Chapter 4: Chapter 1 Part 3
Chapter 1: Welcome to the Inquisition
=ATBS=
Part 3
Victory Bay
Kronus
We were barely halfway to the main Imperial Guard base in the city where General Lucas Alexander was lurking, when the troopers finished apprising me of the situation. On the bright side, with the arrival of "Blood of Saints", the guard now had more than enough munition and equipment to conquer this world twice over. When combined with what was left of the PDF after the mandatory purge, which was a given when you consider that the locals were tight with the Tau, the IG had the numbers too.
There was just one little snag. The Strike Cruiser wasn't likely to let the equipment get down here in one piece unless the bloody idiotic mess between the Guard and the Astrates was resolved.
We spent the rest of the ride in silence, something that gave me a time to think. I was idly staring through one of the side gun ports, marveling at the city around us. The place was no hive, just a handful of ornate, tall buildings with the rest sprawling all around us. It was eerie for someone like me, who could only remember a single Hive City as the way people in the Empire lived. Most of the buildings, especially the older ones, were typical Imperial engineering - tough things with as much ornamentation as there were Thrones for. They were beautiful too, at least in my humble opinion.
Then there was the newer construction. It was simply wrong – from the clashing color schemes to the rounded forms without any straight angles. It wasn't something most humans would ever consider building. I frowned. This world was supposed to have been under heavy Tau influence before General Alexander and company came to bring them back in the fold by shooting anyone who wasn't fast enough in decrying the Xenos.
At least I didn't have to deal with the Adepta Sororitas. The few I had the misfortune to meet simply creeped me out even if they were otherwise stunning women. At least the pair I met back on Omnicron.
I returned my thoughts to the problem at hand and let out a mental sigh.
I needed a plan, though most things that ran through my mind ended with my brain splattered over the nearest wall.
Betting on the small amount of authority that Lord Requista's missive gave me might have worked… if the General Alexander was the one being antagonistic and if he suddenly decided to act reasonable after seeing the dataslate.
Nothing short of a direct Inquisitorial order was going to make the Astrates even listen.
Fuck it. I would have to wing it after listening about the situation firsthand. That was always less than ideal.
Soon we started hitting checkpoints, but thanks to Lacroix' written orders and my Sigil we were waved through after a cursory look in the troop compartment. No one sensible wanted to piss off anyone even tangentially connected with the Inquisition. Doing so usually was hazardous for the health.
Eventually we reached the main Guard base in the city, which had taken over a rather large park.
On entering the base, we were actually properly inspected - and once the guards were reasonably sure that we weren't a bunch of Eldar masquerading like good men - let in.
The former park was turned into barracks, motor pools, ammo depots and gunship landing pads, while its surrounding area was fortified with bunkers, trenches, prefab walls, good old fashioned barbed wire and a lot of weapon emplacements. The liberal dispersal of various mines on the likely approaches went without saying.
I could see whole companies drilling, while cog-heads were blessing at least a battalion worth of armor. Most of the tanks were the good old Leman Russ, though I could see three huge Baneblades in the center of the formation.
It was certainly impressive. I had to make sure that our good friends in the Adeptus Astrates didn't come here to turn all this splendid equipment into so much scrap.
The Chimera parked in front of a bunker's entrance, one that was guarded by a squad of Stormtroopers. It was time to face the music.
A few checkpoints later, I was led into the command center, where General Alexander and his officers were looking over a map of the region.
"General, Sir. The Inquisitorial Agent as ordered." Lacroix saluted.
"Good job, soldier. Go get something warm to eat." The General rumbled. He turned towards me, revealing a face weathered by the elements. "We have a problem, Agent. One I hope you can fix."
"I'm all ears, sir."
"The Emperor's Adeptus Astartes have issued a purge of Kronus and ordered us to withdraw. They have already engaged my troops massacring them on three separate occasions." He glared at me as if all this was my fault. "I already have standing orders from Segmentum Command. This world must be secured or we will die trying. I would rather avoid the latter."
Oh, my. I might get to like the man. I agreed wholeheartedly with the not dying idea.
"You want me to convince the Astrates not to kill us all." I went to the heart of the matter.
The General winced, but nodded. The other officers gave me a dirty looks instead.
"I'm ready to talk with whoever's in charge over there, though I don't know how much good it would do. I'm not an Inquisitor." I shrugged.
"I was afraid of that. I would like you to do your best. The lives of everyone here might depend on that."
Well, shit. The way the General was approaching me meant that the situation was more fucked up than his succinct summary implied. Great.
"Well, if someone would be good enough to patch me to the Space Marines. I hope you have a communications line open with them despite the ongoing unpleasantries."
More dirty looks.
"Leftenant Williams. Patch the Agent."
A minute later, I was facing a small, green tinted screen. It showed an Adeptus Astrates helmet.
"This is Brother-Sergeant Koleman. Are you ready to depart Kronus?"
"My Lord." I gave a proper bow. "This is Delkatar Veil, agent of the Holy Inquisition. May I inquire what's the reason for the conflict between the Emperor's Space Marines and the Imperial Guard on Kronus?" I asked politely.
For a long moment the super soldier stared at me. "We have orders by our Chapter Master to purge Kronus. So far we've been rather accommodating to the locals and the Imperial Guard. That won't be the case for much longer. We have to do our duty."
"My Lord, I believe you're aware that General Alexander and his troops are under orders by the Segmentum Command. To retreat even if The God Emperor's Adeptus Astrates demand it would be an act of treason."
"That's regrettable." The Sergeant didn't appear to be moved at all. It was worth a shot anyway.
"What would it take for you to call off the Purge at least until the conflicting orders are cleared up by higher authority?" I asked.
"Order by The Chapter Master or someone with equal authority."
"Would Inquisitorial order do?"
"It might be enough for the Force Commander to consider cease fire." Koleman nodded.
"May I make two suggestion both to the Adeptus Astrates and you General Alexander?" I asked carefully.
"I'm listening." The Officer spoke clearly.
"I'll entertain you in view of the organization you represent." Koleman's voice was toneless, showing no emotion.
"As I understand the situation, there are three Xeno factions currently operating on Kronus? Tau, Eldar and most recently Orks?"
"Correct." The Space Marine just stared at me through the screen.
"Then may I suggest that you concentrate all purging efforts against them for the next few days? The same goes for the Imperial Guards."
"That's our duty." Alexander sounded eager.
"What would that accomplish?" Koleman wasn't buying it.
"Not kill loyal Imperial Citizens while I go and retrieve Inquisitor Requista. That's my second request. I would want an escort from the Imperial Guard to achieve that objective. I most humbly request that one Space Marine accompany us so he can witness whatever decision the Lord Inquisitor makes and immediately inform his battle brothers of it. I believe that such course of action would benefit the Empire the best."
"I'll bring this request to Captain Thule." Koleman cut off the connection.
"Do you think that this stunt will work?" The General asked.
"At worst it might buy your men a bit of breathing space. Sir, are you willing to provide me with escort and transport to the Deimos Peninsula?"
"If it stops the Astrates from shooting my boys and girls even for a few days, I'll do it gladly. What do you need?"
"I'd prefer a mech platoon and at least a squad of Stormtroopers. Whatever Lord Requista ran into has to be nasty or he would have been in contact by now."
"I'll see what we can spare."
Now the ball was in Captain Thule's hands.
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