Sector Report IX

+From the Blind Scribes of the Prosperitas Conclave+

+ Thought for the Day + «To attempt to understand the majesty of the God-Emperor’s works is to question his divinity. For no folk can hope to understand that which is the engineering of the divine - it is not the duty of those who practice science to comprehend, it is for them to maintain the rote practices they were taught.»

++ Begin Data Inload ++ Pending…. ++ ++The current date is 4-598.595.M41++ ++ Report Begins ++

++Major Events++

++ Be aware that the detail and annotations provided in these updates is available only to the servants of the Inquisition – the full contents of these reports is Consignarus Obscurus Maximus, and should not be shared beyond our ranks ++

4-850.594.M41 - Persecution of the Gearwrights

Members of the Gearwrights - a cult that has emerged in the wake of the acts of Callum Gearwright on Olthera Secunda, and the subsequent martyrdom of many defenders of that world under their banner - are scattered as refugees across the Sector, largely transported by House Majid ships, as well as those of their former systems trade fleet. Many arrive on Nivalis, but others go further afield with a great number of them heading for the Sector Capital of Duroverum.

On Nivalis, they join the massive pilgrim-camps outside of the walls of the world’s myriad Ecclesiarchy-dominated Holy Cities. However, their active distrust of the church hierarchy foments protest against the rule of the world by the proscribed Temple of the Saviour Emperor under the now-excommunicated Ignatus Grulge, who, despite all acts to remove him, has managed to retain power within the sector, despite the best efforts of his foes.

This open defiance of the Temple fuels fears amongst the Templars of further civil unrest. After Grulge personally directs a massacre of protesting Gearwrights before the gates of the Cathedral City, the Fidelis Templar - the foot soldiers of the Temple - conduct a series of aggressive raids on the Pilgrim Cities seeking out Gearwrights with extreme prejudice.

Across the sector, Gearwrights face similar persecution from even those Ecclesiarchy forces loyal to the Ecclesiarch - the sect is perceived by many of them as a threat to the order of things; however, the Gearwrights find acceptance amongst the common folks of many worlds, and the Order of His Sanguine Tears is split, as several Palatines refuse orders to suppress them, permitting them safety within enclaves guarded by their forces.

Inquisitor Nasser: Those who assault the followers of Saint Gearwright, who I have excellent reason to believe resides in glory with the Emperor, risk the burning vengeance of the Emperor. I feel this in my bones.

4-901.594.M41 - Archenemy Fleets are Detected in Deep Space

Imperial long-range pickets pick up movement in the Rimward Marches as several powerful Archenemy fleets make their way towards Imperial space. These forces are the remnants of the Regency that once ruled the Imperium, and have been residing in distant dark Fortresses and fallback worlds since the breaking of Regency rule in the Prosperitas Sector over three hundred years hence. These are Archenemy fanatics, utterly dedicated to the forbidden Cult of the Way; most of them were born in exile, knowing only the promise that they will one day reclaim a sector that is rightfully theirs.

Long-Range Augurs and Psychic Scrying reveal at least sixteen fleets (which the Order refers to as part of its ‘Armies’, having never separated Fleet and Ground Forces like the Imperium does), consisting of several hundred vessels. The Prosperitas Crusade, overstretched by years of under-resourcing and a policy of defending a vastly too wide stretch of Imperial Space, scrabbles to mount defences at the likely inroads to Imperial Space at Henlock, Heleaerus and Lerwick.

4-916.594.M41 - Tensions rise between Anaximund Alpha and Naximus Prime

The ongoing fighting against the occupying forces on Henlock begins to expose cracks in the ancient ties of dominion that the Adeptus Mechanicus of Naximus Prime hold over the Knights of their subject-world of Anaximund Alpha. Tension between the two is nothing new - is has long been known that the Knight House rankles under the yoke of servitude to the Tech-Priests, but the Sidon Protocols - ancient laws of the Mechanicum that put the maintenance and equipping of Knights of the Questoris Mechanicus (Knights loyal to the Machine Cult) at the mercy of their controlling Forgeworld - have kept this civil.

But, recently, rumours have been swirling of a confrontation between Princeps-Satrap Lalah Qureshi, the head of the House, and Magos Secutor-Navpati Amytis-yazdah, the supreme commander of Naximan forces on Henlock. The rumours are unclear and suppressed, but many believe the Princeps-Satrap to have personally condemned the Magos Secutor-Navpati for committing a Lance of her Knights to being sacrificed as a distraction for the God-Machines of the Demi-Legio Custodii Incudatum, as well as exterminating several maniples of the Techno-Barbarians bonded to her House against the enemy. If rumours are to be believed, the Magos’ cold logic is met by the Princeps-Satrap physically assaulting them and being physically ejected from the Naximund Command Hub by the Magos Secutor-Navpati’s Skitarii bodyguards.

The direct result of this appears to be a notable snubbing of the Knights in strategic planning by the Magos Secutor-Navpati; the Knights are nowhere to be seen when the God-Machines of the Demi-Legion walk, and are relegated to a series of low-tier missions better dedicated to other forces of the Taghmata (Mechanicus Military). This undiplomatic response only further strains tensions, with the House with the Knight-Scions (who translate the title as ‘Sardar’ in the Houses local dialect) becoming increasingly prone to ‘interpret’ the orders from their Mechanicus masters in creative and interesting ways.

