Waaagh Meckenheim

[Friddel]

Part 23

Inquisitor Isabella genuflected to the holo-display in front of her. "My Lords, I ask only for more time." Inquisitor Lord Karamazov leaned forwards from his Throne of Judgement, his flickering face set in anger. "Time? Isabella, you have had three standard weeks to root out this heresy. And now, your inability to remove this infection has lead to the heretics attracting more of our enemies to distract you." She met her superior's eyes. "Isabella, no one is blaming you for what has happened. I trust your judgement" said Inquisitor Lord Agmar. Karamazov banged his fist against his Throne. "Isabella, if you do not destroy the heretics now, then this world is lost. You know what must be done." "Exterminatus is not taken lightly, Karamazov. But nor do I agree with you, Agmar. Obviously, our protege requires some expert assistance" growled Inquisitor Lord Horgal. Isabella fumed internally. While she could not disobey the Lords of the Ordo Hereticus, being her first mission, she did not want another Inquisitor taking over. "Isabella, you have another chance. In three hours the Black Templar Strike Cruiser 'Dorn's Wrath' will reach the Pelucidar system. Castellan Folkert has been informed of the situation, and his Crusaders are eager to cleanse this world" ordered Horgal. Karamazov spoke up. "But do not falter in your duty. Should the task be impossible even for the Space Marines, order them to retreat then conduct the Ultimate Sanction." Isabella raised her voice. "My Lords, I have ample forces at my disposal. Over a hundred Adeptus Sororitas are still under my command. The Order of the Sacred Rose trains its battle-sisters to be the equal of any Space Marine." Agmar raised his hand to silence her protests. "We have made our decision. You have three hours before the Black Templars arrive. Find the Sorceror Kalis and kill him. Folkert will be more than happy to drive off the greenskins and splinter fleet." The three holo-projections cut out, leaving only hazy static. Isabella turned to Canoness Athena. "We are going back down to the surface. Deploy the Seraphim."

"Captain, it would appear there are more survivors. Sweep the bunkers. I want them alive if possible." Xerxes acknowledged. "Fabian, cover the left, I'll come in from the right." The pair set off from the landing pad. Fabian darted to the cover of the Chimera, while Xerxes crouched behind the corpse of the Laius Horror. They both trained their bolters on the third bunker, the only one still intact. "Come out, or we will burn you out" ordered Xerxes, his external vox-caster giving his voice a harsh tone.

From within the bunker, the Enginseer cursed softly in Lingua Technis. "Well, it would seem we have no other choice." Ruskin stood, eyes blazing. "The instant we leave this bunker they will start shooting. The Skittari we found in the control bunker..." Corom raised his hand. "Being the ranking officer, you will follow my commands. Now everyone drop their guns, and hopefully we can find out what the frack is going on here." The Skittari around them complied, heading for the door. Ruskin reluctantly removed the clip from his arm-mounted bolt pistol, extracting the chambered round as well. "I hope for all of us, that you are right, sir" he said to Corom as they left.

Fabian kept Corom and Ruskin in his sights, while Xerxes stood and met the small group. "No one else?" asked the Captain, towering over the Enginseer and his Skittari. "No more, Astarte. Now may we please meet with your Inquisitor?" Xerxes turned and listened to his internal vox, as Malak barked new orders. "You are in luck, Tech-priest. The Inquisitor still has a use for you. Have your tech-guard move the heavy bolters and any other weapons into the following positions." Xerxes indicated the sniping positions of Morghast, Crucio and Deja. "I need them in position now." The Skittari, Ruskin included, hurried back to the bunker, stripping it of all weapons and ammunition. Corom followed Xerxes back to the landing pad. "When will I meet the Inquisitor?" The Deathwatch Captain looked down at the Enginseer. "Once he is sure you are still of use to him. Now go, the next wave should hit us within the hour." As if drawn by Xerxes, a rippling mass of chitin and claws appeared on the other side of the chamber.

By the time the swarm had reached the halfway point, the heavy bolters were in position and ready to fire. The Skittari not manning the guns armed themselves with scavenged grenade launchers and flamers. These six formed an impromptu command squad with Ruskin, deploying in the center behind the kill-zone. Crucio moved to stand beside them, his Holocaust gun at the ready. "Get a flamer and grenade launcher to each of the guns, Deja included." The six tech-guard peeled off, a grenadier and flamer taking up position beside each gun, covering the vulnerable flanks. "Link the magazines together, it will be sustained fire until they are all dead" ordered Deja, refilling his backpack with bolts from the ammunition dump by the landing pad. The other heavy bolters began linking their five magazines together, forming a link of a thousand rounds per gun. The swarm drew closer, the screeches and sounds of claws scrabbling on ice growing louder. "Fire!" ordered Xerxes. The four heavy bolters began strafing the incoming tide of Gaunts, blasting apart the first line. As their steaming corpses fell, the others clambered over, only to be gunned down once more. A wall of bodies began to form from the practiced marksmanship of the Skittari and Deja. "Frag grenades up and over" ordered Deja, still firing from the hip as he moved to a better fire position. The three grenadiers began pumping explosives into the swarm, careful to kill only the beasts behind the body wall. The Gaunts that made it over were quickly dispatched by Deja, as the others took care to even out the body wall on the flanks. Soon, a meter high line of bodies seperated the swarm from the gunners. The Gaunts kept swarming over, but Xerxes had other plans. "Ignite the nitrogen charges, now." Explosions of liquid nitrogen splattered over the Tyranids, freezing those attemping to climb over while forming the already-dead into a solid mass. Every Tyranid who attempted to scale the wall was only to build it higher, and soon the swarm had expanded the wall to nearly four meters. Deja ordered the Skittari back, the others following. "Captain, it won't be long before they bring a Carnifex and break through the wall. And we don't have enough ammunition to hold back many more waves." Xerxes nodded. "Captain, move the Skittari and your squad to the Thunderhawk. Our time here is over."

From beneath the ice, Inquisitor Malak and Narthen emerged via a pre-dug shaft. A servo-skull hovered by Malak's head, following him up the boarding ramp while the Deathwatch watched the surrounds. Once everyone was on board, the armoured doors of the Ordo Xenos facility sealed, and the Thunderhawk took off. Beneath them, a Carnifex bashed through the ice barrier, only to roar in frustration as its prey escaped. The last sight Corom had was of several lascannons and autocannons emerging from the walls, scything down the Tyranids before retracting. "I hope you found what you were looking for, Inquisitor" said the Enginseer, turning to Malak.

[Friddel]

Part 24

Inquisitor Karamazov walked through the docking bay of Titan. A squad of Inquisitional Stormtroopers, their weapon held at port, greeted him. "They are waiting for you on the other side, my Lord" said the Sergeant. The Inquisitor Lord nodded, entering the portal. On the other side, a squad of Grey Knights knelt. "Rise" ordered Karamazov. Justicar Weiss spoke. "What does the Emperor command?" he said. "You have two objectives. The first will be the elimination of the Sorceror Kalis, of the Thousand Sons' Traitor Legion." Karamazov paused. "We have reason to believe that he has been successful in summoning a Lord of Change from the Warp. Find both of these abominations, and send them back to their foul master." The Inquisitor Lord brought up a holo-recording, taken by an agent in the docks of Pelucidar. "Also, you will find and capture one Inquisitor Malak, of the Ordo Xenos. I believe his heresy has spread to taint the Lords of his Order. They sanction his actions, and have supplied him with a Deathwatch Kill-team. Malak must be brought to me alive. Only then will I have the evidence I need." Weiss reflected upon the revelations, then racked back the slide on his vambrace stormbolter. "We are ready." The rest of the squad followed him out of the chamber, into a waiting shuttle. Karamazov watched them go, knowing the odds.

Isabella watched as Thunderhawks swept over the warring factions below, a roiling sea of Orks and Tyranids, neither retreating. The Seraphim deployed first, leaping down from the low-flying dropships, securing a landing zone. "Athena, kill any that attack you but do not intervene. We are not tasked with their cleansing. The Black Templars are on their way." The Canoness nodded, readying her weapons. Squads of battle-sisters deployed quickly, streams of bolter fire, flamers and the thunderous reports of heavy bolters driving back any Orks or Tyranids who tried to break through the cordon. The Inquisitor motioned to the Retributor squad. "Follow me. We must find and destroy the Sorceror Kalis."

Beneath the hive, Kalis was moving quickly. The portals he was opening would not remain available for long. "All remaining squads are to retreat into the portal. We shall return" he hissed. The swirling portals were clogged with daemons and Traitor Marines evacuating. Kalis was the last to leave, activating the promethium tanks left behind, scouring the icons away and with them the portals.

Malak stared at the viewscreen, watching as ice sloughed off the surface, vanishing into a deep crevass. "Well, it was only a matter of time" he sighed to himself. Keying the vox-link, he connected with Xerxes. "Captain, I want those Skittari and their Enginseer confined. Lock them in one of the stasis rooms. They'll probably feel more at home with all the machinery." A click of the vox-link, and Xerxes was on his feet. "The Inquisitor wants you placed in stasis." The battle-scarred Skittari stood wearily. Ruskin moved to the front with Corom. "You have defied his will once today, Enginseer. Consider yourself lucky" added the Deathwatch Captain, seeing the confused, angry look in the Tech-priest's eyes. Ruskin calmly evaluated the situation, touching his superior lightly on the shoulder. "If he though we were a threat, we would be floating in orbit" he murmered. Corom turned and cursed quietly. "If only Magos Tarike had survived..." said Corom. Crucio crossed the room, holding his plasma gun at port arms. "The Inquisitor isn't the only one running out of patience" Corom growled, trudging behind the group. Locking them securely, Crucio paused. "A word of advice. To save time, I suggest you purge your neural implants and recording devices now." The Blood Angel left, locking the bulkhead behind him.

