The Blood of Kings (40K-In Memoria)

[Chris OFarrell]

As I havn't seen the RPG -and don't feel like crawling through it- I just want to clarify a few points;

'I am Inquisitor Jolan Gix and that standing over me is a product of the most extreme tech heresy, an intelligence without a soul, with whom we are engaged in a compact to preserve the Imperium of Man'

And 'but the Adraxian built systems could handle the strain'

Putting it together, I am assuming that;

1. Gix and/or someone in his allience stumbled upon a world, I'm guessing called 'Adrax' which has Men of Iron on it, in possession of a fully functional Dark Age technology base.

2. Gix and/or someone in his allience has in turn made an allience with these Men of Iron, who are working with his faction in the Inquistion/AdaptMech to supply advanced technology to the IOM as part of his grand vision for rebuilding the Imperium, in exchange for...I'm guessing protection from the more 'KILL THEM ALL!' parts of the IOM?

3. Gix's faction has become somewhat fragmented in between 'In Memoria' and now, perhaps because the Big H is still MIA, and one 'fragment' of his faction now has him in a disadvantageous position, because he has commited extreme heresy in summoning a Greater Daemon to fight a Greater Daemonn, away from the main support of his own 'fragment'

4. Even though everyone is up to their *knees* in extreme heresy in between with working with the Men of Iron, genetically modifying Lictors to pull the Hivefleets into the eye -which could backfire something absurd if the Hivemind becomes corrupted- and downright radical agendas. Which in turn suggests, as the discussion above says, that while they are uncomfortable with it, they are not really foaming at the mouth with rage, its just a convenient excuse.

So in short, the group who don't like Gix are going to take advantage of his screwing around with Greater Daemons to get rid of him with some level of justification, away from any real Inquisitorial authority like a Conclave, to tilt the balance of power in their favour without much effort or risk and a semi-legit stamp of approval on it.

I have to admit to curiosity as to how Gix is going to get out of this one...

[Imperial Overlord]

Correct, on all points. The Men of Iron claim to be survivors from the Dark Age of Technology, and programmed to serve mankind. They, and the Adeptus Mechanicus they have convinced to serve them, are the source of the advanced technology. Gix is essentially engaged in two conspiratorial faction. The first is Kyra Nevan's, in which his faction have assumed dominance and control. The second is the original investigators of the Adraxian Incident, most of whom were or are now inquisitors. Gix is the contact between the two conspiracies. The Adraxian one is mostly focused on developing Adraxius's tech base and arming local military factions under their influence, Astartes or otherwise. Nevan's is more concerned with long term development of Imperial worlds and sectors and exercising political influence over the Mechanicus, bolstering the position of sympathetic (more scientifically minded and more inclined to share tech secrets with laity) high rankers by sharing archeotech with them.

[Imperial Overlord]

Steam hissed as hydraulic systems closed the landing bay doors with the finality of sealing a tomb. A score of Sororitas wearing armour augmented with hexagrammic wards stood on guard. A small flight of auspex equipped servo-skulls floated through the air, performing standard search rites. For a moment the only sound was the routine hum of machinery. Then the main doors of the Thunderhawks opened, their landing ramps hitting the deck with loud booms. The black armoured forms of two Deathwatch kill teams emerged.

The Deathwatch took up positions outside their Thunderhawks and waited. A door on the other side of the bay opened. Another squad of Sororitas emerged, followed by menagerie of Inquisitors and their close personal staff. This consisted of several Ecclesiarchical adepta, techpriests, and a lithe brownskinned woman wearing black synskin. Behind them came another group, also surrounded by Sororitas.

The prisoners wore shackles on their hands and feet as well as restraint collars around their necks. Jolan Gix's normally tan skin was pale. A short man by the standard of many worlds, the surrounding Sororitas guards only made him appear even smaller. Hethor D'eckor looked at his captors with undisguised contempt as he walked at Gix's side. Even bulked up by their armour the Sororitas were barely larger than the huge, muscled veteran. The winged sword insignia of the Dark Angels glistened on his shaved head. Falling just behind him was Domina, who nearly matched Hethor in size and strength. The former Sororitas kept her silver-blond hair austerely short, which revealed the interface sockets at the base of her skull, and surveyed the area with a gaze of disturbing intensity.

