Elysium

Prologue

PALATINE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, Section Apion

Case File: Flying Object 

Report: PISAP-189-002/date

Addressed to: PRML G. Beniresh, DIR PIS

From: PRMC J. Adler, HSec AP

O exalted Elder Brother, may your reign over the Service be long favoured by the Palace, as I have placed my humble powers and those of my remote post under your benign guidance, in the tireless effort of our Service to identify and eradicate the criminal plots of traitors who ceaselessly conspire to subvert and harm our victorious Order and insult its truthful honour. May our adversaries perish in their foolish rebellion, unless they see the light of our Supreme Brother's wisdom and turn to penitents.

Referring to PISAP-189-001 flash report on the spotting of an unidentified flying object on two locations, the initially dismissive assessment of the flash report seems to have been premature. We have conveyed reprimands to the junior sentinel who erred in his judgment, but to his defence, I must mention that he followed on the line of usually recommendable skepticism towards the regular tendency of plebeians, especially the rurals, of making up and repeating implausible rumours.

Further investigations into the matter revealed that an object of unknown origin was indeed observed in a few locations. Further observations have been now confirmed by independent reports from subsection Anay and informants in Supa, located further towards the foothills of the Kentian Range, which therefore required more time to reach Apion. As Your Honour surely knows, the foothills are infested with insurgent activity as well as marauding mahi warriors, and it is risky for Men of Truth to travel through the terrain of those parts without taking appropriate precautions.

Facts as we know them now paint a following picture: 

The object seems to have been identical to the one, of titan make, that used to be placed in the old station of Iblis, which was abandoned as a result of it being badly damaged in the course of the Isota Incursion two years ago. On the 7 of Tertian, at about 19:05, the object was first spotted flying in from the east and reflecting the rays of sunset. We now have little doubt of the authenticity of this observation, reported in PISAP-189-001, as among the witnesses was a local inspector, who is a member of the Order and therefore a trusted source. The object was described as shining, fast-moving, and shaped like the fruit of the sentinel tree.

The next observations were made across the Elysian Plains where local farmers complained of it to have caused panic in the herds of taurs and sursoes, which reportedly wrought havoc upon their crop fields. The Agricultural Inspection Committee should investigate the claims at the soonest, lest some local unrest may result.

Finally, the most dramatic encounter with the object took place at Iblis where it tried to approach the old station but could not land there. Vigilantes loyal to our Templar sister organ opened fire at the intruding aliens, resulting in a battle in which there are rumoured casualties, but as is habitual to our venerable counterparts, the exact casualties are concealed and classified. A curfew and an information blockade were promptly imposed on Iblis Hill, and the Barbolan Gate blocked access to the Sacred City, which prevented us from obtaining this essential data and therefore weakened our initial flash assessment where we doubted the existence of the mentioned object. It is my humble conviction, shared by my colleagues at Apion, that the Palace should take determined measures to ensure better coordination of the TIS with their Palatine counterparts, as we are in the business of countering the same enemy.

Having suffered notable technical and physical damage, the object and its remaining passengers then headed northeast, towards the mountains, and were spotted by witnesses in the area of Anay. One of the witnesses there is a previously filed sympathizer of the Resistance, who has since attempted to satisfy our local Political Agent by means of informing on his former fellows, in order to have the incorporation of his two sons into the Temple's programme reversed, although the PIS of course has no authority over such an issue. The mentioned informant is hence deemed unreliable, especially as it is known that a third son and a daughter have crossed to the mountains. However, the informant's report is corroborated by another witness with no known disloyal background (she is of course placed under surveillance now, as confirmed by the P.A.), as well as the final report coming from Supa.

It is indicated by the single report coming from Supa that the alien vessel finally crashed in wilderness some 30 km from the village, in a densely forested and swampy area, which is hard to access even for a village patrol. Our presence in the area is scarce, as is human population in general. It may not be false to assess that the area still languishes in the grip of heathen and vile mahi savages. Local people even maintain contacts with them, regardless of the clear orders from the Supreme Brother, as conveyed multiple times by our provincial authorities, to extend the blessing of civilization in those backward woods.

While waiting for more specific orders and instructions from the Palace, I have authorized a search team to be dispatched without delay from Anay to the direction of Supa, and our master agent AZRAEL will be instructed to follow closely on the issue on their side. Whoever will first reach the wreckage or apprehend the survivors will be contacted and penetrated by us at the first occasion. To our advantage, AZRAEL is on their way to Anay and Supa in any case, to carry out another delicate mission as tasked by their cover role.

Meanwhile, I am proud to refer to the information obtained from our punitive squad on the tribal zone that a Resistance safehouse in Riverport was exposed by the rigorous work of our agents, primarily AZRAEL. They managed to get intimately involved with the daughter of a river captain, who – to our great disgust – appeared to receive favours from the adversary. Seven insurgents were eliminated, and the captain subjected to enhanced interrogation prior to liquidation. The daughter was neutralized by placement under the Temple's control, so she will never have the chance of erring back to her late father's dishonourable path. I am conscious that the methods of intimacy by our agent may conflict Your Honour's sublime abstinence, but such methods occasionally prove effective in field work, as they exploit the very moral weakness that characterizes wrongdoers among us.

Also, 39 savages were eradicated in the Apion jurisdiction over last week, a record for the last half a year. May Goddess bless us with similar results in the future, so as to rid our promised lands of this pest. My health is still good although the past weeks have been rainy. My wife is productive and may bless our race with another little warrior of Truth in six months' time.

As always, I remain in the wait for fulfilling the orders of Your Honour, which so perfectly reflect the wisdom of the Palace and the glory and honour of our civilization. Glory to Goddess!

ADLER