Crucio rejoined his squad, sitting down and re-starting repairs to his leg armour. Re-attaching a new plate, he glanced up at the others. They milled around, cleansing their weapons, affixing fresh purity seals to placate their armour's machine spirits, checking eachother's powerplants and ammunition. Deja knelt, expertly cleaning the reciever and action of his heavy bolter. Torvald was busy reciting the rituals of his Chapter, purifying his thunderhammer for battle. Xerxes manipulated a data slate, his face impassive. Morghast and Fabian practised with their un-activated power swords. Crucio himself checked the frag grenades and meltabombs of the squad, his mind straying from the simple action. He thought of home, of the others he had lost to the Curse. Thanks to the sedatives incorperated into his armour, his own rage was kept in check, if only just. His Chapter was still a long way from a cure, and every battle cost them not just lives, but the minds of many still whole.

Xerxes gazed at the archaic script before him. 'Purge the xenos.' The words had been etched into him since his initiation, reinforced by his training for the Deathwatch. And now...his mind seethed with guilt. What Master Azrael would think of him now, fighting alongside a radical at best, or a heretic at worst...The Dark Angel pushed the needling thoughts to the back of his mind. He had been chosen for this honour, and until he saw proof that Malak was wrong, he would serve. Reluctantly, but loyal still.

Torvald looked at Xerxes, and for a moment their eyes met. Then the Dark Angel looked away, the faintest flicker of fear in his eyes. The Space Wolf felt his ire rise. He was loyal to his Captain, despite their Chapter's feud. But to have doubts now...Torvald was no fool, but a part of him wished to be back on Laius, tearing Tyranid monsters apart with his bare hands. His canines were just edging over his lower lip, but the Space Wolf could still remember the time he fought as a Blood Claw. When life, and death, were simpler. Now...all the Imperium did was retreat, back down in the wake of the Hive Mind, he thought. Torvald realised the bitterness that drove Malak, his reasons, but Xerxes was an enigma. Why a Marine from a Chapter famed for its xenophobia, be selected, and then be so loyal, past what even the most liberal minds would accept...The Space Wolf pushed his doubts aside, and focused back on the task at hand. If his Captain faltered, he would have to lead the others, to whatever end Malak demanded.

The Inquisitor activated the stasis fields and null-generators of his private quarters. Hovering a meter above the ground, he concentrated. The mind-link he was attempting was complicated and uncharted. He hoped his theory would be proved correct. Images swam before him, memories of alien races he had never seen, and he realised sadly, would never see, except as wraiths. He plunged deeper into the weakened mind of the hive ship. The gesalt conciousness of the Norn Queen fought back, but its struggles were fitful, and ultimately futile. Dissecting the neural cortex psychically, Malak drew in the memories of the beast, even as the original mind collapsed. Like a bizzare holo-recording, images flashed. Its birth shortly before first contact with this galaxy. Its entrapment on Laius. Its hunger, fed intermittenly by infrequent crash-landings of other ships. The approach of Malak, and four others, cloaked in shadows. Malak smiled grimly to himself. Their efforts to replicated the ghost-helms of the Eldar had not been unsuccessful. He concentrated again, leaving the Norn Queen a withered husk. Quickly, he insinuated himself into the biological machinery of the ship. Drawing the roving bands of warrior-organisms back, he quickly absorbed them, drawing their precious reserves into the volcano-like engines of the ships. The clusters of rock fired, propelling the ship upwards. Malak felt, as if his own body, the ship strain, muscles and processes not used in centuries pushed to the limit. And then...then they were free. Malak sighed. He soothed the ship back into hibernation, then withdrew. As he lowered himself to his feet, he felt icy cold crystals recede back into pale flesh. Concealing himself in his power armour once more, he deactivated the fields. The first part is always too easy, he thought.

[Friddel]

Part 25

Malak stood before the assembled Deathwatch team. Beside them, Stormtrooper squads Nero and Tesla were ready. Hagen stood with the Inquisitor, his autoshotgun held firmly. "We are, as always, running out of time. Here is the plan" said Malak, activating the holo-projector. A flickering three-dimensional image of Pelucidar appeared. "From what I have learned, a Black Templar Company is on their way, presumably at the request of the Ordo Hereticus. They will arrive in an hour, leaving us a short window of time to get groundside. Your deployment is as follows." Malak gestured, and the display changed to a tactical map. "Captain Xerxes, you will deploy groundside, and capture an Broodlord. All I require is the head, so it will be easier than last time." Xerxes nodded. "I understand sir. And if we manage a live capture?" Malak smiled faintly. "Well Captain, I'll give you the mission of capturing Inquisitor Isabella as well, unless you feel its too difficult." Fabian spoke up. "With respect, Inquisitor, isn't that heresy?" The Inquisitor dismissed his concern with a flick of the wrist. "I am the one who decides that, Sergeant, not you. Now board the Thunderhawk." Xerxes and his squad complied, falling out to the dropship. "Nero and Tesla, you will deploy groundside as well. My asset on the ground needs extraction. He will be at these co-ordinates when you arrive. Be on your guard; Shrike rarely calls for help, so I can only assume he is running from more than the usual." Both Sergeants nodded, falling out to their Valkyries. "Hagen, to you I entrust the most difficult assignment of all. Give me your weapon." The Guardsman complied, feeling a twinge of fear at the steel in the Inquisitor's tone. "My Lord?" he asked, while handing over the autoshotgun. Malak sighed. "Isabella and her over-zealous order specialise in rooting out heresy through massive civilian casualties. Given an obvious target, her forces will be more directed and therefore less wasteful of human life. However, for you to be a real objective, you need to be the most dangerous heretic on the surface." Hagen felt the powerful, dead-cold hands of a combat servitor clamp around his arms. Malak hesitated, then plunged the needle into the man's neck. Depressing the hypodermic, he withdrew it and stood back. Hagen's body contorted, sinew and muscle bulging as his body was rapidly corrupted and transformed. Malak watched as the Guardsman slumped, as the shock knocked him out. "Emperor forgive me, for I cannot" whispered Malak to himself, as the limp Hagen was placed in a drop pod. The door sealed, and the walls shook as the pod was fired. Malak walked back to his quarters. He activated the disruption pods, blocking all signals in and out of the room. Focusing, he initiated a tentative mind-link with the Hive ship on the edge of the system.

The Thunderhawk swept across the ravaged cities of the south. No sooner had the dropship stopped, then cultists swarmed from the buildings, sending up pointless volleys of las-fire and solid slugs. "Set us down over the next intersection" ordered Xerxes over the vox-link, readying his bolter. The servitor-pilot complied, heavy bolters spraying the landing zone clear. The team leapt from the ramp five meteres down, their power armour taking the brunt of their fall. No sooner had they landed, then the Thunderhawk powered up, heading back to orbit. "Move!" barked Xerxes, as more cultists poured from the ruins around them.

A large catherdral loomed ahead, the squad making for it. The Deathwatch Marines' augemented bodies, armour and weapons cleared a path to the entrance. "Deja, Morghast, Fabian, suppressive fire! Torvald, Crucio, with me." The squad split up. After Deja had fired a few Hellfires to clear the entrance, he and the other two set up, keeping the cultists pinned down with accurate bolt shells. The Captain swept past, Crucio hefting his plasma gun, Torvald holding his thunderhammer high. "Crucio, guard the flank of the others. Space Wolf, you wanted a close-quarters battle, yes?" Torvald swung his thunderhammer into a hybrid, sending the unfortunate half-man flying into the ceramite wall, breaking his spine. "Find me something worthy, Captain" he growled, fury coursing through him at the sight of the hybrids. "This filth is hardly worth my efforts." A series of high pitched shrieks announced the arrival of fullbloods. The Genestealers filled the stairs. From the upper level, a lone Broodlord surveyed them, then screeched and pointed a talon down at the pair of Marines. "You take the bodyguards, I'll kill the leader" ordered Xerxes, hurling himself at the stairs. "And take all the glory? Not if I get there first!" roared back the Space Wolf, following hard on the heels of the Dark Angel. They hit the front row hard, breaking them in a flurry of precise, sweeping strikes by Xerxes's powersword, Torvald breaking into the second row with a vengeance. The pair continued up the stairs, the broken bodies of Genestealers clogging the stairway. Every time a Genestealer got past their guard, Crucio dropped it with a burst of plasma. Morghast turned and helped stave off the cultists trying to exit via the entrance. The last Genestealer fell, leaving only the two Deathwatch veterans and the Broodlord. It snarled, then struck out, its razor-sharp claws ripping through Torvald's chest armour and sending the Space Wolf flying into the wall. Xerxes brought his powersword up, deflecting strike after strike as the monster tried to whip under his guard. Torvald pulled himself out of the wall, picking up his thunderhammer. "No! Get the stasis field! Malak wants it alive!" Torvald shot Xerxes a dark look, as the Captain parried another deadly strike. "Enough, Torvald! There is a line between duty and pride! Activate it!" The Space Wolf pulled the device from his belt. He activated it and threw it at the Broodlord. Xerxes defly whipped under the Broodlord's guard, delivering a crushing strike with his elbow to its face. Kicking it away, he rolled and watched as it was trapped in the field, the projector hovering in the air above it. It roared and lashed out at the stasis field, a shimmering energy field rippling against it. Xerxes picked himself up, activating his vox. "Inquisitor, we have the specimen." A brief flash of light, and the Broodlord and stasis field disappeared. "The Inquisitor only wanted its head. You could have let me take it" said Torvald, cleaning his thunderhammer. Xerxes walked over, and punched the Space Wolf down. Grabbing the Marine by the neck, he hefted Torvald half upright. "The next time I give an order, Space Wolf, you will comply. Without thinking, without insubordination. I won't remind you again" he growled. The Space Wolf stared right back at him, eyes full of anger. Then it subsided, and he looked away. "Forgive me, Captain. I forgot myself when I should have obeyed without question." Xerxes let go and helped the Marine up. Holstering his thunderhammer, Torvald drew his bolter and followed Xerxes back down to the entrance. "Captain, we require extraction. Our ammuntion may run out soon." Xerxes surveyed the carnage of the courtyard. Cultists and hybrids lay where they had fallen, holes blown through their chests or heads. Torvald smiled and placed a hand on Deja's shoulder. "Glad you weren't too bored down here." The Salamander sent a burst into an emerging hybrid, and met the Space Wolf's gaze. "I've fought smarter opponents. Plus, these heretics seemed very willing to throw away their lives." The squad moved out into the courtyard, kicking the bodies to make sure they were dead. "We are ready for extraction" barked Xerxes over the vox-link. A minute later, the Thunderhawk landed, and the Deathwatch piled in.