Severa and Lydia were in the next rank. Both women were tall, light skinned, and short haired, although Severa had broader shoulders and a more muscular build. Her eyes, natural and augmentic, were gray while Lydia's were black. Behind them was the petite form of the astropath Iriza, almost entirely shrouded in her robe, and Selanon Kay. The Navigator's head was encased in a restraint cage that shielded everyone from the deadly gaze of his third eye. Gard Vikal, his mechadendrites disabled and hanging limply, was last.

The Deathwatch looked on impassively as the Sororitas loaded the prisoners on to one of the Thunderhawks. "I am not," said Varian softly, "completely convinced that Gix cannot escape from that."

Ristani was silent for a moment. Is he trying to make a case to execute them out of hand? They are prisoners in the custody of the Deathwatch? Has something happened to cause him to reconsider the outcome of the trial? "His gun-witch is quite capable," replied Ristani at last. "But she can do nothing while she wears the null collar and one of their guards is a Librarian. Even if they succeed is overcoming their guards they have no where to go and can be easily blasted out of space. Malkamar and Cantor have taken all the necessary steps to prepare facilities to hold him on arrival." Augmentic eyes studied the senior inquisitor's reactions.

Varian shrugged. "Of course. He's just cheated death one time to many for me to be comfortable with any arrangement." He shrugged in dismissal.

There's more here, thought Ristani. Fear of the assassin perhaps? Unlikely. Varian tended towards recklessness, not timidity. "Zala."

The brown skinned woman appeared by his side. She was lean, all wiry muscle and sinew. "My lord?"

"Your estimation on the assassin's course of action?"

"Transportation to the battle barge will be the single greatest obstacle to overcome. Once there he needs to hide, acquire sustenance and supplies, and information regarding the inquisitors on board ship while evading highly capable search parties. It is probable that he has most of what he requires here and will undertake to arrange passage to the Astartes vessel along with his equipment. The crucial bottleneck is transport. Time aids him and works against him. I advise another personnel shift, covert, as soon as feasible to keep ahead of him."

"There are," said Lena Novadlorian, "nearly a dozen suitable vessels if we include battleships, grand cruisers, and battle barges."

"We'll deal with it latter," said Varian. "After we've left this ship. And we should expedite this trial. We have no reason to delay. We all know the facts and they speak for themselves. Reasons for acquittal either already exist or do not. They will not suddenly appear out of the void if enough hours pass, although daemons intent on freeing him might if we give him enough time."

"I hardly think he's in position to call upon the Ruinous Powers," said Nathan Talstrem dryly. "But I agree in very general terms. Lets all move again and have a swift trial. As long as Jolan has adequate access to the appropriate legal resources, I see no reason why we can't resolve this in an expeditious manner." He tipped his hat towards Varian and Ristani. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go grab a seat on that bird."

What does he know? asked Ristani. There was plainly more behind Talstrem's words and pleasant manner than surface impressions conveyed, but Ristani could not read the man.

"Then we're agreed," said Varian. "Lets get this over with." The big man stomped towards the other Thunderhawk. Throne take the subtleties of these little games. Varian had gotten what he wanted from the others and that's all that mattered.

[LadyTevar]

Anytime someone thinks the subtleties does not matter, he's in for a very rude surprise.

So my dear, how does Gix get out of this?

[Chris OFarrell]

Well, short of a personal appearence by the Emperor...I don't really see how he can get off LEGALLY.

He might be able to swing enough Inquisitors around to stall them taking any 'permanent' actions until they get back to the Imperium and more formal authority however. But I can't see the people who want him dead letting him get away with it...

Very interesting setup.

And I take it Gix is white just because he is still rather weak and recovering, not because he is shocked or surprised right?

[Imperial Overlord]

Well, short of a personal appearence by the Emperor...I don't really see how he can get off LEGALLY.

The whole venture is beyond the pale legally. Everyone's guilty of gross and irreconcilable Radicalism and heresy.

He might be able to swing enough Inquisitors around to stall them taking any 'permanent' actions until they get back to the Imperium and more formal authority however. But I can't see the people who want him dead letting him get away with it...

He's in a cabal that deals with AIs. Compared to that daemon binding is mainstream and respectable. Literally.

And I take it Gix is white just because he is still rather weak and recovering, not because he is shocked or surprised right?

You mean the dude who was last scene in a hospital bed? Yeah.

[Chris OFarrell]

Well, short of a personal appearence by the Emperor...I don't really see how he can get off LEGALLY.

The whole venture is beyond the pale legally. Everyone's guilty of gross and irreconcilable Radicalism and heresy.

