Thursday, September 11, 2014
Saturday, September 6, 2014
INQUISITOR WAR
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PROLOGUE
The lilting Requiem of Heroes echoes through the cathedral. The names of the fallen are inscribed into the campaign scroll, before being interned into the crypt of sorrows.
In a candlelit meditation chapel off the main naive, an indiscernible shadow moves around the pew toward Inquisitor Lord Lucas Burnham.
"Your visit is a long time coming. Why now?"
"Crisis makes for opportunity. It has come a time to resolve some conflicts, and make some clarifications. When people have multiple allegiances, they in fact have no allegiances."
"Ha ha. Spoken like a true Puritan. Is that what this is about?"
"Indeed it is, my old friend. It is an old debate that may well be given new course by the flow of blood. An associate Inquisitorial Conclave is about to explode into a violent schism, and depending how the cards fly, will determine the direction of human endeavors for the near future."
"And the Kunvizi Conclave wants us all to operate on the razor edge between the "True Way" and the Darkside."
"No no. Humans are way to fallible, flawed, if you will, to make that path. Our course must always be to stay in the light, but if we slip into the dark, then we must be able to appraise the consequences on a case-by-case basis and not throw the baby out with the bathwater."
"And speaking of clichés, is your favorite rogue trader going to be my plausible deniability in this internal affairs operation?"
"Your fates are inexplicably intertwined. After all, you were the one who gave her permission to recruit and handle that Ork Warboss, Smashgrab, on the Galus Campaign."
"I didn't know she was going to create a spore ranch on Enders Prime!"
"Hmm, Really? You never said anything."
"I got busy. Anyways, it seems to be working out."
"See, case-by-case, that one was a win, so far. But to answer your question, no. Her agenda of choice is smashing minions of the Ruinous Powers. Taking out anybody with fealty to the Emperor would not work. Anyway, she is apparently mobilizing the Darling House, and her allies, for a incursion into The Eye of Terror to strike at Chaos. She has requested Kunvizi Asoci assets to raid, and then destroy a Great Enemy forge world."
"And there's no possibility, at all, that that will backfire, unite the bad guys to come out to fight on our turf, sooner than later."
"This little adventure is much more about giving a moral boost for our team then having any long-term impact on the bad guys. I applaud her ambition, and support her endeavor, in this case. Oh, it's Captain Bernard Tamal. As you will be assigned an unheralded Kunvizi Asoci task force, the brevet Admiral, and force commander must naturally be a rogue trader. As you can imagine, he has a pretty big chip on his shoulder against the Inquisition. Until you find a balanced relationship with him, I would advise being diplomatic."
"Are there actual sides in this conflict, or are we doing a case-by-case free-for-all, vendetta appeasement kind of operation?"
"Yes, Exactly! And if you choose to take this mission, you will be leaving pretty much immediately."
"Why would I not take this job? It's what I do. And I know, this meeting never happened, you were never here, and it was all my idea to begin my investigations."
"Good good. You have already booked passage on the Rogue Trader, King Richard Bent, and it will be leaving it's mooring tomorrow morning."
A shadow passes out of the meditation chapel and Lucas Burnham remains, quietly with his thoughts.
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THE MISSION
Lucas Burnham collects his stuff and catches a ride on one of the rogue trader’s Arvus Lighter transports into orbit. Accompanied by several administratum bureaucrats, not a word was spoken on the route.
The Dictator class cruiser, King Richard Bent, was of relatively new construction, being about 1000 years old. It sports several embellishments, worthy of a great house interstellar flagship.
After the pilot smoothly injects the transport into the hangar bay, and the interior pressure rises to one atmosphere, a reception committee of well drilled armsmen flanks the lowering rear door of the Arvus Lighter, and presents arms. Captain Bernard Tamal appears beyond the gauntlet and stands casually, ready to greet his guests.
"Esteemed guests, welcome to the King Richard Bent."
After the necessary greeting formalities, the Captain hands Lucas Burnham a secured dataslate. Locked by a retina/life scan, the dataslate confirms the Inquisitor’s identity, and unlocks.
