TemplarKnight07 — Roleplayer Guild

The Wandering Chronos, Various Chambers and Ordo Quarters, Shortly after the Meeting aboard Saints' Chariot

@Wraithblade6

Alexius' cutter landed on one of the several loading docks of The Wandering Chronos, visiting vessels were confined to specific docking bays, but Alexius used a different one. Dismissing his guards, he proceeded alone through the halls of his vast ship, its cramped and dim quarters envloping him in its familiarity. This ship was his home, as it was to all members of the Ordo Chronos. He noted the sparsity of people and servitors as he made his way through, though the former Battleship was understaffed fairly substantially compared to its hey-days, it normally wasn't this lonesome. It probably had to do with whatever Inquisitor Gerion had to inform him of. 

After about ten minutes of weaving through corridors, he reached a small sealed door bearing his Ordo's seal upon it. A servo-skull was imbedded in the wall next to it. Taking his Inquisitorial Rosette, he held it to the scanner of the skull, which verified his status and the door quickly snapped open, shutting quickly behind him as he entered. He had entered in through one of the many entrances to the Ordo's Quarters, this among many others required to a Rosette to enter. Security was even tighter in some areas, such as the Ordo Archives, Holding Cells, Armoury and Reliquary, and Alexius' quarters. 

This was merely an entrance into the halls of the Ordo, all of which lead to the central meeting room or Conclave Hall of the Ordo Chronos, a fairly imposing and Gothic assembly hall where the Ordo met for discussions, judgements, and ceremonial inductions. He walked around the breadth of the room to the door behind the high seats where he and closest Inquisitors sat, and after showing his rosette, handprint, and retinal scan to a servo-skull at this door, a lock opened the way to his quarters, the quarters of the Master Inquisitor of the Ordo Chronos. 

The office was as imposing as the room he had just left, though it featured many of Alexius' personal tastes. He had trophies of various engagements, picts of sectors and planets he particularly enjoyed on his fleet's journey, paper copies of agreements he had made with the various Xenos races he had welcomed into the fleet, and shelves full of personal books were everywhere. Most were journals, others were the works of former Inquisitors and Imperial Judges, he kept what he could manage to recover and took a personal interest in. Inquisitor Gerion was seated reclining in a chair near Alexius' desk. The aging Inquisitor stood as Alexius entered.

"My Lord, your arrival has been anticipated by the Ordo and Captain Lattore of the Relictors . . ."

Alexius waved his hand dismissively as he dropped his hat on his desk and took off his coat, revealing his carapace armour, holster for his Lamarck Thousander, and sheath for his force sword beneath. He draped the coat over his chair as he talked.

"Yes, yes, I know that already Lucius, what did you want to see me about so urgently? And please be brief, I can read the whole reports later if there is much detail to lay out. I'm anxious to not keep the good captain waiting much longer."

Lucius Gerion stammered briefly before catching himself. He was an old and storied Inquisitor with a wealth of knowledge and experience, but was prone to babbling on. Alexius had been working to get the habit out of him with mixed success.

"Master Inquisitor, several weeks ago, the Errant Cohort's cogitator systems were breached in several locations, there is evidence to suggest that almost everything in those data banks was accessed."

Alexius paused in his routine before resuming.

"Did they make it past the Ordo's encryptions, or access our own banks here?"

Gerion shook his head.

"No evidence of that sir, we've put almost everyone aboard on lockdown and have almost the whole Ordo and their retinues at work interrogating everyone, but nothing has turned up yet, and there appear to have been no breaches of any of our data . . . or lack thereof, within the fleet, or a trace of anything aboard our ship here."

Alexius nodded. He would still have to inform Lord Corbec that he would have to contend with potential spies and inner plots to weaken the integrity of the fleet, if the extent of the breach was as extensive as Gerion claimed, but first things first. 

"Inform them to hunt through their own retinues as well, we have loose tongues prone to rumour somewhere aboard regardless of infiltrators and spies, and I want them found. After their business is done, have them hunt for any other signs of abnormal behaviours or instances as well, I want to find everything they can on those who did this."

