The Doom of Red Siliquastrum

[Carrack]

The Red Doom of Siliquastrum

 

In the latter days of the 41st millennium, the Siliquastrum Sub Sector was beset by the Black Maw, a Black Legion Warband led by the infamous Lord Carrack, the Slayer of Multitudes. In these dark days tragedy knocks on every door and calls out to the young and old, the rich and poor alike. Prophesies of doom are as common as flies over a decaying corpse. Most should be ignored as the ravings of madmen, but some have a kernel of truth that must be heeded at all cost. Sit back and purview the reports, stories and myths that tell the tale of the Red Doom of Siliquastrum, and hopefully learn what you can from these cautionary tales.

 

Author's note:

these stories were all submissions to the weekly Inspirational Friday writing contest on the CSM board. These contest are great ways to practice writing and build up your background. They are in no way limited to CSM and indeed many of my stories are from Imperial perspectives. The submissions I am reposting here are all loosely tied together stories around a single 500 point game I played against a friend's Black Templars. (I need to play more!) I have tried to bring the stories together in a more complete arc. I hope you enjoy, and as always C and C is welcome. I have used spoiler boxes to separate the submissions and break the stories up into bite size, or coffee break size chunks.

 

 

These tales do not begin in the vaunted halls of the sub sector court inside the Red Hive of Siliquastrum. Indeed, they begin with the fall of one of its vassal worlds, Frederic III and one of its noted worthies.

 

Nourished by Hatred

 

Cardinal Weaver should have been finished. Not only did he loose his congregation, the entire world of Frederic III, but he lost them to damnation at the hands of the sons of mankind's most hated traitor. If this alone wasn't enough to finish his ecclesiastic ambitions, it was well known that he fled his parish before resistance to the Black Legion had ended. This should have marked him as a coward and at best left him cloistered in some lesser monastery to finish his days in penance, at worst, trial before an unforgiving ecclesiastic court. To make matters worse, Cardinal Weaver was the second son of a merchant house on Frederic III, not of noble blood, not destined for greatness, even considered an upstart to have ruled as a prince of the Ecclisiarchy. What should have ruined, incarcerated, or even burned Cardinal Weaver, saw him rise to heights rarely achieved by a man of such station.

 

Cardinal Weaver fled the fall of Frederic III on a lowly coal hauler that was evacuating the worthies before the might of Lord Carrack's invasion force. After a turbulent and humbling voyage the disgraced Cardinal finally docked in the Sub Sector seat Siliquastrum, a teaming hive world. While the other surviving worthies fled to the estates of cousins and allies, Cardinal Weaver disembarked and immediately made for the worker hab blocks of the Red Hive. For 37 days he preached to the masses with great fervor, denying himself food, wine and all but the shortest of rests. His sermons and oratory captivated the workers who at first came out just to see a cardinal, their own cardinal rarely seen outside of the highest of society. Weaver preached penance and self mortification through fire and the scourge, but the message of all of his sermons was that of crusade. Crusade to take back Frederic III from the Black Legion who now named it Hell's Holdfast.

 

The fab workers, drones, and even gangers of the lower hives fervently followed the Cardinal's message which began to be disseminated throughout the Red Hive and broadcasted in several other hives on Siliquastrum. The Factorums began to fear seditious worker organization would be the outcome of Cardinal Weaver's movement, and some donated large offerings to the movement in order to placate their workers new found zealotry. Others saw this as blackmail and pleaded their case to the nobles, and their own reigning Cardinal, Cardinal Reginaldo IX. Although investigations proved these fears baseless, they were still cautious.

 

This is when Administration Adeptus Clovis stepped in with a plan for Cardinal Weaver. Adeptus Clovis had foreseen declining tithe grades in the lower manufactorums of Red Hive and a few other hives due to deteriorating equipment and a decreasing labor pool of skilled workers holding any prime skill level or higher. Clovis estimated that within the next fifty years all of these manufactorums would be mothballed and the surplus workers would cause social unrest. The Lord Governor of Siliquastrum concurred with Adeptus Clovis and launched several foundings of Imperial Guard regiments formed from these workers and had Cardinal Weaver's Crusade officially sanctioned.

 

Cardinal Weaver was then elevated out of the worker habs and moving in the high society of the sub sector court. Here Weaver gained the support of the rogue trader Barnus, who was eager to prove his faith after suffering the scrutiny of the Ordo Xenos, and pledged the service of his merchant fleet in the coming Cardinal Weaver Crusade. He also was able to win the support of other influential allies including Inquisitor Ignacio and Brother Captain Karl of the Angels of Immolation chapter.

A mere four years after the fall of Frederic III, the Cardinal Weaver Crusade was launched. The plan of attack called for a link up of the Imperial Guard regiments carried by Rogue Trader Barnus's fleet and the crusade strike force from Battle Fleet Siliquastrum, as well as the Astartes Strike Cruiser Pyromania. This link up was set for the primary translation point in the Fewod system. From there the crusade could make the short jump to the Frederic system and arrive in better fleet cohesion for the planetary assault.

Disaster struck. Lord Carrack's grand cruiser Bitter Revenge, along with a large school of escort vessels, some Black Legion, some belonging to smaller Chaos Astartes warbands, and others merely ragged renegade pirate raiders were waiting at the translation point. Which they had heavily mined. As the crusade vessels staggered into the system they were taken apart piecemeal. The Bitter Revenge would sit back at extreme range striking the incoming vessels with its lances as the mines forced the Imperial captains to risk massive damage or slowly navigate out of the danger zone. Meanwhile the speedy and maneuverable frigates and destroyers would make dancing attack runs through the mine field and make precision attacks on the hobbled vessels, much the way a pack of wolves wear down a much larger prey animal.

Few Imperial vessels survived the Battle of Fewod. From Battle Fleet Siliquastrum, two light cruisers, a tender, and a frigate escaped with minimal damage. These ships all had inexperienced or inferior navigators whom missed the translation point by a sufficient distance to clear the minefield and subsequently flee. The Astartes Strike Cruiser Pyromania, feigned damage until a pirate raider, Left Hand, made an attack run, once the Left Hand had closed, Pyromania launched thunderhawks and quickly seized the ship and set it on a suicide run clearing a path of egress through the minefield for the Space Marines to safely translate to the Ether and escape. Trader Barnus screened his flagship, an up engined, under gunned cruiser with his merchantmen, who were conveying 16 regiments of the Emperor's Hammer. Protected from the Bitter Revenge's lethal lances, Barnus swiftly maneuvered his flagship through the minefield and jumped to the warp. Barnus carried Cardinal Weaver on board, who was the spiritual figurehead for the crusade, but due to the Decree Passive, not in command. It is said by the few loyalist, and the many traitors who survived Fewod, that the graceful maneuvering of Barnus helmsman through the minefield at full speed would have been a thing of legend had it not been an inglorious retreat and covered by the callous sacrifice of the guardsmen he was tasked with safely conveying to battle.

