123rd Pontifical Strikes
The 123rd Pontifical Strikes are a a venerated Company of Inquisitorial Stormtroopers.[1a]
History
In M42[1b], they were providing security for Inquisitor Brutus Schenker's witch trials on Ergotia, when the Company was suddenly pulled from their duty. Brutus' former Interrogator Aurek Herrenvolk, was about to conduct an investigation into Cult spree killings within the Spetzghast System and had requested a detachment of Stormtroopers to aid him. As Aurek's needs were deemed to be greater and that he also out-ranked Brutus, there was nothing the Inquisitor could do to stop the Pontificals from leaving. After the Company arrived in Spetzghast, they would join the Battle Sisters of the Order of the Immaculate Flame sweep the System for Heretics. During the operation, the Pontificals were housed within Aurek's personal warship, the Dread Sovereign, though they would rarely see the Inquisitor. The Company soon began to speculate about the reasons why and some thought Aurek likely suffered from a horrific disfigurement or debilitation. The Pontificals believed this was likely earned, during the Inquisitor's famous service in the Hellicon Mitigations.[1a]