In the northern city, the pair of Valkyries stopped above a plaza. Rapelling down rapidly, Nero lead his squad on point, while Tesla covered the rear and flanks. They made good time, their surroundings eerily devoid of Chaos, Tyranid or Ork. Reaching the location, they stopped. "Shrike! Your ride is here!" called Sergeant Nero, looking around. A lone figure stepped from the rubble around them. Nero just started. The Justicar towered over the Stormtroopers, his force halberd held firmly in one hand, his vambrace storm bolter pointed at the ground. "Disarm, now" was all he said, as he raised his storm bolter. Nero saw out of the corner of his eye, more Grey Knights materialise, surrounding them. "Do it" he ordered, as his men and Tesla's squad uncoupled their weapons from their backpack batteries, stepping away slowly. The Justicar stepped forward. "We have the Vindicare Operative in our possession. Consider yourselves under arrest. Now, where is Inquisitor Malak?" Nero sighed, turning to his squadmates. "You all swore oaths, men. Now our faith is tested, and we shall not be found wanting." The Grey Knights closed in. "You are all dead, you do realise that?" said Tesla, totally unafraid. The Justicar picked the man up with one hand, easily gripping the Sergeant's collar. "My Lord, what should we do with these heretics?" "Keep them alive, for now. They shall tell us where Malak is, whether they wish to or not" came the reply back over the vox-link. The Stormtroopers left their equipment behind, falling into step with the Grey Knights.

A hole in real-space appeared, as the Black Templar Battle-barge ‘Dorn's Wrath' exited the Warp. Castellan Folkert surveyed Pelucidar on the long-range augers, considering his options. "My Lord, we are ready" intoned the four Captains who stood with him. "Ready your Crusaders. I want assaults on the major hives and cities as soon as we achieve orbit. Also, send an envoy to this..." he paused and re-checked the data slate "Inquisitor Isabella." His nose wrinkled in disgust. "No wonder this world is being defiled by xenos and heretic alike." One of the Captains spoke. "And if we encounter the Sisters of Battle?" Folkert looked back at Pelucidar. "If they haven't left by now, then they haven't killed that thrice-cursed Sorceror Kalis. And that means they have failed." He paused. "Kill them on sight. Bring me the Inquisitor alive. Her superior will want to question her." The four Captains nodded, switching to their Company channels and barking orders over the vox. The Castellan clasped his hands behind his back and regarded the planet ahead. Everything was progressing smoothly, for now, he thought.

[Friddel]

Part 26

Magos Belkan trudged down the hallway, eyes to the floor. The Inquisitional Stormtroopers let him pass, hellguns held at port arms. He descended down the steps to cell block. There were eight chambers in total, stretching down the corridor. The Tech-priest activated the manifest with a thought, the display projecting into his cogitator unit. He scrolled through the items, smirking slightly. The left hand side was filled with non-sentients, various lifeforms Malak had collected in his duties. The Magos noted some of the creatures with interest. The brainleaf, a species endemic to many death-worlds was present, null-fields dulling their psychic interference; the notorious Catachan Devil, a brood of four six-month-old hatchlings kept under near-constant sedation; the preserved remains of a Zoat, the only race of Tyranids to communicate with the Imperium...Belkan frowned. Another cell contained a single Enslaver. Kept in stasis in a pool of liquid nitrogen and seven null-field generators keeping it inactive, the Magos noted the steady pulse it generated on the warp-augers, like a faint heartbeat. The control and command links showed the generators had often been switched off, and the creature had even been awoken several times, for no more than a minute each.

Magos Belkan shook himself mentally, and concentrated. He could spend all day poring over Malak's specimen collection. He was here for something much more important. He moved to the right hand side, looking for the unmarked door. His mechadendrites expertly dissassembled the alarm system and backup sealant, before he got to work on the lock. In seconds, the hard work of a master artificer was neatly arranged at his armoured feet, piece by piece. He stepped over the bits of metal, and looked at the imprisoned. Enginseer Corom got to his feet. "Brother, I thank you. But I wonder how long we have until the Inquisitor returns." The Magos smiled. "Corom, I am glad you survived. Your skills will be most useful." Ruskin got to his feet, catching the clip of bolt shells the Magos threw at him. "Thats all I have on me. The armoury is this way." The unarmed Skittari bunched their fists and followed their superiors out of the cell. Corom whispered to the Magos. "Sir, how will we avoid the ignorant foot-soldiers?" he said, staying close. "They know not the Ommnisah and his divine vision." The Magos snorted. "Don't worry, Enginseer. I had a plan before I freed you." Corom nodded and took the hint to shut up.

The small group made it to the armoury. Magos Belkan began to dissasemble the door, as Ruskin watched for Stormtroopers. "There, help yourselves" he said. The Skittari began to expertly select various guns from the racks. Corom selected a storm bolter and a chainsword, calling to the others. "Everyone take bolt weapons, so we can share ammunition. Take drum magazines, I doubt we will have time to reload" he said, chambering the first round of his weapon. The other Skittari emerged, linking their targeting uplinks to the weapon sights. Ruskin slung a couple of satchels over his shoulder. "Keep those weapons concealed, Corom. I don't want a firefight before it is neccessary." A hellgun laser bolt slammed into the wall next to him. The Skittari returned fire, riddling the patrol squad with bolt shells. "Cease fire and run!" ordered Corom. The Magos snarled with frustration, drawing his plasma pistol. "Get to the hangar; we can't stay here anymore." The group set off, gunning down the confused Stormtroopers they met along the way. As they neared the hanger, the Magos sealed the door behind them.

"Start the engines on the Aquila" he ordered Ruskin. The man nodded, making for the shuttle with the rest of the Skittari. "Corom, with me" he ordered. The Enginseer returned fire on an ambush squad, before following the Magos. "Left something behind?" he quipped darkly, as more Stormtroopers moved to flank them. The Magos tapped in a doorcode, opening up a secret panel in the floor. "Stay here, fend them off. I won't be long" he said, before dropping through the hole. Corom's frustrated cursing was cut off, as the Magos landed on the ceramite below. Picking himself up, he moved over to the null fields, shutting them down with a calming gesture. The machine spirits obeyed, the whine of the generators subsiding. He picked up the strange piece of wraithbone, sealing it in a specimen container. "Inquisitor, a great pity you were never a Magos Explorator. The Ommnisah could have used you" he said, eyeing the evidence. He leapt back up out of the room, hauled up with one hand by Corom. The Enginseer kept pouring fire down the hallway, keeping the Stormtroopers pinned down. "Magos" he said, and then saw the container. Belkan didnt answer, priming a frag grenade and tossing it down the hallway. The loud "frag!" and the scurrying sounds of the Stormtroopers meant it missed, but the two were already gone.

"Corom, you have been...blessed enough for vaccum?" enquired the Magos, blasting a hole in the failsafe, no time to deactivate it safely. The Enginseer nodded. "Good. Hold my arm" ordered the Magos, before he raised his plasma pistol at the viewport in front of them and fired. The bolt melted and distorted the thick glass, as Corom weakened it further with a burst of bolt shells. The Stormtroopers who entered the room just as quickly left, locking the bulkhead moments before the room explosively decompressed. Drifting through the blackness of space, both felt their organic parts grow cold, before the artifical outer skin absorbed the dead cold and warmth flowed back through them. The stolen Aquila floated above them, its airlock cycling them through. They slumped into the seats, as Ruskin activated switches. "The machine spirits are unhappy, Magos. They do not wish to depart." Belkan sent a surge through the ship, a new machine spirit flushing out the security AI. "Start the engines. Make for that Black Ship" he said, gesturing towards the vessel. Ruskin did as best he could, his limited training with vehicle controls managing to guide the Aquila on target. The Magos leaned back in his seat.

Malak watched with interest, as the shuttle drew closer. "Well, I had my suspicions, my Lord. But here it is, direct evidence of betrayal." The shadowy figure next to him sighed. "It is as we feared. The Adeptus Mechanicus cannot be trusted. Detain him, Malak" he added, as the Inquisitor made to leave. "We need him alive, if your accusations are to stick." Malak nodded, before leaving the chamber.

[Friddel]

Part 27

The Warboss roared, urging the living tide of greenskins around him onwards. "Come on, boyz! Lets show em a real Orky crumpin! Waaagh!" Ahead, Tyranid Gaunts expended themselves by the hundred to hold the Ork assault off, while Warriors fired deadly bio-weapons at the Orks. Boyz dropped, eaten alive by fleshborers or devourers, flesh seared from bone by venom cannon and deathspitters, a Carnifex lending its barbed strangler to the mix. The Warboss shrugged off a stray venom cannon crystal as it impacted against his mega armour, the acid blistering the metal. "Is dat the best you got?" he laughed coarsely, his twin big shoota sending fan of shell casings out its side as he fired back. The hail of fire ripped apart the Warrior who had fired, the other two ducking behind cover. The massive Ork laughed harder. "See dat, boyz! Deez bugz can't beat us, cos weez green! And green iz best!" The Orks around him roared their approval, as the assault wave gradually forced the Tyranids back.