Oh I know, but the vast majority of the Inquistion DOESN'T know. I mean that if Gix can somehow get enough people onside to delay this whole thing until he gets back to the Imperium, then he should be home free. Well not FREE, but certinally not DEAD either.

He might be able to swing enough Inquisitors around to stall them taking any 'permanent' actions until they get back to the Imperium and more formal authority however. But I can't see the people who want him dead letting him get away with it...

He's in a cabal that deals with AIs. Compared to that daemon binding is mainstream and respectable. Literally.

Well yes, but summoning a Greater Daemon is no small thing either. It is an odd note however that you have so many Sisters of Battle around and going along with this little group. Space Marines at least might be practical enough to accept doing some very...bad...things for the greater good at times. But its not like Sororitas are exactly known for having flexable thinking between their ears.

And I take it Gix is white just because he is still rather weak and recovering, not because he is shocked or surprised right?

You mean the dude who was last scene in a hospital bed? Yeah.

Just checking!

[Imperial Overlord]

Oh I know, but the vast majority of the Inquistion DOESN'T know. I mean that if Gix can somehow get enough people onside to delay this whole thing until he gets back to the Imperium, then he should be home free. Well not FREE, but certinally not DEAD either.

They aren't stupid. They also know that Gix has significant allies and will be able to burn them all down with him with the words "Men of Iron" if his allies can't save him. They could also buy a serious shadow war with Gix's allies. They all know this. So one way or the other it'll be settled without the rest of the Inquisition knowing.

But its not like Sororitas are exactly known for having flexable thinking between their ears.

Lena's a Living Saint so questioning her associations isn't something they're inclined to do. Most of them are also working on an edited version of the truth.

[Imperial Overlord]

The cell door slid open. Jolan looked up from his desk. "Prius. Thank you for coming."

Ristani clanked into the cell. The room was comparatively spacious with a desk, chair, and bookshelves as well as a bed, latrine and sink. "Jolan."

Prius extended a hand from his robe. "I brought the book." He placed a weighty tome on the desk. He blinked. "It is not a standard legal text."

"No Inquisition trial is conventional," said Jolan, "and this one less than most."

"You seek to sway Varian and I with quotations from Commodius Voke," said Ristani. "That is unlikely to occur."

Jolan smiled. "Do you think Varian and yourself are alone in you respect for the late Voke? He was a well respected member of the Ordos. His works aren't as lauded as say Ravenor's, but his exploits are worth studying. If you're asking if I think a few well chosen quotes will change your mind, the answer is no. I do think, however, that Voke does have something to offer to my case and that he is a source that you will not dismiss."

"He was a near Monodominant and intolerant of any form of Radicalism."

"How very selective of you Prius. We are all Radicals here. We are allied with soulless machine intelligence. And Voke was a Thorian and my Thorian credentials are better than yours. Voke was also a man whose greatest victory was achieved while working alongside a Xanthite. Perhaps you should be the one reading it."

"Are the food and accommodations suitable?" Ristani asked. The inquisitor's artificial vocal chords produced something approaching friendly concern. He made no attempt to pick up the book.

"Yes, thank you," Jolan replied.

"Good. Anything else?"

"How are my people doing?"

"They have been made comfortable. Except for Danell Keys. He remains at large."

"And thus the move and so forth."

"Yes."

"This is a mistake Prius. You shouldn't have done this."

"You shouldn't have made us do it."

"Oh Prius," said Jolan sadly. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let Varian train you."

"Why?"

"Because your horizons and vision remain limited."

Ristani blinked again. "Your insight is valued. Explain."

"You don't see the big picture Prius and you can't predict the reactions of those who do. You have already set matters in motion. I will try and preserve you."

"This is a ploy. It will not work."

"No," said Jolan, "it isn't a ploy and it will not work. That's unfortunate, but you'll see what I mean by the end. It won't be pleasant."

"Good-bye Jolan. I will see you next at the trial."

"Good-bye Prius Ristani, faithful servant of the Emperor."

[Imperial Overlord]

Prius Ristani halted at the entrance to the courtroom. It had formerly been an officer's wardroom before it had been appropriated by the Inquisitors for their trial. A long table at one end was set out for the judges. A chair and a small table were set out for the accused and for any witnesses. An aquila banner hung behind the judges while a symbolic scale was set before them on the table. Armoured shutters closed and secured the window of synthetic diamond that would have looked out on the void, but the trapping of baser luxuries remained. Plush carpet squished beneath his feet, the chairs were heavily padded and covered in fine leather while golden cherubs smiled from the gilding along the window pane and around the lumen globes on the ceiling.

