Lady Inquisitor Annabeth Chase
Location: Ultima Segmentum, Ghoul Stars, High Anchor over Aluria Prime, Luna Class Cruiser Faithful Companion
The Inquisitor wordlessly stood at the Strategium, studying the hologram. With her fair features, long, golden blond curls, and toned body most would have her out as perhaps a girl of high nobility. Only her stormy gray eyes, sparkling with a cold and potent intelligence, told a different, more ruthless tale. On a ship where men and women wore the strict uniforms of the Imperial Navy, her chosen attire, a white blouse that promoted her curves, and loose trousers she stuck out like a rose in ashes.
When they had learned the truth those same bold junior officers had given her a wide birth, perhaps fearing her even more than the arch enemy they were out to hunt. She couldn't hold it against them, their fear was warranted.
Annabeth monitored the approaching Valkyrie on the Strategium's hollo display, only a few thousand kilometers off, approach their vessel. With any luck, this would be the conclusion to their stay on this planet. Twenty more minutes, then the gunship would be there.
Through the large viewports, golden light from the world's aging star flooded the cruiser's bridge. The world, ominous dead and gray sphere, covered in industry and cities lay far below them.
Annabeth wordlessly studied the disposition of their fleet, making a point of taking in the exact position of the fleet relative to them. Especially the location of the Emperor class Battleship Devine Judgment. With the sunlight reflecting off her hull, painted in the white and gold of the mighty Battlefleet Solar, the ship was almost luminescent. Despite being almost a thousand kilometers away the Leviathan, eight kilometers in length even managed to look menacing at this distance. At only twenty kilometers range, even the frigate holding off their flank dominated the left window.
"The Flagship is hailing us. Lord Admiral Alden wishes to know your verdict," a senior bridge officer asked.
Annabeth pursed her lips in a mask of poorly hidden disgust. "The Inquisition on this world has been concluded. The Lord Governor has been found wanting in the eyes of the golden throne. However, this world isn't past redemption yet. I trust that the Ministorum will tend to its flock with more care. I will keep the admiral apprised on how I chose to proceed."
An audible sigh of relief passed through the bridge at her words. They were good men and women with a strong sense of duty and honor. However, even some of them would have had nightmares of the terrible orders she might require them to follow.
When the Valkerie was less than a hundred kilometers off the inquisitor discreetly keyed the communicator implanted under her skin below her ear but said nothing.
"We are clear Inquisitor, no casualties. Package secured," the very familiar voice the Celestinian Thalia Grace reported.
Annabeth keyed her intercom once more in conformation and gazed out at the void.
Finally, she was able to make out the dark gray Valkyrie against the smoggy atmosphere almost a hundred kilometers below her feet. Compared to the vastness of the void it seemed little larger than rice corn, even as it approached the Faithful Companion's waiting hangar bays on short final.
Suddenly the doors to the Strategium opened again and a towering warrior clad in gray and dark blue and gray power armor entered the room. Visor slits glowed with faint blue light from a dark gray helmet that had golden laurels resting on his helmet. With both his immense physical bulk and the power armor he was almost too wide for the doorway. The emblem of a dark red drop rested on one of his shoulder pauldrons. A power sword, hidden away in a black chief hung from his left hip while an unnervingly large bolt pistol hung from his right. He strolled across the strategium with slow measured steps, completely disregarding the small group of arms men that tried to challenge him. Each step sent a low thud echoing through the bridge. Getting in the way of a member of the Adeptus Astartes was brave, she had to give them that. Members of some of the more unhinged chapters might have slaughtered the small troop then and there.
Due to his unnatural size and bulk, most were blissfully unaware of the superhuman displays of speed, agility, and strength the Emperor's avenging angles were capable of, even without their armor.
"Perseus," Annabeth greeted the Spacemarine formally, pushing aside that all too familiar dagger of pain jabbing at her heart that his arrival brought to her.
"Inquisitor Chase," he replied curtly, his already unnaturally deep voice, further altered by helmet's hidden speakers. The warrior reached up and grasped his helmet. After that characteristic hiss of pressure-equalizing, he pulled the heavy helmet off, revealing a handsome man with hard features, shortly cropped black hair, warm complexion, and striking green eyes that even after all these years still seemed to be able to peer right into her soul.
"They have returned," he observed, his helmet clasped under one arm.
Annabeth was well aware of how silent the Strategium had gotten. None of these brave men felt particularly talkative in the presence of the Space Marine. It was a respectful silence though, not the fearful one they treated her with.
"You should put more faith in Sisters," Annabeth said softly.
"I do not doubt their courage," Perseus replied.
He might have said more but the Captain join him, "Lord Perseus, Lady Chase," he greeted them calmly.
Captain Horatio Destinel was an aging man, with graying hair and a neatly trimmed beard and probably the least pleased to have an Inquisitor on board. It wasn't something she could hold against him. Association with the Inquisition was a path to an early grave.
"Signal the flagship, I no longer require the good Admirals service. I will await the Sisters." She finally announced softly.
"Very well," Captain Destin replied and passed on the order.
