The Multiverse Project: Warhammer 40,000

"Here we are, peppermint tea with a dash of alpine honey for sister Clarisse, mocha with a generous sprinkle of cinnamon and ginger, extra foamy, for colonel Evangeline, and finally, a cappuccino for me."

Tangmo expertly placed the tray down on the ceramic table, handing out the drinks to Evangeline and Clarisse before seating himself opposite them, his back turned to the huge panoramic window that made up the wall. Behind him was Block B, a bustling residential district of visually pleasing high rises and futuristic looking buildings, some shooting out of the ground like the Empire State while other clung to the ship's hull. Apartments, markets and other specialized businesses sprawled below, the civilians that lived aboard the Immortal Spirit have proven themselves industrious and architecturally creative, when not suppressed by the Imperium constant brainwashing that is. This barista the three now occupied was perched on the top level, a place of relaxation and nice view. Yiruma's soft piano compositions drifted softly across the stylish, oaken brown establishment.

"Thank you, lord commissar," Clarisse smiled pleasantly, and Tangmo was pleased to see that the nun had made a full recovered from her ordeal on Ghamarhon. The gauntness in her cheeks and muscles had filled up, and her pale skin glow a healthy shade of pink.

"You're welcome Clarisse," Tangmo stirred his coffee. "How's everything?"

"Quite fine sir," Clarisse's gaze dropped to her steaming cup, a flicker of unease flashed across her bright green eyes before she hurriedly took a sip.

"How about we skip the false nicety and get to the point?" Evangeline glared at him. "I know why you're here."

"Evie, don't be so rude!" Clarisse was angst by her girlfriend's hostility.

"He's only here to finish what the general had started," Evangeline slowly, menacingly, sipped her mocha. "It appears that the two of you take great enjoyment in making Clarisse relieve her imprisonment in vivid detail."

"Yeah, I heard about what happened," Tangmo drank his cappuccino, enjoying the foamy, bitter taste. "Henry got carried away again, didn't he?"

"It was nothing short of an interrogation," Evangeline voice deepened with indignation.

"He was going for the gritty urban cop routine, but DCI Luther he is not," Tangmo chuckled and placed his cup down. "Anyway, I'm not here to question her, this is just a psyche checkup."

"Your friend left Clarisse shaking and weeping after his visit," Evangeline pressed on. "He might not have touched her, but he had violated her more thoroughly than anything that could be accomplished physically."

"Evie, please," Clarisse lay a hand on Evangeline's arm. "The general was only doing his job. I gave him my permission to begin the questioning. The memories hurt, true, but it is a pain I gladly endure in the name of duty. The general was very sorry afterward too. Please Evie, don't be angry with him."

Evangeline's countenance softened with a smile.

"It's hard watching you suffer, love," Evangeline stroked Clarisse's girlishly pretty cheek. "But for you, I promise to behave."

"Thank you," Clarisse leaned in and kissed Evangeline lightly on the lips, startling the colonel before turning back to Tangmo. "You may ask your question, lord commissar."

"Okay, how are you feeling?" Tangmo eased into his cushioned chair.

"Very good sir, thank you for asking," Clarisse drank her tea daintily, exuding refinement.

"Any nightmares or panic attacks?"

The nun paused for a moment then slowly placed her cup and saucer down, "sometime sir. It was a lot more frequent during the first few weeks. The littlest noise can make me hyperventilate, and every time I close my eyes I can see their leering faces, and I can feel the whips, the knives, the branding irons, the groping hands…"

"It's okay Clarisse, that'll do," Tangmo interrupted before the nun grew more distressed. "Have you visited the Med Bay yet? They can erase any scars that lingers."

"I have decided to keep them sir," Clarisse continued. "As a reminder of what I went through, and how I survived."

"Awesome," Tangmo took a less than polite gulp of his cappuccino. "It's been four months since leaving the Saule system, are you getting better?"

"A lot better sir," Clarisse beamed brightly at Evangeline. "Evie have been very attentive. Without her, I feared the worst. I can now walk through a live firing gallery without flinching, and the nightmares have all but gone."

"Nice," Tangmo smiled. "Have there been any trouble with the populace when words about Zyrien got out?"

"Father Joseph was quick to make those of the more passionate nature, few as they may be, see reason," Clarisse gushed suddenly. "I've never seen anyone orate with such passion and logic, his words heal both the mind and the soul. Those that came pointing fingers were begging for our forgiveness when they left."

"To Joseph then," Tangmo raised his cup then glanced wickedly at Evangeline. "So…word around the barrack is that you've been spending every free moment with Clarisse. Hell, I barely see you around the officer quarter anymore."

Evangeline's eyes narrowed dangerously, "seems like I need to remind the men to keep their noses out of my business."

"Why don't you just invite Clarisse to live with you?" Evangeline choked at Tangmo's innocent suggestion.

"It is highly inappropriate for a Sororitas to be sharing quarter with a guardswoman sir," Evangeline raised her voice, some of the other occupants turning to look at them. "And I don't want any untoward gossip to befall Clarisse."

"Words can't hurt me Evie," Clarisse said. "And father Joseph doesn't mind where you stay, as long as you perform your duty."