 

Fault for the disaster of Fewod has been publicly placed on spies for Lord Carrack believed to have infiltrated the Rogue Trader Barnus's network and found the plan for the Fewod link up. In truth though, Cardinal Weaver had made more enemies then friends in Siliquastrum's court and many nobles and bishops were eager to see the populist cardinal fail. Some suspect that jealousy may have sunken one courtier so low that he betrayed the crusade to Lord Carrack.

 

What is known is that Cardinal Weaver (and Barnus) was unseen in civilized Imperial space for a decade when the twice failed priest returned to Simiquastrum. The sub sector court and the Cardinal Reginaldo IX wanted Weaver divested of position and authority, censured, and possibly tried in ecclesiastic court. However, the humbled cardinal had immediately sought refuge in the palace of Inquisitor Ignacio and was unassailable there. The cardinal was not seen in public for almost another decade, and it was rumored that he had fallen upon his sword, it was certainly suggested that he do so by many of his rivals and even some of his allies.

When Cardinal Weaver did finally make a public appearance it shocked all who formerly knew the handsome young prince of the Ecclisiarchy. He was emaciated, hunched and prematurely aged. Years of penance, prodigious fasting, and self flagellation had ruined his health and appearance. He looked more of a maddened beggar than the one time spiritual leader of a world. Equally shocking to his appearance was his company as he approached a podium set up for Martyrs Remembrance Day festivities. For alongside the Cardinal and Inquisitor Ignacio, was an Angel of Death in black power armor and white cross. Marshal Clarence of the Black Templars. Marshal Clarence had agreed to lead his brethren against Lord Carrack and the flames of the Cardinal Weaver Crusade were rekindled.

The Black Templars are obtuse when questioned on how many Astartes participate in any given crusade, but Marshal Clarence commanded his Knights from the battle barge, Sword of Terra, flanked by a pair of strike cruisers, certainly a formidable force. Marshal Clarence plan to bring the Emperor's Wrath to Lord Carrack was called Operation Chevauchee. The Marshal knew he had naval superiority, but insufficient ground forces to impregnate the Hell Holdfast of Frederic III, which the Black Legion had been fortifying for 24 years. He instead planned to cut the direct lines of supply between Frederic III and the Eye of Terror, harrow the lesser conquests of Lord Carrack's warband, and engage in scorched earth tactics upon Imperial lands that Lord Carrack frequently and successfully raided. This last part of the plan was understandably unpopular among the local rulers and the sub sector court, but the Marshal did not answer to these mortals and deemed it militarily necessary. The overall goal of Operation Chevauchee was to draw out Lord Carrack so he could be defeated in space or brought to battle on a more favorable field.

Operation Chevauchee has been on going for 12 years. Some of this time is due to the vagaries of warp travel. Marshal Clarence has yet to bring Lord Carrack into a major engagement as he wishes. However, he has halted Lord Carrack's advances away from the Eye and denied him easy plunder. Marshal Clarence's zeal eclipses his patience and he grows ever bolder in his raids, hoping to leave Lord Carrack with no choice but to engage him on less than favorable terms.

Cardinal Weaver may never again walk the halls of the Siliquastrum court, but he has taken once again to walking danker and simpler halls. He preaches in barns to farmers on dusty agri worlds. He preaches on contested street corners in underhive hab blocks. Sometimes he preaches openly, sometimes with a great red hood concealing his features. The popular anonymous tract "Nourished by Hatred" is believed to be penned by Cardinal Weaver. In the wake of Cardinal Weaver's passing, Frateris Militias form and the lines at the Guard recruitment stations swell.

 

One man, undaunted by failure, unbroken by defeat, consumed by revenge, has proven a greater threat to Lord Carrack than any other enemy.

 

 

Of the true fate of Frederic III after its conquest by the Black Maw little is known by Imperial Intelligence other than fragmented reports and second hand accounts. The best of these is has been compiled by Inquisitor Ignacio and is presented here for your review.

 

A collation of reports of the investigations conducted by Throne sanctioned agents of his most holy inquisitor Markus Ignacio, the scourge of heretics and annihilator of the Warp-spawn. This summary focuses on the reconnoiter of the former imperial world Frederic III, the so called Hell's Holdfast of the infamous Lord Carrack, Scion of the accursed Black Legion. This collation is done at my hand, interrogator Sevolp at the demands of my master Inquisitor Markus Ignacio, may the Emperor guide his hand and purify his purpose.

 

Preface: a small lighter was able to infil the outskirts of the Frederic system and approach the northern hemisphere of Frederic III using advanced stealth systems and a fortuitous astronomical aligning of the system defenses. This alignment will next occur in 466 standard years, barring unforeseen rearrangement of the systems defenses. Six Throne agents were inserted via low orbital / low engagement grav chute drop. One of these, agent Gamma, was confirmed dead on landing due to striking a cliff face at near terminal velocity, may he rest with Him on Terra. Another agent, Epsilon, likely failed the drop, with unforeseen wind currents carrying her past her designated LZ and auspex range. Her estimated actual LZ is deep into the western sea. The Emperor protects. Agent Phi landed on target and confirmed his landing, but no further contact has been made. The Emperor protects.

1. Agent Rho- noviate grade agent our master recruited from a penal legion. Skilled in hand to hand fighting and quick witted.

Agent Rho was tasked with infiltrating the tribal societies that inhabited the fringes of the northern polar regions and conduct a survey of the orbital defense guns and lances to ascertain if this would be a suitable approach for ground invasion.

Agent Rho successfully infiltrated the Ursgatch ( greater white bear) tribe and soon learned that foul Chaos Astartes were using the tribe, along with the neighboring, warring tribes as stock for aspirants. To this end, they stunted technological innovation and embargoed trade with the rest of the world. He heard tales of great tournaments of single hand combat held in the past in order to take larger numbers of aspirants but at present they only took youths who were particularly successful at their rites of passage. The rites of this tribe involved retrieving an object from the den of a White Greater Bear.

In regards to orbital defense of the northern polar approach he was able to survey a fully operational lance array which he believed most closely matched a Mars XII pattern. He said it appeared well defended from the ground and in good order. He was limited in surveying the other site due to the slow mode of travel. (Dog sled?). He was believed captured in transit to a macro cannon battery by a tribe hostile to the Ursgatch. Unconfirmed reports state he was consumed after extensive torture. His psycho indoctrination and and hypnotic failsafes, along with the faith and loyalty of a true agent of the Throne undoubtably protected the operation from such crude measures. Ave Imperitor.

