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Inquis Xenos - Purging hostiles since 1892.
Expulsion by Alexander Nelson
From the diary of Imperial Missionary Falamandrius Glunt 2439269.M41
"The tribunal is now in session! All rise in reverence of the Council!"
The room was filed with silence as the Council walked into the room, each walking as if they had a heavy burden placed upon them. Marneus Calgar, Lord Macragge; Tigrus, Chief Librarian; Helveticus, Chapter Ancient; Corpus Helix, Chief Apothecary; Fennais Maxim, Master of the Forge. The most important men in all of Macragge sat in judgement over the accused. As they and the rest of the court sat down the Presiding Officer bellowed out:
"Bring forth the Accused!"
And so Brother Epistolary Cobalt stepped forward, head bowed and with his face a window to the torment within his soul. He was by two of the chapter's Chaplains, both clad in full battle armour, as he took the stand.
"We convene here," quoth Macragge, "to deliver our judgement on Brother Epistolary Cobalt, for the loss of the Great Library on Praxis IV to the Eldar. The charges are Gross Negligence and Incompetence. Brother Epistolary, do you wish an opening statement?"
"No, my Lord."
"And am I correct that you have disdained counsel?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Then let the hearing commence. Bring forth the first witness."
A Marine stood from the bench, his right sleeve hanging empty by his side. "Approach and Identify," spoke Calgar.
"Brother-Squad Leader Hibraskus, my Lord," was the hoarse reply. Then I noticed his throat, a mangled mess of torn tendons showing recent work by the Apothicariom, and wondered what terrible fate had befallen him.
"Take the stand and begin your testimony." This time from Tigurius, the speaker for the prosecution.
"I was with the Third company, second in command of the Second Squad under the late Brother Sergeant Molochav. Along with the Third, Fourth and Ninth we were under the command of Brother Epistolary Cobalt at the eastern gate to the Great Library."
"Forgive me Brother, for the benefit of those who were not fully briefed, what exactly was this Great Library?"
"A large structure, over Five hundred metres tall, containing a vast number of books, datafiles and scrolls. The Third Company had been dispatched to defend against an Eldar force which could not be dealt with by the PDF of that world. The information within was said to be invaluable and yet no-one had been permitted access since Vandire's puppets tried to force their way in during the Reign of Blood. The Librarius had been granted full access in return for our aid in its defence. The building was protected by two metre thick plasticrete reinforced with ceramite and adamantium, coupled with enough shielding to survive anything short of sustained battleship broadsides. The only weaknesses were the six gates, and even they were solidly built."
"Thank you brother, continue."
"The west gate had been under sustained assault for at least forty eight hours and during that time we had not seen so much as a recon unit. Librarian Cobalt told us that he expected an attack. He was not wrong.
"Eldar support weapons moved to just outside the range of our own heavy weapons and began bombardment. Despite the loss of a total of seven marines we held firm, all suspecting a close assault wave to follow. The cunning swine had jammed our coms somehow, preventing us calling for backup or new orders. When our loses increased to nine Cobalt ordered us to slay forth against the attackers. I heard Brother Veteran Sergeant Kremat, of the fourth squad, advise against it. He said that the Eldar probably had counter-strike troops waiting in the wings. Cobalt brushed him off, said that he sensed no more than a dozen of them out by the guns. He ordered all four squads to double time into weapons range to counter them.
"However, it was not to be, for as we moved out four of the Eldar Wave Serpent class transports moved in, along with two of their Falcon Grav-tanks. The First Wave Serpent and one of the Grav-tanks picked up the crew and their weapons whilst we were still outside the range of our guns. Before we could react the other vehicles had circled behind us. As the troops were disgorged just outside the main gate I was able to properly identify them. The Falcon contained one of their Mage-Lords along with around a half dozen attendants. The other vehicles housed Aspect Warriors of the Howling Banshee, Dire Avenger and Fire Dragon cults. The Librarian simply stood there in a state of shock as Kremat ordered to meet the attackers before they could access the Library. Though we pushed ourselves beyond endurance the Eldar managed to breach the Doors with multiple Melta-charges and move inside, leaving the way open for the rest of their force to penetrate. By the time we had returned the outer east segment of the Library was in ruins. The smouldering remains of the material records and the EM pulse residue of Haywire Grenades all that was left of the priceless records and documents, mangled corpses all that was left of the custodians. We forged forwards to try and stop the scum reaching the defence control unit but when we got there it was empty. Mere moments after this all the lights and monitors glowed brilliantly for a moment before exploding into a shower of shrapnel. Brother Gmaletan, who was interning as a Techmarine, identified this as a system wide overload which would take down all systems, including shields. When we heard this we realised that we had to get out, for this was surely the precursor to an orbital bombardment. I got out just in time, along with nine others, including Brother Cobalt who had followed us in at the rear of our formation. Another two from our group was found alive in the rubble later on. The rest were dead."
