A ghostly howl echoed through the empty ruined city streets. The reconstruction was progressing slowly, the city a shell of its former self. The once green land now a gray, ash choked waste outside the dome. When suddenly the silence was broken by a short man breathing heavily he ran franticly through the street his fur cloak blowing in the wind behind him every now and then looking behind him afraid that someone was following him. He was right. Leaping from rooftop to rooftop with cat like reflexes was Vyper making sure not to make any sound following the Counselor waiting for the right moment to strike. She quickly came to a halt when the Counselor stopped. In front of him was a large man his right arm buzzed with the sound of crude bionics his clothes were rugged and torn.
The counselor still trying to catch his breath “you gotta help……….there is an assassin…. Trying to…..kill me……you gotta help Please!!” He groveled at the man feet “weak fool” the man grunted before punching the Counselor in the head, he quickly fell to the floor his face now drenched in mud and ash the man kneeled down and grabbed the whimpering man by the hair and dragged him to his feet and prepared to knock him back down again when suddenly.. “Leave him be” a cloaked figure stepped out of the shadows “we shouldn’t treat our friends like this, what seems to be the problem Counselor Coopman?”
“Someone has hired as assassin to kill me you have to help me!!” the counselor now groveling and tugged on the robes of the figure. “You have to help me I’ve done all I can for you”
“Oh really you have done all you can…………..that’s a pity………you see Counselor useless things have a way of……. disappearing!!” With that the robed figure waved his hand. To Vypers horror she could only watch as the Counselor fell to the ground as his skin began to wither his body started going into a spasm as a black blood began dribbling from his mouth and lumps of his skin began to drop off. Within those few seconds the Counselor had been reduced to a rotting corpse in the street.
Suddenly the huge grunt looked up with a feeling he was being watched only to see some chains rattling in the wind and with that Vyper was gone.

Two weeks later the Imperial ship “The Ecsthelion” arrives above the plant. One of its shuttles soon arrives at the Hab dome a shield supplying breathable air, warmth and safety from the devastating environment outside the shelter. The doors to the shuttle open and out steps Inquisitor Proiteus, he scanned the 4 enforcers that awaited to escort him to his quarters, their faces hidden by their closed helmets. His expression remained emotionless and cold like stone. Hovering beside was the Dragoon robot its glowing blue eyes and quick flashes of movement made the Enforcers nervous. One of the enforcers stepped forwards “My lord your quarters are awaiting”
“Very well then sergeant, make sure that my package is kept safe.” Proiteus turned around and looked at a tall large steal create that seem to tower over the Enforcers.
After being escorted to his quarters Proiteus was quick to begin looking into what had drawn the Inquisition to this planet. It had been 2 years since the 13th black crusade ended and the Inquisition where still repairing the damage done, seek out the hidden heresies and exterminating them. While looking through the planet’s Imperial Enforcement records something caught his eye, the report of the murder of High Counselor Coopman. Proiteus remained focused on this report most of the time he stared at the photos of Coopman’s corpse, the ongoing silence was eventually broken when Proiteus said “Dragoon what information you have on Counselor Coopman?” After a series of bleeps as the Dragoon accessed the Inquisition’s Database
“Counselor Coopman, member of the Counsel of the Imperial world of “Letum” 2 years ago “Letum” fell victim to a planetary bombardment from a “Death Guard Space Marines” fleet shortly after the 13th Crusade, he died of unknown causes.”
“Freeze this is a restricted area!” could be heard from outside Proiteus got up and went to investigate as he the doors flung open and in a blink of an eye a hooded figure who was surrounded by Enforcers. “Sentence for entering this area is death” said the Enforcer Sergeant “Firing Squad”. “Hold your Fire“this time the voice was from the Inquisitor, authority very clear in his voice. Proiteus grinned “You are a member of the “Ghosts of Humanity” assassin group aren’t you?”
A female voice replied her mouth hidden by a piece of cloth “yes” Proiteus signaled the Enforcers to stand down. “Then come with me”. She Followed Proiteus into the room. Proiteus sat down in the chair and picked up the Imperial report. The assassin began to remove the pieces of cloth that concealed her. She wore a tight black leather suit covered by a few pieces of armour one of the pieces and her shoulders was a golden snake symbol, she had long fiery colored hair and brown eyes although one of them was covered by a infrared scope. She walked up to the desk and rested both hands on it “what do you know about this report” Proiteus said sliding the report across the table “what is you name?”