2. Agent Xi- Acolyte grade Throne agent. Recruited from Scholam St Cashis (endowed and founded by our master)

Agent Xi was commanded to infiltrate the villages that support the citadel hive known as Howler's Charn, believed to be the principal base of operations for the infamous Slayer of Multitudes, Lord Carrack. She was to survey the loyalty and readiness of these villages, believed to be a bellwether of the majority of the world's population. Once complete she was tasked with finding the most suitable approach to Howler's Charn and assay the exterior defenses of the citadel from ground level.

Agent Xi was, as usual, extraordinary successful in infiltrating the Tancorey Township. Embarrassingly so, she even was placed on some city council within her third week. She reports that the township and indeed most of the world exist as a feudal possession of Lord Carrack. His vassal in charge of the township, and other assorted domains was a Black Legionnaire named Vander. Vander is an absentee landlord who leaves day to day operations to local authority and only makes annual visits to collect the towns tribute of coal and wool. A tribute that leaves the residents destitute and famished but the town has not failed to meet in living memory. Orthodoxy to the dark gods is maintained by wandering preachers who call themselves Disciples of Lavam. (Believed to be Dark Apostle of Lord Carrack's warband in charge of his mortal cultists.). Sometimes these false disciples are accompanied by youth gangs from Howler's Charn who prey on those deemed unfaithful.

As to readiness she claims that the town is a miners town and it's people are miners but a rudimentary armory exist and during infrequent holidays and protracted maintenance of mining equipment the able bodied men conduct rudimentary militia training. The pastoral elements of the township are more apt to hunt on the side and engage in rustling that occasionally erupted into almost low level warfare.

The defenses of Howler's Charn are formidable. Agent Xi reports extensive wire and tank traps impede the approaches along with draw bridges, minefields, and something she reported as Daemotraps. These are covered by bunkers, patrols and aerial surveillance. The city itself is protected by a curtain wall of composited metals containing adamantine, as well as obvious void shield generators. Gun emplacements provide enfilading and plunging fire across every approach. Agent Xi observed ship to orbit traffic made with launches propelled by engines only capable of reaching a nearby orbital station. Her reports conclude that there is not any one approach that would prove more easy on an invading ground force.

3. Agent Delta- Inquisitor -redacted- recently promoted by - redacted-.

Agent Delta volunteered to infiltrate the citadel hive of Howler's Carn and survey the defenses. If possible he was to gather information on the strengths, movements, and goals of the vile Doom of Kasr Woolten, Lord Carrack. He was also equipped with a frequency emitter, that when activated would interfere with a void shield emitter and allow a brief moment of safe teleportation.

Agent Delta, posing as an envoy of a notorious rogue trader entered the city on the pretense of dealing with a xenotech process to dispose of dangerous radiation. He reported finding great difficulty in getting close to any corrupted Astartes or even any mortals of any significance within Lord Carrack's organization. He did make extensive contacts with the Zanazar Network who openly trade with Lord Carrack. ( reference z-delta II-XXI) After a week of shuffling from minor functionalities and being repeatedly steered to dealing with other third party traders who had a more established relationship with Lord Carrack, the true vetting of Agent Delta began. This was several days of interviewing by mortal servants of the Black Legion conducted in chief by a mutant who held the title of "chief inquisitor", Emperor damn these blasphemers. This week concluded with an interview by Legionnaire Copil. This Copil was irritated with having to conduct this interview and reportedly slapped Agent Delta across the mouth breaking his jaw and shattering his front teeth. Agent Delta, unwilling to put his health under the attentions of the heretics of Howler's Carn, self reports starting an intensive obscura addiction to deal with the injury. The following week Agent Delta is mind scanned by a hunched mutant chained to a psi amp. He reports the sorcery used by the mutant to be the most intense experience he ever experienced but survived with his cover intact largely due to the fuddled, fogged state he was in from excessive obscura.

I, however, doubt his passing of this examination because no further reports were received from Agent Delta other than a scrambled fragment with the name and designation of a Black Legionnaire

Paimun. Agent Delta's incomplete defensive overlay of Howler's Carn is included with this report, what is there is very detailed and will certainly be of use for operation - redacted- the location of the frequency emitter is noted under Delta Prime.

Addendum: The passage of bio signs consistent with Agent Delta were reported on - redacted- shortly before the incident occurred there.

 

 

 

 

In the years before the tragedy at the Red Hive, the Black Maw Warband began a raid in the Siliquastrum sub sector. This raid captured planets, stole vast resources, and killed millions of innocents and brave defenders. Even when the heretic's were driven off, they left their foul taint for the righteous to endure for years to come. The following letter illustrates this fact, as well as the level of forces that the Black Legion had sent against us.

 

Dear Esteemed Logis-Curator Mansheel,

While conducting the purge of Poe V, following the successful liberation of said planet during the ongoing Cardinal Weaver Crusade, I discovered intelligence that may be of some use to your honored brotherhood. I was reviewing ex post facto field execution notes from the commissariat, when I stumbled across mention of what I believed to be a dreaded Black Knight, blessedly felled by mass lascannon fire during the Battle of Trihorn Pass.

 

Apparently a Munitorium Scribe was tasked with transcribing all identifying markings of destroyed enemy vehicles at the battlefield and took his tasking too literary. He would include a brief description of the vehicle along with pict recordings and then list all markings still legible on the vehicle in question. The intent, of course was just to ascertain what traitor units took part in the battle and adjust their perceived strength accordingly. However, this poor fool had been transcribing blasphemous chaos iconography for 3 days straight. Finally, a commissar walked up to him and in his words, "Put a bolt round into that gibbering lunatics hat holder." He included the data slate the scribe was using but confessed he didn't bother with reviewing it himself. I myself, could find no fault with the commissar's actions, as it is clear by the degrading quality of the scribes descriptions and even his penmanship, that his tasking was doing irreparable damage to his sanity. Interestingly his transcriptions remained spot on.

 

The poor quality pict along with the scribes description of the vehicle seems to point to a Knight Paladin, but I imagine your brethren will be better suited than I in identification of make and mark. The Black Knight was found on the, excuse my vagueness, third horn of the Trihorn Pass, a series of low saddles across the Trihorn Ridge. This marked the furthest advance of any enemy made in the defense of this pass.

