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Lander1979 wrote:
So it's highly plausible that there is an Inquisitor involved in coordinating the Astro Militarum and Dark Angels in this scenario, although it may not necessarily be Ordo Xenos?

Usually when exploring a Space Hulk it'll be a mechanicus led expedition as they like to check them for old tech. Nobody else would usually have good reason to go on one. In the case of an infestation being located it's certainly possible it'd get raised to the Inquisition.

Lander1979 wrote:
So it's highly plausible that there is an Inquisitor involved in coordinating the Astro Militarum and Dark Angels in this scenario, although it may not necessarily be Ordo Xenos?

Yes very possible. If there is a choice of inquisitors to send (because of a nearby inquisitorial stronghold for example) they will likely send a Xenos. But any other will do if no Xenos are nearby.

That said Malleus and Hereticus are usually busy investigation cults and such and are likely to ignore a space hulk showing up if there are other forces available to handle it.

phillv85 wrote:

Lander1979 wrote:
So it's highly plausible that there is an Inquisitor involved in coordinating the Astro Militarum and Dark Angels in this scenario, although it may not necessarily be Ordo Xenos?

Usually when exploring a Space Hulk it'll be a mechanicus led expedition as they like to check them for old tech. Nobody else would usually have good reason to go on one. In the case of an infestation being located it's certainly possible it'd get raised to the Inquisition.

There are plenty of reasons for non Mechanicus to be on Space Hulks. Clearing infestations, recovering relics, destroying it or Inquisition stuff.

pm713 wrote:
There are plenty of reasons for non Mechanicus to be on Space Hulks. Clearing infestations, recovering relics, destroying it or Inquisition stuff.

Even more accurately, I'm sure some elements of the Imperium get rather tired of hearing about the AdMech boarding an ancient derelict and finding 'nothing at all' before running back to Mars like a kid with his first Playboy magazine running to the treehouse.

A bit more difficult for them to cheese it with the goods when someone else is poking around.

Mr B wrote:
Hey,

Hoping some knowledgeable peeps can settle an argument. Well, several actually while I'm here. I know (or am self convinced of the answers), but won't say so it's not going one way or the other.

Here they are:

The Deathwatch are solely tasked to deal with space hulks. I.e. if your in a space hulk, your either lost or in the watch.

No. All space marine chapters cleanse space hulks when they're found. Even other organizations may be deployed to space hulks to deal with them, though it will typically be the task of organization veterans in small teams.

Mr B wrote:
Deathwatch and Deathwing are entirely separate (apart from the possibility of asking a Deathwing member to be part of the Deathwatch).

Correct.

Mr B wrote:
Any action on a hulk will entail an inquisitor from the ordo xenos (in command or otherwise involved, not in combat).

No.

Mr B wrote:
The Deathwing are made up from elites with original protogenes.

They're definitely elites. They're the first company of DA-descendant chapters, IIRC.

Mr B wrote:
An inquisitor is able to command space marine chapters.

Correct, mostly, or at least theoretically. The Malleus Remit gives the Ordos Malleus the ability to assume direct control of any imperial assets without explanation, which includes the Adeptus Astartes; and inquisitors of the other Ordos can still command any imperial force if they ask nicely. This being said, the Adeptus Astartes units tend to be better armed than the immediate warband and ships of an Inquisitor, so if a Space Marine unit declines the summons to serve an Inquisitor, it's unlikely said Inquisitor will press the matter.

While defying the inquisition could result in excommunication, the offended inquisitor would need the backing of her peers and at least fairly good evidence that the Space Marines in question are in fact traitors. Ergo, a polite "sorry, go away, we're busy here" will generally get an Inquisitor to go away. It's basically a matter of politics. Since the Inquisition relies on the cooperation of other Imperial organizations to enforce it's will [outside their own Champers Militant, the Grey Knights, Sisters of Battle, and Deathwatch], they can't just run wild exacting revenge on Space Marines who piss them off. While they command great political power, so to do the Space Marines, and it's all very delicately balanced.