“Vyper” she replied as she picked up the report and opened it she gave a quick shudder
“What?” Proiteus asked seeing the assassin reaction to the reports photos, the assassin threw the report of the table and took a deep breath. “I’ve seen many things Inquisitor, but seeing a man decay down into a rotting corpse in the short time of 30 seconds is something I rather forget”
“How did you come to witness Coopman’s death?” Proiteus asked leaning back in his chair and folding his arms
“I was hired to assassinate him but someone beat me to it”
“Who hired you?”
“I can’t say” replied Vyper. Proiteus looked at Vyper coldly
“Vyper you do know there is no order in the galaxy that is higher than the Inquisition!”
“I told you I don’t know” Vyper said angrily “I was said to bring his head to a certain location but I doubt my employers will turn up now that his death is public knowledge.”
“Tell me was there any sign of poisoning on the Councilor?”
“No I stayed with him for 24 hours and there was no sign of poisoning”
“Okay then you will start by taking me to the scene of this crime; I smell the stench of Chaos socerery in the air!”
“Very well Inquisitor…”
“Proiteus” Proiteus interrupted “see you tomorrow at the city gates” after Vyper had left the room Proiteus turned to the Dragoon robot who had lay silent in the shadows of the room, “Dragoon find out what you can about this assassin, there something about this young women, she’s not like any assassin I’ve encountered.” Once again the Dragoon mind went to work accessing the Inquisition databank “Vyper, real name Sakura Leo a skilled member of the Assassin Cult known as ‘The Ghost of Humanity’ a cult that is widely known for it’s…..” Proiteus interrupted
“Any information about Sakura Leo?”
“Sakura was a member of a royal house Leo on the Hive World ‘Isleous’ but disappeared shortly after her family was killed in a conflict between the highs house of the Hive. Soon after her disappearance several assassinations took place on the leading house members that were linked to House Leo’s destruction. She was presumed dead, although her body was never found. It appears that this assumption was wrong.” suddenly the Dragoons eye flashed and a loud beep sounded
“What is it?”
“Information inaccessible!”
“Impossible” Proiteus said in shock
“All further information on Sakura Leo has been removed from the archive”
“So be it, I’ll find out this assassin's secrets it is useless to hide anything from the Inquisition.”

The next day Vyper escorted Proiteus who had brought both the Dragoon and his trusted Cyber Mastiff nicknamed Cyandog to the place of the counselor death the sound of city’s populace echoed throughout the dome, and the cheers from a nearby building filled the empty street. “Here is were it happened” Vyper said pointing to a small stain of dried blood of the floor the dragoon arms sprung out and it’s began to examine the stain “where were you when this happened?” Proiteus asked
“I was over there” Vyper pointed to a nearby ruined building “On the 3rd floor”
“You sure you didn’t see anything else?”
“No everything I saw was filed in the report I saw only one of the characters in detail the other 2 I didn’t see” Vyper replied impatiently. Suddenly something caught Proiteus eye a man was walking down the deserted street as Cyandog snarled Proiteus raised his hand “You there stop” the man stopped as Proiteus walked up to him Vyper remaining were she was lent up against a huge tank.
”I have a few questions for you sir”
“Ok” the man said he clothes were rugged and torn and his skin was dirty
“Do you know anything about the murder of the Counselor?”
“No sorry mate can’t help ya”
“Did you see the Counselor in this area at anytime before his death?”
“I don’t know nothin” the man said impatiently,
“Very well then, have you seen any suspicious activity around here?” The man laughed
“Round here mate everyone a little dodgy, but if ya lookin for someone to play ya little question game with I try Scuds Bar” he began to point at the building where all the noise was coming from. Proiteus began to walking towards the bar Cyandog and Vyper followed “Dragoon, stay here”
“Affirmative” the robot replied still scanning the bloody stain.
“You asking for trouble if you go in there” the man shouted, Proiteus just laughed
“I doubt I need to worry about a few lowlifes.”
Inside the bar the rusty steal door swung open and all went quiet as Proiteus walked in and went up to the bar “Get that metallic mutt out of this bar” a man said reaching for Cyandog’s collar, Proiteus quickly grabbed the mans wrist and snarled “don’t touch my dog!!” His bionic arm began to tighten its grip on the mans wrist who fell to his knees “ok” the man shouted Proiteus let go and sent the man flying backwards. With all the bar watching him Proiteus walked up to the bartender, Vyper followed feeling uneasy about being in such a busy and confined environment as it was her nature to stay in the shadows unnoticed. “What will it be mate” the fat bartender asked, Proiteus lent across the table “what do you know about the death of Counselor Coopman?”
“Sorry never heard of him before” the bartender replied. “What about suspicious people”.
The bartender looked thoughtful for a moment (which didn’t look like much) and said “well there is him over there. Proiteus looked at a man who was sitting in the corner of the bar he was covered in scraps of metal and wore a rusty mask. “No one knows his name, where he’s from or what he dose. All he dose is come in here and drink doesn’t talk to anyone just sits there, which I don’t mind of cause if their talking their drinking less.”