Ristani was beyond such things, the fallible flesh of his body replaced by more capable machines. Flesh, even flesh driven by a will as hard and ruthless as his own, failed and failure was unacceptable to Prius Ristani and the God-Emperor. Piece by piece he had become a construct of the finest augmentic technology until he was almost entirely machine. His face remained and most of his brain and that was about it. Machines pumped the oxygen and the haemonculus laced fluids that kept what remained of his flesh alive but he was a thing of adamant and steel now and that was how it should be. All vices, all weakness, all corruption, and all doubt were behind him. Only the Men of Iron were more machine than he.

They were present in force. No others could be trusted to hear the truths that could come out at this trial. Almost to a man the fleet believed that the Men of Iron were merely highly advanced servitors, linked to the will of senior Mechanicus magi. The truth that they were prohibited abominations, soulless creations possessed of their own minds and their own will would be disastrous. It could be remoured or whispered, of course because rumours and whispers but for it to be an acknowledged truth would be their undoing.

Ristani took his seat, just to the right of the center. The rest of the judges walked in and, as to be expected, their were an eccentrically dressed lot. Talstrem was first, a fedora over his blond hair and a loose silk robe over his battered traveling wear. Next was Lena, wearing heavy Ecclesiarchy robes marked with a cluster of Naval decorations and awards. Nostrum hid a body almost as mechanical as Ristani's under a battered red robe and Varian disdained finery, instead wearing martial plate. Behind them marched another pair of Men of Iron, steel skeletons armed and armoured for war.

The judges took their seats, Varian at the center. "Bring in the prisoner," he ordered. The far door swung open and four Men of Iron escorted Jolan Gix to the accused's table. They removed the shackles on his wrists, but they psi damper collar and the explosive charge around his throat remained. The machines then took up position behind him, ready to riddle his body with high energy laser bolts and star hot plasma should the need arise.

"Jolan Gix," said Inquisitor Varian. "You have been brought in front of a court of your peers to be judged for crimes against the Imperium. While it is acknowledged that your actions did harm the enemies of the God-Emperor and did work to preserve the plans of his most loyal servants, they are also indisputable signs of corruption and represent a dire and moral threat the the Imperium of Man and the plans of this august council. How do you plead?"

"This isn't the standard form," replied Jolan Gix.

"A fair hearing and trial is the intention of this body," replied Varian, "not the provision of a body upon which sophistry and legal trickery can be performed. You may make whatever defense you feel is appropriate, but you will not be given leeway to obfuscate the facts or bury the truth in a mound of legal minutiae."

Jolan studied the faces of the judges for a moment. "As you say, Inquisitor Varian. In the interest of clarity I would like a precise reiteration of what I am specifically accused of, so I may rebut the charges."

"So you plead not guilty," said Varian.

"He has a point," said Nathan Talstrem. The easy going inquisitor was smiling, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "We agreed to an irregular trial due to the circumstances of our conspiracy, but vague charges of being a moral threat won't do. If you don't have compelling charges and specific accusations then we most certainly won't have a trial."

"Of course Inquisitor Talstrem," replied Varian. "Ristani, the charges."

"Inquisitor Jolan Gix, you are charged with practicing unholy warp sorcery. You are charged with consorting with the Powers of Chaos. You are charged with being a threat to the future well being of the Imperium through the practice of prohibited sorcery and associated with unclean powers."

"Not guilty on all counts," Jolan replied.

"Good," said Varian. "That's out of the way. The evidence is already before us. By your own admission you have practiced warp craft. You have summoned a Greater Daemon. The corrupting influence of Chaos is well known."

"Nothing I have done has done anything but serve the God-Emperor and the Imperium of Man."

"Granted," said Varian. Surprised you, didn't I? Varian thought. Oh no Jolan Gix you will not be able to hide behind the end justifying the means. I know your kind and your tricks. It is the inevitability of your future corruption and future fall that damn you and will convict you in this court. You have friends here, but they all know you have gone too far. They can forgive what you have done, but they know that you will inevitably overstep. I am doing you a favor Jolan Gix. I'm going to kill you now while their is still a chance the Emperor may accept your soul and before you fall all the way into darkness. It is a pity that you don't see it.

"The inevitable end of the path of corruption is well understood by every member of this body, even by you," said Varian. "It is a pity that in your hubris you have believed yourself immune. You are still loyal, but you have damned yourself and treason will inexorably spring from that corruption."