"And in your opinion was it Cobalt's actions and inactions which were responsible for this outcome, Brother Squad-Leader Hibraskus?"
"Yes."
"Thank you brother, that will be all."
Then came from Macragge: "Brother Epistolary Cobalt, you may cross-examine the witness."
"I have no questions, my liege," he said, the defeated look still imprinted on his face.
"Very well, bring in the next witness then."
There was movement on the bench as another Marine stepped forth, this one in full armour, wearing the braid, cloak and insignia one holding high rank. He held a white helmet under his arm, indicating that he had once served with the esteemed First Company. "Approach and Identify."
"Brother Scipio. Captain of the Third company, Commander of the Fleet, Divisional Commander of the Great Library's failed defence. "
"I will be brief with you Captain," spoke Tigrus. "An earlier hearing has found you blameless of the Library's loss and, as C-in-C of the operation you are in the best position to describe the losses to the chapter as a result of the operation."
"Military losses, such as troops and material, or the effect on the chapter due to the loss of the library?"
"Begin with the military losses."
"From the Third Company and the troops and machines on attachment to it, Eighteen base-level marines; Three Squad Leaders; Two Sergeants; one Apothecary; four Techmarines; One Lexicanum; fourteen vehicle crew; nine Predator type tanks; one whirlwind support artillery unit; two Land raiders and one Thunderhawk Gunship. From the Tenth Company, thirteen Scout Neophytes, twelve Scout Novices, Two Scout Sergeants and one Apothecary. A total of Seventy-one either died on the field or were later killed through their injuries. A further thirty-seven were sufficiently injured as to require significant surgery in order to recover fully."
"Thank you, Captain. Now, could you give me your estimation of the determent caused to both the Chapter and the greater Imperium by the Library's loss?"
"Praxis IV's Government will have lost confidence in both us and the Imperium's ability to offer their people and possessions protection. There has also been a marked downturn in the morale of our troops and Ultramar's populace as a whole due to the grievous losses we incurred. I am led to believe that we will never know how much was lost as the Library itself went down and that any files which may be recovered will be kept in containment by the people of Praxis IV."
"My thanks again. I have one last query for you though. In your opinion, recognised as being one of the most valuable in strategic matters, would the east gate have fallen to the foe with a different officer leading?"
"Perhaps. There are several variables to consider, however I believe that a competent commander would have at least been able to better resist the assault in question. An obvious mistake was not leaving at least one squad behind to delay any of the foe's units gaining access before the rest of the force could respond."
"You have been most Helpful."
Once again Macragge offered Cobalt the chance to defend himself and cross examine the witness, once more he refused. It continued in this manner for three long hours before the Council departed to confer and ordered that the court disperse for sentencing the following day.
* * * * *
"The tribunal is once more session! All rise in reverence of the Council!"
The court had reconvened for the sentencing of Brother Epistolary Cobalt, likely to be a most severe affair. I expected him to be striped of rank at best, consigned to the Apothicariom for genetic experimentation at worst.
"It is the judgement of this court," began Macragge, "that Brother Epistolary Cobalt be dismissed from the chapter, exiled from his own, until such a time as he has acquired information deemed sufficient to atone for the loss of the Great Library. He is to be sent out with his choice of equipment and an Imperial Requisition Notice, permitting him transport to any points in the Imperium and supplies and munitions to sustain him on this quest.
"Until such a time as this objective is achieved he is to be stricken from the roll of honour, denied contact with his Soul Brothers, denied his rights as a citizen of Macragge and barred from returning to Ultramar. This court is concluded."
There was a roar from the balconies as Cobalt was lead out of the court room, and from the look on the faces of the council he was not expected to succeed. I did not expect him to either. Then I looked on his face and saw not one who had lost his way, but one who had just had his path set out before him and was determined to walk it to its end. And then, when I looked into his eyes, I knew that the Dark Gods themselves would not stop him from returning home.
CAST
