Inquisition Data Packet =][=: Ordo of origin: Ordos Hereticus/Xenos...Subject: Children of the Mantle/Flood ...Authorization Alpha: Access Allowed

Ordo Hereticus/Xeno Joint Analysis: Flood/Children of the Mantle foreign relations and allies, part 2

This continuation is for high ranking officials, Imperial officers, Astartes and members of our most holy Inquisition. Anyone found with this document whom is unauthorized will be executed. Any reverent observers are advised to study the first data pack of this study.

The Flood and Mantle forces as we have learnt from the last documentation have had a large effect on the Imperium as a whole, so much so that a number of inquisitors believe that Humanity has been the most effected by them. This is factually wrong as we have learnt.

The effects the Flood or the Children of the Mantle have had on the wider galaxy has had massive repercussions on many if not all the established powers and have been a massive threat to even some of their existences. This section of the documentation will explain futher the effects the Flood have had upon our galaxy.

Section 2A: The Tau

"The Tau are not naive, they are ignorant"- Fleet Master Grevo 'Vama, Sangheili of the 32nd Covenant fleet. Personal warship [CSO-Class] Wanders in repentance

Tau relations with the Flood can be divided into three sections. First is that of the Tau Empire, second is the occupied zone and thirdly is formally known Farsight Enclaves. Or as they are now known as the Union of the Free tau. As one can guess the history between the Mantle races/Flood and the Tau are not as friendly as the Tau Empire would like.

To understand why Tau Mantle relations are so tense one must first look at their first contact. To begin the Mantle forces at the time (primarily that of the Ancient First path) was scouting the borders of Tau space, learning of their existence through Imperial knowledge. Soon these scouts found a irregularity in a section of Tau space, that of the Farsight Enclaves. After internal discussions the Mantle forces decide to contact the Enclaves in hopes of understand the Tau, worried about records of the Tau that the Imperium has on the primary Tau government and hoping it to be Imperial propaganda they had hoped to see if the tau could be another ally for them.

Contact was cautious but successful, but the Mantle diplomats quickly learnt that the primary Tau government was as controlling as Imperial records has said. The Enclaves had warned the Mantle of Ethereal's control over the Tau people and the twisted ways that they could control the other races, be they Xenos or Human. The Children although not exactly happy at what they learnt, were happy that the Enclaves were truthful and 'decent people'. Their words, not mine.

Soon enough a alliance began to form with the Enclave asking to join the Mantle for protection and a will to assist, however their contact was not as stealthy as they believed as a Tau invasion force soon attacked the Enclaves.

It is unknown if the Tau had detected the Mantles ships or there had been a spy for the Ethereal's amongst the Enclaves, what is known is what happened next. The Ethereals sent a task force as well as their own diplomats to the homeworld of the Enclave, Vior'los where the meeting were taking place. The Ethereals demanded that the Mantle stop negotiating with their renegades and join them in their 'Greater Good' and declared that the Enclaves were now under their control.

This went poorly as one could gleam from past statements.

Both the Mantle forces and Enclaves refused and rejected the Ethereals, and thus the Battle of Vior'los had begun. The battle was primarily a space battle that lasted 8 hours with small special forces unit battles on the world below that lasted about one Terran week, the battle began the first Tau-Mantle war. And we say first because we believe a second might be coming soon.

The Mantle not standing the arrogance of the Ethereals and angered at the lives lost thanks to it began to plan and act. The Ancient First were first to act, beginning Operation: Running Shield. Operation: Running Shield was a series of operations where the First would begin quick, hit and run guerrilla warfare actions against neighboring Tau worlds and destroy as much military equipment and infrastructure as possible, and whilst this was happening the First would also being to fortify the Enclave worlds with defensive structures and satellites. Such as the feared Super-MAC.

In the mid-point of the Operation, The Path of the Covenant acted with their 'Crusade of Humbling'. A number of four fleets were sent into Tau space and invaded properly the weakened worlds that the First had attacked, conquering a dozen systems in a year. The Tau were rapidly put on the back foot as the war continued and would of likely lost if it wasn't for a surprise intervention of a Tyranid splinter fleet entering tau space.

The splinter fleet had attacked a two systems next to the occupied areas, making themselves know to the Mantle. The Mantle forces seeing the Tyranids as the greater threat moved to act, allowing the Tau to build up their defenses. However the Tau would not have these defenses tested as the Flood itself became involved. The Flood had came to assist the Children in the destruction of the Hive splinter fleet and wiped them out in less than a year, the Tau observing thing tried the negotiation table. This was in some parts successful as the Flood demanded that the Tau relinquish the occupied worlds to the mantle factions and the Enclave, creating the occupied zone for the right to it's continued existence. The Ethereals although humiliated were forced into the peace after fears of total destruction of their Caste, as had been happening in the occupied zones as the Mantle had figured out how the Ethereals controlled the other Castes.

