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 Puritan and Radical United? - starnberg, JudgeBob, InquisitorRaziel, Tbloxham & Bielziel +++Thought for the day+++ |
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Starnberg's disembodied voice addressed the assembly of Inquisitors. The lights of his support pod glittered through the lines of the Holoprojector that dominated the floor. The continents and seas of Cadia were picked out with bright blue lines. "Brothers, we have faced great hardship... years of vendetta and shadowy political play... hardship bourne of our own over inflated egos and greed." synthysised vox crackled as it attempted to replicate a bitter laugh. have committed the sin of pride, no more! We stand upon a knife edge, the very exisitance of humanity is in question. In these desperate times can we use choas to battle choas? Can we truely justify the methods of the radical Maleus? If we can trust or brothers, can the space marines of the Relictors be trusted not to return to their corrupt ways?" thought filled silence fell over the hall. have allies against the ruinous powers, from outside the Eye, but who can we trust from inside its bounds?" liquid in the suport pod flowed over Starnberg as he gazed from its murky depths, eyeing the darkened auditorium. +++ "Starnberg!" A furious voice echoed from the darkened hall. It came from Inquisitor Jeremiah Pfeffendorff, a respected Inquisitor of the Ordos Terra. have been sent here by Mathias Falkenberg, who suspected as much of you, Starnberg. What you speak is heresy! If we tolerate the Chaos-user here, what will be the consequences after the conflict? Tolerance, even in these dire times- nay, especially in these dire times- is the respite of the short sighted and naive. I put it to you, Starnberg, that your proposal will encourage acceptance of Radical practices, and even encourage more 'liberal' inquisitors to overstep the line toward Chaos use. Chaos-use is, and must remain, absolute and indisputable heresy. To accept it will foster its growth. We must meet the threat of Chaos with our valour and faith, for these are our strongest weapons. Every step we take toward Chaotica is a weakening of our soul. Is not your Faith in the Emperor's deliverance strong enough to guide your hand? Do you need the aid of His mortal enemies to show you the way? Pah! also feel bound to remind you, my learned Brothers, that it is not our place to take responsibility for the destruction of Chaos in the field. Our role must remain behind the scenes, and if ever we must take to the field, it should be only in pursuit of our stated aims. We must investigate potential heresy and corruption among our own army, and among the ranks of our own orders! The responsibility of fighting this war lies with the Imperial Guard, and the Militant arms. are Investigators, Brothers, not battlefield warriors. Although my responsibility does not extand to Cadia normally, I have come here to investigate use of Chaos by my Brothers, and corruption among the Armies of the Emperor. I shall not suffer heretics gladly. defy any filthy Radical to deny the truth of my words. What say you, Starnberg? Will you continue your hopeless personal crusade, or will you finally see the worth of the pure Path?" held out an open hand to Starnberg, which he closed fiercely. Pure shall prevail!" He stated grandly. +++ Raziel, who had been silent thus far spoke, is the ignorant such as yourself that will be an end to us. In the coming days, monthes, hopefully not years, the despoiler will be at our gates! Do you really wish for our beloved Imperium to fall to his bloodied claw?! We will stand together, or we will fall, and if we fall, I will weep for our Imperium as I laugh hysterically at your ignorance. That is all, brothers." +++ "Pfeffendorff... I feel that you do not fully comprehend my intentions. My soul is pure of the taint of Choas, I have never supported the use of such artifacts by our kind." Pfeffendorff looked curiously at Starnberg, but as he opened his mouth to question him Starnberg preempted him. all inquisitors can work in the shadows brother and I will always lend my arm to those who fight these terrible foes, though it is not my area of expertise. As a member of the Ordos Xenos my gifts lie in the manipulation and domination of aliens. I wish to concentrate on whom we can trust in these dark days. Can we truely accept the aide of the lost ones of the 13th Company or the interference of the Eldar?" +++ Pfeffendorff stood up and retorted. He was not a man for slow deliberation, for he knew his mind and his intention. believe I speak for all of us when I say that despite their apparent co-operative behaviour in recent weeks, that the Eldar cannot be trusted. an Inquisitor of the Xenos Order you should be aware, Starnberg, that the Eldar wish to manipulate us as surely as you wish to manipulate them. Our numbers, and the strength of our armies, are a perfect tool for them to use to protect their foul Craftworlds, for they know we shall not tolerate Chaos in our realms. might speak of grand notions such as peace and understanding between our people, but the mind of the Xenos is as treacherous as it