Jolan surveyed the courtroom. Lena Novadlorian sighed. "Spare us the theatrics Gix and get to your defence. If you can muster one."

"Very well," said Jolan. "You've done a good job of rigging this game, of convicting with the very rules of this half court and the nature of your charges. I don't need to be a telepath to tell that you are very satisfied with yourself Lord Varian nor do I need extraordinary abilities to see your acquiescence to these terms Lady Novadlorian, but your vision is so very narrow. At the end of this, remember you chose this, not I."

"Spare us Gix," said Novadlorian.

"So I will not be allowed even a statement in my own defence? No, don't bother to deny it. We all know the nature of this trial. Let us get it over with. I call a Man of Iron to the stand."

[Comosicus]

So the kangaroo court is finally together. I look forward to see how Jolan manages to pull the rug from their collective arses.

[White Haven]

...I almost wish this was a normal court, juts so that the Mechanicus could collectively shit a solid gold cat at that last line. *giggles madly*

[AgentPalpatine]

Ah, the story that introduced WH40k for me. Good to see it back, along with our friendly neighborhood holder of a rosette, Jolan Gix.

Since we know that 2 of the judges are already ready to execute Gix (Varian, Novadlorian), and at least one more strongly leaning that way (Ristani), I'm thinking that this will end with Gix's usual subtle use of violence. The odds against Gix look even worse than they did when in the court of the Gamesman, where Gix was "only" up against 3 chaos magi and a Thousand Sons magos.

Gix does'nt happen to have any favors to call in from the ruinous powers, does he? I'm not sure Keys or Talstrem can get him out of this courtroom...alive.

[Comosicus]

I have the feeling that somehow the Men of Iron will back him up. IO hints at that by having Gix call one of them to speak in his defense. In a way they are all committing blasphemy already by working with the MoI, although one of a lower level then the one Gix is accused of. But I am sure that IO will blow all our expectations again and deliver the ass-kicking they deserve.

[Imperial Overlord]

The court went silent. "Inquisitor Gix," said Varian, "is this a joke?"

"I'm quite serious," replied Jolan. "I assume the court accepts the validity of their testimony?"

Varian eyed his fellow judges. "Very well. Proceed."

"Would one of you please take the stand?" Jolan asked. "I'm aware that this isn't the resolution that you would prefer, but the other avenues open to me don't offer much of a chance of success."

The Man of Iron standing behind and to the left of Jolan walked forward, passing the inquisitor and then carefully seating itself at the witness stand. "Proceed inquisitor," it vocalized.

"You have some access to Indigo level Inquisition records?" Jolan asked.

"Yes," replied the Man of Iron. "That is correct, although the data for such records is incomplete and inaccurate."

"Hardly surprising given the nature of the Inquisition, although it does give some basis to begin. Is it true that some inquisitors have become corrupt in the later parts of the careers."

"Yes."

"And those that practice sorcery, including members of the Xanthite faction, have made up a portion of these corrupt inquisitors?"

"Yes."

"Do the records also indicate that there are inquisitors who have not practiced sorcery that have become corrupt? And they further indicate that a large number of Xanthite and other sorcerers have remained loyal and true to the standards of the Inquisition?"

"Yes and yes, depending on data accuracy."

"That would be more of a concern if we were attempting to study the rates of corruption. We are dealing with an individual case. Mine. And, in respect to my case, available data suggest that my practice of sorcery does not insure my eventual corruption nor would my abandonment of sorcery guarantee my reliability. Correct?"

"Depending on the data accuracy."

"Yes, and the data could be massaged either way, could it not? After all, given the suspicions of Puritan Inquisitors it makes sense for a practitioner of sorcery to keep those abilities private. And then there is the issue of the integrity of some of the trials. Some of them are hardly models of fair jurisprudence. So, I ask, is conclusion that I will be inevitably corrupted by my knowledge of sorcery supported by the available information?"

"No."

"Furthermore," continued Gix, "the Warp presents quite a difficulty to you. Non linear time flow and irregular interaction with the material universe alone presents a huge problem for you correct?"

"Correct."

"The human mind, as inferior as it is by the nature of its hormone poisoned, kludged together nature is far better at grasping the warp because it is irrational and receptive to emotional storms, just as the Warp. The Warp is critical, both as a threat and as a resource, to preserving the human species, which is your primary goal. It is also something that you cannot directly interact with, except under unusual circumstances, or understand. You need human experts. Reliable, intelligent, committed, and mostly rational human experts."

