Fiction:New Dawn/Year 6

Crisis Stations
5th February 2794

Alarms sounded in the catacombs of a monastery on Taspin III. As the hallways illuminated with simulated sunlight were bathed in a dim red glow. Kelsos marched his way through to a debriefing room as the klaxons blared, he was curious to see what the commotion is about, following him was a Terratrix inquisitor who filled him in vaguely. When he got to the debriefing room he entered it leaving the Teerratrix to proceed to his own duties to see a Solinkidor inquisitor debriefing with another inquisitor, a young Radeon.

Surem, the Solinkidor, turned to see Kelsos marched in and saluted by pounding his chest. Kelsos however was in little mood for formalities. Ralanth, the Radeon, turned in response.

Surem - ''Ah. Brother Kelsos!'' Ralnath - Glad to see you, sir. But there is not time to talk: before us is a matter of great urgency. Kelsos - Spare me the formalities I want to know why there's a code red all of a sudden. Surem - Brother, you had better tell him. Ralnath - ''As you know... after the Great War, the planet known as Cathemera was abandoned by the Commonwealth, because of the... presence which was left there after the battle. Our agents in the Outer Segmentums have informed us that the Resurgence's leader is currently headed to the Core... if anything, he is after it.'' Kelsos - Volkarus...Do we know where they are now? Ralnath - ''I'm afraid not. All we can do now is to intercept the Resurgence inside the Core itself.'' Kelsos - ''Damnation... And you can confirm that it is Volkarus we are dealing with or is this mere speculation?'' Surem - We feel the chances of him making the approach are high brother. Ralnath - Indeed.

Kelsos thumped his fist on the table and growled. In little mood for such a potential crisis.

Kelsos - ''Then we parepare a task force, I don't care if we have to blast the filth-sodden piece of kranndung from orbit. Someone contact Councillor Breek. Volkarus is his specialty.'' Ralnath - As you decree, brother.

Surem nodded and pressed a few panels on the conference table, sending a direct call to Tyraz. What they did nto expect was that while they hoped he would respond quickly they did not expect to look so smug as his hologram materialised on the centre of the table. He was sitting in this throne, smirking as he observed the three obviously-troubled Inquisitors. He chuckled to himself before replying in an obvious mocking tone.

Tyraz - Well well, what do we have here? Kelsos - ''Spare the childish mockery Lord Councillor. We have a problem - specifically Volkarus.''

Kelsos answered Tyraz's reply in a flat and serious tone with an obvious feeling of contempt. Upon hearing Volkarus' name, Tyraz narrowed and eye and leaned forward towards Kelsos, analyzing Kelsos and the other Inquisitors with interest. He still held his smirk, however. It became a grin.

Tyraz - ''And what do you require my help for? Aren't you capable of fighting him yourself, "demon slayers"?''

Kelsos muttered under his breath in repsonse to Tyraz's mocking response. he then exhaled as if to remove his negative feelings.

Kelsos - We could if it wasn't for the fact we know where he's going: Cathamera.

Tyraz's grin lowered and he growled upon hearing "Cathamera". He stood out of his throne and stood straight. The Inquisitors could see his crimson eyes spark with internal fire as he got closer, his lips rippling in a furious growl.

Tyraz - ...You idiots allowed Volkarus to go there? Kelsos - We're not stupid, currently he has yet to reach the system and if we are promt enough we can intercept him in orbit. Surem - The Inquisition installed gravity wells in a bid to prevent easy apprach, but we all know Volkarus has ways of bypassing this. Tyraz - We could co-operate and intercept him before he even touches Cathamera...But it seems somebody requires setting their priorities straight first.

Tyraz backed away from the screen, glaring at the Inquisitor's with angry eyes.

Kelsos - Excuse me? Ralnath - ''Volkarus is a cunning enemy, lord Breek. we might as well have to face him on the planet itself.'' Tyraz - Now that I have this information, I am capable of exposing such to the AGC protectorates and official members while denouncing your organization in public, exposing your incompetence. Kelsos - ''WHAT! You wouldn't dare!''

Tyraz grinned once more as he sat down and tapped the arm of his throne to make a point.

Tyraz - If you want to keep your "feared" reputation intact, cretin, I suggest you do exactly as I say from here on. Kelsos - ''You expect us to be your lackeys. Boy?''

Ralnath bowed respectfully.

Ralnath - ''We... we shall comply.'' Surem - ''Brother Kelsos. Perhaps we should comply with the Lord Councillor's wishes. It would be a wise idea to put reason before honour this day.''

Ralnath nodded frantically in agreement to Surem, his head filling with worry at the dread of this potential future incident. Kelsos however, being a more experienced inquisitor and stronger-willed than his subordinates growled audiably and looked at Tyraz with disgust.

Tyraz - ''See, Inquisitor Kelsos? At least somebody knows how to pay respect to a Highlord and man of politics rather than attempt to, oh I don't know, shatter what bonds he has to his family, hmm?''