 

The scribe transcribed one of what he believed to have been originally ten vellum scrolls affixed to the Chaos Knight with an amber wax. He was shot during this transcription and the battlefield was later shelled fore to rear as well as flank to flank by Earthshaker rounds and my flamer teams had completed their work the morning I got to this report. My apologies, but this sort of thing is what my purge is intended to accomplish. Here follows the last transcription of this nameless Munitorium scribe, may The Holy Throne protect even His foolish servants.

 

Hatreds Only Satisfied in Blood M41

 

004.M41 -Mars- reduced spare parts by half over 100 years in violation of Falcon House Accords.

 

111.M41 -Mars- demanded double tribute in grain and produce until further notice in violation of Falcon House Accords

 

114.M41 -Xenos Eldar-a cowardly ambush shot down 6 orbital lifters and slayed as many knights without chance for honorable combat

 

114.M41 -Mars- refused honor duel to settle violations of Falcon House Accords

 

137.M41 -12th Cadian Mechanised IGR- failed in promised infantry support during Assault of White River

 

145.M41 -Entire Family of Lord Marshall Lamont- involuntarily extended service without recompense

 

199.M41 -Mars- ignored pleas for complete refurbishment of all House Falcon Knights

 

211.M41 -House Gryphon- forced a Knight duel with drunken Lord Dalin despite Lord Dalin's extensive battle damage and non functioning systems

 

216.M41 - Xenos Eldar - raid on House Falcon stables destroyed vital equipment and slew House Sacristants

 

230.M41 - Mars - seized all reserve Knight carrier ships assigned to House Falcon

 

313.M41 - Senatorum Imperialis- denied and rebuked petition to enforce House Falcon Accords upon Mechanicum

 

315.M41 -Lord Inquisitor Pale- investigated House Falcon and abducted several members in violation of House Sovereignty

 

319.M41 -Imperium of Man- For violating every treaty, accord, or agreement with House Falcon. For whittling away our strength and insulting us at every level. For abandoning us upon the field of battle time and time again. For exposing our home world to predations of the Alien. For claiming to rule in the name of a man long dead seated on a throne of lies. Death to the False Emperor and his Martian Liars!

 

Post script. I have never heard of House Falcon before or after it's apparent fall. I understand the need for secrecy in these matters, but any information your Brotherhood can provide us may be vital to operational success in this ongoing crusade. It is difficult enough facing the Black Legion and their mobs of cultist and warrior covenants, but Knights rule battlefields. If you can't divine the threat we are facing can you see that your superiors mobilize Knights of our own. I know you find my emotional pleas disconcerting, but I am begging on behalf of my superiors for the Adeptus Mechanicus to take a direct action in this crusade.

 

Whatever the outcome, may this message find you well. I realize that emotions do not even register with you anymore, but I still consider you my friend.

 

Reply. Ministorum Priest Thomas Hector,

Cease and desist all communications on the previous subject matter excepting any additional information you have to relay to me in regards to Knight House Falcon. Furthermore, purge all copies of the data slate in question immediately. A task force is being sent to ensure this is done and to assist in identifying any other alleged Fallen Knights. The Flesh is Weak. Logis-Curator Mansheel.

 

 

 

One of the many worlds that the Black Maw visited atrocities upon was the Imperial World of Cantu. Cantu as you know has been quarantined by the Inquisition, awaiting Exterminatus. The fate of the world is a closely guarded secret, but I have uncovered a heretical text that sheds light on both its fate and the nature of this "Lord Carrack" the lord of the Black Maw.

 

Revelations to Jodi 1-3

 

1. Upon the Promontory Rock

 

A thunderous wave crashed off the promontory rock, sending salty spray 20 meters into the air, and sea foam rushing over the legs of both myself and the subject of my interview, Lord Carrack, Slayer of Multitudes. The giant Chaos Lord was unmoved and unperturbed by the raw power of the sea and continued staring out into the grey horizon with his helm clutched in the crook of his left arm. His axe haft rested on his other shoulder held by the grip with his right gauntlet, at rest, yet not stowed. The natural violence of the sea did not, however, leave me unmoved. The rushing surf swept my boots off the algae slick rock with the incoming rush. The armor weave in my leggings was reinforced with a synthetic padding in the knee, likely the only thing keeping my knee from shattering. Worse yet, as the wave rescinded it threatened to take me with it back to sea to undoubtably be crashed on the rocks with the following waves. Still, I was able to scramble to my feet and sprint to the shelter of a jutting protrusion near my lord before the next wave tried its best to kill me and destroy this rock that had the audacity to interrupt the shoreline and reach into the sea. I crouched near the mighty Lord Carrack clutching the protrusion with both hands, drenched to the bone, salt water and wind messing my hair and composure alike. I fear I resembled a wet rat, more than a Disciple of Lavam.

 

After a long pause, I am sure orchestrated to demonstrate the gross inequality between he and I, the Doom of Kasr Woolten, Lord Carrack, spoke to me in a voice that was not shouting, but easily carried over the violent sea, "Who are you and why do you trouble me while I reflect on our latest victory? I knew he already knew the answers to his questions, but was allowing me permission to start speaking with a more easy response than some of the questions he knew I would ask, in order for me to regain some of my dignity. I took a deep breath and answered,"I am Jodi, Disciple of your Dark Apostle Lavam. I have been sent here to ask of you questions that our Discipleship can pen into tracks and hymns that will be used to enforce your will on this new land and lay the foundations that will both ensure the loyalty of your newly conquered slaves and separate them from the false devotions of the cursed Imperial creed."

 

For the first time in my twenty three years of life Lord Carrack, a demigod of war, a leader of a Black Legion Warband, my ultimate Liege Lord, looked me in the eye. It was not a pleasant experience. The power of the sea was a pale reflection of the power in his eyes. The bleak gray endless horizon was a shadow of the bleak grayness in his eyes. He said to me, "Lavam occasionally does gestures like this interview in order to prove his loyalty to me and to tell me he has no designs on instigating a revolt on my authority. I think this gesture is genuine, for the moment, and will proceed. If my instincts tell me otherwise, I will send him a message with your skull,". He said this without any malice, or threatening tone, merely a statement of fact. "Very well, you may proceed."

 

I began with a carefully rehearsed preamble telling him I, of such insignificance was apprehensive about asking questions of such an imposing Lord, when he immediately cut me off, "I know you are fearful, I hear your heart beating at a rate consistent with a fleeing guardsmen. You are shivering more than what the cold water would cause. Your pupils have expanded similar to a prey animal about to take flight. All of this in spite of the sedative smoke that lingers ever so slightly in your wet cloak and hair. Skip the pleasantries and ask your questions."

