None are certain of the full extent of their Inquisition’s hidden influence and conspiracies, and opinions on their operations and necessity are mixed. However, the organisation continues to operate in the shadows, training their own agents in secret to deal with anything that they deem to be a high-level threat to humanity. The Human Inquisition maintains hidden ties within a number of Human factions, even among the Battle Brothers. Their unchecked zealousness has caused problems due to false leads or misplaced suspicions, but has also been vital, revealing a number of troubling threats, such as the Infected Colonies, Havoc worshipers, and Soul-Snatcher cults.
How will you protect humanity from the shadows?
History
Sirius
Humanity arrived in Sirius as a fleet of survivors who sought to escape a devastating Civil War. The surviving Human colony ships settled wherever they could. These settlements soon faced threats which had never before been heard of on Earth. During the earliest days of settlement, there are reports of some individuals independently intervening to protect the newly settled Human worlds in Sirius.
Founding
None can say for certain when the Inquisition was originally formed. It is likely that they were formed some time after arriving in Sirius. Much speculation has been made about its origins; a band of vigilante adventurers, rogue Blessed Sister operatives, or as a secret means of cooperation between the Protectorates and Great Human Alliance. Some within the organisation claim that the group has far earlier origins, tracing back to Earth itself.
Top Secret
For several years, the Human Inquisition was able to operate in utmost secrecy to protect Human interests in Sirius, infiltrating upper levels of bureaucracy in numerous settlements and colonies. Their widespread influence in different colonies and factions often allowed them to investigate and capture any perceived threat before others could get to it.
Intervention
They would often present themselves as independent investigators and private mercenaries hired by the local authority, relying on secret contacts or forged documents. Though never directly acknowledged as the Human Inquisition in official paperwork, their efforts have led to several key discoveries and averted a number of disasters; including the spread of the Infected Colonies and Soul-Snatcher Cults in Human space.
Open Secret
As time went on and the instability of humanity’s early days in Sirius subsided, more and more leaders began to notice irregularities which ultimately led them to evidence of a widespread conspiracy. While some would attempt to crack down on it, the Inquisition’s influence usually managed to survive in some form. The Human Inquisition has never publicly acknowledged its own existence, but most within the public are aware of them and speculation over whether certain public figures may have ties to them is not uncommon.
Agents
Rumours have begun to spread that the Human Inquisition has begun to formalise its training, founding a number of secret schools where recruits deemed suitable for the programme are put through vigorous training in order to make them more effective investigators and assassins.
Occult Research
Rumours have spread that the Human Inquisition shows a particular fascination with the occult; particularly as it relates to psychic abilities. Their agents are rumoured to be secretly involved in research projects throughout both the Protectorates and Greater Human Alliance. There are even whispers that they are collaborating with the Knight Brothers to push the boundaries of Human knowledge.
Society
Inquisitors themselves have various councils and groups that allow them to have a level of cooperation, but each one remains a free agent. The Inquisition keeps a close eye on matters within Human colonies. Their unchecked zealousness has caused problems as they pursued false leads or misplaced suspicions, yet has also allowed them to discover a number of troubling threats; such as the Infected Colonies, Havoc worshippers and Soul-Snatcher Cults.
Most of the operatives working for an Inquisitor do not know the internal structure of the Inquisition. They may not even be aware that they are serving this faction, since many Inquisitors have a different ‘civilian’ persona, and often are in positions of authority or wealth.
Operations
Members of the Human Inquisition work across the Sirius Sector, spying other species, investigating the Radiance, stealing technological secrets, and eliminating key targets. They adopt a variety of aliases that serve to justify their presence: traders, diplomats, mining captains, refugees. Many possess multiple identities, including as members of intelligence and police agencies of Human factions which often operate as an additional layer of cover.
Goals
As investigators and secret operatives, the Inquisition have been able to help humanity in very concrete ways, like uncovering Infected Colonies, infiltrations or preventing alien raids.
But given the independence of its agents and the age of the organisation, cells can end up working against each other or becoming deeply invested into pursuits of questionable value. An Inquisitor using trade or crime as a cover always risks becoming the mask, only paying lip service to their stated missions. Others can become radicalised and paranoid, seeing schemes and corruption everywhere.
Achievements
From thwarting an Orc raid on a remote colony to preventing the assassination of a moderate Custodian, from sharing a stolen Mandar Sector force-field design to dismantling a burgeoning Snatcher Cult in a GHA megacity, many positive achievements have been secretly made possible by the work of the Inquisition. Unimpeded by bureaucracy and hierarchy, the Inquisition are able to act fast and fade away with the assistance of their network. They have contributed to a number of victories for Humanity within the Sirius, though some question whether their actions are actually advancing the overall cause and success of Humans in the Sirius Sector.
Diplomacy
The Inquisition maintain a number of links throughout Human factions and occasionally among other factions as well, serving simultaneously as infiltrators, benefactors and allies.
Most within HDF view the Inquisition as unwieldy and unprofessional relics of a bygone age before the GHA, no longer necessary with the organisation brought about by their alliance. Nonetheless, the influence of Inquisition members and their supporters within the GHA, combined with the Inquisition’s achievements, has kept conflict between the two to a minimum.
The Blessed Sisters view the Inquisition as sharing some broad goals, but believe that their secretiveness and tendency towards manipulation to achieve their goal makes them dangerous to interact with, whether as friends or enemies. Their forces have been known to collaborate towards certain goals, but the Sisters usually try to maintain a professional distance where possible.
The Knight Brothers share a similar fascination with psychic and occult knowledge within Sirius. The two have often secretly worked together in what they view as the common interest of humanity against Havoc and other occult threats.
