A Monster in Hell: A 40K Story

Chapter-11

Everything was quiet after that failed assassination attempt. All I was thinking of was how to make my next moves. Everything was as of now hidden from the others: only Veers, Rampart and Matthias were aware of the attempt on my life. 

What did change was the shape of the Regiment. In two weeks, Titans were roaming around the area, and we had everything ranging from Tanks to a full Fleet hanging around Kars Holn. Several ships had already been dispatched to Kars Partox, where I would soon be leaving with the rest of the Regiment.

What did happen, however, that an Inquisitorial Representative to the Cadian System, Percival Graves, was sent to meet with me, for some reasons. 

"Welcome, Representative Graves." I cordially gestured to my seat, "Please have a seat. I am a bit confused as to why you would meet with me when there are several high-ranking officers here at Kars Holn."

"I believe humility does not suit you, Major Bryant." Graves gave an extremely fake smile as he sat down on the seat opposite me. "After all, there is not a man in the Segmentum Obscurus that has not heard of your deeds. You have the potential to become a Warmaster, they say."

"Oh... they say so? I have not heard such rumors. That being said, I have been in the theatre of war for the entire duration of my service, so it would make sense." I tilted my head in apparent confusion, after all that was a truth.

"Yes, indeed. The first Warmaster of the Imperium after Hera Lupercal and the Lord-Commander Solar, Macharius." Graves' damning smile never left his face.

"Hmm... I wonder why?" I asked, faking cluelessness. Meanwhile... I gaped internally. Hera? What sort of Rule 63 had I entered?

"Indeed. You are remarkable, having gotten promoted straight from an ordinary Guardsman, to a Major, in a month and a half. That is obviously... a remarkable achievement. The first was a daughter of the Empress. The second was trained for years and groomed for the role. You have neither." Graves explained, "And yet... you show more promise than they do."

"I... see." I drew out my response, "And this pertains to me... how exactly?"

"Surely you cannot be that dense." Graves asked, "The first Warmaster turned on her Progenitor and waged a war against Mankind and the Imperium that led to ten thousand years of war, misery and torment. The second campaigned in the Halo Stars and was eager to push forward, and ironically one of his pupils worshipped the dark powers of the Empyrean. As it seems... Warmasters do not sound particularly good after this, do they?"

Ah. Of course. He was subtly insinuating...

"Are you calling me a potential traitor?" I asked, almost innocently.

"I am merely referring to the fact that those with the position of Warmaster, at least the prominent ones, may have done things considered borderline... heretical."

"So Lord Solar Macharius, who conquered a thousand worlds in seven years for the Imperium with zeal... was a heretic?"

"He died as one."

"General Richter was a heretic, I believe. Was he not the one killed by the Lord Solar?" I challenged him. "There will be public outcry if you were to claim that the esteemed Lord Solar was a heretic."

"The Imperium does not remember such a thing. The Imperium will believe what the Inquisition tells them. The Inquisition... are the new Sigillites. I am sure you know what their Order was for: you have a wealth of knowledge and curiosity that will surely lead to your downfall."