Archive Ordo Hereticus: Restriction – Extreme.
Ref: REOXXXXX-345/23BD/4-12/AYY/734028/33/VOXCEPT
All access to this data-file is recorded. Attempts to view this file without direct inquisitorial authority will be cause for extreme sanction. Access to the unredacted version of this record is restricted to those of Lord Inquisitor rank.
Time: REDACTED
Location: REDACTED
Vox log transcript of REDACTED, REDACTED and REDACTED henceforth identified as subject 1, 2 and 3.
Transcript begins
Subject 1 Their contribution turned the tide. We should step up recruitment, the benefits go without saying.
Subject 2 Agreed. But what they saw. All survivors must be purged.
Subject 1 I must protest.
Subject 2 As is your right.
Subject 1 They fought bravely, and the resistance they showed would be invaluable.
Subject 2 They saw the REDACTED. That knowledge must die with them.
Subject 1 I will take this to higher authority.
Subject 1 exits the room.
Subject 2 And you?
Subject 3 It requires further study, long term. I will head there immediately.
Subject 2 Go in His name. And do not fail. We need those answers.
Transcript ends
ADDDNDUM transcript used in evidence at trial and execution of subject 1. Purge completed by REDACTED.
Present Day
The two men standing at the observation port were a study in contrasts. Both dressed in black but that was the only similarity. Tarik was a little below average height, with a solid build and a nondescript face that would be forgotten seconds after seeing it. Light brown hair and the light copper coloured skin that was the dominant shade of humanity. The only ornamentation to his dusty ballistic-fabric coveralls and the battered half-armour worn over them was a golden neckband inlayed with circuitry and strange blue crystals. His companion Ulrich looked every inch the inquisitor. A head and a half taller than his companion with a cruel face, hawk nose and eyes that seemed to absorb rather than reflect light, his long black hair was pulled back in a severe ponytail and his beard was elegantly trimmed. His robes were subtle shades of black the only mark of colour being an inquisitorial sigil in red at his breast. A series of rings, mostly large and gem encrusted covered his fingers in such profusion they would have made reasonable knuckle dusters.
"How does it feel to be home?" Ulrich asked. Voice as deep and stentorian as would have been expected from his appearance. His companion shrugged.
"Don't really remember much. Inquisitor Belash took me off-world before I was school age." He stared at the star system revealed before him. "I remember the mountain though."
They stared together in mute wonder at the sight in front of them.
"The briefings don't really do it justice..." Ulrich began, then trailed off. The star at the centre of the system was a sol type star the asteroid field surrounding it remarkably dense, but at this range visually indistinguishable from any other. The planet... or rather planets.
Tetran, depending upon your point of view, had 4 planets. What set it apart from every other system in the Imperium were the chords that bound them together. From this distance the four planets were all visible holding station in a perfect tetrahedron. Occasionally during their erratic spin a black thread could be seen stitching two of them together. Each thread was in fact nearly 75 kilometres in diameter, but compared to the size of the planets they seemed impossibly slim.
"How does it hold together? Or I guess with gravity not compact into a single super planet?"
A third figure spoke from the shadows:
"A question of great interest to the mechanicus research teams. Each planet is 3500km in radius with the pillars between them roughly 1000km in length. The structural strains of both compression and tension during the typical rotational cycle should rip apart anything. Our best monomolecular strings in sufficient number could in theory hold together objects that size together but would lack sufficient compression strength. Something like ceremite could theoretically take the compression, but would fracture under its own weight in a tower that size even if we could produce it in that sort of quantity to a consistent grade. Analysis of the actual material used remains inconclusive but..."
"Still can't spot a rhetorical question Sal?" Ulrich asked with a grin that transformed his severe looks.
The third member of the party clucked reprovingly. "If you didn't want a savant you shouldn't have brought one."
"Why don't you give us the short version?" Tarik asked, more to keep the peace than for any other reason. Both he and Ulrich had already carefully read the briefings. But Sal simply blinked twice then began.
"The Tetran system was first surveyed by the 134th crusade fleet during the great expansion early in M31. It was the furthest point reached by that fleet and immediately after the survey the combat elements of the force were recalled to the defence of Terra. The civilian elements that were abandoned in the recall remained founding the first colony on Tetran I, while a mechanicus contingent settled Tetran II. Contact was re-established in M34 by which time both colonies were thriving and small settlements had begun on Tetran III and IV. There was some debate about removing the colony from what was certainly a xenos artefact, but the abundance of material resources in the asteroid belt and 4 terra-compatible planets made it too valuable to give up. The mechanicus has repeatedly requested the designation of Tetran II as a forgeworld most recently in M39. This has always been refused, the reasons are under inquisitorial seal.
Currently Tetran I is a full hive world, population 15 billion at any one time, Tetran II has a working population of 8 billion most technically resident on Tetran I with a further 2 billion permanent residents. III, and IV are both agriworlds with around a billion residents between them. Among the docks and extra planetary mining stations there are reckoned to be around 1 billion more residents of the system though the most recent system wide census is now 150 years out of date.
Each pillar connecting the worlds has a facility built at its centre to take advantage of the unusual gravitational effects. Designated either alpha through theta by the imperial worlds and numerically by the mechanicus. Alpha has the main human and private cargo dock, Beta is mainly reserved for bulk material transport. Gamma Is a low G manufacturing dock , Delta is the primary for agricultural export, Epsilon is a military outpost and Theta is currently under reconstruction."
Ulrich grinned at Tarik as the savant burbled on. At first glance Sal could have passed for a scolarm teacher, prim, proper somewhere the far side of 60, maybe much more if there had been juvenat treatments. But the tight grey curls were artfully wound to hide data cables that stretched over her scalp and down to a set of external data storage devices at her back and her superficially organic eyes glinted oddly in certain lights.
"So an open approach?"
"We're in an inquisitorial black ship. It's got a great big I on the front and we've just demanded priority docking. If we wanted subtle we missed that opportunity." Tarik grumbled. "Given we need to talk to the High Marshal..."
"Marshal, not High Marshal. The highest ranking Arbites officer in system is Marshal Kryn Sodor. In post 5 years solstan. Previous posting to navel docks at Hydraphur. Before that graduated top of her year intake from the Schola on Perlia."
"Thank you Sal. Noted. If we want to talk to the Marshal" He emphasised the word and Sal blinked in approval. "We may as well be open. We have a plausible enough reason."
"How are the men?" Ulrich asked.
"Stormtroopers all at combat readiness. And frankly bored and ready for a fight. We may need to reign them in."
"And the others?" Ulrich asked after a pause.
"Lost. Broken. And all the more dangerous for it."