"Dude, seriously, nobody cares. Even Xiphos and Ryvin are living together," Tangmo added. "Besides, wouldn't it be good to have Clarisse close by if the nightmares come back? And think about, waking up next to her every morning, have breakfast together, drive to work together, come home together, go to bed together, that's some wholesome shit right there dude."

Evangeline was about to protest Tangmo's intimately inappropriate suggestion when Clarisse let out a devilishly puppy whine, the colonel coughing up her mocha at the nun's pleading, quivering lips.

"I'll…" The cuteness assault shattered Evangeline's defense. "Think about it."

"Wonderful," Tangmo finished his cappuccino and adopted his serious face. "Now that the topic of Clarisse is done, are you ready for deployment?"

"Yes sir," Evangeline shifted to her professional militaristic bearing, "how long until we reach the objective?"

"Three days," Tangmo said.

"I heard that the Immortal Spirit dropped out of the Warp after traveling only half way to our destination," Clarisse added demurely. "May I ask what happened?"

"With the Great Rift splitting the galaxy in two, the Immaterium has become even more dangerous to navigate," Tangmo said. "Eurydice said she can guide us, but the toll it took on Tristan convinced her that it would be safer for everyone onboard to simply return to real space after a month inside the Warp. Good thing the Immortal Spirit's own propulsion engines can take us to sub-light speed, that's how we got to the Songkram-Nappa system so quickly."

"I'm still irked that the system's inhabitants made contact with us first," Evangeline spoke up. "How do you suppose they know we're coming?"

"Probably detected us emerging from the Warp on the outskirt of their system," Tangmo chuckled. "Maybe our reputation precedes us, I don't know, but the astropathic message doesn't sound too ominous, if anything, it was sickeningly sweet."

"Politic prattling," Evangeline spat disdainfully. "And I thought I would be free of that when I joined the guards. There were two messages I believe, from two different planets?"

"Yeah," Tangmo nodded. "The first one came from a planet called Kuro Taiyo, the other from Buxiu Shoudu, both promising men and resources to assist us in reclaiming the STC from Jigugeum, another planet that is currently getting over run by orks."

"They are both vying for our attention, I should know, my family behave similarly back on Mordian," Evangeline continued. "We need to maneuver ourselves carefully, lest we offend one party and elevate the other."

"Or we can just fucking nuke them if they become difficult," Tangmo's easy shrug drew a horrified gasp from Clarisse.

"I am continually impressed by your straightforward attitude, commissar Tangmo," Evangeline managed to make the simple act of drinking coffee unbelievably haughty. "It is a shame the same cannot be said for your manner and sense of propriety."

"You're never gonna let that Thai Kick thing go, are you?" Tangmo snickered.

"She most certainly will not!" Clarisse said crossly. "What you did was most reprehensible!"

"Welp, you can't please everyone," Tangmo drew the data-slate from his awesome commissar coat, connected it to the café's system via Bluetooth, tapped the screen, and paid for the drinks, "my treat."

"How gentlemanly," Evangeline said snidely.

"Thank you for your time ladies," Tangmo rose from his seat and tipped his awesome commissar cap at them. "Sorry to cut our conversation short but I have to go over the deployment plan with Henry and Damien. Good day."

"What do you think it's gonna be like?" Damien was giddy as all fuck. Around the Valkyrie's shaking cabin the main characters watched the bouncing Space Marine with horrified confusion.

"I don't know man, but I'm hyped!" Henry looked about ready to squeal but a tired look from Ladaee settled him down. "Still, this could end up being super stereotypically offensive."

"Oh yeah, with everybody doing Kung Fu and Karate on the street for no reason, chicks with neon highlight in their hairs and some old monk dude reciting cryptic Buddhist and Confucius text," Damien concurred dejectedly. "What's the first planet we're heading too?"

"Buxiu Shoudu," Tangmo said. "I'm not fluent in Chinese, but I'm pretty sure that translate roughly as the Undying Capital."

"Dude, you think it's gonna be like in Avatar?" Damien grinned at Henry.

"Aang or Korra?" Henry asked.

"More on the Korra side with a healthy sprinkle of futuristic grim darkness."

"So we're talking about something like a blend between Ghost in a Shell and Akira?"

"That would be so cool! Maybe they'll even have giant robots!"

"I'm surrounded by fucking weebs, holy God Emperor help me," Tangmo facepalmed himself. "If you two want to see some stupid anime shit so bad, go join the Greater Good!"

"Stop being such a spoilsport man!" Henry wailed dramatically.

"Yeah, stop discriminating our love for Japanese pop culture!" Damien added righteously.

"What are they talking about?" Alistair asked desperately, unable to comprehend the trio's conversation.

"You'll get used to it colonel," Leilatha pitied him with an answer while Tangmo shook his head and glanced outside the brightening porthole. When the landscape below flew into view, Tangmo quickly waved the other two over.

"Yo, shut up and come take a look at this."

Squeezing up next to Tangmo, Henry and Damien peered outside and let out a breathless, "whoa."