+++++
Vermilion Level – EYES ONLY - do not copy, or download
Too: Inquisitorial Lord Lucas Burnham, Ordo Hereticus
From: Gvidilord Cassandra Belsarius, Kunvizi Asoci
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My dear Lucas,
Before I get into the specifics of your task, I think it's important to reiterate some of the basic concepts of who we are, and for what we are striving. As you well know, the Kunvizi Conclave is a multi-Sector association of Recongregator Inquisitors- commonly called a Radical faction, that believes the Imperium to be decadent and corrupt, and yet they hold the optimistic goal that good works may bring positive change and progress.
In order to study alternative political and economic systems, the Kunvizi Conclave has formed a sub-Imperium of star systems that encourage pursuing the potential of a good life for all Imperium citizenry, while simultaneously preparing for and participating in the trials of eternal war. This collection of experiments is collectively known as the Kunvizi Asosci.
While absolutely devoted to the Imperium of Man, the desire to find alternative ways of doing things often leads the Kunvizi Conclave to take advantage of conflicts to press for changes.
The civil war inducing schism of the Crucis Conclave, fomented at the Black Keep, has created a crisis opportunity to find new allies and vanquish old foes for the betterment of humanity.
The Crucis Sector has long been a stagnant pool of potential. This is our opportunity, as outsiders, to show an alternative path for the planetary governors and other administrative elements. With their aid, it is time to cut through the inhibiting tethers, allowing the Sector to be more satisfying and productive. Turn the allies of the old guard into the allies of a better future.
We already have a strong support base in the Crucis Sector through the rogue trader network. Our lead contact is Captain Bernard Tamal. He has been very proficient with negotiation and acquisition, and should prove an outstanding asset for getting in and out places throughout the region.
The other bonus of this conflict is that it will draw out renegade elements trying to take advantage of the chaos. When they come out of the shadows, we can smite them.
The document goes on and on with assets and opponents, potential friends and likely enemies. Inquisitor Lord Burnham pauses for a thought amid this torrent of data.
"Good Emperor, I thought half of these people were already dead. We have this phenomenally huge intelligence apparatus, and yet we barely have information on the people on our side, let alone those who oppose us.
Levat? I gave him a book that could help him track down a cult that was trying to summon a daemon. Now I see he is trying to summon the daemon for himself.
Gallen Carpathia... I thought he was dead!
Ah, here is that new Inquisitor, Mr. Puritan. He’s probably running off to his brother-in-law to drag a sleepy little Imperial planet into this fray.
Between the rogue trader network and people I know in the area, I think I can track these guys down pretty quickly.
"My good Captain. I have a few stops for your Navigator to plot. This is looking up to be a rather entertaining little adventure."
"Indeed, my good Inquisitorial Lord."
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THE ASSET
The holo-table sparks to life, and a blue green planet rotates slowly above its surface. Captain Tamal’s Seneschal, Rhondathe Skleros, stands at the end of the table to give her briefing.
"Calindal is the only Kunvizi Asoci Planet in the Crucis Sector. It is well-known for its organically derived substitute promethium, and horizon to horizon forests."
Inquisitor Lord Lucas Burnham interjects,"Ah yes, I've been to this planet before. I remember it was the only time I have been introduced to a friendly Eldar emissary. I wasn't part of the negotiations, but I do recall the interaction as casual and friendly."
Skleros paused appreciatively, as she knew the rest of her briefing would be more easily assimilated.
"Calindal is an Eldar maiden world. It was approached many generations ago by the Tamal House. While the Eldar populous were not associated with any particular craftworld, they did not suffer fools, or conquerors. And as it turned out, they didn't have to. The ancient Tamal ancestors negotiated a deal where they claimed the star system for the Emperor, but maintained the planet according to the rules of Eldar stewardship. The planet prospered, and became a primary source of synthesized promethium. Unfortunately, the growing prosperity of the sector led many jealous factions to start eyeing this prosperous jewel.