This has created a interesting para-dime amongst the tau, those descendant of the Enclaves are stout followers of the Mantle and the Flood and have gained many privileges thanks to it. The occupied zones no longer in control of the Ethereals are also slowly coming toward the mantle politically, but have some amongst the populous are assisting Ethereal resistance in the area. And finally we have the Tau Empire it self that appears to be arming it self to invade the occupied territories.

Thanks to this war we learn a fair bit more about the Tau. First is that although the Mantle hasn't told us exactly how the Ethereals control other Tau, we do know that it is neither natural nor tolerated by the Mantle/Flood. Second is that Tau FTL wasn't always machine based but was originally done by a pysker race called theNicassar, a race once described by a First soldier as a 'floating pancake bear'. And from photographic evidence we are inclined to agree with the description.

It should also be of note that inquisitorial soldiers are not allowed to put butter on captured Nicassar, it is liable to get them angry and make them open a warp rift inside of their cells.

Section 2B: The Necrons

"To hold the Mantle is not a blessing, it is a duty! And it is one that is rarely rewarding..."- Forerunner Warrior-Servant, Confirmed-Duty

The Necrons are at this current stage primarily at war with both the Forerunner path of the Mantle and in a state of civil war. This current state of being has both caused relief and worry for the greater Imperium as the Necron bring to bare there move advanced weapons both against themselves and the Flood and Forerunners.

Contact begun after reports came from refugees fleeing the Necrons initial expansion after their mass awakening, as New came out of a aggressive machine race that was highly advanced and capable of closing of our universe from the Warp the Flood and the Mantles factions became interested. Although initially worried from the reports of Necron atrocities, the news of the Necrons were building Blackstone Pylons had gave them a drive to come into contact with the robotic race to gain a weapon against the forces of Chaos. As even though out Floods and our ancestors existence, there had been no been no effect method to combat the Warp on mass.

The Forerunner faction, believing that the other Mantle factions may struggle against the high-tech weapons of the Necrons became the primary force that would engage against them. This fact is how we know what we know about the Forerunners, observation of their fights against the Necrons.

Initial contact went as well could of expected with the Necrons, they had threatened at attempted to destroy the first Forerunner ships to enter their space or in sectors that they were invading. This unlike most times where Necrons archeotech would make short work of many whom face them, The Necrons faced someone whom was equal to them technologically. This engagement became the wall that halted, or at least slowed the Necrons advance into Imperial space.

Battle's between the two factions have been described as titanic, with our sources and analysts barely able to tell what weapons they are using as more and more powerful archeotech is used daily. However the Forerunner have been slowly winning for two primary reasons.

First is that the Necron dynasties were not as united as originally thought to be, and second was their contact with the Necron known as Trazyn the Infinite. Contact with Trazyn had almost been accidental, discovered on one of the battlefields attempting to steal, although from what we have gathered he called it 'preserving', a Forerunner strato-sentinel. although contact nearly became hostile, one of Trazyn's attempted rants to the soldiers that found him made contact somewhat friendly as the commander quickly learnt about his 'museum'. Where the Commander then asked to see it.

Trazyn was happy to show them.

After Trazyn had sent the coordinates of his 'museum', a Dyson sphere. A delegation was sent, the delegation had spent days being shown the exhibits that Trazyn had made and was guided in this tour by Trazyn himself. During this a Flood diplomat form had asked questions about the Necrons past which Trazyn had answered if reluctantly as it was told to be a sore subject for the machine, however this changed when the Flood diplomat asked a question that would change the cause of the Necron species.

"Would you like to live again?"

From what the our delegate have been told Trazyn nearly attacked the diplomats, until Trazyn realized the Flood was being truthful and replied that it was impossible. The Flood replied with the question if he had any Necrontyr DNA samples.

Trazyn showed them a persevered body of a Necrontyr specimen, perhaps the last left in the entire galaxy.

What happened next is possibly a story, but the Flood supposedly took a sample of the Necrontyr and just... made a living Necrontyr, supposedly two. Living breath Necrontyr, male and female with souls. All in front of Trazyn.

It is unknown what exactly happened next, but what we do know is that Trazyn would become a ally of the Mantle shortly after and that he sent news to the Courts that the Necrontyr were a living species one more.

