Li Qinwu waved a hand, and the three strode into the Grand Plaza.
In the past, the tanks and armoured vehicles in the Grand Plaza had been parked in neat rows, like squares on a grid.
Now, the tanks and armoured vehicles were parked every which way, in utter chaos.
In some places, the foot-washing soldiers had even used some unknown method to pile several tanks and armoured vehicles into mountains of metal!
Human remains and blasphemous Chaos graffiti were everywhere.
The three walked warily through the graveyard of armour, chatting as they went.
Li Qinwu said:
"That Grand Inquisitor named Oluka was the one who activated the Daemon Artifact. My main objective in coming to the Fortress World this time is to capture him.
Once I bring him back, I'll inherit his authority as Grand Inquisitor and Lord Inquisitor."
Swift Shadow asked:
"Is Grand Inquisitor a powerful position? Where does it rank in the Imperium?"
Old Chen, Yellow Sand, spoke through his helmet:
"Under Imperial law, an ordinary Inquisitor-the kind with troops and a fleet under his command-can order an Astartes Chapter Master to provide armed support.
But in practice, whether an Astartes Chapter Master gives an Inquisitor the time of day mainly depends on the number of troops and warships the Inquisitor has, and whether his mission harms the Chapter's interests.
Most of the time, Astartes Chapter Masters ignore an Inquisitor's demands.
Taking orders from a mortal undermines an Astartes Chapter Master's authority to some extent.
So even if an Inquisitor's request benefits both the Imperium and the Chapter, the Astartes Chapter Master will refuse to be deployed.
Only if the Inquisitor personally comes to ask for help and shows him every courtesy will the Astartes Chapter Master deign to oblige.
But a Grand Inquisitor, or rather a