"Correct. Whether or not you are such a being has not been proven."

"But the available data on how and why I've chosen to use sorcery supports me being such a being, does it not?"

"Correct, but the data on your actions is incomplete. You keep many secrets, Inquisitor Gix."

"Granted," said Gix with a wave of his hand. "I am just like my colleagues in that regard. Besides, this whole line of argument is secondary. I serves to establish the value, as opposed to the danger, presented by my knowledge of the Warp. The Men of Iron care that I know enough about the Warp that I can manage a resurrection under limited circumstances. They do not care that it is giant step forward for me and my fellow Thorians."

The Man of Iron said nothing. The judges looked on, the cyborgs seemingly impassive and those who yet possessed flesh clearly interested.

Gix sighed. "We both know that you have sophisticated auspex systems and your machine spirits can manage sophistical analytical rotes. Body language, inflection, word choice, and so forth can all be analyzed. You know I will not be acquitted based on merely disproving the case of the prosecution. Too many of them are committed. Your hand must be revealed and the long term consequences are something we must all deal with."

"You presume much."

"Is my analysis incorrect?"

"Projections are in agreement with a confidence level of eighty two percent, plus or minus seven."

"So, let us get down to the bare bones. At the moment, my death during this trial would be catastrophic to your future plans and as such you will kill everyone in this room, with the exception of myself, in order to prevent it."

"Yes."

The room exploded into motion. Varian, Ristain, and Novadlorian stood up. Eight Men of Iron raised arms holding hellguns, bolt, and plasma weapons and pointed them at the judges. Novum remained still, his optics unblinking within the confines of his cowl. Flesh slapped against flesh, ringing through the room. Nathan Talstrem rose, clapping. "Very good Jolan. Now show us the rest. I'm afraid I wasn't here for the whole show and I'm missing a few pieces."

"As you wish. The long term plan of the Men of Iron is to create a technological and scientific renaissance that will lift the Imperium of Man to the heights of the Dark Age of Technology and allow Mankind to overcome every force that threatens it. Is that correct?"

"Yes," said the Man of Iron. "Proceed with the rest, Inquisitor Gix. There is no need for the pretense of a trial."

"As you wish," said Jolan. He turned to face the judges. "It's fairly simple. In order to accomplish their goals they need influence throughout the Imperium and they need to be hidden until they have achieved their goals. With the exception of Nathan, you are all either marginally useful or outright liabilities. You've failed them and to them were are just tools.

"Lena has retired from active life, but has considerable political pull with Ecclesiarchy which makes her somewhat useful. Unfortunately, the really important institutions are the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Inquisition. And what have you three done? You've blatantly employed large quantities of archeotech to arm local armies and wage small scale wars. You've brought a few Mechanicus into the conspiracy, but as members of your armies. It has been noticed. The Mechanicus avidly hunts for all signs of Dark Age technology and you've been literally arming millions with it. They should be all over your like fleas on a dog. Our secrets should have been spilled by hungry hunters and we should be running for our lives among the stars or dying on torture racks. Sorcery is acceptable to some members of the Inquisition but to almost everyone not in this room cooperating with soulless machine intelligence is the vilest tech heresy and we are all guilty.

"We are not screaming our last on autoracks because you have been successful, because mere military success is not enough to buy off the Mechanicus, but because I have built a network that has shielded us. Excuse me, not network but networks. Inquisitors, Mechanicus Arch-magi, and others have all acted to deflect investigations, take credit for providing you with your technology, and then promoting themselves with the dividends I have placed into their hands to assuage the greed of the Mechanicus. Those networks will not have me and mine directing and feeding them should I die and some of them will most definitely investigate the not very secret deaths of me and my retinue. I can see some of you are considering accidents. You arrested the admiral of your fleet on her bridge. Everyone in the fleet knows by now. You cannot bury this and you cannot survive the investigation that will follow. Which is why the Men of Iron will kill you in order to save me. Their plans matter. Your lives don't. It is the cold machine logic that caused them to slaughter billions in the Age of Strife and become anathema in the Imperium and the same cold machine logic that we have gambled might save it.

"I, on the other hand, do care. I forgive you for this, but if you come after me again I will destroy you because that is what duty requires of me. I will continue to cultivate my networks and feed the power of those who serve our agenda. I will protect you. I will protect the existence of the Men of Iron. I will kill the enemies of the Emperor wherever I may find them and you will expand your vision and stop playing interplanetary warlord and rethink your priorities because I do not control the Men of Iron and they will act as they see fit to defend Mankind. You have been focused on what you need, on what you desire. You have the tiger by the tail. I strongly suggest you consider how to best serve it."

