Byzantium Inquisitorial Records

Name: Melissa Minerva Metaxas

Age: 21

Ordo: Xenos

Rank: Acolyte

Homeworld: Talassar-Realm of Ultramar

Social Origin: Service Workers-Waitress

Classification: Ocean World

Expertise: Tau Empire(Specialty), Eldar, Minor Xenos Powers

Assignment Level: Kappa

Specialties: None

Combat Proficiencies: Tianese Martial Arts, Alban Brawling, Hotshot Lasgun

Philosophy: Puritan/Ardentite-Possible Xenos Hybris Inclinations

Reputation: A talented young woman with a bright future in the Inquisition, she is viewed as a calming influence for her master. A few rumors have been spreading that she views some Xenos as partners and not adversaries, but this has not been confirmed. Rumors that she has an Eldar lover have been repeatedly quashed by Inquisitor Clark himself.

Operational Methods: Serves as Nathaniel's representative when he has to deal with planetary authorities and Imperial organizations. She has a talent for diplomacy and gaining support for the Inquisitor's cause. In combat she takes over as his second in command.

Physical Description: 5'6, brown eyes, and long curvy black hair, distinctive aquiline facial features. She has an athletic build and is considered to be cute by her peers. In the field she wears Inquisitorial Stormtrooper Carapace armor, when relaxing she prefers a mid length skirt and blouse.

Bio: Born on the planet Talassar to two service industry workers, who sadly passed away when she was only 15, her only remaining relative was a younger brother who was accepted into the Ultramarines, she is unaware if he made it or not. She was 16 and working at a waitress when she came upon several Inquisitors dining at her restaurant, fresh from a long and taxing cross regional Grand Conclave on Talassar Prime. Among the Inquisitors was Inquisitor Nathaniel Clark of the Ordo Xenos. After eavesdropping on their private conversation, she was taken into Inquisitorial custody and given two choices. Have her body re-purposed as a servitor, or become Nathaniel's acolyte. Naturally she chose the latter. She has since proven to be a quick learner, clever researcher, tactful diplomat, and a rising star in the Conclave, it's only a matter of time before she is promoted to full Inquisitor.

(I picture a Grand Conclave to be a joint meeting of several neighboring Conclaves to share information and build bonds of friendship.)

Personality: Melissa is a very friendly young woman, who can act as a calming influence on those around her. Despite her amicable nature she is a devout servant of the Emperor and a talented young acolyte, with a talent for diplomacy and interrogation. Unlike her master she seeks to minimize damage, avoid the less reputable underworld, and work with planetary authorities as much as possible, making her many friends. There are some who question her dedication though, and rumors about her less than satisfactory views of various Xenos still persist. As befitting any resident of the Realm of Ultramar, she is a devout fan of the Ultramarines and likes to quote the works of Roboute Guilliman from memory. She tries to maintain the high moral and ethical code taught to her as a young girl on Talassar. She is often mocked by her master for this, referring to her as, "a squealing fangirl." Friction was caused during missions with Deathwatch members when she informed those of none Ultramarine legacy that one day if they try hard enough, they might come close to emulating the Ultramarines greatness. As a consequence most Space Marines not descended from the Ultramarines tend to have a very low opinion of her, being the only Imperial organization that prefers working with her master over her.

In the Grandmaster's chamber, Grandmaster Agatha was looking over Nathaniel's requisition form for a Callidus Assassin. Angus had already given his approval, now she had to approve it for it to move on to the Ordo Sicarius's base of operations on Terra, and finally to the High Lords of Terra for a 2/3's approval. The trouble was, she wasn't sure if she should approve it.

"Angus, are you sure you trust Nathaniel sending a Callidus assassin into Tau space, you know he could start a war that the majority of the Imperium doesn't want right now."

"I trust Nathaniel, he wouldn't engage in a major operation that would put the Imperium in jeopardy, and you don't give his planning skills enough credit."