Magos Bring-the-Machine-Spirit-To-Rest-and-Then-Arouse-It-Once-More, consultant to the Inquisition: +++STRATEGIC ERROR DETECTED.+++ It would be within acceptable protocol for Knights to be deployed in dangerous situations; average Knight-Scion HQ (Heroism Quotient) is analysed at 185.2% of human baseline. However, analysis of battlefield data suggests that the sacrificed Lance was wasted. (Distraction factor required was 1.33; distraction factor of standard Lance is at least 5.8; nearby penitent units would have been capable of a distraction factor of at least 2.6.) Is the Magos Secutor-Navpati’s logic engine in need of servicing?

4-050.594.M41 - The Battle for Helaerus III Begins

The first of the Regency's Armies emerges from the warp over Hellaerus III, and begins the assault on the world. Imperial Forces under Admiral Ridea Holtz begin a desperate operation to deny the Archenemy control of the orbit of the planet, but are vastly outnumbered by the Regency Fleet. It is only the sudden arrival of the mysterious Astartes of the Lions of Nemea that turn the void war in the favour of the Imperium - but not before Archenemy forces are able to touch down in the deep forests of the Death World.

The natural defences of Helaerus III prove just as effective at devastating Archenemy Ground Forces as its Imperial Defenders - as flora and fauna alike attack any army stepping on their domain. What might be of most interest to the Ordo Xenos are the reports of encounters with sentient Xenos in the deep woods; according to eyewitness reports, they target Archenemy forces with extreme brutality. These mysterious aliens are described invariably as either ‘toad-like’ or ‘lizard-like’ in reports by members of the Imperial Guard.

With the support of the Lions of Nemea, the Imperial Navy is able to secure orbital control over Helearus III, forcing the void-elements of the Order to retreat, abandoning their forces on the ground. Over the next few months, these forces are whittled down by combined Guard and Astartes action (as well as unverified Xenos aid).

Inquisitor Duplesis: While the arrival of the Lions is of considerable interest, the presence of reptilian Xenoforms is more so - namely the prevalence of technology demonstrated by these otherwise savage creatures. That, coupled with evidence gathered by agents of this Conclave, means we may be looking at an extant Slann population, rarely seen in the modern era These ancient tribal creatures are known to be one of the galaxy's oldest races.

Inquisitor Valtrois: All Agents should give the Lions respect and honesty in all dealings with them; they are quite distrustful of the Inquisition, as well as many of our institutions - and may seem… unusual in their distance from Imperial traditions - they are nonetheless Angels of the God-Emperor, and should be treated as such.

4-050.594.M41 - The Battle for the Flame of Lerwick

After years of preparation - and while the Imperial Navy under Vice-Admiral Frolan is busy in preparations to face down the second Regency Army to arrive in Imperial Space - the Rising Flame launches a rebellion on the surface of Lerwick, successfully invading the Sector Capital, with the help of stolen Imperial transponder codes and PDF vehicles. The Annwfyn Governing House, House Dunkeld, goes missing after an assault on the Governor's Palace, and many presume them to be dead, captured or, worse, defected to the Rebel side. The popular insurgency rapidly spreads across the surface of the world.

In the midst of this chaos, an unknown force invades Lerwick’s orbital defences, and simultaneously fires them at the same empty point of space. Assumed initially to be an act of sabotage, the fired rounds reach their target just as the Regency fleet translates from the warp. With its shields not yet raised, the fleet is utterly devastated in a salvo of fire - blunting a force that, had it been able to translate safely, would have likely swept the Imperial defenders aside. Though the Imperial defenders are thankful for this, many senior commanders are concerned by the presence of Rising Flame corpses aboard the orbital stations; this implies that the unexpected aid came from someone within the Flame - more concerningly, someone with advanced knowledge of Archenemy fleet movements.

The remnants of the Order forces engage in a suicidal run on Lerwick, smashing into the orbital defences, and engaging in ramming actions to disable parts of the defence grid. Archenemy forces land on the ground, turning the battle for control of Lerwick into a free-for-all between the three factions of the Imperium, Rising Flame, and Archenemy - which continues to rage to this day.

Inquisitor Corvinus: The Rising Flame has always been well-resourced, thanks to sympathetic Annwfyn; this only goes to show that the great experiment of House Dunkeld has proven to be a complete failure. Whatever outside help they may have had, the situation should not have got so far out of control.

Inquisitor Zahid: I would go as far as to strongly reprimand Inquisitor Corvinus for his comments; the kind of organisation and alteration of operational structure the Flame has undergone in the past few years under the leadership of Sharre Ajax only suggests that we have greatly underestimated other elements of that leadership who have skulked in the shadows, while the bombastic Ajax has been their public face.