The Warboss looked upwards, as the screaming jets of a drop pod heralded its arrival. It landed hard meters away, the hatch falling to the ground. A lone figure walked out, unarmed. "Easy, boyz. Dis might be da Messenger" warned the Warboss, as several Shoota boyz turned their weapons eagerly on the new arrival. They looked dissapointed, before they retrained their weapons on the Tyranids. "So, Kalis, whats da plan? Where iz da Space Morons you promised would be 'ere?". Hagen snapped a reply, from beneath the hooded robe he wore. "Greenskin, remember the deal. You get your war, I get my world." The Warboss chuckled, gesturing to the horde of Boyz overwhelming the Tyranids. "Yeah, an 'ow do you plan ta take it? Cos all i sees iz green." Hagen sighed impatiently. "This is why you should concentrate on fighting your war, Ork, not waste your time overworking your brain. And seeing as you are so eager, I am telling you where the main landing site is for the Black Templars." He handed a rough schematic to the Mek beside the Warboss, the greenskin studying the map with interest. The Warboss growled approvingly. "Da black n white ones? Dey were on Armageddon. Be good for da Orks 'ere to get a real battle." The figure let out a bark of laughter. "You know, Warboss, for all the claims of stupidity by the foolish Imperials, I think they missed the point. It isn't that you don't know the odds are against you; thats how you want it." The Warboss laughed, loosing his big shoota carelessly into a flock of Gargoyles as they made a pass. Bat-like bodies careered towards the ground, gaping holes ripped through them. "Kalis, weez green, and wee can't be beat. Dats all dere is to it." With that, the massive armoured Ork set off, leading the next charge into the Tyranids. The figure shook his head. "Literally just point and let them do the rest. Its almost as if they were created purely for war." He pondered that for a moment, before slipping into the ruins around him.

Inquisitor Isabella recalled the servo-skull, activating her psy-tracker. "Palantine, excercise extreme caution with the target. I am getting very strong readings, at least a Class 3 psyker." The senior battle-sister nodded. "Inquisitor, do you wish for a live capture?" she asked. Isabella sighed, before answering. "Yes, unfortunatly. Which only makes our task more difficult. Stay close, I am not loosing Kalis again." She drew her bolt pistol, as the Celestians followed closely.

The figure ahead moved through the debris and ruins rapidly, making the Inquisitor and her Celestians follow at a short run. The heretic's path took them on a long and difficult path, heading back to a large church in the center of the city. "We storm the entrance, and take him prisoner. Kill anything that gets in your way; we cant purge them all." The Celestians nodded, readying their weapons. The guards outside were all cut down by accurate bolter shells, before the Inquisitor lead the way. Another band of cultists arrived to counter, only to be immolated by the squad's heavy flamer. Once inside, the Inquisitor and the Celestians were in a whirlwind of death, rattling bolter fire and the heavy flamer drowning out the scattered lasgun fire. The hooded figure, sensing the danger, continued deeper into the building, crude Chaos symbols flashing past the squad as they gave chase. The Celestians secured the entrance. "Go, Inquisitor! We will hold them off!" said the Palantine, blasting down a cultist with her bolter.

Isabella gritted her teeth, loading a clip of non-lethal shells into her bolt pistol. While powerful, she did not know how resiliant her prey would be. She stalked down the pews, looking...there. A fleeting figure leapt over the pew to her right, hands outstretched. She dropped him with a single round through the right shoulder. The hooded man dropped, rolling into a defensive ball as the sedatives coated on the round sent him into a coma. "Palantine, we are leaving" she ordered, chaining the captive up. To emphasis her point, the jet engines of a Thunderhawk could be heard outside, heavy bolters clearing a landing zone. The squad left the church, taking off rapidly. The dropship accelerated, heading for the Black Ship in orbit.

[Friddel]

Part 28

The Thunderhawk and Aquila landed, side by side, within the massive docking bay of the Black Ship. Magos Belkan lead Enginseer Corom, Engineer Ruskin and the other Skittari out of their shuttle, cautiously forming a small group in front of the shuttle. Beside them, Inquisitor Isabella and her squad of Celestians exited, a robed figure chained up and covered with their bolters in middle. She stopped and raised an eyebrow at the collection of Tech-adepts beside her. "Inquisitor, we must speak with you" said the Magos, before the whine of arming hellguns alerted them to the ten squads of Stormtroopers taking aim. Inquisitor Malak emerged from the shadows, the hulking forms of two heavy-bolter servitors in tow. "Well, isn't this a pleasant coincidence?" he said sarcastically, a sardonic grin twitching the corners of his mouth. Isabella spoke up. "What is this, Malak? This is my vessel, my rules..." "Not anymore" said a stern voice, as another emerged from the shadows. Isabella waived her hand dismissively at the new arrival, continuing her diatribe. "Enough games, Malak. I have the evidence I need to convict you right here" she stated emphatically, a savage smile forming upon her face.

"I am Inquisitor Lord Reynaard of the Ordo Xenos. I am hereby in control of this vessel, its assets, the Sisters of Battle stationed upon it, and any persons I deem neccessary" said the figure again. Isabella balked, her smile fading. "My Lord, I..." she stuttered. "Spare me, Inquisitor. You are on the next bulk freighter out-system. You, and your Chamber-Militant" Lord Reynaard added. Isabella gaped, as Malak took up the story. "When I heard you were neglecting your duties, in cleansing the cultists from this planet, I naturally referred the matter to a higher authority. Hand the prisoner over" he added, his voice cold and serious. Nevertheless, Isabella saw the spark in his eyes, and knew he was enjoying the humiliation. She fought back an angry retort, and gestured to the Celestians. "Release him" she snarled, as the squad pitched the robed figure forwards. He stumbled on his chains, before walking calmly over to the two Ordo Xenos Inquisitors. "Search him. I don't want any surprises" ordered Malak curtly to the Stormtroopers beside him. They hurried the robed figure into a corridor, sealing the bulkhead behind them. "And you all" he said, pointing an accusing finger at the Magos and the other Skittari "need to explain yourselves." Belkan was silent, as Stormtroopers quickly disarmed them all, pushing them down the same corridor as before, sealing it again.

Inquisitor Isabella took a deep breath, purging herself of the rebellious anger and frustration she felt. "My Lord, my orders still stand. You do not have the power..." "But I do" growled Inquisitor Lord Agmar, standing beside the other two Inquisitors. Isabella closed her mouth, and bit back a curse. "Inquisitor Isabella, your disregard for the lives of innocent, gross negligence and reckless actions have cost too many lives. After all this loss, I would expect some results" he added, eyes flashing dangerously. Isabella mustered her courage. "I have captured the leader of the Chaos cultists, my Lord. I also have valuable intelligence concerning the Ork and Chaos alliance." Lord Agmar frowned, turning to Lord Reynaard. "Were you aware of this development?" he asked bluntly. Inquisitor Malak spoke up. "My Lord, having studied the greenskins actions on Pelucidar, I can conclude standard mobbing behaviour. Nothing so far suggests strategy or co-ordination, or targeted strikes on infrastructure or major defensive positions." Lord Agmar nodded. "Isabella, your report will be made as soon as we return to Cadia. Sector command will evalute your report more througly, but based on current evidence" he said, nodding to Malak "I highly doubt your story."

Isabella's eyes flashed. "You would take the word of a heretic, over mine?" she asked. Agmar raised his voice slightly, a warning tone to his words. "You would question my judgment, Inquisitor?" he asked. Isabella glanced at Malak, noticing the amused expression on his face. "My Lord, I respect your decision, I merely.." Agmar waited for her words to die in her throat, before turning to Lord Reynaard. "I expect the prisoner to be turned over to me at the earliest oppertunity, Reynaard. Chaos does not wait for our investigations to conclude before striking again" he observed, as he left for the Thunderhawk. Lord Reynaard nodded, turning to Malak. "Make it quick. I don't have much time before the Ordo Malleus will be hammering on the gate as well." Malak nodded, heading down the corridor, Stormtroopers in tow.

From behind the Ordo Xenos Lord, several squads of Sororitas left for their shuttles, following Lord Agmar's Thunderhawk to an unmarked bulk freighter which had appeared in system less than an hour ago. "I want you to sweep this entire ship, end to end. If the Ordo Hereticus is anything like us, they'll have left sleepers and other agents aboard to monitor us" he said to the remaining four squads of Stormtroopers. One of the Sergeants spoke. "What should we do with them, my Lord?" "Execute them and eject their corpses into our engine wash. The Witch-hunters can't ask for the return of agents that don't officially exist" he said with a smile. The Stormtroopers left quickly, weapons at the ready.

Inquisitor Malak hurried down the corridor, stopping at one of the detention cells. "Cover the exits. Do an electronic sweep for devices" he ordered, waiting for the squads to report. The two Sergeants reported "none detected". Malak smiled, pulling back the hood on the robed figure, undoing the restraints. Hagen blearily opened his eyes, shaking his head. "Inquisitor, what happened? I remember you injected me, and then..." he said groggily, before he suddenly realised. His hands balled into fists, and he swung at Malak. The Inquisitor was quicker, pinning the limb to the wall. "Don't do something stupid, Sergeant" he warned. Hagen relaxed, fear instilled in him again. "I went to great trouble to recover you, Hagen. I could have just as easily let the Ordo Hereticus have their prisoner, fake or not" he said. Hagen blinked. "So I was possessed..." he said slowly, realising. Malak nodded. "It was necessary, and it required you unconcious or your soul would have realised and fought it. And that would've been fatal" he added. Hagen let out a short cough, then asked the question. "So if its not me, then who...?" Malak's smile widened, as he explained. Hagen laughed, shrugging. "Better it then me" he said with resignation.