Kelsos's eye twitched. While it was relatively common for inquisitors to detach themselves fro mthe families they were born into on the grounds such information could be used for blackmail, somehowTyraz had indicated something intended for Kelsos specifically. Something Kelsos had buried deep inside his min dand had spent centuries making sure was kept in the strictest confidentiality, normally the very implication of Kelsos' family history was enough to trigger a psychotic twitch.Surem looked at Kelsos worriedly.

Tyraz - ''It would be a shame if the whole galaxy discovered your disgusting habits, wouldn't it? I wonder what would become of your career once I exposed you for the treacherous scum you are. But...we have more pressing matters, so listen carefully, dog.'' Surem - Lord Councillor...M-maybe it is also unwise to bring up p-personal information on Brother Kelsos... Tyraz - ''Maybe it is unwise to try and sabotage my personal relationships, puppy. Now keep quiet or I'll have you silenced.''

Surem gulped and nodded. Kelsos folded his arms and grumbled with discontent, clearly unhappy with the way Tyraz was ordering his own Inquisitors - agents considered by many to be "above" the control of politicians and wealthy practicioners - about like subordinated. Tyraz merely sat back in his chair and calmed himself before speaking again.

Tyraz - ''You will require anti-Essence weaponry, you will require a healthy amount of professional personnel and you will require spare medical supplies, more than what you find standard. Do not approach him, do not attempt to make verbal or physical contact with him.'' Kelsos - ''Fine. Agreed.'' Tyraz - ''Most importantly, do not leave a corpse and never lose sight of him. If he has come back a third time, what prevents him from returning a fourth or fifth?'' Kelsos - Plenty of backup, plenty of medical supplies, no contact whatsoever, keep an eye on him, ensure body is destroyed completely. Relnath - Of course. Tyraz - ''Exactly. That is just for Volkarus, who will most probably be bringing infantry of his own. Bring plenty of your blind, devout battle puppies as you can so they can die for a false cause against his soldiers while you fight the real problem.'' Kelsos - You are fortunate, Lord Councillor, that this is a holoconference. Tyraz - ''Keep in mind that I am capable of making a public announcement at any moment, old dog. Do not think I shall not take advantage of this if necessary.'' Kelsos - ''And you keep in mind you are not the only one capable of blackmail. Are we done here?'' Tyraz - ''Hmph, yes. You had better not fail or the consequences will be more than just Volkarus to deal with. Oh, and Kelsos?'' Kelsos - Hrm? Tyraz - Don't ever touch my family again, or I shall make sure you are reminded of your own, criminal.

Kelsos's eye twitched with frustration and his lip curled. Very few popel in his life had dsiplayed such audacity without facing the potential reprecussions.

Kelsos - ''Fine. Inquisitor's honour.''

Tyraz shut off the call upon Kelsos' words, leaving the three Inquisitors to themselves as the last thing they heard from the call was a deep, satisfied chuckle. Kelsos merely lowered his head and growled for a few minutes before he raised his head.

Kelsos - Someone get me some Lifefather-damned Verelmint tea! Relnath - Yes, brother.

Tyraz sat in his throen feeling verry happy with himself. Somehow he had gained the knowledge of an inquisitor's past, something he hoped eh could use as blackmail. Standing in front of him with a very sly smile was Sarec, who stood with his hands clasped in frotn of his stomach.

Sarec - For a minute there I thought Kelsos' eye was about to pop out of its socket. Tyraz - ''I must thank you for informing me of what you know of Kelsos, Sarec. It felt...satisfying to intimidate such scum, bring them down to concrete that they are not always in control.'' Sarec - ''Well be careful with that knowledge. Kelsos gets extremely touchy about it. And the way you were building it up, Mentioning House Mordon by name may have been the igniter.'' Tyraz - Do I not ignite everything anyway?

Tyraz chuckled to himself as he leaned back against his throne, letting out a content sigh at the deed he had done. Sarec's smile dropped to a more neutral expression as he paced up to Tyraz.

Sarec - ''But in all seriousness I'm not simply here to applaud your bravado. The circumstances of the coming days concerns me. I would like to join you to Cathamera. There is...something. I can feel it. Something that should never be known to mortal minds.'' Tyraz - ''Of course, Sarec. I do not expect the Inquisitors to succeed. I can feel it as well...I have been feeling it ever since my last visit there.''

Sarec nodded and rested his hand on Tyraz's shoulder. Tyraz looked up at Sarec's comforting smile and reciprocated with a much more worried, per haps eve nfearful, look in his eyes.

Tyraz - ''...It scares me, Sarec. I am, truthfully, scared.'' Sarec - I understand.

Sarec lifted his hand away from Tyraz's shoulder and walked towards the door, leaving Tyraz to his own thoughts. However Sarec, rather than opening the door, phased through it, vanishing just before his body passed through the other side. TO anyone in the corridor they would have seen nothing.