"The last major operation he did led the benign Paratain Craftworld to become actively hostile, with the death of 350,000 civilians in retaliation for the 350 lost Eldar spirit stones. And let's not forget him blatantly breaking protocol to abandon his retinue and chase after Archon Taelbeirt, or his subsequent handing over of New Kyoto to the Crimson Sun Space Marines without consulting any Imperial officials, not even us. I shudder to think about what he plans to do with a Callidus assassin in the Tau Empire."

"Why don't you ask him what his plan is?"

"Because he would lie to me, and trying to detain him would just cause a raucous after the recent transition of power following old Nicodemus's death. All we know is that he wants an assassin who can handle the job of impersonating a Water Tau, only to assassinate and then impersonate an Ethereal Tau to have a double agent in place in case war breaks out between the Empire and the Imperium."

"Why don't we trust the judgment of the Ordo Sicarius and the High Lords of Terra, we will give them access to his records. If they refuse to send out a Callidus assassin, no harm done. Nathaniel would be upset for a little while but he would get over it. And if they do send him the assassin than that goes to show that they have greater trust in him than you do. He isn't a radical like Huian; he won't make the same mistakes she did."

"No, he is her exact opposite, but that doesn't make him any better, just another dangerous extreme that could destabilize the balance we try so hard to maintain in our precarious location."

"Zeal in service to the Emperor is no sin; extremism in the carrying out of his will is no crime."

"It may not be a crime but if things go downhill I would hate to see the repercussions. The Tau gaining direct knowledge of our Callidus assassins, and the public knowledge that we tried to assassinate one of their leaders could be used as leverage against us in negotiations."

"That's a worst case scenario, if the assassin is caught she will do her best to deny the enemy any information they could use against us. But what if the assassin is successful, the Tau know nothing of our Callidus assassins. Whatever plan Nathaniel has in place will benefit us long term."

Agatha gives him a long hard look, pulls out a pin and signs her name at the Grandmaster line on the requisition form, and stamping her personal seal next to her name. "Take this back to Bertram, tell him it has our approval and should be sent immediately to the Ordo Sicarius, and if they approve, to the High Lords of Terra. The amount of time it will take to get there and go through review might serve as just enough time for us to gain more insight into what he wants to do."

Meanwhile Melissa leads Tsubaki to the Byzantium Garden, a massive dome built during the Dark Age of technology that housed a massive self sustained garden. It was filled with plants from all over the galaxy, and containing a beautiful lake filled with exotic fish and surrounded by angelic fountains. The top of the dome contained the great sphere that slowly went from day to night to simulate an actual planet. Tsubaki frolicked through the flowers as Melissa led her to a bench on top of the hill. Once they got there she and Tsubaki sat down, with Melissa ready to continue her discussion. "I know that story earlier was pretty intense, but it just shows one aspect of the Inquisitor, he does have a sensitive merciful side, I should know, I was almost punished for high treason until he stepped in."

"What treason did you commit?"

"Well, I suppose I should start from the very beginning."

Five years ago on Talassar

Melissa was rushing through her apartment, she had overslept and now she was late for work at the Talassar Aquatica, the best seafood restaurant on Talassar. The hours were long but the rich and powerful clients tipped well. Things had been easier financially since her little brother had gone off to become a Space Marine, but it was lonely without him. She looked up at the photo of him, her, and their parents on the wall. Blowing them a kiss, she puts on her coat, grabs her umbrella, and heads out the door. It was storming as usual, and Melissa was in a rush. She makes it in only to be met with the scolding glare of the head waitress.

"You're thirty minutes late, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"I overslept, waiting to hear some news about whether or not my brother has had any success in becoming an Ultramarine."

"He just got accepted two weeks ago, it will be a while before you hear back from him. And as the great Guilliman once said, "Anxiety is poison for the soul, if you are anxious, find something constructive to do," like making it to your shift on time.

"Once again, I apologize for my tardiness."

"Well, get on back and prepare yourself, rumor has it that we have some special visitors coming in."