Gerion bowed.

"At once, Master. I shall see to it personally, and have Varius show Captain Lattore in on my way out."

Gerion then made the sign of the Aquila, which Alexius returned as the Inquisitor left, and he returned to making himself comfortable for Captain Lattore. He thought briefly for a moment and drew a decanter of Amasec from his desk and a couple glasses, he poured himself one and took a drink, he wanted to fortify himself for the discussion to come.

Meanwhile, with Inquisitor Malodrax and Captain Lattore, Varius smiled behind his water glass. He admired the Captain's sense of purpose and duty, especially given the reported (though admittedly sporadic)rumoured history of his Chapter. He turned as the door behind him opened with a soft click. An Inquisitor who was noticeably even older than Varius but with the same cloak and rosette stepped through.

"Varius, Master Alexius has returned, and will see the Captain now. Please escort him to the Master' chambers."

Varius nodded and placed his glass down softly by the table before turning to the Astartes, Gerion having done his duty, proceeded briskly out the way which Lattore had come in and further on into the Battleship.

"Very well then, shall we, Captain?"

--------------

Captain of the Relictors had spoken of small victories and of staying together, yet little did his hosts know, this was a stark irony. The Relictors did not have a history of working well with others. Captain Lattore himself, under orders of HIS captain at the time, had slain loyal inquisitors in sheer cold blood. The Relictors were guilty. Leal knew it now. The Space Wolves knew it, and so did the Ordo Malleus. With the Emperor expired and communication and travel broken down, there were few whom the Relictors would ever encounter that were aware of their transgressions or could do anything about it. Leal mentally recounted the events that had led to the excommunication of his chapter, unsettled with the burden of carrying the Relictors's sins to the grave. 

The turn for the worse began shortly after the beginning of the 13th Black Crusade. The Relictors were involved in several early battles. They fought valiantly against the Nightlords on Exeltra Minor, slaughtered the Dark Eldar on Xersia, and with their unstoppable daemonweapons, delivered the Emperor's Wrath wherever they passed. As they were battling against the Word Bearers Traitor Legion on Subiac Diablo, one of the bound entities within one of their daemonblades revealed the existence of a relic of terrifying power at Diamedes Archive on Fremas. The bound daemon had successfully been made to translate a series of notes they had collected, all written by servants of the daemon four thousand years ago. From that moment on, securing that artifact with complete secrecy then became the number one priority. Captain Artekus Bardane commanded an immediate departure of the battlefield, ignoring direct orders from the Great Wolf Logan Grimnar, then high commander of the Astartes forces, to remain and support Cadia's defense forces. The Relictors had blatantly abandoned a warzone, leaving their allies in dire need. Little did Captain Bardane know, but Grimnar was so infuriated that he had sent elite Wolf Scouts to follow the Relictors and find out where they were going. 

Fremas was an agriworld, one that had suffered and earthquake 500 years prior which had damaged the previously sealed stasis vault, called the Diamedes Archive, at the heart of the mountaintop. The Ordo Malleus had done their best to quickly close off the structure after the earthquake and keep guard ever since. No one except a handful of Adepts on Terra knew what the vault contained. 

It only took six Relictors to overcome the Imperial guard stationed at the site. None were left alive, or so they had believed. An inquisitor named Cyarro had survived with critical injuries. The great artifact was found at the heart of the chamber, and the Relictors placed it within a Reliquarius for transport to their star fort to be studied by only the most pure Librarians of the chapter. By the time the wolf scouts arrived, the Relictors were gone, but video surveillance footage revealed the damning details. 

As a result of these actions and their conflict with the Inquisition over the use of Chaotic artifacts, the Relictors were declared enemies of the Imperium by unanimous decision of the Ordo Hereticus. They were to be hunted down and destroyed, their gene-seed wiped form the galaxy and all records of their deeds expunged from Imperial history. 

