"Inquisitor?" a familiar voice sounded through the vox. "Do you copy, Inquisitor?" a soft yet somehow powerful voice of Rulf Todd continued questioning, stirring the woman out of her meditation session.
"Could you stop babbling? I heard you!" a relatively simple yet filled with venom answer was provided. "I hope you bear some useful information," Inquisitor Eleanor von Ryke slowly added. "So… what is it?"
"The captain estimates our arrival in 10 standard minutes," Todd responded, apparently unconcerned by the rather hostile Inquisitor's tone. "Our travel through the Warp was seemingly trouble-free. As soon as we're in the range, I'll vox the local administration to prepare for us," he assured the woman.
"Proceed then," Eleanor responded vaguely. "I would prefer this visitation to go through seamlessly. And you, Rulf, are responsible for that."
"I'm aware of the potential consequences, Inquisitor," the man replied immediately. "Still, serving as the Inquisitor's assistant is an honour. And… I'll do my best not to disappoint."
"Good," von Ryke commented. "I presume the task force has remained silent?" she questioned, seamlessly changing the topic entirely.
"Unfortunately, Inquisitor," the assistant responded momentarily. "If we had received a message, I'd have passed it without delay. Currently, communication with the ground team is a rather problematic matter."
"That is?" the Inquisitor asked, intrigued.
"The vox quality is poor, to say the least," Todd simply explained. "But, considering the place they've delved into, these circumstances are all within the acceptable boundaries."
"Your faith in coincidence is admirable yet misplaced, Todd," von Ryke stated coldly. "I want the communication link to be established as soon as possible. But, this time, I want the matter to go smoothly. This investigation is taking too long to conclude," the woman allowed some bitterness to taint her tone.
"We'll double our effort to quicken the investigation. I assure you about that, Inquisitor," Rulf said.
"These are but the words," the woman scoffed. "I will meet you and the captain on the bridge shortly. But, until then, I take we will leave the Immaterium behind us."
…
Eleanor von Ryke made her way toward the ship's bridge, surrounded by an aura of disdain. Even though her being an Inquisitor in the service of the God-Emperor required a near-constant movement across the vast Emperium, she did not like travelling through the Chaos domain. No matter how many times she had been reassured throughout the years that as long as the Gellar field generators worked, she had nothing to fear; a seed of mind-killer had been steadily growing inside of her.
Still, no matter the woman's preferences, the duty called, and she answered as its dutiful servant. So, despite the ever-present fear, she covered the distance between her quarter and the ship's command centre. It was always a long and uneventful journey. However, it also caused the Inquisitor to reflect. Sometimes, she would think about something glorious, something worthy. But, it would not always be the reality. From time to time, the woman's mind would get flooded by conflicted ideas. But, of course, these were petty things, nuisances. For example, how could the ship's enormous haul and its passages feel simultaneously so empty yet crowded and filled with cacophonic noises? Nonetheless, Eleanor knew there was no worth paying attention to such topics. So, usually, she would shake her head, trying to get rid of these petty thoughts.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the gate leading to the bridge opened, allowing the Inquisitor to enter the commanding post. But as the woman stepped into the room, she momentarily looked to the sides. Just like she expected, two former Death Korps of Krieg members stood there, taking the vigil as she had commanded. Even though, for many, these loyal soldiers of the Emperor were but maniacs, the Inquisitor preferred them over other Astra Millitarum regiments. If one found a way to counter their self-sacrificing mentality, seemingly endless qualities could be found within these incredibly young combatants. Still, getting used to the constant sounds of breathing through gas masks was a hassle. And quite frankly, the process had not been completed in the case of von Ryke.
"Inquisitor," Rulf greeted his supervisor with his usual optimism. "The communication link to the local authorities has been established, and according to the tech-priests, it's stable and secure," he added, allowing a small smile to creep in.
"Patch us through, then," the Inquisitor stated in a bored tone. "I guess their word will have to do," she added coldly. "Captain, anything meaningful I should know about our voyage?" she questioned her ship's master.
"Nothing significant to report, Inquisitor," a relatively short, dark-haired woman responded. "It was a smooth sail. I expected it to be far bumpier if I could speak freely," she added.
"Captain, I do not like repeating myself," von Ryke responded, mixing a sigh with a scoff. "As long as you keep your professionalism, you are allowed to speak up your mind freely. But, unfortunately, I still can not hear the transmission working. So, how long do I need to wait?!" she loudly expressed dissatisfaction.