 

Lord Carrack acknowledging my fears only seemed to amplify them, but I pressed on, "Of which legion of old or mighty chapter did you bear the colors in battle and what was your calling in those ancient days?" He stared at me for another moment raising my anxiety further and said, "Originally I was a Legionnaire in the Luna Wolves, you most likely have not heard of them, but that was the original name of the XVI Legion at the early and middle stages of the Great Crusade. I started out as a regular Legionnaire, but was quickly field promoted to squad Sergeant following the loss of our Sergeant to a green skin's claw."

 

2. Under the Gloom Tree

 

 

With the first and easiest question answered, the dreaded Lord Carrack spun on his heel and walked back to the beach, sweeping me under his great red cloak trimmed with the pelt of a Greater White Bear. I was thankful to be escorted off the treacherous promontory rock, but wary of being in such close proximity to a warrior in grand terminator plate festooned, as it was, with barbed hooks and cruel spikes. I should not have worried, Lord Carrack wore his spiked, bulky terminator plate with as much ease as I would wear a night shift. He walked me up the beach to a makeshift command post underneath a massive tree with gnarled roots extending dozens of meters. A map table sat before an Astartes size campaign chair. To the left an orbit capable vox unit had been erected with its antenna lashed to the side of the tree trunk with vines. Attached to the vox was what could only have been an encryption module. To the right was a runic circle three meters in diameter carved into the stump of a larger tree the circle was bisected with the Eye of Horus painted in blood in the eastern half, and the remains of a bloody, burnt offering in the left. PDF officers decorated the trees, some hanging from their necks, but most dangling from brass hooks or even their own entrails. A scattering of thralls, hunched, malformed, and hideous attended the machines as they were ignored by my lord. A squad of Black Legion Astartes loitered around the command post, weapons ready and casually monitoring both the vox and the circle. As we entered the command post Lord Carrack continued, "I fought for millennium as the champion of my squad. As I did I constantly forged bonds of honor and blood with my peers and others whom could be important to my goals. When my predecessor, Prince Huma, ascended to his current status amongst the Lords of Daemons, he bequeathed the Black Maw to, as he stated, "the strongest". I was among the contenders, and because of my careful politicking, only had to duel one other contender to gain my command of the Black Maw."

 

I have always been convinced of my own intellectual superiority. I studied the teachings of Lavam harder and longer than the other Disciples. I always won debates with the other Disciples of Lavam. This feeling of superiority came to an abrupt end, when I posited a question to Lord Carrack. I had the audacity to ask, "The illustrious Lavam teaches that all of the Great Four are equal and like the four points of the compass. He teaches that the path to enlightenment may go through a single god like a path may go east or west, or that enlightenment may be reached by going inward and balancing the Great Four as you might balance a compass. It is well known that you, great lord, follow the path of Khorne. How then do you lead a band of warriors who are often traveling a different path than yourself?" He donned his great spiked helm and rebuked me, "Lavam may be your teacher, but he is my servant, do not quote the words of the servant to the master as if the words were wisdom, for the master is greater than the servant." I felt shame at being rebuked, but awe at hearing Lord Carrack speak in the rhythms of the warrior lodges that my teacher spoke of so much.

 

Lord Carrack leaned over the map table and I could only guess that he was sending and receiving vox messages to his forces through the in built systems in his helm. He did this for several minutes, occasionally glancing at the runic circle as if expecting some response from it. Since I was not expressly dismissed, I decided to continue, "Which is your greatest deed to date? He responded without hesitation, "The conquest of your home world, Hell Holdfast and the founding of Howler's Charn. I certainly have won harder fought personal battles, and won greater victories fighting in the Eye, but Hell Holdfast is a world that is securely in my control in real space. It allows me to strike out at the False Imperium of Man without having to fall back to the warp for succor or supply. The longer I control Hell Holdfast the more it destabilizes the Imperial Sector. Howler's Charn shines like a decadent beacon to the pirates, rebels, and bandits that prey upon the Imperium, and I gain complete fealty, service or substantial tribute from all who make port there."

 

The stirrings of patriotism strung in my heart at hearing of my Lord's value of the world I called home. I continued, "Wha..What is the vision you have for our warband, where it will lead us?" The next moments were hectic as a lighter burned its way through the atmosphere and came screeching into a low hover by the command post. With unparalleled precision, the squad of Astartes and the grizzly thralls loaded up the command post, map table, campaign chair, vox unit, and even the stump with the runic circle onto the lighter. As almost an afterthought the squad champion, Vinno, I believe, grabbed me roughly by the arm and hauled me into the lighter's bay as well. As he did so he harshly whispered, "We will go to Terra." Lord Carrack witnessing the exchange, nodded approvingly and added, "Soon, but not today."

 

3. At the Fall of Cantu

 

I took stock of my new surroundings. I was in a cargo hold with a squad of thousands year-old demigods, Their lord, called Slayer of Multitudes, and a handful of hideous mutant thralls. On the far side of the hold were two iron cages warded with brass symbols and spiteful little bound daemons chained to the corners that would occasionally gleefully lick flames into the cages to the sounds of screams from the occupants. Screams of rage, not pain. Heavy black incense smoke obscured whatever was kept in those cages, for which I was thankful for. I was suddenly aware of how unthreatening I was. I was trapped with killers, mutants, and beasts, with only the blessings of Lavam for protection, that and a sacrificial dagger for what that was worth. I felt like a hen caught in a wolves den. Like a seal pup abandoned on the ice before the Greater White Bear. In spite of my trepidation, I inched closer to the most fearsome being in the hold as he readied his weapons with a level of care for every detail that was subtly amazing, considering the amount of times he must have performed the same ritual. I asked, "Which are your favorite weapons and armor? I understand that our warband is rich in relics and plunder, so which artifacts of old are your favorite my lord?" His reply was a shrug of the great pauldrons of his terminator plate and a blindingly quick flourish of the cruel battle axe he held in his right hand. Before I could ask another question a klaxon sounded it's blaring warning and the lighter descended.

