AN: You can tell this was written before the latest chapter dropped. Definitely not canon Zahariel

AN2: Was commissioned to write yet another omake report on Cain's shenanigans in the Sector.

Disclaimer: Warhammer 40k and associated franchises are the property of their respective owners. This is a fan work based on another fan work, I claim nothing that is not my own.

Commissioned by: Mackenzie Buckle

Ordered Sealed by Declaration of the Ordo Chronos Amberly Vail, Hero of the Imperium

A Brief Analysis on the Imperium-wide perception of Amberly Vail and a Synopsis of her Early History and Associates along with the Beginning of Her Downfall
By REDACTED
Autoscrived by Autoscribe Servitor #12512ds35

In the normal course of affairs, an Inquisitor is not someone who is widely lauded by the proles. Inquisitors often have an image of fear, specific characters may be particularly notorious but overall it is not by any matter typical for an Inquisitor to be considered a hero in a populist sense. The Imperium is a tree watered by the blood of martyrs, but its Guardians in the Dark do not so often step into the Light as Protectors. Lauded in certain circles for their work against those Within, Without, or even Beyond; or if a positive example is chosen, famed for a particular dramatic and explosively public confrontations with the foes of the Imperium where said foe is brought down and the Currency of the God-Emperor saved. But one typically does not laud an Inquisitor for their acts in public festivals held across entire segmentums as is the case with our particular subject. Vail's use as a figure of propaganda is also highly irregular and is typically regarded as a vast overreach by the Adeptus Administratum and the Departmento Munitorum. Yet as is eminently evident, it has gone through.

Vail is not a character that anyone seriously expected, before at the start of the career and especially the case now, to be acting without a backer. Their sudden rise to prominence cannot be anything but massaged, and whoever is doing so has an agenda that requires Vail to be raised so high. Said backer is also not allowing themselves to be named in any fashion whether by directly contributed deed or stamp of their authority. Such widespread manipulation of organizations as labyrinthe as the Adeptus Administratum to the ability to cause ripples in a sea of grass that is the nature of our own Imperium's sprawling nature, to be able to reach so far through unofficial channels speaks to a network that is ancient as it is widespread. Capable of the mobilization of that most precious and muzzled of resources, communication. Whether it be the gossip of Chartist Captains, rumors from Rogue Traders on the borders of the Astronomican's Light, or the rapid dispersal of information through the Astra Telepathica. The spread of Amberly Vail's name to even the most decrepit of Feral Worlder hovels is terrifying for one to consider. Members of our own Ordos, especially that of the Ordo Hereticus, have searched high and low. Resources have been dedicated, favors called in, time spent personally, all without result. Something that has left most to make the logical deduction that someone at the highest levels of the Ordos is the one holding the string behind their newest public agent.

One of the focus of our own investigation is backtracking Vail's efforts in an attempt to uncover a pattern or explanation behind their deployment and whatever goal their patron has. Her early actions before her induction as a full member of the Ordos are heavily redacted, to levels yet again anomalous even for our organization. The first minor record being her campaign to cleanse the Space Hulk Dolorous Tiding and then her subsequent deployment to the planet of Keffia and her leadership of the local Militarum forces to purge the planet of the Genestealer infection it had suffered. Her actions aboard the Dolorous Tiding are noted for a mix of reactions by the accompanying Mechanicus forces. Notable Magi praising her efforts to eliminate suspected tech heresy artifacts while also noting her requisitioning of material garnered from the Hulk before it's later controlled if not preplanned detonation. The circumstances and aftermath are included in relevant archives. It was here that her later prolonged association with the Adeptus Mechancius set its first step. Few have over their careers managed to garner such favors from both the Martian Adepts to the various Forge Worlds across our Grand Imperium.