The native Eldar knew that their distant cousins of the Ulthwe’ Craftworld had an ongoing collaboration with an Inquisition backed Imperium faction, the Kunvizi Asoci. Negotiations were initiated and all parties found it amicable to make Calindal a member of the Kunvizi Asoci and integrate the webway portals on the planet into the Ulthwe’ network. The native Eldar would live off world, with unlimited visitors’ rights, but I understand that there is a population of Eldar still living on planet. The vultures were dispersed and the planet has been a paragon of peace and prosperity for more than 1000 years."
Inquisitor Lord Burnham shrugs his shoulders and leans back in his chair.
"While this backstory is extremely interesting, and as the only Kunvizi system in the sector, it makes good sense to designated it as our beachhead for further operations."
Burnham focuses a glare upon Captain Tamal.
"You realize, if you are discovered to be cohabitating with Eldar, by anyone in the Inquisition, outside the Kunvizi Conclave, there will be big problems."
Captain Tamal leans forward to accept the Inquisitor’s challenge.
"I agree, Inquisitor Burnham, and that is why it is so important for the power structure of the sector to be remolded. The ridiculous folly of "kill them all" must end if humanity is going to survive. We must find any means possible to unite with those who will help us defeat forces that will exterminate all."
"You speak of unity, and allies, but what does that have to do with your Eldar friends? To secure their ability to play on your garden world, are these pointy eared farmers going to join ranks with us, and participate in our little fracas?"
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Calindal- grid coordinates: 543257.54/480316.32/648044.93
Verdin is the capital and primary starport of the planet. Skyscraper trees tower over clusters of residential-commercial buildings. Maglev trams glide silently through the trees, and sparse ground vehicles are almost exclusively cargo carriers.
Several clicks downwind of the primary urban areas there are telltale signs of a vast underground refineries. Synthesizing promethium from enormous algae blooms that are Summer harvested from the shallow polar seas drives the principal source of wealth from the planet.
The Verdin starport features clean, sweeping architecture, implying art more than function. And deep below the starport, in caverns large enough to host a small army, there stands an alien device that links this world to destinations all over the galaxy. The Eldar Webway portal is one of the larger models still functioning. It can easily handle any sized terrestrial vehicle, including the largest of Eldar Titans.
"Dear Emperor, they had the technology. They had the galaxy! And now they are bands of refugees and survivors. Such a cautionary tale. Governor Zenon, I see there are no Techpriests in this cavern. Is that by their choice or your design?"
Governor Delinna Zenon is an appointed executive by the Kunvizi Asoci. Since governorship is a measure of both martial and administrative prowess, she had to graduate from the Schola Progenium with top honors, and serve with some distinction as an acolyte in the Emperor’s Holy Inquisition. Zenon had a particularly diplomatic aptitude, which caught the attention of members of the Kunvizi Conclave. She was subsequently recruited to be a liaison between the Kunvizi Asoci and members of the Ulthwe’ Craftworld.
"I am afraid Techpriests would be as useless in here as they are at nurturing the trees in our forests. This is not machine technology. It is living material, and our clanking friends are made too befuddled by the stuff. So, even if we let them in here, they just grunt, and leave in a huff."
"And a few bleeps and whirrs, I suspect."
"Indeed, those."
"While this is a fascinating tour. I suspect we're down here for a specific reason. May I query why we are here, or am I to be surprised?"
"Lord Inquisitor, we are waiting for your asset, which should be arriving right about now."
Just then, a shimmering ribbon of air appears in the middle of the portal platform. Parting from the center of the overhanging beam above, to the base, the curtain of energy begins to widen. Static electricity fills the air, and whiffs of that smell when it sprinkles in the forest fill the senses. The silhouette of a humanoid casually walks into the cavern from the swirling energy ribbon, which snaps closed and vanishes. The female Ulthwe’ Farseer glances around the cavern before she sets her eyes upon the group standing before her, and smiles.
Governor Zenon steps forward, nodding to the newly arrived visitor, and spins to face Inquisitor Lord Burnham.
"Inquisitor Lord Burnham, I would like to present, Farseer Aejosel Ulthlanan."
