The Eradication of Drazak.
To all those who have the misfortune of bearing witness to this document, heed this warning! Before your eyes cross these pages look deep into your resolve and ask yourself where your loyalties lie, for they will be tested. The tale that unfolds here will make you question the very fabric of all that is known and unknown. Both in the warp and in real space. The most loyal of the Emperor's servants who come across this archive will label it as heresy. They will have a responsibility to see it abolished. Cast into the fires of abomination. It cannot. It must not. The text you are about to read must endure for as long as the Imperium does lest its tales, true or not, be forgotten and the mysteries within with them. Mysteries that one day may be Imperium's final refuge.
Before you are enlightened to the truth of what occurred, I present you with the Imperial records official findings:
++++ IMPERIAL RECORD 193487Ω45E++++
++++DATE: M41. ***REDACTED***++++
++++PLANET: ***REDACTED***++++
++++LOCATION: Ghoul Stars, Eastern Fringe++++
++++RECORD ENTRANT: Inquisitor ***REDACTED***++++
++++RECORD OF EVENTS++++
It was the ***REDACTED*** Our ship, the ***REDACTED** was in the Ghoul Star sector on a scouting mission. A long-lost outpost of humanity had been rumoured to be active in the area, but the exact location couldn't be pinpointed and so I, ***REDACTED***, along with a light expeditionary force went to investigate, for if our brothers were in fact still alive in such an out flung sector of the galaxy, surely their loyalty had to be tested after having been silent for so long.
The outpost was eventually triangulated to the planet ***REDACTED*** Before long we were able to intercept their broadcasts. They were calling for help! Our brothers were in need of aid. They had been blighted by a plague. Our suspicions peaked and our initial conclusion was that the population had been touched by the warp taint of the Plague Father, Nurgle. Before touching down, we summoned the assistance of Inquisitor ***REDACTED*** of the Ordo Malleus whilst we set up a barricade in orbit.
On the ***REDACTED*** Inquisitor ***REDACTED*** made contact and boarded our ship for a briefing. We played him the broadcast pleas for aid and showed him visual surveillance of the population who had been infected by a bone rotting malady. Quite literally. Their forms were like walking corpse. Initially we took it for the Curse of Unbelief, as befell Hydra Minoris in 757.M41, but Inquisitor ***REDACTED*** understood that it was a different plague. Some vital element was missing and so the only course of action was to make planet fall.
On ***REDACTED*** Imperial Forces under the command of Inquisitor **REDACTED*** of the Ordo Malleus made planet fall on ***REDACTED***
After a few skirmishes that decimated the enemy Inquisitor ***REDACTED*** understood that the taint that had infected the population of ***REDACTED*** was not warp born but xenos in nature and so the expertise of Inquisitor ***REDACTED*** of the Ordo Xenos was petitioned.
Inquisitor ***REDACTED*** made planetfall on ***REDACTED*** and before long had pinpointed the cause of the affliction reckoning with the local human population. Medical examinations revealed a nuclear and magnetic force affecting the density of the human form on ***REDACTED***
If the source of that energy could be found and eradicated, then in time, theoretically the human population could be restored to health standards feasible to the service of the Imperium. The signature of the energy source was xenos and so the xenos, along with their device need to be neutralised.
After months (Terran standard time) of trying to find the source of the energy it was finally located to a single point in the most central land mass on the planet. In all that time though, no xenos were encountered.
Inquisitor ***REDACTED*** and Inquisitor ***REDACTED*** examined the device. I am certain no taint was passed to them, for their actions speak only to the Imperial truth in what occurred next.
The energy source came to life! As I understand it, it's status was active at that time, but passive. In standby mode. When we came into contact with it, we woke it into being and in doing so, awoke the xenos residing under the terrain of ***REDACTED***
Imperial Forces were decimated in their initial engagement with the xenos. Inquisitor ***REDACTED*** was slain. All his skills charged at the entities of the warp could not spare him the wrath of this breed of xenos. Humanoid in shape, their likeness was that of a skeleton of iron. Green orbs made up their eyes but there was no touch of warp in them. Their weapons atomised human flesh into un-existence at a touch and they wore the population as a human wardrobe.
