The Off Switch

“Just who do you think you are addressing,” retorted Hammerhand. He had immensely enjoyed saying that as he had always wanted to drive some pompous appartchik demented with it. Hammerhand blessed Hawk again for giving him these opportunities to say what he had always wanted to, to the power bullies, thugs, psychopaths and commissars.
“Your life is hostage against any deviancy. Those who question the Inquisitor Hawk’s methods must to answer to his Excellency."
“Contact Hawk now,” Ordered Marshall Vikrumm.
“The is no need as I am the Lord Inquisitor’ plenipotentiary representative on this planet with full legislative and legal powers as constituted by the Imperial Decree Inquisitorial. As such I am outside the Imperial command chain and superior to any officers of the Imperial Guard and the Commissariat.”
“What, what, how dare you,” spluttered Vikrumm.
“By order of this associate rosette and mandate of delegated Inquistorial authority I pronounce you traitor to the Emperor, may his name be revered. Do you have anything to say in your defence before sentence is pronounced.”
“Yes I have this to say in my defence,” Vikrumm snapped contemptuously as he worked the flap of his bolt pistol holster.
With a well practiced, smooth and fluidly effortless motion Hammerhand palmed his spring loaded laspistol. A new circular black rimmed orifice was created in Assault Marshall Vikrumm’s forehead. He looked astounded. Little blood tricked out as lasbolts tended to cauterise. Vikrumm fell backwards sliding across the map table. His staff were transfixed. As the back of Vikrumm’s head smacked onto the floor small pale grey gobbets of his impact dislodged brain splattered on their shiny boots.
“Staff Officer Russ, remove the mess that the traitor has got himself into.” Ordered Hammerhand. Hammerhand congratulated himself that he was now beginning to get the hang of this inquisitorial thing. He pulled Moloch’s control transmitter from his jacket pocket and signalled the control unit to bind and immobilise Moloch.
“Just ask nicely,” he remarked in a conversational tone.
“I suggest that Commissar Steele takes over for the moment while I consult with Hawk concerning a succession for the Assault Marshall”