Inquisitor Keal Gull stood in front of a huge model of a planet, wearing just a simple comfortable robe, something he would not dare to do outside of the most secure places in the Imperium. Yet, here he stood, at the strategic command room situated inside a huge fortress build by the Astra Militarum. The planet bore a simple name of Herun47K and was a single habitable world orbiting a green star.

  When he had looked outside the robust window on his way to the operations room, he remembered the ominous green light reflected by the ever present sand. It gave him an itch, reminding him of the Necron. An unpleasant memory he would rather forget.

  "I thought our base of operations was off the surface." He glanced at the Magos at his side, who was still accompanied by the second tech-priest. The inquisitor thought it was time to introduce the figure, who seemed to be too clingy, sticking to his support personnel at all times. "And this gentleman is?"

  "This is out new tech-priest, techsorcist Ikarios Mikato and aside to provide support to your team, he arrived to evaluate the efficiency of the local operations of our order." Magos Eisenarch introduced and the tech-priest simply nodded his head at the inquisitor. It was obvious this was a matter strictly concerning Adeptus Mechanicus and Kael was not supposed to, nor intended to be involved in it in any way.

  "Understood. I expect your performance will not decrease during this internal evaluation." The inquisitor looked sharply at the new face from the Cult Mechanicus and received a quick and simple affirmation. "Now, Magos, explain to me why are we even here and what happened in my absence."

  "When we lost your signal, we separated into multiple small teams and continued to search around the point of interest until we luckily caught your signal on the surface of Herun47K, multiple days passed since your disappearance and the original mission is no longer valid. We have investigated the exact point of disappearance, but the readings proved to be without any unique parameters. The only disturbance was the increase in warp fluctuations and increased mutant activity immediately before your reappearance." Eisenarch described the situation before Kael's return. "There have also been many queries from the local general, who considered our search a nuisance."

  "Do you mean general Oberhoff? I doubt he said this directly." Kael asked, amused.

  "No, but his stance is clear from his behavioral pattern." Magos confirmed. "He requested your presence multiple times since your arrival."

  "Alright, an eager fan to visit." Kael Gull tried to joke, but remembered the Adeptus Mechanicus were never amused by his jabs. "I will go meet him immediately."

  He walked out of the room and marched through the spacious corridors of their base. In his head, he was sorting the events of his crazy adventure, trying to stitch together a believable picture that could be presented to the higher ups.

  "Damn, that sword!" When he remembered the sword, he began pacing back and forth nervously. During their departure from the ruins, the chaos artifact had already been gone, it had to disappear immediately after their fight with the demon.

  It was not negligence, Kael Gull had intentionally stayed away from the weapon while they waited for the rescue party. The place was too corrupted by the Immaterium and they had no means to isolate the artifact. Insisting on holding onto it would mean a certain death in their situation. Some force native to the warp had to take it for themselves.

  It was probably something he should omit in his report if he wanted to avoid some sharp gazes from his colleagues.

  "This will be one crazy report." He stopped hesitating and headed to deal with the general.

  Technically, inquisitors were answering only to the High Lords of Terra, but in practice, the resources for them were being provided by the people in the field. You could not send a general of Astra Militarum who was providing you with all supplies to where light never shines and expect no consequences, as even the Lords of Terra could not afford putting serious pressure on important generals and spiritual leaders just because an inquisitor felt like not cooperating.

  Well, he could behave that way, but then he would probably enjoy doing investigations using the most outdated ships and equipment said people could find in their inventories.

  "The worst case, I will travel to a different system using some outdated coffin capable of the speed of a snail." The inquisitor snorted and pressed the controls of a massive door in front of him that led outside of the corridor.

  "Well met, Inquisitor Kael Gull! I hope you are all right!" A big man in a dark grey uniform of an Astra Militarum general greeted him heartily, his chest decorated with many golden and silver medals and commendations. The inquisitor performed a military salute, as it would probably be the most welcomed gesture.

  He had met the man before, but it was only a brief encounter to ensure supplies for his mission.

  "I am fine, they won't get me that easily, general Oberhoff." The inquisitor was happy that he remembered his name, his memory was usually full of holes when it came to names. Their locked gaze parted and they sat on the nearby sofa, a local beverage already prepared in front of them. It was something cold Kael had never tasted before, to serve a hot drink in a desert was considered rude.