Descending from the stratosphere, the sight that greeted them were towering pillar mountains like the one at Zhangjiajie, columns of grey stone and mossy jade holding up the heaven. Coiling around these peaks were man made pipes of brass and steel, encircling the narrow circumferences and boring into the rocky faces, each chutes connected to huge blocky refineries, mechanical spiders clinging to the mountain and spewing black smog into the blue sky.

"Dude, check that out," Tangmo pointed at the fast approaching city, neon lights in dizzying multitude dotted the flat plain in a chaotic pattern. Some area bespoke of planned and cultivated building space, showing clear geometrical shape from above, while others looked throw together without any forethought. And at the center, surrounded by phalanxes of silvery spires that reminded Tangmo of the Taipei Tower and the Burj Khalifa, was what could only be described as the Forbidden City on a Warhammer 40k scale. The mega palace complex dominated almost a quarter of the entire cityscape, towers designed to resemble Chinese layered pagoda dotted the perimeter at uniform interval, each one armed with anti-aircraft batteries, artilleries and missile launchers. Circling the entire palace city was a thick wall of steel, a kilometer in depth and five hundred meters in height, the battlements and watchtowers armed to the teeth.

"Sweet baby Jesus, I think we just stumbled into Mao's wet dream," Henry watched with rising awe as the Valkyrie approached the designated landing site, a stadium size courtyard of cobblestone arrayed into a dragon mosaic, flanked on both sides by unmoving, ultra disciplined guardsmen, unperturbed by the elements.

"I've never been to China," Damien added as the Valkyrie landed with a soft jerk, the engine kicking up swirling cones of dust.

"I have," Tangmo pulled away from the porthole. "But I doubt you'll ever see anything like this in Beijing."

"Speaking from experience?" Henry adjusted his awesome general cap.

"I've only been to Kunming and Hong Kong," Tangmo reached over to the vox caster above his seat and flipped the switch. "Tyra, Victoria, power down and get in here now."

"What do you want with the pilot?" Leilatha asked suspiciously and spared no expense in giving Tyra a poisonous look when she skipped up to Tangmo and saluted brightly, Victoria failing to hide her chuckles.

"Reporting for duty sir," Tyra beamed.

"You and Victoria are coming with us, grab your sidearm," Tangmo said. "If the negotiation goes south I don't want you two taken hostage." Tangmo swept his gaze around the Valkyrie. "That goes for the rest of you, armed yourself. Make sure to display your weapons, but in a nonthreatening way."

"These are our allies to be, shouldn't we give them the benefit of a doubt lad?" Bruce asked.

"They called us here to the heart of their power," Krillen checked his magazine. "When someone like that wants to be friends, it's time to start worrying."

"Acts of generosity should not be met with hostile suspicious," Al-Rahman said. "It is entirely possible that they truly wish to aid us in our mission."

"Or maybe they want something in return?" Xiphos suggested.

"I rather be safe than sorry," Tangmo turned to Leilatha. "Stay close to me, I think there could be trouble for you."

"I am more than capable of taking care of myself," Leilatha quirked an annoyed brow. "And why would you assume there would be trouble?"

"You look Japanese," at Leilatha's blank look Tangmo added hurriedly. "Let's just say they won't like you."

"That's not surprising," Tyra giggled, earning a death glare from the lady commissar.

"If you say so lord commissar, at least I know you will never think badly of me," Tyra fumed at the dagger sharp grin Leilatha shot her way, the lady commissar reveling in the blood spilled.

"Sure you're not being a little paranoid?" Henry asked. "Not to mention racist, with the generalization that Japanese and Chinese hate each other."

"It ain't racist if it's true," Tangmo gave the occupants a final look over. "Ready?"

Firm nods and 'yes sir' answered him.

"Good. Tyra, lower the ramp please."

"If I may, lord commissar, I believe myself and Brother Damien should lead the procession," Gallus offered as the entrance slowly descend. "If they see Ultramarines leading the retinue, then perhaps those of the more scheming nature would be dissuaded."

"Good thinking brother Gallus," Tangmo patted the Space Marine's pauldron friendlily, "if you would do the honor please?"

"With pleasure," Gallus turned to the lowered ramp, "at your command, Brother Damien."

"Let's do this then," Damien hefted up his bolter into a parade stance and marched outside with Gallus, their movement synchronized. Taking his place at the front of the group with Henry and Leilatha, Tangmo led the main character after the two Astartes. The moment they left the shadow of the Valkyrie a very loud, very Chinese sounding command boomed across the courtyard, followed by the stomp of boots and clasping of arms of an army standing at attention.

Say what you want about the Chinese, or Buxiunese in this universe, but those guys really know how to make a formidable army. Triangular and square tasseled banners of burning red fluttered fiercely over every regimental square to either side of them, etched upon the canvases were the sinuous image of a powerful golden Asian dragon coiled like a question mark with a sun in its gaping, snarling maw, the motif seems to be a cross between the Qing dynasty coat of arm and the modern Chinese flag. Taking in the unmoving men and women around him, steadfast and proud like the Terracotta soldiers that guarded the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, Tangmo was a bit surprised by their attire. Instead of the green uniform of the People Liberation Army from the second Sino-Japanese war, they sported a light blue camouflage more associated with the National Revolutionary Army, the standard Imperial Guards flak armor they wore were of the same hue. Even more jarring was the delegation sent to meet them. The demure long haired, long bearded man wore a silken hanfu of startling emerald, behind him were a dozen men and women clad in traditional Chinese attire, changshan for the boys, qipao for the girls.