So yes and no. While they officially have the power to assume command of Space Marines, de facto the Space Marines also have to agree to be commanded/

Mr B wrote:
Thanks in advance to any answers. And if you know the answers, please post even if someone already has. The above questions are hotly contested and the more answers the better.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

phydaux wrote:

Mr B wrote:
Thanks folks, they eventually got the message. I didn't know about inquisitors having authority over marine chapters, though that seems a bit of a grey area in practicality.

The official religion of the Imperium is the Cult of the Emperor. Worship is organized (and universally ENFORCED) by the Minsitorium. The Inquisition, while technically not part of the Minsitorium, is charged, in part, with hunting down and rooting out heresy.

One of the sore points is that, with a few notable exceptions, Space Marines do NOT follow the Cult of the Emperor. So cooperation between Inquisitors and Space Marines is always tense at best.

I mean an Inquisitor could declare the entire, say, Imperial Fists chapter as Hereticus and issue an Order of Exterminatus, but who would they call on to carry the order out? The Imperial Guard? Not enough Guard in an entire Sector to wipe out an entire Space Marines chapter. Another chapter of Space Marines? The Ultramarines are just as "heretical," in the eyes of the Inquisition, as any other First Founding chapter. Plus they would never attack their Battle Brothers short of a full blown Chaos infestation.

And since we're talking about Deathwing, back during the Horace Heresy there were some Dark Angels marines who got tainted by Chaos. The rest of the Dark Angels cleaned house and hushed it up, but it is a HUGE sore spot for them, and 90% of their overall efforts are geared toward making sure NO ONE outside the Chapter ever finds out.

If an Inquisitor tried to accuse some Dark Angels of anything, you're have 20 Dark Angels Space Marines surrounding & subduing that Inquisitor, one of them would set off a nuke blowing them all to atoms, and all the other Dark Angels would say with totally straight faces "Oops, training accident."

There's more than enough Guardsmen and their tanks to wipe out a Space Marine chapter in a sector.

But... Who are the Guardsmen going to listen to? A secretive inquisitor who tells them nothing except that those guys, who are known heroes and their virtues extolled and hyped up in propaganda videos and pamphlets, are bad because they pissed him off and you better fight them or else I'm going to do to your regiment what we're doing to them [oh wait, she needs us to take them out...], or the heroes of the Imperium, super-soldier defenders of man, born from the Emperor's own genes, Angels of Death, etc. etc. etc.

On the question of Astartes & Inquisitors it's also noteworthy that there is a difference between chapters. First founding chapters can generally tell even an Inquisitor Lord to piss off quite impolitely without any repercusions, while younger chapters with a less established history and reputation will have to atleast play nice when an inquisitor comes knocking.

The most notable examples of this are the Space Wolves who will flat-out refuse to take orders unless they're asked politely and respectfully and the Iron Hands who only engage in conflict if their math marines have deemed their odds of winning decisively adequately high.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh and, since it's common for space hulks to pop out of the warp with derelict geller fields it is not uncommon that the Ordo Malleus is given preference on initial investigations as these vessels may contain daemonic taint.

Lander1979 wrote:
So it's highly plausible that there is an Inquisitor involved in coordinating the Astro Militarum and Dark Angels in this scenario, although it may not necessarily be Ordo Xenos?

Investigation of a space hulk need not involve the inquisition in any fashion, they are often infested with hostile xenos or even worse and the military forces of the Imperium would consider any they discovered to be a significant threat. I believe Space Marine chapters are obligated to investigate any they find.

However it is entirely plausible that an Inquisitor would be interested in a space hulk for a whole host of reasons. The Inquisitor might have been the one to discover it, maybe having investigated reports of ships going missing in an area of space. Upon discovering it they would requisition available forces to deal with it. Or maybe they are interested in the hulk for some other reason. An Ordos Xenos Inquisitor might be interested because some of the component vessels of the hulk are of Xenos origin and the technology they contain would be of vital interest to them. Or an Ordos Hereticus Inquisitor might take an interest because one of the vessels is an Imperial ship that went missing millennia ago on a top secret mission with a sinister and forbidden cargo... There are a whole host of reasons you could come up with why an Inquisitor might take the action you describe. And yes, the most basic would be that space hulks often contain hostile aliens like genestealers and an Ordos Xenos Inquisitor would be fully aware of the risk they might pose of infesting an imperial world and want it dealt with ASAP.

phillv85 wrote:
1. No, they're specialist Xeno killers. And as for if they're the only ones allowed on a hulk.... Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels.... Space Hulk: Deathwing.

