Which Witch
Ash, Nadiya and Max root out a rogue psyker from a Guard platoon stattioned on Samalut IX.
Briefing
Interrogator Meade called Ash, Nadiya and Max to Michael's office for a mission briefing in Michael's absence (he was off with Siveter making contact with some of Kovach's deep cover agents). The request had come from Samalut to the Ordo Xenos since Michael was keeping a close eye on the situation on Samalut, however it was considered by Meade to be more of a Hereticus issue.
Apparently a Guardsman in the Menkar 272nd Regiment had revealed psychic powers during an engagement, but it was unknown exactly which Guardsman. The Inquisition were requested to investigate and deal with the problem.
Samalut was the original home of Ash, and a place where Nadiya had seen a lot of action and suffered no small amount of trauma.
The Mission
Ash led the team to Samalut where they proceeded to investigate. Talking to Major Débora Durand they learend the following:
Gamma Company was deployed as part of a larger force to retake the town of Nedda. Leadership had already been eliminated and support cut off, so the mission was a mopping up exercise. With the main Assault coming from the East, Gamma Company was deployed with Sentinel support on the southern flank to sweep over the surrounding hills and kill or drive back to the town any loose Xenos, then join the cordon for the final purge of the town.
A simple barn approached by Platoon 4 turned out to be concealing a squad of three Killer Kans. Gamma Company was not well equipped for AT, and the Sentinels were covering a wide flank. 2nd Squad (with Lieutenant Horace Domitille) had a Missile Launcher and used it to kill two of the Kans whilst the Platoon took casualties.
One Kan attacked 1st Squad, and during the conflict the Kan was destroyed by some kind of lightning bolt. The squad subsequently suffered nosebleeds, and Commissar Aurelius Hampson died in mysterious circumstances.
Regimental Commissar Nik Talia was of the opinion that the squad had killed the Commissar to protect their witch, and was keen for the Inquisition to root out the perpetrators.
During an autopsy Ash determined that Commissar Hampson had been killed by an explosion with shrapnel matching Ork weaponry, rather than anything the Guard squad would be likely to have (for example a frag grenade).
Using interrogation, Ash's null aura, and Nadiya's psychic abilities, they successfully detected the witch quite quickly. Sergeant Alison Boniface was the witch, but had managed to convince Private Paulus Favreau that it was him. She had also convinced him that he may need to protect himself with a hastily made shiv. She had also convinced the entire squad to lie and say the lightning bolt was simply the Kan malfunctioning, but under interrogation she was afraid that Nadiya was going to find out she was a witch and pointed them at Private Favreau under the guise of caring for his wellbeing.
Private Favreau was quickly determined to not be a witch, with Ash catching him going for his shiv before anything unpleasant happened, and eventually he admitted that most of what he thought about his "powers" and what would happen to him had come from Sergeant Boniface. Meanwhile, Sergeant Boniface managed to escape, but was quickly recaptured by Max. During her attempt she had a psychic overload and all the glass in the area cracked, incluing the lens in Max's hellpistol, however as it prevented her from casting Smite at him, it may well have saved his life.
Aftermath
Commissar Talia was persuaded that Commissar Hampson had indeed been killed by the Kan rokket launcher when heroically leading an assault towards it, however he was unhappy with releasing 1st Squad back into general circulation, considering them "tainted" by witchcraft since they had suffered nosebleeds. Seizing upon a comment Nadiya made, he decided the solution was simply to put them into the most dangerous if not suicidal missions available and get them killed off quickly. That would solve the "problem" they would cause to moral.
Sergeant Boniface was taken away for transfer to the black ships.
Communications
+++TO: Fabricator Hephastus Acetae;
+++FROM: Max Drent;
+++SUBJECT: New Equipment Requests
Hey Acetae,
Welcome back. I'd say I hope things haven't been too bad since you touched down, but we both know it absolutely has.
Assuming you've got a dendrite or two spare, I've had some ideas about equipment.
Starting with the easy stuff, can you put some armour in my jacket? Flak is the best I can think of, but I'll obviously cave to any better suggestions.
