All those playing "Touched by the Alien" please do not read on.

Ok, so I am hammering out the backstory for my game's plot but I've come into knot which I can't seem to untie properly and would need some help with it. The idea is that an Istvaanian Radical of the Ordo Xenos has a cooperation with a notorious xenophile arch-heretic. The Inquisitor wants to use the arch-heretic to cause chaos and strife and so ready the Calixis Sector for a greater horror, while the arch-heretic is just happy to be able to use the Inquisition to get advanced warnings and to direct them against his own rivals and enemies from time to time. So far the deal has worked very well for both parts.

Now as far as I have thought the two of them met when the Inquisitor was following the heretic on ships, but just as they engaged each other a xenos ship arrives to attack the two. Both ships are crippled, boarded and the crew taken captives by the xenos. And then its a stop. Something happens that allows for both the Inquisitor and heretic to walk away and with a new alliance between them.

Just what the hell happens? Any ideas that would make some sense?

Making an escape, they fight side by side for matters of survival. Neither one liked the idea of working together, but it was clear that neither of them could make it out alone.

During this long ordeal, they gain respect for each other on a human level, becoming friends and subtly proposing their own agendas. The Radical could have expressed to the heretic that he wishes the Calixis sector would face adversity so it may prepare itself for the worst, when he comes to the realization that this xenophile is the perfect tool for his designs.

Thus, the arrangement is made once they break free from captivity.

Noctivagent said:

I suppose this might be the best solution to the problem. Thanks for the help!

Maybe the Inquisitor broke under xeno interrogation, and the arch-heretic knows this and is blackmailing the Inquisitor…?

Have the Xenos ship arriving by chance, an act of them seeing an opportunity to strike. This way the Xenos ship isn't necessarily a heavily fortified battle ship, but something more akin to a scout or cargo freighter (making the escape more plausible in terms of the opposition the inquisitor/heretic will face). Maybe the xenos wishes to covet the ships for material.

Another reason for working together could be that during the escape they realize only 1 ship is functioning, for which one has the access codes to the ship but the other has the technical skill to get it running (damaged during the fighting) this would further emphasize the need for teamwork.

Just some idea, I hope it helps!

It helps alot. Thanks guys!

The scenario I will run will be a mix of all three suggestions and I'll have the following scenario.

The Inquisitor catches the xenophile and the two ships engage each other and during that fight the xenos ship stumbles upon them and captures both crews for interrogation and other uses. At first the Inquisitor is certain of his own ability to escape the xenos but after a time it turns out to be impossible and so he bends rather than break and takes up a previous offer from the xenophile who has himself failed to charm his way into the xenos' grace. The two of them manages to escape together with their men and fight their way clear of the alien ship, which they cripple before leaving. After their escape the two comes to see things each other's way and leaves after having made a pact of mutual assistance after having seen each other's capabilities in action.

I prefer the idea of blackmailing over the idea of friendship and mutual understanding. This is W40K after all

The Laughing God said:

You are correct that mutual understanding and all won't fit well with the 40k setting, but I figured that if the Inquisitor was blackmailed then he would be putting alot of resources into the destruction of this problematic heretic, rather than working with him. Hence some kind of cooperation, at least temporary, would be needed between these two otherwise mutually opposing characters.

What's actually more likely is that both the Inquisitor and the xenophile enter this agreement with the intent of manipulating the other to serve their respective plans - question is: who will figure it out first? :-)

SCSingularity said:

You are right about this and its a part that I would like to weave into the relation between the Inquisitor and the Xenophile.