After the events at Fremas, the Relictors traveled to recapture the world of Finreht, taking heavy damage to their starfort monastery. With skill and secrecy, their fleet master was able to maneuver them to anchor in the Taeloth system where they could attempt to recover and begin to make use of the knowledge gleaned from the Diamededs Archive. They had already lost a great number of their space marines so far to various battles of the 13th Black Crusade, but they were about to be utterly destroyed. In a cunning ambush by the Ordo Malleus' Chamber Militant, the Grey Knights, under the command of Inquisitor Cyarro, whom the Relictors had left for dead on the Agri-World of Fremas, the assembled Inquisitorial fleet hammered the dying remains of the Relictors' Starfort with concentrated fire from their powerful gun batteries. The inquisition left only after the all traces of the Relictors had been reduced to dust, yet a few hundred survived by evacuating the starfort in ships and heading for the Eye of Terror. In one of these ships was Leal Lattore, who would later return to recover the broken remains of the Imperius Immemorium. 

-----------------------------

"Very well then. Shall we, Captain?"

Leal released his hands from behind him and proceeded into the next room.

-----------------------------

Inquisitor Varius Malodrax led Captain Lattore into the inner sanctum of the Ordo Chronos, their steps echoing through the imposing hallways, passing many unmarked doors of various security levels, but which all paths joined at the Ordo's assembly hall. Not a soul was within it, leaving the imposing architecture to speak for itself. Two banks of circular rows of unfurnished seats of black mahogany encircled a small open space wherein various ceremonies or purposes could be utilized. A taller array of seats loomed over the space and the other seats from the northern cardinal point of the room, unfurnished like all the others, but its highest seat was crowned with the unmistakeable seal of their Ordo. A massive chronometer loomed above, its shadow cast down upon the room by a large light behind it, though despite its massive nature its workings were surprisingly quiet, though very noticeable in silence as was the case now. And large banners of the Ordo hung on all the bare walls between the halls leading out of the chamber.

Varius led Captain Lattore around the left side of the room, leading him behind the high seats, where a few steps behind was a sealed door. He knocked twice before Alexius' voice, muffled from behind the door yelled: 

"Enter, Varius."

Varius pushed the button on the door to find it open, and Alexius, Master of the Ordo Chronos was standing in front of his desk, his glass of Amasec half drained while the decanter sat behind him. He scratched his head lightly as Varius led Lattore inside, the doors not exactly designed for Astartes heights, but not exactly so short he'd have to crawl in either.

"Master Alexius."

"Varius. Close the door behind the good Captain, unless you have business to attend to, you may stay if you wish and observe our conversation. Nothing may leave this room unless I say so, but you're free to listen and perhaps speak on matters if I ask, you are of similar sympathies to myself, hence why I grant you this privilege."

Varius briefly was taken aback before nodding and moving to seal the door behind Lattore and finding a seat in a chair to the side of the wall where he could observe both Alexius and Lattore.

Alexius focused his attention on Captain Lattore, placing his glass down, his wolfish smile from the council meeting returning.

"Glad that you attended to my request so briskly, Captain. Before we begin, as you may have noticed by what I just said to Varius, this whole conversation is strictly a matter of confidence between us. Nothing of what we discuss will stray beyond this room that we do not desire to have known to seeking ears and curious minds. With that being said, is there anything you'd like to ask me, or tell me in particular before we begin with why I called this meeting?"

------------------------------

The grey-clad relictor straightened up from ducking through the entryway to the private meeting room. The white skull against a black field was clearly recognizable on his shoulder plate. A long glance at Inquisitor Varius searched him for evidence that he could be trusted. 

Tentatively accepting Varius as secure, Leal ignored him for the moment and answered. "Yes Inquisitor. First, I must thank you for speaking with me and for the assured secrecy of this meeting. The words we are about to exchange will no doubt put our lives in each other's hands. I must make my intentions clear before you and disclose to you alone information that is highly classified. 

This Inquisition must be made aware that the ruinous artifact that was taken from the Diamedes Archive on Fremas still resides aboard the broken remains of our Ramilles Starfort. At this time, the nature of the artifact is so heinous and corruptive that it simply cannot be revealed, even to you. It lies within a stasis field inside a reliquary, hidden within the fortress monastery guarded by our most pure librarian. The only other being in this galaxy that knows of its location, is me."

