hid his body, with a hole in the back for the fifth 'arm', and a cowl to cover his head.
"++Is all in readiness?++" he canted, his voice a harsh bark from the mechanical voice-box set in his throat.
"Yes, soon things can come to fruition. Are you certain you wish to take part in this?"
"++I will do my duty to the Omnissiah, regardless of what form that may take.++"
"The Orks are first. Is the ship in readiness?"
"++She is ready. Her spirit knows the familiar drills by now.++"
Elbe's single red eye met Tyrak's gaze.
"++Her spirit has been commended to the Omnissiah.++"
"Very well. You know your part, now we must all act."
"++How is your pistol?++"
Tarok wordlessly handed over his Naval Pistol, heavily modified and now resembling a sawn-off shotgun more than anything else.
Elbe tatted as he whispered obeisance to the Machine Spirit under his breath. One of his arms selected a small part from a pocket in his robes, and inserted it into the now dismantled breech of the pistol. The other three arms swiftly reassembled the pistol whilst the fifth swivelled slowly overhead, surveying the environment. Tarok knew that attached just above the grip of that arm was Elbe's second mechanical eye. Elbe handed the pistol back.
"++There. The Machine Spirit has been pacified and it will serve you well. I have added another modification that should reduce the chances of jamming to negligible.++"
Tarok made the sign of the Aquila. Elbe returned the gesture with the sign of the Cog.
"Against the daemonic."
"++Against the daemonic.++"
=][=
The going had been slow as the Stormtroopers of Mallard forces carefully looked for traps. May had served in some very deadly Campaigns either in the Imperial Guard or in Jethro's case and a inquisitorial Stormtrooper. No one had fall into one yet. and they had disarmed any they could or put signs up should the other come this way. The going was slow and Mallard's frustration was starting to show.
"Are you alright Ducky?" asks Abby.
"I am fine, just frustrated. I know that we need to move at this speed, but everyone else seems to be contributing much more . I should have recalled our full forces maybe then I would feel like I the 'little brother' of this operation.'
=][=
Tarok returned to the bridge to find his officers, Interrogators Hayes, Serk and Kretschmann, and Techpriest Elbe already present.
"How long till the hulk arrives in range?" Tarok inquired.
"Still 12 hours to range, sir." responded Hayes.
"Any sign of an attending Ork fleet?"
"No sir, its just the hulk."
"Right. We've some time to get other matters sorted then."
Turning to face Hayes, Tarok took an object from his pocket. Hayes stiffened.
"I'm sorry this couldn't be done formally, but circumstances have dictated otherwise."
He switched to High Gothic.
"Do you, Interrogator Hayes, fully understand thy task and thy purpose in this Imperium of Man?"
"I do, sir."
"Do you pledge thy life and soul to the destruction of all things fell and foul, wherever they be found?"
"I do, sir."
"Do you accept and renew the pledges made at the initiation of your service, namely to accept no truck with dark forces, to delve in dark places at the behest of the Master of Mankind, and to carry His light into the places lost?"
"I do, sir."
"Good. Those to vouch for the character and worthiness of the aspirant, stand forth."
Tarok took two letters from his pocket and read,
"I, Inquisitor Marl, do vouch for the character and worthiness of Interrogator Hayes and judge him worthy to be an Imperial Inquisitor."
He switched to the second letter.
"I, Inquisitor Wiesngren, do vouch for the character and worthiness of Interrogator Hayes and judge him worthy to be an Imperial Inquisitor."
Tarok put the letters back in his pocket.
"I, Inquisitor Tarok, do vouch for the character and worthiness of Interrogator Hayes and judge him worthy to be an Imperial Inquisitor. Therefore, upon the profession of thy faith and the judgement of acceptable character, I hereby induct thee fully into the Ordo Malleus as a full Inquisitor."
He took Hayes' rosette from his pocket, and Hayes wordlessly handed over his copy-rosette.
"Here is the symbol of thy authority, use it well, Inquisitor. Ave Imperator."
"Ave Imperator", chorused all those present.
"Congratulations, Inquisitor Hayes," said Tarok, dropping out of High Gothic, "Here are your first orders."
He handed over a packet with his seal and that of the Ordo Malleus emblazoned on it.
"You are to supervise the evacuation of all non-military personnel from the ship, set up a base at the Maeroc landing site and then return to take command of the Firebird whilst I transfer to the Domine Canis. I have selected Junior Astropath Fralon to be your first aide. Are there any others you wish to take with you?"
"With your permission, sir, I should like Chiiss and Khalar."
"Very well. Take all your personal belongings with you, and select what you need from the Armoury. It may be the last time you get to use it. I will sign the transfer documents and meet you at the landing bay should any of the other passengers prove resistant to evacuation."
* * *
The Landing Bay
"Have you had any trouble getting the other Inquisitors off-ship?"
"No, sir, although some were . . . reluctant to be ejected."
"Tough. This is my ship, I will do what I will with it."
"They understood that eventually, sir."
Tarok chuckled under his breath, and turned to face Hayes.
"Very good, Inquisitor. Now its your turn. You will do well own your own. Have you all you will need?"
"Yes sir. Chiiss, Khalar and Fralon have their belongings and are already embarked."
"Good. Then its time to go."
The two men made the sign of the Aquila, and Hayes headed into the Aquila Lander.
As the shuttle left the launch bay, along with the other shuttles taking the former passengers down to the planet, Tyrak's smile rapidly hardened into his usual unreadable expression. Stage one was complete. Now the Traitor would soon show him, or herself.
=][=
With a loud yawn and a stretch Inquisitor Decklan disembarks from the Arvus he'd brought to the surface. Following him came Olmes and behind the servo skull came two heavy weapon servitors both armed with heavy bolters. Decklan turned to regard the servitors, "Yer ta keepin dis dropper right ere." he stated. Olmes diligently relayed this as servitors aren't well versed in hive language. "Olmes, lets 'ave a chat 'n see who's workin' dis rock." Looking around Decklan spots the thunderhawk and decides to head in that direction. He arrives to see a man conversing with a space marine dreadnought. He quietly whistles to himself and walks over to them.
"Allo!" Taking a slight bow, "Inquisitor Blake Decklan, at yer service." Standing upright once more he asks, " So, what is the intel?"
Regarding the curious new arrival, Levinski tried to place the accent, finally giving up, he said "Welcome to Maeroc IV inquisitor, As you no doubt know we are preparing to fight the orks that have recently arrived in system. For now, our primary objective is to make sure this landing site remains in our hands, if you could set up your two servitors in good firing positions I would appreciate it. If you have any other forces available deploy them as you wish."
Cadmus descended the Ramp towards the Inquisitor, the Techmarine and Servitors following him. The Techmarine dispatched the Servitors to various firing points around the Landing site, their arms clutching bolters as they proceeded to the optimal firing locations that they had designated as the most optimal. The Techmarine moved off towards the nearest Tech-priest to discuss what could be done to repair the Valkyrie that Brother Cadmus had informed him would be required to be returned to service to defend this place. Cadmus himself stomped up to the Inquisitor and noted the new arrival pausing before them both and regarding them inquisitively. "The Servitors have been Dispatched Inquisitor, and Brother Fairus shall assist in the repairs on your vehicle. May I inquire as to what our expected defensive force will consist of?"
Turning to face the ancient dreadnought, Levinski tried not to give away too much of his emotions. "Essentially, whatever the conclave can muster. My plan for the moment is that we hold out until your company arrives, hopefully they should bolster our forces enough to win the fight." I just fear they might not make it in time. He finished to himself.
=][=
Kaptin Morklub gazed out across his bridge from his favourite place, this Kaptinz Throne. He was fond of it, 'kause e'd bashed all da meks 'til dey'd 'ooked up all da thrusders so some shiney buttonz on is arm rezt. One good smack and the ship would satisfy his needs for speed.
The scrape of toenails on the deckplates betrayed the approach of his favourite grot Fungfetch returning wif a fresh mug of fungus grog from the galley, taking his cue he listed to the far side of his chair and pretended to listen to his oomie advisor. Every good BloodAxe knows dat oomies will sell each other out, and that if youz was kunnin' like Morklub was, you could use this to your advantage. Still, they got dull at times, and he'd wish'd that this one would stop wif all da jibber-jabber and just get on wiv tellin' 'im where da loot was in dis system. 'E thought about cuffin' 'im one good just to make him get on wif it, but dat never seemd to do any good wif dis one.
Fungfetch did 'iz level best to hold da grog out at the edge of the Kaptins reach, but like most times before, Morklub lunged to the other side of his seat, snatched the brew and clipped 'im one rough upside the gob. Slugging back a good swig of da latest brew, da boss noticed that 'iz oomie was taking down his pie charts, and with that he started paying attension. A kunnin' Ork like Morlub knows that when they put away the charts they're going to 'soommerize' and that all the previous talk 'ad been a waste of bref.
"... And that is how we know that there's an armoury in the jungle. They wouldn't bother sending out jamming signals if they weren't hiding something valuable. Any Questions"
"Nah, and git yer zoggin oomie rear offa mi bridge, yer stinkin' up da plaze".
Planket wouldn't lasted two min'ts on da 'Pride' if Morklub hadn't made it clear to da krew to leave 'im alone, and he didn't muck like 'im 'imself. But, 'e always seemed to know where some loot was and 'e'd come 'ightly rekomended by that von Orlock fellow e'd fought wif a little while back.
=][=
Interrogator Serk interrupted Tyrak's musings.
"Sir, Admiral Cyrus reports he has left dock and is proceeding with full speed to the sector jump-point."
"Good. Did he provide a fleet manifest?"
"Yes sir, he did. He reports that he was able to get hold of a detachment five ships of obsolete classes from the First Reserve Fleet, and apologizes for the hour's delay that caused for their crews to familiarize themselves with the ships. They are a Repulsive Class Grand Cruiser, a Hades Class Heavy Cruiser, and a squadron of a Carnage Class Cruiser and two Murder Class Cruisers."
Serk handed Tarok a dataslate. Tarok glanced at it, reading under his breath.
"Right. Emperor-Class Battleship Domine Canis, leading. Vengeance Class Grand Cruiser Annihilator, Exorcist Class Grand Cruiser Death Knell, Repulsive Class Grand Cruiser Avenger, Hades Class Heavy Cruiser Valedictor, Mars Class Battlecruiser Martian Fury. Squadron One, Lunar Class Cruisers Valiant Knight, commanding, Crusader and Morning Star. Squadron Two, Lunar Class Cruisers Lance, commanding, Imperator Rex and Sea Fortress.
Mixed Cruiser Squadron 'A', Carnage Class Cruiser Aggressor, commanding, Murder Class Cruisers Aggravator and Antagonist. Dictator Class Cruisers Lion and Dragon, unsquadroned.
Squadron White, Dauntless Class Cruisers Lord Hautur, commanding, Servitude and Mortis. Squadron Blue, Endeavour Class Cruisers Warrior, commanding, Wraith and Warlord, with attached Endurance Class Light Cruiser Judgement.
Squadron 'E', Sword Class Frigates Emperor, commanding, Executor, Enforcer and Eleanor. Squadron 'F', Sword Class Frigates Fury, commanding, Ferocious, Fateful and Foresight. Squadron 'I', Sword Class Frigates Indefatigable, commanding, Indomitable, Illuminator and Insidious. Squadron 'R', Cobra Class Destroyers Redoubtable, commanding, Ravager, Retributor and Razor."
Tarok handed the dataslate back and returned to his thoughts.
Several seconds later he realized Serk was still there.
"Yes?"
"Sir, I was wondering, why do we need a full sector battle fleet, even if it is a reserve fleet? The scans on the hulk have only detected around a third of the amount of Orks that it has capacity for."
"Serk, the Inquisition needs resources, and to ensure those resources are always available, one must make full use of them to ensure they have no loyalties elsewhere. A Inquisitorial check does wonders for loyalty, particularly from one who is familiar with the preliminary signs of Naval dissent. The more resources one has at one's disposal, the more you can achieve. Even more so if those resources are permanently at my disposal, such as yourself, or the Firebird."
Serk nodded, though he showed no signs of comprehending Tyrak's line of thinking. Clearly something drastic would have to happen if Serk was to make it to Inquisitor.
Once Serk had left the bridge, Tarok turned to speak with Elbe, but the Techpriest was finishing modifying his limbs. Aside from the two bionic arms and three mechadendrites, Elbe was busy attaching a further two mechandendrites, the primary bionic eye in his face disabled as he supervised operations via his second bionic eye mounted in the fifth mechandenrite sprouting from his spine. The optical mechandendrite hovered over proceeding like a scorpion's stinger, checking the connections and power supply, bringing Elbe's limbs to a total of 9.. Finally Elbe finished, rotating his bionic arms round to their proper positions in and the primary eye under his cowl flaring into glowing red life, his mechadendrites now hovering and waving slightly with a life of their own, and the optical mechadendrite hovering over his head as usual.
"As soon as Cyrus arrives, we can meet Trueborn."
"++Trueborn comes with Cyrus. He is a long way from his homeworld.++"
"His services are worth it. An emissary has gone back to his homeworld on his behalf, to share his new knowledge."
"++Such knowledge is not of the prohibited kind, I hope.++"
"No, nothing more than Serk and Kretschmann know."
"++ Good. You know as well as I do it is not worth being lax with knowledge of the foes we face.++"
"No. Still, all we can do now it wait. The hulk will be in range in 5 hours. Hopefully, since it's alone, it's objective will be to make planet fall, not that we have anything like the resources here to stop it."
Tarok moved to the centre of the command deck, coat open to reveal the armour beneath. Rex, his cyber-mastiff, trotted over and curled up, deactivated, at Tyrak's feet, awaiting the conflict to come.
=][=
"Sir, I think you need to see this"
"What is it Lysander?" asked James.
"The men have found an eight pointed star in the bunker, That means that those men werent catachans at all, they were Basavruik's men"
"That could explain several things." James said
"like?" asked Lysander
"Well for one, they fled to easily, I expected higher resistance from them."
"So what does it mean"
"it means we're getting closer" James responded grimly
=][=
Early afternoon, day two, Engine room of Morklubz Pride
"Wot d'ya mean da fieldz Kollapsin'? Wot kinda zoggin' ooseless mek-boss letz iz fieldz kollapse! Wen I wuz a yoof dese tings jus didn' 'appen ta Orkses. Meybe to weedy oomies, 'kause deys alwayz chantin' and splashin' oils and stuff on dere makines and not 'itten 'em wif spannerz like youze 'sposed ta" Morklub used his tirade as a distraction and took a swing ad the big meks block and as his brass knouckles connected with the bionic bonce the loud ringing caught the ear of all the rest of the meks and spanna boys minding the worky-bits.
Fully in the eye of all his subordinates, Mek-boss StarZag started to make his case "now look 'ere boss, dem know-wotz we jack't from dem dark pansies on da advise of dat Orlok bloke are only so well made, see. Dey oose 'em only to conceal dere little, weedy boatz, so when we oose 'em on a right-proppa kruizer, dey jus don' last as long. Den you 'ave uz pump more o' da jooce throogh 'em, and it's no wunda dey's burnin' out. 'Sidez boss, why doos it matter if deyz oomies see uz as a 'Ulk or a flotilla of Kruizaz and rammin' boatz?"
"Listen you zog, just oozse da boss 'ere. I'll tellz ya, ME! An', if I sayz wez going' ta be sneaky, wez going to be sneaky, datz all dere is too it! But az a speshul favor to oose ladz down 'ere in injuneerin' I'll letz oose in on da plan. If deyz finks wez really strong, strong likez a full on waugh, dey might just give uz da loot. Den we can evver just go on our way wif our tribute, or, wez can smash 'em up klose and orky. Meybey, if deys gots a little kourage and deys plans to fightz us, well den, dey'll call in all da fancy oomie fings, like dere funny lookin' gargantz and some of dem spaze marinez, da 'ardest boyz deyz gotz for you to 'ave a good scrap wif. Eiver way wez winz. quick loot, or a right proppa fight wif stuff to smash for all da boyz. Az boss, I'z gotz ta know dese fings." Morklub pause to see if any of it was sinkin' in, but as with most of his cunning plans, they ladz eyes just seemed to glase over 'til he told them what to hit. "So, ta make dis work, oose lot is going' ta make dem fields work, and datz all dere is too it."
Now that they'd been told what to do and had started to bash away at the worky bitz to get things right proper again, Morklub embarked on his trip back up to his bridge. Zoggin' meks, keeping them in line took up almost half his time, and if Loutenant Krugzog was in his chair again, he'd be bringing the ruckus.
=][=
-----Inquisitorial Landing Site-----
Cadmus sagely regarded the Inquisitor for a long moment, he chose his words carefully before speaking. "Inquisitor even if the Enemy were to strike here we must be prepared for any and all eventualities. The Ebb and Flow of Combat could leave any point in this sites Perimeter open to attack. Perhaps you should assign some Servitors to begin constructing light defensive entrenchments around the Site, and cut back the forest to at least ten metres around the site to provide level fields of overlapping fire." Cadmus gestured with the massive clawed fist that served as his left arm around him. "Trenches might serve well with sentry towers constructed from the wood that you harvest whilst cutting back the forest, even the lightest of barricades delays the enemy that much longer for our forces to whittle them down." Cadmus turned his head to look up at the sky and a mechanical sigh echoed from his vox caster hauntingly as he gazed into the stars . "My Brothers will arrive Inquisitor, until then we may only Pray for the Emperors divine protection and guidance."
-----The Warp-----
The Captain of the Sword of Fury Gazed at his bridge crew, noting their firm and unwavering attention to their duties, he looked at the blank windows of the bridge where the blast shields had lowered as they entered the warp so as to protect the crew from the madness of The Warp. They had been this madness for what felt like days but they were strengthened by the thought of their Brothers fighting on that planet to which they were headed. Soon enough they would arrive and the full strength of the Lion would devour their enemies in a blaze of Holy Bolter fire and Promethium.
=][=
"Helm, turn 90 degrees starboard and come to all ahead full. Keep us well clear of the hulk, we don't know what it's capable of and I don't want to be leaving the ship before Admiral Cyrus arrives."
