Cypher - Dichotomy of Purpose: It is obvious to those few Dark Angels Librarians who have studied the compiled data that Cypher's actions seem to follow some pattern or mission known only to himself. It is not even possible to deduce whether Cypher is for or against the Imperium, an ally or enemy to those who betrayed the Dark Angels. Cypher does not always work alone, at times seeming to ally or associate himself with others. His presence upon a planet draws dangerous elements to him from across the galaxy. Whether this is through his bidding is unclear, but it is too recurrent to be mere happenstance. Ultimately, no matter if he is surrounded by others: Cypher is a loner, a rogue agent whose true intentions are unknown to those he has served alongside.Cypher's ability to coerce others into helping him only adds to the frustrations of those in pursuit. After following such a labyrinthine trail to find them, there is seldom anything of value to be learned from those whom Cypher enlisted to aid his hidden agenda. Cypher has left behind entire cult armies dedicated to establishing new rulers, pirate bands seeking to amass wealth, and far-distant colonies merely wishing to survive the wilderness. Once, he subverted an Inquisitorial death squad –- for only in the aftermath of the action was it determined that it had been Cypher who had slain and replaced the cowled Inquisitor Arnuldus. Further investigations revealed that the Inquisitor, who wore a cowl to cover his hideous injuries, had been slain months previously. In the guise of the Inquisitor, Cypher took control of his web of agents and misdirected the defence of Septius VII –- resulting in the complete collapse of an Imperial Hive World. While the Planetary Governor and his entire ruling system was determined to have been corrupt and unjust, he was the rightful ruler and the planet's tithes had always been honoured. The uprising brought brief freedom to the citizens of Septius VII, before the inevitable bloodbath suppression that followed once again crushed the will of the people under the Imperium's yoke.Some of the recorded contacts with Cypher are brief –- his appearance only registering at the onset of a conflict. In others, Cypher has seemed more deeply involved. From the Dark Angels' records, it is believed that Cypher had spent some twenty Terran years in the Cult of the Red Heresy, a growing anarchic movement that was drawing in agitators from seven systems. Accounts differ as to whether he was leading the cult or was merely manipulating their actions. During the same period he was also identified as having joined the Zargosoan smuggler fleet. In both cases he made no effort to disguise himself. Cypher appears always as a cloaked and cowled figure, bearing pistols of ancient and expert craftsmanship, and a sword which none have ever seen unsheathed.It can reliably be said that Cypher works almost exclusively with other humans. Although there are instances of xenos alliances, the frequency of these is slight. Yet what can be learned from such a paradox of information, other than the fact that he is apparently as likely to work with as against the forces of the Imperium? During a raid upon the Forge World of Voss Prime, Cypher arrived in the centre of a formation of Chaos Space Marine Terminators from the Black Legion. They fought their way through adamantium gates into the cramped corridors of the Irontower. There, they stole ancient STC documents before teleporting away once more. Save for cavorting with Daemons, there is perhaps no transgression more damning to the eyes of any agent of the Imperium than to associate with those arch-heretics. There are dozens of similar entries placing Cypher in action alongside known traitors. Sightings corroborate what blurry vid-captures show: that the robed one is often not a mere accomplice, but can be seen actively leading warbands as varied as rabble-rousing Cultists, Renegade Space Marines and the arch-enemies of the Imperium, the Chaos Space Marine Legions themselves.Conversely, there are numerous instances where Cypher has undeniably worked alongside forces of the Imperium. He has operated countless times alongside planetary defence force battalions, Imperial Guard regiments and Space Marine Chapters. It was Cypher who guided the Silver Skulls Space Marine Chapter in their suppression of the Red Heresy during the Plague of Unbelief. To what purpose Cypher aided and then betrayed the cult has never been determined. On Monarch Prime, just as the last lines of defence came under attack by surging rebel forces, the mysterious figure of Cypher appeared to aid the beleaguered Cadians. According to statements by Sergeant Grunhelm, the last surviving member of his squad, their Commissar had just gone down in a bloody heap when a new voice shouted out orders along the trenchlines. The new arrival wielded twin pistols, and had the bearing and command of an Imperial officer. The Cadians, eager to believe that Space Marine relief had at last arrived, rallied behind him. And so Cypher personally led the last defence, holding the foe at bay before the very bunker in which the planetary governor had taken refuge. The Cultists were gunned down so thickly that the trench system filled with bodies. Like waves of the sea, squad after squad of the foe charged up only to break and recede. There were but a few Cadian soldiers left –- each injured, but still fighting. They would not have survived were it not for the cowled figure whose blazing pistols could not miss their mark. Only when the black-armoured hulls of Ravenwing Land Speeders could be seen approaching the bunker at speed did the stranger duck behind the heaped piles of the slain and vanish.