4-003.595.M41 - The Regency begins to assert control over Subsector Secundus

Driven off at Helaerus III, and even with the major setback suffered at Lerwick, the Regency possesses thirteen full armies with which to establish its domination of rimward Subsector Secundus. With control over Olethros Secunda won by the vanguard force that reclaimed the world earlier in 594.M41, the Order has largely managed to damage Imperial supply lines supporting the offensive at Henlock, though Imperial and Mechanicus forces continue to fight on. The Crusade is very aware that its only Knights and Titans are currently operating within an area of space increasingly under the Archenemy’s dominion.

The status of Caracas, Macharion CDXI, Mawson’s Wake, Everholt, and the dead world of Caudica Secundus remain unknown, but after losing contact with Mawson’s Wake in 594 and the fate of Olethra Secundus, many are concerned that it has fallen under Archenemy control (as likely have the remaining worlds there). Though the Imperial Navy is able to still operate in the Rimward region in strike-groups to harass Archenemy formations, the majority of opposition to the Order now comes from the Rising Flame, scattered Gearwrights, and the fanatics of the Temple of the Saviour Emperor, with the Imperium increasingly relying on irregular forces to get any picture of what the Order is up to.

To make matters worse, with all the ground fighting on Lerwick and much of its Orbital grid compromised, the Order is able to make runs on the Imperial Navy blockade there. This has allowed them to slip raiding fleets into the coreward regions of Subsector Secundus to raid shipping even as far as the edges of Subector Primus - and putting it in a position to threaten the civilized core of the Prosperitas sector.

Inquisitor Zahid: Specialist historical knowledge seems to be falling within my purview recently; we are only beginning to understand the resources of the Regency and its composition. Based on the range of equipment and war machines they have demonstrated in battle we believe them to be in the possession of some previously undiscovered Forge World. The only Mechanicus with Archives old enough to be of use, however, is Naximus Prime but, as you will see later, they are not an option to approach. As far as we understand the Order is a recent development, as their iconography and behaviour match no previously identified element of the Regency; we suspect they are the result of multiple refugee fleets of fleeing Regency Military and Priesthood gathering beyond the reach of Crusade persecution forces - a testament as ever as to the cost of the Senatorum Imperialis on Terra cutting support to the Crusade.

4-066.595.M41 - Ethnic Tensions with Annwfyn increase

The swirling rumours around the disappearance of House Dunkeld during the invasion of Lerwick, as well as the general issues facing the Imperium in the Prosperitas Sector begin to foster tensions between Imperial colonists and native members of the Annwfyn population - culminating in intercommunity violence between the two groups. Arbites forces loyal to Marshall-Protector Drusila Vox advocate for the mass interment of Annwfyn citizens as a matter of mass discipline to assert the heel of Imperial rule. It is only thanks to those Arbiters who have been persuaded to follow the Virilian Doctrine that the Vox-loyalist factions of the Arbites don’t get their way. However, on the worlds where they are more dominant, such acts of totalitarian punishment become more common - only fuelling the resentment of local Annwfyn populations towards the Imperium.

Inquisitor Zahid: The Inquisitorial conclave has voted to move subtly against Drusila Vox; we know her to have formerly been an agent of the Warmaster and the only reason we have yet to simply bring the full might of the Inquisition against her is we have been too distracted by internal concerns and other conflicts to deal with her. Privately, I wish she would meet with an unfortunate accident.

Inquisitor Corvinus: By which Inquisitor Zahid means ‘Terminated with extreme prejudice if you can do so in a way that does not get half the Arbites breathing down the back of every Inquisitorial agent from Durovera to Kydosia’.

4-127.595.M41 - The New Warmaster

Despite repeated considerations to disband the Crusade, the threat to the Cadian Corridor (which allows quick reinforcements to the endless warfront of Cadia) from a resurgent Archenemy threat in the sector simply cannot be ignored by the High Lords.

Though young by Crusade standards and of native Ruwwad ethnicity, (and against Hermione Duruvera’s best attempts to persuade the High Lords to put her in the position) Grand Admiral Sarina Khan has been elevated to Warmaster Khan I, the first native of the Sector to ever hold the title.

Her position is precarious, though, much like the Inquisition in the Prosperitas Sector: she has few trustworthy and loyal allies, many of those are of political convenience, and she has her enemies in the form of Traditionalist factions of Crusade High Command, and many of the former Salient commanders who were once her peers.

Worse still, although it is not publicly acknowledged, the Nobility resent having someone who is not one of them in a position of supreme military power . Though they will court the new Warmaster, their knives are out for her. None more so than House Durovera, who have taken Terra’s decision as an affront to their honour.

Inquisitor Zahid: I cannot stress how likely assassination attempts are going to be on the New Warmaster - the conflict between the Noble houses has wounded plenty of egos and tensions were already high before the High Lords snubbed the Nobility in favour of a career Officer. Khan deserves this promotion, in my opinion, but there are many Nobles who will not take to a native Prosperan having the power to impose Crusade law on their worlds, or to demand their resources.

Inquisitor Corvinus: While I feel a more traditional Officer would have been a wiser posting for the job, I cannot fault the Senatorum for its decision; after all, they are the only servants of the Throne equal to the Inquisition. Inquisitor Zahid is correct - which is why we are maintaining a presence close to the Warmaster to ensure her personal guard does not have to worry about more… esoteric threats.