 

As soon as the loading ramp opened the squad of Black Legionaries deployed in a defensive arc, finding ample cover in the frost covered rocky terrain. The horrid mutant thralls set to work dragging the stump with the runic circle to the ground below and Lord Carrack calmly took up a position in the center of the hasty defenses. I rushed to his side and humbly knelt in the shadow of his cloak. The lighter remained in a low hover behind us. Off in the distance, facing my lord was a walled town built into the side of a volcanic mountain. Smoke stacks from refineries protruded above the walls. After a short while an Astartes in black armor adorned with skulls, scrolls, and talismans was allowed passage through the lines. He strode to a place a few paces before my lord and dipped both a knee and a force staff in salute. He gestured to the town behind him and said, "Welcome to Cantu my lord." My lord acknowledged the salute and said, "Ghannor, appraise me of the situation." Ghannor complied, "My lord, the defenders of this world, Sanctus Piety, have ascertained your strategy. All of their power plants, save Cantu, have fallen to your assaults, and soon their orbital defenses will be dry of power and bereft of shielding. Cantu, however will keep them supplied for a month or two, a long shot, but perhaps enough time for a rapid relief of their world. In their dire straights, they have reinforced Cantu with all of the air mobile infantry they have left. I believe a company of storm troopers have bolstered Cantu's defenses." Lord Carrack replied, "Very well, spear point attack pattern 8 at my signal, ready your men." Ghannor turned about and trotted off to a rocky point just out of range of the town's defenders to join another squad of Black Legionaries. The squad defending my lord opened up a wide lane and the mutant thralls shuffled back to the lighter and opened up the cages.

 

The Fall of Cantu took less than an hour. It was enough bloodshed and carnage to fill a warrior's lifetime. I confess that I was overcome with awe from the onset, when the first cage opened up and five masses of mutated flesh, tentacles, and mouths scrambled out and rushed the town. The spawn withstood withering fire as they tore open the gates and charged into the town. This allowed my lord, Ghannor, and the two squads of Black Legionaries to advance into the city as the defenders blasted away at the spawn of chaos. What ultimately sealed the fate of Cantu was the opening of the second cage. Out of the lighter strode a vile amalgam of flesh and machine towering twice as tall as a mighty Astartes. The Helbrute charged into the city firing its multimelta and crushing troopers in its claw screaming +I AM KHARFUS+ the town fell to the onslaught of Astartes, chaos spawn and, helbrute.

 

As the din of battle died down, Lord Carrack came stalking out of the flames of the dying town dragging some hapless defender by the hair and with the sorcerer Ghannor in his wake. I could hear the sorcerer muttering the phrases of a spell that was making my head swim with fever. My lord flung his captive across the rune carved stump and motioned for me to come closer. As I did he explained, "The spell my sorcerer casts will channel the bloodshed of this towns destruction into this sacrifices heart. With it we will bring forth Daemon Letters of Blood from the warp. They will survive and multiply on the slaughter of this world until either they are defeated, or they exhaust their ties to reality with the deaths of the last of this worlds sentient lives. We will amplify this sacrifice with orbital fire, now free to reign down on this world unimpeded by any defense. Then when we return to this world at the end of our raiding circuit, we will conquer it with ease." The Slayer of Multitudes then grabbed the sacrificial blade from my hip and pressed it into my hand. He told me, "Such a powerful spell of course will be perilous to the caster's soul, this is why I have endured your presence Jodi, now strike the captives heart and slay this world my subject, or I will replace her with you and have another strike your heart." I hesitated. Fortunately he did not notice my faltering for what it was and went on to boast, "This is the nature of the Black Maw's ties to the Daemon. They use us to bring them forth into reality, and we use them as slave soldiers to do our bidding." I did as I was told and struck the captive's heart.

 

 

 

During this raid, Imperial Intelligence soon were able to analyze the ultimate target of the raid. The sub sector began mobilizations and prepared to fight for its very existence. However, the Inquisition had stepped in and they would dictate the defensive strategies. What follows is a report from Ordos Malleus Inquisitor Tenebris.

 

 

Protocol 72B Inquisitorial Station Arbalest. Ave Imperitor.

 

Precursor A: Inquisitorial Sanctioned Psyker Juan del Yaga was found dead in his cell. He was slumped over his desk bleeding from his eyes, and had apparently been consulting the Emperor's Tarot. Cards showing were; The Despoiler, The Eye of Horus (prime position), and 4 of ships (reversed). Juan del Yaga had written in his own blood across the desk and cards the words "blackness" and "Maw". The phrase, "16 angels guide the path that dooms red Siliquastrum" was scratched into the desk with his fingernails.

 

 

Target Indicator B: Sub sector command has been reporting on a series of worlds suffering assaults from the Black Legion. The report tracks the route the enemy is taking and post battle analysis of its raids.

 

Three main points from sub sector command.

1. The Arch-Enemy came not from the Eye of Terror, as usual, but from the former Imperial world of Frederic III, now in control of the Black Legion Warband known as the Black Maw, lead by the infamous Lord Carrack.

2. This is a major incursion. They are bringing a large fleet, at least hundreds of Chaos Marines, and hoards of human and mutant warriors and their machines of war. They have conquered and held worlds that rightly belong to Him on Terra, and may try to do so again.

3. The route of their advance appears to lead to our seat at Siliquastrum. The Emperor

 

Heriticus Missive from Inquisitor Ignacio: (presumed to have access to the same sub sector reports) The Emperor provides. I have been working for years to break the back of the Black Maw and now have been given the chance. Keep them away from Frederic III, and the combined forces of Cardinal Weaver, myself, and the zealous might of Lord Marshall Clarence of the famed Black Templars will take the world back from the enemy and clean the stain it has dirtied this sector with righteous fire!

 

Tangential Report, Interrogator Phan: Interrogator Phan lead a team of acolytes inside the Red Hive of Siliquastrum . His purpose was to uncover the source of a discreet dealer in text declared Heriticus Diabalus. The source was linked to the infamous Zanazar Network. During the course of the investigation, Phan had agents sent to the lower hive to appraise the muscle frequently used by the source for wet-work. His report as follows.

These goons are hard core cultist, not from Siliquastrum , or any other imperial world. Their tattoos, ritual scars, and brands are consistent with the Tanari clans of the Demon World Vaska. The number of observed mutations is also consistent with the damned souls from the Eye of Terror. They concealed themselves in greatcoats and cloaks and did not interact with the locals other than to drive off other gangers. They fought well, for scum, but had no formal training. No military background either, because as Haydon says, "No man that can call himself a soldier spends more money on his shirt than on his boots." I trust Haydon in these things. They did work for -------, but identified their allegiance to Lavam, Carrack's, and the Black Maw under psychic interrogation. I understand the importance of my mission, but let me reiterate to you master, Demon World bred cultist in the sub sector capital.

I await your orders to change the target of our investigation.