Five minutes later Melissa is back out front ready for her first table. A group of 12 figures walk in, an eclectic group of different shapes, sizes, features, and skin colors. The one unifying thing about them was the stylized I and skull on all of their clothes. Melissa had seen that symbol before but she couldn't place it at the moment. They are led to the large private booth in Melissa's section and they sit down. Melissa moves quickly and hands them all their menus. While they pass them around and look through them, she gets ready to take their drink orders down. A man in the middle, a large man with graying brown hair, ice cold gray eyes, and extensive scars frowns as he looks over the selections. "Why is everything named after the Ultramarines or Roboute Guilliman in some way?"

"You are in the Realm of Ultramar sir; we take great pride in being under the protection of the greatest Space Marine Chapter descended from the greatest Primarch."

The gray eyes man lets out a huff. "The greatest Primarch was either Sanguinius, Leman Russ, or Rogal Dorn, not Guilliman."

Melissa is shocked by such blatant blasphemy. Another man, this one even larger with wild red hair, green eyes, and wearing what appeared to be a skirt let out a chuckle. "Like this lass said we are in the Realm of Ultramar." He looks directly at Melissa. "Pardon me but I cannot seem to find the liquor list, is it on a separate menu?"

"All planets in the Realm of Ultramar are dry sir; Lord Guilliman frowned upon the consumption of spirits in all but the most solemn of occasions."

The smile fades from the large man's face. "I'll have a Valorous Ventris then." The gray eyed man known as Nathaniel smirks at his friend.

"If I have to put up with these names then I will have a Konor's Pride to drink. And you know what, I've made up my mind for I want to eat, I'll have the Codex Astartes."

An hour later all the customers had their drinks and food and were deep in conversation. Curious about what these strange figures were talking about, she went behind the divider behind the booth, to see what she could hear. She heard the figure known as Nathaniel leading the conversation.

"The Tau are a serious threat, I swear by the Emperor's name that they must be dealt with before they get out of hand."

"Nathaniel we have been through this before, we can't afford to waste resources on a pointless confrontation with something as insignificant as the Tau Empire." This voice belonged to a dark skinned woman with a shaved head.

"You say that now, but when they have stormed across the Damocles Gulf taking all in their path, don't come crying to…it appears we have a mouse in the wall listening to our conversation." Melissa founds that she can no longer move her body as it is lifted off the ground. Floating above the ground she is brought around to face those assembled. "Having fun listening in on the Inquisition young lady, I hope you realize the gravity of your situation." With that she blacks out.

She wakes up later in a dark cell chained to the wall. It's a cold and moist stone room with one little light shining down on her. In front of her is a metal desk with the gray eyed man Nathaniel sitting at it, staring at her. "I have plunged into your mind and searched through it all Melissa, as far as I can tell you are not a spy. However, you did listen in on a private Inquisitorial conversation, and this is a grave offense."

"You were only talking about a possible Tau invasion."

"But it wasn't your place to listen in. Now, I have two options for you at this point, would you like to hear them?"

"I take it I don't have any other choice."

"Your first option is to have your body re-purposed as a servitor; hopefully you won't be self aware about your situation."

Melissa gulps at this, "And what is the second option?"

Nathaniel puts a big smile on his face. "You join my retinue and become my apprentice."

Melissa is flabbergasted at this revelation; she thought it was going to be another harsh punishment.

"I have read your mind, you are smart, curious, and resourceful, you are wasted at that dreary old waitress job. Settling down, having a litter of kids, that isn't you, you long for adventure, you long for excitement, and you long to be a part of something greater than yourself. Join my retinue and I will make sure your potential shines through."

Melissa still shocked can only meekly say, "It's either that or become a servitor."

"Indeed."

"Very well, I accept your offer Inquisitor."

"Excellent, let me get you down so you can sign the contract, after reading it of course."

Back to the present

Tsubaki now has a smile on her face. "He wouldn't have turned you into a servitor, would he?"

"I don't know, best not to think about it, but he saw the potential in me and wanted to give me a chance. He did save me from a life where the greatest thing I could hope for is one of my sons becoming an Ultramarine. Now I have the ability to help out the Imperium directly and protect from those who want to destroy it. Nathaniel seems the same potential in you; otherwise he wouldn't have agreed to bring you on. Now we have spent enough time with this detour, I need to get you back to Amara for your check up and vaccinations.