"You have recieved the prisoner, my Lord?" asked Malak to the holo-projection of Lord Agmar. "Yes, Inquisitor. I thank you for your speed; I was about to leave the system" he said, a quizzical tone in his voice. "I hope your interrogation was thorough" he added. Malak nodded confidently. "I have the requisite information. He was most forthcoming, after some...complusion" he said. Lord Agmar nodded. "Pass my compliments onto Lord Reynaard, for keeping a promise." Malak nodded again. "I will, my Lord. Goodbye." "Farewell, Inquisitor. I hope you succeed where another failed" he added warningly, before the link cut. Reynaard entered the command chamber. "He wanted me to pass his thanks along, my Lord." Lord Reynaard smirked. "I wish this deception wasn't neccessary, Malak. We should trust our bretheren in the other Orders" he sighed, the smile fading from his grim features. Malak shrugged. "We both know thats not possible, my Lord. They are too blind..." he began, before Reynaard cut him off with a gesture. "Enough, Malak. Your personal vendetta with that woman is most tiresome" he growled, silencing any further outbursts. Malak nodded. "I have business to attend to, my Lord. Internal discipline is required" he added. Reynaard nodded, dismissing his junior Inquisitor to his duties.

Inquisitor Lord Agmar stood before the prisoner, Inquisitor Isabella at his side. "My Lord?" she asked, eager to display her prize. "Go ahead. Hopefully this will help us turn the tide of filth" he mused, as the Celestian guards pulled back the hood. His jaw dropped when he saw what cowered before him. Inquisitor Isabella saw it too, and likewise gaped. "Is this your idea of a joke, Inquisitor? Because my patience for your incompetence is gone" he roared, gesturing to the Tau kneeling on the floor, looking around fearfully. "My Lord, this is Malak's doing. That is not the man I captured on the surface" she stated emphatically. Lord Agmar glared at her, before relenting. "I believe you, Isabella. But that does not change the fact I now have nothing to show the Conclave I have called. Nothing but a blasted xenos, from a race that has no known psykers" he snarled. "Send it back" he snapped, as Isabella opened her mouth to ask "and get that little conniving bastard on the holo-pict." The Tau was packed back into the Thunderhawk with the Celestians and Inquisitor Isabella, taking off as Lord Agmar headed for the bridge.

"Well, is it possible the prisoner has changed his shape, to confuse you?" mused Lord Reynaard. Lord Agmar glared back at him over the vox, his silence speaking volumes. "Inquisitor, your protege captured the suspect, not mine. What motive would Malak have to make the switch?" he asked openly. "The emnity between the two is obvious, Inquisitor." Lord Reynaard sighed. "I don't have any other prisoners on this ship, Agmar" he said, seeing the look of incredulity on the Lord Inquisitor's face. "Either that prisoner has decieved you, or it is indeed a Tau, and Isabella made a mistake." Lord Agmar considered the words, before he replied. "Well, xenos are your speciality, Reynaard. Isabella will have to make do with her report; we will be in touch." The holo-pict snapped off. Lord Reynaard sighed, running a hand over his face. "Malak, your cargo is here" he said over the vox. A click indicated the Inquisitor had heard him.

The Tau prisoner was flung unceremoniously from the Thunderhawk's boarding ramp, Isabella watching furiously as Malak's Stormtroopers took it back. The same Inquisitor watched them leave, then turned to Isabella. "Well, Inquisitor, I believe you have a Conclave to attend. Don't keep them waiting" he sneered openly, following the Stormtroopers into the bowels of the ship. "This isn't over, Malak" she snarled softly, the Celestians hearing her. "We'll be back" she assured them, as the dropship lifted off.

[Friddel]

Part 29

Castellan Kolkert surveyed the battlefield ahead. A tide of Orks and Tyranids smashed against each other, Carnifex and Dreadnoughts looking like misshapen rocks amid their smaller brethren. Warriors attempted breakthroughs, only to be met by psychotic Warbuggies and Killa Kanz, who through sheer weight of fire and ferocity tore down whole broods. Green blood intermixed with purple ichor, as the massive combat continued unabated. "Captain, I want the Vindicators to break through on the left flank, push the combat sideways. Have the Sword Brethren secure the area of xenos, then bring in the Crusader squads to reinforce them" he ordered of the Second Captain. The First was already leading a first strike into the sprawling city, leading yet more of the Sword Brethren clad in rare Terminator armour. Folkert snorted in disgust as the carnage below grew and grew, Orks pouring out of the city to meet the Tyranid assault. "Third Captain, have you secured the Tyranid landing zones?" he barked over the vox. "My Lord, we have cleansed the foul seeding pods with holy promethium. Crusader squads are sweeping the area, teaching their Neophytes how to discern the taint of the xenos. So far, all we have uncovered are isolated Ripper infestations." The Castellan pondered this news for a moment, before responding. "I understand you would rather fight from the front, brother. But your duty is just as critical if we are to drive the enemy from this world. Continue to purge the xenos; inform me of any developments" he ordered. "Yes, Lord Castellan" replied the Third Captain seriously, the trace of boredom present in his voice vanishing.

Folkert sighed, turning to the Chaplain beside him. "I admire my brother's urge to get to grips with the enemy, but I fear we place honour above duty sometimes, as a Chapter." The Chaplain nodded, much to the Castellan's surprise. "But he did his duty, and his faith remains strong. You cannot deny a Black Templar his pride, Folkert, as he should be. To be a Black Templar is to be a paragon of honour and martial pride." Folkert laughed roughly, turning back to the carnage unfolding below. "The latter of course, we share with our greenskin adversaries." The Chaplain sighed, moving away. "And where are you going, Grenfell?" asked the Castellan. "Our Third Captain is not alone in wanting to get up close with the enemy, my friend" he answered, before the whine of his jump pack rattled the Castellan's eardrums. Around him, Assault Marines followed suit, diving towards the melee, all on a collision course with the Hive Tyrant. "And I would expect you of all people, to understand how dangerous pride can be" said Folkert softly, watching as the Chaplain hit the edge of the battle.

Reclusiarch Grenfell was faintly aware of his brother Assault Marines around him, but his mind was focused on combat. In the strange slow-motion world of his accelerated reactions and senses, the Chaplain perceived blows and intent before they truly landed. He whipped under the guard of a massive Ork, his bolt pistol breaking the beast's jawbone. His crozius whipped past in his other hand, decapitating the Ork and burying itself into the skull of a Hormagaunt. Grenfell blew another's head apart with a point-blank shot from his pistol, his crozius deflecting a choppa strike to his jump pack. Smashing his armoured elbow into the Ork's face, crushing its flat nose into its brain, he hacked with his badge of office, carving a deep groove in the chest of a Tyranid Warrior. It shrieked and lashed out with two huge talons, flecks of bone sloughing off as the rosarius activated. A point-blank round from the bolt pistol, and the three metre tall monster collapsed, as the Chaplain swung into yet another Ork attacker.

As the greenskin collapsed in two bloody chunks, the Chaplain heard a booming explosion tear through the wall of bodies to his right. Pivoting, he saw a small column of Vindicators, as three more Demolisher shells were hurled through the air, blasting bodies apart. "Brothers, support the armoured advance! Move out!" he ordered the Assault Marines around him. He noted with pride not one had fallen, despite numerous grooves and scratches to their power armour. They all activated their jump jets and flew up and over the continuing combat, running alongside the Vindicators to conserve fuel for later assaults. "Chaplain, the Terminators report Tankbustas and Gretchin snipers ahead" reported one of the drivers, his voice tense. "I doubt they will let us through unmolested." The Chaplain barked back a response, opening the vox-channel to the other Assault Marines. "Brothers, we will drive the greenskins from the buildings, so our armoured support can move up. Back there" he gestured with one black gauntlet to the continuing battle "was just a warm-up. Now for a real challenge!" he said, the cheers of his battle-brothers loud and clear. "Forward!" he ordered, the jump packs hurling the Chaplain and Assault Marines into the ruined buildings, just as the first crude Ork rokkits whipped from firing positions.

Above the battlefield, another conflict ensued. As the Tyranid hive ship continued to rain spores into other zones, a badly damaged, scarred bio-ship attacked it. Interceptors were overcome by focused jets of pyro-acid and hordes of enemy interceptor creatures, as the ship exuded large docking tentacles. Forcing breaches in the other hive ship's carapace, it unloaded large broods of Warriors and Genestealers into the breeding chambers. The orifices leading into said chambers were secured, as new genetic codes and viruses overcame the central synapse cortex, overwhelming and subverting the Norn Queen as she attempted to resist. The enemy hive ship ceased to fire mycetic spores, as the other reeled it in, locking the two hulls together. Powerful corrosive acids began to the merge the two bio-ships together, as new bio-weapons and brood sacs sprouted from the chitin of both. Black Templar fighters and Thunderhawks were forced to withdraw, as the new hybrid ship accurately destroyed any who got within range. The interceptor creatures withdrew back to the new hive ship, quickly reabsorbed to feed the newly-grown weapons.

From his chambers aboard the Mako, Inquisitor Malak concentrated. Numerous Lictor and Warrior genus still stalked the hives and cities, extracting information from the roving Ork mobs. The Inquisitor smiled faintly, then re-organised the ground attack. Far below, the Tyranid assault wave ceased, instead retreating into the city. The Orks, still eager for a fight, gave chase, but the sheer speed of the Tyranids meant they could only tail the few Carnifex left, firing pot shots as the larger beasts struggled to keep up with the rest of the broods. Watching this development, the Castellan gave new orders to the Terminators already in the city. A lone Lictor shadowed him as he left to inspect the Tyranid drop zones, careful to remain out of auspex range. Malak tasked the creature to follow and observe the Castellan, and then focused on the broods within the city. Badly depleted in number, they linked up with Genestealer broods and their cults already infiltrated into the city. The Rippers quickly absorbed those still partially human, while the purestrains lead the Warriors deeper underground.

