I once again claim no ownership to any Games-Workshop material used here. This is taken from the book I'm working on, and I was not planning to add to the story on FanFic's but, after SabreJustice's review, I was compelled to put it up.
Erasmus now found himself dragged to the Council chambers, his armor stripped from him and his weapons taken away. Treatment like this only happened to those who truly violated the Chapters tenements, not those who aided an Imperial Inquisitor!
A Marine in the white and gold livery of a Veteran opened the doors to the Council Chambers, and beckoned Erasmus to enter, the Veterans hand hovering next to his holstered bolt pistol.
The Council chamber was a huge, vaulted room, the ceiling stretching away for at least twenty meters. Every square foot of the room was covered in either devotional script, or images of the Chapters previous battles. One scene showed the now Captain Mepesto striding through the daemon lines at the Battle of Hell Gate, the Banner of the Second grasped in his hands.
A great marble table dominated the center of the chamber, seated around it were twenty Space Marines, their armor ornate and ancient. These were the council members and those without helmets had grim faces, some back-lit by psychic hoods, or had wreaths around their foreheads. These were some of the Chapters greatest heroes, Captains, Chaplains, Librarians, the Chief Tech-Marine and the Master Apothecary, who had hundreds of years of experience and battle behind them.
"Do you know why you are here, Sergeant?" a gravelly voice spoke. He could only be Chaplain Plutus, who had retaken the Cerebus Sector from the daemon Styx. With his words, every head in the chamber turned as one to look upon the robed form of Erasmus.
"No, Honored-Brothers, I do not." Erasmus was little nervous now, what if his dealing with the Inquisition was not the reason he was there?
"Sergeant,' another deep voice spoke this time, it was Librarian Charon, 'your recent mission with the Inquisition has violated one of the basic rules of our Chapter. You obviously do not remember when the Inquisition tried to investigate and imprison our entire Chapter!"
"My Lords,' began Erasmus, 'I still do not understand why aiding the Inquisition would incur your wrath. The Inquisitor my squad and I aided was not trying to disband our chapter and imprison us. He was trying to stop a terrible calamity from befalling one of the Emperors…" Erasmus paused a moment, he had raised his voice to the Council, which was insuboration.
"Continue, Sergeant," a metallic voice spoke. It was Chief Tech-Marine Geryon. His throat had been shot out by an ork and replaced long ago by bionics.
"Forgive my tone, Lords. I was merely saying that the Inquisitor I was aiding had been trying to stop orks from opening a portal, which lead to a daemon-planet, on the world. He did not want to sanction an Exterminatus."
"Lies!' snarled Plutus, 'The Inquisitor corrupted you with his heretical actions and was trying to open the portal to harness the power of the daemons inside!"
"Calm yourself Plutus.' Master Apothecary Minos spoke softly, 'Our only evidence is Sergeant Erasmus's testimony. We cannot place baseless accusations at one of our Marines and…" The Apothecary was interrupted by the great stone doors of the Council chamber opening.
It was another Veteran. "My Lords, I beg your forgiveness for interrupting, but a report has just come in from the Emperor's Fury." The Veteran stepped forward and handed the data-slate to Captain Loras, of the Third Company.
Turning the data-slate on with his armored thumb, Loras's open face was lit by the green glow of the screen. As he read, his face went from impassive to furious in a moment.
"You say he did not want to sanction an Exterminatus, correct?" Loras's hand was shaking slightly, but he did not let anger into his voice, yet.
"Yes, sir. He did not want to destroy one of the Emperors worlds." Erasmus was slightly confused now, hadn't he just said this?
"That damn Inquisitor destroyed the world! Four million Imperial subjects and whatever Guard units were left! Even though you helped him, he still killed the planet! The good Marines that we lost were all for not!" Loras was standing up, shaking the data-slate at Erasmus, his voice echoing loudly around the room.
"Lords, I had no idea that he was going to do this. I shall accept any punishment you deem necessary." Erasmus hung his head in shame. He could have told the Inquisitor no when he enlisted his squad and squad Topes.
"One hundred days of physical penance and fifteen days of meditation and prayer shall be your punishment. However, your penance will be postponed until your next campaign is over" Chaplain Plutus spoke instantly, his voice harsh and unforgiving.