4-201.595.M41 - Night of Fates

As a joint Inquisitorial and Naval Operation dismantles the blighted region of the Mor Draenog known as the Wake, the warp eddies around the place begin to alter and shift; the metaphysical change is felt as a ripple through the Sector, as the formation of something on the other side of the veil is disrupted. Ordo Malleus Seers declare a major shift, as the star of the Ninth-fold God, the Changer of Ways wanes. It is felt more keenly amongst the foul cultists of the Archenemy - with entire Change-cults committing mass sucide in rituals designed to fuel their foul Masters. It is for naught, as Seers see a weakness in the forces of the Archenemy.

The diminished power of the Lord of Magic gives rise to emboldened warp powers, as new forces come to the fore, and the Ninth-fold god retreats to shadow to scheme once more. But as weakness forms in the Archenemy, so do other things grow strong. As the tides of the warp wash away, a bow-wave of psychic pressure scatters across the sector causing a rippling wave of nightmares and madness.

It is the Annwfyn who feel this more keenly, as if some shared cultural memory is set aflame by this disturbance in the Warp. Persecuted and disturbed, many Annwfyn communities bunker down and become more insular; in deep hives, their boundaries become almost like separate bulwarks against some shared fear. Simultaneously, more vessels of the Lions of Nemea begin to be sighted with regularity, as if they share such a concern - while the Chapter continues holding Imperial forces at Arms length.

Inquisitor Vetnori: All my Augur Covens confirm that should this have been allowed to continue, the Changer would have likely gained a new and powerful neverborn servant in the form of one of its Lord-achtype Maelifica. Congratulations to the Agents involved, you prevented a new Lieutenant of the Archenemy being born.

4-237.595.M41 - Return of the Old Warmaster

As the metaphysical impact of the action against the Wake continues to settle, an unexpected beacon of hope emerges out of the operation. Warmaster Dragos Ulian - lost during the Lash of the Eye that destroyed Subsector Tenebris centuries ago - is discovered by Imperial forces as having survived amongst the wrecks floating in the blighted region of the Wake for untold time. Though the Inquisition takes pains to verify the truth of this, having been tricked by a changeling once, it is confirmed that the man recovered is indeed, by some miracle, Ulian.

Ulian meets with Warmaster Khan and, although many of her rivals hope to see her unseated, the two seem to reach an agreement. Ulian is declared the Sector’s Warmaster-Emeritus, and settled in to act as an advisor, morale ambassador, and - as the politically minded may note - lack of threat to the newly-minted Warmaster Sarina Khan.

Regardless of the political situation, the return of a historic hero of the Crusade serves as a rallying point for beleaguered warriors of the Imperium. The rescue of a sailor so long lost at Warp is seen as a miracle by the reckoning of the Battlefleet. Faith that the Emperor does Protect even despite such great odds, emboldens the Imperial Navy to greater feats in resistance against the Archenemy’s advance on the Imperium.

Inquisitor Corvinus: I can confirm verifiably that the Warmaster Emeritus has stood within my presence and not dissipated or demonstrated signs of withdrawal from warp influence; our Medicae have checked his blood against his closest living relatives, and concluded that this is verifiably Dragos Ulian. He has not demonstrated signs of being compromised mentally but will remain under observation - we have been fooled too many times in the past to let our vigil down over hero worship.

4-286.595.M41 - The War of Purity

In what is rapidly becoming known to forces on both sides as the War of Purity, the civil war between forces of the Ecclesiarchy loyal to the law of the Faith and the Ecclesiarch on Terra and the followers of Ignatus Grulge and the forbidden Temple of the Saviour Emperor (who seeks to return the Faith to a time of Theocratic rule over the Imperium) continues.

Despite their obligations to the Ecclesiarch and the Faith, many of the Imperial factions operating in the Prosperitas Sector actively avoid becoming embroiled in the civil war. Grulge’s new ‘Holy State’ is anchored at Nivalis which means they need to pay respect to the apostate Grulge, who has effectively established himself as a warlord. With his control of the sector second Shrine World on Agrial III - following an attack on it late in 594.M41 - Grulge has control of the most important centers of the faith and is often able to portray his rivals, based on worlds under Noble rule, as little more than puppets of those not devout enough to lead.

Not all is going well for Grulge, however: resistance on Nivalis by insurgent Gearwrights, Pilgrim-Rebels and native Rebels is a constant thorn that prevents him from unleashing his fanatical mobs of the Fidelis Templar in any sort of major operation. Plus, a foolish venture on Shadowglow did not have the expected results: it was organized with the intention to exterminate the abhuman Raivan populace, both to deny competent forces to their rivals, and to cleanse what they saw as heretic behaviour (the use of abhumans in armed forces is seen as heresy by the Temple). However, the entire expedition was slaughtered - but for one survivor, sent back to tell the tale of how swift the retribution from the locals was.

Inquisitor Corvinus: Ah, the Temple - the ever-present Heresy that is our greatest shame for our repeated failure to stamp out. I have wondered if this a ‘true’ Temple with continuity to the Reign of Blood? Still, I find it unlikely - the unfortunate reality is there will always be the misguided and greedy who use the Temple as a religious justification for breaching the Decree Passive and seeking power beyond their station.