"Helm, 90 degrees starboard, then all ahead full, aye sir."
Tarok turned impatiently to Elbe, who was fiddling with the now detached gauntlets of Tyrak's power armour.
"Finished yet?"
"++Patience. The Machine Spirit must be properly attended to before such an operation.++"
Elbe withdrew the mechandrites from within the left gauntlet and handed both back to Tarok.
"++All done. I have installed a miniature melta weapon in the left wrist, and a compact combat knife in the right wrist. The pistol is one-shot only, for emergencies. Same goes for the knife. It will take time to rearm the pistol and replace the knife. It won't fire the knife, but you won't be unarmed in that armour.++"
"I assume it is controlled via the MIU you . . . implanted earlier?"
Tarok twitched at the memory of the implant operation.
"++Yes, mind-impluse control.++"
"How am I to carry this? The armour is heavy enough now."
"++If you will allow me . . . stay still while I do this.++"
Elbe walked round behind Tarok, as a mechadendrite reached down the collar of Tyrak's armour, connecting an plug attached to the armour to a spinal socket just below Tyrak's neck. Tarok hissed as the two meshed together, linking him with his armour. He flexed his gauntleted fingers.
"Ahh. Much better."
"++You should not remain connected to the armour for longer periods of time. Long periods of usage can lead to atrophied muscles.++"
"That is alright. I'm planning to study Biomancy, so I will be able to regrow any damaged muscle tissue."
"++If you say so.++"
The armour now felt good, much lighter that it had before. Still no match for an Astartes plugged into his armour, but it was probably the nearest he would get. More importantly, he now suffered no loss of reflex from the armour's weight.
Serk entered the command deck.
"Sir, a message from Astropath Pravin. Admiral Cyrus is making remarkably good time through the warp."
"Thank you."
So, whoever this Traitor was, it seemed as though the Orks would disrupt his plans, and so his patron god had cleared the warp in the hopes that the Navy would clear out the Orks before they could interfere with the Traitor's plans. A scheme of the Great Conspirator, no doubt.
=][=
Sighing, Levinski turned to the ancient dreadnought. "You are correct. I must admit, I am not a soldier by profession, much more of an investigator. You have been a soldier since long before even my parents were born, perhaps you should take over battlefield preparations?"
Cadmus turned to the Inquisitor and bowed slightly from the waist, "Your will, Inquisitor." He stepped back and surveyed the sight that the Inquisition had centred in, he swept his gaze around the landing site tacking in depths of treeline and possible locations that the enemy might be able to breach through. He utilized the ancient Machine Spirit of his Sarcophagus and sent a communication of Orders out to the Servitors in the camp, they quickly stopped whatever actions they were engaged in, slaved as they were to his command systems. The Camp around them became a flurry of activity, the Servitors carefully placing down what weapons they had been carrying and instead took up tools, they moved with inhuman speed and precision as the whine of chain weaponry filled the air. "All Servants of the Emperor Hear Me!" Cadmus' voice echoed around the camp, amplified so that all others could hear him clearly. "We must set up fields of defense to hold back the enemies that we will inevitably face! Those of you not engaged in vital work are now under my Command, the first order of things is to tighten up this Camp, bring it into a circular shape and ensure that you leave no place for the Enemy to sneak through! All other Orders will be given when this task is completed. For The Emperor we shall defend this place, and in his name strengthen it!" Cadmus stomped off as he directed men and women to the locations where they would be required, his orders flowing thick and fast in a torrent of chastisements and praise, as he began to whip the loose camp into a defensible site.
=][=
*IC* Astropathic transmission afternoon of day two, TST originating from the feldspar system nearby.
+++ Begin Transmission +++
+++ Clearance: Purple Phi Exactus +++
+++ Subject: Recent Fleet Mobilizations and Dispositions, and the Prosecution of Active Enemies to the Emperors Realms +++
+++ Recipient: Admiral Cyrus +++
+++Thought for the day: The Emperor Expects Every Man To Do His Duty +++
Dear Cyrus,
It has come to my attentions that you've recently began mobilization activities for the sectors fleet in this vicinity without a clearly defined military objective appropriate for the magnitude of your forces. As you seem like a fairly worthy servant of the Emperor I send you this missive to forewarn you and save you from the heresy of squandering the Emperors resources.
You and your fleet are here by requested and required under Inquisitorial authority to attend to join operations task force 'Imperitus Malleous' assembling in the vicinity of the Feldspar system, on route to what I've been lead to believe from your published warp jump schedules, is your otherwise intended destination, for anti-Eldar punitive actions in coordination with elements from the adjoining sectors battle fleet and the Storm Angels.
It is my expectation that you will provide this group with twenty capital ships appropriately armed to engage the aforementioned xenos and expunge their presence from this system for as long as it shall take to conclude this task.
In good faith,
Inquisitor Edward von Orlock, Ordo Xenos.
+++ Transmission Ends +++
+++ Clearance: Ref: Purple Phi Exactus +++
+++ Subject: Ref: Recent Fleet Mobilizations and Dispositions, and the Prosecution of Active Enemies to the Emperors Realms +++
+++ Recipient: Inquisitor Edward von Orlock, Ordo Xenos +++
+++Thought for the day: Only the weak question +++
This is an auto-responsive message . . .
Admiral Cyrus is unavoidably detained at the moment, but will give your orders his full attention as soon as he has accomplished his more important duties. Until then, he leaves matters in your capable hands.
Praise the Emperor.
+++Transmission Ends+++
=][=
Hayes opened one eye at the shouts now echoing round the camp, letting the commands they contained sink in as he lay dozing in his foxhole, waiting for the signal to return to the Firebird Rising. Lazily he pulled his Navy cap down over his eyes and huddled deeper into his greatcoat. It was bitterly cold.
His green-robed Astropath Fralon sat on the edge of the foxhole, waiting to relay the message when it came. Chiiss and Khalar sat nearby, cradling shotguns and talking quietly to each other. Hayes hated the cold, ever since he was an ensign.
Cold? Hayes sat up sharply. This was a jungle planet, there was no cold! Quickly he scanned the edge of the landing site, looking for the source of the psychic energies causing the cold. It wasn't until Fralon screamed, clutching his head, that Hayes turned, too late to see the coloured, pulsing rift of energy marking the Daemonhost's entry into realspace. Chiiss got a shotgun round off before being bowled over by the Daemonhost as it went for Hayes. Somehow he got his sword drawn and managed to block the descending claws. Time seemed to slow as he dimly heard shouts from the rest of the camp, saw out of the corner of his eye Khalar stalking, shotgun raised, round the Daemonhost, hoping to get a shot off should it and Hayes break off their combat.
Up, down, parry, down again. He saw his opening and lunged, sanctified blade piercing the flesh of the Daemon, which screamed. Had it lingered then, it would have decapitated Hayes, but it did not, as if held back by a greater power. Pulling out his Naval Pistol, he emptied the magazine into the Daemonhost's face, which dissolved into a pool of steaming, foul-smelling liquid, emitting its unearthly cries as it went. The combat had lasted less than five seconds. Scanning the area he waited for the follow-up attack, but outside the camp there was nothing.
Hauling Fralon to his feet, Hayes holstered his pistol and began to clean his sword. Something bothered him. It was far from usual for a single Daemonhost to be sent to attack a target unsupported and one so well defended by forces that had ready experience of defeating such creatures. The Daemonhost seemed to fight like it had been handicapped, and he was certain some power had held it back from the killing stroke. The Emperor? He hoped so, but inside he wondered it the Daemonhost had not been betrayed by its patron. Certainly the Great Conspirator had been recorded as doing so to those servants that displeased him. Now certain that something was out of place, Hayes fervently hoped that he had been lucky, rather than being caught up in a plan he had no knowledge of.
* * *
Firebird Rising
"Message from the planet, sir. And one from the fleet, sir."
"Thank you, Mr Serk."
Tarok took the dataslate and read,
"Attacked by lone Daemonhost, raid unsuccessful. Killed Daemonhost personally. Standing by for fleet transfer. Inquisitor Hayes."
The fleet message read,
"Real-space translation imminent. Warp voyage unusually fast, 6 days warp-time, and causing stirrings among crew, please advise if necessary. We are standing by for translation and your transfer."
Excellent, thought Tarok. Now that Hayes had destroyed the Daemon he could see the Tarot's reading coming true before his eyes. The Traitor had to reveal himself now, he had to!
"Mr Serk! Send transfer orders to Mr Hayes, I want him back on board. Get all arms men to my Thunderhawk, and make sure Navigator Barrell and Astropath Pravin are strapped in. I'll be along shortly. Once you've done that fit as many Servitors as you can in the remaining hold space. Oh, and take this to the Thunderhawk."
Using his power-armoured strength, Tarok detached the ship's bell from its stand, the embossed 'Firebird' showing clearly on its side, and handed it to Serk, who trotted off in the direction of the hangar bays.
Leaning over to speak quietly to Elbe, Tarok murmured,
"Is the ship rigged?"
The Tech-priest nodded.
"Then its time to move."
Tarok and Elbe headed for the launch bay, Rex plodding after Tarok.
=][=
He knew that chill. He knew that chill as well as his own hand. So he ran, right for it. 30 meters to his left, a fox hole that another inquisitor had been occupying twiddling his thumbs. Inquisitor Decklan reached the edge of the foxhole both pistols drawn and trained on the daemon. But he was too late, the daemon was already dead a sanctified blade running it through. Lowering his pistols with a sigh Decklan eyed the man cleaning his blade. "Interrogator Hayes was it? Ran that git through eh? No easy trick 'dere. Congrats." Turning back towards the camp Decklan spoke now into his comm bead, " HK.4334, retrieve incinerator from arvus and converge on my location." Decklan turned back towards Hayes a strange smile on his face. "I know 'dis aint all da 'osts but with guns like you 'ere I 'ave lots less ta counter about. "
It was just then that one of Decklan's heavy bolter servitors reached the fox hole carrying an incinerator in its hand. Decklan took the blessed flamer and turned to the fox hole. " You may want to exit the fox hole. This wont take long." After hayes and his men stepped out of the hole Decklan took the holy flamer on it. Much to his enjoyment the holy promethium made short work of the daemonhost's corpse taking all but 5 minutes to render it to ashes. All that remained were the chains, which Decklan took to the arvus and locked them away in a genecoded trunk. "Olmes, 'ave the servi's load up da psych rounds and set em to 'Overwatch pattern Gemina'. "
=][=
Near the Jamming beacon day
Walking through the jungle the group of catachans and astartes came to a large bulkhead covered in jungle flora.
"Brother Cervan make me an entrance!" barked folkvar.
taking out a melta charge the assault marine set the charge on the metal covering blocking their path. the sound of sub molecular prometium assaulted the party along with the intense heat of the melta charge. Stepping through the glowing hole in the wall Folkvar looked at the chest in front of him. It bore a double helix and a stylized M like the one on the shoulder of the astartes.
"The seeds of salvation." breathed Folkvar. as he grabbed the case and opened it. Inside where hundreds of stasis vials shining unharmed in their adamantium casings. "Brothers salvation is not ours yet, Brothers Ecklan, and Michael take the case we rendezvous at the landing site ASAP.
Aboard the Magni
Stanislaus looked at the short figure in front of him. " Is it done?" he asked
"Yes the draw is complete Inquisitor." said the figure handing stanislaus a spike with an unusually large head.
"Prepare the neo plasma drives guildsman." said stanislaus
"As you wish." said the figure as he left the inquisitor alone.
Looking out at the void Stanislaus thought to himself " Too fast, This isn't what I had planned for. It wants to get out. Time to talk to Tarok and every other Inquisitor on that rock." Standing he activated a terminal in front of him, and guided the illusion of himself in front of every inquisitor both on the planet and in orbit. "I am Inquisitor Stanislaus." he paused, "You must all leave this place at once."
=][=
Day 2/3 Firebird Rising, 2350
Tarok kept walking towards the hangar bay, the hologram keeping pace with him.
"Ah, you. I'm sure we've met somewhere before."
* * *
Landing Site
Hayes, seeing the hologramatic figure, strolled over to where Inquisitor Decklan was standing.
"You think a large group of highly trained inquisitors are going to flee at the command of a hologram? Explain who you are and why we should leave or let us get on with our work."
"No, this is not the traitor. This man is inquisitor Stanislaus, and for some reason he wants us to leave." Levinski actually laughed as he said that, no way was he leaving at the command of a man who wouldn't even meet him in person.
"sir, im getting a vox message!,It appears that the beacon is failing" Lysander said,"its telling us to return to the camp, and withdraw from the planet'
"What?!"James said incrediously
"Thats nonsense, weve just discovered an enemy encampment if you can send a message back saying the we will continue on with the search, and will withdraw when I see fit.
"at once my lord"said Lysander, and went off to try and send the message.
=][=
"Sir, sir! Message from the Firebird. Inquisitor Tarok requests you return to take command of the ship, his transfer and the arrival of the fleet is imminent."
Fralon gave a strange look at the holo-projected figure Hayes was watching. Hayes swore under his breath.
"Right. I can't go right now, I need to hear this."
Raising his voice, Hayes yelled,
"Chiiss! Khalar! Take the Aquila back to the Firebird, Khalar you take command there until I can get back, and Chiiss you bring the shuttle straight back down for my extraction."
The two men ran for the shuttle, engines whining into life as it lifted off the ground and was swiftly gone.
"Fralon, transmit to the Firebird that I cannot come in person due to complications, but will be on-station as soon as possible."
Hayes turned back to the holo-projection as his Astropath concentrated and began sending his message.
* * *
Firebird Rising
The message indicator chimed softly on the darkened bridge, but no-one was there to receive it.
=][=
-----The Jungle-----
The Marines had swept the sinkhole with Bolter fire killing those last few wounded, they had proceeded towards their objective relatively unhindered by traps lain in their path, and now they closed at last on the source of the Jamming signal. Captain Corvinus and his men edged their way slowly through the trees and weapons were gripped tighter in hands that had dealt more death than even the most vicious predator could lay claim to. The Chaplain still occasionally swept back the undergrowth with his flamer and cleared the way for them, but the Machine Spirit of the Auspex indicated they were at most only a few more minutes from closing on the Jamming beacon, where they would silence it once and for all lifting the veil which deadened the voices of their Machine Spirits and prevented them from communicating with the Camp.
-----Inquisitorial Landing Site-----
Cadmus surveyed the preparations that had been undertaken, Servitors and Servants alike had cleared back a ten metre section of the jungle and the logs of trees had been dutifully cut and sharpened into stakes and set out in a hidden trench around the perimeter. A second trench ran a metre further back from the first and he had ordered all personnel who were capable of holding a gun to take up positions, breaking them up into three watches to keep a close eye out on the Jungle. The Site itself had been rearranged somewhat more logically, with the majority of landers and light aircraft now arranged at the southern end of site, with tents and prefabs set up in a circle around the main landing area. He had watched with a critical eye as whatever metal could be gathered had been welded together to form a light wall supported by sandbags on both sides as well as the earth from the trenches to help dampen the effect of heavier explosives. Watchtowers constructed from the wood of the Jungle they had driven back now watched over the wall in evenly spaced areas and razorwire taken from the supply's aboard the Unyielding Faith stretched around the camp's walls, even a heavy Generator had been set up and now provided power and lighting to the Camp, and now that all was completed Cadmus stepped back from the main gate that had been set up and headed back in, if he had been given a week, and the right materials he thought to himself, then truly he would make this place impregnable. It was then he saw the Inquisitor he had first met speaking to what appeared to be a Holographic projection, storming over towards it he stood by the Inquisitor his unreadable mask regarding it with interest. "Is this the Traitor which you Seek noble Inquisitor?"
=][=
Inquisitor Ryas listened as he monitored the vox traffic across the globe the forest burned lightly around the Starhawk bomber as its ramp descended a small camp of chaos corrupted mutants, cultists and even something better known simply as spawn. The weapons of the Starhawk had made short order of this small insignificant camp and Ryas and his combat team had shortened the list further.
They moved through the burning trees with catlike grace before Ryas uttered the command word and the Arco Flagellants ceased hunting. Everything was dead and very very messily.
But now this new message came through and Ryas was curious. Stanislaus certainly knew they would ignore the message and hunt him more fervently for the audacity of it.
Ryas even laughed gaining an odd look from the Stormtroopers guarding the ramp. He walked up the ramp with a smile and entered the Vox chamber. "This is Inquisitor Ryas to all Inquisition forces." He double checked it was on the hunts secure channel. "This forest is full of Chaos Encampments and followers. I suggest we burn it down." He shut off the vox and linked to the ships systems. "Lascannons. Fire on the forest and get it blazing."
"You want to start a fire Inquisitor?" The Starhawk gunnery officer queried.
"Negative. I want a blazing inferno."
=][=
Day 3, 0130, Maeroc Landing Site.
Inquisitor Hayes tapped the microbead under his cap
"Inquisitor Ryas, this is Inquisitor Hayes. I'll request precision strikes from the Firebird to aid you. Be advised, though, the foul powers will no doubt protect the cult sites, don't expect them to be anything more than easily locatable following the fire. The strikes may take some time, I'm having trouble raising the Firebird . . ."
* * *
Firebird Rising
"Stanislaus, I've heard your garbage before and my answer remains the same - you will not be interfering in my plans."
Tarok looked at Elbe.
"Jam it."
The Techpriest issued from under his cowl a screech of feedback and binary code, distorting the holo-projected image, which flickered and blinked out of existence.
"That's him dealt with."
Elbe didn't answer, but instead continued their walk into the launch bay.
The squat form of Tyrak's Thunderhawk Gunship nestled in the hangar bay. Striding up the launch ramp, he saw Serk finalizing the deactivation of some of the technical servitors to be packed in the Thunderhawk's hold.
"That's enough, Serk, it's time to go."
"Yes sir."
Serk moved to his seat in the upper hold and buckled himself in, whilst Elbe moved up to the flight deck.
Tarok scanned the row of passengers.
"Elbe, seal the ship!"