As a considerable sidenote is the presence of one of her long term retinue members Caractacus Mott. Long a lesser member of the Inquisition, the augmented Savant has served the Inquisitor since almost the very beginning of her career. While a basic overview of his career is readily available in Ordo archives, his exact service history is conspicuously missing a number of parts without even attempting to be classified in any fashion. This leaves us with an incomplete Curriculum Vitae of his prior associations of which it is scattered enough to plausibly be redacted on its own. Mott however is known as a gambler, one whose use of their augmetics and lack of other particular vices seems to imply assisted covert operations over any sort of sinful behavior. While heavily granted the grace of augmetics along with being a veteran of service to the Ordos, Mott's personal combat capability is likely to revolve around trickery and hidden weaponry then any martial talent. It is expected they have an oversized importance to Vail's personal affairs, managing logistics and other matters to ensure Vail's actions are uninhibited by mundane affairs. The excess funds garnered from their various activities have not been subjected to any known audit and such a low priority path of potential investigation. The effort spent however is likely to not recoup any sort of cost and is to be left as a last resort in this author's opinion. However the possibility that Mott acts as a liaison or at least ear for Vail's hidden backer has led many to furiously scrutinize the elderly man's affairs, both metaphorical and at times literal.

Continuing on the note of Vail's retinue, it was at this point that Vail would garner another retinue member. Cogitator Yanbel was seconded on their own initiative to Vail's service during the operation to cleanse Dolorous Tiding. There they cooperated with Savant Mott both on and off the field of battle to catalog potential artifacts and other items of value. Cogitator Yanbel has served to complement the Savant's work in Vail's service while als serving as a point of contact for her activities with the Adeptus Mechanicus. It is expected that much of Vail's wargear can thus be indirectly tracked through the Cogitator's chain of service. Similar to our previous subject, Yanbel is not noted for a combat specialization, though their relative seniority in the Mechanicus will render them applicable for a considerable augmetic capability. Yanbel as a Cogitator will also possess significant ability in coaxing Machine Spirits or otherwise manipulating technology both sanctioned and not. Their forgeworld of origin is not on record and is considered a suspect subject to be investigated though it could easily be the case that Yanbel's origin is with a nomadic Mechanicus fleet. While unlikely to be a significant factor compared to the direct superiors and inferiors that Yanbel associates with, there are still potential levers through this retinue member that may uncover more information on Vail's activities and associations. If such efforts are not perceived and pushed against by the jealous nature of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

Returning to the previous chronological basis, regarding Vail's efforts on Keffia, it is noted to be her first major public use of Militarum forces. Her effective command of the regiments after a decapitation strike by Genestealer Cult forces managed to garner her reluctant praise by the surviving lower ranking officers at the time. Vail as part of her efforts planned and executed multiple operations that decisively struck the suborned planetary forces, leaving them off balance and in several personal actions splintering the forces to be cleaned up with only a modicum of effort. The planet being declared cleansed in a campaign that is shorter than the norm for such efforts. The lack of significant collateral was also well appreciated by later Administratum clerks assigned to oversee Keffia's return to the fold. No further follow ups by members of the Ordo Xenos have reported remnant Genestealer presence leaving the matter to be declared concluded. This was the prelude to her noted entanglement with personally commanding forces of the Emperor's Hammer. Such requisitioning and suborning of Regiments is a common factor by the Ordos, however direct insertion into the command structure rather than simply delegating command to existing regimental commanders is not. Still her rising ability at both command and personal skill at arms had their start here. Notable actions included the slaying of multiple Genestealers in close quarters with a pair of modified Helpistols the then junior Inquisitor had received from her earlier efforts on the Space Hulk. Weapons that in one form or another would be a part of her wargear for a considerable portion of Vail's career.

Where most would be able to find Vail again amongst the archives of the Ordos would be her involvement as a representative of the Ordo Xenos on a joint project with the Adeptus Mechanicus on the world of Perlia. How such a junior inquisitor could garner such a position seems to be the first overt sign of her patron's hand. Vail served mostly as an observer alongside her slowly growing retinue, the post being mostly quiet until the arrival of Waaagh! Korbul upon the planet. Whether instigated or the typical crude meandering of Orks is unknown at this point though subsequent events would lend a suspicious cast to the events. At the time of the invasion's early phase Vail had been coordinating elsewhere with PDF forces that were the remaining organized resistance on her entire continent, her unplanned Enclave on the planet being the last major strongpoint in Imperial hands after the disastrous attempts by the PDF to engage the Orks left them shattered. Such dereliction of duty taints their souls even in death as they left the planet's loyal citizens to be ravaged by Orkish Occupation. Vail would gather these wretched survivors during occasional ranging assaults to prevent a build up of Ork forces in the area, her beacon of fire drawing in those still willing to hold to their oaths. However the assault on the [REDACTED] artifact that was the focus of the project ultimately forced her out of position.