4-330.595.M41 - Miracles of the Heresiarch

Much has changed in the Prosperitas Sector since Cardinal-Emissiarius Grulge was stripped of his title and status within the Ecclesiarchy: both for his tyrannical rule and for his membership of a proscribed sect, the Temple of the Saviour Emperor. But some will say that his rivals moved too fast, and didn’t wait for their pieces to be properly aligned: with the forces of the Fidelis Militia (now openly operating as the Fidelis Templar) at his side, Ignatius Grulge has abandoned all trappings of the Ecclesiarchy, and chosen to openly demonstrate his faith as Archimandrite of the Temple.

The Ecclesiarchy and Ordo Hereticus, however, have a more derogatory title for him: Heresiarch.

Rather than reject the title, Grulge embraces it, declaring that he will wear it simply because it shows how seriously the Ecclesiarchy takes the Temple as a threat, and how weak it is that it will resort to petty name-calling.

To make matters worse, the apparent demonstration of miraculous powers by the Heresiarch after his recovery of the bones of Saint Nafisa (which had been taken by forces of the Archenemy along with her Storm Shield, the Rock of Prosperitas) has lent credence to his claim to have been guided in his path by the God-Emperor. Though the Temple is not so crass as to claim Grulge is a Living Saint - yet - the words are never far off anyone's lips when discussing him. His survival of an attempt on his life by an Assassin was nothing but miraculous, and has only aided the narrative the Temple wishes to forge.

Inquisitor Zahid: It remains a clear reality that we have no verifiable proof that Grulge is corrupted in a traditional sense; we do not believe these miraculous powers to be drawn from the warp. We have not detected any malign presence though all traditional and esoteric approaches - nor does he have any latent psychic potential. Without sufficient evidence of corruption, many are quick to wonder if our cause is just. I believe it is - just because Grulge’s powers are novel, does not mean that his miracles are any less false.

Inquisitor Nasser: I am convinced that this is why Grulge is going after the Gearwrights so hard: he wants to be accepted as a Living Saint himself. I would greatly value any intel into Grulge’s “miracles” - direct, verifiable information, not Temple-addled rumour and myth. Something first-hand, which could be reviewed by those who have witnessed the acts of Callum Gearwright, would be perfect.

Inquisitor Duplesis: ‘Miraculous’ powers can come from many sources, not just from the warp. Highly advanced Xenotechnology - not that I am saying it is the case - could very easily allow for acts that uneducated populations would see as miraculous. Perhaps we simply need to look beyond our usual scope of sources of miracles.

4-383.595.M41 - The Sacking of Henlock

With Regency forces bearing down on Henlock, the Strategio-Cogitator used by Magos Secutor-Navpati Amytis-yazdah calculates total campaign failure as approaching near-certain probability. To the horror of its rivals from Ferraeus and Castellum - as well as the Knights of Anaximus - the Forge’s Armies change from conquest tactics to salvage tactics, as the Magos Secutor-Navpati sacrifices several Skitarii Legions to allow for Ordinatus-scale Salvage-rigs to recover wreckage from the battlefield. Seismic charges are deployed in numerous areas - at great cost to Imperial and Mechanicus forces, as Earthquakes resulting from the shockwaves hit their battlefront. The Magi of Naximus Prime literally crack open the planet's surface in order to allow their Ordinatus to drag huge sections of buried machinery of unknown origin from beneath Henlock.

No forces are spared the grim arithmetic of sacrifice, as Titans of the Demi-Legio Custodii Incudatem are spent in holding actions against advancing Archenemy Armour and Heretek War-Engines. In the face of the imminent arrival of Regency armies to Henlocks’s Orbit, the Forces of Naximus begin their mass exodus with whatever they can loot from the world. Castellum and Ferraeus Forge forces attempt to cover the gaps in their battle lines left by Naximus, but it becomes clear that the Magi of the Ouroboros Omnissiah have gone to great pains to cover the extent of massive subterranean excavations from their partner-Forges - as atomic charges detonate and annihilate several of their allied forces. What little alliance there was between all three collapses, as Naximus’ fleet flees with its bounty.

Only one group of Naximan ships refuses the withdrawal order - those tasked with transporting the Knights of Anaximund. Not so much by crew’s choice, but because the Magi-Captains of several ships are literally held at gunpoint by the Knights and their Techno-Barbarian Household Troops. To their credit, the Knights of Anaximund are the last forces to withdraw from Henlock, covering the withdrawal of Crusade forces still deployed there, and recovering several of their fallen Knights. The toll on their morale is horrendous, and Satrap-Princeps Qureshi is violently incensed against her Masters for what she sees as an act of foul betrayal.

Though there are insufficient forces present to conduct an act of exterminatus on Henlock, the retreating Mechanicus forces of Castellum and Ferraeus follow Naximus lead, destroying what they cannot salvage - both by demolition charges and orbital bombardment, right up until the Regency Armies begin their translation into realspace.

The third battle of Henlock is another defeat for the Imperium, but it costs the Crusade little, as most of its forces had already withdrawn back to defend less unsable fronts. But for Mechanicus politics the results are devastating - what began as an opportunity for collaboration and cooperation between the Mechanicus, became into a cold war - as both Castellum and Ferraeus cut all diplomatic ties over the actions of Naximus Prime.