After a strategic withdrawal, Inquisitor ***REDACTED*** was able to identify the foe at once.
We were debriefed as to the identity of the xenos by Inquisitor ***REDACTED*** Our enemy was the 'Flayed Ones' of the Maynarkh Dynasty. Necrons!
In the coming days Inquisitor ***REDACTED*** was killed in action. The population was eradicated, their forms far too weak to stand up to the onslaught of the Flayed Ones. To our shame, we managed to hide until a ***REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED***
The Emperor had deemed us worthy, and in his glory, protected us, although we don't ***REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED***
In the aftermath we were left on a corpse planet. Fortunately, our means of transport had been spared, all be it partially and we were able to return to orbit, we believe so that we could record what happened on ***REDACTED***
The Emperor Protects.
++++END REPORT++++
Make of it what you will, for as you can see, much of the truth has been hidden to keep suspicions at bay. As I bore witness, I will now recount the truth.
M41.989 Ghoul Stars, Eastern Fringe. I, Inquisitor Conquern of the Ordo Hereticus was searching for a far-flung population in the sector which had reportedly turned its gaze far from the Emperor's light and begun to dabble in dealings with the Tau empire. There were sporadic engagements with the Tau empire on my quest but never any evidence of a human population attached to them.
I was considering ending the mission as it was fast turning more into a xenos crusade which would be better served by my brothers in the Ordeo Xenos than it was a witch hunt when I came across something suspicious amongst the corpse of a Tau Air Cast. A small vile. I dare not dabble in the concoctions of the xenos, but the markings on the vile were in Gothic. The alien was in possession of something human and so, finally I had evidence of my quarry.
The vile led me to the planet 'Drazak.'
Whilst stationed in orbit above Drazak diagnostics were run on the vile. It appeared to be an elixir. A potion of some sort. I questioned as to whether the Tau were now beginning to consort with warp entities. My fears were relaxed when I learned that the concoction was medicinal in nature, designed to interact with human DNA and cure it. Of what though? I was unsure.
Planet fall on Drazak was like descending onto the ash planes of mythical Hades. Quite literally. There was nothing but grey ash that blew everywhere. The land was ash, the air was ash and that's all there was. Not even a tree. No markers of destination. We could have travelled to the edge of every land mass on Drazak and found nothing. We were blind and so, we set up camp and sent out scout forces. Like the 'Hanzel and Gre-Tel' fable of the pre-dated Imperium, we left beacons in the ash and then followed them to the final one where we would start again.
After approximately, twelve days (Terran standard) we began to encounter the local population I was searching for. They were skeletal as I had never seen before. Malnourished to the extreme and all of them naked. They couldn't speak. They would collapse at our feet, all of them, as if we were their saviours, but nothing could be done for them. My interest peaked. How could such a corpse lot have dealings with anything let alone a species as sentient as the Tau? The conclusion was obvious. The Tau had found this population first and was attempting to replenish and nourish it, potentially for exploitation or to bring it into its "greater good." Regardless, the witch hunt was over. The population was far too decimated for there to be any semblance of cohesion amongst it. Government on Drazak had long been eradicated since what ever affliction that ailed them had onset. Infuriated that my skills here were no longer required, I did the honourable thing and reported my findings back to the Imperial High Lords, who, to my distaste, ordered me to stay put.
Reluctantly, I obeyed.
There was nothing to mark the passing of days on Drazak. No sunrise or sunset. Just a deep, cold, blue sky devoid of clouds that constantly blew ash around its atmosphere. After 106 Terran standard days I destroyed the chronometer in frustration. I wouldn't mark the passing of time from hence and so, I can't say when the next event occurred. What I can say is, we took a local. It could be argued that we took him as a 'pet' and so, we fed him. Nourished him. Coached him back into some semblance of humanity. Then I ran medical tests on him. On two more as well. My boredom peaked, I took to investigating and experimenting on their human form. I found that they could be coaxed back into some form of life both with and without the aid of the Tau elixir which, before long was used in full.