is keen. Without our assistance they are doomed, and they know this. is, I might point out, a happy coincidence that they choose to fight parallel to us in this conflict, though I am loath to say alongside. We must allow them to inflict maximum damage on Chaos in their own fashion, but must in no way co-operate with their scheme and strategem. I would assure you, my learned brethren, that they would only use our own assistance to help them maintain their strength for a further strike against us when this grave threat has passed. conflict is an opportunity for us to destroy both Chaos and the Ulthwé craftworld, or at any rate for them to inflict irreparable damage on one another. I urge we let them do this. I must, however, counsel you all that co-operation with the Eldar is folly, and shall be your undoing. Use and abuse them, my friends, but do not let yourselves be fooled by their sugared words. They must die, one and all. There can be no peace between our peoples." Pfeffendorff had begun his speech in a typically Puritan fashion. However, his manner took a sudden and unexpected turn as he turned his mind to matter of the Wulfen. to the matter of the elusive Thirteenth. and my colleagues have always been of the opinion that the Thirteenth's mutant have been as a result of a 'defect' in the Chapter's geneseed, in the same way as the Thirst affect the Blood Angels. Whilst this makes them undesirable as allies, we cannot ignore the fact that as Marines of a Loyalist Chapter, they are the Emperor's work, his creation, made by his own hands and mind. They have shown no tendency, that any of us can divine, towards Chaos worship per-se, and as a result, can be considered pure of Chaos taint. anything, they are the purest among us, for having spent nine thousand years in the warp, perpetually fighting against the Great Enemy, they remain loyal to Him on Terra. We could all learn from this stalwart example. Finally, I have no doubt that it is this 'defect', referred to scientifically as the Canis Helix, that has protected them so long from Chaos's cruel and reaching tendril. If I might be so bold, I would venture that this fact makes their mutation less of a 'defect', and more a blessing, directly from their Holy Father. do not speak for the Puritan Council on this matter, my Brothers, but it is my opinion that it is our honour to fight alongside the Thirteenth." of the Inquisitors, including Starnberg, were taken aback by this analysis of the Thirteenth Company. He had heard it mentioned before, indeed, but to hold up the Wulfen as the purest and most sacred of Space Marines? A rare prognosis indeed, for a Puritan. +++ "Pfeffendorff... you surprise me. If I could grin I would... such wisdom from the mouth of a Puritan, if only all your kin manifested such wit. Your oppinion of the eldar in this matter matchs my own analysis of how we should be dealing with the xenos generally. We must carefully balance the advantages to be gained from allied action with the costs to ourselves. We must however identify common goals, the ultimate closure of the Eye, the Death of Abaddon and the safeguarding of the fabled Black Libary. We can not even be entirely sure that the Libary is an eldar construction.... In conclusion, we can not trust them but we can make use of them." for the other Xenos... I have spent nearly a century manipulating the development of certain Ork Waaaaghs and an entire tyranic splinter fleet. The results have never before been public knowledge, but I can reveal that I have redirected their course through several worlds held my choas cults. These incidents have crippled all sides and allowed Imperial forces to redirect manpower to the Cadian front." Mutters of dissent rose amoungst the assembled Inquisitors. Still! Short term gains by these creatures are immaterial. If Cadia falls we shall be beset by a foe that makes the sum of all the Xenos pale by comparison. Remember Pfeffendorff's words brothers, the Xenos are to be used and abused!" voice rang out in the darkness; "and the 13th?" can not offer oppinion. Suffice to say we can look to their actions to check their loyalty. If they are... I say we send them material, as much as can be spared. The eldar could be used to courier weapons and ammunition through the choas lines, under the watchful eye of an Inquisitor of course." +++ Pfeffendorff was still standing from his tirade, and did not bother to sit before launching into another volley of words. "Starnberg... I believe you read too much into my words. My intention was indeed to use the Eldar, but in such a way that their actions could in no way endanger our own goals. advocated allowing the Eldar to engage in open war with Chaos throughout our systems, but I do not advocate granting to them any role of responsibility. To give them roels integral and determinant of our own objectives is dangerous. Open alliance is dangerous. own men will not fight alongside the Eldar, we know this much. They have been conditioned from birth to hate them, and a lifetime of Commissariat indoctrination is difficult to undo. Resultantly, I merely suggest that we maintain a semblance of acceptance of minimal Eldar activity in our space, so