A hiss of air accompanied the Thunderhawk being void-sealed prior to launch.
One by one Tarok psychically scanned each and every person's mind. He would not allow Domino on board at any cost. Fortunately, this was where the Callidus' defenses would work against her. Each member of Tyrak's crew had been trained to accept his mental intrusion into their minds for telepathic communication - a Callidus would have impenetrable mind-blocks to prohibit this, and no Polymorphine could counter-act those effects. Polymorphine was also restricted in that it could not mimic inanimate objects, so all his bases were covered. Scanning his Navigator, Barrell, hurt his mind due to the effects of Barrell's third eye.
Satisfied that Domino was not masquerading as a member of his crew, nor were there any unidentified life forms on board, Tarok scrambled past the many boxes and deactivated servitors in the lower hold, went up to the flight deck and began to link his armour to the pilot's chair interfaces. In the co-pilot's seat, Elbe had already intermeshed his bionics with the Thunderhawk's systems. Thaddeus was present in the navigator's seat, and Serk had finished strapping himself in at the gunner's station.
Tarok heard the whine of the engines starting up, Elbe already muttering prayers to the Thunderhawk's machine spirit. He began his checks.
"Weapons?"
"Check," responded Serk.
"Navigation systems?"
"Check," intoned Thaddeus.
"Good. Ready?" Tarok inquired of Elbe.
"++Ready++"
"Right. Engines, check, retro, check, booster, check . . . and very gently . . ease forward."
There was an almighty crash of the deactivated servitors being sent flying into the back of the hold as the Thunderhawk shot out of the landing bay. Elbe put his head in his mechandendrites.
"Oops. Emperor guide my hand."
In the far distance at the system jump point, Tarok saw the ships of Admiral Cyrus' Third Reserve Fleet translate back into realspace, Geller Fields shimmering with energy as they dissipated. Instead of moving in-system, however, they immediately formed a stationary battle line across the jump point, allowing the Thunderhawk to approach under the protection of their guns. As the great bulk of the Domine Canis loomed before his eyes, Tarok enquired,
"How far behind is the hulk?"
"Currently thirteen standard hours from intercepting the Firebird. I imagine it won't attempt to attack the fleet."
"It won't get the chance."
"Sensors report that Hayes' shuttle has left the atmosphere and is inbound on the Firebird."
"Good. Inform me as soon as the shuttle reaches the Firebird, we still need to tie up the loose ends."
=][=
Ryas acknowledged the message from Tarok with a smile before ordering his own Cobra destroyer into geosynchronous orbit. Forest fires were already beginning to spread at a horrifying rate as the gatling lascannons scythed through the forests. It was worse when the Cobras own weapons fire lit up. Plasma shots from orbit capable of annihilating a Warlord titan in a single shot screamed down igniting entire tracts of forest with each blast. But it was a big forest. The Firebird just might be needed to burn down the forest in an economical amount of time.
The crew of the Thunderhawk watched out its windows at the sweeping arc of flame. Even now Ryas was picking up vast amounts of Vox traffic from within the forest. "Ryas to Inquisitorial contingent. I have picked up at least eighty chaos groups within the forest communicating with one another. So far, if the camp I just destroyed is any indicator, we're looking at 400-600 enemies.
=][=
After a Fruitless search Donald, Abby and James return with their stormtroopers to the Landing area only to be quite Surprised by all the activatity.
"I think something is amiss here" says Donald.
Abby looks around and remarks "I have a bad feeling about this."
=][=
Corvinus and his men had destroyed the Jamming beacon, just before the sky lit up with Orbital Fire, cursing the man who had ordered such a foolhardy and self serving plan they had retreated back the way they had come towards the Landing Site. They were angry now, angrier than they had been previously as the lancing fire swept through the Jungle they were in, surely someone at the Landing Site had told the Orbiting Vessels that they were still in the Jungle? Hurrying past the bodies of the foes they had killed on their way through they ran as fast as they could to get clear before a lucky shot took them all out.
-----Inquisitorial Landing Zone-----
Cadmus had acknowledged the Inquisitors reply with stony silence, before the air was split with the sound of Orbital fire raining down upon the jungle. He span his sarcophagus and calculated trajectories from his position relative to the rough location that his Brothers had set off, and quickly determined that they were in the line of fire. Turning back to the Inquisitor his voice was filled with ice cold rage, "Inquisitor My Brothers are still in the Jungle, tell me why this Bombardment has begun?"
"Simple. The foul Chaos have fortified themselves using the forest to conceal themselves. No Forest no concealment. I am also operating within the bombardment zone and feel such a risk is a necessity to expose the dangers we face. Give me the co-ordinates and Ill pick up your brothers myself. Alternatively send their locator beacon frequency to my vessel in orbit so that gunnery can avoid them. I am setting the forest alight. Thus the vessel is targeting the ripest areas for a conflagration to begin. Purity through flame." Ryas answered the call not bothering to inform the Inquisitor that Tarok had also authorised bombardment of the forests. He made the call he would take responsibility for his own suggestions.
"Try and find the location of the Inquisitor and his party so that we can arrange a pick up if the fool at the camp cannot." He ordered the servitors.
The Dreadnought did not move for long moments his Baroque mask impassive as he stared down at the screen, "That will not be Necessary Inquisitor, your ineptitude and callous disregard for the sons of the Emperor are quite apparent. I will deal with you after I have recovered my Brothers from the jungle." Cadmus moved his powerfist forwards and crushed the video relay unit before stomping back to the side of the first Inquisitor he had met. "I must leave to retrieve my Brothers, to you I entrust the safety of this camp. By his will may you defend it, and with his might smite the enemies that may descend upon it." Cadmus straightened up to look at the sky for a moment before stomping aboard the Thunderhawk. "Brothers we leave now! Brother-Captain Corvinus is in danger every moment we tarry, let us descend into the maelstrom and pluck them from the foolhardy choices of the Inquisition who would damn them." The crew moved rapidly sealing all ports and starting up the engines as they did so, it did not take long for the engines of the mighty vessel to roar into life, they could only pray that they arrived in time as they moved towards the last known location that the transmissions had come from.
Fire reigned from the heavens, the power of the gods themselves unleashed on the planet. God-like to those not accustomed to taking large chunks out of a planet with the flick of a switch. Even after years of seeing destruction of this scale it was still an impressive site. Every shot falling from the sky atomizing the very clouds before the shock of impact sent them scattering. This close to the impact sites the concussion was grand. Inquisitor Blake Decklan for once found himself confused at this new event and in that moment forgot his native tongue.
"Hayes.... Are those our guns?" He asked, and Hayes nodded his agreement.
"Don't we still have ground troops in that?" Another nod from Hayes.
"Someone's getting impatient eh?" Another nod.
=][=
"If you choose to stay so be it, may the graves you dig be deep enough to fit all of your men in." replied Stanislaus before hitting the projectors off switch. He leaned on the console. "I'll just rest a moment." he said as he closed his eyes and experienced the nightmares that he was too numb to feel.
Sir, the catachans have found objective alpha and are withdrawing from the planet. La faire said from the doorway.
And Folkvar?
He is in the landing bay currently, He said that due to the gravity of the situation that formal honor guards would not be necessary.
Prepare the fifteen. The real fight begins.
=][=
"Yes ancient one." Turning to face the Tech-magog moving towards him, he didn't bother asking if the valkyrie was ready. "Alasor, take the Valourous Heart and pick up Jachai and the inquisitor he went with." A curt nod was his only reply.
-------
In the jungle.
The roar of the valkyries engines was Jachais only warning. "Get in" he heard Liam shouting from the landing ramp. Grabbing Inquisitor James and all his men, Jachai entered the Valkyrie and settled in for the trip for back to the landing site.
=][=
The Aquila touched down in the deserted hangar bay, landing lights piercing the gloom. Khalar and Chiiss swiftly dropped the passenger compartment and exited the craft.
"Where is everyone?"
* * *
Domine Canis
The Thunderhawk settled gently down onto the deck of the starboard hangar bay, row upon row of Furies, Starhawk, Shark Assault Boats, Thunderhawks, Marauders and even a few Lightning squadrons stretching out before it.
In front of all these a row of officers stood in a line to the left of the Thunderhawk, gold trim sparkling on dark blue uniforms, and to the right a military band stood ready.
Between the lines, directly in front of the Thunderhawk, stood Admiral Cyrus.
A fairly tall man, as all void-born were, Cyrus wore the dark blue Navy dress uniform, trimmed and braided with gold, and with gold epaulettes sitting heavy on his shoulders. The top of his white undershirt was visible at his neck, and his dark blue Navy cap was equally trimmed and braided with gold. As Tarok marched down the Thunderhawk's ramp, he and his officers snapped to the salute, the band pouring out martial music. Tarok returned the salute.
"How are you, Cyrus?"
"Well, sir."
"Is everything in readiness?"
Cyrus smiled.
"No time for pleasantries, eh? Yes, everything is ready and there is little more you can do other than give the word."
Tarok chuckled.
"Hmph. All right then."
The two men moved along the row of officers, Cyrus introducing Tarok as they went.
"My flag-officer, Captain Heinrich. Captain Felch, Valedictor. Commodore Alfus, Valiant."
Tarok stopped in front of the white-haired commodore, who growled,
"How are you, son?"
"Never better," Tarok responded, "I don't suppose you ever found out about my parents?"
"Part of gun-crew 17, killed at Pulist. That's all we know."
"Oh well, thank you anyway."
"Huh. Is that all I get? You're over a hundred years overdue back from the Progenium."
"Heh. An unavoidable delay."
Alfus grinned.
"I bet. Good to see you again . . . sir."
Tarok finished his inspection and moved off, Cyrus by his side when Elbe interrupted him.
"++Hayes' shuttle has reached the Firebird.++"
Elbe handed Tarok a detonator.
Turning to the viewport, through which he could see the Firebird Rising, Tarok muttered under his breath,
"Machine Spirit, hear this and know rest. Thou has done thy duty and fulfilled thy purpose. Now find peace in the care of the Omnissiah."
He pressed the trigger.
Out in the darkness of the void, the Firebird blew, an explosion tearing this ship in two, killing Chiiss and Khalar instantly. Secondary explosions rocked the two halves of the ship, turning it into little more than scattered debris. Gas contrails marked where the saviour pods had auto-launched and been scattered, most to impact harmlessly on the planet's surface.
"It is done," remarked Cyrus.
"Hayes knew the location of the rendezvous, from there he could have followed us. It was necessary for him to die. He is a sacrifice necessary to ensure the continuation of the Imperium, just as we are. He had to die. Now the Traitor will be revealed, and hopefully we can deal with him before following our own plans."
"++Our turn will come in time.++"
* * *
Maeroc Landing site
The explosion lit up the sky, immediately catching Hayes' eye.
"Throne," he whispered.
=][=
Ryas listened to the update. "The Firebird destroyed?" he cursed at the answer and punched the wall his power armoured fist leaving a fist sized dent in the wall.
"Put me through to Varstok." For ten minutes Ryas awaited for the connection his astropath struggling to maintain concentration when he could feel his masters psychic blankness so closely.
"Varstok this is Inquisitor Ryas. Contact Admiral Dress. Inform him to bring his fleet here immediately. We will be returning to you immediately. Inform the Admiral that I will be commandeering the Battleship Aggamemnon as my flagship." The message was snapped out across the tenuous link but immediately Captain Varstok put his astropathic choir to contacting the Admiral. It took a mere half-hour for a response to come. Ryas had the Admiral well placed a mere four systems away. The Inquisitors feelings that a large fleet presence would be required wasn't far off.
***
Cobra Destroyer Silent Night.
Ryas stepped down the Starhawk ramp into the limited landing bay on the Cobra Destroyers decks as Captain Varstok emerged to meet him. "Captain we don't have the time for pleasantries. De-orbit now and put us at high anchor."
"But the bombardment?" Varstok objected.
"Forget it. Once you've achieved high anchor I want you to load both torpedo tubes with Cyclonic torpedoes. This is rapidly devolving into something far worse and if we risk losing this world I will not permit it to fall into the hands of traitors." The Captains mouth was agape. He hoped he would never have to issue the order to load the torpedoes that had been loaded onto the Silent Night by Ryas before they even set out on this mission. Six great torpedoes handled by specialists from the Adeptus Mechanicus had been loaded aboard taking a full quarter of the Cobra's capacity.
Ryas moved towards the bridge flanked by Naval troopers and the Varstok the Inquisitors presence making them all uncomfortable. They merely attributed it to his Inquisitorial status.
They watched out of the bridge apertures as the cannons stopped firing the blossoms of flame on the surface beginning to rage with vehement light visible from space. In a mere four hours since the bombardment began one of the fires had reached nearly a thousand kilometres across the efficient fire from the Cobra working beyond all reason. Ryas considered that perhaps his decision to fire the forest had been hasty. Perhaps the inferno had taken on a chaos tainted quality.
With a thought he put it from his mind and turned to the Stratagem. Icons moved across it in an almost artistic fashion. Of the most note was that tagged as the Ork Space Hulk. Ryas considered that perhaps it wasn't an Ork hulk. Perhaps it was something else.
No, he cast the thought away and turned his highly tuned intellect to the purge of Stanislaus. Why in such a short time had an Inquisitorial Conclave fallen apart so quickly? How did it happen. Anyone could give excuses. Radicals, Puritans and even Almathians. None of it fit into the puzzle box that was Ryas' mind. It didn't fit.
Who was everyone siding with? What were their goals? To Ryas the only important thing was the objective Stanislaus. But in the larger picture Stanislaus had become a mere symptom. A precursor to whatever had begun to afflict the minds of his colleagues. Were they under Psyker influence or control? Ryas merely getting close to them would cure them of that temporarily. Was there some other objective these Inquisitors desired that caused them to use Stanislaus as an excuse for their presence?
Ryas decided that Stanislaus could wait that these were more pressing issues to deal with.
"Inquisitor the torpedoes are loaded." Varstok interjected into Ryas' thoughts.
"The Emperor Protects." Ryas replied ignoring the parroting of those in earshot. "If I tell you to fire those torpedoes Varstok you will not hesitate. You WILL fire, reload and fire until all the torpedoes are expended. You will ignore ANY orders to the contrary. If you disobey you will be declared a traitor and killed understood." The way Ryas phrased the 'question' made it quite clear it wasn't a question but an instruction. The way Ryas held onto his sidearm made it clear that anything else would usher in a sudden and summary replacement.
=][=
"Sir, the fleet is ready for departure".
"Very good, Admiral. Give me fleet-wide vox."
Tarok muttered to Cyrus,
"Are you sure the confessors have done their work? This is the critical juncture."
"Yes sir, the message has been preached for months now. The officers are with you, as are the arms men. No others have the strength to even attempt resistance, nor will they know the truth."
"Vox on-line," chimed the comms officer
Tarok cleared his throat.
"Men and women of the Imperial Navy. You have all been told of the great sacrifices required to maintain the Imperium of Man. Today you have a chance to partake in that sacrifice, and receive your reward at the right hand of the Emperor himself. I will not hold back the truth from you. The Imperium will fall if it stands by its ideals, cast down by the myriad enemies that seek to tear down its gates and destroy all that we hold dear. Yet if the Imperium loses its ideals, it will fall in a different manner, and all that we hold dear will be destroyed not by alien foes, but by ourselves. The Imperium must stand, but it must stand on the same ideals that carried us across the stars in the Great Crusade, when our Emperor walked among us and smote the foes of Man.
So it falls to us, here and now, to sacrifice ourselves upon the altar of the continued Imperium. We must leave the Imperium in order to save it. The Imperium itself cannot employ heretical methods without losing itself, but if we sacrifice ourselves by employing such methods, then we can save the Imperium without corrupting it. Men will call us heretics, the Inquisition will hunt us, and our brothers and sisters will despise us and strike our names from the records. And they will be right to do so, for we will have abandoned all that the Imperium stands for. But by that act, we will preserve the Imperium. Not for ourselves, but for others and the future of Mankind!
We will hunt down the daemonic and destroy it wherever it can be found. But to that we need allies. I am proud to welcome Master Shaper Trueborn, and his Kroot army, into our ranks, to stand with us against a greater threat. Now it is up to us to stand against the daemonic, and perhaps at the end, the Emperor will show us clemency."
Tarok shut off the vox. Silence reigned on the bridge, as every officer watched the sensors of signs of weapons powering up on the other ships. There were none. As Cyrus had said, there would be no resistance.
"Had I been born anywhere else I could not have achieved this," Tarok muttered under his breath.
Turning, he found Trueborn standing next to Elbe. The Shaper towered head and shoulders over te Techpriest. The Master Shaper spoke in a guttural Low Gothic,
"That concludes contract, yes?"
"Yes. Your emissary reached Pech?"
"Yes. New strengths to add to our armies."
"You will gain plenty more with me. But no Chaos, understand?"
"My kindred understand."
Turning to Captain Heinrich, Tarok ordered,
"Full speed to the rendezvous point, Captain. Form in line astern.
"Aye sir."
The comms officer let out an exclamation.
"Sir, message from the convoy leader. The supply transports and the escorts have reached the rendezvous base, but better still, they managed to ambush an anchored Exploratory fleet returning to base! Apparently most was destroyed by the Techpriests, but we managed to secure a Retribution class battleship, and a Gothic Cruiser squadron, all with Nova Cannons!"
Tyrak's habitual neutral expression broke into a wide grin.
"Excellent. I'll take the Retribution as my flagship, from now on she is the Firebird Resplendent!"
Tarok turned to Cyrus, but his grin rapidly faded into a frown. Something was wrong. He could sense a psychic signature on the planet that should not be there. Hayes. Hayes was alive.
Hayes, who knew the rendezvous point, and would broadcast it immediately he knew the truth. And with Admiral Dress inbound there was no time to go back and finish the job!
Brain rapidly working, Tarok came to an awful realization. Hayes had suffered his loss at Tyrak's hands. The Exploratory fleet, the Fallen Citadel of the Mechanicum. The rendezvous was known, the Space Marines would come to avenge the Mechanicum's loss. The 'pirate base' was his rendezvous base! He had to get to there first.
