As the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the sky in hues of vibrant reds and fiery oranges, Inquisitor Corin Leberg found himself enjoying a rare moment of tranquility. Nestled on the veranda of a riverbank restaurant, he indulged in the serenity of the scene: the calm river flowing past him, the soft rustle of leaves in the trees, birds flitting from branch to branch before settling down for the night. The warm breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers and fresh grass, a scent that intermingled with the pleasant hum of conversation around him.
Despite the restaurant being quite crowded, there were several tables around him that remained empty. Even the waiters approached him with a hint of caution, politely offering him more drinks or to bring another dish. They knew who he was – Corin was never one to hide his power. He bore the symbol of his authority, the inquisitorial rosette, proudly on his cloak for all to see. He commanded extensive networks of agents, many of whom didn’t even know who they truly served.
Tonight, however, was different. This was no secret meeting, no hunt for a high-ranking cult leader. Tonight was just a dinner, a brief respite for the Inquisitor. Yet, something important was about to happen. Over the course of the month, Inquisitors from all over the surrounding sectors had been arriving at the planet to attend the conclave. Corin expected to see many of his colleagues and friends, as well as some Inquisitors he had only heard of.
As he lit a cigar and leaned back in his chair, his mind wandered to an old friend he would not see again: Solomon Lock. A veteran of the Ordo Xenos, Solomon had served alongside Lord Inquisitor Guberman, battling the mysterious inhabitants of the dark abysses on the ocean world Tyma Secundus. His reputation spanned from his successful missions against the Aari Exodites on Tythan to his battles against the Orc Empire of Charadon.
Solomon was later transferred to the Segmentum Tempestus, becoming a critical part of the Ordo Xenos forces aimed at halting the Tyranid invasion. It was a mission related to the Tyranids that led to his untimely demise. He led a secret operation in the Aelan system, landing on the moon Beta Anilon 4 with accompanying forces. There, they discovered traces of failed experiments conducted by the Adeptus Mechanicus on the Tyranids. The Tyranids had broken free, slaughtered the research personnel, and vanished into the jungles.
A violent confrontation with a massive Tyranid swarm ensued. Despite their best efforts, Solomon and his surviving soldiers were left stranded when their transport requisition dismissed all pleas for evacuation. The last battle saw Solomon kill one of the Tyranid bio titans, but the numerical advantage was not in favor of the Imperial forces. Although Solomon managed to transmit the materials of his investigation to the Ordo Xenos before being overwhelmed, he is officially considered dead.
Another renowned Inquisitor from the Ordo Xenos who will be missed at the conclave is Hez Carus. Puritanical in her views, she has led numerous worlds free of xenos forces in her 300 years of service. Yet, her story will have to wait for another time. As the night settled in and the stars began to twinkle, Corin let out a sigh. It was a night of remembrance, of friends lost and battles fought. Tomorrow, the conclave would begin. But tonight, he simply sat and remembered.
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