Interlude

Traitoris – Act 2

Part 4

The Duke Colonel inserted an earpiece with a servo skull appeared before the Duke Colonel. It projected a blurry static avatars of four individuals which caught the attention of the other soldiers in the moving APC. The first was an Inquisitor, the next was a Space Marine, then a woman, whom presumably was Spearhead, and a blank screen with only Valaruz 18th call sign on it. He bowed in slight intimidation.

"Duke Colonel, thank you for waiting at the virtual lobby. The Assassinorum welcomes you to the war council. The Assassinorum will chair the council. Joining us in the call is Inquisitor Tatiana of the Ordo Xenos, Watch Commander Kurita of the from Watch Station Oertha and of course Valaruz 18th.

"We'll dispense with the pleasantries, Spearhead, and get right into it," said a stern Inquisitor, "We have been brought up to date, and will clarify protocol. This war council is Level three on confidentiality. In view of the Duke Colonel's participation into the call, the Assassinorum, the Ordo Xenos and Death Watch and has a right to omit any details pertaining to their confidential mission, of information the Duke Colonel is not authorized to consume," She received a round of acknowledgement.

"Inquisitor, with your permission, I will summarize the discussion points to ensure that we are aligned," spearhead said.

"Permission granted."

"From what has transpired since two hours ago, we can ascertain there were two components to the Traitor's operation. Of one was a diversion, the other was an extraction of the governor. The diversion has been successfully broken with Second Lieutenant Tangier leading the hunt for stragglers and interrogating the surviving Arbiters for information.

"The priority, currently, is on the extraction team. Three Repressors were part of the extraction team. One has been damaged by the Clypeus Primus on contact during the extraction which has left the Governor's whereabouts in one of the two repressors. We have had Assassinorum servo drones tracking the repressors up until sector 145 before they were shot down. Also that area has overlapping superhighways which makes retracing improbable."

Duke Colonel was in deep thought, "…and our objective is to track down the repressors and tail them."

"Yes."

"Well, I can tell you Sector 145 is geographically massive and requires a lot of manpower to comb through. It is also a graveyard for underground transit systems. We will risk exposing ourselves with little indication to their current whereabouts."

"Yes, but time is of the essence, Duke Colonel."

"I'm all in favor of tracking down the abductors. And we are ready to lay down our lives to accomplish the mission. I do not fear a firefight if it comes to that. But it is the life of the Governor that I fear for." the Duke Colonel paused, "Unless of course there is no regard for the Governor's life?"

"This one is heavy with salt, Spearhead," the Inquisitor exerted herself into the discussion, "I would have preferred a more compliant, respectful and tactful commander. In saying that, though I'm not your run the mill Inquisitor whom loves knocking down doors, kicking in teeth and decapitating heads, I'd be remiss if I'd not have sedition pinned to your greasy forehead if you bark just once more. I hate dogs too, by the way."

"My apologies, Inquisitor, I did not mean to offend. But we are not here for pleasantries like you mentioned, or are we?" the Colonel said calmly, almost appeared to be unfazed, "I have studied the area months before the procession began, and it is a mammoth wreckage of a district where you cannot accomplish two things at once with only six squads, especially when time is not on our side. Do I need to mention that it is also a hub for interconnecting underground transit?"

"Of which the entire system has been decommissioned," Spearhead added.

"Yes, once they disappeared into the tunnels, it will already be too late."

"Allow me to interject," the Assassin spoke, "In the event of a pursuit, when tailing has failed, we have to anticipate their next move."

They waited for the Assassin to continue.

"There is a value in discussing the probable intent of our target. All we know so far, is that the Arbiters have turned, and it appears to be under the influence of the Tau. We have reasons to believe that a Xeno overlord is commanding the mission from the vicinity – Shas'O Kylek. The reason its presence and intent should be deciphered before we discuss anything further."

So, the Assassinorum did not know the Xeno leader was supposed to show himself, hence they were not targeting the Xeno leader in the first place, the Duke Colonel thought to himself.

"Watch Commander, there is a reason you were invited to this discussion. Your station has perhaps the most frequent encounter with the Tau and is most well versed and proficient in their natures," the inquisitor said, "If you have anything relevant to share about the Xeno Commander, now would be the time."

"It will be my honor," they could imagine him bowing, "The Tau are formidable as they are cunning. Their weaponry sears and pierces like the hottest of lances that even a Black Carapace could not withstand. The Emperor was with you today, for having them defeated them as quickly as you did."

"There is no need to be courteous, Watch Commander," the Inquisitor ended the sentence with an impatient sigh.

"Truly, these are not courtesies. The Traitor Arbiters were armed with sophisticated weaponry and more pertinently – they had the element of surprise. We have been reading the Fighter's contact reports, the Haliapthen Fighters would have been decimated and scattered under such circumstances. You must also know that such deep-seeded treachery is not taken lightly by the Death Watch, and even more so - the Inquisition. If the outcome were any different, I would have recommended Exterminatus without hesitation."