2. Yes

3. No

4. What? They're normal Dark Angels genes wise if that's what you mean.

5. Yes, in theory.... but good luck telling 1000 ceramite armoured killing machines to do something they don't want to

Only thing I'll correct there is that inquisitors are not able to command space marine chapters or contingents in any way.

Lander1979 wrote:
Hi, this is a question with regards to the Space Hulk Deathwing game.

There is a Hive fleet in system, Dark Angels called in to assist the Astro Militarum with the threat.

It is my opinion that it is it likely to be the Ordo Xenos calling the shots with regard to the Hive fleet and the Astro Militarum.

Is this likely to be the case?

Lander1979 wrote:So it's highly plausible that there is an Inquisitor involved in coordinating the Astro Militarum and Dark Angels in this scenario, although it may not necessarily be Ordo Xenos?

Hive fleet in system: the system's defenses will immediately mobilize, planetary defense forces will muster, and calls for help will go out to neighboring planets's astra militarum or imperial navy, and calls for help will go out to whatever space marine chapters are in the area.

If Dark Angels happen to be in the area when the planet is calling for aid with a hive fleet bearing down on them, the Dark Angels will probably come help IF they are not otherwise engaged in important military action or fallen-hunting.


Now, is it highly likely that there is an Ordo Xenos inquisitor calling the shots? Well, if that planetary system was home to an Ordo Xenos Inquisitor's home base, or a larger Inquisitorial facility, then there would be an Ordo Xenos inquisitor around, and he might have expert knowledge regarding Tyranids. If so he would probably step in to command or attach himself to one of the imperial military forces. If the Ordo Xenos inquisitor generally only knows stuff about Eldar, he may still try to help find some weakness in the hive fleet's attack or otherwise assist evacuating key relics or any other sort of super-important goal.

So, maybe that Ordo Xenos inquisitor is a lofty Inquisitor Lord and he has a lot of pull and he puts himself in command. Maybe that Ordo Xenos inquisitor has less influence and joins in mostly behind the scenes.

Or maybe there is not an Ordo Xenos Inquisitor around at all? This seems most likely to me. I think the odds of there just happening to be an Ordo Xenos inquisitor hanging around when your system is attacked is low odds.

Maybe there is an Ordo Malleus or Hereticus inquisitor around and he helps the best he can in a similar way. The famed Inquisitor Eisenhorn was from the ordo Xenos but had to deal with many heretics and daemons along his way.

So, highly plausible, well it is certainly something that could happen. Or there might just not be any inquisitor around and the forces fight like they would anyway.

Thanks for clearing that up guys. In a way I think both Mr B and I stand corrected. In any case Im glad we had the argument as we've both learnt alot from it and the answers you guys have given us.

Awesome stuff!

phillv85 wrote:
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Inquisition

Under the section of Role of the Inquisition. They have absolute authority and answer to nobody but the emperor.

They have no authority over the Custodes.

Mr B wrote:
Hey,

Hoping some knowledgeable peeps can settle an argument. Well, several actually while I'm here. I know (or am self convinced of the answers), but won't say so it's not going one way or the other.

Here they are:

The Deathwatch are solely tasked to deal with space hulks. I.e. if your in a space hulk, your either lost or in the watch.

Deathwatch and Deathwing are entirely separate (apart from the possibility of asking a Deathwing member to be part of the Deathwatch).

Any action on a hulk will entail an inquisitor from the ordo xenos (in command or otherwise involved, not in combat).

The Deathwing are made up from elites with original protogenes.

An inquisitor is able to command space marine chapters.

Thanks in advance to any answers. And if you know the answers, please post even if someone already has. The above questions are hotly contested and the more answers the better.