"Inquisitor, can you hear me?" a disembodied elderly male voice sounded through the vox link. Even though the woman could understand the words, the quality was far from perfect. The cracking and buzzing were mixing with the man's voice, creating something horrific to listen to. "Could you please say something, Inquisitor?"
"I hear you," Eleanor commented. "Is it possible to enhance the quality of the link? Currently, I can barely distinguish your words from the filter. But if it can not be done right now… then let's keep this conversation as short as possible."
"Apologies, Inquisitor," the man said immediately. "However, we haven't recovered our network infrastructure after the last raid. I can't do anything to enhance the signal."
"Did you say: raid?" the captain enquired.
"Let's start from the ground up: who are you?" von Ryke demanded to know. "I am Eleanor von Ryke of the Holy Inquisition."
"Lieutenant Rith Avengath, the current highest-ranking officer of Astra Millitarum on the Ragth," the man responded. "In any other circumstances, we'd welcome you – Inquisitor – with all the honours. But right now, I doubt it'll be possible. So, please forgive me, but I… no, we're humbly asking for your help, Inquisitor," he continued, his voice tight and exhausted.
Von Ryke took a moment to consider what she had heard so far. There was no doubt that Avengarth was a soldier. But, even though he seemed to be Emperor's loyal servant, he was no politician. And… because of that, too many conflicting and troubling emotions could be heard in his voice.
"Is there an available space for us?" the Inquisitor asked relatively quietly.
"We'll make enough for you, Inquisitor," the officer assured. "Will you descend in a smaller shuttle, or do you wish to dock the whole ship?"
"I will use something small," von Ryke said. "I will bring a small team with me, no more than 20 soldiers total. Prepare some accommodation for us, Lieutenant," she ordered.
"Then, I know everything," Avengarth commented. "We'll be waiting for you, Inquisitor, at the dock G43. Once you land, I'll have every piece of intel I have access to ready for your jurisdiction," he added.
"Very well, then, lieutenant," von Ryke responded mechanically. "Then, I consider this chatter concluded. Emperor protects, von Ryke out," she called out before nodding toward the crew to terminate the vox link.
For a brief moment, the Inquisitor went silent, crossing her arms, apparently analysing, thinking of what to do with the unexpected development. The crew sensed the aura around the Inquisitor thickening but knew better than to speak up. Hence, all bar one decided to mind their businesses and return to whatever they had been tasked with prior to the woman's arrival. As per usual, Rulf Todd was the one to approach his superior.
"What do you think, Inquisitor?" Todd casually asked.
"Too little to tell," Eleanor said plainly. "Though I have a nasty feeling that whatever causes havoc on Ragth might prolong my investigation," she added.
"Isn't it rather selfish, Inquisitor?" the assistant commented momentarily. "After all, the investigation's important, but as the Emperor's servants, it's our duty to serve. If we forsake that sacred duty…, we're no better than the Xenos we've pledged to eradicate," he decided to confront von Ryke openly.
"Todd, sometimes you are so naïve, so blind," the Inquisitor stated. "But… as much as it pains me, you are right in that matter. The Emperor has passed an essential mission upon us. Yet, sometimes his glory seemingly blinds us all. Von Innth, how long until my shuttle is ready?" she asked the captain.
"In 30, perhaps 45 minutes, it will be ready," Alline von Innth replied, not even facing the Holy Order's member.
"Speed it up," von Ryke uttered. "Todd, I want you to gather the supporting team. Whatever is lurking below Ragth's surface will not rather welcome us with open arms. So, pick up only the veterans; if the situation worsens, we will call for reinforcements. Von Innth, as soon as I land, keep the channel open, listening."
With these few orders distributed, Eleanor von Ryke turned around, leaving the bridge immediately. After all, there was nothing more to add. Not to mention that the Inquisitor strongly preferred action over words. Still, something deep down inside her consciousness kept warning her that the matter she was about to involve herself in might be more complicated than she wished.
…
It was a strange flight. As soon as the Inquisitor had boarded the shuttle, she had seemingly dazed off, disconnecting from reality. Even though she could still feel the acceleration, turbulences, and every other sensation related to the flight, her mind was elsewhere. But, for all, it was worth, that unexpected state had made the journey last less than a heartbeat.
When the hatch finally opened, the awfully warm air poured into the aircraft, carrying a mix of smells that tingled the Inquisitor's nostrils. But there was work ahead of von Ryke. She unfastened the belts before exiting the shuttle slowly. Somehow, she found this little effort exhausting, which did not bode well for her stay here.