For the fun stuff I'll attach some specs (I'm not Acid, so apologies if they're rough). The "data pad" just needs to to be inconspicuous enough to get past light security. I figured if we go for las I can at least charge it up. If you can make the 'screen' light up even better.
The glove I've kinda' based off a powerfist, but with a tweak. I'm not sure about fuelling it, whether it'll have to be a one shot weapon or if there's a way of reloading.
The super fun stuff is to do with the cutter, but we might want a face to vox grill chat for that.
None of this is priority obviously, just get back when you can.
Thanks,
01001101 01100001 01111000 00100000
+++ATTACHED FILES:
LAS_datapadv2.bluprint
pyro_gloveEDITED.bluprint
+++MESSAGE ENDS
+++TO: Gregory Michael
+++FROM: Ashar Lear
+++SUBJECT: Salamut IX
Gregory,
Just a note alongside my report on the Salamut IX mission: Max did very well. We were up against an unsanctioned psyker, and he showed discipline and bravery.
He was subdued, but I'd be more worried if he wasn't. He didn't show any interest in backseat-driving the Valkyrie. That is unusual, so I'll keep an eye on it as Dr Barra suggests. But I think she was right. Clearing him for active duty was the right thing.
This mission was my, Nadiya and Max's first encounter with the Commissariat. Our liaison was...interesting. I'd be interested in swapping notes sometime to learn if he was a typical example. No rush, obviously.
Hope all is going well for you and Siveter. Obelisk still standing.
Ash
+++MESSAGE ENDS
+++TO: Inquisitor Drake
+++FROM: Ashar Lear
+++SUBJECT: Agent Zelenko
Inquisitor,
I hope your recovery is going well.
To accompany the most recent mission report, I wanted to add that Agent Zelenko was exemplary on Salamut IX. She was both professional and compassionate, two qualities I have seen in you. I was proud to work with her.
There was no room to convey this adequately in the report. It was probably implied, but I wanted to be clear with you as she is your agent.
Ash
+++MESSAGE ENDS
+++TO: Ashar Lear;
+++FROM: Gregory Michael;
+++SUBJECT: Re: Samalut IX
Ash,
That is good news. I'm pleased. Subdued we can handle, much better than running away or going psychotic. Do you think he's off flying in general? We had been working on a little project with an experimental light speeder but obviously that has been on hold whilst he recovers. I think perhaps we'll wait and see how things progress before starting up again.
The Commissariat... yes. A tricky topic. In many ways you can think of them as a smaller more specifically focussed version of the Inquisition. Individuals wield a lot of power with very little oversight, and how they choose to wield it can vary wildly from individual to individual.
Officers within the Imperial Guard are raised from the same world as their soldiers, and will spend the rest of their lives with them. They develop a deep bond with their troops; as well they should, since looking after their troops is one of their primary duties. Sometimes this can conflict with their other primary duty, to obey the commands of more senior officers which will, inevitably, conflict with the safety of the soldiers.
The Commissars are there as an outside influence, loyal first and foremost to the Imperium at large. They are meant to ensure the Officers make the hard and necessary choices war sometimes demands. They are supposed to do this with charisma and leadership, resort to legal means if necessary and, in the last resort, spot executions. Obviously what actually happens very much depends on the competence of the individual in question.
I've experienced both ends of the spectrum. In the worse cases you have a political officer, untrained in tactics but nevertheless authorised to overrule the decisions of a trained soldier if they suspect them of being cowardly. Nobody likes fighting a war with a backseat driver bumping your elbow.
On the other hand you have capable, well trained, and extremely brave men and women, willing to do whatever it takes to protect the Imperium, leading by example. On more than one occasion I've seen them hold entire companies together through force of personality and personal heroism and prevent a flank from collapsing, saving thousands of lives.
Were it not for your gift leading you to the Inquisition I'm sure you would have been picked for the Commissariat. You have all the right qualities to be a really good one. Bravery and personal heroism, a deep and real care for the people under your command and a willingness to make the necessary sacrifices for the good of the Imperium at large.
If you have a moment I'd suggest checking the archives for Commissar Yarrick or Colonel-Commissar Gaunt. Famous icons of the Commissariat who demonstrate the best of what they can offer. You might also find it interesting to have a look at Commissar Caine. Not the so called autobiography "To Serve the Emperor: A Commissar's Life", the Inquisition only "Caine Archive".