"Throne," he muttered, "I am the Traitor."
Battle fleet Tarok slipped into the warp, the debris of the Firebird Rising the only evidence of their passing.
* * *
+++ Incoming Transmission +++
+++ Destinations: Imperial Navy Headquarters, Cypra Mundi, Hydraphur, Bakka, Kar Duniash, Mars; Exorcists Chapter Master, location not disclosed. +++
By the order of the Immortal Emperor of Mankind.
Inquisitor Tarok is hereby convicted of the crimes of tech-heresy, sedition, and conspiring with Xenos, and is hereby declared Excommunicate Traitoris. His authority and rewards are revoked. The punishment is death.
May the Emperor have mercy on his soul, for we shall not.
+++ End Transmission +++
=][=
"what happened,I was conducting an investigation, when suddenly there is fire everywhere, it was only through Jachais actions that I am safe, now explain what happened, and why I just got a message saying that your master was just proclaimed a traitor, I thing you a have some explaining to do Hayes"
"Sir, I may no longer be under Inquisitor Tyrak's command, but I must remind you it is no small thing to call another Inquisitor traitor. I expect you to either support your accusations or withdraw them - immediately."
"My ship the ranger just reported in that the Firebird Rising had exploded, and that a large fleet had just left, also, my ship senors detected a high frequency beam aimed at Tyraks ship right before it exploded, seeing as how a feet of Imperial ships recently left system, and the only way that they could do that id with tyraks orders. I feel that Tarok is strongly involved."
"What possible reason could Lord Tarok have for destroying his own ship? More to the point, any officer from the rank of Ensign upwards can give a fire order, and there are many lance turrets on the fleet. Besides, he may brought the fleet here merely to conduct a confidential briefing in person, and sent the fleet on its way. More to the point, there is a fully functioning Ork hulk in orbit. Have you not considered their involvement? Finally, assuming Lord Tarok did destroy his own ship, it is not a crime and he is perfectly entitled to do."
=][=
-----The Jungle-----
Captain Corvinus and his men had reached the point where his Brother had lost his leg to the plasma explosion, they were wary of continuing further forwards as the fires were spreading rapidly around them. They paused for this moment to offer a prayer for salvation, as they activated their locator beacon, hoping against hope that they would be found. As they shouldered weapons again and prepared to push onwards to the Camp the faint roar of engines could be heard, they glanced up to the sky as the roar approached them finally blotting out the sky as the Eternal Castigator descended onto their position. The Astartes ran towards the vessel as the rear ramp lowered the mighty vessel holding position steadily, a testament to those who manned it. As the squad mounted up Cadmus watched over them his twin autocannon playing over the jungle, Captain Corvinus was the last to haul himself aboard as the vessel began to pull away and the rear ramp closed behind them. "Welcome back Brothers, there have been a few... Developments whilst you sought out the Jamming Beacon, I will Explain on the return Journey." Corvinus grimaced as he sank back into the seating and removed his helmet, "It is good to see you Honoured Brother, tell me, what is it that has transpired?" The Eternal Castigator soared back to the Camp, as Cadmus explained the current happenings.
=][=
Jungle
The trek through the jungle had led them to a cave system. The survivors were camped in limestone cliffs, with jungle plants all around. How deep the cave system that William had led them to, Nicole could not say, not without going inside. "Excellent work, William. Now we just have to force our way inside."
Nicole looked over at Sergeant Figaro. "Prepare for an assault. After we secure the caves we'll set up camp here. Sister Helena, you may do your healing once we have eliminated any hostiles and moved inside. William, go find our missing assassins, they've been gone too long."
Nicole looked over at Gabriel and smiled. "Now the fun begins." She took out her combi bolter-stake crossbow, and nodded over at Sergeant Figaro. The fire of grenade launchers and the explosions of frag grenades was the prelude to hellgun fire. Turning and working her way inside the report of her bolter added to the chaos as they stormed inside. "Leave a few alive, men! I want minds to interrogate."
=][=
Ryas watched the departure of the fleet with condemnation on his lips and mind. "Inquisitor, we have detected unusual warp signatures in the direction that Tarok is headed." Varstok paused. "It is as if a ship is bouncing off of the barrier between the warp and realspace according to the navigators."
Ryas considered it carefully. "Tau? One of their xenos allies?" He muttered before letting it pass from his mind. If Tarok had gone rogue he would be brought to justice soon enough. "Captain make for the remains of the Firebird Rising."
*5 Hours Later*
Ryas examined the wreckage with a trained eye as Tech Priests, Engineers and other qualified personal examined the wreckage. "Ok what are your findings?" He asked the assembled personal. Those not actually of the Adeptus Mechanicus offered nothing as expected. But there was a gem, the Tech Preist Jakath Meridian.
"We are lucky to have found any wreckage at all." The cogboy began, "The destruction had to have been caused by a remote device for no loyalist or traitor would have willingly done what was intended to happen." A glare by Ryas urged the cogboy to continued. "It was a powerful blast. Preliminary testing suggests a strategically placed Plasma Warhead near the reactors. Fortunately for us when it detonated the blast doors between the reactor core and the bomb was in place."
"Fortunately? Imperial Navy personal are dead and this is FORTUNATE!" Ryas roared.
"Yes." The simple statement stunned everyone present. "The blast was intended to cause a warp field collapse. According to my preliminary studies if they had been successful we would be studying no wreckage and thus would be unaware that mere nanoseconds before the explosion the bridge signal recorders recorded a single tight-beam signal from the fleet. Most importantly it was encrypted. With Tyraks encryption codes."
"How would you know that? Inquisitorial Encryption cannot be broken without higher inquisitorial decryption software." Ryas responded.
"Correct, but the header always mentions who did the encryption." The cogboy looked smug.
Ryas immediately commandeered the ships communications array.
+++Transmitting+++
+++ Destinations: Imperial Navy Headquarters, Cypra Mundi, Hydraphur, Bakka, Kar Duniash, Mars; Exorcists Chapter Master, location not disclosed. +++
By the order of the Immortal Emperor of Mankind.
Inquisitor Tarok is hereby convicted of the crimes of tech-heresy, sedition, and conspiring with Xenos, and is hereby declared Excommunicate Traitoris. His authority and rewards are revoked. The punishment is death.
May the Emperor have mercy on his soul, for we shall not.
+++ End Transmission +++
To the file Ryas appended the results of his investigation into the Firebird Rising including a decrypted magenta level message using Tyraks codes. It contained a single word. "Detonate"
=][=
-----Aboard the Battle Barge, Sword of Fury-----
A flash of purple light soundless and beautiful erupted in the inky black of real space, a huge form glided gently out of it, her engines burning brightly as the Warp field collapsed behind her letting her scull freely towards the Planet. "Captain we are exiting the Warp in orbit of Maeroc, Praise be to the Emperor." The Captain leaned back in his chair nodding once in acknowledgment, they had spent weeks traveling the warp and were eager to be of assistance to their stranded Brothers. "Captain, I am reading various Ships in Orbit, many of them transmitting Inquisitorial Identification, do you wish to contact them?" The Captain nodded once again and the Line was opened on all channels, transmitting to all Ships and any planetside forces with Imperial transmission codes. "Attention all Vessels and Servants of the Imperium, this is the Battle Barge Sword of Fury. We come in the name of the Emperor, in service to our Chapter, we shall proceed to the planet below unimpeded and recover our Brothers. Any vessel that impedes our Holy path shall be fired upon if they do not give just cause to their interference in this matter. May the Emperor Protect and Guide you all." The Captain cut the line and pressed down to activate the ship wide vox system. "Brothers arm yourselves, we know not what obstacles we will face, only that our Brothers are down there. Gird yourselves well and commit yourselves to this task and we will act with the blessings of the Holy Emperor and the Lion." All across the ship Marines strapped themselves into Power Armour, donning their robes and readying weapons. The Sword of Fury was currently containing only the 5th Company as both the 3rd and 6th Companies had remained behind to continue the Subjugation of the Caladonia System, but nonetheless the mighty vessel was still a sight to behold, an ancient Behemoth that bristled with weaponry.
The Captain had watched the screen intently since the Transmission had been sent out, as of yet there had been no reply, but he expected none in truth. His musing was interrupted as the Helmsman turned to him his voice serious, "Captain we are reading an Ork Hulk in system, what are your Orders?" The Captain sat a little more upright his eyes narrowing and his face curling in disgust, "Xenos! Calculate how much time until they arrive in Orbit, and a rough estimation of the capabilities of that Hulk." The Helmsman turned back to the Data screens tapping away intently, the captain mulled over this new development, and wondering what had drawn the thrice damned Greenskins to this planet. Could it have been the Inquisitorial presence? Or was this another random movement of a race devoid of sense and reason? Only one thing mattered now, they were here, and he knew what would come next.
=][=
-----Inquisitorial Landing Site-----
The Castigator touched down gently in the reinforced camp, the engines not even cooling down before the rear loading ramp slammed into the dirt as the continuous light rain that had been falling for as long as anyone could remember pattered against the hull. The red robed figures of Captain Corvinus' command squad stormed out of the Thunderhawk, their helmets impassive but their body language gave full indication of their current mood. "Inquisitor! I will speak with the one responsible for that foolhardy Bombardment Now!" Corvinus' voice roared around the camp as Cadmus descended to join his Captain, the other members of his squad all clutched weapons tightly as their gaze washed over the camp, the Bionics that had been attached to Brother Jude were evident, as was the burns on his usually silver armour and the scorched fabric of his robes. Techmarine Allucius had not been with the group when they had departed the Castigator, but now he hurried down the ramp behind them, "Captain, news from the Unyielding Faith came in on the Vox Lines." Allucius passed the Dataslate to the Captain who took it wordlessly and read it's contents. "Inquisitor Levinski! I want you to contact the witless fool who almost condemned my Brothers and I to death, and when you do tell him that I serve the Emperor, as do my Brothers, and to take care the next time he opens fire knowing that we are in the target area lest he wishes the Adeptus Astartes to consider him a traitor to the Emperor and remove his head for presentation on Holy Terra." Corvinus turned to his men and removed his helm once more, tucking it under his arm, "Brothers The Sword is exiting the Warp, our Brothers have arrived to Aid us. Make ready for their arrival."
"I will relay the message Captain, but I would remind you that threatening a member of the Emperors inquisition is a risky thing to do." Levinski said as he turned to Captain Corvinus, making sure the tone of his voice gave away the implied threat.
Captain Corvinus caught the tone of the Inquisitor and inside his helmet his face curled in disgust, he disliked the Inquisition as a matter of course, but he was well aware of the fact he had momentarily forgotten himself, he would appropriately Chastise himself later - If Chaplain Ezekiel did not do so first. For the moment he had other matters to attend to, "What are our next moves Inquisitor? Have we determined yet where the Traitor is hiding himself yet? And if Not do we have a location where his forces may be gathering?" Corvinus kept the tone of his voice Neutral, he would not allow his anger to snap back again, at least not whilst he was in earshot of the Inquisition, there would be plenty of time to deal with them later if the need arose. It would not be the first time that he had come to blows with an Inquisitor after all. Chaplain Ezekiel had watched the Captain angrily explode at the Inquisitor as they had departed the Thunderhawk, and now he watched him carefully, he did not want to have to punish him but if he did not tread carefully that would be the least of his problems. Ezekiel thought back to many years previously, to a time he had watched an Inquisition ship burn when they attempted to interfere in the Holy duty of the Chapter, that had been hard enough to conceal, he hoped the same would not need to happen a second time. For the Moment the Chaplain observed, but even he knew there would come a time to act, the signs had been clear before he had even suggested to the Captain that he were to get involved on this planet. He could not risk a transmission back to the Chapter Master with so much Inquisitorial scrutiny on the area, which left him to act on his own if he needed to, but for now he could do little but observe and advise, watch the proceedings and judge for himself when to interfere.
"Well Captain for starts I think we need a new look at things. This inferno's made most of out maps fairly useless, can you ask your ship to relay us with more accurate standings? I think its a safe bet that something new has turned up. A bunker, or ruins, or Terra maybe a downed ship there's got to be something out there that drew the heretic here."
"By the Emperor's Hand, what is going on here? Has the this insanity become widespread? Our goal was to get this Traitor from the Concave First, I suggest we do that. Of course any Ships that we still have in orbit should investgate this distruction of the Firebird Rising. We also should pick another Mission Commander if Tyrak is gone." says Inquistor Lord Donald Mallard
"Captain Corvinus, I regret that I have not been able to speak with the other inquisitors since their arrival at the camp, and at the moment I am as ignorant as you are to any new developments." Turning to Inquisitor Mallard and the others "Brothers and sisters of the inquisition, who will take up the mantle of mission commander? I will not, as my skills are better suited to an advisory role, but who will?"
Inquisitor Decklan looked down and thought about it. The idea of mission commander was an intriguing one to say the least even with the responsibility it required. Reminding himself of his place he reached to his hip and unclasped the case containing his tarot. Slowly he drew one of onyx cards concentrating hard on what was to come. Inquisitor Decklan opened his eyes. The Page was in his hand.
"Not I. I'll offer any and all ability I can but the lead is not mine this time."
"Brothers and sisters of the inquisition, who will take up the mantle of mission commander? I will not, as my skills are better suited to an advisory role, but who will?" Hmm, James thought, that would be intersting. James closed his eyes, and opened his mind to the warp, using its pysic energy to see possible futures, looking to see what would happen if he lead the conclave.Withdrawing from the warp, James said "brother and Sisters, i regret that I will not be able to lead the conclave, but i will offer all the support that I can"
"well this will be interesting, now I'll know who has ambition ,and who doesn't" James thougth ,as he looked out at the assembled Inquisitors, trying to gauge their intentions.
Ryas listened to the call for leadership. They were Inquisitors such leadership should not be required but regardless Ryas felt to restore order and get things moving smoothly again a leader would have to be chose. Through the Vox he put forth his own candidate-ship. "Inquisitor James this is Inquisitor Ryas. I put forwards my name for the role."
He used this information to relay everything he'd discovered in Orbit to the Inquisitors on the surface including Inquisitor Hayes.
"I second the motion, who else think that ryas should lead the conclave?
Inquisitor Ryas, I will give you my support provided you give me your word you will consult us before such drastic actions in the future, agreed?
"Inquisitor Ryas, I will give you my support provided you give me your word you will consult us before such drastic actions in the future, agreed?" The voice came over the open vox along with one of support. Ryas couldn't recognize the voice. "Agreed."
"Very well, let it be known that inquisitor Ryas has the support of inquisitor Levinski."
If Ryas wants the job, I support him. says Mallard.
Fine with me as well. replies Palmer.
It clear we need a leader who is willing, remarks Abby.
=][=
The Magni Cryogenesis chamber
Stanislaus looked down at the fourteen bodies in the reanimation liquid from the catwalk that he was standing on.
It surprised you? Alpharius asked appearing at the inquisitor's side.
"It always surprises me. Why someone would jump into an ocean on their own&"
"Ive known you for too long to have you start lying to make things seem better."
"Three centuries is a long time isnt it? Its the fact that he succeeded all the while talking about how the Imperium needs someone to protect it from the outside so that it remains pure. Whereas an inquisitor is someone that has the authority to bypass the regulations that stop others from doing the same things and they are given impunity to do so. Now on his own not regulated by any others hand he will be severely limited in what he can accomplish do to supplies and logistics. Foolish"
As foolish as an Inquisitor going to a daemon world with sixteen others?
Yes but we at least tried to be stealthy for all the good it did us anyway.
Stanislaus are we going to be able to make good on our oaths here?
Yes.
Two hours later in the Magnis viewing bay
Four figures watched the thunderhawk leave the landing bay: Stig who was still covered in dirt and caked mud, Folkvar with his skull helmet resting on his belt revealing the scarred face underneath, Magnus with his force staff resonating slightly as he observed, and La Faire in her naval uniform.
Is he coming back? asked Stig
If the Emperor wills it. Replied the chaplain.
He will not return to this ship for a long time I suspect. Said the librarian while squinting as if to see the future more clearly in the contrails of the thunderhawk.
What is objective alpha? asked La Faire
I would also like to know about the inquisitors true intentions. Said folkvar now looking at the Catachan.
I do not think objective alpha has anything to do with the heretical Inquisitor the conclave is chasing. Said the librarian
It has nothing to do with Basavruik, who if your wondering is one days march for a Catachan or three days for a normal Imperial guardsmen north of the current Inquisitorial landing site the other inquisitors are using. No objective alpha is an ancient Temple for chaos. Hidden for centuries by the jungle from invading eyes. Said stig
Where is Wade? asked Magnus
Why do you want to know? replied La Faire
It looked like someone in a void suit was clinging to the underbelly of the thunderhawk. And that would make sixteen.
=][=
Stanislaus watched Alpharius tinkering with crystals and metal rods, apparently trying to fix some component of the temples shield. The current piece he was working on was a statue that served as some kind of relay, they were fifty meters from the temples entrance. It was raining hard and the inquisitor took a moment to look at the temples entrance through the clearing where Harris was standing watch, sheltered from the rain.
Its finished. Alpharius telepathically told him.
Power it up time to let them know that were a day south of them.
As you wish.
They returned to the temple, Harris nodding to them as they passed the bulk of his body made the heavy bolter he carried look tiny in comparison. Continuing on they went through the ante chamber and took a staircase up to the top spire. Opening the iron bound door at the top of the staircase revealed a room made of concentric circles and symbols that made the eye burn to look at them. Alpharius stepped into the chamber and pulled off his jacket, a second head shone in the pale light.
You must leave Inquisitor.
You can keep it up indefinitely right?
One head may rest while the other works so yes.
He closed the door with a thud. A humming sound echoed throughout the temple. Walking down the stairs Stanislaus saw the golden globe of the shield extending out for two kilometers.
"Alpharius the alpha. What would it take to punch a hole in that?"
"A planetary collision might penetrate or dent the shield."
Stanislaus continued on walking down the ancient stone stairs while he laughed, they were already covered in ice.