1. The Deathwatch primary objective would be Xenos extermination regardless of where they are.

2. Dark Angels can become Deathwatch but so can any other Space Marine, literally, some Deathwatch Black Shields are potentially traitor marines.

3. No. If there is a Space Hulk to be had most people will look into claiming it without help, they want as much of the profit as they can get for themselves.

4. At present yes, Primaris Marines are yet to find a place in the Deathwing.

5. They wish.

Deathwatch probably have the best chance of taking command being that they are reknown specialists in Xenos warfare as well as ranking Space Marines themselves - even an uppity hothead like Grimnar would probably cede command to a Watch Master when teaming up to face a Xenos threat.

The Sisters of Battle would probably have the second best chance of ordering a Space Marine chapter about, especially if Celestine is present and calling the shots.

Inquisition delegates regularly disappear. Grimnar uses them as target practice, other Chapter Masters are quieter about it.

Grey Knights don't exist, no Chapter Master takes orders from a non-existent Inquisition force.

Assassins are an interesting subject but they take orders, they don't give them.

 Inquisitor Lord Katherine wrote:

But... Who are the Guardsmen going to listen to? A secretive inquisitor who tells them nothing except that those guys, who are known heroes and their virtues extolled and hyped up in propaganda videos and pamphlets, are bad because they pissed him off and you better fight them or else I'm going to do to your regiment what we're doing to them [oh wait, she needs us to take them out...], or the heroes of the Imperium, super-soldier defenders of man, born from the Emperor's own genes, Angels of Death, etc. etc. etc.

There's a book about that - in the grey knights series a renegade Inquisitor gets the guard and PDF to fight the grey knights by explaining that chaos worshiping space marines are on their way and they can be recognised by their silver armour and book iconography.

Most guardsmen have never seen a space marine and even fewer have seen a chaos space marine.

As long as we aren't talking about one of the few really famous space marine chapters (asking a PDF from one of the worlds in the ultramar realm to fight ultramarines because "they're totally heretics, trust me" might not work so well.) that tactic is probably going to work.

 Glasdir wrote:

phillv85 wrote:
1. No, they're specialist Xeno killers. And as for if they're the only ones allowed on a hulk.... Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels.... Space Hulk: Deathwing.

2. Yes

3. No

4. What? They're normal Dark Angels genes wise if that's what you mean.

5. Yes, in theory.... but good luck telling 1000 ceramite armoured killing machines to do something they don't want to

Only thing I'll correct there is that inquisitors are not able to command space marine chapters or contingents in any way.

By law yes they are. They have authority of Emperor with them so disobeying directly amounts to a treason.

But of course it's not as easy as that in practice if Inquisitor tries to order them stupidly. Marines can delay fullfilling and of course if they deem they can get away Inquisitor demanding help for personal vendetta could meet an "accident"

 Scott-S6 wrote:

 Inquisitor Lord Katherine wrote:

But... Who are the Guardsmen going to listen to? A secretive inquisitor who tells them nothing except that those guys, who are known heroes and their virtues extolled and hyped up in propaganda videos and pamphlets, are bad because they pissed him off and you better fight them or else I'm going to do to your regiment what we're doing to them [oh wait, she needs us to take them out...], or the heroes of the Imperium, super-soldier defenders of man, born from the Emperor's own genes, Angels of Death, etc. etc. etc.

There's a book about that - in the grey knights series a renegade Inquisitor gets the guard and PDF to fight the grey knights by explaining that chaos worshiping space marines are on their way and they can be recognised by their silver armour and book iconography.

Most guardsmen have never seen a space marine and even fewer have seen a chaos space marine.

As long as we aren't talking about one of the few really famous space marine chapters (asking a PDF from one of the worlds in the ultramar realm to fight ultramarines because "they're totally heretics, trust me" might not work so well.) that tactic is probably going to work.

Grey Knights are probably the only chapter that would work on. As far as the greater Imperium is concerned the Grey Knights don't exist and they mind wipe anyone who meets them, that's why the Space Wolves got away with going to war with them.