Jolan turned and walked out, flanked by four Men of Iron. One of the remaining Men of Iron stepped forward. "You may leave. Your emotions will be misleading you. Suppress them. Do not take action against Inquisitor Gix. Do not take action against us. Serve Mankind as we do. Do not become liabilities."

"You are not our masters," said Varian.

"And you are not ours," replied the Man of Iron. " Biologicals are rarely comfortable hearing that, so we have not said it. We serve Mankind, not you and your prejudices. You are not without utility Inquisitior Varian, but your choice of actions have often been suboptimal. Our long range goals are compatible and as long as you serve them you have nothing to fear from us."

"And you will kill us if we don't," said Prius Ristani.

"As would you in our place, Inquisitor Ristani. It is difficult for biologicals, but you must think and act on a larger scale and with a longer time scale in mind or you will cease to be of use to us."

"Gix meddles with dangerous forces," said Lena Novadlorian, "forces that will leave their mark on him. Letting him go free is a mistake."

"No," said the Man of Iron, "at present he is the one of you that must survive. Termination remains a viable option for the future, should the data indicate such a step is necessary. For now he is our most valuable and volatile asset. All of you have served Mankind well in this last endeavour. Luring a Tyranid Hive Fleet into the Eye of Terror may inflict severe damage on two of Mankind's most formidable enemies and be crucial to the species's long term survival. Inquisitor Gix was also critical to the success of the mission. Termination of any high value assets would be wasteful unless required by mission success parameters. Do not make such action necessary."

The Man of Iron step backed and the rest lowered their weapons. Nathan Talstrem got up. "Show's over folks and so is the trial. A coupe of us got our wrists slapped, but the big picture is that we might have saved the whole damn Imperium. Back in my day we were allowed a few gaffs and a lot of swaggering if we did that and we are certainly owed a big damn party. I humbly suggest that get on that immediately."

"How does he do that?" Lena mumbled under her breath as the rest of the Inquisitors got up. She should be angry with Nathan, but somehow she found his words immensely charming. She exchanged a brief glance with Varian as they left the room, a glance that told her all she needed to know. Varian didn't like the end any more than she did, but he didn't see anything he could do about it either. Talstrem, Ristani, and Novum weren't on board and the Men of Iron had made their position clear. They would have to live with it, for now. "Some day," she whispered under her breath, "your charmed life will run out Jolan Gix. It is pity you did not die while your soul was clean."

[PainRack]

Oooh. pawnage. That was an excellent get out card you pulled...

[White Haven]

Ah yes, the good old 'Let Me Out Of Jail Free Or You All Die Right Now' card. Monopoly would have been a much different game...

[Comosicus]

That was a more radical action that I had anticipated. IO, you outdid yourself again.

[LadyTevar]

Deus ex Machina to get out of it? Really, IO...

[Imperial Overlord]

Deus ex Machina to get out of it? Really, IO...

\

A Deus ex Machina when you pull salvation out of nowhere. Since it's instead the actions of previously introduced beings in support of their previously introduced agenda and had a heavy dose of foreshadowing on top, it certainly doesn't qualify.

[AgentPalpatine]

I'm surprised that St. Lena was taken off guard, since she's been hiding the Men of Iron for 50 years now. Apparently, being a living saint does'nt quite live up to it's reputation. Gix pulls it off again, just like he talked Maldar down after the Genestealer incident and again when the Inquisition Wars got too hot.

I'm also trying to understand why 3 (or 4) of the ringleaders of this conspiracy/crusade were so willing to execute their best daeomonhunter while they were still in the Eye. I realize that Varian is an idiot, but I would have expected better of the other 3.

Two questions on this whole "mission".

1. I read the story up until the point that they were acquiring the Lictors, what happened in between the begining of the campaign and arriving in the Eye?

2. What sort of assets does the crusade have left? I can't imagine getting this far was easy, and I'm think that they tried to get the 'nids as deep in the Eye as Gix's talents could get them, leaving them open to all sorts of attack, both material and warp-based. They can't be that close to the Calidan Gate, since they were intent on keeping the 'nid fleets as far away from the gate as possible.

Bonus Question:
Oh, and is this crusade the reason that the Eldar were so intent on taking Nathan out back 50 years ago?