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I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS
With the warp rift causing agitation in nearby star systems, one planet had a full on cultist uprising. Dolferu was a sleepy, minor hive world. It's capital city, Trenru, was under siege, and Governor Felton Beyru, called for help.
Seneschal, Rhondathe Skleros, brought the latest astrpath communiqués to Captain Tamil, with tea, and pointed out that a round trip to the planet would only take a few days.
"Rescuing this governor could give us a nice political advantage to gain their support. Or at least keep the planet from supporting somebody else, namely, Inquisitor Zardrak and his Space Marines, the Raptors."
"Really? I thought Zardrak was going to help us get those torpedoes away from the Puritans. So he's gallivanting off in quest of some personal gain? I am going to let Burnham know about this and maybe we can assist with a rescue."
"There is one other small issue. There were reports of deamon sightings on Dolferu, and there is a band of Grey Knights that may show up there and kill everybody. Maybe, with two Inquisitors, we can prevent a slaughter, and gain us a prize."
"Aye. And if we team up with Zardrak on this milk run, we can take a proper measure of him and his forces for the big assault."
The warp rift around Kali M4 caused quite a bumpy ride to Dolferu, but the three Imperial forces arrived in good order and began blasting the capital city, killing and dispersing the cult hoards raging through the streets of Trenru.
Voidmaster Luftman makes one more pass in his Vendetta before he calls in, to let the ground forces know that the palace grounds, and vicinity, show no movement, and the palace is clear to investigate.
After the capital was blasted to bits, by orbital strikes and atmospheric ground attack aircraft, the three forces began to move on to the palace to rescue the governor, his wife, two kids, his chief advisor, and secretary. They were holed up in the palace safe room vault.
The Grey Knights moved in close from the west, and set up an OP on one of the palace ground’s bastions, on the west side of the river. Up to this point, the whole exercise was a well coordinated maneuver by Allied forces.
"Red Six, this is Eagle Six, Do you see what is going on there?"
"This is Red Six. Negative, I'm too far back. What is going on?"
"This is Eagle Six. The Grey Knight force has gone rogue on us! One of their squads just teleported into the palace, and it looks like they're grabbing all the survivors. Another group has teleported right on top of Inquisitor Lord Burnham, with a Dreadknight. And another Dreadknight teleported right in front of Inquisitor Zardrak’s troops. They have opened fire on both the inquisitor forces and I see casualties!"
"This is Red Six to all units, self-defense protocol Alpha-Zed active! If you are fired upon, you have authorization to use deadly force for self-defense. Eagle Six and Vulture Three, get down here and give us some air support!"
Inquisitor Lord Burnham stumbles, scorched and bloody, over several of his entourage who sacrificed themselves for his safety. Seared dirt and promethium smoke fill the air. Then, another cacophony of explosions, metal crashing on metal, barked orders with confirmations, and the subtle, but distinguishable rip and plop of flesh. The Grey Knight units at the north side of the palace, finally slump and fuse into the blood soaked soil upon which they died.
"Red Six to Eagle Six, what's your ETA?"
"This is Eagle Six. I am going to be following Vulture Three. I'm making one more pass for target acquisition.
The Grey Knights that teleported into the palace, have found most of the survivors, and they have grabbed the Governor’s wife. The Raptors have breached the south end of the palace and are in a firefight with the Grey Knights. One of the Raptors just finished off a Dreadknight with a melta bomb.
I think I see the Governor, no wait, it's the chief advisor. He's just run out the north entrance and is surrendering himself to Lord Burnham. No sight of the Governor.
The tank squadron is moving along the bank of the river, and the Eldar are about to breach the north wall. Their Wave Serpent is dueling with the Land Raider on the far bank, and seems to be holding its own.
Zardrak’s boys look like they're in trouble! A big, mean looking terminator squad has just piled out of that Land Raider. I'm going to vector Vulture Three on the guy with the red cape."
"This is Vulture Three. Target confirmed. guns are hot. I am beginning my run."
