Incident 496 was an event so named because it was the Ascendancy Saturn Delegation’s four hundred and ninety sixth report involving one or more fatalities of debtors falling under its jurisdiction.
Events preceding Incident 496 included three Pursuers breaking into Obelisk HQ on Saturn, and making off with stolen property, both physical and intellectual. During their escape, these Pursuers also killed eleven Obelisk Securitymen*
Following, an official complaint was submitted to the Courts of the Ascendancy. The complaint, having come from the most profitable Corpo in the Milky Way, ultimately reached the High Seat. In response, three Oculus Askers were sent to investigate, with the aid of a team of Remedial Ascendancy Skirmishmen – all equipped with the latest weapons, and armor technologies.
The Ascendancy was eager to pit Oculus Askers against Pursuer Persecutors, and chose to make this an unofficial Questioning for the purpose of reduced constraints for Oculus conduct.
Surveillance equipment captured the following:
The team sent to render the inquiry gathered in a desolate field at the base of the Pursuer Temple Mount. Three Oculus Askers and a team of elite Remedial Ascendancy Skirmishmen stood wary, the perpetual raging storms of Saturn battering their armor and environ suits. Having readied themselves, the chief Asker called out with a loud voice.
Some time passed until a lone hooded figured of a man made his way out from the massive leaning slabs which mark the Temple’s entrance. With methodical, laborious movements he tread his way down the many apholtrum stairs, his black and red robes shifting and swaying till at last he neared the bottom. There, the Oculus Askers were met by the ancient and wise face of a Pursuer Elder.
Immediately, the inquiring Askers lashed out with a plethora of accusations. Following, came the demands of the return of all stolen hardware and intel, the handing over of guilty Pursuers, and even the granting of full Temple access to the Ascendancy. There was not a single response from the Pursuer. Not even so much as a flinch, a huff, or a sigh. The elderly man showed absolutely no response to any accusation or demand.
Staring down the three Askers and a team of elite RAS from beneath his hood, the intimidating visage of the elder revealed gray hair and a long beard framing deep-set black eyes. Eyes which seemed to reflect, or absorb, the surrounding light. None of the Askers moved, except the leader of the group, whom was the most zealous. All RAS had their weapons raised, and readied to fire. It wasn’t until the Asker’s first movement forward through the sands that the Persecutor Elder spoke.
“Set one foot upon these sacred stones and suffer greatly.”
The Asker stopped, rare beads of sweat visible upon his forehead. Peering back momentarily, hoping to search his cohorts for confidence, he resumed his course, brushing against the Elder’s shoulder as he set one foot upon the stairs leading up to the Pursuer Temple.
The confrontation lasted less than a minute, and resulted in the deaths of two Askers, and the team of RAS. The Asker whom had stepped forward was reportedly never heard from again. Unfortunately, surveillance equipment from nearby Installations had encountered a glitch at the exact moment of the flurry of blows, and thus been unable to record any clear visual footage of the conflict. However, audio consisting of explosions, gunfire, and screaming was recorded. When visual returned, the Elder had reached the height of the Temple Mount. Drifting before him upon nothing, was the body of a man.
After this event, the Ascendancy dropped the matter with no further Questioning. Neither were there any other reports of Pursuer infiltration of any Installation on Saturn. The bodies of the Remedial Ascendancy Servicemen were recovered intact, and given honorable burial for death in the line of duty. Of the Askers, no identifiable remains were recovered.
*Note: Obelisk has not released an official report regarding any deaths of its securitymen preceding the officially reported Incident 496. The report of these deaths stems from a number of former Obelisk employees whom came forward separately and anonymously with corroborating stories.