  "We have expected a decisive victory on Herun47K, but the activity of native mutants suddenly spiked shortly before you appeared on the planet." The general began and the inquisitor knew that the conversation would not be an easy one. The general might attempt to spin his unsuccessful campaign as an interference of the inquisition.

  "Mutants are the most combative when on their last legs, I can lend you my expertise when dealing with them." Kael thought it was appropriate to offer a helping hand, considering the general had provided him with everything he had asked for.

  "Oh! I do not want to be impolite, but it is a perfect offer that I cannot refuse!" The general smiled and continued immediately with an expertise of a politician. "Actually, the greatest problem is that out forces are divided into two fronts, we have to be always on guard against the nearby Eldar Craftworld." The general fidgeted, knowing he was stretching Kael's polite offer too far, but his campaign was more important to him than cordial relations with the inquisitors.

  After all, inquisitors came and went, successfully conquering a planet was an achievement that would remain with him all his life..

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  "I have noticed that you have brought an Eldar as a trophy from your successful expedition, we can turn him into a spy to know more about the movements of the elusive race. In that regard, I would appreciate your expertise." The opportunistic man finished his request and stared at Kael, awaiting his response.

  "Well, the Inquisition is, as the name implies, more of an inquisitive force, not an offensive battalion used on the front lines. We specialize in internal struggles of the Imperium." Kael Gull intended to imply the obvious, he was not a shock trooper the general could command.

  "That is exactly the role I require! This system is practically already under our control, the Crafworld only needs to be investigated for its intentions." Oberhoff was obviously ready to bend in any direction to secure an advantage. He sipped the cold, spicy drink and the inquisitor's gaze turned as cold as the aromatic drink.

  "And this half-unconquered planet is. .. ?" Kael asked dryly, almost stunned by the general's behavior.

  "Only a brief insurrection of the local mutants. With your help, it will be suppressed in no time!"

  The eyes of the inquisitor lingered on the general, his smile not reaching his eyes. He wanted to tell him that he was full of it, but considering Lor'themar and his failure to secure the chaos artifact combined with his direct use of the rune of Khorne during the mission, he very much did not need anyone from the Holy Terra investigating this particular mission for whatever reasons.

  He was afraid that general Kurtz Oberhoff had sniffed out his weakness and was ready to capitalize on it.

  A long moment passed, with both men sitting comfortably on the sofa in silence, calmly drinking the local beverage.

  "What is the time frame?" Kael Gull finally asked, his face void of all emotion.

  "The next offensive will start in two weeks." The general answered in a tone of a merchant, not a high member of the Adeptus Militarum.

  "No promises, my asset has limited capabilities." The inquisitor growled while swirling the contents of his glass. The drink was good, with a slightly bitter taste, reflecting the mild green light of the local star on its red surface, but he would have enjoyed it more without the presence of the general.

  Much more.

  "Of course! I would not ask of you something impossible!" Oberhoff exclaimed happily and Kael had an urge to cut him with his chainsword in half.

  "In that case, there is little time. Excuse me, I have to prepare the operation." The inquisitor downed the rest of his glass in one gulp and stood up, heading to the lower layers of the base where the prison was.

  He knew he had yet another difficult conversation ahead of him.

  "How is the accommodation?" Kael arrived in front of one of the cells where Lor'themar was imprisoned. Based on his looks, he did not think his mood was good.

  "Never been better." The high elf answered in an icy tone, sitting on a simple bed in his cell. "The bars are shiny and the room does not stink. You are a great host indeed."

  "That is a pity, it looks like you won't be able to enjoy it for much longer." The inquisitor entered the cell and sat on the bed next to the high elf. The eyes of the two guards present bulged with surprise when they saw the inquisitor's carefree behavior. "Actually, we have a situation here."

  "Mm, who is we? The League of Fairy Horses of the Honeymoon Forest? I will gladly exit the Land of Fluffy Squirrelmen and help you find their lost saddles." Lor'themar chuckled and the inquisitor looked at him with risen eyebrows, the eyes of the guards bulging ten times more than before.

  In the next moment, the high elf caught his chest subconsciously, clearly feeling discomfort, and all the irony evaporated from his voice.

  "I will not move a finger before you finally explain everything and I mean everything!" He said with venom in his voice, almost shouting the last word.

  The guards immediately got ready for action, but the Inquisitor stopped them with a wave of his hand.