This was the start of the Necron civil war we are dealing with today.

The Royal courts learning of what happened and that their race could be restored to the living and souled beings became divided quickly between those who wished to return to flesh and those who wished to stay in their abominable bodies. This soon came to blows as the Dynasties began to form factions. The first are the Living necrons, Necrons dynasties that wish to return to the living or have, this faction is primary lead by the Silent King Szarekh. Second is the dead dynasties, Necrons that wish to stay as they are, this faction although not having a distinct leader is primarily represented by the Necron known as Kutlakh. And finally is the the divided courtesans, as smaller group of dynasties that declared themselves neutral in the civil war and primarily concentrate on outside forces, the have no distinct leader or represent.

The Necrons are in a state of divide and are distinctly enemies of the Mantle, however a growing populous of living Necrons are found on Mantle controlled worlds. With it believed that the robotic Necrons unable to rebuild their losses it is believed the Necrons of old maybe soon a distant memory.

Section 2C: The Eldar

"The worst lies are the one you made yourself believe."- Flood diplomat, designated unending seas

The Flood and the Eldar have a... strange relation with one another, primarily thanks to the two's conflicting debate's on precursor history. The Aeldari of most the Craftwolds and the higher levels of the Drukhari of Commorragh do not believe in Precursor history, or at least a large part of it. However the Flood combat this through their own logic, often stating flaws in their logic and holes in their knowledge that was believed by the Imperium to not be there. Either way the Eldars relations with the Flood are dependent of or factor.

Those factors being what caste of Eldar the member is part of.

The Drukhari for example are staunch enemies of the Flood with them trying to hunt the location of Commorragh fanatically. The Drukhari are also extremely careful to try and avoid the Flood after a event simply called the 'Haemonculus folly', a event where a unknown Haemonculus had gained a flood infection form and caused accidentally Flood out break in the city. Forcing the Drukhari to jettison a chunk of Commorragh into the Warp to prevent their own deaths. Attempts to prevent the Flood from finding them has been Pyrrhic at best to the Drukhari as they have been forced more and more to cut off paths in the Webway that connect to Webgates that the Flood or the Paths learn of, effectivly making raids less common but more desperate as of late.

The Exodites on the other hand are very much welcomed by the Flood, seen as a group that is fine to have diplomatic ties to. A number of Exodites have become members of the Children or Flood and have been able to do so safely without worries of She-Who-Thirsts eating their souls thanks to the Floods own manufactured afterlife. The Exodite whom assist the Flood and/or paths have started to be known as 'redeemers' amongst the Children, however amongst a number of circles of the Eldar another name has been used. The 'Judas'.

The Aeldari on the other hand are either neutral, allied or enemies depending on which craft world they come from. Many of the leaders disliking the idea of the Mantle being given to Humanity and worries of their origins having a more malicious side to it. However a number of leaders also see the logic and wisdom of the Flood and have made strides to become allied with the Flood to at least make sure their race may survive.

With Craftworlds like Biel-Tan attempting to war against the Flood and Mantle or in alliance with them like the Craftworld Iyanden, many a Imperial scholar and diplomat wonder if a number of these Craftworlds will exist in the not to distant future. Be it through destuction or through becoming part of the Mantle. Either way there is one more faction of the Eldar to talk about. The Ynnari

The Ynnari although technically allined with the Flood have a strange alliance. Although alined the Ynnari have a mutlitude of members from many of the different factions of the Eldar, many of which are enemies of the Flood. And although they are happy to fight along side one another, there have been plenty of recorded incendent of infighting. Both with debate and violence.

End of Synopsis

Whilst we can talk about the about the interactions the Flood have had with the Orks and the Tyranids, the fact of the matter is that the Flood and the Mantle have them squarely in the eradication section of their doctrine with only matters being that of battle analysis. Which this document isn't meant to cover. However we hope that these documents have helped to teach you on how the Flood engage with the more major Xenos powers, and whilst we there are documents available for their interaction with a significant number of the lesser Xenos. We would recommend other studies for better understandings as this is meant to be a primer of understanding the diplomatic situation both in and outside our borders.

End of documentation, Emperor protects!

End log

Eight pages! I hope you guys enjoy!

Also a question, I need advice on what to write next as I have a few ideas.

Idea one is a continuation of Precursor history in the Human era, with after being documentation on both the introduce Halo races and their history and perhaps army building.

Second is more of in universe stories, primarily of the fights going on it the galaxy. What would people prefer?