"This is Eagle Six. The tank commander is also firing at those terminators. Vulture Six, confirming you are on target. And they are down!"
"This is Red Six. I’m in the palace, and I see Ulthlanan has found the Governor. She is splitting off from the Fire Dragons. I think she sees one of the kids. The Governor is safely on the Wave Serpent, and my team got the daughter."
"This is Vulture Three. I have been hit by flak from the south. My left wing... I’m going down."
"This is Eagle Six. Flak tank aquired, I got him."
"Hey Raptors! This is Captain Bernard Tamal! Tell your boss we want a truce!"
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Zardrak’s forces rescued the Governor's secretary. Burnham's forces secured the governor, his advisor, and both kids. With darkness, the governor's wife finally came out of hiding and was reunited with her family.
Realizing it was the Grey Knights who started the fight, Inquisitor Zardrak and Inquisitor Lord Burnham re-knit their alliance for their coming assault on Kali M4.
Finally, for rescuing him and his family from certain doom, from cultists, and then Grey Knights, Governor Beyru pledged the allegiance of Dolferu to Inquisitor Lord Lucas Burnham.
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STALEMATE
Inquisitor Lord Nadia Kundal looked perturbed. She just arrived in orbit around Dolferu to witness the withdrawal of inquisitorial battle fleet, which maneuvered as though her battle fleet was hostile. As she descended to the planet’s capital, Trenru, she could see out of her Stormraven that she was arriving on the heels of a major battle. The war zone stretched to the horizon, burning tank hulks, and shredded corpses lay everywhere. What in the Emperor's name is Burnham doing?
Inquisitor Lord Burnham met Kundal on the blood soaked and debris covered tarmac of the starport. All the bodies of recent battle had been policed, but the wreckage of a couple tanks had not yet been cleared.
"Yes, I would like to know all about it, but first I have a pressing question for you. Please, my dear, Lord Inquisitor, explain to me why you were trying to prevent the Puritans from destroying Kali M4?"
Burnham nodded, not surprised that the carnage around them would take second place to this question.
"This shadow war is as much a campaign for hearts and minds as it is to reap havoc and blow-up worlds. While all of the Inquisitors assigned to the Crucis Sector are bent on fratricide, there is an Imperium, beyond. If the members of the Holy Inquisition who have been labeled, Radical, are also deemed heretics, the best of the organization could be in danger. By the consensus of my fellow Radical Inquisitors, it was deemed politically expedient for the Puritans to fail at the task, and for us to succeed."
Inquisitor Lord Kundal shrugs.
"You have a battery of cyclonic torpedoes. Why not just beat them to the punch, and blow the world up first?"
Burnham drags out a pause, and an expression of remorse.
"Hubris. We were sure our combined forces would prevail, and things went well at first. If not for a blistering barrage of orbital strikes, we would have easily overrun their compound. Renegade dispoilers, for reasons of insanity, chose to side with the Puritans at the last moment.
But the world was destroyed, and the warp rift, closed. One way or the other, the Emperor protects.
Even though we both had the same objective, I dare say we would've been a lot less sloppy about it. We all barely got off of the planet before it got blown-up, and sucked into the Warp! They really should've put a longer fuse on their bombs."
Inquisitor Lord Kundal grimaces.
"Hmm. Fine, we will conclude this part of our discussion with inappropriate levity. We have other things to discuss.
This little Sector conflagration has become a blip on the radar in the Lords of Terra chamber. As Grey Knights have been taking casualties, The gang on Titan has been voicing concern that Imperial forces are damaging their equipment. I do hope you have swept it up and boxed it, for shipping back to them.
Fortunately, your position in this brawl has a degree of stealth about it. Since you are using unofficial combatants, the Grey’s desire for retribution is hopelessly untargetable. With a little smoke and mirrors, we may actually be able to turn the forces of the Grey against the Renegades, and maybe even the Puritans, who have clearly gone off their tracks.
So, you barely got off the planet? Inquisitor Belle almost killed you, and then tracked you back to Dolferu."