  "Leave us!" He waited until the pair walked out, closing the door of the corridor behind them.

  Considering the other cells were empty, the two were alone on the whole floor, as the prison had multiple small floors with just a few cells. Prisoners were rare in battles against the mutants and chaos spawn.

  "Alright, I will explain everything." He leaned against the pleasantly cool wall of the cell and began initiating the high elf into the intricacies of being an inquisitor. Even though it was just a basic explanation, it took him almost an hour due to Lor'themar's total lack of knowledge. At the end of his talk, Kael felt his throat being dry, but the high elf no longer looked like he wanted to strangle him.

  However, it might have been more due to the lack of energy than the lack of intention.

  "See, you are considered Eldar by them and I am not in a position to afford any further investigation of this matter." It was enough he was friends with an Eldar, as it would be very difficult to persuade anyone that Lor'themar was not one. Even though the office of an inquisitor was influential, it was only so much he could shrug off using his status.

  The moment a serious investigation started and someone found in his memories that he had used the rune of a chaos god, he was as good as dead. He could wipe that part of his memory, but that would cause trouble as well. His latest medical record did not contain any parts of brain scarred by memory erasure.

  General Kurtz Oberhoff had a really bad timing with his request as he could not afford to cause trouble at this moment and had to act as an exemplary servant of the Imperium of Man.

  "It is a suicide mission, right?" Lor'themar asked.

  "Partially. Let's say you will be stalling for time. We will do it like this. I will send you as an agent, but the only thing you do there is try to survive. Forget any kind of spying." Kael Gull stared to plan their next move. "In the meantime, I will call some friends owning me a favor. It should not be difficult."

  "The moment we are on board of a void ship not under general Oberhoff's command, I will pick you up somehow and we will leave this stinky system for good. I will simply pick up some mission issued by the big guys, ideally concerning some Chapter. He will not dare interfering with Astartes."

  "Can't we just pretend I went there?" Lor'themar asked, his head hurting from all the new information.

  "I do not think the general is that stupid. Do not be afraid, my friend, we will pull thought this and then it will be only roses, women and booze for you!" Kael slapped the high elf's knee vigorously,

  "Great." Lor'themar Theron said dryly, not convinced by his companion.

  * * * *

  "Where are you going, incompetent moron?! We are not done yet!" An angry face appeared above the arcane device Lord Tichondrius was using for communication. It startled him greatly, he had not expected that both Archimonde and Kil'jaeden were actually inside one room and simply switched places. The remote call continued with Lord Tichondrius gulping, expecting a disaster.

  And he was right.

  "What are you still doing there? Move your useless ass and go through that portal! You've lost our stuff! Go fetch!" Kil'jaeden ordered impatiently.

  "But Lord! It had already closed!" Lord Tichondrius complained into his portable communication device. In the distance, he could no longer see the huge portal, the tall demon spawn swallowed by it moments ago before it closed.

  "It is still half a meter wide, you have about fifteen seconds to go though. True death is the other option." Kil'jaeden threatened and Tichondrius did not dare to think further, he turned into a swarm of bats and rushed towards the small, remaining ripple in space that was about to vanish completely.

  He made it in time, dodging the few annoying Light users standing nearby, exhausted by their battle. Tichondrius exited on the other side, as he had managed to squeeze the small bats of his transformation through the tiny gap that closed completely only a second after he had passed through.

  The swarm of bats flew inside one of the ruined buildings there and transformed back into Lord Tichondrius.

  "Damn, what is this place?!" He grabbed his head and wanted to return immediately, but the portal was no longer there. ""No matter, first the lost relics."

  He wanted to transform again to search for the lost treasures of his masters, but froze.

  "I cannot transform! There is no mana!" With a horrified expression, he discovered the residual mana he brought with himself from Azeroth was already nearly all gone, the terrifying void of mana around him sucking it like a sponge.

  He felt like being strangled by the very environment around him. Aside from the terrible void of mana, he felt something else, a strangeness gnawing on his mind. He reveled in evil and bloodshed, but this feeling made him uneasy, it was too strange, too unclean.

  It pulsed underneath the reality in front of his eyes.

  Stuck in a manaless world, the master of nightmares and deception was about to experience one nightmare himself. He was about to enter a reality where the Burning Legion of his masters wasn't anything special, as war in this universe was common and annihilation of whole planets was nothing out of ordinary.