Forced Betrayal

The Departmento Munitorum headquarters of Hodur sector was a bleak, tall building of steel and concrete, with only the seal of the Imperial Administration as indication of its importance for the sector. Inside, almost a thousand scribes, ciphers and all sorts of adepts worked around the clock, in cramped office spaces, to ensure that the Emperor's armies were adequately supplied to effectively carry out their duties One such Adept, bent over on his cluttered desk, small and furtive, almost completely hidden behind piles of paperwork, stared at the terminal of his monitor with spectacled eyes, cold sweat dripping down his brow.

With the press of a button, he was ready to deny a regiment of the Imperial Army of vital supplies, leave them defenceless against hordes of Greenskins. He knew that what he was about to do was wrong, immoral. That it could lead to his execution and that of his family if discovered. But he also knew that he had to do this, because the alternative was certain death. He thought back to how his predicament had begun, the night before…

Walking through the dark, dirty streets of the Hive, he had made his way to the habitation block reserved for the workers of the Administration. The housing was respectable, much better than that of the average citizen, and larger to boot. One of the boons available to the Imperium's loyal servants. The man hoped to rest his body and mind before resuming his duties.  Fate was against him however, as, when he opened the door to his apartment, he was met with a shocking sight.

He was not alone in the dingy, small room.

A stranger, tall and muscular, was sitting on the small couch, his body posture calm, relaxed. He wore what looked like a military uniform, black and unmarked. And worst of all, he was aiming a pistol, glowing a menacing blue, across the room. Right towards the tiny crib of the Adept's son

The intruder broke the silence first.  "Mr.Jesse Starric. Please, sit down" he gestured towards a metal stool across the table with his empty hand. His voice was deep, with a fake air of courtesy. It sent chills down his spine.

With unsteady steps, Starric approached the stool and sat down. His seat felt uncomfortable, cold.  "If it is money you want, I will give you anything you ask. But, please, don't harm my child…"

The stranger smiled at the Adept's pleas, the dim light of a dying lamp casting deep shadow on his face. He looked almost diabolical, and that only served to terrify Starric even more "What I, or better, my lord, desires, is not your money, but your services. I understand that you are an employee of the sector's Departmento Munitorum offices."

Starric felt his heart drop at the man's words, realising that the situation was far more grave than he had dared to imagine.  "W-What do you want me to do?"

"It's very simple really. We want you to prevent the Lacunan Lifewatch regiment currently serving on Endragiga from receiving any supplies. We know that it is possible, even for a low-ranking Adept such as you"

Panic started to set in Starric's soul, as the stranger before him asked of him to commit treason against the Imperium. His mind was suddenly filled with thoughts of arrest, torture and execution, for that was the fate that expected traitors. But the man's voice broke him out of his stupor "If you refuse, i will shoot your son with this plasma pistol. He will be completely vaporised, and nothing will be left of him to mourn"

Mortified, the cornered adept's eyes were glued to those of the terrible intruder before him. Any fear of death, or worse, were nulled at the thought of his son being harmed. The child his wife had died bringing to the world. His only hope

Lowering his gaze, Starric spoke, his voice weak, barely a whisper "Can you promise that you will leave me and my child alone, if i do this?"

The stranger stood up and looked down on the adept's small, cowering form. Putting on his best impress of a friendly smile, he replied "You can rest assured. My lord is a man of his word. Do this for us, and your life will go on in peace"

With those words, the intruder walked out the door and was lost in the darkness, leaving adept Jesse Starric to reflect on his decision.

…Now, Starric, closing his eyes tight, pressed the button that would doom thousands of brave soldiers of the Imperium.

…..

*A month later, the Imperium was abuzz with news of the Lacunan Lifewatch's miraculous rescue. Left without supplies or ammunition, their brutal demise at the hands of WAAAAGH Knuckledragga seemed all but assured. However, when the savage armies of the Greenskins were preparing to descend upon the regiment, the forces of the IIIrd Legion, the illustrious Black Stars, came to the rescue of the regiment, striking against the green horde with righteous fury, fighting, bleeding and dying to save their mortal fellow warriors. The Amber King himself, Absalom Vaughn, slew Knuckledragga in glorious single combat, and pict-captures of the Primarch standing victorious over the monstrous xeno warlord had been spread far and wide in the people of the Imperium. This incident only served to bolster the IIIrd's veneration by the people of the Imperium.*

~~

Jesse Starric was sitting in his apartment, dark, dirty and disorganised, as the owner was too busy drowning his guilt in cheap alcohol to care about hygiene. He knew now that he had been used, just a pawn in a Primarch's game of politics. That he was responsible for the deaths of thousands.  In his drunken daze, he barely noticed the apartment door opening slowly, and the awfully familiar stranger walking in. Finally, when the man was standing above him pointing a gun to his head, he acknowledged him.  "B-But you said… you promised… Your lord is a man of his word…"

"He is, Mr.Starric. But he also despises loose ends" A blast of plasma broke the night's deep silence, followed by a baby's wails.