Unlike Mao, the Buxiunese appeared to have spared the aristocrats and intellectuals on their planet.

"A thousand blessing shines upon you," the nobleman clasped his palm over his clenched fist and bowed. "I am Tian Long, high chancellor of Buxiu Shoudu, the greatest planet in all of Songkram-Nappa, the crown jewel that shines brighter than all the stars in the sky, seconded only by Holy Terra herself."

"Thank you for the grand welcome, lord Tian Long," Henry bowed. "This is a most formidable display of arms."

"You humble me with your complement, honorable general," Tian Long's smile wavered when he saw Leilatha. "I see that you have already acquainted yourself with a Kuronese."

"You are mistaken, chancellor," Leilatha stepped forward, causing Tian Long to flinch. "I am lady commissar Leilatha, of the planet Vinoren, Segmentum Ultima. Despite my appearance, I have no relation to anything or anyone from the Songkram-Nappa system."

"A thousand apologies lady commissar, I meant no offense," Tian Long droned, but the suspicion remained. "Now, I am charged by the grand presidium to take you on a thorough inspection of our finest fighting men and women. After that I am instructed to show you…"

"How about no?" Tian Long made a shock, straggled gasp at Tangmo interruption. "I appreciate the hospitality, but we're here to kill orks, not sightsee."

"B-But…!"

"Are the men you promised us here right now?"

"Why yes, of course!" The chancellor recovered his decorum quickly and waved at one of the many regiments arrayed around them. "I give you the 636th Dragon Blood infantry regiment, forty thousand of the best soldiers our planet has to offer."

"Is the commanding officer with them?" Tangmo continued.

"She is waiting in the reception area with the rest of the presidium, lord commissar," Tian Long said.

"Then take us to her, if you please."

"At your command, lord commissar," Tian Long bowed swiftly and headed toward the big ass building in front of them, the trio and the main characters close at his heel, while the gossiping handmaidens and servants scuttled at a safe distance behind them.

"That was kinda rude dude," Damien spoke up.

"Though shit," Tangmo shrugged. "We're not tourists, we're here to kick ass. And did you see how that chancellor looked at Leilatha? The Buxiunese see this as nothing more than a dick measuring contest with the Kuronese."

"This could be a political misstep in the making," Al-Rahman made his input. "To be so blunt toward diplomatic overture will not paint us in a favorable light."

"The Astra Militarum must never bend to the whims of local planetary governors," Evangeline added sharply. "Or have you forgotten that we are guardsmen and nothing else?"

"They'll learn soon enough that we don't fuck around," Tangmo cut in before the red faced Al-Rahman can retort.

"Right on," Henry grinned and held up a fox head corna. "Too sweets me broski."

Tangmo was too sweeting him when Tyra suddenly hopped forward and positioned herself on his right, making sure to pointedly shouldered aside the shock Leilatha for the entire retinue to see.

"You'll keep me safe, right sir?" Tyra smiled at him, eyes wide and gleaming.

"Don't worry Tyra, we'll make sure nothing happens to you," Tangmo said nervously as they climbed the wide granite stair after the chancellor. "And if you're scare, then you should stay close to Damien."

"I am more than content to remain by your side, sir," Tyra said sweetly, enjoying Leilatha's seething glare, and Tangmo knew then that he had to deescalate the situation. He could put some distant between himself and Tyra, that would please Leilatha but also hurt the pilot's feeling, and he can't stand the redhead's sad look. Or he could let Tyra remained, but that would pissed Leilatha off, and the lady commissar's cold displeasure was very detrimental to his health. Shit, what the fuck was he supposed to do? Oh wait, he had a third option.

"High chancellor Tian," Tangmo called out, drawing immediate attention from the nobleman. "In my travel across the stars, I have never seen such a vast, yet intricate building like this one. How did such triumph of architecture came to be, I wonder?"

"Oh! Yes! The history of the Grand Celestial Palace is as impressive as the building itself," Tian Long couldn't contain his excitement as he came to stand before Tangmo. "If the lord commissar would allow me, I will be more than honored to tell you of Buxiu Shoudu most magnificent history."

"By all means high chancellor," Tangmo threw his arm around the stunned Tian Long and waved Henry and Damien over, "but you'll have to forgive us, we're soldiers you see and still on a very tight schedule, so how about an abridged version?"

"Of course, lord commissar."

With that the high chancellor recounted the planet's colonization, their many war with Kuro Taiyo, its rapid economic expansion, and the construction of the Celestial Palace. Tangmo listened with half an ear, now that they were inside the building his eyes drifting around the vast interior, no discernable threat spotted so far. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Henry and Damien giving him subdued thumbs up for his ingenious escape from Leilatha and Tyra. Unfortunately, he could still feel the two women combined dissatisfaction boring a hole into his back.