Finding a large number of assimilation pools already in existence, Malak quickly began to re-organise the broods. The hordes of Gaunts, while highly effective at combating Orks, would be easily put down by the Crusader squads sweeping the city. They were ordered into the pools, along with the Warriors. Re-organising the raw organic matter and gene-pool, like a puzzle he could only vaguely sense, Malak bred broods of Genestealers and hunter-killer Lictors. Tasking the Rippers with burrowing into the surrounds to act as an early defence, Malak then stationed the Carnifex at the entrances to the underground breeding pools, leaving the original purestrains to set up mines and ambushes. The new broods of Genestealers and hunter-killer Lictors set off, their cloaking scales and enhanced senses guiding them to the Black Templars. They shadowed the Crusaders deeper into the city, linking up with more and more purestrain lairs and breeding pools as they went. Soon, a full synaptic web was co-ordinated, as new Carnifex were bred to guard the pools and new Lictors and Genestealers created to add to the patrols. Malak tasked them all with corralling and luring the Black Templars into ambushes, isolating and sealing off the squads.

Below, in the Mako's interrogation chambers, a battle of wills was being played out. A Haemonculus, stolen from the Ordo Hereticus Black Ship by Xerxes and his squad, increased the neuro-toxins. The victim, Magos Belkan, struggled but no sound escaped. "Relax, mon-keigh. The more you relax, the easier it is for your cogitator and memories to be copied and re-wired. Resist, and I get to increase the pain threshold" he added, a vicious smile creasing his scarred, pale face. "And so far, the Inquisitor has been most...reluctant to rein in my efforts" he said, using a razor-thin wire to open a thin wound in the Tech-priests flesh. The Magos stared straight ahead, not a sound coming from him. "He takes betrayal like this quite badly indeed" said the Dark Eldar maniacally in Belkan's ear, twisting a gleaming, serrated blade into the wound. A blue liquid encased in the transparent, hollow handle emptied slowly through a duct in the blade. The Magos began to struggle harder, the pain now excruciating.

Then the Haemonculus slipped the blade out, laughing. "He seems to think what you mon-keigh call torture" he stopped and snorted derisively "will not work on a highly trained member of the Machine Cult. So, by leaving you here with someone who isn't interested in information or compliance" he added, attaching an electrode to the Magos's neck "eventually, you'll break. Because only when you finally do so, will this stop" finished the Haemonculus, increasing the voltage. A wave of nauseating static feedback ripped through the circuits and network of the Magos. He let out a gasp of pain, but kept staring straight ahead, focusing on the Ommnisah, praying for strength. "I enjoy dealing with true believers" said the Dark Eldar, attaching a barbed tri-blade to one gauntlet, picking up a syringe. "They resist for so much longer, it makes it all worthwhile" observed the Haemonculus, as he jabbed the device into the Magos's abdomen.

"How many of your organs do you want to see, before your bionics cannot function?" asked the torturer pleasantly, an insane smile forming on his sharp features. The interrogation had been going for hours now, the floor slick with blood, sweat and machine oils. "You Tech-priests go to such great lengths to stave off death, I always had a wish to test out my theories about your augmentations." He let the Magos's liver fall into a specimen jar, before attaching the blades to Belkan's organic eye. "I suppose they can just fabricate a replacement, can't they?" added the Haemonculus, as he removed it with a wet sucking sound, blood flowing down the Magos's face. The Haemonculus studied the eye, before turning back to the Magos. "It even has the look of pain etched into it. Priceless" he murmured, placing it into another jar. "Looks like we will be here for a while to come, Magos" he added nastily, continuing his grisly combination of dissection and torture.

[Friddel]

Part 30

The Sword Brethren swept through the ruined city streets, storm bolters at the ready. The scattered Gretchin snipers and Tankbustas that had attempted to ambush them either died in a hail of bolt shells, or fled deeper into the city. Giving chase, the Sword Brethren flet they had entered a tomb, such was the silence. Their quarry seemed to have disappeared totally. From the shadows, whole broods of Genestealers silently flanked them, Lictors creeping spider-like overhead. One of the Black Templars turned, his fearsome Terminator helm casting a ruby light over the surrounds as the targeters searched. His Sergeant ordered a halt, the others stopping too. "Castellan, we are not detecting anything alive in this sector. This should be infested with Gretchin and other Orkoids, or at the very least survivors" reported the Sergeant, his auspex still beeping steadily. The reply was serious and emphatic. "Just because you can't see the enemy, doesn't mean they are not there. Do not break formation, and continue your patrol" ordered Folkert, disquiet obvious in his tone.

Around the Tyranid landing zones, Crusader squads patrolled, frying any Tyranid organism they found. One of the Initates knelt beside the charred remains of several Rippers. He gestured his Neophyte closer. "You see, brother? While in some conflicts we face xeno the size of Titans, their taint can be spread by the most insignificant of beasts." Moving off, the Initate barely noticed the hesitation of his pupil. "Wiell, stay with the squad" ordered the senior Initate, replacing his flamer's prometheium tank. Nodding, the Neophyte rose from his study of the Rippers, rejoining his squad. The tiny worm that entered through his ear burrowed deeper, settling near his brain stem. The lone Lictor cautiously backed off, scuttling towards the city as quickly as it could.

Inquisitor Malak distantly felt the Magos break, his hypno-oaths finally broken. Withdrawing from the Tyranid synapse network, he felt his body slowly warm. Flooding back into his physical body, the Inquisitor felt the crystals recede. Standing, feeling his joints and muscles crack and strain, he took the time to start circulation. Walking stiffly to the lift, he descended to the lowest level. Sealing the lift, he flipped the lever mounted inside the door with a small flick of his wrist. The tiny burst of telekinesis alerted the Haemonculus. "So, I take it the little cogs have finally started to spin" Malak sneered, stopping short of the bound Magos, and the puddle of blood and oil on the floor. The master of torture turned, a disappointed look on his face. "But there is still so much more..." he began to say, before Malak silenced him with a look. "Back to your cell, you perverse little degenerate. If I find my real quarry, I assure you, the Magos will seem like a taster." The Haemonculus nodded sullenly, warily leaving the room for his cell. Malak gestured, sealing the door to the cell, and the torturer was once again a prisoner.

Malak considered the Magos for a moment, before speaking. "I trust he left you with the ability to speak." The Magos was silent. Malak sighed softly. "What is the Cult of the Dragon, Magos?" he ordered sharply. The Tech-priest let out a bark of laughter. "Your ignorance astounds me, Inquisitor. I expected more." Malak ripped the Magos from the bench with a gesture, levitating him face to face. The Inquisitor leaned closer. "This schism within the Adeptus Mechanicus, how deep does it run? How high does it go?" Belkan laughed again, his voice lowered and dangerous. "It doesn't matter if you kill me, Inquisitor. In fact, if you do, I take my secrets with me." Malak probed the Magos's mind. He saw darkness, a hole in rock. From the ceiling, twin autocannons bracketed the entrance, while clusters of heavy bolters guarded the walkway. The Inquisitor saw a red planet. Looking past it, he saw his worst fear confirmed. "Holy Terra" he whispered in both oath and realisation, a tear of shock and despair rolling down his impassive features.

The Magos laughed nastily. "Now do you see, you pathetic little pawn? You crusade here, you purge there, and you think you can make a difference? You think that a bunch of locusts can compete with gods?" Malak slammed Belkan back into the interrogation rack. "The gods of the Eldar are myth, legend, lies" snarled Malak. The Magos smirked, and spat out a glob of blood. "Well, maybe they are all gone. But I assure you, the ones they fought so foolishly, they are very real" he added viciously. Malak probed deeper, asking aloud as well. "How long?" he asked furiously. "Temper, my lord" said Belkan sarcastically, his smirk widening. "Fate rewards the patient."

From around the world of Belkan, space warped and contracted, disgorging a dozen ships from the Empryean. All were jet-black, and daubed with the ominous symbol of the Inquisiton. Malak felt them re-materialise, just as he had felt them enter at Bakka. "Hold that though, traitor. I'll be sure to reward you with death when your time comes" he said coldly. Sealing the Magos in, he headed for the bridge. "My Lord, they arrived just moments ago, but already they are hailing us" said Consul Fesal, sweating nervously. Malak seated himself in the command throne, before waving to the servitors operating the holo-projector. The grim features of Inquisitor Lord Mathias Charon filled the display. "Put your superior on-screen, boy. I do not intend to waste time." Malak leaned forwards. "Lord Reynaard is no longer here, my Lord. I am more than happy to..." he added, before his superior cut him off. "Then you better contact him, Malak. This Conclave I am convening allows only the most senior to judge. I can think of few others better qualified." Inquisitor Malak nodded, before asking the inevitable. "Who is to be judged, my Lord?" Lord Mathias locked eyes with Malak. "You."

[Friddel]

Part 31

The Thunderhawk sped through the blackness of space, heading for the massive Ordo Hereticus cruiser Righteous Purgation. Inquisitor Malak stood behind the servitor-pilots, watching as the huge black ship filled the view port. Behind him, Captain Xerxes and the other Deathwatch Marines sat, checking their weapons and purifying their armour. "Captain, your squad shall remain on board the Thunderhawk. I only need you to come with me, unarmed" ordered Malak. "As you command, Inquisitor" came Xerxes's curt reply. "Ordo Xenos Thunderhawk, deactivate all weapon systems and targeters. You are cleared to dock" came the emotionless voice of a servitor. The servitor-pilots chirped in binary code to one another, initiating landing procedures. The craft shook as gravity was restored. The Thunderhawk screamed into the hangar above, setting down quickly.

