Judas Escariot

I think i could probably do a more interesting character than Emmanuel. I'll use one or the other as an NPC.

Judas Escariot has no memory of his life before a certain point. His earliest memory is of waking up on a surgery slab. He has no recollection of his age and his body is far too mechanised to be used to determine it. Upon awaking he found himself looking at the ceiling of a small, round, poorly lit room. He was attached by various cables and pipes to life support equipment. However, the procedue appeared to be incomplete, and his left arm was missing. He found walking relatively easy, and later he was told that this was quite unnusual for first-time subjects.

Upon brief exploration of the facility he found it to be a forward militarty outpost on the volatile, luscious jungle planet of Anphelion. He remained in the station for two days, absorbing all the information he could find and performing minor adjustments to his bionics. On the third day, a retrieval team arrived, completely unaware of his presence. Their communications beacons had jump started Judas' hibernation process and caused the monitoring system to shutdown the surgery stasis. They escorted him back to Cadia, where he was questioned by Colonel Damocles Rosen.

Three years prior, Rosen had been the CO of the outpost. Anphelion had originially been a classified warzone during the purge of Hive Fleet Leviathan. Half a centruy later, the Inquisition decreed that the PDF garrison must return to the sector. Specialist explorator platoons and equipment were attached to companies for the purposes of scientific research. Unbeknown to Rosen, new research courtesy of Inquisitors Czevak and Kryptman of the Ordos Xenos had led to new military doctrine. Again, unbeknown to the commander, many remanants of Hive Fleet Leviathan still remained active in the solar system.

The majority of the Imperium, all save those of the highest military security clearance, were oblivious that there were still Tyranids in Imperial Space at all, and indeed, thre still are today. These remnant hives remain, attuning their hyper sensitive evolutionary contructs to the local ecosystems. Initially the Inquisition let these micro-hives go unnoticed, seeing no need to scour Imperial space for such insignificant prey. Doubtless these tyranids caused the deaths of the crew on the colonial fortress-barge Leviticus. However, the Inquisition remained adamante and did nothing.

When the new research documents were released, the Inquisition was forced to accept that these micro-hives were indeed a potential threat and their own doctrine demanded action. What Csevak and Kryptman uncovered was that many of the gene pools of Hive Fleets Kraken and Behemoth were present in the organisms of Leviathan. Indeed, if these genes were traced, in a chronological geneology of sorts, the hive fleets seemed to have been inexplicably picking up new gene codes from isolated sources throughout the events of the campaign.

It was concluded that it was these remnant hives that had been supplying the major hive fleets with new DNA. In this way, the fleets could adapt organisms to their opponents before they had even begun to fight them. The logic was flawless and the Ordos Xenos ordered that these micro hives be traced, hunted and eradicated. However, some more radical Inquisitors had more creative agendas. A small order believed that these remnant tyranids should be left alive, and instead have their genetic code corrupted. Should their ploy be successful, the next Hive Fleet invasion could potnetially be stopped before developing into an interstellar threat, as the previous three major invasions had.

These Inquisitors requisitioned troops to perform experimental research on the hive remnants on Anphelion. With positively indentified specimens, factilities already constructed and being located far from the prying eyes of Terra, it was the perfect location to test their theories.

Colonel Damocles Rosen was requisitioned from Cadia along with his 139th regiment. Still unreinforced, the force was below frontline strength and its absence would be overlooked. Each of Rosen's companies had a Tech adept or priest attached, and Adeptus mechanicus research teams were imposed upon his rank structure. Being no fan of the radical nature of the Bretheren of Mars, he was particularly uncomfortable about his command. He was not told of his opponent, merely that he must facilite regular patrols across the continent, sweeping vast areas of land with maximum precision. Further still, he had to share his command, with a Magos by the title of Ferris Mahler.

