Warhammer 40k : Space Marine Kayvaan

Elizabeth frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Well," Hilsa began, her tone turning serious, "our methods are completely different. As Battle Sisters, we confront heretics and demons head-on. Our job is simple—eliminate the threat. Evidence? Judgments? That's not our concern. But you, as an Inquisitor, have a different role. You work in the shadows, gathering evidence, making decisions, and passing judgment. It's not about pulling the trigger anymore—it's about understanding when and why to do it. It's a totally different mindset."

"Indeed, it makes sense. Alas, there is no other way. It seems I'll have to put aside matters in the Eastern Fringe for now. That Kayvaan is very lucky."

"Lucky? That's hard to say. Sister, you probably don't know the full scope of our operation yet, do you?"

"A big operation? What do you mean? Tell me!"

"No problem. Sister, since you're about to be officially appointed soon, it's fine if I tell you first. The operation's focus is on the Eastern Fringe."

"The Eastern Fringe?"

"Yes, the Eastern Fringe."

Hilsa laid out everything she knew. The Inquisition is gearing up for a massive operation in the Eastern Fringe. The task force includes twelve inquisitors, sixty-eight Interrogators and their attendants, and two regiments of battle sisters. This formidable group will be sent to the Eastern Fringe to establish control.

It seems that with recent stability across the Empire, the Inquisition has freed up some resources. Naturally, the higher-ups aren't going to let their forces sit idle. The leaders decided it was time to bring the Eastern Fringe under the Inquisition's authority. While the long-term goal is to secure the region entirely for the Emperor, the immediate focus will be on exploration, groundwork, and laying the foundation for future expansion.

The first step is establishing three core monasteries in the Eastern Fringe. These monasteries will serve as the Inquisition's bases in the region, and future operations will revolve around them. After hearing this, Elizabeth didn't linger. She quickly got Hilsa's address, exchanged goodbyes, and rushed back to the court to verify the information.

"Yes, the operation is real, and you're part of it. The detailed briefing and related documents have already been sent to you. Wait, what? You didn't receive any notice?" Elizabeth's superior, Randall Jonde, frowned. With his round face and an almost jovial sparkle in his eyes, he looked like a harmless middle-aged man. But anyone who knew him understood his reputation as a cunning and ruthless strategist.

Randall grumbled, "Honestly, it's been three days since the notices were sent out! What are those Administratum doing? Anyway, there's also a surprise for you in this mission."

"I already know," Elizabeth replied. "I ran into Hilsa earlier and heard about it from her. But I can't shake this uneasy feeling about the mission. If it's just about building monastry, why send so many inquisitors? And why such a small combat team?"

"It's not just about building monastery," Randall said, suddenly serious.. "If it were, we'd leave it to the Mechanicus. This mission is about waging war—a war in the shadows."

"A secret war? Against who?"

"A year ago, an inquisitor was killed in the Eastern Fringe," Randall explained. "His body was mutilated—cut into over a hundred pieces. The response from the region was swift, but it wasn't enough. Fourteen more inquisitors have died there since then. We've completely lost control, particularly the outermost territories. This mission is designed to reestablish Imperial authority."

Elizabeth frowned. "Who is responsible?"

"The Eldar," Randall replied, his voice cold. "Rangers, specifically from Alaitoc. They're shadow-walkers—masters of stealth and assassination. An army is useless against them. This operation will focus on locating their base and eliminating their presence. Capture and interrogation are secondary objectives."

The Eldar are a mysterious and dangerous alien race. In the cold and ruthless galaxy, they are just one of the many threats humanity faces. "Do all Eldar rangers act alone?" Elizabeth asked, frowning.

"No one knows for sure. We'll figure that out when we get there. The Eldar are an enigma, and we know very little about them. Hopefully, this operation will change that."

The relationship between the Eldar and the Imperium is one of tenuous coexistence and frequent conflict. On rare occasions, they have fought alongside humans to face mutual threats, such as Chaos incursions or rampaging Ork hordes. But they're far from allies. Battles between humans and the Eldar are frequent, and trust is nonexistent.

The Eldar resemble humans at first glance—tall, slender, with elegant faces and flawless, pale skin. But a closer look reveals their pointed ears, inhumanly graceful movements, and extraordinary skill. In combat, their agility and swiftness make them terrifying opponents.

Randall continued, "They are cold, calculating, and utterly ruthless. They view humanity as little more than a tool or an obstacle to their survival. Trusting them is a fool's game."

The Empire's disdain for the Eldar runs deep. If given the chance, the Imperium would gladly wipe them from existence, for humanity alone should rule the galaxy. The Eldar are seen as unreliable at best—potential slaves for the mines or specimens for museums, nothing more. Yet, the reality is far less straightforward. The Empire has no clear way to deal with the Eldar, for they don't live on planets. Instead, they inhabit enormous, drifting vessels known as Craftworlds.

These Craftworlds are colossal ships that float in the endless void, far removed from the warmth of stars or planets. Their smooth towers rise into the dark, their domes gazing out into the infinite emptiness of space. Without the light of a star to illuminate them, the task of finding even one Craftworld is nearly impossible. The galaxy is simply too vast, the void too deep. Finding an Eldar Craftworld is not just like searching for a needle in a haystack—it's thousands of times harder, a task even the gods might fail to accomplish. "Where am I supposed to be stationed?" Elizabeth asked, her tone as serious as ever.

Randall sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're so impatient. Can't you wait until the formal orders arrive?"

Elizabeth's frown deepened, but Randall continued before she could voice her objection. "Very well. Let's review the data," he said, unrolling a cracked and faded star map onto the table. With a gauntleted finger, he traced the edge of the Imperium's holdings and tapped a shadowed region. "It's somewhere in the Eastern Fringe. Beyond reliable Astropathic reach."

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed at the map, her lips thinning in disapproval. "This? This isn't a map—it's a relic. How do you expect anyone to navigate this?"

Randall shrugged. "The information is what it is, The Eastern Fringe has always been a patchwork of half-truths and guesswork. The true frontier of the Empire. Yeah, the map's a bit outdated—updating it is part of your job. Your mission is tied to the new lord assigned there, a guy named Kayvaan or something. You reviewed him recently, didn't you?"

"Ah, I remember now," Elizabeth said, her mood brightening. "It's all part of the Emperor's grand plan. Evil will eventually face divine judgment."

"Exactly. To be specific, this Kayvaan guy is what we call a 'lighthouse.' His position is critical—he's to lead a new Space Marine chapter and govern three system. He's expected to fend off weaker enemies on his own and at least hold his ground against tougher ones. Your job is to shadow him, keep a safe distance, and report back. Help him when necessary, but don't make it obvious. You're the 'eye,' watching from the shadows. The Inquisition will cover any expenses, so don't be stingy."

Elizabeth blinked in disbelief. "Help him? I'm supposed to help a Space Marine chapter? Isn't that overkill for a 'lighthouse'?"

Randall smirked. "There's more to this than meets the eye, but you don't need to know all the details. Just do your job. And remember the protocol—if you encounter something you can't handle, retreat immediately. Protect the information first, then yourself. Got it?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Good. Now go prepare."