As von Ryke stepped out, she was blinded by the sun's rays. The luminosity level was so intense the woman was forced to cover her eyes. But, what she saw was not exactly pleasant. One thing was painfully apparent, this was not the welcome she wished for, far from it.
This world had been wrought by the ever-consuming Imperium like hundreds of others von Ryke had seen before. Yet, even though the air was still breathable, it was heavy and hot, and somehow it reeked of plague. It was highly likely that Ragth had no natural water reserves, or at the very least, all the remnants were contaminated and polluted with Emperor knows what. Was it really necessary? Did humanity need these billions of souls to survive? Of course, as the Inquisitor, she knew that the order had an explanation for such questions. But, deep down, these questions still lingered, unanswered.
Von Ryke averted her gaze off the dying world scenery, focusing on the welcoming party arranged by the local officer. A singular glance was all she needed to identify Avengarth. He was a tall and possibly muscular man, slightly dwarfed by his age. Yet, he still stood straight, scanning the surroundings like a well-oiled machine ready to pounce at a moment's notice. His original skin colour must have been quite pale. However, Ragth's rather hazardous environment made it darker and tanned. The woman wondered how long he had been serving. But there was no denying that it must have been years since he had initially enlisted. As a result, many scars covered his face and exposed forearm.
"Inquisitor von Ryke, I take?" Rith Avengarth asked, taking a few steps toward the aircraft. "I'm Lieutenant Rith Avengath; it's good to have you on board, Inquisitor," he said once a quick nod was provided as the question's response. "If I may? I'd suggest hiding below the surface. I have some compartments prepared for you, Inquisitor. Just like you've asked."
"Lead the way, then," the Inquisitor stated. "Get me up to speed in the meantime," she requested.
"As you command, Inquisitor," the officer replied momentarily. "Anything particular in mind?"
"Simply start from the beginning of the problem," von Ryke urged the soldier. "You mentioned raids. If it does not require any further context, then start from it," she changed her mind a moment later.
"Very well," the Lieutenant replied. "See, Inquisitor, we have a slight problem with Drucharri. It started a little over a year ago. If I recall correctly, it was more-or-less the time Governor Ditch arrived. Initially, I wouldn't have described what they were doing raiding. Every week or so, these damned butchers would send a small team to infiltrate the hive cities. We couldn't catch them. Considering the negligible losses and the apparent elusiveness of these Drucharri, we stopped trying to hunt them down. I know that's not the best approach, but back then, it wasn't my decision to take," the man continued the story as they passed through the severely damaged hive city's surface.
"No, it is never a good approach to let the Xenos scheme," Eleanor commented quite harshly. "But… I assume there is more to it."
"More would've been an understatement," the soldier commented. "As time went by, the frequency of these pesky raids significantly increased, making it challenging to disregard. That being said, the Governor wanted the military to keep a low profile as much as possible. I believe… he tried to prevent the populous uprising. Considering the size of our garrison, I can see a reason. But… as more and more restrictions were added, my superiors didn't see a way to cope with the Governor. From my perspective, all he's done contradicted his words," he continued the story, unnoticeably allowing his tone to imbibe with a mix of regret and anger.
"Where is the Governor?" the Inquisitor asked after a brief pause.
No instant response was provided, meaning the man needed time to compose his words. Slightly contradicting her usual approach, von Ryke allowed the pause, spectating the surrounding in the meantime. It would have been a lie if the woman had said he liked the imperial constructions. On the contrary, she found certain aspects of it appealing, such as neo-gothic architecture. But the sheer unwillingness to scale down the size always put her off. The hive cities were a perfect example of this insanity. The towers climbed the skies as if trying to heaven. One would have thought that only building up would be a frail solution. But, then again, the imperial architects could not be described as sane and logical beings. Even though their constructions were impressive, there was a hefty price for each of these.
Nonetheless, considering the scale of damages and the number of smouldering areas von Ryke could see throughout their stroll, this hive city must have been through a lot. The soldier's story was obviously not concluded, meaning the woman might have learned a few more bits.
"I can't say for sure, Inquisitor," Avengarth finally broke the pause.
"Explain, Lieutenant," Eleanor demanded.
"Of course, Inquisitor," the man momentarily responded. "I can assure you, it's connected with my request for your assistance," he added defensively. "As you might not know, Inquisitor, Ragth's hive cities are somewhat uniquely built. You see, some had thought that grouping these colossal structures would be a wise idea. So, on Ragth, these cluster-like complexes were built on a perfect triangular plan. In the very centre of the triangle, there's a storage hub. Moreover, the distance between each hive is 100km, making communication a rather trivial matter, at least theoretically."