Mahler was a high ranking tech-priest, hailing from Mars itself. he had direct contact with the Ordos Xenos, without Rosen's knowledge. The Inquisitors were using the Adeptus Mechanicus to further disguise their presence in the sector. Rosen dutifully overlooked the difficulties and monotony of his task and organised his men. However, frustrating him further was that all of the findings of each and every sweep went to Mahler before Rosen. Intially Rosen said nothing, however after a few months it soon became apparent that he was recieving censored information.

Rosen had always been respected by his men for his no-nonsense attitude. His command sympathised with his situation, being siphoned off the frontlines to perform menial tasks at the whim of the Adeptus Mechanicus was not, in anyone's opinion, best serving the Emperor. He had a very close friendship with a platoon commaner by the name of Sergent Verdis Cayen. Cayen and Rosen had been privates together and fought in the Taros Campaign. Rosen had quickly risen through the ranks, whearas Cayen had elected to stay GI.

Mahler too, took special interest in Cayen. His platoon had been extremely successful in achieving their objectives, and Mahler had personally succeeded control of the platoon. All members were under and oath of silence, punishable by death. They were all to be killed at the conclusion of the project anyway, but should information of their findings contaminate the ranks, Mahler would be forced to exterminate the company.

Cayen's nine men had been together for three years now, quite an achievement given the combat they had seen. It was chance that led them to find what is was that the Ordos Xenos were looking for. Finding the tyranids was not an easy task. The only safe time to look for them was during their hibernation cycles. Stage one of Mahler's objectives was merely determing this cycle from pheremone samples and biomatter in soil composition. This took nearly 6 months to complete. It was now suitable for the platoons to begin scanning hostile territories. Cayen's name was chosen from the list by Mahler simply because of a bionic foot implant.

The platoon was sent of a fortnight patrol into dense, unchartered jungle. On the 10th day they came across a series of gelitinous sacks hanging beneath a fallen trunk. Their servitor attachment ordered them to collect samples. Cayen, ignorant, bemused, but obedient, ordered his corporal to fetch the buboes. Upon touching it, he broke the seal as he ripped it from the wood. The amniotic fluid was highly acidic and severely cauterised his hand. More shocking still was that what fell out of the sack was an undeveloped "ripper" organism, or Tyranicus Omniphagea. The servitor repeated the order, however Cayen, ignored and ordered his men to leave the position and return to base a.s.a.p. Upon trying to contact bass on vox he found his equipment to be neatrualised, unable to broadcast on wide frequencies or issue high alert beacons. With this discovery he turned to face the servitor, who again, repeated the order, this time with its bionic melta-lance raised at Cayen's chest.

Three specimens were returned to the base, carried in the platoons anti-flame apparatus, sanctioned from Cayen's specialist gunners. They were met by a highly modified Chimera 3 clicks north of the base and the specimens removed via mechanised devices. the Servitor too, joined the Chimera, however Cayen was left to finish the walk. On returning to base they were met personaly by Mahler. Mahler escorted them to his chambers and forced them to sign Inquisitorial Bull of Silence, First Order. The corporal was removed for medical treatment, however Cayen never saw him again.

Cayen's platoon continued their work, the only platoon operating in that area. Mahler's attention was drawn utterly towards them and Rosen began to realise this. His reports may have been devoid of fruitful information, but he clearly noticed that Cayen was the only one operating in the sector, and the sheer number of reports indicated Mahler's keen interest.

The Inquisitors were keen to find the results of the research, however in an effort to contain the findings, ordered that any man who knew of the Tyranid presence must be executed. The corporal was used in the research in an effort to determine human resistance to tyranic microorganisms and died some 3 weeks later in the very facility. However, the Inquisitors were becoming increasingly wary of Mahler.

Mahler was a radical of the utmost kind. He believed that the Adeptus Mechanicus should welcome all Xenos technology with open arms ina bid to broaden its own knoweldge. His thirst for knoweldge was insatiable and he sated it with any source possible. Through working with the Ordos Xenos, he could fulfil his ambitions of discovered the secrets of biotechnology, a heresy considered even worse than the use of Tau or Eldar artefacts. The inquisitors feared that his radical nature might cause his work to be investiagted by his superiors. This in turn would lead them to the Inquisitors. As such, the Ordos Xenos decreed that Mahler must keep his activities utterely secret from everyone possible.