I reported my findings back which in turn poked the interests of the High Lords of Terra who, in their wisdom, sent me aid in the form of my Ordo brothers.
As I said earlier, time had become an ongoing unknown factor since I destroyed the chronometer but sometime after my medical findings Inquisitor Sentarvus of the Ordo Malleus and Inquisitor Brezeral of the Ordo Xenos paid me a visit. They were tasked (with my aid) in finding the cause of the blight and eradicating it. A rare mission for Inquisitors. Our ethos is to eradicate enemies of the Imperium in their physical form. Not their medical. We are not Medicaid's. I digress.
Inquisitor Sentarvus' initial opinion was that the planet had been touched by the warp. Of course, he would think that, he's of the bloody Ordo Malleus, and of course, he was wrong! When presented with the corpse beings of my experimentations he delved deep into their psyche. It was hilarious! Although I must say here, as heretical as it is, those who were given the Tau elixir seemed unaffected by the touch of Inquisitor Sentarvus. (And every time it became funnier to watch.) However, those of which had been coaxed back by our human hands were far more susceptible to his will. Not that it helped much. We were able to ascertain that the bones of this population were rotting from the inside by a force, scientific in nature. Possibly nuclear or magnetic. The opinion of Inquisitor Brezeral was that (of course) the disease was xenos in nature. He would be closer to the truth although his diagnosis was also incorrect. Initially he believed it to be the Curse of Unbelief which infected Hydra Minoris in M41.757 however the characteristics beneath the skin were dissimilar. The infectants did in fact resemble zombies as the Zombie Plague had, but (to Inquisitor Sentarvus' misfortune) the curse was not of the warp. It was in fact of xenos origin.
We ascertained that the force was literally pulling at their bones, so subtly that it was slowly stripping layers off them. Of course, the victims didn't know this and so they went about their business until their bodies were so frail that they could not sustain themselves. Sadly, the ashes that rained upon the planes of Drazak were, in fact, the bones of its people.
Eventually we found the source of the energy. Its source was irrelevant. That part of the Imperial Report is true. It was Necron.
This is where the tale takes a turn to the heretical. To the potential of, taint. To the unknown.
We fought the Necron tooth and nail to the last. We had in fact stumbled on a Tomb World. Flayed Ones, for anyone who knows, are difficult bastards and by the Emperors mercy there was a lot of those difficult bastards! Furthermore, we had found the population of Drazak. Enslaved beneath the terrain. Drained until death then flayed alive, their skin worn as coats for ceremony.
With that single finding, our quest had once again turned from eradicating the enemies of the Emperor in a medical form, to a physical one. We could fight again! Well some of us could. Let it be known here and now that Inquisitor Sentarvus was absolutely useless, for all his warp spawned magic and sorcery. Let it also be known that the Imperial Records speak well of him and his efforts, and whilst this one instance is a mark against his name, I'd rather not use this document to blemish it. Let him be remembered by the Imperium for all his good works in other fields, but for the integrity of this record, for the account of this truth, it must be said that Inquisitor Sentarvus was bloody useless.
No sooner had we found the 'Tomb Spyre' he was gutted from behind by one of the Flayed Ones.
Thankfully, Inquisitor Brezeral came into his own in the initial engagement. His training in the Ordo Xenos was invaluable and, if I'm honest, saved us… More than once. Let this record be a testament to the greatness of that man and, as the name of Sentarvus is glorified in Imperial Records, it is known that the name of Brezeral is not and so, to preserve the integrity of this tale, with honesty and the Emperor as my witness I must here and now declare that Inquisitor Brezeral died with honour, protecting the Imperium against a xenos scourge that, if not for his help in eradicating on Drazak would be knocking on the Imperial gates as you read this. The Emperor knows his name!
