EmelinaEmelina lets out an agonised moan. "Wasted... all my work, all my preparation... all for nothing..."
Heinrix"Emelina Iona Lichtenhart. In the name of the Inquisition, you are hereby removed from your post and expelled from the Holy Ordo." Heinrix's eyes are fixed on Emelina, but she does not look at him. Then the Interrogator turns his gaze on you.
Heinrix"The fate of its fallen members is a matter for the Ordo. Heretical archives, artefacts obtained in the excavation and other assets in Lichtenhart's possession I hereby declare the property of the Holy Inquisition. However, it is for the Rogue Trader to decide what becomes of Phton IV and its people. What is your verdict?"
YOU"What would you advise me to do, Heinrix?"
Heinrix"This world has been compromised. Any attempt to assess the degree of corruption will necessarily be based on weak judgement vulnerable to doubt and sentiment. I would get rid of the planet and its population."
YOU"What would you advise me to do, Heinrix?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What will happen to the archives and Emelina?"
Heinrix"The archives will be destroyed to prevent this situation from ever reoccurring. Emelina... is my responsibility."
YOU"What would you advise me to do, Heinrix?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What will happen to the archives and Emelina?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take the survivors off the planet."
Heinrix"So be it, Lord Captain. Now as for Emelina..."
Heinrix"You are hereby stripped of your special status as an agent of the Golden Throne and all attendant rights and privileges. I am authorised to use all interrogation measures stipulated in the standard framework for information extraction to ascertain the fate of acolyte Tanakia Calbergaria. Will that be necessary, Emelina?"
Emelina"No, Interrogator van Calox." The Sage's voice is scarcely louder than a whisper. "I have no intention of concealing that information from you. I am almost certain that Tanakia Calbergaria was eliminated on the orders of Xavier Calcazar after being deemed a volatile element."
HeinrixHeinrix's face is a mask of disbelief and anger. "You're lying..."
YOU[Listen in silence]
Emelina"I saw one of Calcazar's documents when I went to receive my new orders. Only a fleeting glimpse... but, with my memory like a pict-recorder, it was long enough for its contents to be imprinted on my mind. I do not know the details, but the document itself... was an interrogation transcript. With a final annotation indicating the removal of the person from the retinue. And we both know how someone leaves the Lord Inquisitor's retinue, Interrogator van Calox."
Heinrix"Tanakia is the Lord Inquisitor's top espionage specialist! Wherever Xavier chose to refrain from making a public show of strength, Calbergaria was invaluable! Why would he do this?"
EmelinaEmelina looks up at Heinrix, her eyes full of despair. "I do not know, Interrogator van Calox. Just as I do not know why the Lord Inquisitor sent me to this nondescript planet as soon as I voiced my concerns about his methods. Just as I do not know if I should blame the warp for the lack of responses to my calls for help, or if Calcazar prohibited the others from answering."
Emelina"The nature of her mission — and of Xavier's true purpose here in the Expanse — was likely why he chose to bury this secret, and Tanakia along with it..." Emelina breaks off. "The operational data indicates that you are the retinue's primary torture specialist, Interrogator van Calox. All this time, I thought you were the one who conducted Tanakia's interrogation. And one of the reasons why I destroyed my personal data block was to ensure that my own sentiments would not prevent me from thinking rationally when I next encountered you or Calcazar's other servants."
YOU[Listen in silence]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have a rather unpleasant suspicion that the witnesses to this conversation are also at risk of being eliminated at a later date..."
NPCWhether you were joking or being deadly serious, your words fall on the deaf ears of the two acolytes of the Golden Throne: Emelina, weakened by biomancy, is staring fixedly at Heinrix, who seems to be engrossed in intense rumination.
YOU[Listen in silence]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have a rather unpleasant suspicion that the witnesses to this conversation are also at risk of being eliminated at a later date..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix?"
HeinrixHeinrix says nothing for several seconds, staring into space. At last, he begins to speak: "Emelina Iona Lichtenhart..."
