Six cycles after making planetfall, Inquisitor Torrescana had finally tracked down Ashrael Ben Sahar. Once his colleague and his brother in the Inquisition, Torrescana knew that there was nothing left of the man he had known since his disfigurement and descent into Chaos. Still, he did not relish what he now had to do.
Torrescana's warband split into two groups as they approached the lair where Ben Sahar was holed up with Agrippa, the Dark Magos who had rebuilt his shattered body, and their acolytes. Auria, his interrogator, led one group from the North West. She had served in the Adepta Sororitas before being recruited to the Ordo Hereticus, and two of her surviving Battle-Sisters still accompanied her, along with an Arco-Flagellant gifted to her by Tech-Adept Katya Baumann of the local Explorator mission. Accompanying the Inquisitor were his loyal Crusader, Brother Argantael, who had guarded him for almost 9 standard decades, along with his acolyte Seargeant Aram Bartolis, and Trooper Errazquin from his stormtrooper detachment.
On the Southern approach Torrescana's detachment were quickly ambushed, with Brother Argantael falling to the poisoned blades of two death cult assassins, Locke and Mortiss, who had remained loyal to Ben Sahar as he turned to Chaos. Unaware of the Crusader's fate, the Inquisitor's group continued a steady advance, with Errazquin on the point spotting the Dark Magos advancing slowly along a high platform. Squeezing the trigger on his hotshot lasgun, with a little luck, Errazquin knocked down the unsuspecting Magos and watched him plummet from the high walkway uttering a binharic scream. The sound stopped abruptly when he hit the plasteel floor far below, quickly losing consciousness as the blood and oil leaked from his shattered mechandrites.
Their troubles were only beginning though as the Inquisitor, Seargant Bartolis and Trooper Errazquin were penned in by a corrupted Ogryn emerging from the dark on one side, the death cult assassins from the rear, and a dark skitarii sniper picking them off from above. Surrounded, they took up defensive positions on a walkway and prepared to hold off the assault.
Meanwhile, Interrogator Auria was injured by a shot from above from Ben Sahar's plasma gun, causing her arco-flagellant to go berserk as its frenzon collar kicked in. Met by Ben Sahar and his cursed Hex'iron blade, the arco-flagellant was swiftly cut down and thrown unceremoniously off a high walkway.
Seargeant Bartolis and Trooper Errazquin continued to hold back the ogryn and assassins, with Locke being injured and bleeding out, before Mortis was dispatched by Torrescana's needle pistol.
Up above, Auria staggered onwards under the weight of multiple flesh wounds, accompanied by Sister Dominica, the flamer-wielding zealot. Sister Caparia held back providing covering fire with her boltgun, as the others advanced on Ben Sahar's position. Finally they reached him, with Sister Dominica setting him on fire as he tried to flee before Auria wounded him with her own flamer and Ashrael Ben Sahar fell at last, down into the depths of the complex.
The corrupted Servitor Ogryn saw its master fall and broke off the assault on Torrescana's embattled position. Sister Caparia drew a bead on the unmoving body of the fallen Inquisitor and squeezed the trigger of her boltgun, only for the mechanism to jam.
She cursed her lack of piety, to be so forsaken by the machine spirit of her righteous weapon at such a time. But it mattered not. Finally no longer fighting for their lives trapped on the walkway, Torrescana released his servo-hawk to seek out his opponent. "Life signs are minimal and diminishing" reported the sensor array. "The target will not recover from this damage. Target is eliminated". Torrescana sighed before giving the order to withdraw over the com-link. It was a Dark day for the Ordo no doubt, but their mission was nonetheless complete.
******
Epilogue
Torrescana stood on the landing pad, high on the outer crust of Hive Baidun. Though there was still planet-wide unrest, the combined Imperial forces now controlled the main Hive again since the chaos insurrection had collapsed. But one ritual remained before he returned to his orbiting black ship.
He watched as Brother Argentael was taken aboard the shuttle in a medical stasis-coffin. His spinal injury would likely never fully heal, but the old Crusader remained an indispensable companion. 88 years they had fought together. They were both getting old.
He turned to Auria. "Interrogator" he said, "You are headstrong, impetuous, reckless. You are also brave beyond most mortals. Your actions on this planet have saved the souls of countless millions. I am therefore privileged to present you with your Inquisitorial Rosette. Step forth Inquisitor Auria, vanquisher of the Heretic Ben Sahar, and swear your oath. "
The oath sworn, Auria stepped back and bowed." My Lord, I will remain here on Piety and seek to make contact with the ancient shrine on this world and its guardian Sisters, if they live. There is much to do here."
Torrescana smiled, he had expected no less.
" Very well. I must return to orbit with Argentael, Bartolis and the stormtroopers. You and your Sisters are free to remain here.
I wish you good fortune and may the Emperor smile on your endeavours ".
Torrescana turned abruptly and walked to the shuttle. He had a long journey ahead of him.
Comments
Post a Comment