Urgent message to Chapter Master Vorn Hagen:
We are writing to inform you that the Space Wolves have been excommunicated due to military action against *deleted* during a conflict on Armageddon where they prevented the *deleted* from fulfilling their Inquisitional duties including *deleted* by peacably shielding them from cleansing the local populace then abducting said populace and carrying them to safety.
*deleted* then travelled to the Fenrisian system and lay seige to the Space Wolves but were held at bay by the Space Wolves' planetary defense systems. The *deleted* were then driven back by the arrival of the Space Wolves fleet.

Vorn Hagen "...is this supposed to be funny?".

Like I said, it won't work on the well known chapters.

There's loads of obscure chapters that most people have never heard of. Some of them don't exactly have loyalty inspiring iconography or behaviour either.

Obviously harder to convince another marine chapter but even then some chapters are so secretive that most other marines don't know anything about them.

How many people know anything about the carachadons, fire hawks, executioners?

(did you even read my post? - I suggested that an Inquisitor would be able to convince a PDF that a non-famous chapter were traitors and you respond by suggesting that they wouldn't be able to convince a chapter master that one of the most well known first founding chapters are traitors)

Mr B wrote:
Hey,

Hoping some knowledgeable peeps can settle an argument. Well, several actually while I'm here. I know (or am self convinced of the answers), but won't say so it's not going one way or the other.

Here they are:

The Deathwatch are solely tasked to deal with space hulks. I.e. if your in a space hulk, your either lost or in the watch.

Deathwatch and Deathwing are entirely separate (apart from the possibility of asking a Deathwing member to be part of the Deathwatch).

Any action on a hulk will entail an inquisitor from the ordo xenos (in command or otherwise involved, not in combat).

The Deathwing are made up from elites with original protogenes.

An inquisitor is able to command space marine chapters.

Thanks in advance to any answers. And if you know the answers, please post even if someone already has. The above questions are hotly contested and the more answers the better.

- No, they're not. Pretty much any military arm of the Imperium deals with Hulks, save the PDF.
- Correct. Although I can't imagine a member of the inner circle running off to play Xeno hunter.
- No, not always. If an inquisitor is present, sure, if they aren't whoever is tasked with clearing/destroying the Hulk will perform their duty anyway.
- Unsure. Haven't read any lore to indicate this is true.
- Inquisitors can command anyone they like, it's in their EULA. However, Marines are granted autonomy by the Emperor, same as the Inquisitors, and often times will tell the big I to cram their orders (see: Space Wolves).

tneva82 wrote:

 Glasdir wrote:

phillv85 wrote:
1. No, they're specialist Xeno killers. And as for if they're the only ones allowed on a hulk.... Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels.... Space Hulk: Deathwing.

2. Yes

3. No

4. What? They're normal Dark Angels genes wise if that's what you mean.

5. Yes, in theory.... but good luck telling 1000 ceramite armoured killing machines to do something they don't want to

Only thing I'll correct there is that inquisitors are not able to command space marine chapters or contingents in any way.

By law yes they are. They have authority of Emperor with them so disobeying directly amounts to a treason.

But of course it's not as easy as that in practice if Inquisitor tries to order them stupidly. Marines can delay fullfilling and of course if they deem they can get away Inquisitor demanding help for personal vendetta could meet an "accident"

Especially if it's Dark Angels and the Inquisitor seems to know anything about Fallen. Quite a lot of those Inquisitors meet accidents.

I think people overestimate the clout of a single Space Marine chapter. Refusing an Inquisitor would be a bad call in most situations. There is plenty of ways the Inquisition can make a life of a chapter very difficult, without coming even close of Excommunicate Traitoris. The marine chapters are reliant on Imperial infrastructure for their gear, supplies and communications, and an Inquisitor could easily affect all of those if they wanted. Furthermore, I really don't think it much matters how much personal influence the Inquisitor in question has. Even if they were an utter arse that was hated by their peers, the other Inquisitors would probably still back them up, because they don't want to set an example of someone refusing an Inquisitorial order and getting scot-free.