Heinrix"...your knowledge is of particular interest to the Inquisition. Before your fate is decided, I will carry out the necessary procedures to extract the information from you. You can assist by providing access to your reminiscence blocks, however, unsealing the inaccessible block will require... greater force."
YOU"In other words, you are going to torture her to death."
Heinrix"That is an imprecise way to describe the procedure, [Name]. You are focusing only on the consequences for Emelina. I am interested in the results of the process."
Heinrix"We are finished here. The planet will be designated unfit for further use — the risks are simply too great. It will take a few hours to deal with the excavation site and what the diggers found there... but it will not delay us. When we return to the ship, find a minute to speak with me."
end of branch
YOU"First she corrupts her mind with this knowledge, and now you are planning to do the same?"
Heinrix"Studying the forbidden is part of my work. I will show greater caution than Emelina did, or else I will suffer the same fate."
Heinrix"We are finished here. The planet will be designated unfit for further use — the risks are simply too great. It will take a few hours to deal with the excavation site and what the diggers found there... but it will not delay us. When we return to the ship, find a minute to speak with me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This is inhumane."
Heinrix"For you, perhaps. For me, it is my duty, [Name]."
Heinrix"We are finished here. The planet will be designated unfit for further use — the risks are simply too great. It will take a few hours to deal with the excavation site and what the diggers found there... but it will not delay us. When we return to the ship, find a minute to speak with me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Say nothing]
HeinrixHeinrix gives you a searching look. "It is not like you to be so quiet, [Name]. I can only guess at the reason."
Heinrix"We are finished here. The planet will be designated unfit for further use — the risks are simply too great. It will take a few hours to deal with the excavation site and what the diggers found there... but it will not delay us. When we return to the ship, find a minute to speak with me."continues where this line first appears above
EmelinaEmelina sighs. "I know, Interrogator van Calox. I know all the procedures used on compromised Sages: interrogation, unsealing of reminiscence blocks... But before we begin..." She stands up, straightening her spine as much as she can, and looks into the Interrogator's eyes with a weak smile. "I thought Tanakia was your doing. But as your reaction has revealed the truth to me..."
Emelina"Heinrix... It is Heinrix, yes?" There is a subtle shift in Emelina's voice — she sounds older, wiser. "You should know... I am sorry to have forgotten you."
HeinrixHeinrix stares at the Sage, saying nothing, then looks down and mutters something too quietly for you to hear.
HeinrixHeinrix turns to you. "Thank you for your assistance in solving my problem, Rogue Trader."
YOU"But... why?"
HeinrixHeinrix looks at you, his eyes dark and louring. "Why don't you answer that question for yourself?"
YOU"Because Emelina's knowledge is just like the archives you were planning to destroy. Coming into contact with it is too dangerous."
Heinrix"A reasonable and balanced assessment. An excellent conclusion." Heinrix makes no attempt to inject even the barest hint of conviction into his words.
Heinrix"We are finished here. The planet will be designated unfit for further use — the risks are simply too great. It will take a few hours to deal with the excavation site and what the diggers found there... but it will not delay us. When we return to the ship, find a minute to speak with me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You did not want her to be subjected to your standard 'procedures.' At yours or anyone else's hands."
Heinrix"You really think my actions are driven by such sentiment?" Heinrix studies you intently. His face is difficult to read, but one of his eyes spasms briefly just before he turns away.
Heinrix"We are finished here. The planet will be designated unfit for further use — the risks are simply too great. It will take a few hours to deal with the excavation site and what the diggers found there... but it will not delay us. When we return to the ship, find a minute to speak with me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is this? Some kind of guessing game? I want the truth!"
Heinrix"After all this time, you still have not realised one simple fact about me — I decide whether or not I answer a question. Not you."
Heinrix"We are finished here. The planet will be designated unfit for further use — the risks are simply too great. It will take a few hours to deal with the excavation site and what the diggers found there... but it will not delay us. When we return to the ship, find a minute to speak with me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Because you are sick and twisted — just like all of your fellow acolytes."