Their journey through the Celestial Palace was a rather boring affair. Although Henry and Damien, being North American, couldn't hide their awe, Tangmo felt no sense of wonder stirred inside him. The high, elaborately carved ceiling, the wide red columns entwined with gleaming brass dragons that lined the hall, the intricately woven carpet of flowing oriental artistry, the panoramic murals depicting Buxiu Shoudu many victories, could only captured Tangmo's attention for a few seconds before his gaze drifted elsewhere. The size and grandeur of the place was breathtaking, sure, but growing up in Bangkok where Chinese culture was very deep rooted, none of this was anything special, and if he was being honest, mundane as fuck.

"Pardon my interruption high chancellor, but how long until we reach the presidium?" Tangmo butted in politely.

"Ah yes, apology lord commissar, I some time get carried away with the topic of history," Tian Long gave an elaborate bow and gestured at the huge red door in front of them. "We have indeed arrived, but I'm afraid they are not yet ready to receive you."

"Welp, too bad for them," Tangmo ignored Tian Long squeamish attempt to stop him as he strode up to the door. "Yo Damien, Gallus, give us an Aragon entrance please."

Laughing lowly, Damien and Gallus pushed to two partitions apart easily, allowing Tangmo and his entourage to strut inside like an absolute boss. This would look super cool in slow motion. The occupants, a good hundreds of them, clad in either classical Chinese robes or PLA military uniforms, turned with a startled, dainty gasp at the foreign intrusion.

"Honorable member of the great presidium," Tian Long hurriedly went to stand before the Immortal Spirit's troupe, bowing at a group of haughty looking generals, rows of medals glittered off their chests. "I present to you the high command of the Immortal Spirit battlegroup, who has graciously answered our invitation this day."

The hubbub died down as the men and women of the presidium strode forward, back straight and confident in steps, the flattering diplomatic smiles on their faces hardened Tangmo's own expression.

"Welcome to the Grand Celestial Palace, honorable guest, I am general Song Huang, supreme military commander of Buxiu Shoudu," the wide faced man with a stern complexion that sounded suspiciously like Benedict Wong greeted them before glancing at the timid Tian Long. "It appears that the chancellor was inadequate in entertaining you. For this, I offer my humblest apology."

"The chancellor did nothing wrong, general Song," Henry began diplomatically. "It was us that demand a quick audience with the good people of the presidium, our schedule alas demands that all affair be concluded quickly. So please forgive our hastiness, for we have to be on Kuro Taiyo soon."

"Are you sure you haven't already paid the Kuronese a visit, general?" Song shot Leilatha a demeaning look, the lady commissar returned it with a biting cold gaze.

"Holy shit, she's not Kuronese!" Tangmo stepped forward. "She's from…where are you from again?"

"Vinoren."

"That. So how about a little respect?" Casting aside all pretense of decorum, Tangmo got into Song's face, his eyes daring the man to mouth off some more.

"I beg pardon, I didn't realize my mistake," Song didn't sound apologetic.

"Yeah, you didn't," Tangmo backed off a little then clasped his hands behind his back. "Now, where are the things you promised us?"

"They are being procured," Song went on smoothly. "Five million tons of raw material, eight million tons of food stuff and seeds for plantation, along with more than fifty thousand civilian who had volunteered to join your mission."

"We only need your soldiers for now," Tangmo continued. "All other resources can wait until this ork menace is dealt with."

"If that is your wish lord commissar, it shall be done. Lingxin!" At the general's command, a woman clad in carapace armor fashioned into the likeness of a shanwenkai, the Chinese scale armor worn by heroes in movies and video games, excused herself from a ring of chatting people and approached Tangmo. Why were the women in this universe so freaking beautiful? The pearly white skin, the sharp contour of her face and gleaming ebon hair tided in a bun stole Tangmo's breathe away, the Buxiunese woman looked more like a super model than a solider.

"This is colonel Xun Lingxin," Song introduced her, "the top of her class at the academy, with a grand military linage that stretches back to the very first Kuronese war of aggression."

"Lord commissar, lord general, Brother Astartes," Lingxin gave the trio a Chinese bow, hand clasped over fist.

"Colonel Lingxin," Tangmo's Thai wai drew stunned looks from every Buxiunese in the room.

"You know the greeting of the First Settler?" Song asked, failing to hide his surprise.

"Is that what I did?" Tangmo said. "So that's why the name of this star system sounded Thai and not Chinese or Japanese."

"The First Settler had long since faded into the epoch of history," Song said. "Only archeological ruins remained now."

"I see," Tangmo turned to Lingxin. "Are you ready colonel?"

"Yes sir," Lingxin saluted smartly.

"How soon can your regiment depart?" Tangmo continued.

"At my order, the transport ships will take them up to the Immortal Spirit," Lingxin put on her intricately carved winged helm.

"Give the order then," Tangmo held out his hand, Lingxin clasping it after a moment. "Welcome to the Immortal Spirit colonel."

"Thank you sir," she squeezed his hand, the firmness of the grip drawing a surprised look from Tangmo. He applied pressure of his own, but Lingxin refused to ease her hold. The minute tensing of her muscle was the only warning Tangmo got before the woman tried to pull him off balance. Tangmo held his ground, the move failing to dislodge him, then lashed back with a wrench of his own. Predictably, Lingxin didn't budge. Heartbeats passed and the room fell silent as Tangmo and Lingxin locked gaze, neither breaking off the handshake.