 

Plan of Action: Shield of Faith / Sword of Zeal

First, I want agents of the throne inside this Black Maw now! I do not care if a hundred of you fail and only one succeeds, I will have intelligence beyond what the Sub Sector Commander feeds me and the vague interpretations of psykers. Second, notify Marshal Clarence of the Black Templars immediately. He has the only fleet in the area, save the one at the Cadian Gate, that can defeat these heretics. He must be convinced that slaying the beast, not destroying its den, is the Emperor's will. Thirdly, have the Sub Sector Commander mass his regiments in his own system. If we can fix these heretics on our guns and bayonets, Lord Marshal and his crusade forces will destroy them once and for all. When he arrives to blindside the treacherous bastards.

 

By the hand of Inquisitor Tenebris

May I Burn for the Emperor, either heretics or myself.

 

 

 

When the Black Maw Warband inserted its strike team into the under levels of the Red Hive, it was the last place the Imperial, and local authorities expected. Instead of the proper authorities, who perhaps could have deployed a force against these heretics, it was lowly hive gangers, ill equipped to deal with Black Legionaries.

 

 

 

Red Hive Monster

 

"16 Angels Follow the Red Path of Doom". This graffiti was painted onto the facade of the derelict building. Sharky read it as he slapped the belt onto the feed tray of his jackhammer, and sucked hard on the haze crystals in his mouth. He yelled back at the pair of Weaver Lane gunners to hold tight until he was through. The rat-a-tat-tat-tat of the jackhammer broke the silence of the empty streets. Jackhammer rounds hit the first window and stitched a line up and left across the hideout of the interlopers.

 

A while back, some muties squatted in this building, holed up by day, and occasionally scuttling about by night. Then three days ago, they were everywhere, asking about a tattooed woman and disrespecting the Weaver Lane Crew. When they got answers, some killers would storm a tenement and leave neither survivors nor witnesses.

 

The jackhammer clicked dry and They rushed the door, shaking hot casings out their clothes. Sharky was a step behind from reloading. When he entered he saw a monster toss the two gunners' heads onto a pile to his left. The monster was big, over two meters, and completely encased in black armor. Great horns and brass trim, runes and spikes, made the monster even more fearsome. Sharky had a bowel voiding moment to behold the monster before a powerful sweep of its red glowing sword decapitated him. Although dead, Sharky's brain kept going a few seconds, enough time to hear the monster speak, "More skulls for the skull throne."

 

 

 

What was their reason for going to the underhive in the first place? Surely the sub sector palace should have been their target?

 

 

 

Lythane the Black Equerry to Lord Carrack, Slayer of Multitudes.

 

Lythane crouched down as low as his ancient Terminator Plate allowed and sketched a rough plan of attack into the dust with the butt of his force staff. The gathered squad of Astartes looked on with feigned disinterest, taking their cues from their Champion, Vinno. The plan was simple, a repeat of the last assaults, move in to a tenement under cover of darkness, establish a perimeter with half the squad, then Lythane, Vinno and and the rest would go door to door, killing everyone, floor by floor until they found the woman. After repeating his instructions, Lythane asked, "Any questions?"

 

Vinno simply asked, "Why me?" Lythane recognized the loaded question. He knew the Aspiring Champion despised him. He was resented for being an outsider thrust into the Black Maw command structure by the Warmaster, to ensure loyalty to the legion. He knew Vinno felt personally slighted by his appointment as Equerry, a position Vinno no doubt desired himself. He also knew that the Champion had lost himself along Khorne's Eightfold Path and had little use for sorcerers.

 

There were two answers to Vinno's question. The first answer Lythane kept to himself. Lythane was the "Keeper of the Liber Apocal", a grimoire so tainted that it could only be physically touched by a wretched little daemon that Lythane had bound to his will. In consulting this cursed text, Lythane had deciphered a prophecy that was now coming to fulfillment. The prophecy predicted that a woman from the Red Hive of Siliquastrum would bear stigmata in the form of a tattoo calligraphing the 616th tome in the dreaded Book of Lorgar across her entire body. Lythane knew that Vinno and his squad had no use for Word Bearers and would not be able to read Colchin. What Lythane did tell Vinno was, "Why you? Because we are in the very heart of the sub-sector capital, and Lord Carrack wanted a massacre."

 

 

We thought we were saved when our own Angels in black came to our rescue and drove the archenemy off.

 

Treveur sat down heavily on the steps and wiped the sweat from his brow with the whitest portion of his tabard. Most of the garment was blackened with soot, or reddened with blood, some his own, some his brothers', and some that of the enemy's. He keyed the vox in his helm and answered with a heavy heart, "Confirmed Brother-Chaplain, I am the sole survivor of Crusader Squad Sanctity." The Chaplain responded, "Wait there Neophyte, I will come to retrieve you in 8 minutes."

 

Treveur, with a monumental effort of his weary muscle, scooted up a few stairs so his back could rest against the plinth of some headless statue, partly for the support the plinth provided, and partly for security. Even with the heretics driven off, the lower levels of the Red Hive remained a dangerous place. In fact he could hear the scuttling and horsely whispered patois of scavengers in the alleys near him. As a deterrent, Treveur unholstered his empty bolt pistol and laid his chainsword across his knees, in truth, he did not know if he had any fight remaining within him. He began to scan the body strewn plaza before him when he noticed the sword.

 

It was a chainsword same as his own, yet vastly different. The pommel was a cruel hook finished over with bronze, polished and devoid of verdigris, yet worn and revealing of the steel core underneath, old. The handle was ivory, not the pearl handle of a Orleander pimp, definitely ivory. Another bronzed hook served as a crosspiece for the reverse edge, the cutting edge was unguarded. A red glow illuminated the exposed rotor mechanism, was it an overheated power cell? No, something far more malevolent. Treveur struggled to suppress a shudder. The frame was decorated with a bronzed arrow similar to the armor of the traitor who wielded it. The teeth, gruesomely reddened with the blood of Treveur's brothers. The point was embedded into a slab of the dirty ferrocrete of Red Hive, Siliquastrum, sub sector capital. A defiant symbol, Treveur pondered, defiant both as a strike at the very ground of the Most Holy Imperium, and defiant to the heretic who lodged his weapon into the ground and was forced to abandon it.