=][=
Raining, what a night. This village seemed completely out of what would be deemed a safehaven for the heretic. Jermaine had high tastes, proof that if he had come here, it was because he thought it the best place to hide. Certainly he could be wrong, as could his quarry's captured daemonhost that was ever hungry for the presence of a psykers mind. Two crusaders were with him, mostly to combat the daemonhost should it attack him again, and to slay other hosts should they attack. Hannibal was all too ready to face against the heretic, as he had thought anyway.
He was never more wrong...
Stopping in the middle of the street, he looked about. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but the village simply felt, wrong. Turning to the two crusaders, he looked at the writhing host that was between the two. The thing gibbered incessantly, screeching and giggling between frantic mumbling about something it referred to as 'the coming'. "Has it done anything outside of it's normal habits?" The Inquisitor asked, looking two one of the Crusaders. Neither of the pair spoke, they just simply stared ahead. Impatient, he fully faced the group behind him. "I'll not repeat myself, answer me now." He stated. Still they said nothing, did nothing. The pair seemed like statues standing guard for the maddened creature between them. "They are mine now Inquisitor." An all to familiar voice spoke out from behind him. Clenching a fist, Hannibal shook his head. "Your time is at an end Jermaine, you must answer for your crimes against the Imperium." He said, turning to face the gaunt figure. Murmuring voices started to chant as the man smiled, his corrupting presence filling the minds of those poor souls damned to be hosts for his machinations. Looking around, Hannibal sighed disconcertingly. "You have become a shadow of yourself it seems, it will do the Imperium well if I execute you now, and purge this corrupted village of taint." Hannibal said, unsheathing his blade. Charging headlong at the man that was Jermaine Draken, the figure smiled. "Come then dear brother, let us dance."
Opening his eyes, he shook his head clear of that night. Always the same vision of the past, always a reminder of his duty. Standing, he looked around the antechamber within the battle barge Fortress of the Indominatable. Everything tinged red, with the words "We are the blood of our immortal fallen" scrawled everywhere. He sometimes wondered if These marines had fallen into heresy. Although They had matched their colors to his own and two that of the Inquisition. The Chaplin had even sworn the last remaining company of the Crimson Moon to forever follow the Inquisitor in his mission to find and destroy a cursed artifact created by a thrice cursed heretic from their now destroyed home planet. Dismissing again the very thought of the marines that had sworn loyalty to him in the name of the Emperor, he turned and walked out of the chamber. Walking through the corridors of the Battle barge, he watched as various marines went about training or praying, some saw him and looked away, making sure to never meet his gaze. He knew this was not out of fear, not even out of loyalty. The simple fact was it was out of hate and shame. It was his blood that had caused their fate, the brother of the Inquisitor that led them, their crusade one considered heresy by their brother marines. Ignoring the malcontent, Inquisitor Hannibal Draken continued on to the bridge.
Upon entering the bridge, he shook his head. "Brother Sergeant Mikail, what have we got for communications?" He asked, Wondering where in this ship the Chaplin might be at. The sergeant looked up at him, though avoiding looking him in the eyes. "Milord? Secure channels suggest that there are Inquisitorial ships a few sectors away, nothing indicating that they are looking for you, though if I may, there might be those that know where the artifact is that we are in search for." He said, Turning his attention back to the monitors that he was studying. "Make your way there then. It is a risk we must take if we are to destroy that book and finally be at peace." Hannibal said, turning and making his way out of the bridge.
=][=
As the Fortress of the Indominatable neared the orbit of Maeroc, Inquisitor Draken made his preparation for landing planetside. Entering the Sanctum of the Damned, Hannibal looked at the sarcophagus in the center of the Sanctum. On his orders, the four terminator marines nodded and left the sarcophagus, exiting the Sanctum from the door Hannibal had entered from. "It has been much too long Jerimiah seventy-three" He said, turning a dias upon the sarcophigus's hatch. As the hiss of the pressurised interior blasted through the hatch, the wards and sigils scrawled on the Sarcophagus blazed defiantly against the daemonic energies of the host sealed within. Looking at the ghastly creature, Hannibal narrowed his gaze for a moment, despising the thing that was created by his now dead brother, and despising more so the fact that he needed it in his mission to find the artifact create by the heretic. "Not here, not anywhere..." It mumbled in between incoherent ramblings. Shaking his head, he turned away from the host. "That may be so, but I do not believe that it was destroyed on that planet. I need you to seek the one that might help us in our cause, so that I can destroy that cursed relic and can release you from your torment." He said, starting to walk away. Grinning, the host looked up at him. From under it's mask. "Torment? Jerimiah is not tormented, it is blessed." It said, breaking out into hysterical laughter. Gritting his teeth, Hannibal shook his head and continued out the door. "Guards! Prepare the host for departure!" He commanded, as the Terminators yet again entered to secure the host and move it to the Inquisitor's land raider.
After a few hours more of preparation, Inquisitor Draken's personal retinue were seated and in flight to be dropped planetside by one of the Crimson Moon's thunderhawks. Draken looked over each as he thought silently to himself. None but the host had names, each mind-wiped of any memories they might have had. It was enough to have the psychotic daemonhost ranting at near every moment it was 'free', he didn't need useless banter from the others as well. Soon, the rumbling from entry had stopped and the pilot's voice came over the Vox. "We're inside the atmosphere now Lord, where would you have us set you down?" He asked, being sure to keep the tension out of his voice. After a moments thought, Hannibal simply sighed. Activating the vox, he said. "Just land us anywhere clear, keep us away from the Inquisitor's camp though, we don't want anyone to shoot you down." He finished, knowing that it was enough warning to keep them far and wide from his supposed enemies. After about an hour or so there was a loud, muffled sound of servos activating, and soon, the land raider was rocked by the drop onto solid ground. Unstrapping himself, Hannibal hit the latch release and stepped out into the rain. Scowling, he shook his head as the host started ranting again. "We are again in the rain friend! What things we may find here Jerimiah wonders!" It said before breaking out into fits of rambling and screeching. Putting a hand on his ceremonial pistol, only one shot, it would only take one, he thought. "Release it." He said as he moved out into the clearing.
This pistol, this cursed pistol, the only heirloom of my brother that I carry. It is this that cursed me to look for that book of his. I destroy that, I am free. Free of the ramblings of that detestable daemon that has warped our kin to something no longer human, free of the corrupted slug that is buried in my own chest, and free of needing any longer to carry the mantle of Inquisitor. So many years have past since our fight, and so many have died because of you Jermaine. So called profit of the true gods of mankind, so called messenger of the ruinous powers. In the end none of them saved him from my blade. None of them saved him from the emperor's wrath. None of this should have come to pass, the marines that serve me should never have been deemed Traitoris, and should still have a world to call home. I should have died in one of my battles against the heretic and the Daemon long ago. But he wouldn't let me, not with this daemonshard implanted in me. he cursed mine and the lives of those that follow me to be hunted. Emperor save us all.
After some time, Hannibal walked back out into the clearing that his land raider was in, looking at his small group, he nodded to them, knowing the lobotomized group more than likely wouldn't understand what he said anyway. "There is a clear path for the land raider to pass through leading down to a temple of some sort. We shall start searching there for some link to the man we are looking for to find the relic we need to destroy. He stated, starting to move back to the land raider. "It is only you and Jerimiah that can fight, we cannot expect your puppets to fight friend." The host said, loping up behind him, giggling and muttering some. "We should not have a fight on our hands daemon. If we do, we will have surprise on our side, and should be able to catch them off guard if it comes to that. I am quite sure you should be able to handle any underlings they might have should we need to fight." Hannibal replied, continuing in as his group got situated manning the different controls of the land raider. Closing the hatch, Hannibal sat down as the host stood in front of him. "We think Jerimiah might handle well with some, but we feel those that could kill us should they choose to. But you need us, will you allow us to die?" It asked, playing with one of the chains attached to it's arm. "We shall see what becomes of both of us Jerimiah seventy-three..." He responded, trailing off as he thought to himself.
On the same world as those that had sworn to kill him once did not bode well in his mind...
=][=
Nicole sat in a commandeered chair in the limestone cave complex, looking over a crude map of the local area drawn by the natives, which lay on a table also provided by the caverns former occupants. The score or so of local militants fell fairly easily to her Stormtroopers, especially given the firepower of both Inquisitorial parties. Polarion made quite a showing of herself, and Crown handled himself admirably. Thankfully they hadn't had to contend with anything more than lasgun and autogun rounds.
Sister Helena had earlier reported that five Stormtroopers were out of action, two dead and three wounded. She predicted the wounded should return to action in one or two days. With Sergeant Anderson on the mend that meant she was down six troopers. Not a fortuitous way to begin her stay. Three locals were now stripped, bound, and gagged and held within her limestone complex for future interrogation. They now had ample food and water supply, with additional fresh water from local subterranean springs. Additional arms and ammunition were present, however the heaviest weapon that was kept here was a lasgun.
They had found a rudimentary shrine to what was apparently once the Emperor. To Nicole's trained eyes however, there were numerous small variations that were shifting the local religion to that of the ruinous powers. She had quarantined the area of the shrine for further investigation. Hopefully in her psychic probings of the captives she would find other details, but there were now multiple signs of the dark powers works on the planet's surface. She suspected Basavruik's influence, but who was to say if he was but a smaller pawn in the game?
William had returned, bearing the bodies of the two assassins, as well as all their gear. For good measure he had also brought the gear of the local sniper the assassins had killed. After examination, Helena had concluded the assassins had died from sniper fire, one from a shot to the head, the other by poison. Closer examination of the venom and the dart in Celia's body had shown the poison was Catachan in origin. This told Nicole that not only were they dealing with locals, but there were other agents at work, potentially lethal ones. This posed additional problems. How many foreign agents were present that were working against the Inquisition? Was this evidence of a conspiracy among the Conclave? How many traitorous agents had made planet fall? There were too many details she didn't know.
She sat in thought, her right index finger to the side of her lips, brooding while one of the troopers was setting up a rudimentary communication system. The transport that hopefully was still in the system would have recorded any transmissions they may have missed while they were 'dark' and would send them once it had a lock on the trooper's communication gear. It would also allow them to monitor any local signals, hopefully information about any Conclave Inquisitor's activities.
The trooper was working the communications system, as a signal came across the band. "Inquisitor, I think you should listen to this." Nicole looked over as the trooper brought a view screen to her. She began to read the reports flicking across it and listened to the various communications at work. She almost couldn't believe what was before her, but like watching a train wreck she couldn't look away.
"This is potentially problematic," was all that she said.
=][=
Wade looked down at the head of the villager he was talking to
Im looking for a man named Basavruik. Said the assassin
You mean the fellow youve knocked over three villages so far trying to find?
None other than that my headstrong friend.
Well then Im afraid I cant be of much assistance to you for I dont know either.
Playing the hard to get heretic I see. Maybe when I have more time we can play the interrogation game.
There wont be an interrogation game after you die traitor!
Fine then be that way, I hope the Inquisitors find you.
Wade yelled as he pulled the villagers head he had been using as a puppet off of his hand and threw it onto the pile of bodies next to him. Looking down at the arranged corpses wade was hoping to give whoever the lost storm trooper that had died in the villages a posthumous promotion, for appearing to have destroyed the village single handedly. Wade walked off into the jungle northward towards where that damned heretic was hiding. There wasnt enough women on this planet for him.
Stanislaus looked like hell. The bags under his eyes were now quite visible.
Alpharius show me the drop sites north side. Wade left some handwork when he passed it.
An illusion appeared before Stanislaus it was a jungle scene that showed the edge of a clearing that was being rained on. Among the trees was a disfigured man tied naked to a tree with a sign that read Basavruik
Is that what I think it is sir?
Nope its just a local cut up beyond recognition, but it should rile up some feathers and I feel like some entertainment is in order. Especially since we must wait for that hulk to be dealt with.
=][=
*Click Click Beep Click Beep Beep Click*
"That so Olmes?" Taking a look at the dataslate linked to his servo skull Inquisitor Decklan looked out into the rain with sincere sadness. Turning towards Hayes, " Orbital relays say the orks have made rock-side on the far side of the jungle. They also say that they've spotted some ruins halfway between us and the orks. Probably what they're after if I had to guess." Decklan studied the slate some more as yet more info came rolling across the screen. "Well that's unusual... Turns out that hulk wasn't a hulk after all. Fleet reports say that when the hulk made the fleet line it split into a small pirate fleet. They suspect some xenos cloaking device or some sort... Its even matched from the looks of it. Too bad Tarok took that fleet we could have used it. That's all for now Olmes." And with that the servo skull retracted the mechanadendrite from the inquisitors dataslate.
Inquisitor Decklan took a moment to consider these newest revelations and ponder on where it was to spiral to next. After a minute he turned to regard the rest of the conclave assembled at the landing site. Speaking loudly so that all could hear him Decklan addressed the crowd, " Alright for those of you who didn't hear that, the ork pirates made planet-fall not far north from here. 2 days march if I had to guess. Also relays from orbit say that there is some ruins precisely half that distance in the direction of the orks. Looks like they're after whatever is in those ruins and I'd be willing to bet my coat that Basavruik is already there. If we're gonna do something now's the time it seems."
"Inquisitor Deckan, perhaps you would be so kind as to put together an armed party, we can take my valkyrie to the ruins you mentioned. Once there we can investigate, execute the traitor if he is there, and be back in time for those Emperor damned orks. If possible I would like to be here when the orks arrive, not at some undefendable ruins in the middle of nowhere."
"Alright then. Captain Corvinus, could you please assign two of your men to stay at the camp here to help defend it. Ancient Cadmus, as much as I would love your company on this I fear the ruins may not be able to support your chassis and I'm sure your caliber of firepower would be best used here. I'll also be leaving my servitors here to assist in the defense." Decklan turned to regard Hayes once more, "Hayes, if you still want to see this trough then load up." This time Inquisitor Decklan turned to regard the conclave once more, " Load up, as much munition as you can carry. We're taking two Valkyries to the temple so we're talking sixteen people with supplies, divided yourselves accordingly. Sorry if I'm stealing your thunder Inquisitor Ryas but the show must go on." And with that Inquisitor Decklan turned and walked through the rain back to his arvus to retrieve a singular ammo crate of psycannon rounds. "I'm good to go."
Inquisitor Hayes let out a bark of laughter.
"Load up with what, Inquisitor? I have no more that what I carry, and my Astropath."
Turning to the Space Marine Captain and the Dreadnought who towered over him, Hayes asked
"Captain Corvinius, Revered Ancient, might I ask if you have any Bolt Shells to spare? My supplies were destroyed with the Firebird Rising, and I have no more than a single magazine."
Walking up to Inquisitor Hayes ammo crate carried in both arms. " 'Alf a dozen more in the Arvus help yourself Hayes. And as for your astropath, bring him. Communication is vital." And with that Inquisitor Decklan walked off to the awaiting valkyrie followed swiftly by 'Olmes.
"Darren, Andrew, get in the Valkyrie, make room for some guests."
"Three craft? I thought we agreed on two? No matter, Inquisitor James, if you will permit me and two of my men to accompany you I will leave my valkyrie here to aid in base defense. Liam, you're my best pilot, get ready to take off the moment you hear of an ork entering the area."
"Does the man think I have an ammunition-savant?", Hayes muttered under his breath.
He took a dozen bolt clips from the crate and pocketed most of them. Two went in a spare pocket of Fralon's, and he managed to fit a further two in the top of his heavy backpack. Hoisting the pack on his shoulders, he headed swiftly for Inquisitor James' Thunderhawk,
"Might me and my man take the remaining two seats on your craft, Inquisitor?"
"Thank you Inquisitor." levinski said as he boarded the thunderhawk, "Inquisitor Decklan, I believe we are ready when you are."
=][=
Within a few hours Inquisitor Draken's Landraider had traversed what looked to be at one time a road, that is before the jungle had taken it back, to the temple he had found. Stepping out, he and the host carefully took note of the temple. One could never be too careful, especially considering that reports came back from the thunderhawk that brought him planetside was having difficulty getting through what looked to be an orkish blockade. Unsheathing his sword, he continued up into the temple, followed closely by the Host.
Within the abandoned temple, the already dull light of the everclouded world was only darkened within the dank, abandoned temple. Brushing his thumb over the sigil on his sword, the blade flickered to life, lighting the main chamber in an otherworldly red glow. Although the temple seemed to have been stripped clean by raiders, pirate, or other underworld types, it still retained it's more obvious ruinous scarring. "Daemonic filth." was all he said before turning to the host. "Begin scouring this cursed place of any marks of the ruinous powers, I'll have to call down the chaplain to consecrate this place before we can begin using it as a base camp." Hannibal said, deactivating his sword, he stalked out into the rain to the landraider, knowing that it would take time he probably didn't have to make the temple a defendable fortification, from the Conclave that abandoned him, to the dissident populace that would likely react to his taking of one of their unholy sites, from the xenos threat that would likely emerge from the very jungles themselves, and finally against the daemons that might manifest should any other ruins in the area activate.
=][=
In orbit Inquisitor Ryas felt the responsibility for the co-ordination of the Inquisitors settle on his shoulders. Fortunately he was already in a position potentially more important for such an endeavour... Orbit. He listened to the plans and commandeered the secondary Stratagem as the servitors and tech-Preist reconfigured it for ground-plotting. Though not as accurate as that afforded to a dedicated Leviathan command tank it would do. He felt suddenly like relaying some good news to the men on the ground.
"This is Inquisitor Ryas. Forty minutes ago a fleet commanded by Admiral Dress arrived and will be taking up supporting positions. I am now commanding from the Emperor Class Battleship Inviolable. Dress informs me that we have 10 Regiments of Imperial Guard at our disposal including 2 Armoured Regiments and two Baneblades. If you need support just let me know. Find Basavruik, I will do what I can from up here."