"Um…is everything okay?" At Damien worried tone, Tangmo decided to be the gentlemen and disengaged, both he and Lingxin shaking blood back into their hands.

"Lingxin!" General Song raised his voice severely, but the colonel only indication that she acknowledged his reprimand was a slight tilt of the head. "Lord commissar, I beg your forgiveness."

"No harm done general," Tangmo returned Lingxin's innocent look with a sly, knowing grin, "Kung Fu?"

Lingxin quirked a surprised brow, "indeed lord commissar, you know of our martial way?"

"Yeah, but it's nowhere near as good as Muay Thai," Tangmo smirked at Lingxin's confused look then strode toward the exit, his retinue forming up around him. "Come along then colonel, time is of the essence."

"Are you sure this is a good idea sir?" Colonel Lingxin asked for the hundredth time as the Valkyrie entered Kuro Taiyo's atmosphere.

"You're one of us now, colonel," Henry told her. "And the number one rule of the Immortal Spirit battlegroup is that we always present a unify front for all to see."

"When did we start having rules?" Orhul asked.

"Just now," Henry said.

"Nobody told me about it," Orhul grumbled.

"If I told you, you'd already forget!" Laughter burst from the occupants, but Lingxin was still ill at ease.

"You need not worry, colonel Lingxin," Xiphos offered reassuringly. "It took all of us a while to get used to the general, the commissar and Brother Astartes. You'll fit in quick enough."

"I've been with them for almost two months milady, and I still haven't quite grasped the head and tail of our leaders," Alistair added. "You are not alone in your confusion."

"The eccentricity will pass," Salahdin added gruffly.

"Don't be such a sourpuss Salahdin, smile a bit," Tangmo chuckled then turned to Lingxin who was seated beside the silent Hildebrandt. "I didn't take you to be the nervous type colonel, what's up?"

"I'll admit that I am somewhat anxious, lord commissar," Lingxin said. "Buxiunese are not allowed inside the Yamato hive, and Kuronese are barred from setting foot on Shenzhou's holy ground."

"Dude, are you for real?!" Tangmo had expected the Buxiunese and Kuronese to hate each other, like the Chinese and Japanese, but this was freaking ridiculous. And Shenzhou and Yamato, seriously? They named their capitals after the ancient classical name of China and Japan? Tangmo would have rolled his eyes at the unoriginality, but damn, that shit was super cool.

"Then how are trades and diplomacy conducted?" Luva asked.

"We have special quarters made for those missions," Lingxin said. "It is there, far away from the capital, that such dealings are made, where every transaction made and every word parted can be monitored, guaranteeing that treachery will not go unnoticed."

"Such derelict practice will prove detrimental to both planets in the long run," Evangeline added softly, but poignantly.

"It is our way," Lingxin excused the stupidity of her people lamely.

"One must not dwell on the past and the pain it dredges up," Al-Rahman made his sagely input. "One must look toward the future and make amend for the scars of yesteryears, only then can all charter a path toward peace and forgiveness."

"Forgiveness? Forgiveness?!" Lingxin sprang from her seat suddenly and stalk toward the petrified Tallarn prince.

"I-I'm sorry!" Al-Rahman stammered at the looming Lingxin, her breathe coming in deep menacing huff, the only thing protecting him from the furious colonel was Salahdin and Bruce who shared his row of seat. "I did not mean to offend…"

"Will you ever forgive those who butcher and torture your fathers, brothers and sons for sport?!" The low hum that followed the reentry only amplified Lingxin's outrage. "Will you ever make peace with those who rape, violate and degrade your mothers, sisters and daughters?! No! So don't you dare lecture me about forgiveness you self-righteousness bastard!"

"I'm…"

"In our century long war against the fifth Kuronese's aggression," Lingxin cut in harshly before Al-Rahman can get a word out. "My grandmother fought along the eastern front, where the plains, the mountains and the rivers met, it was there that she witness the Kuronese's atrocities first hand. Mutilated remains heaped together in mocking mounds with the black sun banner fluttering above. Women, beaten and naked, crucified and left to rot in the sun. Newborns skewered upon stakes like hunting trophy." She stopped to take a breather. "My zumu wrought deserving vengeance upon those Kuronese devils, but the war broke her. She spent the last years of her life lamenting the people she failed to save. As a child I remember her screaming in the dead of night, calling out the name of her lost comrades. Her grief went with her to the grave." Lingxin quickly wiped her eyes and glared at Al-Rahman. "So? Any more words of wisdom colonel?!"

"Lass, I'm going to have to ask you to calm down," Bruce placed himself between Lingxin and the darkening Salahdin, one hand stretched appealingly toward the Buxiunese colonel while the other holding the Tallarn major in place. Krillen, Krix, Aileen and Gaston slowly crept up behind Lingxin, ready to intervene if things got physical.

"Lingxin, sit your ass down right now!" Tangmo scolded her the same way a parent deal with a whiny child. "We get it, you hate them, now get the fuck over that shit! You'll be working with the Kuronese from now on for Emperor's sake, so get your shit together and start acting like a guardswoman already!"