Magos Bring-the-Machine-Spirit-To-Rest-and-Then-Arouse-It-Once-More, consultant to the Inquisition: +++FATAL APPLICATION ERROR.+++ Analysis of strategic logs indicate that Mechancus and allied Imperial forces would have suffered 38.24% less losses and denied 43% material of potential salvage value to enemy had the process general_withdrawal.exe not hung, requiring Forges to resort to separate withdrawal plans. Debugging indicates catastrophic incompatibilities in strategic goals between Naximus Forge and remainder of Adeptus Mechanicus. Intelligence target identified: What was the machinery extracted by Naximus from the planet? Analysis of radioactive decay patterns picked up by long-range sensors suggest presence of power sources of unusual antiquity.

4-410.595.M41 - A Blood Red Hand

The constant threat of terrorist attack presented by the Rising Flame and Warp Cults has always been a present threat for civilians within the Prosperitas Sector, but the Red Hand - emboldened by their neverborn Patron, the Red Saint - begin a campaign of fear quite unlike any other. While the infiltrated vanguards of the Regency succeeded in damaging the Imperium and undermining the authority of several institutions they’d infiltrated, the Red Hand cult now spreads fast. It effectively acts as a violent irregular insurgency in support of the Regency's advance in Subsector Secundus and beyond, while the Serpent Cult serves as a more insidious threat. The Red Hand’s uncanny ability to motivate and mobilise veterans of the Prosperitas Crusade left scarred and discarded by the Imperium means it is able to call upon a body of not just angry and aggressive, but also military-trained Cultists.

Red Hand bombings are not like those of the Rising Flame - who tend to avoid civilian damage as much as possible, and target the Imperial State specifically. Rather, the Hand will attack at random with no seeming pattern. The rage of the discarded is such that they will lash out at whatever irritates local veteran populations - be that Arbites, a Guildmaster who has turned down a Veteran for a workcycle, or even just a civilian who disrespected their service. The cycle of violence amongst those who feel angry and dispossessed becomes more and more aggressive, in turn spreading further, as Cult lodges become more established.

There have been a number of times where members of compromised Rising Flame cells have willingly risked arrest and execution by reporting their own cells after they become corrupted by the Hand. The Rising Flame has been noted to engage Red Hand forces with considerable prejudice - as the Flame’s hatred of the Archenemy influence is only matched by the fear that the civilian populations will mistake them for the other group.

Inquisitor Zahid: I am sure that once again the Conclave will ignore me, but I repeat again my suggestion that we consider the idea of covertly aiding the Rising Flame, for a time - they know their local areas better than many of our Agents, and could be essential in dismantling the Red Hand threat.

Inquisitor Duplesis: From a VERY academical point of view, if we were to offer aid, any offers of assistance to the Flame would have to be considerably indirect - after Finisterra and St. Sanguinius, any trace back to the Inquisition would very likely leave them unwilling to take said assistance. I have no doubt they at the very least suspect who was responsible for twarthing them.

4-480.595.M41 - Serpent Cult Promotes “Hidden Aristocracy”

The evangelisers of the Serpent Cult promote the doctrines of the Regency with absolute obsession - which is fitting, given what the Serpent is a mask for. As their missionaries accompany the Order’s fleets (or, in some systems, precede them - as part of advance subversion forces), one pattern has emerged in their recruitment process: the idea of a “Hidden Aristocracy” - who, naturally, the Serpent Cult can identify and restore to greatness.

Based on the analysis of a number of case studies, their process goes thusly:

Phase 1: A charismatic stranger arrives. Perhaps they are haunting a run-down, shabby salon frequented by the less-important scions of less-favoured noble houses. Perhaps they are buying the next round at the tavern in the feudal world’s largest market town. Perhaps they are the new recruit on the overnight shift in the manufactorum. Either way, they rapidly ingratiate themselves with their peers.

Phase 2: The stranger acts to befriend likely recruits. There’s an impoverished Annwfyn family rich in history but otherwise poor; the stranger is generous with her money. A shepherd is alienated from his peers by his dreams, which he is desperate to talk about despite his fears about how people will react to them; the stranger lends him their ear, and they never, ever judge him. A night shift overseer resents being overlooked and is convinced that she has a greater destiny than keeping the night shift in line; the stranger becomes her most reliable worker, the one she can depend on to help meet quota.

Phase 3: Once the stranger feels sufficiently trusted, a history lesson is offered that one day Angels spoke to the people through their blessed oracles, just like the Emperor works through his Living Saints, and the recruits are struggling because they are part of a Hidden Aristocracy, a patchwork of people who are the true inheritors of the oracles’ majesty. The Annwfyn family would have been a great House of the Sector if they had not had their rightful place stolen from them. The shepherd’s dreams are more than dreams; they mark them as the Chosen One who will guide the world to glory. The overseer is not a mere overseer; she is a temporarily forgotten Queen-to-be.

Genealogically, the story may be utter fabrication. But it speaks to something in the recruits.