 Scott-S6 wrote:
Like I said, it won't work on the well known chapters.

There's loads of obscure chapters that most people have never heard of. Some of them don't exactly have loyalty inspiring iconography or behaviour either.

Obviously harder to convince another marine chapter but even then some chapters are so secretive that most other marines don't know anything about them.

How many people know anything about the carachadons, fire hawks, executioners?

(did you even read my post? - I suggested that an Inquisitor would be able to convince a PDF that a non-famous chapter were traitors and you respond by suggesting that they wouldn't be able to convince a chapter master that one of the most well known first founding chapters are traitors)

That was agreement not an argument.

Did anyone else spit out their soda when they read "Settle an Argument" on a Dakka forum?

 Crimson wrote:
I think people overestimate the clout of a single Space Marine chapter. Refusing an Inquisitor would be a bad call in most situations. There is plenty of ways the Inquisition can make a life of a chapter very difficult, without coming even close of Excommunicate Traitoris. The marine chapters are reliant on Imperial infrastructure for their gear, supplies and communications, and an Inquisitor could easily affect all of those if they wanted. Furthermore, I really don't think it much matters how much personal influence the Inquisitor in question has. Even if they were an utter arse that was hated by their peers, the other Inquisitors would probably still back them up, because they don't want to set an example of someone refusing an Inquisitorial order and getting scot-free.

Most Chapters rule entire planets so they can just use their planet for getting gear and supplies. Cutting off communications for a Chapter seems pretty hard without killing astropaths and trying is just going to land you in a pot of trouble labelled "TRAITOR".

tneva82 wrote:

 Adeptus Doritos wrote:

tneva82 wrote:
True that. Inquisitors aren't calling for marines lightly(especially as they know marines would likely ignore and Inquisitors don't want to force issue lightly either) and marines would likely know that so if they CAN help they likely would. Some chapters might not be too happy(dark angels worried about their secret being found) but often situation Inquistor calls in for a help from marines would be one marines would be coming on their own if they found out about.

Inquisitors are one of my favourite parts of 40k. In theory ultimate authority but never so black&white.

Fun headcanon: The Inquisition and all the other Chapters know about the Dark Angels' 'secret' with the Fallen. But no one says anything, because it's funny to watch them go into a panic.

"Hey, Brothers- *snicker*- Let's put out an astropathic message saying we've gotten reports about black-clad Heretic Astartes wearing robes and calling themselves some kind of Angels. We'll wager to see how many Dark Angel successor chapters show up." -Sergeant Trollington

haha you know what? I love it!

While I love dark angels(my fav chapter) I do think GW boxed themselves with them a bit. Idea of their secret sounds cool but...It's too mundane. So some rebelled. Bohoo. Other legions had traitors as well...

They came up with secret that's just not quite dark enough.

My absolute favourite bit of unscripted dialogue from a deathwatch RPG game I ran - a Deathwing veteran meeting an Executioner, the latter mentioning that his chapter no longer held title to their homeworld:

"How could that happen?"
"As a result of the Badab war."
"I don't understand."
"Our chapter and the Mantis Warriors realised we had rebelled against the Imperium without realising it. We surrendered, confessed, aided the inquisition in hunting down our surviving renegades and undertook a penitent's crusade to publicly redeem ourselves in the Imperium's eyes."
"...wait. You can do that?"

tneva82 wrote:

 Adeptus Doritos wrote:

tneva82 wrote:
Even if they don\t bow they generally won't be too open about ignoring as ignoring Inquisitors has very real danger. You ARE ignoring guys who have the ultimate authority so too open ignoring especially when it's clearly in best interest of Imperium could get marines on the chopping block.

Also, very rarely is an Inquisitor an idiot. If he says, "We have a problem and I need Astartes", it's generally a significant problem that he couldn't throw a couple hundred Stormtroopers and a Deathwatch Kill-Team at. While a lot of things portray Inquisitors as mustache-twirling trenchcoat villains that get a hard-on for making people miserable... most of them aren't, and don't make their most brutal decisions lightly.

