Monday 6 June 2011

Insertion Zone part 4

I consider myself skilled in the arts of interrogation. In my opinion, torture can often hide the truth as much as it is revealed; thus I only use it when absolutely necessary. So, I squared up to the ethereal. He had been bound and gagged by the PDF who had captured him. I removed the gag and signaled to Karazak, my bodyguard and assistant, to start the recording.
“What is your name?” A classic opening move that helps the interrogator connect with the interrogated.
“My name is Ethereal Commander blooded wildflower of the Tau’n sept.” I had been studying the Tau language for nearly thirty years now, on and off during the war against them on Velterax III. My tutor was a captured human who served the Tau as a diplomat and negotiator.  This ethereal’s name  of wildflower became evident with his next sentence.
“What is your purpose here, Gue’La?” I have rarely been disrespected by my captives, even the Eldar have never shown me the disrespect that this Ethereal showed me that day. I replied harshly.
“In your foul tongue, the correct term should be Gue’O, Aun’El Tau’n Li’Sun’Ye. In my elegant tongue, my name is Inquisitor Octavian Lars of the Ordo Malleus. And since you ask about my purpose, I shall gladly tell you. My purpose was to capture you and destroy the column heading towards the capital of Velterax III. Which leads on to my next question.”
“Which is?”
“Don’t interrupt Ethereal! You are in the custody of the Imperial Inquisition and will speak when spoken to, no more. The question I was going to ask was, what was the purpose of your column’s advance?”
“I shall not tell one as unworthy as yourself.”
“If that is so, I shall have to find out using better methods than are available here. Karazak, vox Marcus and tell him to start the shuttle’s engines and help me move the captive.”

We locked him in one of the shuttle’s prison cells, gave him enough sustenance to last the two week journey to my base of operations in the upper spires of Hive Hyperion. My self and Karazak inspected the troops in their sleeping quarters. As it turned out, of the five Devils taken out of action, three would fight again, one was badly wounded, and would be stuck with desk duty, but only one; Lorenzo had been killed outright. He had taken several pulse wounds to the chest, but he kept fighting, according to the Devil who had been beside him when he had been killed. He had charged, grievously injured, wielding his empty bolter as a club and hacking and slashing with his long Catachan warknife. The final blow had come from a Tau squad leader’s knife at the same moment that Lorenzo had stabbed him with his own knife. They had gone down together. All of us departed to our sleeping quarters for the night before the long journey back to base.

When we got back, my servants had redeyed my Inquisitorial Mansion for my arrival. A cell in the basement had been prepared for the Ethereal and a safe return banquet had been laid out for my arrival. I decided to allow the Ethereal a night of luxury and he was allowed to dine with us. My Tau language tutor helped prepare some Tau dishes for him. Other members of my staff were distrusting of him due to him being xeno, but many of them enjoyed the Tau culture themed food so I decided that Tau food would become a meal for special occasions.

After the great banquet, the Aun’El was escorted to his spartan, but comfortable cell. It was furnished with a simple bed, a toilet, a shower and a small desk. The room was also well lit, it was also the room I would be questioning him in. Confident he was settled and unable to escape, I retired to my study to examine the chainsword I had killed so many fire warriors with. After a quick examination, I had found many clues to it’s origin. The first one I spotted was the mark of the Inquisition, embossed on the casing of the blade. It had to belong to an inquisitor or one of his staff. My long time rival and Tau supporter, Inquisitor Ostrek would never use a chainsword. Gut instinct is often frowned upon within the ranks of my fellow inquisitors, though I often go with my instincts when there are no other clues available. I had run a quick search of all inquisitors active in that area. There was a total of twenty four Inquisitorial missions to the Iron Dune where I had found the chainsword. This was where gut instinct came in. In many cases, chainswords are often wielded by Monodominant Inquisitors and the followers for reasons I can never quite grasp. I then looked further into make and model, date of production, location of production. Eventually, well into the week, I had a name. Inquisitor Tannen von Hausing.

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Insertion Zone part 3

While deep in thought on those topics, my vox bead made a sudden ping and I was startled. Captain Grant had ntel for me; I accepted the message.
“Inquisitor, my veteran assault team have located the Ethereal. What are our orders. Over”
“Pin him down and wait for my presence. Devils will accompany. I repeat, Devils will acompany. Over”
“Received and understood. Over and out”
I switched the vox bead to the devil’s frequency and ordered them to 56-Gamma and wait for further orders. I also noted from the HUD implanted in my retina that there were eight Devils remaining and twenty-seven PDF including the Captain.

I sprinted as fast as my bionic assisted leg would allow whilst reloading Banisher. A chime originating from the scabbard buckled tightly to my back alerted me to the fact that the power sword was recharged and ready for use. I stowed the crude chainsword on my belt for examination of the unholy symbols etched onto the casing and drew my power sword and thumbed the activation rune. A chainsword is a weapon of brute strength, carnage and mayhem. It does not have the same finesse as a power sword. Whenever I can, I use my power sword, to me, a chainsword symbolises chaos in this galaxy. I was still running, pulse weapons fire and the crack of lasguns could be heard in the distance.

The Devils had been waiting for several minutes looking phased, which in war makes a great difference. There was a local landmark at 56-Gamma, often known as the Iron Dune, the Mountain of Living Metal as well as other less savoury names. I surveyed the Devils; they were scarred and battered, but they were not phased by injury. They were phased by the death of Lorenzo who was respected by all. The Devils do not show emotion normally. The death of Lorenzo had shaken them badly, they wanted vengeance in his name. The Devils also rarely tire so they were ready for the run to the zone where Grant and his PDF were engaging Tau forces. All we had to do was follow our ears.

When we got there; there were still many Tau still to be taken out and we were determined to do it quickly. Our presence was announced by the traditional warcry of Catachan, as well as the roar of bolters and the sharp crack of hellguns. I was a blur. Shooting three Tau through the head with the heavy man-stopper rounds then cut a bloody swathe of silent death with the power sword. Karazak was already engaged in a vicious knot of Tau and dealing with them using his heavy energised claw and his stubber pistol. The remaining Devils were equally destructive and soon the Tau were fleeting the sight of us. Grant came out to meet us. What I like about Captain Thomas Grant is that when giving situation assessments, he gives me the necessary detail quickly and efficiently which makes things so much easier for a commanding officer like myself.
“We have trapped the Ethereal in a steep walled ravine to the East. There are several elite men watching him. He will not attempt escape as he knows any attempt will be fatal.”
“Thank you Captain, I wish to make a short interrogation before we escort the Ethereal back to my HQ in Hive Hyperion.”
“As you wish Inquisitor.”
“Order your men to return to the dropships, the situation can be handled by the Devils from here.”
“Any other wishes before our departure.”

“Yes. I ask you to collect all the injured soldiers, Imperial and Tau. Take the dead from both sides. All fought with honour and shall receive what they deserve. Leave the Devils, myself and the remainder shall collect them.”
 “As you wish. An Imperial Inquisitor knows what he is doing.”
Grant made the sign of the Aquila and departed and resumed ordering his men around.

After the final assault, there were seven Devils, Karazak and myself left in a comat ready state. I ordered four of the to find the injured and dead bodies of the Devils from the battlefield. Karazak and the other three  Devils to accompany me to the Ethereal. All were to rendezvous at 56-Gamma with the shuttle after completing our tasks. We passed the PDF guards and I ordered them back to the dropships and the three Devils took their place, watching the Ethereal. Myself and Karazak confronted the Ethereal.