=][=
"Inquisitor Ryas, I would recommend only bringing down the Guard as a last resort. You know as well as I do that Basavruik is consorting with Daemons, and any Guardsmen that come to assist will not be making the trip back." says Hayes through his micro-vox unit
Listening to vox chatter Inquisitor Decklan couldn't help but chuckle at the turn of events. Thumbing the on button on his own com, "While I concur with the problem of bringing guardsmen into daemon areas the problem of the orks is still imminent. I would recommend both infantry regiments and the armored the baneblades may be overkill but you never can risk it with orks. Especially these ones, they've already proven to have holofields of a powerful sort. Its your lead Ryas that's just my vote." And with that he quickly ascended the ramp onto the awaiting thunderhawk. "Olmes, I want streaming orbital info, I don't want to go in blind here. And lets get that auspex cued up" Inquisitor Decklan then took his seat near the on board auspex.
He looked out the ramp and yelled, "All Aboard!" Chuckling to himself he said "I've always wanted to say that... Inquisitor Ryas we are good to go, keep us informed of the orks movements if you would please."
"Inquisitor Ryas, I'll have to agree with Inquisitor Decklan here, we have fortified this camp as best we can, but we have little idea of the true numbers of the ork force."
Ryas listened to the comm chatter and sent down basic acknowledgments and went in to consult with the Imperial Guard and Navy Captains. He discussed the concerns of the Inquisitors on the ground and came to a decision. "Colonel Venar, get your Regiment groundside and reinforce the Inquisitorial camp."
As the colonel left the room Ryas re-established communications with the ground. "I have decided to send one Regiment down to reinforce the camp as a precautionary measure. The 131st Mordian Iron Guard. They will hit dirtside in one hour."
=][=
Stanislaus was falling, thick viscous fluid was surrounding him. It changed colors like oil refracting light. The temperature was also shifting, his ankles would be cold and his feet hot, then they would shift and other parts would change temperature too. He fell for what seemed ages, being tortured by more and more extreme changes. The noise was deafening, and silent. His nostrils were assaulted with the smell of rotting meat and roses at the same time With a shock to his senses the inquisitor felt his back hit open space, and then he started falling even slower. He couldn't turn over to see where he was going, all he could do was watch open air as he passed it. Then he started seeing things, memories, people places, the dead and damned. he watched his entire life pass him by while he fell. He hit ground.
Pulling himself up and looking around Stanislaus found that he was either on the ceiling or the floor of a room. The walls were all white and hazy, hard to focus on. He turned and almost hit himself on a figure that was standing on the opposite side of the room. She was inhumanly prefect. Her long sweeping hair reached down past her shoulders, her face was alive calming and warming him. Her eyes were a dark purple that drew the thoughts from his mind as he looked into them. She didnt seem to walk or strut so much as glide when she moved that perfect body.
Where am I? He asked sternly as he closed his eyes to escape her.
Your soul is with me silly man.
He could still smell her perfumed body, having closed his eyes it made it all the more potent and intoxicating. He started to breathe with his mouth.
So your still alive?
Im glad I left such an impression on you the first time.
He could feel the warmth of her body where he was but he couldnt move further away. He was stuck near what felt like a furnace.
Why are you doing this?
Oh I noticed that you had some problems with the big bad greenskins. So I was planning on helping. Because you would never ask for it, Im helping without your permission.
Her gentle voice was sending his mind into a haze. It was quieting every thought he had, yet set his body racing.
And how are you planning to help?
By killing the greenskins of course.
He could taste her breath. It made him hungry, his stomach was turning already wanting to be filled.
HOW?
losing face thats not like you. I have quite a few of the local populace under my control. In fact you could say all of them.
You expect that rabble to take out a waagh? Maybe you like staying where you are.
She giggled and placed a hand to cover her mouth as she did.
No I dont, But they havent been armed yet.
Unless your planning to kill the conclave. There are none on this planet that would help them.
Silly man. Dont worry about the inquisitors, I want them for later. She said mockingly putting her enormous hand onto his head, The greatest arms come from me alone.
He felt her touch like electricity and he decided to move, leaping back, he produced two bolt pistols and aimed, and fired. The sound brought him to his senses and he watched with satisfaction the destruction they wrought. The daemon was shredded her torso cratered and bleeding.
Oh such a tease Stanislaus. Thats why I need to spend more time with you. Maybe tomorrow night.
And saying that the woman started pulling the inquisitors soul away, bit by bit. He couldn't stop it. he couldn't he...
Stanislaus woke up sweating and breathing hard in the cot that he was sleeping in.
Are you alright sir? asked harris
I'm fine Harris." Thinking to himself stanislaus thought "She plans on mutating the populace and having them kill the orks. Knowing her she has already done it we just havent found out about it yet.
In the Jungle not far from Basavruik.
The rain pounded down on Wade's shoulders, he was too busy watching the dead villagers to notice it. The parts that were exposed to the rain seemed to be changing, moving if you weren't focused enough on them, growing. Wade lost track of time while watching what was happening to the villagers. An idea came to him, wade took a cup from a nearby hut.
"Now if this rain makes parts of your body larger when it touches it. its safe to bet that it will work on me. Except for the fact that I've been exposed to the rain as long as they have and haven't been changed by it."
Wade looked at the village "Leader" a man that was dressed in inquisitorial stormtrooper kit, this one looked like it was one of Basavruik's own. wade watched as he changed too.
"Hold on a second. that means that my cancerous metabolism is the only thing keeping me from being popular with the catachans!" Wade exclaimed. Looking into the cloudy sky he raised his fist in defiance. "Damn you Nurgle! I know this is somehow your fault!" Thinking to himself, wade thought "I hate it when stuff like this happens." He looked at the hut that he had taken the cup from. He threw it back in disgust. The water from inside the cup got the floor wet.
"Stanislaus doesn't know, and that field keeps out even the rain. I need to tell him." Wade ran off away from Basavruik and towards the inquisitor that employed him. After he had left the villagers started to grow claws, and their skin became armored and dark. While he ran Two words from the briefing on this planet hit wade's short term memory: Always Raining.....
=][=
Inquisitor Draken watched silently as the Crimson Moon Chaplin moved silently within the antechamber of the temple, consecrating it in the name of the Emperor in relevant prayer. He always thought it odd to watch the Chaplin in his work, as even in his terminator armor, the man could move without making a sound. When asked about his unusual silence, the Chaplin simply responded. "Our blood is fallen, silent penance is our sacred honor, revered vengeance is our solemn duty." One day, hannibal knew that the 'revered vengeance' would include him as well, but until then, their cause was united with him.
"Friend? We have destroyed the Dark Idols as you requested of us, but as we have done so, we have heard a great many things." The host said as it loped towards him. Pulling out of his brooding, Hannibal continued to watch the Chaplin at his work, now and again eyeing the Space Marines and his own Stormtroopers work to stand the temple up as a temporary ground base. "And?" He simply replied after the Host moved close to him. "There are many here as well, some we know, some you know, and those that evade control." It said, smiling at him. "We have heard whispers of One who consorts with us, Basavruik. Might we start with him?" It finished, cackling at the thought.
Basavruik... That name was familiar to him, after thinking about it. He might have known him in passing, but that was long ago, back before he was termed radical himself. This would explain the abundance of the Conclave, though not so much as to why so many of them would make the mistake of grouping themselves all in one place known to be rife with the ruinous powers. Looking at the Host, he nodded to it in agreeance. "See if you can link with one of his psykers, if any. He might have information we need, or might help us in locating the artifact. But, I don't want him to know where we are just yet, it might be particularly bad for us if one of those fanatics catches hint of your power." Nodding, the Host moved further into the temple to find an area that had not yet been consecrated, furthering the strength of it's own power. Everyone in the Antechamber took pause to watch the Host leave. It was then he realized that all eyes were on them the entire time.
From here on he would have to be very careful...
=][=
The thunderhawk was a surprisingly smooth flight despite its bulk and complete lack of aerodynamics. And through out the flight Inquisitor Decklan sat close enough to the auspex to see what was going on. He imagined he could see the auspex ghosting the whole time, but he knew that wasn't true, the daemons were loosed. He sat in that seat slowly loading psycannon round after psycannon round into his Bolt pistols clips and double checking his kit. A tingle of his senses told him to look up.
"Hard contact in the jungle. Bearing North North East 2 miles. No immediate heat signature but that's not telling us much in this rain." Said the techmarine over his shoulder. Looking at the screen there sure enough was a blip there and a solid one at that. "Our recon shows signs of temple structures could it be one of them?" Asked the Inquisitor. "Could be but there's some armor with it if it is." Was the Techmarine's reply. Decklan thought on this for a moment considering the options. " Right then, Ask the pilot to head that direction and circle twice so we can get a clearer picture of what is down there." Inquisitor Decklan then turned to Hayes who seemed to be lost in thought. "Hayes. Could you please have your astropath inform Inquisitor Ryas of what we found? Told you he'd be useful."
Hayes elbowed Fralon,
"You heard the man, get to it."
"You expect me to be able to concentrate in this flying tin can? It takes enormous amounts of -"
Hayes elbowed him again, harder.
"Get on with it, and stop complaining."
"All right, all right. I'll find somewhere 'quiet'."
Fralon mentally began calming himself, and began to walk towards the ladder to the lower hold. Suddenly the Astropath cried out. In a flash over a dozen weapons of varying types were being pointed at his head by the assembled Inquisitors.
"No, no, it's all right!", he gasped. "I . . . I stubbed my toe."
He blushed. Hayes in particular did not look happy at all.
"Get out and get on with it!"
Hayes aimed a kick at the Astropath, sending him scurrying down the ladder.
=][=
"Inquisitor Decklan, I think it would be best if Inquisitor James and I hang further back, we will wait and provide backup should you need it." Turning to the other Inquisitor, Levinski continued "Is that OK with you Inquisitor?"
"Sure, Decklan, my thunderhawk will drop off my marines, and then fall back to provide support if necessary"
=][=
Ryas watched the Space Hulk with some concern. He didn't trust the monstrosity in orbit and wouldnt. It was a concern amongst a thousand other concerns as he monitored the situation on the ground through the Stratagems holotank. Behind him the head of the Astropathic choir kept a distance to remain as far as possible from the Inquisitor lest his Pariah effect cause any harm. But the robed figure managed to conceal its revulsion and keep him updated on the psychic activity on the ground.
Unfortunately there was a lot of it and widespread.
"My Lord," The Astropath spoke up, "I just received an Astropathic message from the surface, Inquisitor Decklan. They have located what appears to be Temple Structures with Armoured support."
Ryas turned back to the Stratagem after acknowledging he heard the Astropaths message. "Highlight grid AE-99-B62" The Stratagem changed from a globe with several blips to two holograms one of a globe hanging resolutely in the corner and another demonstrating the ground region specified. "Magnify Grid Reference 9X." The servitor slaved to the machine complied with the relative co-ordinate system and highlighted the grid reference.
The Admiral of Ryas' fleet examined the display. "Looks like a tough nut to crack." The overlain data presented by the fleet gave a decent coverage but with gaps.
"Inform the transports to deploy two Squadrons of tanks and a Baneblade to these co-ordinates," He handed the Admiral a reference twenty kilometres from the temple, just beyond any possible AA systems, anything with enough range to hit that landing site would have been easily spotted from orbit. "Also send four Basilisk artillery platforms and a regiment of Cadians, Astropath convey the same message to Decklan with the projected landing site, he's our man on the ground for this one and will take operation command to secure the temple."
"Yes my lord." The Astropath said suppressing the bile rising up in his throat just from being in the same room as Ryas, as far as blanks went Ryas was very high on the scale.
"Put me through to the Lord-General," a moment later the comm chattered to life, "General, you have a mission," he gave the general the force disposition, "you are to send your best commander to take military control of the forces, he will be under Inquisitor Decklans command for the operation, once the target is secured, and possible destroyed, you are to return the forces to the landing site where you will be returned to orbit, that is all." Ryas cut the comm. He turned to the Admiral. "Prepare a single squadron of Fury Interceptors, I want them to provide air support for the attack if required."
Ryas hoped that it was worth it.
=][=
At the edge of the loyalist Inquisitors' camp, a converted civilian lander-- complete with extra armor plating and a black paint coat with white symbols of the Inquisition on it-- dropped down and landed. Quickly, the passengers disembarked; twenty five guardsmen, in black carapace armor that has definitely seen better days, each with pock marks and scars simply painted over more often than not. The sole exception of which led the troops towards the camp, and started looking around asking for an "Inquisitor Tarok", holding a datapad in her hand and looking rather stressed out and annoyed.
The woman stood at an unimpressive five feet, six inches in height, and wore finely crafted armor. A master-crafted power sword was sheathed in its metal case to her right side, and a lasgun was slung across her back. A ponytail of wavy brown hair stuck out of the back of her helmet, and she ran her fingers through the strands as some of the servants of the Inquisitors present informed her that Lord Tarok was nowhere to be found.
Upon confirming it with yet another servant, her common, uncommanding voice issued out, not hiding her exasperation and even hints of exhaustion: "By the Emperor's light... why can't anything ever go according to plan?" She turned to her guardsmen, and stated in a somewhat more confident voice: "Men, at ease. Try not to piss anyone off, I've lost enough of you already. If we're lucky, we'll just get sent back off-planet and get some R&R." The remaining men and women move towards the landing spot, and began to talk amongst themselves, as Captain Taylor began to figure out who was in charge here...
=][=
"As of now Lord Inquisitor, we have four of our sacred rhinos planetside, the Chaplin's Godhammer, and your own Godhammer." the second squad sergeant said to Hannibal, walking with him as he inspected the defenses. "Troops?" He asked, stopping to look over a rhino being checked over by a tech servitor. "Four tactical squads, the 'Death Spectre' Vanguard, as well as the Chaplin's Terminatus." He responded, looking down at his holopad. "We should have one devastator squad coming down with their razorback by the next morning." The Inquisitor nodded, moving on to the next vehicle. "Turret defenses?" He asked, rolling a shoulder slightly. He always hated tedious tasks such as this, but it was always necessary to check vehicle conditions before any usage, combat or otherwise. "Only heavy bolter tarantulas right now Lord, spread out in perimeter around the temple complex. The next landing should be bringing at least two manticore launchers with it." the sergeant responded. Nodding, Hannibal moved to the last rhino, though turned and looked out into the jungle. "That will have to do..." He said. Sighing, he looked at the marine. "Carry on then. Once the vehicles have had their maintenance done, move them into the more heavily built temple structures. We don't want to be left in the open with enemies planetside." He ordered, looking back into the jungle. Bowing his head slightly, the sergeant half turned before saying, "Yes Lord Inquisitor." before moving on to get status updates from the servitors. In a way, Hannibal admired the tenacity of the marines that served under him, it could not have been easy, having to utilize admech without there being an actual techmarine present, but then, nothing was easy after being labeled traitor.
Back in the command center, an unsuited marine manning a console stood as soon as Hannibal entered. "My Lord, I believe there is an issue that must be addressed." He said, motioning to the vid display. Walking to stand next to the marine, he studied the marks on the display in a brooding manner. "Lord Inquisitor, reading sent to us from Fortress of the Indominatable indicate that xenos presence is off to our east, and heading in on the west appears to be a thunderhawk transport with an escort of Valkyries." The Marine stated, sitting back down at the console. "the contingent seems to have changed their heading slightly, but as the xenos presence lies on the same path of travel as we do, it is hard to tell if they have noticed us or not as of yet." With a pause, he turned to look at Hannibal. "Lord Inquisitor, on a side note, it seems that an armored convoy has started to move as well, though, with the xenos as well as us within a few sectors of each other, it is hard to say which is their target." He finished, his face set with dead expression, as well as the rest of the marines on command duty. In his opinion, they all had a right to be. This was dire news indeed, as if they were noticed by either group heading in their general direction, all the work they had done to track down the artifact would have been for nothing. Shacking his head, he turned and started walking deeper into the temple. "Carry on marines, the Emperor shall see us through this day at least." Hannibal said, though it hardly made anyone feel any better.
As he walked, he suddenly remembered the Host. It had to silence it's attempts to contact the heretic, else all would be for nothing. Breaking out into a run, he made his way down into the catacombs of the temple, where the host was trying to contact anything near Basavruik. With a thought, Hannibal's hands burst with psychic energy, casting odd shadows that played on the rough surfaces of the corridor. Rounding a corner, he reached out and pressed an open hand upon the hosts shoulder, searing the daemonbound flesh of the host. As the creature screamed in agony, it dropped to the floor, it's concentration broken. Withdrawing his hand from the host, he sighed as the burning energy faded from his hands. Looking up at Inquisitor Draken, the host tried to stand, but was too weakened by Hannibal to move too much. "You need us... Why?" It asked shakily. "There are both a flying, as well as an armored convoy approaching from the west, we need to try and keep from being noticed, else our search shall have been for nothing." He said, sighing with some relief. "If they do spot the marines, then they spot the marines, and they will know what to do to see the convoys on their way, however you must keep hidden from them, or the ruse will be up. There may be enough of them that are too new to remember myself, so I should be okay speaking to them if I must. You stay down here, heal, and be ready for when you are needed." He said, turning and making his way back up to the antechamber. This would be a long mission indeed...
=][=
As the Thunderhawk circled the sky around the temple Inquisitor Decklan couldn't help but laugh at what the auspex was reveling to him. Watching the techmarine adjust the dials and settings in an attempt to get a clearer picture through the rain he turned to the group on board. "Astartes. The temple complex below us is surrounded by Astarte tanks, four of them are rhino chassis and the other two are Land Raiders {Assuming that's what "godhammer" refers to}. Now last I knew the Guardians here were the only marines on the planet. The question is, who are they, and who brought them? Even if Basavruik didn't bring them we can't overlook that they made rock-side without us knowing. I'm not want to begin a chapter war here so lets get to know them a little better."
Decklan strolled over to the vox console and grabbed a headset quickly cuing the vox to all frequencies so that even the marines on the ground would hear on their inter suit vox. "This is Inquisitor Blake Decklan of His most holy Inquisition. Identify yourself and explain what your doing here or be deemed an enemy of The Emperor of Man. You have two minutes to reply." Switching the vox mic off Decklan turned to the rest of the group. "That should get their attention. Your thoughts?"