[Imperial Overlord]

I'm surprised that St. Lena was taken off guard, since she's been hiding the Men of Iron for 50 years now. Apparently, being a living saint does'nt quite live up to it's reputation.

The characters in question tended to accept that the Men of Iron would serve them and Lena has actually been away from them for 50 years. She's been knee deep in Ecclesiarchy matters. So there's a fairly big blindspot.

I'm also trying to understand why 3 (or 4) of the ringleaders of this conspiracy/crusade were so willing to execute their best daeomonhunter while they were still in the Eye. I realize that Varian is an idiot, but I would have expected better of the other 3.

Well, only two. Novum and Talstrem weren't pushing the matter. That was Varian, Ristani, and Lena and they're all puritanical when it comes to sorcery.

1. I read the story up until the point that they were acquiring the Lictors, what happened in between the begining of the campaign and arriving in the Eye?

They seed planets with modified Lictors and have fun hijinks with Chaos.

2. What sort of assets does the crusade have left? I can't imagine getting this far was easy, and I'm think that they tried to get the 'nids as deep in the Eye as Gix's talents could get them, leaving them open to all sorts of attack, both material and warp-based. They can't be that close to the Calidan Gate, since they were intent on keeping the 'nid fleets as far away from the gate as possible.

Most of their ships actually. They've lost about a third.

Bonus Question:
Oh, and is this crusade the reason that the Eldar were so intent on taking Nathan out back 50 years ago?

Possibly, but that's a question for Necronlord.

[Chris OFarrell]

Some dumb questions.

Firstly, even if the Nids get lured into the EOT, doesn't that just mean that the Nids go squish? As the deeper they move in, the more they move into the warp and away from realspace, and the greater the abilities of major powers and the Chaos Gods themselves to simply f*#(k them over, or even worse give them ideas?

Or even worse, will that much access to the Warp turn the Nid Hive mind into something even worse then it is, with its massive potential power and access to the warp actually creating a NEW Warp God? Or will it be corrupted to a Chaos deity and put an entire Hive Fleet under their control?

Second, there is a bit in an earlier chapter where it talks about D'eckor having a Dark Angel tat on his forehead. Little confused, from what I remember back a long time ago in In Memoria, D'eckor was an ex Guardsman working in a bar that was recruited by Gix's Inquisitor when he was still an Interrogator. Does this mean he was a non-marine who didn't get used in as a chapter serf but somehow got sent off to the Guard? Or am I completely getting my characters mixed up here, which is entirely possible.

And where the hell is Maldor (sp)? Has he finished conquering that planet in the name of the Emperor and had someone come looking for him yet?

Anyway, looking forward to seeing this move forward and, Emperor forbid, the Imperium actually start to make increasing forward progress!

[Comosicus]

@Chris: I think that D'eckor got that tattoo in honor of the operation where he (and his Guardsmen fellows) got to fight together with the Space Marines (which, IIRC were the Dark Angels chapter).

Conquering a pre-space age planet might not be that hard for Maladar. Escaping from said planet and making contact with the Imperium, now that might be a tad more difficult.

[Imperial Overlord]

Firstly, even if the Nids get lured into the EOT, doesn't that just mean that the Nids go squish? As the deeper they move in, the more they move into the warp and away from realspace, and the greater the abilities of major powers and the Chaos Gods themselves to simply f*#(k them over, or even worse give them ideas?]/quote]

The Nids are warpy. They generate their own Hive Mind in the Warp. And the Eye is real space and the Warp mixed together. There will be no "crush a hive fleet" free card,.

Or even worse, will that much access to the Warp turn the Nid Hive mind into something even worse then it is, with its massive potential power and access to the warp actually creating a NEW Warp God? Or will it be corrupted to a Chaos deity and put an entire Hive Fleet under their control?

Each Hive Mind already effectively a Warp god, just not necessarily in the league of the Ruinous Powers. It's not impossible that the 'Nids corrupted, but they would have to be overwhelmed and separated from the Hive Mind (or the local Hive Mind destroyed) first. Our heroes embarked on the plan because success would be awesome. At least one Eldar faction believes a possible outcome would be very bad.

Second, there is a bit in an earlier chapter where it talks about D'eckor having a Dark Angel tat on his forehead.

His background is IG, but he served on a campaign where the Dark Angels appeared and shattered a deadlock.

As for Maladar, no jumping ahead. You'll know at the appropriate place in the story.