Luckily, this didn't matter. Mahler had already found the man he could confide in. Cayen was proving stalwart, yet highly effective. His powers of logic and influence over his men was respectable. Mahler was impressed at his ability to keep his men quiet, as he knew that even the tiniest slip from any of them would mean excommunication and death. The patrols continued, Cayen dutifully returning specimens of increasing hostility and value to the Ordos.

Rosen remained on the planet for two years, continuing to sate Mahler's thirst without his knowledge. He tried many times to talk to Cayen, however recieved no information. Cayen and Mahler developed an interesting working relationship, each finding peverted respect for the other slowly growing. Cayen slowly became privy to Mahler's work and was quickly convinced of its insanity.

Mahler was developing a microorganism to control the Tyranids, rather than infect them. The Inquisitors were oblivious that their henchman was undermining them, but Mahler's ambitions far exceeded their own. Upon injury, a further two of Cayen's men had been requisitioned for testing, however he was ignorant to the truth, believing, as he had been told, that they had been transferred.

After 20 months of refinement, Mahler believed his work to be complete. He wished to test his theory and sent Cayen to plant beacons at strategic locations to draw out the dormant tyranids. Mahler had stepped beyond his limits. Should the Inquisitors discover his intent, they would terminate him and leave, such that they could not be traced. However, Mahler, in his escatsy, overlooked this, foolishly. His thirst for knowledge had grown to strong.

It would take 3 weeks for Cayen and his 6 men to plant all of the becaons and they were afforded a Chimera and servitors to assist them. On day 17, they were to plant a beacon on a cliff top. Mahler believed dormant gargoyles to roost on either sides of the canyon. However, previous beacons had already been placed at water level near the river that created the schism. Upon arrival, they were ambushed, the tyranids already sentient and active. Cayen's men were eviserated however the serivitors dragged the remaining piece of Cayen's bloodied, yet still living body back to the Chimera and returned to base.

Mahler realised his mistake. He had planned to use an electromagnetic pulse to awaken the creatures, however in their feral form, they had become too sensitive to the micro-organisms. Now totally beyond his control, and in the knowledge of the consequences of his work, Mahler began to implant his research into Cayen. With an alert sounded the Inquisitors were aware of the threat. Seeing what Mahler had done, they returned from Warp Space and ordered Rosen to evacuate his men, lest they too discover their secrets. Mahler ignored Rosen's demands for answers and locked himself in the surgery.

When the inquisitors arrived, the base was empty, Rosen left to guess at the purpose of the two years he had wasted on Anphelion. Mahler was terminated before the surgery was complete. the Inquisitors took what they thought was Mahler's research. However, Mahler had left a false trail, such that his findings could never be destroyed, as he knew the narrow minded Inquisition would. His will to preserve and create knowledge had grown do powerful that he was willing to sacrifice his own life to it. Had it not been for an unforseeable mistake, his findings had the potential to change the balance of power in the universe and Mahler knew this. The knowledge was too valuable to be destroyed with his death. As such, he planted it where no-one would look, in a man he had grown to trust. It would be two years before Cayen would wake, with no knowledge of his past nor the secrets he possessed.

He remained under Rosen's strict supervision for the next three weeks, unaware of his proximity to his old companion. Another inquisitor soon arrivied, suspicious of the events that had taken place in the previous years. Now with new information, he saw fit to recruit Escariot and gave him his new name. Said inquisitor was privy to some of the proceedings via his own agents and suspected that Mahler had left a legacy. Given the power at stake, it was a wise move indeed to recruit a potential survivor, regardless of his mental state.

Now that is an interesting story!

A man of questionable sanity, imprinted with the heretical secrets of a dead Magos of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Secrets that if uncovered could either tip the balance of power in the galaxy or cause his death.

A couple things, would your class here would be guardsman?

Also, what is the story behind the colonial fortress-barge Leviticus?

Finally, can you do a write-up on the death-world of Anphelion?