that they might engage Chaos on their own, in their own way. I predict heavy Eldar casualties, but I suspect they shall, in their own way, assist our war effort by alleviating the heavy burden on many of our own loyal Army Corps. Naturally, this presence must be erased at the end of the conflict, with our inevitable victory. But for now, I propose that we 'overlook' the Eldar in our space, whilst allowing them to engage Chaos at all available opportunities. If they become dangerous, we shall unleash our own Army Corps. For now, theycan be useful, but only in the manner that we might use the Penal Legions or People's Armies. They shall be our buffer zone, my Brothers." smiled at his joke, and raised his fist. Emperor protect us, Brothers." He uttered through clenched teeth. +++ is you who reads too deeply into my words...I pursue no alliance with these creatures. I suggest that they merely be turned to our use where our line is weak. Let them try to manipulate us.... HA! I do not, can not believe that the inquisition can be directed by those foppish idiots. Use but do not trust! Keep them at arms length, like a plasma weapon, to be discarded at first danger." thing is certain... If we fight on two fronts, agaisnt an elusive Webway based foe and the might of choas, we will suffer losses to quench the sun of Cadia." +++ debate raged on for a few minutes, each side arguing the merits of their case. Then a seemingly terrified young adept entered carrying a black box, studded with lenses and speakers. He was clearly overawed by by the number of inquisitors present and wished only to do his job and get out as soon as possible. As the inquisitors slowly noticed his presence the hall fell silent and all eyes trained upon him, this had been supposed to be a private meeting only for inquisitors. what right do you intrude here Adept Lesonhorf!" shouted a local inquisitor after the stunned silence had persisted for a few seconds, "You had best have a good reason else you will face punishment in the torture halls!" "Noble... Noble Inquisitors...." Lesenhorf stammered unable to speak clearly, "The agents of the adeptus mechanicus have provided me with this Holo message block, they say it contains a variety of messages from inquisitors aware of this conference but unable to attend due to their distance from Cadia. They ask if it might be played, as the messages contained therein are from inquisitors who wish their voices heard on this issue?" Lesendorf set the cube upon the floor and backed away from it, he was clearly desperate to leave. "Learn some decorum Lesendorf, "said the inquisitor who had spoken earlier, "Activate the device and we shall hear the messages" Lesendorf pressed an activation rune on his wristband and swiftly walked out of the room, slowly above the cube appeared the flickering image of an Inquisitor. The image was distorted by the warp transmission, parts of his figure occasionally distorted and shifted but his message could still be heard clearly. His voice came over the speakers in the cube and was amplified by the speakers in the hall. Greetings fellow inquisitors, my name is Inquisitor Thraxus and it is good to hear that so many of you have made it to Cadia to help stop the chaos menace. However I must make my position heard on the issues raised by this conference before some of you make a terrible mistake. have spent my life in the ordo imperialis patrolling the expanding borders of our holy imperium and I have seen things that astound me, things that disgust me and things that amazed me. However nothing has shocked me as much as the news I hear about the man hosting this conference, Inquisitor Starnberg! all know the dangers of the xenos, espescially the younger races who are unknown and their response to chaos unpredictable. However this man seems to have forgotten what any child should know, look at your imperial creed gentlemen and TRUST NOT THE XENOS! This inquisitor you see before you has worked alongside one of the most heinious and insidious of xenos breeds, the Tau! I hear he even has a force of Tau and Kroot warriors who fight alongside him, he trusts them and is willing to aid them. The Tau have not prooved themselves against chaos, the Tau have not prooved themselves a help to the imperium. man is clearly driven insance by the transference of his body into a dreadnaught, he and many of his brethren have forgotten the true purpose of their order. The deathwatch exist to hunt and destroy the xenos in all its forms, they exist to be the revealed blade of the inquisition which cuts through the spine of the xenos. It is not their place to work alongside the xenos, it is their place to hunt and kill them without mercy or question. We should not be listening to one of them advocating working with the xenos, it should be one of us perhaps pondering the benefits and trying to desperately hold them back from slaughtering those we might wish to use! all the xenos in the galaxy only the Eldar have prooved themselves to be of any use to the imperium alive, and even they simply try to manipulate our power for their own perverted goals. I say trust not the xenos since you do not know what treachery it is planning. As