Burnham stands at ease, and then paces a few steps as though recalling ancient memories, even though the event was mere days ago.
"Inquisitor Belle and I had a mini-campaign for control of Dolferu. Since she chased me off Kali M4, it seemed appropriate that she would follow me to my nearby planet base.
She roared in with a significant force of tread, the spearhead hitting Trenru’s outer defense perimeter, including a Fortress Redemption, and a Stormlord.
Their mission was to destroy the fortress, and make a breakthrough into the city itself, which they did very well!
We threw in the rest of the PDF infantry, that we hadn't killed in the first battle for this planet, to try to slow them down. Wyverns eliminated all of them, and her tanks rolled forward. This time, however, we had overwhelming air support. Vulture gunships came in hot, leaving death and wreckage everywhere!
Her breakthrough was smashed, and they opted to withdrawal.
Inquisitor Tholamin Montus attempted to assist Belle in the attack by capturing the Trenru starport. Their LZ was two clicks to the north east of the facility. When they arrived at the starport, they found an armored unit that had just finished refitting. It was a starport too far, and they were defeated. Inquisitor Montus did manage to steal one of our heavy-lift shuttle transports and escape capture.
At this point, our strategic situation is stalemate."
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DIGGING IN
Inquisitors take up their residence in a country estate, away from the clamor and stench of recent battle. Abandoned by one of the planet’s aristocrats to fall in the cultist uprising, it was donated to Burnham as a gift from the planetary governor.
The main building’s northwest annex rises into a tower overlooking the west side gardens, that include an elaborate hedge maze, centered with a small lake. The east side opens into a large tarmac, suitable for VTOL craft and ground transports.
The architecture is typical high-gothic, with relatively new furnishings, likely swapped for the good stuff before Burnham's arrival.
Kundal smiles, knowingly.
"Say nothing, dear lady. It is what it is."
"Oh, that is the latest Hereticus philosophical tenant?"
"Well, maybe I'll just quote the boss, and say, crisis is opportunity."
"Really? Well, you have talked with him more than me. The last time I saw him, he dumped that annoying Callidus assassin on me. Chill. There's a piece of work. Always creeping around looking like an ordinary acolyte, and then whispering something in my ear that is either very personal, or a fantastic piece of HumInt. In spite of her usefulness, I'm so glad she took a fancy to Veronica Darling.
And speaking of Veronica Darling, I heard that her Eldar friend has showed up here."
"Ha ha! It all becomes clear now. You Ordo Xeno-philes are all the same."
"Then don't be mean, Lucas, and let me meet her."
"That won't be a problem. She's on this big mission to make as many humans like the Eldar as she can. She rescued the governor, and his son, from Grey Knights. You can imagine, they like the Eldar, now. I suspect you two will get along well.
It's been a long day, and it's very late, so, I'm afraid I have to retire. Please make yourself at home. The bar is well-stocked, and there is plenty of food in the kitchen."
"Thank you very much. Good night."
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Crack! Rrrrrrrrrh. Crash! tinkle...tinkle.
"Marian?"
"We have to go, sir."
"Oh, to heck with the armor. I'll get it later. But I would like my slippers! Of course you're going to attack somebody in the middle the night when they're sleeping! Ah, here they are. Okay, let's go."
"Neil and Raul are holding off the attack from the east patio. They'll cover us. Inquisitor Kundal is with them. A Valkrie is prepping, and we should have air support momentarily."
On cue, the two on site Vulture gunships rise over the estate, rapiering the air with lumen and infrared lights.
Three more figures approach from the west.
"Nice robe and slippers, Lucas. Did they come with the house?"
"Who the heck attacked?"
Kundal shrugs.
Neil Simmons, looks up from etching a notch in his gun.
"Belle. Scoped her behind my score."
A few moments later, the Valkyrie spools down it's engines. The copilot from the Valkyrie steps out of the plane and walks over.
"Sir, we just got the all clear. I'm afraid that new batch of PDF troopers was useless on the perimeter defense. They were all taken out without a peep."
Burnham shakes his head.