Our fight against the xenos in this tale isn't important. What is important is the fight of those who came to fight for us. The "Redacted."
I lay there. Bloodied. Beaten. Yes, it's true. We didn't stand a chance against the Necron's numbers but Emperor be damned we were going to go down fighting and take as many of those bastards with us as we could! But they, those who came, would take more! They would take them all!
The air stilled. As I lay up, remnants of a human population raining their bones in ash across my face, a burst of flame cut through reality. The Flayed Ones began to sear in holy, or unholy consecration. At first, I couldn't tell. Bolt rounds, thousands of them, rang out like a symphony of gun fire. A battle hymn. A prayer to war! Chain weapons revved and as my vision blurred and faded, I could hear them chew into the iron exo-skeletons of the Necrons. I opened my eyes and saw the familiar form of Astarte's at war with the xenos. At first, I despaired. Their forms were adorned with skulls, bones and living flames. I cursed Inquisitor Sentarvus. His bloody warp friends had joined us! I resigned myself to my death, but as I did, I thought,
"How many of the Emperor's servants are fortunate enough to find death at both the hands of the daemon and the xenos at the same time?!" Poor me, no one would be there to record such glory!
Alas, I pulled my self up and fired my weapon at one of the traitor bastards. He turned to me. None of them said a thing. At that moment he took me into his arms. I battered and kicked against him but to no avail. I was a hostage.
The war raged on around me. The heretic who had taken me going to great pains to see that no harm came to me. I couldn't help but wonder why? These traitors fought in silence. Had the warp silenced them? I'm unsure.
They pressed forward, unyielding. Before long, motored vehicles accompanied them. They rode like the White Scars on bikes a blaze in flames. Tanks and armoured vehicles pulled up their flanks, with the skill of Iron Warriors or Imperial Fists they strategically bombarded the Necron structures. When the flayed ones got close, they had the martial prowess of Ultramarines or the Vilka Fenrika. They'd have the ferocity of World Eaters if they could bloody well speak! I was humbled by their skill. All of it, with out communication.
The fighting went on for months. Or what felt like it. The same Astarte's kept me as his ward. Never saying a word. The human population of Drazak was long eradicated, either in the initial fighting, by their ailments or by Necron Genocide. It was a price worth paying.
This is where the heresy unfolds. I fought alongside traitors of the warp, however, lest my own soul be tainted, I have to say that I could not feel the touch of taint upon them and that if anything, I only felt, more than ever before, the touch of the holy Emperor in their souls. My soul be cursed if I've been tricked by the denizens of the warp. On the final day, they took it upon themselves to show me the destruction they had created. My guardian gestured to it. He needed me to know that all the Necron had been eradicated. The world was now a pyre of ash. Metal ash. After the human population had been eradicated to a man, I was the only thing left on Drazak able to bleed for these Astarte's did not. When they fell, they fell into ash from whence they came. Like, (dare I utter the words in ignorance of the Imperial truth) like spectres!
Satisfied they had shown me enough, they vanished in but a blink of an eye. After months of fighting, they were gone. They didn't vanish into a warp rift. There was no teleport beacon. All that remained was Drazak and at that moment I was the only living being on it.
I turned and found myself in view of where I had initially made planet fall. I went back to the ship and submitted my report which, as you can see, was heavily redacted.
In some corners of the galaxy, the Legion is whispered of in myths amongst the very few who have ever had dealings with them. Since the eradication of Drazak, I have made it my quest to bring them into the light. To bring honour to their services, regardless of the label the damned cursed Imperium places upon me for it. For doing so, I have become that which I formerly hunted. I am a heretic in the eyes of the Imperium, but, not in the eyes of the Emperor. He knows my name, just as he knows theirs. I am his servant, and they are his legion. His Legion of the Damned.
The End