Leal paused before going on as if pained slightly. "One of our battle brothers has already fallen due to the influence of the Diamedes artifact. It called out to his daemonweapon when he passed too close to the object aboard the ship, causing it to overtake his mind. The brother was given the emperor's peace. This was all only a few months ago." Leal admitted this with great regret, closing his eyes briefly in solemn respect. "It was an isolated case, and steps have been taken to better protect our brothers."

"I myself will not traverse near the artifact, even though it is supposedly dormant. I have command, and my corruption would have far more dire affects. The relics, and even the daemon blades we carry as Relictors, are potent and dangerous, just as we were warned long ago. I have realized that the chaotic forces within reveal to us only crumbs of knowledge littered over a trail of their own design, leading us to wherever THEY will, always in service to the ends of chaos. I remember watching as our former chapter master defied orders and forsook the light to pursue whatever relic supposedly posed a greater threat. He began to place securing the potential weapons of the enemy over the lives he was supposedly protecting from them. Yet I followed him. 

Now however, as long as I have command, I swear to never repeat the same course as Arketus Bardane. I vow to place my Emperor and the Imperium before the pursuit of anything chaos deems worthy. This is why I need your help. Inquisitor, I would have the Relictors once more under the watch of the Inquisition's careful eye, never again to be divided and adrift without guidance. We must be the guardians of the knowledge we have acquired and the sole wielders of the weapons we have created. If a chaotic artifact is to be unearthed and contained, let us be the ones sent to it, but let us not operate like an independent band of pirates and mercenaries."

The captain took a breath, calming himself. "As for the Diamedes artifact, there is only one force I would trust to be truly capable of effectively containing it, and they are the Grey Knights. I believe they still exist, and I would like to find any of them to take on this burden. Should we encounter them, of course, I would expect to be immediately attacked, perhaps even ambushed. I must ask you, Alexius, if you find me worthy, give to me an Inquisitorial Rosette... A seal even, as it is the one and only thing that might for a second stay a Grey Knight's blade from my throat long enough for me to speak. It could have no access codes, but it must identify me as its possessor." Captain Lattore was in effect asking to join the Inquisition. "Our pact as master and acolyte would be kept secret until such time, if you wish."

----------------------------

Inquisitor Alexius leaned back throughout Captain Lattore's plea, his smile fading to a more neutral stance, but his eyes never changing in being fixed on the Relictor Captain. He spared a brief glance over to Varius, whom himself exchanged a silent glance, but nothing was said between them.

Looking back at Lattore he began his reply.

"Tis not an easy burden you and your brethren choose to bare, Captain. One which should have broken your chapter long ago and sent it spiralling into Chaos, yet here you and your fellows stand ready to serve once again and ask for a chance to redeem yourselves . . ."

Alexius calmly walked back around to his desk, sitting into his chair as he continued.

"Let me be clear, Captain. I am not the kind of Inquisitor I believe you and your brothers are used to dealing with. I have a more . . . pragmatic view on such matters as these, and see them more as tests of faith and personal resolve than as forbidden matters which dogmatic zealots would have us believe holds no value over faith in our God-Emperor . . . but we all know that God though he may be, he has left us and thrown his Imperium into disorder with his untimely passing, now is not the time for dogmatic cowardice, but to take up bolder measures whilest tempered by our faith and resolve in seeing his vision fulfilled. We know our enemies will not have mercy on those who cannot adapt . . ."

Alexius reached down to his neck and flipped up his rosette to look at it and held it in his hand before looking at Lattore again, his eyes as cold as the void.

"I have my own reasons to seek whatever remains of the Grey Knights as well, Captain. Though how to reach them, not even I am fully certain yet. As for this artifact and your brothers, while I believe you speak from your heart on this, you must understand I require more than words in these times, Captain. I require action. For only through our actions does what we say become true or false.

To this end, I shall take up your desire of putting you and your brothers under the watch of my Ordo. I believe the artifact is best contained within your Starfort for now until such time as more suitable means of containment arises, and until then, you and your brothers will be kept under watch and as you said, our guidance.