"I take the Governor resides in the other cluster?" the Inquisitor responded with a question of her own, but she did not hide her disappointment.
"No, that's not the problem," the soldier responded. "The main issue's that we've lost contact with the other two hives. And… during the latest raid, Ditch travelled to one of them," he clarified.
"What about the regiments stationing in these hives?" the woman asked, clearly dissatisfied.
"Complete silence, Inquisitor," Lieutenant said, casting his gaze downwards.
"You are avoiding something, Lieutenant," von Ryke commented. "What is it?" she wanted to know.
"It's only my speculation, Inquisitor, but… but, I fear that some guardsmen were turned into Drucharii puppets," he mumbled. "That, or we're facing a Chaos cult incursion. I can't really say which would be worse," he added.
"How long till the shelter?" the Inquisitor snarled.
"We should be under the surface in 10 minutes, max," Avengarth said.
"Good," the Empire's agent commented. "When we are in, I want you to tell me everything you know since the very first raid. And, Lieutenant, this time, I will not tolerate you skipping some parts of the story. If you do not cooperate, I will be forced to make you speak up," she informed the soldier.
"I'm aware of that, Inquisitor," the man stated. "I'll tell you everything I know. Hell, I'll bring you all the intel we have here."
"Good," the Inquisitor said coldly. "Pick up the pace, then," she ordered.
Author's notes section:
[2023-05-01]: Hey, here is a preview of the story's next chapter. Please, bear in mind that it is, as mentioned, a preview. Some parts of it might not be included in the final release. I will try to finish this chapter as soon as possible. I would like to clean up some of the tasks in my schedule, and right now, there are many chapters queued there. Please, bear in mind that this is my first text in the Warhammer 40k universe. And, even though I have read numerous books set in there, I feel like my view is not as clear as I would like it to be. Not to mention that this story will not be 100% compatible with the original lore. Nonetheless, it's safe to say that the idea for the story was triggered by two things. The first one is the influence of Majorkill's videos on YouTube. The second was more down-to-earth. Recently, I started playing Inquisitor: Martyr game, and I kind of liked the idea and the setting.
[2023-05-02]: Hey, I added some additional pieces and rewrote or adjusted some flawed parts.
[2023-05-08]: Hey, I have a small update for you.
[2023-05-21]: Hey, the chapter can be considered concluded.
Don't forget to comment. I really appreciate your feedback.
Note that the dialogues written in italic are thoughts.
As always, I would like to thank you for everything. See you soon :)
Changelog:
[2023-05-01]: A preview has been released.
[2023-05-02]: A small refactoring with additional pieces.
[2023-05-08]: Additional pieces with small refactoring.
[2023-05-21]: The chapter is finished, and the last review is released.
Info: I have included more stories in the schedule as I'm not 100% certain what I want to write next. Please, keep in mind that I might add or remove positions from the list. I might rewrite some of the older stories or extract some of the longer stories from `The story of one lost soul`.
Schedule:
- My home is where my heart lies (finish the WIP)
- Will you look past my mistakes? (finish the WIP)
- The family tree (finish the WIP)
- Exiled you say? (new chapter)
- The shadows can be deceiving (new chapter)
- Hidden in the mountain's shadow (new chapter)
- The war call (new chapter)
- Life is full of surprises (new chapter)
- The rise of the Blood Moons' servants (new chapter)
- Black Diamond (new chapter)
- The heart not so cold (move to the separate story)
- When the clock is ticking (Warhammer 40k new story)
- Sometimes it's just better not to know (new chapter)
- The broken heart (new chapter)
- Lifetime of war (new chapter)
Bonuses' section:
A new story taking place in the Warhammer 40k universe.
Story of one lost soul: The war call: rewrite.
An entirely new story (possibly Akali x [Irelia, Syndra, Katarina]).
A new short story (Vi x Cait).
An entirely original story (possibly even two stories, one taking place in medieval times, the other in the far future)
Bleach story. (Byakuya x Yoruichi / ?)
Naruto story. (Neji x Hinata / Neji x TenTen / Nagato x Konan)
Fairy Tail story. (most likely Erza x Mira)
Maybe some Star Wars?
References:
- Sabaton - Lifetime of War
*bonuses will be worked on when I don't feel like writing the chapters pointed out in the schedule :D
End of the author's notes section.