"Too bad. Nobody to execute. So, let's go check the damage. And please, call in some real troopers for security."
The Navy copilot salutes.
"Aye aye, sir."
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Farseer Aejosel Ulthlanan sat blissfully at the café mini-table, drinking tea and nibbling on a pastry. While not a holiday crowd, it was clear that many residents of Trenru needed a break from their ruins. Arboru was the nicest park in the hive, and still untouched by strife.
Inquisitor Lord Kundal spotted the xeno, immediately, even though she was wearing a typical Imperium business suit. None of the patrons had a clue that there was an Eldar in their midst.
Before making her approach, Kundal waves her plain clothed acolyte escorts to clear the café and secure the area. A moment later, Kundal, wearing a similarly functional suit, approaches the table, and takes a seat.
"Put on a hat, and you can walk freely among any human population? It sounds like something from a cheesy vid-play."
"Not quite."
Ulthlanan smiles and gives a nod.
"Lady Kundal, you asked me to forgive your social faux pas's. Would you extend that courtesy to me?"
"Ha ha, I should give you the courtesy to knowingly insult me? Fine, go ahead."
"Thank you. Not an insult to you, specifically. My disguise is more precisely, in movement. I have to think of myself having an abdominal pain, and needing to visit the lootorium. Of course, now it's second nature."
"So humans could walk among Eldar. They just have to move like Ordo Assassinorum agents."
"Actually, yes. Chill does it all the time. She likes Harlequins, for some reason. Personally, I think they're kind of creepy, but to each their own."
"Hah. It's funny, Burnham and I were talking about Chill just the other day. I was very glad when Chill left my company to go off and do great works with Veronica Darling. For the Emperor."
Kundal was forgetting that she was in the company of a potential enemy. Just as she was catching this thought, a plain clothed acolyte apears, with a complete service of tea and pastries, and places it before Kundal, with a bow. Kundal peaks into the teapot, and turns to thank the acolyte, but the woman is gone. Kundal, however, does not miss Ulthlanan’s amused smirk.
"Oh, for the love of the Emperor!"
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Time passed, and the forces under Burnham continue to rally and train. Veteran Kunvizi Asoci units are assigned to bolster the new PDF troops.
Security for Burnham’s estate is brought up to speed, and the west tower is repaired.
When the imminence of another attack against the estate becomes fathomed, resolve trumped surprise, and everybody was ready to repulse the invaders.
Burnham charges out the north entrance, where the smoldering wreckage of the enemy’s exploded Chimera littered the garden.
"What Ork-swill guzzling lunatic attacked us this time?!"
Simmons, On post at the top of the new west tower, responds on his vox-bead.
"Preod Levant. Popped him in the maze, but then he was gone. Counted?"
"Sure. You're racking up quite a bonus. Don't spend it all in one place."
"aye sir."
Burnham sighs.
"Apparently, everybody has this address. We might as well dig in and take defenders’ advantage. Hopefully, whatever time we’re given will allow us to bring the PDF up to speed."
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BREAKOUT
"Lord Burnham, I would not have guessed that the planetary governor would give you such a dilapidated fixer-upper."
"I'm afraid, Captain, that this is the third time we have rebuilt this estate after an attack. Pretty much every part of the building has been shot or blasted, except for the garden, which is all but indestructible!
The last attack was preceded by an orbital bombardment, and followed up by a strikeforce of Ultramarine Space Marines."
Captain Tamal shakes his head with a punctuating, hmmm.
"I know that all Navy assets in the Sector are on orders to only defend themselves if attacked. So, you were blasted by Space Marines?"
"Indeed we were. Puritan Inquisitor Volta, and his strike force of Ultramarines made the final push against this poor estate. And as has been consistent in this campaign, all of the PDF infantry scattered to the wind from the initial bombardment. They also knocked out all of our static artillery, so our local order of battle was reduced by almost a third before we got off our first shot.
Fortunately, Kunvizi Asoci armor and air support were quick to respond, to win the day."
Burnham pauses to grin, smugly.