Witch-hunters, on the other hand, may be more absurd about things. But not every witch-hunter is an Inquisitor, or has that authority. They may be Ecclesiarchal fanatics, they may be Inquisitors, but even then calling on Astartes for something trivial and stupid is a good way to get an assignment on a Death World with very little funding, support, or safety precautions...

True that. Inquisitors aren't calling for marines lightly(especially as they know marines would likely ignore and Inquisitors don't want to force issue lightly either) and marines would likely know that so if they CAN help they likely would. Some chapters might not be too happy(dark angels worried about their secret being found) but often situation Inquistor calls in for a help from marines would be one marines would be coming on their own if they found out about.

Inquisitors are one of my favourite parts of 40k. In theory ultimate authority but never so black&white.

Yeah, they consider there options carefully before they request a marine task force, because while they may have authority marines have alot of power and independence. Especially the first and second founding who are more so.

They could order marines, with threat and force, they could also find they missed a vox call to fall back to a choke point or that a strong enemy was coming on that flank and well... Killed by enemy of course... Not there fault.. War is chaos.

 Elbows wrote:
Did anyone else spit out their soda when they read "Settle an Argument" on a Dakka forum?

Oh, oh, I'm sorry. This is Dakka. This is abuse.

Mr B wrote:
The Deathwatch are solely tasked to deal with space hulks. I.e. if your in a space hulk, your either lost or in the watch.

No. I guess whoever you were arguing with isn't aware of Space Hulk Deathwing Enhanced Edition just releasing.

Mr B wrote:
Deathwatch and Deathwing are entirely separate (apart from the possibility of asking a Deathwing member to be part of the Deathwatch).

Yes.

Mr B wrote:
Any action on a hulk will entail an inquisitor from the ordo xenos (in command or otherwise involved, not in combat).

See 1.

Mr B wrote:
The Deathwing are made up from elites with original protogenes.

I don't even understand this one.

Mr B wrote:
An inquisitor is able to command space marine chapters.

Able to, technically, but not necessarily. A good one for this is the short story Black Dawn. An Inquisitor discovers that the prized relic of a world, a bolt pistol used by Robute Gulliman during the great crusade was actually a bolt pistol used by Horus during the crusade. He enlists the help of not just a full company of space marines with scouts, but also a rogue trader, to assassinate the planet's leadership and take the relic. At the end they're at the relic's location and the Inquisitor is eager to get ahold of it to take it to Titan and study it, and the chaplain declares it's an abomination to be destroyed. The inquisitor moves to stop him, but the captain places a hand on the Inquisitor's shoulder and says, "Two fates present themselves. You can return to Titan a hero who has brought about the destruction of an unholy thing. Or you can be denounced as a Horusian radical and perish with the relic. Make your choice inquisitor." The inquisitor decides, on balance, not to intervene. So yes, an Inquisitor can command space marines, but the reality is when surrounded by fanatical 8ft tall warrior monks in power armour, the Inquisitor can only order them to do things they would have done anyway.

Not sure if it was mentioned yet. But look into space wolves lore and what happens when an inquisitor goes to far

 ShadowCaptainMathius wrote:
Not sure if it was mentioned yet. But look into space wolves lore and what happens when an inquisitor goes to far

Eugh. Just yet another example of how boring and poorly written the space wolves are.

 CREEEEEEEEED wrote:

 ShadowCaptainMathius wrote:
Not sure if it was mentioned yet. But look into space wolves lore and what happens when an inquisitor goes to far

Eugh. Just yet another example of how boring and poorly written the space wolves are.

How? It's not like anyone else never did something bad to an Inquisitor.

If a space marine kills a radical inquisitor on their own, then the wider imperium will let it slide. Even then, as we saw with Gabriel Seth, killing a single inquisitor can be a very dangerous secret to keep. The idea that the space wolves could kill a lord inquisitor, an entire company of grey knights and grand master, as well as engage in fleet action against the imperial navy and red hunters chapter fleet, and just walk away without being declared traitors is laughable.
They're given such strangely favourable treatment, and most of the rest of their fluff is monumentally boring.