=][=
"What is their heraldry and armour colour? Even if they don't respond we can still find out who they are." Says Hayes.
Mumbling to himself Decklan began to run the auspex through a myriad of settings trying to find what would get the best image of the marines in the jungle. Giving up he flicked a switch and the monitor changed to one of the many gun cameras and started fiddling with the settings. After a few moments he paused, " I'm not getting a good picture here, damn this rain. Can't quite make out the armor color but the chapter symbol looks like a crescent moon on a white background. Any chapter you know Captain?"
=][=
After the recent disappearances forward parties had begun to move ahead of the main ork advance, sometimes they never returned and others the last to move from the ork camp never came along for the days march. The orks were starting to jump at the shadows and were slowly lessening in number to something that didnt exist.
The nob watched the little runtz walk in front of his mob, It was supposed to be a good an easy job. But his boyz were jumpin about like the umies when dey patrolled. The jungle had a lot of undergrowth here, but still there was a large amount of dense vegetation. The rain pounded down on the orks who paid it little heed.
Weez not gonna make it. Said the scond largest ork Krink.
Wot did you say little runt? bellowed the nob.
That you is leadin us into a trap.
Get back to mukin before I bash in yer skull krink.
Not before I bash yers first ya git.
The other orks formed a semicircle around the pair, knowing what was going to happen next. They were enjoying every second of it. Finally, a fight they could watch, the boyz started to stomp their feet, shoot off their guns into the air and some even cut themselves in their frenzy.
Krink started in first Bellowing WAAAAGGH! As he charged forward into the nob bowling him over, the weak would die in this fight, no holding back. He started to use his choppa on the downed nob slamming it into his chest piercing the armor and drawing blood out in thick gobs on his axe. The adrenaline in his body was burning him up inside all he could do was keep on chopping up the backstabbing git of a nob
The boyz were going mad now, this was a fight. Not some simple scuffle. They were jumping up and down even throughing punches and kicks in-between themselves at random, in ecstacy about the bloodshed they were getting.
Krink sensing the energy decided to finish it and put all his might behind one solid blow at the nobs face. He swung down. The axe stopped an inch from the nobs skull, Krink tried to push down. But the nobs arm was holding onto the axes handle. The nob smiled and sat up pressing back Krink. Krink drew back and then threw his weight at the axe again but the nob used his momentum and threw him away.
Krink knew he had to be cunning now and jumped at the now standing nob swinging his axe in a downward motion at the shoulder. Reaching out the nob once again caught the axe. Krink had used his other hand to draw his knife and used the moment of the nobs confidence to stab it to the hilt into his opponents chest.
Smiling as he looked up Krink was surprised to see that the nobs eyes were still blood red in frenzy. Ya git ye should be. KRUNCH! Krink was cut off by the nobs powerklaw cutting off the upstarts head in a spray of arterial gore as the charged blades powered through the tough ork neck. The Nob let out a WAAGHH! Holding up Krinks head. The boyz roared Waagh! In response.
Now ye gitz got any mor problems? Yelled the nob
The orks looked amongst themselves and started to get back to walking. The nob looked at the boyz and noticed that there was a lot of them missing. Looking at the ground where the fight was and only seeing Krinks body the nob looked back at his mob.
oy whered those gitz run to? He yelled hoping for more fighting.
Umm we dont know boss. One boy said timidly
The nob say that another two had disappeared. Thinking only for a fight He ordered the remaining three to spread out and find the deserters. Watching the three move off the path the nob smiled and a crooked tusk emerged from his mouth. Suddenly he fell the ground speeding towards him. Landing with a thud the brute looked around for what had tripped him. And was looking straight into the dead eyes of one of his orks. Quickly looking around he saw all of the missing orks were below the undergrowth dismembered and hidden from sight. Leaping to his feet he looked around for his three remaining boyz, they were gone.
The nob spat out a glob of blood in defiance of the rising terror in his stomach, The nob picked up one of the mobs big shootas from its dead owner. He started to fire off indiscriminately into the jungle blazing away screaming at the top of his lungs determined to fight till the end. Sweeping left and right the nob cleared a swathe of forest in all directions. Until the ammo belt ran out with a clack. The nob was about to hit the gun to make it work, when a long claw impaled him through his abdomen.
Squirming about the nobs body was starting to get heavy. Breaking through the first layer of the canopy the Nob was greeted by the sight of white bags of string. Then he saw the spiders that were covering orks in string. His eyes were so heavy. The last thing that the nob saw was the hundreds of orks in strings, and the spider that was talking to a weird crab umie.
=][=
Inquisitor Draken looked at the marines around him, thinking on their next, course of action. The tarantulas were already tracking the thunderhawk circling them, as could be seen in the auspex monitors, but he knew it wouldn't be wise to fire on it unless necessary. After a moment, he sighed and started writing a message. Giving it to the chaplain, he shook his head. "I hope this works." He said, turning to look at the display again. "As do I, if this doesn't, we could have a big problem on our hands." He replied. Nodding, Hannibal simply stared at the image of the thuderhawk. "As if we don't already."
Sighing, the Chaplin removed his deathmask, revealing the haggard face of a chaplain that had witnessed horrors that even he was not ready for. Taking up the vox mic, the chaplain began reading the message. "Esteemed Inquisitor, we are glad to know that more of the Inquisition is here in service to the Emperor, however, under order of the Ordo Malleus, for reasons I cannot divulge, I cannot report to you our status, mission, or current numbers. What I can report is that we have two thunderhawk transports and two thunderhawk gunships en route, and that due to our unique mission, that should they see anything that is not ours, they will not hesitate to open fire. Once we have finished operations here we will take our leave. Emperor protect you Inquisitor." Setting the vox mic down, the Chaplin looked to Inquisitor Draken. "What now Lord Inquisitor?" He asked, eyeing the display himself. "I don't know, hopefully this Blake Decklan is going to be wise and continue wherever he is going..." He started, musing over the name. Had he heard the name before? He couldn't be sure anymore. "And if he is not Lord?" The Chaplin asked, his deathmask back on. Shaking his head Hannibal looked at the Chaplin. "Then your pilots will more than likely have a good test of their skills." He replied, although he did not like the idea of firing on an ex comrade loyal to the emperor.
"need any help Decklan, I have five space marines with me, perhaps they could reason with the ones in the temple?
=][=
The captain was finding almost no response for who was in charge at the loyalist camp; indeed, the most she could figure out is that there were several Inquisitors here-- something which greatly reduced her chance of getting out of here alive, and so it was not good news. Inquisitors were not known for valuing human life, especially not of the Guard.
Still, she had her orders, and it would be remiss of her to not try and carry them out. And possibly deadly. Sighing, the woman attempted to locate one of the Inquisitors, to ask them directly who was in charge, although she doubted she could get a straight answer...
Apparently, the person in charge wasn't even on-planet. If she did not have experience with the Imperial Guard and the way it worked, this might have even galled her, or perhaps even surprised her, but no, this was pretty damned standard and she wondered why she didn't think of it in the first place. The right hand indeed did not know what the left was doing. Or even where it was.
And so she ordered her guardsmen into the transport once more, and then ordered the pilot to get to the platform in-orbit, so that she hopefully could find someone with SOME degree of authority.
As they arrived at the station, the pilot sent out the usual confirmation codes, identifying it as the ship "Dark Righteousness", sent by the Inquisitor Marl. Assuming it was accepted, the ship promptly docked and the captain and her soldiers left... the soldiers going to the mess hall for some coffee, while the Captain went to the command room to search for an Inquisitor to talk to about Inquisitor Tarok.
=][=
"Inquisitor Ryas, we've received a signal from the temporary platform in orbit. A Captain Taylor of the Imperial Guard is attempting to contact someone in charge." An officer on the bridge of the ancient battleship said over the normal operations.
Out of curiosity he walked over to the console and opened the channel. "This is Inquisitor Ryas, head of the Inquisitorial Conclave here, what is it you want Captain?"
Dressed in carapace armor, the woman was still decidedly not an impressive sight, standing at only a few inches higher and having a young, unscarred face that seemed more appropriate for a farmer's daughter than a hardened veteran. Her carapace armor was finely crafted at least, showing that she had done someone excellent service in the past, or that she was rich. She then responded into her vox:
"Greetings. I, along with the remnants of the Umaran Heavy Infantry Company I lead, have been sent by an Inquisitor Marl to assist a colleague of his, Inquisitor Tarok. He was last reported to be somewhere on this planet, but I have received no word of his whereabouts or wether or not he is indeed still alive. I would request that, if you have information about him, please tell me, so that I can be on my way." She spoke in a tone of forced confidence, the confidence of a soldier who has seen far too much loss and just wants to get this over with so that she can go somewhere where she doesn't have to fight for her life, be it fighting Orks or fighting to make sure she doesn't piss off the Inquisition.
"I am sorry to inform you Captain that you will cease all attempts to find or contact Tarok, he has committed murder most foul and sensor evidence suggests he is consorting with the Xenos known as the Tau. Tarok has been stripped of his Inquisitorial powers and rights by this Conclave. You will take your troops and join Inquisitor James and Inquisitor Levinski as soon as is possible." Ryas transmitted the co-ordinates to the Captain. "May the Emperor's light guide you."
As Ryas broke the transmission the sensor operator spoke up. "Inquisitor. The Orks are moving."
=][=
"Oh, fething wonderful. Another combat deployment, and this time to hunt down an Inquisitor. I hope the Emperor is watching this, and will soon bless me with vacation time on a paradise world..." The woldiers under her command laughed a bit, although they all felt the same way. Still, orders were orders-- they arrived with the Inquisitorial force, attempting to hunt down Tarok and others.
=][=
"I think we might have a problem" James said, looking up "why?''someone asked
"well, there's four thunderhawks bearing in on our position, so I suggest we get in cover quick"
=][=
With a sigh of frustration Inquisitor Decklan activated the vox mic once more. " Very well marines but know this when you want to get off this rock you will answer this conclave's questions there is no other way out of this system. And before you tell me that inquisitorial orders prohibit it, I am of the Ordo Malleus specifically charged to erase any daemonic presence on this planet. As far as the Malleus go I'm the lead here. Whatever your mission may be you and the inquisitor who ordered this will have to speak to me before this is over. Emperor guide you well." Killing the vox line Decklan hung the headset back up and turned to the techmarine, " Have the pilot get us out of here please. Set course for the drop off point."
"Appraise Ryas of this and advise he find out what got them in system." And with that Decklan sat back down near the auspex. After a few moments he unclasped the pouch on his belt and drew an onyx card from his tarot. On its face a daemon stared back, one of perverse beauty and utter malice. He put the card back and clasped the pouch tight. " Maybe some "mercy" killing will set the mood right." He chuckled to himself as he pondered on what was to come and the surprise sure to be on the traitors face before the end.
=][=
Inquisitor Draken breathed a heavy sigh of relief. It surely wasn't a permanent solution, but at least it bought them time to get the information that he needed. Within a few more moments, the engines of their own four thunderhawks were heard over the unceasing rainstorm above their heads. Walking out into the dull, muted daylight, he watched as the transports not only drop off the manticore missile turrets, but the two razorbacks, complete with their devastator crews. As the two Gunships landed beside their transporter brethren, the crews began to exit the thunderhawks to prepare the defense of their new base of operations. Out of the transports themselves, two squads of Stormtroopers exited into the rain. One particular moving in a precise manner towards the Inquisitor. "Lord Draken, the full ground team has finally arrived." Reported the sergeant, his military manner impeccable. Nodding to the Sergeant, Hannibal watched as the stormtroopers began to move and set up the Manticore turrets. "Expecting company Lord?" The sergeant asked, his crisp voice enough to make even the hardest of the veterans of the Crimson Moons to look up from what they were doing. Shaking his head, Hannibal looked off to the east. "No, not yet. Though we may have some troubles before we can continue on in our mission. What are the astropathic signals reporting?" He asked folding his arms as he watched the final components of the base were set up. "Strange readings to say the least Lord, various readings indicate that the warp is starting to become more turbulent, quite possibly a daemonic incursion will be taking place soon. It could also indicate the great enemy might have been called by something, though we cannot be sure." The sergeant said, then added. "Another item of interest Lord, it appears in trying to contact you, one of the Astropaths was killed, might there be something that would concern us here?" He asked, watching Inquisitor Draken intently. Looking at the sergeant he thought for a moment. " It could be a psychic blanket on the planet by the Inquisitors here. There is definitely something very wrong about this world, after we are finished here, we will most likely conduct exterminatus on this Emperor-forsaken planet. But first we must find one of the radicals said to be on the planet.
"You mean other than you?" Asked the chaplain, walking up behind the two. Smiling, he shook his head. "You should know by know friend I did not choose this fate. Nor did any of us." He replied, turning to regard the Chaplin. Looking past the chaplain, he noticed the Host shambling up from behind. "Friend, we have heard from others, they feast upon the beast, your friends seem to be walking into a trap we think." It said, twitching slightly. The sergeant looked between the three, then nodded "I'll tell my men to prepare for long nights ahead then. We shall be ready for any threat Lord." He said, turning to make his way back to the two squads unpacking gear from the transports. Watching him go, Hannibal sighed.
"Long nights indeed..."
=][=
{Thunderhawk of the Guardians of the Covenant}
The clearing was just south of the predetermined ruins, a crater dug out by a random lance strike from the day before. The rain made the ground slick and everything smelt of ozone and glass. The thunderhawk landed with a grace unlike that of most super-heavy fliers a sure sign of a great pilot, but the inquisitors didn't have time to marvel at it. The ramp hit the dirt with a whine of winches not used to the moisture and swiftly five armored giants in power armor swept out and scanned the perimeter with guns trained. After the Astartes came the Inquisitorial party not as impressive a sight but one that carried just as much importance. When all had disembarked the group moved swiftly to the northern edge of the crater under cover of the trees that hadn't been vaporized. The thunderhawk gunned its engines and flew away chased by two valkyries.
"Keep your eyes open and weapons ready, we don't know what we're gonna find here. Spearhead formation lets get this traitor and be done with this." Said Inquisitor Decklan as he racked the slides on his twin bolt pistols. And with that the party headed north out into the scorched jungle towards the temple hiding their prey.
=][=
The rain fell lightly as a lone figure walked from the temple towards the readying inquisitorial party. The figure was wearing a black body glove and was moving forward at a slow and even pace. as she approached the inquisitors and retinue she was in plain sight with no cover near her, and the temple was still behind her. Before permission to engage was granted she walked to the leading inquisitor
"I need to speak with you about Basavruik." was all that she said.
Inquisitor Decklan eyed the woman up and down her bodysuit glistening in the rain. She carried few weapons but Decklan could easily guess that she didn't need them to do harm. He kept his mind open to possibilities around him his eyes glowing slightly in the rain. Satisfied that there was no immediate blood to be spilled he replied, "Speak your mind then. I get the sense its gonna make me sad..."
Waiting until the inquisitors had settled and were ready to hear her the women spoke plainly
"Basavruik was never here. I'm no inquisitor but it would seem that Tarok led you astray. While youre here though you may want to help me on my mission, Stanislaus."
The guardswoman Captain naturally was left out of any important discussions-- oh no, the Inquisition would never hear what SHE had to say, which was actually probably a good thing, as she'd be so tempted to call them completely [fuck] nuts herself. But then perhaps they'd understand and simply laugh. Ah well, her duties, first and foremost, lied with the survivors of the Umara Apocalypse anyway... not with some random shmuck giving her orders which she had no choice to obey.
"I knew this was gonna make me sad..." Decklan sighed heavily holstering his pistols. "Alright then, one thing first though. Captain Taylor!" Decklan watched the surprised guard captain walk over the assembled inquisitors and marines. " Captain, set your troops in a half circle around the temple no more than 50 meters between, starting here and extending west send armored support with each and keep in contact at all times. The orks want this temple so bad they can die in it for all I care." As the captain started spreading orders to the awaiting guard elements he turned to the Space Marine Captain. " Captain Corvinus, I have a mission you might just enjoy. Take some explosives with you and rig the temple to explode at remote command. The orks will rush in like always we detonate the entrance and trap them in a ring of fire from the guard elements. We want to make sure none of them remain so we'll have to torch the place when this is over just to clear out the "spoor". The orks aren't too far off now so we need to get this right and fast."
The trap would be set and the orks would burn, Decklan was happy with that, and who knows if the assassin had a good story behind her pretty physique he might get to kill some heretics too. The Emperor sure did give him a winding path to walk sometimes, but he knew it was worth it and more.
The woman sighed, and rubbed her forehead. A grouchy "Yes sir" sounded from her voice, but with no hints of insubordination-- just someone who needs a cup of coffee and some R&R after having neither for seven years of nonstop combat. Walking back to her soldiers, she gave them the order, the twenty five men spreading out with perfect discipline, each of them being veterans of a long, and deadly war known to them as the Umaran Apocalypse. A few Orks attacking was no problem-- most of these guardsmen had individually killed thousands of orks, if not tens of thousands, over the years. They had faced down Space Marines turned chaos, and a Tyranid swarm, and these few were the survivors, the ones that came out victorious from these battles.
Which, of course, is probably precisely why they would never get the rest they wanted. Each one of them found a big of cover and readied their lasguns. Their original guns were so worn down from use and abuse that they had to have them replaced when they finally got off of Umara IV, and they have been replaced with new, better-crafted guns. Not master-crafted quality, but certainly crafted with enough care that the soldiers made sure to treat the guns with equal care during cleaning so far.
=][=
{in a town not far to the north}
Adamus Kain tired of his plight, tired of the rain, he was simply, tired. Wasting away with the sickness that seemed to eat at his very soul, the town doctor had given him a few months to live at most. Now two years later, his faith in the Emperor was secretly starting to fail him. Yesterday, a strangely garbed person had come to his door, the person's face was hidden from Kain's aid. But the stranger had offered a gift to "give salvation" to the town leader. Kain was wary of the gift, something about it put him off greatly. Upon opening it, was a book bound in a quite disturbing leather, on the front of it were three circles, positioned in a triangle. The book itself seemed rather simple, though it carried the scent of dead fungus with it. Despite it's rather plain look, Kain preferred to keep it at arms length. Still, it might have knowledge within it that could help in ridding him with his ailment. Placing a hand on the book, his mind was filled with an immense presence, one so forceful it caused him to retract his hand. Placing his hand back on the book carefully, he began to open it. As the book opened, a warm, yet powerful voice came to him.