“Thanks” Proiteus said as he began to walk over to the man Vyper and Cyandog remained were they were. Proiteus sat down next to the man “Hi can I ask you a few questions?” The man looked up
“Maybe”
“What do you know about Counselor Coopman’s death?”
“I don’t know any Counselor Coopman now leave me alone and go bother someone else!”
“That’s no what I’m hearing, tell you what you give me information and I’ll buy you a few drinks?”
“No thanks I had enough” he got up and walked out Vyper and Cyandog came over and sat down next to Proiteus “now what?” She asked Proiteus pulled up his right sleeve to reveal a communicator on his bionic arm he whisped into it “Dragoon relocate and report what you see” as the man came out of the bar the Dragoon leapt into the air and silently attached it’s self to a huge tank out of sight of the man. Another large figure his right arm was made from crude bionics with a small flamer attached he walked across the street and greeted him. Dragoon’s advanced senses picked up on the conversation and relayed it to Proiteus. “What’s going on?” the large figure asked looking back at the bar. “Someone is asking too many questions” replied the figure in metal.
“Then will have to take care of them. We can’t afford any mistakes. Will ambush in this street when they come out”
“Gotcha” the metal figure replied and with that he walked of and hid around the corner of the bar while his comrade hid behind a huge tank unaware that they were being watched by the Dragoon that was still attached to the tank above him. Proiteus looked at Vyper “Okay, they think they got the top on us so here’s what we are going to do.”
Outside was all silent but then the silence was broken as Proiteus began to walk down the street, mean while Vyper had climbed onto the roof of the Bar just above where the metal figure stood and prepared to catch him off guard. “Hey close the bloody door!” One of the people shouted from the pub Proiteus looked around and the trap was sprung!
Instantly the 2 thugs jumped out each firing a flame weapon of some sort but each blast of flame missed Proiteus, surrounded by flames Proiteus quickly drew his Power Sword and Bolt Pistol as he spun round to face Copperhead “Fetch!!” Proiteus shouted and Cyandog charge and the 2nd thug Proiteus fired one shot at the metal figure the explosive bullet hit him in the leg resulting in an explosion of Blood and Bone he screamed in pain. Vyper made her move and dropped down behind and attempted to stab him in the back but his metallic armour stopped the knife, the Dragoon also made its move firing a burst of pure electricity which hit the large man in the back the thug turned around to face the Dragoon now attempting to stab him with it’s electrical blades but he dodged it. Suddenly another figure charged out of the ruined building towards Proiteus and made a wild swing at Proiteus but the rusty blade shattered against Proiteus’ Power Sword. The metal figure still recovering from the shot to his leg made a wild swing at Vyper with a hammer catching Vyper off guard it struck right on the chest but her armour absorbed the shock and she recovered. Due to the size of the Dragoon the man was having trouble hitting it, wrapping itself round its victim the Dragoon made several vicious stabs with its electrical blades, Cyandog tried to attack the thug from behind but the man quickly dodged his sharp teeth. With his blade broken the hooded man made a swipe at Proiteus with a hook but Proiteus’ armour stopped it and he retaliated with a 2 clean swipes with his power sword causing deep cuts on his attacker the man quickly lost conscious and dropped to the floor due to the damage and shock from Proiteus’ attacks. The metal figure made a wild swing once more with his hammer but Vyper used her cat like reflexes and jumped over the mad man and attempted to stab him in the back but once again the armour stopped the knifes. But after a series of fast and furious attacks Vyper’s knifes began causing critical damage, unable to hit Vyper due to her speed the man had already lost a blood from the wound in his leg and let his guard down. With lightning speed Vyper made a strong sharp stab in the back and the man fell. Pulling the knife out of his back she prepared to take down the last member of the attackers but Proiteus stopped her “Cyandog, Dragoon stand down” the 2 robots backed away from the man. “Tell me what you know about the death of Counselor Coopman and I will offer you redemption”
“Eat slime Imperial scum!!” the man shouted as he fired a revolver and Proiteus despite his power shield and armour the bullet hit Proiteus in the chest “Proiteus!” Vyper shouted
“All of you stand down” Proiteus said dropping his Bolt Pistol “HE’S MINE!!!” screamed Proiteus as he charged towards wielding his Power sword with both hands and within a blink of an eye Proiteus had struck him right across the chest and he fell to the ground with a large thumb. Proiteus breathing heavily from the fight put his sword still covered in blood back in its scabbard. Proiteus pointed to the hooded figure that had fought him in close combat “will take him for questioning!”