The Emperor's Justice Act1-1

                                                       Act I
                                             Dark Clouds Gather
                          Two days after the Trenibad Market Action.

The orbital defense platforms turned their guns on the rip that suddenly appeared in the fabric of space, monitoring for any threat. The tear disgorged a small, sleek spaceship, clearly in the Imperial style, with gargoyle-mouthed lance batteries and a gothic prow, but devoid of any markings. The platforms kept their guns trained on the ship, for pirates were a constant threat in the system and this ship was clearly built for being inconspicuous. A bay opened in the bottom of the ship, and a knife-like gunship flew fourth. The guns powered down immediately when the gunship began to broadcast a symbol. The stylized I of the Emperor’s Inquisition.

Inquisitor Benedict Dantes reviewed the information the Inquisitorial Archives kept about this new planet, Voulembre, the capital planet of the Burgundria system. According to the Archives, the sky above the planet had been the site of an ambush on an Ecclesiarchial treasure fleet, set by Sebastian Thor himself, during the Age of Apostasy. The battle had been fierce, lasting several days, but Thor had triumphed. Wreckage from the Ecclesiarchy’s battleships were scattered across the planet, and could still be explored by those daring enough. Ever since then the system had been a hotbed of sedition, piracy, and heresy.

Besides that, there was little of note in the system. Dantes wouldn’t be here at all if it weren’t for the misplaced faith of these workers, these Unionists.

“Everyone ready?” He called out over the vox.

“The men are ready, Inquisitor.” Said Captain Price, a bear of a man with horrendous facial hair, through a cigar, near the door with his squad of stormtroopers.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Came a reply from Lias, a former bounty hunter who had joined Dantes’ team a decade ago and had since proven himself to be an invaluable asset.

“Ready to assist, master.” Dantes frowned. Interrogator Dergus had been forced upon him by the Ordo Herecticus Sector Command mere months before, and since then he had proven to be a nuisance from the start. This would be his first field operation. Dantes dreaded to think what might happen if he assigned him anything of importance. He also found it incredibly aggravating that the man continually called him “master”.

The gunship touched down in the spaceport. Dantes could see a gaggle of officials standing outside.

“Look sharp men. We are the Inquisition, after all.”

“Yes, sir.” Said Captain Price, extinguishing his cigar on the seat and flicking it into the corner. The Dirk-class gunship touched down at the spaceport, bordering the Rich and Middle Districts. The deployment ramp lowered with the hiss of hydraulics. The stormtroopers, very intimidating in their matte black carapace armour and arterial red berets with solid gold Inquisitorial I’s pinned to the front, filed out, forming two lines on either side of the walkway. Finally, Dantes strode out, dressed in plain, but well tailored clothes, his Inquisitorial rosette pinned at his throat. Lias and Dergus flanked him. A man with the pasty skin of one who sits behind a desk all day, came up to Dantes and offered his hand.
“Welcome to Voulembre, Inquisitor. I am Administrator Devere. Governor Hugo sends his regrets that he could not meet you in person. He has been bogged down in paper work ever since that rather nasty affair at the Market.” He said, jovially.  
“I’m sure he is, Administrator.” replied Dantes, taking the proffered hand. Devere shook it vigorously.
A fool, Dantes thought, clearly, good for nothing but shaking hands and welcoming those of import.
“The governor also request’s your presence at the Executive Council later this evening.”’
“Tell the governor I’d be delighted.”
“Excellent! You’ll be housed in one of the hotels near the Administratum offices.”
“Actually, Administrator, I would like to house my staff in the Middle District, to make the city more accessible should there another riot.” Devere’s smile faltered for a moment, before returning even bigger than ever.
“Of course, Inquisitor. It would be better were there to be… a disturbance.”
“Yes, is there some form of transportation available for my staff?” Devere started.
“W-We thought you would have brought some with you.” He stuttered.
“No matter. We will simply commandeer some of yours.” Said Dantes, looking past the bureaucrats and spotting a large group of black cars, drivers smoking close by. “You seem to have transportation in ample supply, anyway.”  
“Y-yes, of course, Inquisitor. Take whatever you like.” said Devere, trying to regain his composure.
“If you could point out yours, Administrator it would please me to use them.” Said Dantes, trying and failing to keep himswlf from grinning.
“Erm…of course, Inquisitor. They’re over there.” Said Devere, pointing out a trio of black cars.
“Perfect. Thank you for your cooperation.” Said Dantes, and he set off, the stormtroopers forming up behind him, Dergus hurrying to catch up. Lias sidled up to Dantes.
“Nice move there, Inquisitor. Looks like he could use some time in the sun anyway.” He said, grinning. Dantes laughed out loud, attracting the gaze of the bureaucrats, now worried what he might deprive them of next in the name of the Emperor. As they neared the cars, Dantes gestured to Captain Price. He moved to the front.

“All of you! Bugger off! Inquisition!” He roared. The drivers scattered, frightened by the mere sight of this hulking, horridly unshaven man, perhaps even more so than the threat of eternal damnation for interfering with the Inquisition. Price detailed men to drive as Dantes, Lias and Dergus got in the first one. As they began to search the streets for suitable housing, Dergus looked intently at his master. Dantes regarded him.

“Speak plainly, Interrogator.” Dergus seemed to swell up, before bursting out.

“Master, forgive me, but why do you flout the Emperor’s divinely ordained governments so…so casually! Sure no one, not even Inquisitors, have the right to disrupt his subjects in such a manner!”

Dantes stared balefully at his apprentice.
“You have a lot to learn, Interrogator. Firstly, it is an Inquisitor’s duty, right and privilege to disrupt Imperial society to fight the heretic. Secondly, every man is guilty of one thing or another, so we have the right to treat anyone anyway we want.”
“But you could have at least accepted his offer to take a hotel, at least he could save some face then.” Dergus said, flustered.
“Spies, Interrogator. Spies. Never, ever accept offered rooms. They’ll be wired up to the flowers with cameras and vox thieves.”
Dergus seemed to shrink.
“Forgive me, master.” Dantes said nothing as the convoy pulled up to a house. Captain Price turned around
“The database says this is one of the houses where the government’s housing one of the families who lost their homes in the last riot, sir.”
“Good work, captain. Find us some lodgings nearby, we’ll question the victims tomorrow.”
“Very good, sir.”