Heinrix"Ha!" Heinrix's laughter sounds like the rasping caw of a dying bird. "There is a grain of truth to your words, [Name]. Yes, there is indeed. A grain of truth."
Heinrix"We are finished here. The planet will be designated unfit for further use — the risks are simply too great. It will take a few hours to deal with the excavation site and what the diggers found there... but it will not delay us. When we return to the ship, find a minute to speak with me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A waste of a resource."
Heinrix"Hardly. The resource was lost long ago."
Heinrix"We are finished here. The planet will be designated unfit for further use — the risks are simply too great. It will take a few hours to deal with the excavation site and what the diggers found there... but it will not delay us. When we return to the ship, find a minute to speak with me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"No less than any heretic deserves."
HeinrixHeinrix nods. "The words of a true citizen of the Imperium." The Interrogator does not even try to hide the caustic edge to his words.
Heinrix"We are finished here. The planet will be designated unfit for further use — the risks are simply too great. It will take a few hours to deal with the excavation site and what the diggers found there... but it will not delay us. When we return to the ship, find a minute to speak with me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You're a pack of soulless, unhinged animals — you and all your Inquisition cronies. Now, if you have had your fill of violence and death, we are leaving."
HeinrixHeinrix makes a sound that could be a cough or a suppressed laugh. "A less patient acolyte would consider that an insult to the Holy Ordos. Luckily for you, I am very patient."
Heinrix"We are finished here. The planet will be designated unfit for further use — the risks are simply too great. It will take a few hours to deal with the excavation site and what the diggers found there... but it will not delay us. When we return to the ship, find a minute to speak with me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have a rather unpleasant suspicion that the witnesses to this conversation are also at risk of being eliminated at a later date..."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Heinrix?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not risk taking the survivors into my crew. However, I will not leave them unaided — they will be given supplies and support for their defence against the Drukhari."
Heinrix"So be it, Lord Captain. Now as for Emelina..."
Heinrix"You are hereby stripped of your special status as an agent of the Golden Throne and all attendant rights and privileges. I am authorised to use all interrogation measures stipulated in the standard framework for information extraction to ascertain the fate of acolyte Tanakia Calbergaria. Will that be necessary, Emelina?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not care about the survivors."
Heinrix"So be it, Lord Captain. Now as for Emelina..."
Heinrix"You are hereby stripped of your special status as an agent of the Golden Throne and all attendant rights and privileges. I am authorised to use all interrogation measures stipulated in the standard framework for information extraction to ascertain the fate of acolyte Tanakia Calbergaria. Will that be necessary, Emelina?"continues where this line first appears above
Heinrix"The archives will be sealed and transported to your ship as the official property of the Inquisition — for further study and appraisal. Emelina... is my responsibility."
YOU"What would you advise me to do, Heinrix?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What will happen to the archives and Emelina?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take the survivors off the planet."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not risk taking the survivors into my crew. However, I will not leave them unaided — they will be given supplies and support for their defence against the Drukhari."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not care about the survivors."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take the survivors off the planet."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not risk taking the survivors into my crew. However, I will not leave them unaided — they will be given supplies and support for their defence against the Drukhari."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not care about the survivors."continues where this line first appears above
Heinrix"You know my answer — the world has been compromised, its inhabitants touched by corruption. However, I doubt you will take the advice that follows from my assessment." Heinrix smirks crookedly. "At the very least, I will rid you of the temptation to take a peek at the archives that broke Emelina's will..."
YOU"What would you advise me to do, Heinrix?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What will happen to the archives and Emelina?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take the survivors off the planet."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not risk taking the survivors into my crew. However, I will not leave them unaided — they will be given supplies and support for their defence against the Drukhari."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not care about the survivors."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What will happen to the archives and Emelina?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall take the survivors off the planet."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not risk taking the survivors into my crew. However, I will not leave them unaided — they will be given supplies and support for their defence against the Drukhari."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not care about the survivors."continues where this line first appears above