The day we arrived, I made arrangements for a meeting with my peers before departing. I was called to meet my fellows on the Gereon, a sword-class frigate meant for escort duty before it was requisitioned by Barnabus Amator, one of the two Inquisitors that answered my call. A good choice, the frigate. It was a ship with a design that had remained largely unchanged since the heresy, with strong void shields and superior structural integrity allowing to go head-to-head with even destroyers, it's only real draw-back was its relatively short ranged weaponry which made it ideal for close-quarter assaults and self-defense but very vulnerable in long range fights, not to mention it could become stranded and picked apart if out-maneuvered.

I stepped on the bridge in full battle-gear, planet-fall schedule within two hours. At my hip was my power sword, the skull of the emperor emblazoned on the hilt. In my hands was a shotgun I retrieved from the armory, a custom model with AP slugs that could penetrate armored targets at medium range. On a holster at the small of my back, my large-caliber auto-gun rested. My cloak and furs hugged my shoulders, but my torso was covered in carapace armor, and I wore ceramite greaves and vambraces. 

In my wake walked Emmaline, carrying my force staff and keeping her face serene and regal, as usual accompanied by a glitter of intelligence in her eyes which I felt would no doubt impress the other inquisitors. I had told her to dress somewhat conservatively, if not in a body-glove. Her presence was not unwelcome, but she was new to my outfit and I did not want the elder inquisitors to think I was beguiled by her to induct her into my service. The beguiling part happened after that, and it was certainly mutual. Not that she did not look stunning even dressed such a way, but I had to admit even then I was growing smitten with her. 

Crewmen and midshipmen sat at their stations, servitors zipping across the thickly plated floors and operating cogitators that flanked the bridge. At its head was the Captain whom I was informed was named Gelgar Fawks. He had evidently made a small name for himself in the Ultima Segmentum with a daring lunar orbit maneuver in a battle against insurgents. Behind him stood my two colleagues and their seconds.  

Barnabus Amator stood in a dark military uniform, bedecked with the Carnodon pelt and the symbol of the Ordo-Xenos on his chest, along with various accolades that betrayed his states as a senior inquisitor with a century of experience. Next to him was a man with an arbites helm and strange armor that had a mirror polish to it, a las-carbine in his hand and a jump-pack at his back.

Cornelius Reichgleib of the Ordo Hereticus was much the same as Inquisitor Amator, with a similar amount of experience though having spent the last decade in the desk from a lasting injury he had received during a heretical uprising on the planet of Ambalkator. I did not know the extent of his injuries, but I could see a somewhat pinkish mark reaching to his check from his neckline, which hinted at burns. He seemed resolute in the eyes, howver, and he was dressed to kill. A black body-glove and what looked to be padded armor underneath, as well as a cape that befit his station. Before his injury he was known as a shrewd man, and I knew I needed all of the experience both men could provide. 

At Reichgleib's right was a man of greenly pale skin, seven feet in height with white eyes. Had I not been informed of the fellow in question, I would have thought it a xenos. He was a forest-stalker from the moon of Elkor, where the radiation from the system's two suns caused a strange evolution to the people there. The forest-stalker had a long bladed saber at his hip and a visor over his eyes, though he wore a simple uniform fit for a large guardsman, without the helmet. His hair was a shock of white. 

"Inquisitors," I greeted, giving a slight incline with my head. They repeated the gesture. Barnabus looked at me with his good eye, his left having been removed by some battle-wound decades ago. "You honor me with your involvement in this matter." 

I was not being humble or honeyed, they truly had given me more respect than I had likely earned. This had been my case, but either of them could have claimed seniority and taken control of operations. I hoped I did not disappoint them in the coming conflict. 

"You've done quite the time on this matter for such a short career," Inquisitor Barnabus said. "The PDF are growing restless, but they'll serve as their part deems. We'll let them go ahead so as to soak fire and soften the enemy up for our guardsmen and aides." 

"We will need to remain covert, at first." The Hereticus Inquisitor added. "As far as we know, we have the element of surprise. We should assume we do not while operating to capitalize on it if that be the case."

"Agreed," I replied. I produced a data-slate, and they did the same. I sent them both the coordinates of the attack areas, but I spoke it aloud so there was no confusion. "On the northern quandrant of the planet, there is an estimated landing zone. 397-214, around fifteen hundred miles north of the planet equator. I will land there. Inquisitor Barnabus, you and your squads will land twenty miles due east where our schematics have picked up a gaping cavern that we believe is an entrance to Bahometus's headquarters. You are to help my team flank them when the time comes. Inquisitor Reichgleib, you will approach from the heights in the west. It's rough terrain but you'll be able to get the drop on them from above. We will flush them out." 

"A sound plan, Inquisitor. But might I ask, who is this?" Barnabus inquired, pointing at Emmaline. I turned to regard her as if the question was strange. He continued. "I was told your second is a tech-priest of mars." 

"Yes, Lazarus." He conceded. "He is busy making sure our equipment is readily available, as he serves as my quartermaster in such affairs. This is Emmaline Grimelhausen Teobaldina von Morganstern, my aide and a psyker of considerable power. She has saved my life numerous times and I have personally trained her and dubbed her worthy of service."