for the Tau they have recently shown their true colours here on the borders of Tau space, I have heard via the Imperial News Network of an atrocity so horrible that it was considered to dire to be censored and was broadcast open channel. The Tau have raided 78 worlds here on the border on the day of the childrens parade to honour the emperor, they strcuck without warning at civilian targets without mercy, while they blathered about peace and understanding in their cursed xenos fashion. There are three hundred and ninety two thousand dead or missing here, all killed by the Tau and they struck in a fashion even more brutal than we have become accostommed to. And these are the aliens Starnberg wishes you to trust? for the concept of using the powers of choas from within the eye as allies, the concept disgusts me so greatly that I decline to even comment upon it. Simply remember that if the force of chaos you are using to fight chaos was not benefitting greatly from its victory it would not function for you. Chaos is inherantly corrupting and evil, to try to bind it and control it is foolishness. brethren, I hope you think upon what I have said before taking any actions here. I urge you to not let one who is clearly insane lead the way! +++ How embarassed I am... It is a great pity that I can not clearly express my views of the xenos to my brothers in arms. He fears that I have forgotten the difference between human and xenos. There is none but biology. A human, like any other creature, must display and demonstrate its loyalty. The Horus Heresy is the clear example, we can only trust those who prove themselves loyal and even they should be watched." Starnbergs voice paused, it is true that I have hired mercenaries to fight in the Eye. As many here know a merc has a refreshing approach to loyalty, that it can be bought. Who better to use for suicidal raids and using their own special skills to disrupt the enemy. I will not repent this choice, for I can not conscience requisitioning troops from where they could mean victory and it has been many years since I held my own life to have value above what I can do to thwart our enemies." +++ Another holographic depiction appeared. In the haze of blue iridescent energy appeared the form of Lord Inquisitor Tyran...the unbeknowest tool of the Eternal Watcher... brethren. I hear your arguments. But all I hear is nonsense. Use the Eldar? Foolhardiness! We must distance ourselves from these debased corsairs as much as possible! They will undoubtadly weave our Great Empire into their foul plans and we shall quickly become pawns of them. They care not for anything but themselves...and through their fould warpcraft they would see a battle manipulated so that billions of the Emperor's Subject die rather than a single specimen of these debased Xenos. They are but evil and lies, my brothers, evil and lies. We must have nought to do with them...in the coming conflict we must slaughter the Xenos and the Diabolus in equal measure...for both are as twisted and corrupt as the other. the subject of the Wulfen...I know not what to think. I am unsure on their true loyalties. I have seen men loyal to the Emperor unto death step into the Eye and return in the raiding forces of the Slaves to Darkness. The Realm of Chaos is an isidious place that can corrupt even the most pious of souls. I fear that even my heart might not be pure enough to resist such lures. Are these beings saviours gifted by Him on Terra Himself? Or are they damned and corrupt like all from the Eye? +++ do we care for anything but our own kind brother? No we do not. So we share the sin of the Eldar, a common sin in this galaxy. Yet to care for ourselves we must pick and choose our battle grounds. If you wish to launch a crusade against the Eldar or march into Tau space with death at your heels I shall personally call for your inditement as a traitor. There can be no division of purpose, no pursuit of personal hatreds (you know who you are Tau hater) for this is the time in which those at Cadia will emerge victorious from a rain of blood and those without must hold the line. If you must talk to do so, then so be it. Talking to the xenos, buying us a month with promise of a treaty, will do far greater good than a chapter of astartes. Thoughts before actions. We are human afterall, not orks." +++ Inquisitor pawn was incensed by these words. "What you say is foolish! Xenos work only for our downfall. Mankind is ultimately destined to rule the galaxy...as the Emperor is testement to this. The Imperial Creed dictates that the Xenos should NOT be tolerated. Tolerance begets treachery and betrayel. The enemy without: the Xenos. That exactly what they are...one and all. We should not consort with enemies. Do we tolerate mutants? No. Why in the seven hells of the warp should we tolerate Xenos!? +++ enemy without makes us stronger brother, the exisitance of such threats gives us the strength and purpose we need. It is the internal conflicts which are the most desructive. The damage that we deal to ourselves. We must seek to forge ourselves into a united front, even if it is in the face of a single foe alone, chaos must be defeated. At whatever cost." |
