Here amongst the outer planets of the system, the light of Avignon shone dimly in the sky, and twilight was perpetual. Inquisitor Hewris stood on the highest battlements of Avignon Beta, staring at the pale star above and contemplating the escalating crisis on the inner worlds.
Avignon Alpha was now a ruin, the last loyalist enclaves of any significance having been scoured by the invaders, and Snakebite Orks battled with Traitors for global control. On the moon of Drakefell, more Orks mustered, mainly piratical fragments, gradually building into a more substantial force. Already, the freebooters were targeting in-system traffic, disrupting supply lines from Beta to Gamma and its moons, stretching the modest naval forces assigned to the system to their limits.
Hewris had petitioned Battlefleet Seriphos for reinforcements, but he knew that the parallel crisis in Hunt’s Founding would demand a response of its own. Still, the folk of Avignon Beta were resolute and self-reliant, and for a while at least would be able to withstand whichever enemy emerged from inner Avignon to besiege them.
Hewris turned his thoughts to the forthcoming Grand Conclave. During his travels across the Imperium, he had attended several such gatherings merely by dint of proximity. Usually, these conclaves enabled effective co-ordination of efforts, but rumours abounded across half a segmentum about the bitter divisions within the Ordo Seriphos. Hewris had noted in intelligence reports that the Eldar were active in Hunt’s Founding: in his experience, these pernicious xenos made a habit of sowing dissent to serve their own ends, and it would not surprise him if they were exerting some malign influence on members of the Ordo Seriphos.
Further musing was cut short as a Betan militiaman approached.
‘My lord? All preparations on the shuttle are complete, only the Rites of Ignition remain.’
Hewris nodded. The shuttle would take him to Crux Station, where he would requisition the services of a newly-arrived Rogue Trader to take him to the Inquisitiorial fortress at Sentinel.
‘See that the Overguild is notified of my departure,’ said Hewris, the joints of his power armour hissing as he turned to leave the ramparts.
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+++incoming message+++
+++message received+++
+++gamma level clearance required+++
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+++Welcome, Inquisitor Xehn+++
+++ The following profile of Inquisitor Cale Hewris has been compiled as per your request.
+++Affiliation: //Ordo Xenos//; ostensibly //Monodominant// (though see below); ties to 12 sector Ordos; has worked extensively alongside the //Deathwatch//.
+++Training: known to have served under Inquisitor Maclan and High Inquisitor Yorlanda; extensive training at the Fortress Xenos on //Talasa Prime//.
+++ Actions of Note: As an itinerant Inquisitor, Hewris has been active in a score of systems between //Ultramar// and the //Seriphos Sector//, including operations behind enemy lines in //Ork-held Charadon//. Pursuit of the fragments of Waa-Killkruncha first led him to Seriphos. By the time he arrived in Avignon, the Orks were already at war with Traitor Forces for control of the system capital. Hewris arranged a //brief// //intervention by// //the Mourn Hounds//, and the Chaos forces were restrained, albeit temporarily. Currently, he lends his counsel to the Overguild of Avignon Beta as the planet reinforces its defences.
+++Prognosticae: Hewris’s experience will no doubt prove of benefit in action against the multiple xenos threats in Seriphos. Furthermore, as an outsider to the sector, Hewris may prove a useful means of cutting through the factionalism of the Ordo Seriphos. This agent advises against trusting him too readily, however: it is of note that, although he espouses Monodominant philosophy, Hewris is thought to utilise xenotech, even having such artefacts incorporated into his armour.
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