The merciless words stunned Lingxin, anger fled her face and in its place blank shock. This must be the first time someone reacted to her story with anything besides passionate agreement. Silently, she adjusted her uniform and strode primly back to her seat, making sure to give Tangmo a murderous look before sitting back down beside Hildebrandt, the Korpsman doesn't seem to notice the altercation.

"Tangmo, Henry," Damien went to stand next to the cockpit's door, nudging his head for them to follow. They complied silently and joined the Space Marine.

"Yo, weren't you a little harsh on her man?" Damien took his helmet off and dropped his voice to a whisper.

"No," Tangmo said adamantly.

"Dude, she just laid out her tragic past and you told her to shut the fuck up," Henry added.

"Yeah," Tangmo stared at the two, "and?"

"That shit was cold dude," Henry continued.

"You do know we're in this for the long haul, right?" Damien added.

"Are you two retards fucking blind?!" Tangmo hissed. "She's playing all of us into hating the Kuronese."

"Why would she do that?" Damien demanded.

"Because she hates them," Tangmo went on. "It's justify, I'll give you that, but she's gonna turn this into a personal war against the Kuronese colonel when he or she gets here."

"And what would she get from that?" Damien was still not convinced.

"Satisfaction, plain and simple," Tangmo said. "She's gonna turn everybody against them and revel in their misery."

"Come on!" Damien rolled his eyes. "She can't be that petty."

"Ladaee and Emily are already cuddling her, don't turn around," Henry let a bit of alarm seeped into his voice. "And now Xiphos and Al-Rahman are joining them, yep, she got her sympathizers."

"Okay seriously, I'm not gonna let this turn into the third Sino-Japanese war," Tangmo continued. "Look, I'm not giving the Japanese a pass for what they did to the Chinese, but this is 40k for Christ's sake, there are bigger things to worry about."

"…Don't you mean Buxiunese and Kuronese?" Henry corrected him.

"Same damn thing!" Tangmo went on quickly. "Anyway, since I'm a Thai, I'm the freaking neutral party, soon let me deal with this."

"Wasn't Thailand on the Japanese side during the war?" Henry asked.

"Not voluntarily, so I heard," Damien added. "They invaded your country and the government was forced to surrender, right?"

"Nope, we straight up joined them," Tangmo said. "The pussy ass Thai government knew months in advance that the Japanese were coming and decided to join them because we thought they would win the war. We were an Axis power for fuck's sake."

"Wait, if Thailand was an Axis power, how the hell does that make you a neutral party?" Henry went on.

"Because my granddaddy was part of the Seri Thai resistance and killed eighty Tojo when they occupied Bangkok," Tangmo smirked proudly. "He's like a Thai Cotton Hill but better because he didn't get his legs blown off."

"Holy shit," Damien wiped his hand across his close crop hair. "You sure you can handle this?"

"You weebs chill out, I got this under control…" Tangmo caught the glitter of kaleidoscope neon at the corner of his eyes. He turned and was blown away by what he saw. While the Buxiunese capital of Shenzhou bears a passing resemblance to a modern day city, with tall buildings cluttered at the center and everything beyond that growing relatively smaller, the Yamato hive however, was a chaotic, yet admittedly beautiful, fusion between the grimdark 40k aesthetic and Tokyo. From the very city limit, towering spires and skyscrapers rose to claw at the sky in countless number, a forest of rockcrete and steel. Gigantic propaganda billboards with moving pictures hung from the side of every building like vertical nobori banners, while those of the grander persuasion were stretched between towers. Since it was night time on Kuro Taiyo, the rainbow neon spectrum was both vivid and blinding, the entire city looked like Shibuya, Shinjuku and Akihabara rolled into one and turned up to a thousand.

And at the center of the city was the hive itself. It was a Warhammer 40k gigantic hive alright, but in the shape of a Japanese castle, stacks upon stacks of square foundation capped off with triangular Asian tiled roof, verandas the size of a small neighborhood and landing pads dominated every floor. It was one of this landing strip, situated almost at the top, that the Valkyrie made it's descend.

"Alright, same as last time, Tyra, Victoria, get your butts out here," the moment the Valkyrie powered down, Lingxin got off her seat and strode purposefully to the back of the cabin, taking her place at the head of the column usually reserved for the trio.

"What do you think you're doing?" Tangmo stepped up beside her.

"Presenting myself to the Kuronese delegate of course," Lingxin said innocently.

"You're trying to make a scene," Tangmo made an obnoxious knowing sound.

"That depends entirely on the Kuronese's hospitality," Lingxin said lowly before adding in a near whisper. "Not that they have any."

"You will behave with the gentility befitting your ranks and status," Tangmo shot her a look. "Oh, I can tell you're from an aristocratic family, the way you mope was more than obvious enough, and you don't like being told what to do." He leaned in close until their noses were almost touching. "But you're in my world now and I expect you to follow my order. Are we clear?"

"Absolutely sir," Lingxin bit every syllable off harshly.

"You're not gonna be confrontational and fuck this up for everyone? Because that's my job," Tangmo had to be sure.

"No sir," she snapped at him.

"Good," Tangmo started down the ramp. "Let's go."

