Quoth the Raven
Brother Vikenti Anisim, a Raven Guard Astartes, was found frozen in stasis in an escape pod and became drawn into the political situation around Iphara's joining the Imperium of Man.
Report to the Inquisition
+++TO: Achenar Sector Inquisition, Kaprun
+++FROM: Lieutenant Colfaen, 5th Company, Raven Guard.
+++SUBJECT: House Zedlayo of Iphara
Inquisitors,
The following is an extract from one of my Astartes unwittingly caught up in the events immediately preceding the incorporation of Iphara.
+++EXCERPT BEGINS
My pod was recovered and defrosted some 150 years later if local dating is accurate. I was faced with three humans in carapace armour and armed with melta guns. I immediately ordered decontamination of the pod, which they complied with.
I had been recovered by a leading faction of the then non-Imperial world of Iphara, the noble house Zedlayo under the leadership of now Imperial Governor Fenn Zedlayo.
They brought in an Imperial priest to vouch for their story. They were an Imperial friendly faction competing for the local equivalent of the position of Governor. They requested my assistance in winning the election which would in turn allow them to bring Iphara under Imperial control.
I agreed that once I had used the Astropathic Choir to report back I would then aid them as much as I was able. When I received word from the Sable Sword I had two weeks before pickup. The election was in 10 days so I agreed to assist them.
House Zedlayo was unwilling to engage in assassination or blackmail of their opponents and I deferred to their experience of the local political situation.
During the day I gave demonstrations of the abilities of the Astartes, met local dignitaries and covertly observed their military strength. I spent the nights preemptively testing the security of my allies. I found the Zedlayo mansion to have only Gamma level protection.
During this investigation I discovered the pheromones of Iphukine, a local abhuman strain used for labour but afforded nearly human rights, coming from sub-surface vents. There were strong traces of blood and fear. I judged this an indicator of captivity, and given the local situation judges this to be illegal and a political liability.
The Zedlayo feigned ignorance when I asked them to ensure that this could not be discovered and used against them. I returned to learn more. I discovered a sub-surface recreational room with a pool of water. Behind a concealed door there was a cage and a mechanism for projecting the cage over the pool and then lowering it into the water.
There was also a secondary pool containing local flesh eating aquatic fauna, and a mechanism whereby they could be transferred into the main pool. There were no overt signs of taint I could perceive, nor any symbology to imply an occult connection, however the cage reeked of Iphukine fear and blood. My conclusion is that this mechanism was used to torture Iphukine to death.
As the only pro-Imperial faction that seemed likely to win the election I judged it best to overlook it until the planet was secure. Allowing occasional torture to continue is a small price to gain 2.3 billion souls and huge adamantium deposits without the need for a costly Naval battle and hostile occupation.
+++EXCERPT ENDS
The rest of the report details the successful conclusion of the election.
Whilst there may not have been overt signs of heresy to the eyes of a soldier, I submit that this disturbing practice of former separatists is worthy of investigation by the Inquisition before it can become rooted in the Imperium.
The Raven Guard stand ready and willing to support such an investigation and act upon its findings if required.
Lieutenant Colfaen
+++MESSAGE ENDS