"Do you wish to be free?" It asked, causing him to look around in confusion.
"Free of what?"
"Free of fear, of the sickness that is killing you."
"Who are you?"
"Someone that can help you..."
"What can you do?"
"I can show you how to turn sickness into strength."
"And the price for such help?"
"Help me bring my gifts to your world."
"What must I do?"
From somewhere deep in the Warp, a darkness smiled.
++++++++++
Pain shot through his chest. Hannibal knew something was terribly wrong, but couldn't place what. Placing a hand on the wall to steady himself, he looked around at the various Marines and Stormtroopers watching him as he shuddered from the pain. His vision was blurred horribly, ad he could barely make out the chaplain coming to his side to aide him. His old wound had flared up, it was clear to him now as he took stock of the situation. He couldn't place why, but he knew it to be the foul energies that had cursed him with taint. Looking at the chaplain, he started to speak, but the pain tore the air from his lungs, leaving him to rasp incoherently. The Chaplin shook his head. "There is no need Lord, I know the time is drawing close." He said, Standing back once he though the Inquisitor comfortable. "We shall need to hurry, or loose our chance again."
After gaining his bearings from the near deadly power of the warp shell embedded in his chest, Hannibal looked to the Chaplin. "Now we need help, An entire planet to search for and we only just set the base up." He said, standing up to full height again. "Much as it pains me to do so, we must seek out that Inquisitor that passed by." The Chaplin nodded to Hannibal's statement, not that he much liked the idea of being called a heretic and traitor. "If we must do so, then let us make haste. Judging by your actions, it has activated, and will begin to consume this planet as well." He replied, turning to regard his terminators. On his order, the group began to make their way down to the transports, With only the slight change in orders to board the thunderhawks instead. Hannibal then sought out the Host, letting it know their plans. "So we intend to march to our death in the hope that friend's old comrades are not fools?" It asked, grinning. "The plan is to dissolve a greater threat then any one of us can handle alone." The Inquisitor replied, turning and heading out to the transport, the Host close behind.
Two of the Thunderhawks were to be used, with the members of both squads of troopers, The Chaplin and his Entourage, and finally the Inquisitor himself with the Host boarded and ready to fly out. The flight was relatively short, although silence seemed to drown out the roar of the thunderhawk's engines' afterburners. Flying very low to the ground, possibly only a meter or two above the forest canopy, Many could hear the thunderhawks coming well before the two flyers could be seen. The landing sequence was surprisingly short, although slightly harder than usual. As the dust cleared from the combat landings, Inquisitor Decklan, his retinue, and all others of the Inquisitorial forces were greeted by the visage of six terminator armored warriors, four armored red and black, one in black wearing the Death Mask. Although there was no heraldry, each bore a cloth of some kind bearing the inquisitorial emblem, all but one, closely followed by a shambling figure wrought in chains. As the man stepped to tower over the Inquisitorial forces, he looked at each of them in turn.
"Which here is Inquisitor Decklan, he and I must have words."
=][=
{Day 3, 1400 TST- South of "Basavruik's Temple"}
This was unexpected. Very unexpected. The marines who had been so reluctant to say anything just earlier flew here just to speak with him. What is more, they brought a daemonhost with them. Decklan really wasn't sure what to think of this. Instinct drove him next with faith by his side. With lightning speed Decklan drew one of his blessed pistols and trained it on the daemonhost and chanted a quick prayer to sharpen his mind. All of the assembled party similarly trained their weapons on the newcomers. If they wanted to fight they sure weren't showing it but you never can tell with those who consort with daemons.
"I am Inquisitor Decklan. You must be the marines from the jungle. You'd best explain why a daemon stands behind you or find yourself in the way of it's destruction."
Hayes slowly eased the catch off his bolter.
"More importantly, I want to know what you have to do with the Daemonhost that attacked me at the base camp."
Behind Hayes and Decklan the Imperial Guard sent to support them had deployed and at a dramatically opportune moment the single Baneblade rolled up behind them. In orbit Ryas monitored the situation with growing concern. Something wasn't right. Then he spotted in on the Stratagem as it demonstrated it on the sensors. He opened channels to the small Imperial Guard command Structure.
"This is Inquisitor Ryas. Incoming Ork Rok in your general vicinity, it just," The image resolved in the bridge viewers captured by the prow optical sensors. "broke away from the hulk and is descending towards the surface. Order Pride of Mars to fire her Nova-Cannon at it!" He shouted giving orders to both orbit and surface.
On the surface, if any had been looking, they would have noticed a single flash brighter than the sun that lasted a mere moment before a six thousand kilometre wide fireball obscured the skies for the mere moments it took do dissipate.
Then Ryas resumed contact with the surface. "It won't be slowing down but its in a tumble so it won't land properly either. If you're lucky most of the orks aboard will be killed... if you're not so lucky you're going to have a few thousand to hundred thousand orks and possible their vehicles on you in no time." Then the telltale burn of the Rok entering the atmosphere became visible. It would be mere minutes at most before it touched ground.
=][=
Hannibal sighed as all the marines and Inquisitors trained their weapons upon him, his soldiers, and the marines sworn into service to him. Shaking his head, he started forward, not bothering with the threat of being fired upon. "I am Inquisitor Lord Hannibal Draken. The Host, Jerimiah 73 is cursed to me, our fates are one in the same. This is also the reason I seek you out. We have come here on a mission to destroy an artifact that was pulled out of reach of me before I could destroy it along with the Heretic that created it. I believe that artifact is here." He stated, Looking at each Inquisitor in turn. "I could care less about your weapons, their blessings have little effect on the curse of the bolt shell already embedded in me, and I, my men, and the host are of no threat to you. What is a threat to you is the artifact, that I believe has recently activated. If I am correct, then we are all in more danger then you realize." He paused, looking at Inquisitor Hayes. "as to your question, Jerimiah 73 is the only host to follow me, and as I have already stated, I did not create him, but by fate we are bound together. Aside from the fact that we have only been planetside a short time. By the time these Marines' battle barge arrived, your blockade was already set up, and we were able to come through undetected by way of the Hulk your ships seemed to have trouble with." He stated, turning back to the marines and troopers that were standing by, he began walking back to the thunderhawks. "If you come across plagued creatures, you know where I am, their leader carries the artifact, and I aim to destroy it." He finished, turning to regard the Inquisitors once more.
Levinski watched the exchange between the newcomer and Decklan with more that a little amusement, until he realized Decklan was letting him go.
"Decklan! You cannot really be allowing him to leave, the presence of this daemonhost alone proves this man is a heretic." He shouted, aiming his bolter at the hosts head.
"Inquisitor Lord Hannibal Draken, Born on Belfall III, its read that your family started the incident known as the Belfall Massacre. And Jerimiah 73, Sighted across 3 sectors over the last 30 years, killer of no less than 42 inquisitorial agents in the field. And that would lead me to believe that these must be the marines of the Crimson Moon chapter, believed lost in the Belfall Massacre. Wow." The look on Inquisitor Decklan's face must have seemed strange, one of fascination and determination. He kept his weapon trained on the host at all times and turned to regard the scene splayed out around him and knew for certain this would mark his career forever.
"Now... Keeping all that in mind Inquisitor Draken I must ask that your men hand over their weapons and you come back here and give us a proper explanation of the circumstances that brought you to us. And before you say it, yes, we do have the time for this."
Inquisitor Draken smiled, watching the man tell off a small account of the history that had lead up to this point. He would have been impressed at the knowledge years ago. But being hunted took away the prospect of being impressed by anything nowadays. "True enough, but your figures are somewhat off. The total that the daemon within the host has killed is currently at seventy two, and unless you would like to become number seventy four, I would ask you to refrain from a misguided bolt." He said, looking at the errant bodyguard that had surmised him a heretic because of the host. "As to what brought me here, it is the artifact my thrice cursed brother created. A book manifested of a daemon dedicated to the ruinous god of decay. This book, this Libra Mortis, eats away at the lands, turning anything it's corruption touches into a rotting spectre of what it once was. The bearer of the book is possessed of the daemon within, much the same as the daemon within this host possesses any that happen to kill it." Taking pause, he looked back at the chaplain, then back to the collected Inquisitors. "This is the last company, of the Crimson Moons, and as penance for having to kill their own, follow me in my hunt to destroy this artifact."
As heavy bolters on both the transport and gunship pivoted in their sponsons, clearing various sections of forest that seemed not to have guard posted before moving back to train their lenses on the group in general, before going back through their scans, Hannibal looked into the sky at the flaming rok racing to the ground, before looking back to Inquisitor Decklan. Like I have told others before you, when I declared exterminatus on Belfall, the populace was already dead or turning into that which each of us have sworn to destroy, I know the artifact yet still exists because I am still cursed. I still feel the pains of a warp charged bolt round that has fused with me, until the book has been destroyed, this host will return again and again, and I will not be allowed to die." He finished, shaking his head as he looked over the group. "Do what you will, but I have to destroy that artifact, and we shall not give up our weapons, especially when you will be needing all the help you can get." He stated, waiting for the impact of the rok.
"Oh? May I ask which one of us gets to be number seventy-three?" Hayes remarked calmly.
"No I think he's right Hayes I count for two." Decklan chuckled as he lowered his pistol. Was he doing the right thing? He didn't know, and this was not the time to consult his cards. He'd be crazy to right now, the daemons were so damn close he could practically taste them. The host was one thing to feel so close but loose daemons were different they were raw. "Looks like we won't have time to find out though." And just as he said that the clearing burst into action. The orks had arrived.
"WAAAAAAGHHH!!!!!" Was the only sound heard before the gunfire started. The thunderhawk's heavy-bolters opened up first, a deafening roar from the combined might of twelve twin-linked heavy-bolters slung under the wings of the thunderhawks. Then the small arms fire began, bolters, lasguns and all manner of weapons. In the opening seconds more than 50 orks fell to the combined fire but it was far from over there were plenty of orks to go around.
Hannibal nodded silently as the gunfire opened up on all sides. Not that any would hear him anyway. Unsheathing his power sword, he as well as the chaplain and terminators turned and charged headlong into the foray. Rubbing his thumb over the activation rune, the blade flickered to life, pulsing with reddish energies as he closed the distance to the orks. The host on the other hand, did nothing bu look at a group of orks charging in on the position of the guardsmen, and gibbering and cackling incoherently, simply appeared there, standing to take the charge headlong. Chanting wildly as the orks bellowed their war cries, it smiled as the bones in it's hands contorted and grew into wicked looking talons. "The Beast does not scare us, we shall kill you all!" It screamed as it began tearing into the first ork.
Inquisitor Hayes rolled his eyes. Why couldn't anyone in the Inquisition be tactically aware? Turning to Fralon, he said,
"Ask Inquisitor Ryas to prepare for an Orbital Strike, and in the meantime to dispatch a Marauder Squadron for air support."
Sighing, he hefted his bolter and began snapping off shots. It was going to be a long day.
The veteran guardsmen fired their guns, emptying one clip after the other into the Orks, with captain Taylor holding the central position. Her pistol was more than enough for her, as she knew she would need to free her other hand-- which held her power sword, the reward for her service in evacuating the Inquisitor that sent her here. Some reward this is... a decade's R&R would have been cheaper and more rewarding at the same time...
The long sword was exquisite, crackling with blue energy and painting her as the primary target for the Orks charging them. After all, she had the shiniest weapon and armor.
Before Levinski could do anything about that damned host and his heretical master, the orks arrived. Not that they weren't expected, they should really have arrived days ago, but that wasn't what was going through Levinskis head, no, that was saved for the desperate battle for survival.
"Why didn't I bring my psycannon?" He asked noone in particular as he cut another ork down with his power sword. Orks are barbarians at best, and little match for the might of the imperium. Or, they wouldn't be if there wasn't so damned many of them.
Bolter shells fell like the rain and with every one an ork too fell. It was happening just as Decklan had predicted the orks had rushed to confront the imperials assuming the temple was the goal. The nobz had stayed behind to let the smaller orks do the work while they took the temple itself. They had even begun to defend its entrance and position heavy weapons there. Exactly what Decklan had hoped for. Talking into his comm bead, "Captain Corvinus if you be so kind." And with that a thunderous explosion rocked the area as the explosives placed in the temple went off incinerating the nobz in the blast. The orks were scared now, faced with overwhelming imperial firepower and the sudden loss of any command many began to run. It wasn't long before the whole of charge had halted and were making an attempt to flee. Taking the opportunity the imperials shot dead what orks they could before they all left.
At the end of it the inquisitorial party found themselves standing in a field of dead orks. The smell was something else but the only one who gagged was Haye's astropath. "Burn the bodies! Lest this planet falls to their smell too." Stepping over the bodies of the orks Decklan walked over to where Inquisitor Draken was standing and waved the assassin to join them. "Alright, lets hear the stories here.
Pulling his blade free of an ork body, Inquisitor Draken smiled slightly at the forethought the Inquisition had put forth to end the xenos threat. "Impressive..." He said under his breath as he sheathed his power sword. Turning to regard Inquisitor Decklan, he shook his head impassively. "Nothing to tell other than what has already been said." He started, watching as the Host meandered back to his side, it's hands reforming into relatively human apatures. "But, if I am right, we bear a significant problem, as the plague that manifests from that artifact effects the dead and dying first, and between these orks, whatever human populace that has not already completely decayed, and of those that have been lost from the Emperor's light, we would see a host come forth beyond even the capabilities of our joined efforts." He said, looking back at Decklan. "Both of us are fully aware of what would happen should the plague bring the attention of the ruinous powers to this planet." He finished, looking out over to his thunderhawks. "We have not had active communication to the Fortress of the Indominatable, if we give you our frequencies, may I trust that you would not use this against us?" He asked, watching as his group took stock of wounded, luckily he thought he saw every face of the two squads that had come planetside, and it seemed none of the marines had been hurt in the combat. "That, was a most fortuitous plan of yours, I can assume that your forces took minor casualties?" He further asked, making minor observations of the few faces he could remember.
"Inquisitor Decklan, I sincerely hope you weren't hoping to have this discussion without me." Levinski said, as he moved over near to the newcomer, Draken. He still wasn't convinced he could be trusted, but he was being unusually co-operative for a heretic, and hadn't killed anyone during the ork attack.
"What happened here?" James asked, walking up to the group" I leave for five minutes to go scout, and when I come back there's dead orcs everywhere, and a..wait, whos the newcomer, and why does he have a demonhost?
"James? Glad you could join us after the "thunderstorm". And no, I wouldn't leave any of you out of this Levinski, I'm just tired of these "distractions". Said Inquisitor Decklan as he kicked the nearest ork corpse. The guardsmen had already begun piling the dead orks and burning the bodies to hopefully stop them from spreading. The ambush of the orks couldn't have gone better, under the weight of the imperial firepower the orks had fallen easily. Slowly the rest of the Inquisitorial party began to gather around, leaving the guardsmen to their grisly work assisted by a few marines. Looking around Decklan took stock and realized not a single imperial had died in the fighting, impressive to say the least.
" Alright then, now where were we? Oh, What was that about Stanis..." Decklan never go to finish his sentence as him and many others were thrown to the ground as it shook with titanic force. The damaged ork rok impacted with enough force to shake the whole continent. And as much as Decklan wished the orks had all died in the crash he knew this was only the beginning.
=][=
+++ Incoming Transmission +++
+++ Astropathic Duct Delta +++
+++ Recipient: Inquisitor Ryas +++
+++ Begin Transmission +++
Inquisitor Ryas,
Our salutations and thanks for alerting us to the conspiracy and heresy regarding former Inquisitor Tarok. We must inform you that the heretic Tarok was tracked with his substantial fleet to a rendezvous point in the galactic south-west of Asteroid Field 322, Scarus Sector. A substantial Imperial Navy taskforce, accompanied by elements of the Exorcists Chapter, was dispatched to the location, but was unable to arrive before the traitor Tarok and his fleet. It appears that his fleet was rejoined by the majority of it's escort ships, which were escorting a sizeable fleet of munitions, foodstuffs and fuel transports. It also appears that a Mechanicus Exploratory fleet operating in the region was surprised at high anchor by said escorts, and captured. Losses totaled 1
Mechanicus Retribution-Class Battleship and 3 Mechanicus Gothic-Class Cruisers, all equipped with prow Nova Cannons. The Fabricator-General has been appraised of this catastrophe, but the Adeptus Mechanicus has declined to reveal what, if any, experimental systems were fitted to the ships.
Tyrak's fleet, having arrived first, was able to link up and flee the system, declining to offer battle and suffering no damage. The asteroid base, however, was cleansed by the Exorcists Chapter with only minimal casualties. Be advised, Kroot Mercenaries were located in the base fighting for Tarok - it is possible that some are present at your location, should Tarok be actively seeking to undermine the on-going investigation into former Inquisitor Basavruik. Due to the nature and events of Basavruik's trial, his status of Diabolus has been upheld by Lord Inquisitor Obscurus following Tyrak's defection. Former Inquisitor Tyrak's status has now been changed to Excommunicate Xenos. Lord Inquisitor Obscurus has also seen fit to uphold the status of Inquisitor Hayes, however, he is to remain with this mission until completion, at which point he is to report to Inquisition Fortress +++Location undisclosed, Inquisitor Ryas' eyes only+++ for routine purity screening.
Due to the situation and events elsewhere, we are unable to pursue any short-term options regarding former Inquisitor Tarok. Long-term options are being examined, but pending a situation change the matter is considered closed by the Lord Inquisitor Obscurus.
Your brothers in the service of the Emperor,
Admiral Reinholt, Battle fleet Scarus, and Captain +++Identity undisclosed, Inquisitor Ryas' eyes only+++ , Exorcists Chapter
+++ Transmission Ends +++
Updated last December 26th, 2009
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