Phase 4: Recruitment and deployment. Once persuaded of the prospect of being lost nobility, the recruit is now a Regency asset, and is used as such. New agents arrive on-world. The Annwfyn family offer their draughty castle as a base of operations, and swell with pride whenever the agents call them by their professed noble titles. The Regency invades the world; the shepherd helps the footsoldiers of Chaos find routes through the foothills and gain crucial tactical elements of surprise, revelling in these fierce and cheerful companions. A city falls to Chaos forces; the manufactorum becomes the logistics centre, the overseer tasked with setting the city-wide quotas and enacting the punishments where they are missed.

Phase 5: “Ennoblement”. When the recruits can no longer be of use to the Regency’s invasion, they disappear. Very occasionally, they reappear again. They are bedecked in fine powdered wigs, and immaculately tailored clothes of an archaic cut, with aprons or tabards or stoles dense in arcane symbolism. They carry strange regalia. They have a distant look in their eye. And from their mouths come the words of Angels.

The stranger’s work is done; the stranger moves on, looking for someone else ready to believe, if only someone will tell them with sufficient conviction, that they are a wyrm among worms, and that they could, with the strangers’ help, live like proud Serpents instead of crawling Maggots.

Inquisitor Nasser: It was to be expected that the Regency and Sovereign Order would seek to promote their Way as part of their incursions; not only is it their ideology, but it is also their route to obtaining aid from their neverborn allies. This “hidden aristocracy” idea seems to have been cooked up to play on the populace’s disillusionment with the squabbling among the Great Houses; the more unreasonable their conflict seems, the more tempting it is for people to think that they could do better.

++Crusade Salient Reports++

From Office of the Inquisitor Militant, the current dispositions of the Prosperitas Crusade have been reported;

Cerastes Salient is currently reeling from the collapse of the Mechanicus forces on Henlock; with Archenemy forces occupying much of the rimward region of Subsector Secundus, the loss of supplies from the isolationist Mechanicus of Naximus Prime has put General Astara at a disadvantage. Defence lines, however, hold against the Archenemy - as the Regency has yet to press with anything more than raiding forces.

Hydros Salient is currently the weakest of the Crusade fronts: with the extensive damage to the orbital defences around Lerwick, the Regency has pressed the fleet there to slip forces though the system and into jump points deeper into the Prosperitas Sector. The Warmaster is privately displeased with Vice-Admiral Frolan’s progress, but his political allies don’t allow her to remove him. Reinforcing Lerwick means drawing Naval forces away from other strike groups.

Jaculus Salient remains pretty much the same - the patient silence of the Weeping Eye and Creeping Death, seems to indicate that they are likely going through a series of ritual observances of their patrons on the surface of captured Kelper Prime: the Ennƥá (the ruling tribe of the Tain Twins) are notoriously superstitious. With Commodore Kirill keeping them penned, requests have been made to the Inquisition to support a reconnaissance team inserting via stealth onto the surface of Kelper.

++Judgements of the Conclave++

By the writ of the Holy Conclave of the Inquisition in the Prosperitas Sector the following judgements are to be recognised by all parties;

There are no judgements at this time.

++Current Affairs++

++ Be aware that this information, while available to those beyond the Inquisition – is provided only to your clearance level and should not be discussed with Citizens. The penalty for perversion of ignorance is one hundred lashes at a public corporal square. Repeat infractions will result in execution ++

Rumours of a Fortune Teller on Merewald continue to circle, though some Commoners have taken to calling it a ‘Doomsayer’ as their visits to places often heralds some tragedy. Attacks on outlying villages by ‘pale light-fearing creatures’ have been reported. Ordo Hereticus teams have yet to encounter this individual.

Conflict between licenced and unlicenced Bounty Hunters appears to have come to an end as an army of sanctioned Hunters descends upon a rival holdout on Letifer Secundus. The resulting battle ends when the sanctioned Hunters breach a hive seal and flood the section with toxic chemicals, murdering most of their rivals. This leads to the reformation of the Honourable Consortium of Bounty Hunters into a new organisation. The Coalition of Reclamation and Apprehension Guids or CRAG. The CRAG now represents a powerful force of freelancer agents in the sector and is increasingly influential with the loss of traditional law enforcement.

Commoner rumours are spreading: repeat into a mirror thirteen times the name of the Whispering God, it will manifest and grant you a boon. Such things are flights of fancy, but none-the-less concerning, as such beliefs only reinforce the power of warp entities.

The coals of civil conflict between the Houses of the Prosperitas Sector continue to burn, but in the face of representatives of Terra landing on Duroverum, the Nobles have returned to more traditional methods of Courtly conflict: with barbed words and discrete assassinations replacing all-out civil war. However, on the fringes of the Prosperitas Sector, where the eyes of Terran civility do not reach, the Houses still play out increasingly savage proxy strikes on each other's outer holdings and ships.

++Rumours++

++ Be aware that the veracity of this information has not be ascertained and carries with it a class-2 warning of unreliability [class-2.information is gathered via un-enhanced interrogation or state surveillance]++

There is a lost heir of Monforte and they claim they will reinstate their fallen house. They are an agent of the High Lords and are using the backing of the newly arrived Terrans to do so.