"Then, after securing the defense of Dolferu Prime, Kunvizi Asoci forces began to strike back. Scouts found Inquisitor Montus's staging base on Dolferu VII's third moon. A strike force was sent in to recover the stolen heavy transport shuttle, and eliminate the last known Puritan base in the Dolferu system.
With the help of Farseer Ulthlanan, an additional two cargo carriers were acquired, and the moon was secured.
The slippery Montus was last seen dodging a hail of fire from Vulture gunships. He is presumed to have escaped, as no body was found.
How went your reconnaissance for the infamous Gallen Carpathia?"
Captain Tamal casts his eyes around the room, and looks grimly back at Burnham.
"I returned to his fortress base, where we tried to rescue Inquisitor Thorton. That installation has been scuttled, and there was no Intel to be found in the ruins to give us any clues where they have gone. I'm afraid the trail is cold.
Moreover, he is apparently self-sufficient in resources, as there are no trade transactions that would normally be required to sustain his military capabilities. This would give credibility to the Eldar presumption that there is at least one waking Necron planet in his sphere."
Burnham frowns, grimly.
"I hope it's only one Necron planet, or we’re going to need more cyclonic torpedoes. And I guess we need some virus bombs, too"
"I suspect so. Tyrellius's genetic manipulations with Orks and Tyranids has Inqusitor Zardrak extremely concerned. I keep getting updates about Tyrellius on my cognator. She certainly sounds dangerous, but we did not pursue contact with her on our rounds."
"Well, once we've rounded up another batch of PDF recruits, we will strike out and look for these menaces to civilization."
-----------
"Hello, Inquisitor Lord Burn’em."
"That's Burnham."
The sleeping chamber was dark, befitting the middle of the night.
"You have a very nice estate, on your own little planet."
The gentle, feminine voice, seemed to hover over Lucas, and then drift around the room in the darkness.
"Are you here to listen to my confession before killing me, Chill?"
"Assassins don't care about confessions. If I were here to kill you, I would not have disturbed your sleep."
"That is very comforting. You know, we have met before. There's no reason for the spooky voice in the dark routine."
As though on cue, the bedside lumen clicks on. Chill is siting sideways on an armed chair, legs over the armrest. Sheathed in her black body suit, her purple ponytail snakes back, and then forward, over her left shoulder.
"So then, to what do I owe the pleasure of waking."
"Members of my temple are always interested in controlling the narrative of events. This operation has entered its next phase, and there is a marvelous opportunity to direct this little Inquisitor War to a satisfying conclusion."
"To achieve a satisfying conclusion, I would be happy to follow any narrative you would like to propose.
It was going well at first. The Puritan Inquisitors teamed up with Radicals, and united against a common enemy. But then I made a mistake. Politics over the destruction of Kali M4, I allowed myself to get sucked into the Radical versus Puritan conflict, alienating my erstwhile allies in the Puritan camp.
I know. By wasting so much time and resources undermining loyalist elements, the unrestrained Renegades now feel secure to throw back the curtains and reveal their nefarious agendas. Now the good guys can all track them down and bring them to ground. Is that your narrative?"
"Isn't that perfect? You see, you have done everything according to that plan. The invisible hand of the Emperor’s will has brought you to where you must be."
------------
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Transcript of Inquisitor Lord Lucas Burnham’s speech for immediate distribution.
From: Astropath Gerik Wald on the King Richard Bent.
To: Tier 3 and above, Crucis Sector.
++++++++
"The Holy Order of The Inquisition must stand united against the enemies of the Empire of Man. To divide that fraternity to the point of armed conflict is an act of grievous sedition.
The Master of the Crucis Conclave, who initiated this civil war, is hereby called to stand down, and submit to the Emperor’s righteous scrutiny.
In my duty-bound role as the senior ombudsman of the Ordo Hereticus in the Crucis Sector, I must call upon all loyalists to reestablish our holy fraternity at the Black Keep, and end this fratricide!
I bid you to stand with the Emperor, and stand with me in the most holy crusade, a united humanity."
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End Transmission
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Sunday, May 18, 2014
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