Inquisitor Malak waited as the ramp descended, Xerxes by his side. They walked down the ramp, to be met by two squads of Adeptus Sororitas. Inquisitor Isabella waited as well, bolt pistol held by her side for now. "Please disarm, Astarte" she ordered Xerxes, noticing his power weapon and bolter. "I am allowed an armed escort, Isabella. Please don't waste my time with this pettiness" sighed Malak. "Come, they are waiting" she said, turning. Malak and Xerxes allowed themselves to be surrounded by the battle-sisters as they set off into the bowels of the vessel. Entering a turbo-lift, they descended deeper. Six levels later, Isabella led them and their guards into a small lobby. "Wait here. You enter when they call for you" Isabella ordered. Despite her calm, indifferent manner, Malak could sense the anticipation in her. He also could sense the mixed emotions swirling in the amphitheatre ahead.

"Captain, you are to remain here. You know what to do" he whispered. Xerxes nodded, flexing his armoured fingers. "Enter, Inquisitor Malak" came a booming voice from the vox-caster mounted above the door. "Amateurs" he muttered, as the doors opened and he entered. Malak looked around as he neared the dias in the middle. Three chambers surrounded him, each representing a different Order. In the Ordo Xenos balcony, Malak spotted Lord Reynaard, conversing rapidly with a figure clad in black power armour. Representing the Ordo Malleus, Valorus Gunther eyed up Malak as he neared the dias. Malak did not look, but he could feel the eyes of Isabella boring into him as he walked closer. On a raised platform facing the dias and the three wings, sat the senior Lord Inquisitor Mathias Charon. Numerous aides and scriveners surrounded the venerable Inquisitor, ready to record the minutes of the Conclave. Servo-skulls and cherubim flitted in and around the different representatives.

"Assembled members of the Inquisition, brothers" began Lord Charon, his deep voice carrying around the large chamber. "You have been called here today to judge the loyalty of one Inquisitor Ordinary Malak. The Ordo Hereticus has made serious allegations of heresy and collaboration with xenos against him, accusations not made lightly. Inquisitor Isabella, proceed." She stood, inserting a data slate into the panel in front of her. The ancient holo-projector flickered to life on the dias in front of Malak. "In the course of my duties, I was assigned by my superiors to investigate reports of Chaos cultist activity on Pelucidar. Specifically, I was told of several reports by the Adeptus Arbites of insurrection and terrorism in Hive Belkan." Flickering images of burning buildings and running gun-battles between Arbites and renegades appeared on the display.

"When I investigated further, I found the cultist activity on Pelucidar to be concentrated on a single location. Proceeding to said location, I encountered a Sorcerer Kalis of the Thousand Sons Traitor Legion, along with several squads of foul Rubric Marines." The display changed, depicting the Inquisitor engaging the Sorcerer. Isabella watched as the blasphemous magic's of Kalis deflected her bolt pistol, before he summoned the Lord of Change from the warp portal. "As you can see, Kalis then proceeded to summon swarm of Horrors and a Greater Daemon of Tzeentch. Many Sororitas died in the ensuing battle." Isabella paused, stifling back her anguish as she watched Kyrie fight to the bitter end. Isabella closed her eyes as Kalis hefted his kai gun, a tear running down her cheek as the recording replayed her cousin's death. "I barely escaped with my life, to report this disaster to the Ordo Hereticus" she said, a slight tremor to her voice.

Malak snorted loudly, rolling his eyes. "A wonderful performance, Inquisitor. But I fail to see what this has to do with me" snapped the Ordo Xenos Inquisitor. Isabella smiled nastily, inserting a new data slate into the panel. "Less than an hour after, Tyranid mycetic spores and Ork Roks began to rain down on Hive Belkan and the surrounds. Coincidence? I think not" Isabella added. Malak raised an eyebrow fractionally. "I still don't see what..." he began to retort, before Isabella cut him off with a sharp gesture. "I then witnessed a most peculiar event. In the midst of the rout of the PDF forces, the chaos as Tyranid and Ork fought for supremacy, a single drop pod landed on Pelucidar. It happened to land right next to the Warboss of the Orks. The following is their strange conversation" she added, as the pict-capture began.

Displayed through the targeters of a Sororitas helmet, the recording captured the entire conversation between the robed figure and the massive greenskin. "As you can see, they were obviously in league with one another long before the Orks arrived. This individual appears to know in advance of the arrival of Castellan Folkert and his Black Templars. From the available evidence, I would assume it is a pawn of Kalis communicating the Sorcerer's wishes to his ally." The pict-capture changed, as the battle-sister tracked the mysterious renegade to an abandoned church. The gun-battle with the Chaos cultists was skipped over by Isabella, allowing the Conclave to watch the actual capture. Isabella froze the transmission. "As you can see, at the time of capture, the target was human and of average build."

The transmission died, as Isabella quickly inserted a new data slate. "However, when I returned to my ship, I found that it had been requisitioned by the order of Lord Reynaard. My prisoner was removed from my control and supervision, and I was forced to sit and wait while my superior Lord Agmar arrived." Isabella activated the holo-projector once more. "After Lord Agmar had negotiated for the return of my prisoner, I was eager to interrogate the heretic. What I found instead was the most unlikely prisoner imaginable" she growled. The holo-display showed the scared eyes of the Tau prisoner flicking from face to face, as Isabella and Lord Agmar stared down at it in disbelief.

Lord Charon broke the shocked silence of the chamber. "So, you accuse Inquisitor Malak of being in collaboration with all three, Ork, Tyranid and this Sorcerer Kalis?" he asked. Isabella nodded, still furious over the double-cross. "While I agree that the synchronised manner of the Chaos cultist activity, and the subsequent xenos invasions are more than coincidence, I see no direct links to Inquisitor Malak." "My Lord, he switched prisoners to cover his tracks, he obstructed my investigations at every juncture, and he instigated the Tyranid and Ork invasion of Pelucidar" Isabella objected. She inserted a fresh data slate, bringing up a three-dimensional map of the Pelucidar system. "At the time of the Tyranid and Ork arrival, Inquisitor Malak was waiting for them on the edges of the system" said Isabella, indicating the blinking icon of the Mako.

Lord Charon pondered the evidence for a moment, before speaking. "Representatives, your thoughts?" he asked gravely. Lord Reynaard stood. "Brother, your fellow Inquisitor is making some very serious allegations, based on highly suspect and circumstantial evidence. I see no proven link between the activities of the traitor Kalis and Inquisitor Malak. I think that the traitorous Sorcerer is behind all of this trickery, and Inquisitor Isabella is merely trying to cover up for her ineptitude in apprehending him." Lord Charon nodded. "I expected your reaction, Reynaard. But I too share concerns about the veracity of the claims being made. Gunther, what are your thoughts on the matter?" asked the Ordo Hereticus Lord. The Ordo Malleus Inquisitor stood. "I have dedicated my life to hunting down scum like Kalis and preventing the summoning of daemons. To see a fellow member of the Inquisition fail in her duty so comprehensively makes me wonder if it is Isabella that should be on trial for heresy."

Lord Agmar emerged from the shadows of the Ordo Hereticus balcony. "Isabella raises two valid points though, brothers. Why was a Tau returned to Isabella and myself, when it was clearly a human when captured? Also, why was Inquisitor Malak's corvette stationed right where both the Tyranids and Orks emerged from the Warp?". Inquisitor Malak cleared his throat. "Lord Charon, with your permission, I can explain both." The Ordo Hereticus Lord gazed down sternly at Malak, before nodding. "From the scratchy quality of the pict-capture, and the hurried nature of the capture, it is entirely possible the renegade made the switch while the Inquisitor and her forces were engaged in combat." Isabella flared up, fury thick in her voice. "You think I would mistake a Chaos renegade for a xenos, much less a Tau?" she said tightly. Malak smiled sardonically. "With respect Inquisitor, even you must admit you were rushed. A Tau could conceivably be mistaken for a human, particularly if it were cloaked in a robe." Lord Agmar cut across the exchange. "Then explain to us why you were waiting on the edge of the system when the xenos invasion forces arrived."

Inquisitor Malak sighed, derision in his tone. "For one experienced in fighting the Tyranid threat, my Lord, I would have expected you to realise the value of early detection and observation of the enemy." Lord Agmar paused, then his eyes lit up. "You felt the Shadow of the Warp, and waited to ambush them" he said slowly, not quite believing it. "Yes. In my arrogance, I though the weakened shadow it created meant a fleet of manageable size. When it emerged, with Ork ships in pursuit, I had no choice but to remain stealthed and follow them back to Pelucidar." Lord Reynaard added his thoughts. "Inquisitor Malak acted with prudence and intelligence. I doubt I could say the same of your protégé Agmar" he added. Inquisitor Gunther spoke up. "My Lords, we must not bicker and play petty politics. The fate of this world hangs in the balance; the sooner we resolve Inquisitor Malak's innocence or guilt, the better."

Lord Charon sighed. "Very well put, Gunther. Would all representatives please make your decision." Isabella hammered the 'negative' rune in front of her, her eyes fixed on Malak. Gunther made his decision more discreet, his expression indiscernible. Lord Reynaard voted, as did Lord Charon. Malak waited while the Ordo Hereticus Lord tallied the results. "Inquisitor Malak, the findings of this Conclave are that you are innocent of the all charges. You may return to your duties, and continue to bring the light of the Emperor to the alien and heretic."

Lord Charon rose, dismissing the Conclave as he left. Lord Agmar and Isabella left quickly. Inquisitor Gunther walked over to Malak. "Inquisitor, a word if you don't mind" he asked. Malak nodded, falling into step as they left the chamber. "This Sorcerer Kalis seems to wish to return to this world. Should he or any other Chaos heretics return, I would appreciate it if you aided me in his extermination." Malak smiled, nodding. "I would be happy to help, brother. If I receive any news, however vague, I will pass it on to your staff psyker." I would appreciate that" said Inquisitor Gunther.