An Asteroid Mining operation in the Shard Reef reported finding ‘a strange colour’ while investigating a mineral-rich asteroid. All contact with the House Globex operation went silent shortly after.

Hermione Durovera is haunted by the ghost of her dead brother who visits her in her dream with information about her enemies. How else could a simple privateer gain so much power so fast?

The Heresiarch, Grulge, is guided by the Spirit of Saint Gearwright who blessed him with their powers before going to the Emperor’s arms - the Gearwrights fighting Grugle are, in fact, a splinter cell trying to divert their brethren from following their true leader.

Entire work-camps on Korimesta have been reported being found virtually empty by Arbites enforcement teams patrolling the sanctioned world. House Globex has assured that these camps have been cleared as the inhabitants have been judged enlightened and reformed enough to enter the workforce once more.

A group of hunters in Midsommer was attacked by some unknown creature and went missing; the only survivor is completely catatonic, plus his skin seems to be slowly hardening and becoming so pale that it looks like he’s drained of blood.

++List of Wanted Individuals ++

Be Aware: This list is drawn from Arbites and Reclamation and Apprehension Guild records. Unlicensed pursuit of any of these individuals by someone not an Arbiter of the Lex Imperialis, or a deputised and sanctioned representative [Cit.Ref Enforcer or Bounty Hunter], is strictly prohibited.

The Coalition of Reclamation and Apprehension Guids kindly reminds citizens that unsanctioned bounty hunters are criminals, and subject to the harshest penalties by Guild Law.

The law is for sanctioned professionals. Taking the law into your own hands is against the law.

The Coalition of Reclamation and Apprehension Guids would like to remind all Hunters that it will still continue not to honour any bounties on any individual operating under the name Klaus Hendrickson until further notices.

++Active Bounties++ The following bounties remain active for collection.

Erydia Farris [Wanted: Alive] Private Bounty

House Majid appears to want to keep this affair private, formal charges have yet to be logged so this target remains a high-paid priority for Coalition Hunters. Farris is a renegade with a vessel so operations against her will still need to be handled with care. Fortunately House Majid has been kind to provide blueprints of the ‘Plentiuful Bounty’ to all Hunters taking this bounty and are very willing to provide resources to proven hunters. Lady-Captain Amira Majid has guaranteed payment with full payment of it and Guild fees. However, House Majid has been very clear this one is wanted -alive-. Seems the Lady-Captain wants to administer her wayward scion’s punishment...directly.

Cadmium Redd [Remains at Large] [Wanted: Alive for Genetic Certification] For the Crimes of: Disrupting the Peace, Production of Seditious Material (Audio), Inciting Rebellion, Engaging in Rebellion, Rage Against the Machine, and spreading forbidden cultural practices.

How does this one keep evading you Hunters is beyond me. We’re talking about a Flip-Muscian, not a hardened veteran soldier. Redd doesn’t seem to be playing ball with anyone but herself - we’ve tried hitting Rising Flame locations but she’s not playing in their court either. To make matters worse and undermine our credibility further, Redd has not only released another garage-chip full of her seditious tunes, but has apparently released a concept album of Annwfyn bardic songs in protest against increased Annwfyn oppression.

Yrtalien Princeps [Remains at Large [Wanted: Alive for Genetic Verification] For the Crimes of: Seduction of Innocent Citizens, Seduction of Imperial Officials, Seduction of Authority, Defiance of Imperial Conventions, Repeated Evasion of the Emperor's Justice, Genetic Deviation.

It seems we just can’t keep this one out of the lists, no matter how much we try. After being captured and theoretically executed again, Princeps is a high-priority target still, with a remarkable bounty from a LOT of confidential targets. There are suspicions he might be not one but multiple people modified to look alike, which only adds to his/their crimes. In order to verify that, he/they are now wanted Alive.

Administrator Second Class Jareth Quill & Adept Aemme Weaver [Remain at Large] [Wanted: Alive (Aemme) Alive or Dead (Jareth)] For the Crimes of: Eloping without Adeptus Astra Telepathica Permission, Absconding with Adeptus Astra Telepathica Property, Financial Crimes against the Houses of the Prosperitas Sector, Bringing Shame on an Imperial Office and evading arrest.

This pair are really dragging out the hunt; the fact that one of them is a Psyker and the other knows exactly where the pulse of the Sector is makes them a hard mark, but if you can deliver Quill’s head and Weaver alive and well to the Black Guardians then they’re going to be very helpful, and they only negotiate privately for most contracts on rogue psykers.

Sharre Ajax of the Rising Flame [Remains At Large] [Wanted: Alive or Dead] For the Crimes of: Arch-Heresy, Recidivism, Membership of a Proscribed Organisation (Rising Flame), Incitement of Terrorism, Resistance against the Imperium amongst many other acts.

Surprising no-one, Sharre is back at his old hijinks - although these days, the Flame seems a lot more focused on dealing with the Archenemy. With the Imperium’s forces equally tied up dealing with that invasion, it falls on us to catch him. The Imperium has given the Guild everything they have on this mark, so if you’re up for a dangerous hunt, here’s the one for you, and he commands a high price. Just don’t expect to ever find him alone - his return gave the Flame quite the boost of morale, and they are unwilling to let him go without a fight.