Rallying the entirety of her forces up to that point, Vail made a rapid march back to the project facility within a Mechancius hydroelectric facility. While too late to prevent the theft, Vail's stand over the last remaining up to that point archives led to the controlled breaching of the facility's dam by heavy ordnance. The deluge of the facility's reservoir managed to drown the vast majority of the planet's Waaagh forces who had gathered to lay siege to Vail's Army as it had been known at that point. Vail at the time noted in her reports that the demolition efforts had uncovered additional artifacts and she had subsequently dug in to secure them. However her fortification efforts would be interrupted by a surprise orbital assault by the remaining Ork forces, who desired to wipe clean the stain of their defeat at the Inquisitor's guile. Through their typical means the Ork forces on planet had learned of the defiance of Vail against their marauding ways and had through the effort of Ork Weirdboyz and Mekboyz taken a landed Ork Rok and teleported it into a suborbital position over the facility. Desperate barrages of Basilisk fire coordinated by Vail's retinue managed to divert the oncoming Rok before it impacted with deleterious effect on the Inquisitor and her forces. Most Ork forces were killed on breakup of the foul greenskin scrap heap though the Warboss and a small Nob force again managed to teleport their way to Vail's command post on the high ground. The duel with the Ork Warboss upon the remnants of the dam were well recorded as was the infamous defeat of the brutish Ork. The tale of the Warboss' literal fall is well regarded on Perlia even years later. Notable retinue members would be recruited from the survivors of her Army alongside a significant armsmen force that would elect to follow their leader. It would be an impressive tale that many managed to reach standards expected of Inquisitorial Stormtroopers in their service.

Yet now we come to the reason that efforts continue to be pushed to investigate a supposed Hero of the Imperium. The Inquisitor in question has been considered a "Puritan" amongst the standards of the Ordo Xeno, yet now we come to first of several incidents that would tar her as a "Radical" amongst any of the Ordos. Her continued association with the Arch-Heretic Ciaphis Cain. Considered now a Warmaster of the Foe, someone to be slain at all costs, yet despite multiple encounters the Inquisitor feints disbelief and foul sorcery that prevented her knowledge of the threat. The consequences for such have been dire yet no Conclave has managed to strike down our beloved Inquisitor, time and time again has the young Inquisitor been able to avoid even the mildest Censure for her acts and inactions.

The first act that started her on the for now possible Road to Corruption was the Gravalax incident. At the time the possible importance of this event was not noticed. It was upon the benighted world of Gravalax that such events unfolded. Pursuing a branch of the Cold Market that was trafficking in Tau artifacts or otherwise transhipping material through the weakened security of that world, it was here the Vail would meet the Arch-Heretic face to face. It is obvious from reports at the time that Vail did not even know that the seemingly Loyal and Imperial aligned mercenary was the Arch-Heretic. Neither did the Arch Heretic realize that the Adeptus Arbite disguised Vail was an Inquisitor. A failure of identification that somehow was unpunished and still is to this day. That day a dark and unholy alliance was founded under the supposed light of the Emperor to preserve his Imperium. The Heretic Within and the Loyal fought against first the forces of the wretched and minor Tau before the threat of the Tyranid Vanguard also was thrust into the Light.

Disguised members of the USA expeditionary forces, consisting mostly of turncoat Vallahan troops, were sent as armsmen with the disguised Inquisitor who had issued them false identification as Imperial Guardsmen. There the Arch Heretic himself acted as the public face of events, the backwater preventing any from realizing what foulness was in their midst. As the Heretic beguiled the local potentates both human and xeno, the Inquisitor searched for her intended targets. The incident can be found in detail in the archives but suffice it to say that the planet remained nominally in Imperial hands with the withdrawal of all the foul Tau xeno troops as a purge of the Genestealer presence was enacted. The Arch-Heretic and the Inquisitor were parted on seemingly good terms, the realization about the true extent of the other only coming to light at a later date. A single incident by a young but of good standing Inquisitor may have been not forgiven but not removed from memory. Instead the multitude of events even if only inferred from between the lines reveals the need to investigate further. It is-

[Record Ends. Author subjected to Code 13532bis, Autoscribe Servitor #12512ds35 to undergo Recommissioning by order of REDACTED. Record to be classified by order of the Ordo Chronos]

Thought for the Day: A questioning servant is more dangerous than an ignorant heretic

PS.1: Edited an error