"Brother, several of my operatives are currently being held by your Chamber Militant. If they were returned to me, my investigations would be much more effective." Gunther shrugged, frowning. "Inquisitor Karamazov outranks me, and is Hereticus to boot. I can petition the Grey Knights, but Karamazov is a different story. I will try however. I know the value of loyal servants myself" he added. Malak stopped as they reached Xerxes. "Valorus, I would greatly appreciate your assistance. Perhaps with your help, I can learn more about the reported manifestations of daemons from corrupted Orks." Inquisitor Gunther nodded. "Farewell, brother. May the Emperor guide you." He disappeared around the corner.

[Friddel]

Part 31

The Ordo Xenos Thunderhawk sped away from the Righteous Purgation, heading for the surface of Pelucidar. On board, Malak and his Deathwatch Marines readied themselves. "Captain, when we reach Shrike, your first priority is to extract him. I will have to take the risk of capture if we are to reclaim him." Xerxes frowned, loading a magazine of Kraken rounds into his bolter. "Inquisitor, why are we extracting this Assassin? Why is he so valuable?" asked the Deathwatch Captain, curious. "Know this, Captain. I have already sent two battle-hardened squads of Stormtroopers to their deaths. I would sacrifice you and many more, for Shrike's safety" replied the Inquisitor. He left for the cockpit, leaving the Captain with his doubts.

"Now, you all have received standard Codex training in stealth and infiltration. On this mission, the element of surprise will give us the edge. To this end, the Inquisitor has modified our armour to accept grav-shute hooks. We are to conduct a low-orbit combat drop, retrieve the Vindicare operative and then be extracted via teleport" said the Captain. Torvald spoke up. "And what exactly prevents us from landing in the Thunderhawk? If the Inquisitor's actions are justified, we will have nothing to lose facing our enemy head on". Crucio turned to his fellow Marine. "Brother, your insolence is astounding. Xerxes is our Captain, we would all follow him unto death" he snapped, offended by the Space Wolf's intransigence. "Brother? I am no brother of yours, Blood Angel. You would do well to keep your temper in check" he growled back, "I will not hide from the enemy, nor use the Warp to run from my foes." Crucio raised his combat knife in challenge, before Xerxes levelled his bolter at Torvald, his power sword at Crucio's neck. "Silence, both of you. Torvald, you will cease your pointless protests and accept my command. Crucio, keep your temper. I will not have this Kill-team broken by petty Chapter differences" he said softly, his voice steely. Both Marines froze, as did all in the cramped hold.

Xerxes sheathed his sword, attaching his bolter to his thigh holster. "Are you Astartes or children? We are to embark on a difficult and dangerous mission, and you want to bicker about tactics or Chapter differences?" he barked furiously, hands held out to his squad. Crucio and Torvald hung their heads in shame, as the Captain continued. "Instead of trying to fight each other, remember who we are and why we are here. We are the Inquisition's chosen alien-hunters, the elite of the Adeptus Astartes. If I have to suffer any more insubordination" he said angrily, looking at Torvald "or in-fighting" he added, looking at Crucio, "then we are no longer worthy of the Primarchs." We are brothers in arms, all serving the God-Emperor. Turn your fury on the enemy, not each other" he said.

Crucio and Torvald both stepped towards each other at the same time. Torvald hesitated, before sticking out his hand. Crucio reached out, and they shook each other's hands. Xerxes gripped both their wrists, as the other Deathwatch Marines joined them. They all held hands in the centre. Xerxes spoke softly again. " To be unclean" recanted Xerxes. "That is the mark of the xenos" answered the squad. "To be impure" he said again, louder. "That is the mark of the xenos" recited the squad. "To be abhorred" spoke Xerxes, his voice echoing of the walls of the Thunderhawk. "That is the mark of the xenos" responded the Deathwatch Marines. "To be reviled" said the Deathwatch Captain, his mind seething as he remembered Malak's beasts. "That is the mark of the xenos" came the reply. "To be hunted" said the Captain. "That is the mark of the xenos" said five deep voices, barking harshly from their vox-casters. "To be purged" said Xerxes, feeling the power of the words. "That is the fate of the xenos" said the Kill-team, the oath burned into their memory. "To be cleansed" finished Captain Xerxes, his voice barely a whisper. "For that is the fate of all xenos" responded the battle-brothers.

The Thunderhawk sped high over the ruins below, the Inquisitor scanning the ground. The locater of the Vindicare blipped softly on the data-slate in his hands, growing steadily. "Captain, prepare to drop. We would risk discovery if we lowered ourselves any closer" said Malak over the vox-link. "Understood, Inquisitor. We are ready" came Xerxes's calm, steady voice. "I trust none of your Marines have any qualms about using grav-chutes?" asked Malak, sarcasm creeping into his voice. "Torvald required some reminding of his oaths, but he has accepted it is no less abhorrent than teleportation. We await your command" responded the Deathwatch Captain. Malak closed his eyes, feeling for Shrike. He found the flickering soul of the Assassin in the warp. "Go, I will track him" ordered the Inquisitor. Captain Xerxes clicked his vox-link once in response, turning to his squad. "Brothers, I admit to you that grav-chutes are not my preferred method of transport either" he said, noticing the apprehensiveness in their body language. Torvald shifted his weight from foot to foot, anxious. "Like when using our blessed power armour and bolters, we must place our faith in the Emperor. Follow me" he ordered, before jumping from the ramp of the hovering Thunderhawk. One by one, the Deathwatch Marines followed, until only Torvald remained. "Damn you, Xerxes" he cursed, before reluctantly flinging himself from the Thunderhawk.

The Inquisitor watched as Xerxes and his squad sped towards the ruins far below. "Take me back to the Mako" ordered Malak, the servitor-pilot complying. Unseen by the Inquisitor, a shadow tailed the gunship as it returned to the Inquisitor's corvette. As the Thunderhawk reached the landing bay, the shadow exuded a small, jet-black object at high speed. It attached to the underside of the Thunderhawk with ease, as the shields passed over the ship. "Consul Fesal, I want Astropath Glavius to ready the teleporter array. The Kill-team will need immediate extraction when they locate Shrike" he ordered over the vox-link. "My Lord, the Astropath has detected an anomaly aboard the ship, he says it is a null..." responded the consul, before Malak silenced him. "That would be Hagen, my ever-loyal servant. Tell the Astropath to concentrate on keeping Xerxes and his squad alive" he snapped back over the vox-link. Exiting the Thunderhawk, Malak spun with superhuman swiftness.

A lithe, jet-black figure landed softly behind him, an odd bronze skull-helm attached to its head. "Culexus" breathed Malak, recognising the psyker hunter. He had heard of these beasts, forged by the Culexus Temple. The Pariah gene caused Malak's soul-fire to dim, this close to a blank. The Culexus advanced, its Animus Speculum opening like a deadly flower. Malak saw the heavy bolters of the Thunderhawk open fire. The Assassin weaved and ducked around the mass-reactive shells, never taking its aim off Malak. He ran for the bulkhead, as the Assassin reached up and ripped the turrets from their bracings. Malak kept running, even as he felt a searing blast of negative warp energy hit him. His limbs grew cold, his head ached with pain as the Culexus drained the life from him. Malak closed his eyes, shifting himself into the warp, into the hive fleet. The Culexus was now mere meters away, its helm leeching his soul from his body. Malak left his body completely in that moment, before the Assassin could claim him. He hid himself in the psychic web of the hive fleet. Back on the Mako, the Culexus searched the Inquisitor's body. Finding no traces of the soul that inhabited it, the Culexus grinned wickedly. It quickly exited the hanger bay, heading for the cells in the depths of the vessel. Killing any Stormtrooper unfortunate enough to block its path, it headed for the cells of the Skittari and their Enginseer Corom.

Hagen and a dozen other Inquisitional Stormtroopers hurried into the hangar, weapons at the ready. Hagen noticed the Inquisitor lying face down. "Over here!" he shouted, autoshotgun sweeping the area. He reached the Inquisitor, pulling the man over onto his back with some effort. The Inquisitor's eyes were dull and lifeless, his body dead cold. The Stormtrooper's Sergeant knelt over the corpse, unable to believe his eyes. "We must warn the Deathwatch Captain and his Marines" said Hagen, getting to his feet. The Stormtrooper's Sergeant rose to his feet. "They are groundside, extracting the Assassin the Inquisitor had requested. If we contact them, we might give away their position" responded the Sergeant, his tone challenging. "Whoever killed the Inquisitor had the resources to get an Assassin onto this ship. If they got to the Inquisitor, they will get to the Captain and his squad just as easily" said Hagen defiantly. The Sergeant nodded, unhappy anyway. "Hurry, that Assassin meant enough to Malak to sacrifice the Kill-team and two squads of Stormtroopers. Whoever the Vindicare is, he has to be protected" added Hagen, as they hurried to the bridge. Astropath Glavius sat in the command throne, several gun-servitors covering the exits. The thin red beams of targeters lit up the chests of the Stormtroopers. "I'm afraid you are too late. I am in command now, not that arrogant fool. Now, swear your allegiance to the Lord of Change" ordered the Astropath, an odd light emanating from his form. The Stormtroopers around Hagen tried to fight the effects, some even bringing their hellguns to bear. Each in turn eventually knelt, bowing to the power of the psyker. Hagen knelt too, feigning allegiance. "You will set up positions around the exits, to guard them from the enemy" ordered Glavius, revelling in his newfound power. "And you will remain here, my master has plans for you" said the Astropath, pointing at Hagen. A combat servitor gripped the former Stormtrooper, holding him captive as the ship began to prepare to leave.