****By the way, this series is fluff for a campaign our local club is starting. The main characters from these tales (save the first) are based on warlords from various club members' armies.


Pendana IV

Interrogator-Chaplain Remeil might have been nervous had he anything like anxiety left in his menu of emotions. As it was, decades of intense training -spiritual, emotional, and physical- had left him largely free of such feelings. Although a ranking member of the chapter would soon be joining him, his mind remained in a state of peaceful vengeance. He calmly ran through a spiritual exercise in his mind as he knelt in prayer.

The primary doors to the chapel’s nave slowly opened and two Watchers in the Dark entered waving incense burners. Following these through the haze was the blue-clad figure of Senior Librarian Ephram Darianus. Seeing the junior Interrogator-Chaplain still in prayer, Darianus halted and waited respectfully for Remeil to finish. The junior space marine soon made a spiritual gesture and rose to his feet, his black armor glistening in the reflected glare of several hundred candles. He approached the Liberian.

Darianus was not one to waste time or mince words. “Brother Interrogator-Chaplain Remeil, you have not held your rank for long, but the senior members of the Dark Angels Adeptus Astartes are satisfied with your performance. You have a sense of fortitude in the face of adversity that we now have need of.”

Remeil did not acknowledge the compliment as he neither sought praise, nor expected it. As far as he was concerned, he was merely the agent of higher powers and his actions reflected his duty.

“We need you to lead an expeditionary force to the Perillion Outliers. Have you ever heard of them?” asked the Liberian.

“No, my lord.”

“Small wonder. It is a politically instable area of the Imperium with relatively few resources. It is however, the last known location of Krestin Loquan, a key member of…” Darianus paused “…of The Fallen.”

‘The Fallen.’ The very thought almost made the Interrogator-Chaplain reel. Upon his promotion to his current position, Remeil had been invested as a formal member of the Inner Circle of the Dark Angels. This proved to be a double-edged sword as the Interrogator-Chaplain was then taught one of the saddest, most highly-guarded secrets in the Galaxy. He learned that a substantial part of the Dark Angels legion had sided with the traitorous forces of Chaos during the Horus Heresy ten thousand years ago.

Since then, the loyal members of the chapter had dedicated themselves to hunting down any of the surviving Dark Angel traitors whom were now know merely as “The Fallen.”

The Liberian’s voice brought Remeil back to the present. “We have received several transmissions from operatives in the Perillion Outliers who report events of great interest to us. A massive warpstorm there has recently begun to act oddly.”

“Oddly? A warpstorm?”

“Indeed. Apparently the loss of a black ship, -and all the psychic energy that goes with such a vessel- has somehow opened a major passage through the previously-impenetrable storm. Other smaller passages from different directions have likewise begun opening. And yet, the storm is not breaking up. In fact the tendrils seem to be increasing in fury.”

The Interrogator-Chaplain was good at asking questions. “What does the weather of the Immaterium have to do with the Fallen?”

The Liberian smiled slightly at his junior brother marine’s directness. “That storm was recently centered upon a system called Pendana. The changes in the storm have now allowed passage to it.”

Before Remeil could speak, the blue-clad space marine held up his hand. “I anticipate your next question. It is the nature of your profession that makes Interrogator-Chaplains impatient in conversation.” The junior marine nodded and swallowed his question.

“The fourth planet in the system was home to a single mighty hive city called “Istanopolis.” The fallen traitor Krestin Loquan was in this city searching for some kind of artifact when the storm engulfed the system.”

“I am leaving immediately.” Remeil practically spat out the words.

“Yes you are. You will go to Pendana IV, you will capture Istanopolis, and you will relieve us of the shame of this Loquan.” Darianus confirmed.

The Interrogator-Chaplain almost started to turn on his heel before remembering how severe an insult it would be to leave a senior member of the chapter before being properly dismissed.

The Liberian smiled just briefly for a moment again, this time in response to his junior brother marine’s eagerness. Darianus had picked the right man for the job.

“We have learned other parties are moving towards Pendana. Should these forces, loyalist or not, get between you and your prey... know that you are authorized to use any means necessary. The only action the Inner Circle will reprimand is failure.”

“One last thing” the Liberian continued. “Before you leave, go see the Master of Relics. You will bring the Mace of Redemption with you.”

In spite of his training Remeil was struck by this last remark. The honor he had been shown by being entrusted with such a sacred weapon caused his eyes to redden ever-so-slightly.

Darianus allowed himself a third smile before speaking.

“Go in peaceful vengeance to Istanopolis and smite this fallen dog.”