As for your second request, I must first ensure that you are truly devout and loyal to our cause. Which you shall have the chance to prove at the Forge-World, potentially. We plan to negotiate for its return into the Imperium, but if negotiations fail, you and your brothers alongside others of your allies, will be the strike force to take the Forge-World in one clean stroke, unspoiled and its Tech-Priests intact. Prove to me that you and your brothers have the resolve to retain yourselves in spite of such powers as you all manipulate and accomplish your role in this task with grace, and I shall grant you an Inquisitorial rosette and your request to be an acolyte. What's more, your chapter will become a new arm of our Ordo, as the Death Watch was to the Ordo Xenos, and the Grey Knights to the Ordo Malleus.

In short, Captain, prove to me what you say is true about the character of you, and your chapter in the upcoming conflict, and your wishes shall be granted."

----------------------------

The Relictors of the Ordo Chronos... It made sense. Time-travel, the study of the flow of history, and relic-finding certainly would go hand in hand, or fist into powerglove. It was as if it were meant to be. Leal was nearly moved, so profound was his elation. 

"I understand. It will be as we have discussed. You have my deepest gratitude, Inquisitor Alexius." Leal bowed in emphasis of this. "We will follow orders to the utmost, for it is imperative not only for the survival of our chapter but for the nascent Imperium at large. May our deeds make your judgement simple and swift. I will go now to prepare my brothers."

And so it was, another small victory.

'Saint's Chariot', Personal battleship of Emperor Gregori Amastov, Present day

@agentmanatee@Hecticlord@Thecrash20

Inquisitor Alexius quietly drummed his fingers on the table as Gregori made his pronouncement. It was decided then, for now, and his presence was needed elsewhere. Thus, he politely stood up from his chair and spoke to the others in the room.

"Very well, your Imperial Majesty. That is all the business I have to discuss here for now, I'll prepare my forces and await the campaign and our next meeting."

He glanced over at Lord Corbec.

"I'll have the manifests and records of my fleet's forces sent your people in short order to utilize as you wish, Lord-Militant. My Inquisitors who remain in command positions shall assist your officers in the transition, and we shall be ever-present in our oversight, as is our purpose. Regardless, the Errant Cohort and its martial might shall pass to your command with plenty of time to fashion them to your liking before the campaign."

Bowing slightly in respect to Gregori and his Captain, Alexius briskly walked out of the chamber, his escort Stormtroopers stepping in behind him outside of the chamber and back through the vessel to his Cutter, which speedily took off towards The Wandering Chronos. Leaving Alexius to silently contemplate how to proceed next as a short communication over his vox unit informed him that Captain Lattore and Lady Ritske were awaiting his arrival, with Inquisitor Malodrax attending them, and Inquisitor Gerion awaiting to brief him on Ordo-related concerns which demanded his attention.

The Wandering Chronos, Ordo Receptacle, Present Day

@Wraithblade6

Inquisitor Varius Malodrax smiled tightly at the Captain's remarks and questions. Alexius was going to enjoy the good Captain, but then why else had his Master called for this audience?

His smile dropped to a more neutral state before he answered, glancing briefly at Lady Ritske, still smoking and still reclining before answering, his gaze fixing back on Captain Lattore.

"Frankly, Captain, your Chapter certainly would be the one for Master Alexius to choose should he desire such protection. Captain Tyros' force, by our reckoning, could hardly do it themselves in their current state, faithful in their service though they remain, but to each their own suitable task.

As to the matter of security . . . without stepping on my Master's, or fellow Ordo members' heels . . . it is more a matter of leaks, loose tongues, and even looser suspicions at the moment than actual physical threats, at least from what I know. An Astartes' presence could go towards solving a number of those problems, but also could run the risk of burying many of them to the point where investigation becomes impossible . . . such is the course of many choices we Inquisitors are forced to make. Personally, given what basics I know about the situation, the latter may not be much of a worry in this case, and think the assistance of Astartes would be invaluable, but it shall have to be Alexius' judgement."

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