Duke Colonel's felt a chill running down his spine.

"Agreed," the Inquisitor said, "However, as much as I'd see the Xeno and his cohorts in collars and chains, my patience is time-bound. The moment you falter, you can be assured Orbital Bombardment will be rained down upon your world without further deliberation. Have we made ourselves clear?"

"I understand," the Duke Colonel suddenly feel a heavy weight on his shoulders.

"Now that is cleared up," the Watch Commander said, "There are little records of Shas'O Ky'lek in our Deathwatch database. But in one contact report, a Xeno matching his exoskeletal flight armor was spotted in several systems away from Haliapth in contested territories. This was just six years ago when he was fighting alongside Tau Human Auxillaries."

"Tau Human Auxiliaries?" the Duke Colonel asked as he was unfamiliar with the term.

"Or Gue'vesa, in the local Xeno tongue. It's a rare sight of Men fighting alongside the Xeno, however there have been increasing reports of them engaged in conflict areas. More pertinently, we are concerned of covert Tau agents infiltrating Imperial colonies – where they are believed to first survey their targets, seed their lies and shortly thereafter - having entire communities vanish overnight. We believe the folks were abducted in droves for the Xeno scums' twisted ends."

The Space Marine continued, "Hence, based on that knowledge and their current modus operandi, this conflict cannot be a coincidence. I suspect the Tau may have been planning this day for many years now."

"We have been screening local news and the Enforcer network, they have not been reports of mass disappearance," Spearhead added.

"An information to be taken with a grain of salt," the Inquisitor cut her off, "You are also not likely to find any information on any kind of suspicious disappearance, for they have been corrupted by the Arbiters," the Inquisitor said.

Spearhead did not comment further.

"The Assassin's recommendation was to ascertain their true intent as he believed they have a use for the governor," Tatiana continued, "But I'd repeat now what I've said earlier in our meeting, I think it is a pointless endeavor where we could have forcefully pried the information out of Shas'O Ky'lek, burn the whole of Haliapth before we purge of the Xeno out of existence. However, I will give you a chance to see this through given your competence thus far."

"I understand," Duke Colonel can feel the walls around him closing.

"There goes the same with you Assassin, I despise spycraft, cunning as the Xeno already are," the Inquisitor said, "However, while you await our arrival, the Assassinorum will have full operational control of this battlefield. We are to be appraised by Spearhead on the developments every thirty minutes."

"Affirmative," the Assassin said simply.

The Inquisitors are coming, the Duke Colonel sweated, their presence would be an indication of a much grimmer future for Haliapth.

"My immediate counsel to the Assassin and Duke Colonel is to watch the airspace where Shas'O Kylek is likely to roam," the Watch Commander said, "Standby for surface to air armaments and mobilize air support."

"Already done," the Duke Colonel said.

"Also, I've been contemplating about all that is known- the Traitors' actions, the proximity to the Tau Expansion Sphere and what little we know of Shas'O Kylek," the Watch Commander said, "It cannot be disputed that the Arbiters are already the Gue'vesa. As for how long they have been embedded within Imperium? I'd estimate four to seven years. But with what they are doing right now, this might be a precursor to a Tau Invasion."

"Bah, speculation," the Inquisitor said, "Moreover, Tau expansions are not known to be this far away from their homeworlds. Their ships are not our equals when it comes to Warp travels."

"Not yet, at least," the Watch Commander said, "But evidence to the contrary, they have spent considerable time and effort to infiltrate the Arbiters and turning them entirely without raising suspicion. Why would they reveal themselves now through a gambit as low a value as this?"

The Inquisitor paused, there was merit in his argument, "Alright, I'll entertain your reasoning. Let's say if they are indeed planning an invasion," the inquisitor continued, "What could they possibly want with a governor? What are they planning?"

"If I may," Spearhead cleared her throat, "A governor at Lord Vladimir's level wields immense powers, least of which are local Spire defenses, activating the local militia, approving disaster relief funds…"

"Stop, just stop Spearhead," the Inquisitor said impatiently, "Do not waste our time grasping at straws. Get to the point after you've completed your homework, summarize a list of the abductor's possible destinations and map them against the Governor's powers. Narrow down the list of possible uses of the governor in relation within the parameters of military actions."

"My team of specialists will get right into it," Spearhead said.

"Show me that the Assassinorum's intelligence is as good as they say," the Inquisitor said.

"I will not fail you My Lord," Spearhead said with conviction.

"What about you Assassin? What will you do?"

"Nothing of import as yet," the Assassin said simply.

"Of course, the Vindicare would lie in wait for its prey, then strike with a deadly blow," the Inquisitor said with snide, "Only appearing for the kill."

The Assassin said nothing.

"Lord Valaruz 18th is being modest, my Lord," Spearhead said.

"I certainly hope you are Assassin, whether Haliapth live on or burn to ashes depends on what happens over the next six hours."

(End of Act II)

Next Chapter: 9th Aug 2020