Yours,
Michael
+++MESSAGE ENDS
+++TO: Max Drent;
+++FROM: Fabricator Hephastus Acetae;
+++SUBJECT: Re: New Equipment Requests
Maximus Drent.
The workshop is functioning optimally but there are many tasks to complete. Winnifred Deitersman has allowed many of her servo-skulls to be destroyed, delicate and valuable artifacts that are difficult to replace. I have also had labour menials asking for assistance repairing walls and other simple structural elements. Explaining to each menial that such tasks are beneath a sanctioned tech-priest was time consuming so I tasked a servitor to stand in the doorway and do it for me. Winnifred Deitersman retasked the servitor to assist the labour menials and replaced it with an inefficiently worded message printed on flimsy. I trust you are functioning within acceptable parameters for your class of organic and your labour requirements do not exceed your production threshold.
Inserting Flack armour into your jacket is acheivable. We could also use a scale of heavier plates which would provide protection nearly equal to Carapace, but the resulting jacket would be heavy and more likely to be noticed.
Alternatively I could peel back your dermis and insert flexiplast armour into your body between the musculature and dermis. It would provide equivalent protection to Flak armour but you would always be wearing it and it would be largely undetectable.
A laspistol in a datapad is acheivable. The power pack will be limited to six shots at standard charge. The datapad will function but be less performant than might be expected of a device of its size. Devious. I approve.
The flame glove I can do but it will only have enough fuel for one shot. Reloads are possible but time consuming during a conflict. This is inefficient. Instead I recommend we remove your forearm, replace it with a cybernetic and have the flamer concealed within. There would be room for a larger fuel tank and the flames could emerge from your fingers.
I understand your leg was recently injured. I could replace and upgrade your legs at the same time to minimise unproductive downtime during healing.
Fabricator Acetae
+++MESSAGE ENDS
+++TO: Winnifred Deitersman;
+++FROM: Fabricator Hephastus Acetae;
+++SUBJECT: Our Deal
Grub Screw
Please see attached message. As you can see I have been "nice" and provided extraneous "small talk". I beleive this demonstrates my commitment to behavioural changes. As per our agreement, kindly return my lower left arm.
Acetae
+++MESSAGE ENDS
+++TO: Ashar Lear
+++FROM: Sera Jentiva
+++SUBJECT: Agent Zelenko
Ashar,
I've revoked Eidan's message privileges, as the ninker has no grasp of what "signed off work" actually means. I'll let him know Nadiya did a good job, and that you took the trouble to point it out. Very kind, interrogator. Makes me even happier to be in the same team as you. Assuming you're declaring for Drake, of course. Pretty sure he'd be glad to have you, and if he isn't, I'll slap him until he is.
Sera
+++MESSAGE ENDS
+++TO: Obelisk staff
+++FROM: Sera Jentiva
+++SUBJECT: messages for Drake
Dear everyone,
Eidan is signed off work. I'll be monitoring his inbox, so I'll know if he's been cheating and trying to get some work done on the sly. Don't want me reading whatever you send to him? Don't send it.
If you want Eidan's brand of sensitive emotional stuff, you'll have to wait until he's back in play.
I'm not an interrogator, so the others are in charge. Think of me more as Drake's secretary. And please let me know if you have a better word than secretary. If you can't get me, try Captain Janacek, but don't tell her about the super grim stuff, she's not into that.
Jentiva
+++MESSAGE ENDS
+++TO: Sera Jentiva
+++FROM: Acid
+++SUBJECT: Re: messages for Drake
Dear Sera,
Inquisitor Michael used the word "adjunct", but I referred to myself as "data slave". Clearly it worked because as soon as Dani got back he had her replace me.
Are you guys staying on the Trojan? How's the food up there? I would never question the provisions of Captain Janacek, but I'm just gonna say that we're baking fresh cookies nearly every day at the moment so if you can arrange a courier we could put on an extra batch to send up to you.
I generally favour quadruple chocolate but Amon's been experimenting with something called a boombera nut and it's pretty good.
Good Luck!
A(|D
+++MESSAGE ENDS