 

The imposing, terrible skull faced visage of the Chaplain marching up the lane, broke Treveur's troubling fascination with the chaos sword, and he quickly stood to attention, sore muscles be damned. "Report!", boomed out of the Chaplain's vox grill. Treveur dutifully replied, "My squad was advancing up the lane, when the Black Legion assaulted us from ambush out of that alley." Treveur pointed to an alley and continued, "They were ferocious Brother Chaplain, they attacked with fury and took us by surprise." Treveur hung his head in shame. The vice-like grip of the black, powered gauntlet grasped Treveur's jaw and lifted his head, forcing the neophyte to meet the gaze of the the Chaplain's fearsome helm. "Continue young neophyte." Spoke the Chaplain. "We fought back, but they pressed their advantage at every opportunity." Treveur struggled to contain the emotions that were just now filling his hearts as the adrenaline left his pumping blood. In spite of his efforts, his throat caught and eyes misted as he continued, "Sword Brother Gael's throat was opened by a Black Legion chainsword cutting upwards from the low guard. He still slew his attacker and wounded two others all the while spraying bright blood. I have never seen such zeal." The Black Templar Chaplain shifted his crushing grasp on Treveur's jaw to a reassuring, parental grip of the Neophyte's shoulder. Treveur said in a quiet tone, "Soon I was the only Crusader standing. I was saved when Squad Purity's Razorback hit the plaza cannon cycling. The heretics fled like cowards."

 

The Chaplain helped the exhausted neophyte down the stairs and they headed down the lane. The Chaplain spoke, "Cowards for sure young Treveur, but clever cowards nonetheless. We thought we had them when their fleet translated into the system. We came in from their rear and were chasing them into the orbital defenses of Siliquastrum. We had the PDF shift their guns to the Western Hemisphere where we would slam into them like a hammer strikes an anvil." The Chaplain was becoming more angry with each word he spoke, hardly unusual behavior for a Black Templar Chaplain, but still alarming to the young Treveur. He continued, "Somehow they had a ship elude us and sneak to the lightly defended Eastern Hemisphere. They managed to insert a small strike force into the lower levels of Red Hive undetected. They were here for three days slaughtering the scum of this level in some frantic search before the authorities discovered their presence. Those of our brethren whom remained to garrison Siliquastrum got here as soon as we were made aware of the heretic's presence, but they escaped our zealous wrath. No doubt through the use of foul witchery. "And the fleet Brother Chaplain?" Asked Treveur. The Chaplain replied, "Sixteen minutes before you first hailed me young Treveur, the Black Maw Fleet spit out one of its ramshackle merchantmen, it's engines failed and it appeared to be abandoned by its fleet. The Honorable Marshall Clarence deemed the scow unworthy of a lance strike and ordered it to be blasted by our cruisers as it passed through our fleet. But it was a fireship. Packed with munitions the ship blew apart in front of our formation and damaging several of our Crusade's ships. More cutting then the damage to our fleet, the explosion threw our formation into disarray and allowed the Black Maw warband to gain enough distance to translate back to the warp."

 

"What were they after, I mean why risk their fleet just to have a strike force root around in the bowels of the sub sector capital? What could they possibly want in this dump?" Asked Treveur. The Chaplain replied, "I do not know, and that worries me."

 

----------------------------------------

Lord Carrack gazed into the smokey mirror held before his throne on the bridge of his flagship, Bitter Revenge. The vision he saw was of one of his champions, Vinno standing on the bridge of another vessel gazing into a twin of Lord Carrack's mirror, and Legioniare Copil swearing loudly and breaking things behind him. Lord Carrack demanded, "Tell me you got what we came here for Vinno." Vinno obediently replied, "Yes my lord, we got her." Lord Carrack, seemingly pleased, leaned back in his throne and as an afterthought, asked, "What is wrong with Copil?" Vinno replied sheepishly, "He lost his sword in the Red Hive."

 

 

 

Many question the nature of the prize the Black Legion was searching for in the bowels of the sub sector capital. I believe it may be the most dangerous thing the sector at large will face in the coming years.

 

 

There were signs and portents, for those able to discern them. On the evening of Gelvira's birth, the majestic psyber-eagle that roosted in the bell tower of the Inquisitorial Bastion was evicted from its nest by a huge ash vulture from the wastelands of Siliquastrum, sub-sector capital. On the night that the profane stigmata first emerged onto Gelvira's pale skin, a hivequake rocked the Red Hive, killing or displacing millions. According to sealed astrological records, this was the very hour that the "Inscribed" constellation would have been ascendant on long destroyed Colchis. Ill portents indeed.

 

As for the "Text" itself, it takes the form of a winding red tattoo calligraphing the the long lost 616th epistle of the dreaded Book of Lorgar. The script covers the hive girl's skin from just below her hairline to the bottoms of her feet. The penmanship is said to be identical to that of Lorgar, the Daemom Primarch of the Word Bearers. Gelvira, a rare beauty, from the lower levels of the Red Hive, does not know the nature of the power transcribed into her flesh. She just knows that whoever looks upon her uncovered body goes mad, or worse. Where she walks, the veil of reality weakens; colors shimmer, shadows dance in the corners of her vision, and barely heard whispers promise the impossible.

 

Where once she was merely a great beauty chased by panderers of the hive gangs, soon her hunters became far more sinister; the witch hunters of the Inquisition, and the covens of the Broken Seal to name but a few. But Lord Carrack was the hunter to claim the prize, and Gelvira graces his court as an honored guest, knowing she is in truth but a captive to Chaos.

 

 

 

 

Finally, what of the Doom of Red Siliquastrum? Once again we turn to a letter written too Inquisitor Tenebris.

 

 

My Lord Inquisitor Tenebris,

 

In regards to the aftermath of incident 72, my findings are as follows.

 

1. As stated in the Acting Sub-Sector Commander's After Action Report, the objective of the Black Maw Warband was to insert a strike team into the lower levels of the Red Hive. The heretic's fleet maneuvers were designed to draw the forces of Marshall Clarence away from their objective. After three days of covert actions by the Enemy, the remaining Black Templar garrison force drove off the heretics. 13 days later, the "hellbomb" detonated, destroying the Red Hive, including the Sub-Sector Seat. The rest of the findings are rubbish.

 

2. Post-Blast analysis by Magos Hartonce of the "hellbomb", reveals that the device was a small, powerful, atomic warhead perverted by the Dark Mechanicus. A device he names a "slaughter siphon", was attached to the second stage detonator. This device captured the turmoil in the warp caused by the massacres of the heretic strike team, and released it at the time of explosion, causing the daemonic phenomena and amplifying the explosion.

 

3. Based on reports of Interrogator Phan, may he rest with the Emperor, the Black Maw were desperately searching for someone in the Red Hive. This contradicts Sub-Sector's findings that the emplacement of the "hellbomb" was the goal of the Black Maw. He also suspected that Ordos Heriticus Inquisitor Ignacio may be aware of who they were searching for.

 

Your Servant,

Acolyte Vallois

-------------------------------------------

 

"16 angels guide the path that dooms red Siliquastrum"

 

 

[Americanzero]

Really like how you have it broken down. It is a sleek way to give multiple perspectives within the overarching narrative.