As the Inquisitor turned around and headed back to the rear of the bridge the Imperial Navy Battlefleet turned towards the outer system and lit up their star drives. Brilliant, kilometer-long blooms of purple and blue plasma fire lit up the void as the warships around them began to accelerate out of orbit towards the outer system where they could safely transition into the warp.
The Inquisitor departed from the bridge and made her way through the warship. She passed through endless numbers of bulkheads and down gloomy corridors bathed in cold white light. She had almost gotten used to the stench of void craft. After recycling air for centuries every ship gained its own unique scent. The Faithful Companion's flavor was one of oil stale sweat and a peculiar minty undernote. With her inquisitorial rosette clearly visible over her blouse the crew skirted from her path as if the Legion of the Damned itself were marching at her heels.
A group of Navy Armsmen snapped to attention and signed the Aquilla as she passed them.
Finally, she reached the hangar bay that was reserved for her and her retinue. The massive blast doors were already sealed. Five Valkeries were parked side by side, facing the now sealed blast doors. Four were dark and cold. However, the center ones read ramp was open and assembled in front of it were a group of women armored with Bolters, Chainswords, and a flamer. with shoulder-length platinum blond hair and black power armor who stood around a short bloated man in disheveled colorful robes and a bloodied beard.
"We would be honored if you would join us, Lord Governor Alesh," Annabeth greeted him cordially, her expression devoid of any emotion and gray eyes as cold as ever.
"Oh Emperor have mercy," the Governor begged sobbing and dropped down to his knees when his bloodshot eyes fell on the Rosette hanging from around her neck and began to hyperventilate.
"Are you asking for the Emperor's mercy?" Battlesister Grace asked innocently and helpfully raised her bolter to the back of her charges' head. "For I would be happy to accommodate you." At this, the other Celestinians tried hard to hide their grins.
"No! Please! I don't want to die. I will tell you whatever you want to know!" Alesh sobbed. All color drained from his face when he felt the cold muzzle of the Bolter press against the back of his skull.
The Inquisitor's eyes flickered up to Celstinian who lowered her weapon."Sorry," Thalia muttered sheepishly.
"Do you wish to Interrogate him?" Thalia finally asked.
Annabeth glanced at her newest charge. "Perhaps there are truths left for us to discover together, Lord Governor. Sisters, make our esteemed guests comfortable. Sister Superior, walk with me."
As the sisters dragged their prisoner off into the darkness Annabeth and Thalia headed down a long hallway. "Did everything go as planned?" Annabeth asked quietly.
"Yes, faced with an Inquisitorial warrant the Governors bodyguards were more than happy to give him up. No shots fired," she reported.
"Good," Annabeth said softly.
"Our church's confessors have arrested most of the family for questioning. I expect most of them will burn if sufficient evidence can be collected. Bishop Ethonso sends you his regards," Thalia added. "Will you prosecute on guilt by association?"
Annabeth shook her head. "Not if I can help it. Any innocent soul lost weekends this Imperium of ours."
Thalia nodded as if this pleases her.
Annabeth fell silent as they passed a group of duty deckhands and continued when they were out of earshot. "It isn't good that we keep getting sidetracked on other endeavors. The arch-heretic must take priority. Luke has sent finally sent word, his investigation seems to have proven fruitful. He hinted that he has a name. However, he wishes to tell us in person. If the currents of the immaterium permits, he will join us in two weeks. I am concerned though that he did not feel he could convey the name via Astropath."
"Perhaps, when confronting the machinations of the warp, the warp is not the ideal method of delivering sensitive intelligence. We know that the agents of the Black Legion are hunting the same pray we are," Thalia added.
There was not much that could be said about it. "Any special plans for the Governor or the usual?"
Annabeth stayed silent for a long moment. "He isn't just some imbecile who joined some secret society that turned out to be a heretical club, he parleyed with the servants of the ruinous powers. Perhaps he knows more than our initial observation would imply. Did you look into those rumors about the little orphan girls?"
Thalia's grim expression turned a great deal darker. "Yes, I had the Arbitrators look into it. His agents found the bodies. It would seem that there is merit to those rumors."
Annabeth scowled. "Even after all these years of hunting witches, xenos, and heretics the iniquitous nature of some members of our noble race humans will never cease to surprise me."
The sister superior only nodded and shouldered her bolter. "I want you in on this, the judgmental eyes of the clergy might help lose his tongue," Annabeth announced.
"I was looking forward to this," Thalia admitted.
Annabeth gave the battle sister a long look. "Thalia, you worry me sometimes."
The platinum blond woman grinned back. "Coming from an agent of the inquisition, I will take that as a compliment. The prosecution of a heretic is a truly joyous affair, do you not agree with me there?"
"Don't try to play me at my own game, you aren't very good at it. How about this, you leave uncovering fiends to me and I will leave-taking a flamethrower to those whose piety is in question to you?"
Thalia gave her shoulder a playful shove. "Come on, let's use that rosette of yours to raid the galley. Our guest isn't going anywhere and I'm starving!"
So, here you go. I do hope you people enjoy yourselves.
With regards,
Henry Locker over and out.