The trio and the main characters marched handsomely onto the tarmac, where a platoon of Kuronese guardsmen stood waiting for them in crisp parade stance, led by a man that looked like an angry version of Pat Morita. All of them were decked out in an Imperial Japanese era gear, with greenish tan uniforms and flak armors. The officer was about to speak when he caught sight of Lingxin, outrage twisted his visage and, in a most Japanese fashion, reached for the katana at his side. And here Tangmo thought he would be able to enjoy the blooming sakura trees lining the flagstone path that leads to a huge sliding Japanese door a few hundred paces away.

"The blade better stay in its sheath, captain," Tangmo got into a kenjutsu stance of his own, smirking at the surprise that doused the officer's anger and cracked fissures across his men disciplined veneer. Steadying himself, the captain let go of the sword and bowed profusely at Tangmo.

"I am terribly sorry, lord commissar," the captain even sounded like Pat Morita without the accent. "But I'm afraid your Buxiunese…escort will have to leave the premises, or at the very least be taken to the waiting room reserved for foreign courtesan."

"Jesus Christ, did he really just went there?!" Damien spoke up the same moment Tangmo reached his arm out and stopped the furious Lingxin from lunging at the Kuronese captain's throat, the man snickering smugly at her reaction.

"Stand down colonel!" Tangmo raised his voice and drew his laspistol, causing Lingxin to jump back. He then turned the barrel on the Kuronese captain. "Now apologize."

"S-Sir?" The man stammered, obviously not expecting to be at the bad end of a gun.

"You've just insulted your superior and a member of the Immortal Spirit high command, captain," Tangmo sneered at his rank. "So how about you stop being such a dickhead and show some goddamn manner before my finger slip?"

The man bowed quickly, his forehead almost touching his knees.

"Apology colonel," the captain tone was grated and heavy, but Lingxin was immensely pleased nonetheless.

"Good," Tangmo lowered his gun but didn't holstered it. "Now take us inside."

And the man still had the audacity to give Lingxin a disgusted look, "she is still not allowed inside, lord commissar."

"That wasn't a request," the laspistol came up again, finger coiling easily around the trigger.

"But it is our custom!" The captain countered hotly.

"Do I look like I give a shit about your fucktard culture?!" Tangmo gave the man his unhinged bulging eyes. "You will escort everyone inside captain, or I'm gonna shoot all of you and see ourselves in. Not the prettiest overture to cooperation, but I'm getting real fucking tired of all this bullshit. I trust you would make the right decision?"

Tangmo never bluff, and the captain saw it. Bowing apologetically, the captain spun sharply on his heels, barked quick orders to his men and marched toward the big sliding door at the end of the path. As they followed him, Henry and Damien gave Tangmo slow, approving nods.

"Thank you lord commissar," Lingxin squeezed herself in between Tangmo and Leilatha.

"Don't think for a second that I'm on your side in this spat, colonel." Tangmo said simply, causing Lingxin to quietly slinked back into the entourage, glowering at Tangmo all the while.

"I can deal with her if you want," Leilatha lowered her voice.

"I'll help," Tyra was suddenly beside Leilatha.

"Thanks, but no," Tangmo smiled at them. "I'm sure she'll come around to my charming personality eventually. Don't you agree Leilatha?"

The lady commissar groaned as they entered the Yamato hive proper. While the grandeur of scale was the same as the Celestial Palace, where the Buxiunese indulged in flashy opulent décor of gold and red, the Kuronese opted for a minimalistic serenity that radiated regal calmness, spartan yet rich. The supporting columns of iron and rockcrete were painted in a way that makes them blend perfectly with the wooden interior, creating a consistence motif with the exquisitely carved furniture and pristinely woven tatami at their feet. The coat of arm of Kuro Taiyo hung between every pillar, a blood red sun on an ebon field, so basically the Imperial Japanese flag but replace the white with black. Like before, aristocrats mingled around the hall, sporting kimono, yukata or Imperial Japanese Army uniform. Loud gasps and scandalous murmurs rippled through the socializing people when Lingxin came to stand beside Tangmo, some stared and pointed with unrestrained shock, while those of the more militaristic persuasion seethed in silence. Tangmo met the buzzing crowd with a nonchalant look, his laspistol spinning around his forefinger while his free hand went to stroke the pommel of his sword. The captain escorting them quickly dashed toward a group of people at the center of the hall, head bobbing up and down as quick words were parted. Like meerkats they turned to look at Tangmo and approached his posse, tall and proud, all of them soldiers to the core, decked out in gleaming medals and katana.

"Lord commissar," a man that looked like Hiroyuki Sanada, aka that one Japanese dude in every Hollywood film, bowed lowly. "I am general Takeda, supreme commander of Kuro Taiyo, I humbly welcome you to our home."

"The pleasure is all mine, general," Tangmo wai him and finally holstered his laspistol.

Takeda held his gaze on Lingxin for a moment before chuckling condescendingly, "captain Endo was right, you are not one to follow protocol."

"Damn right I don't," Tangmo said. "Let's cut to chase then general, you promised us men and resources for the campaign against the orks, we're here to collect."

"Of course, lord commissar. Kenshin!"

At his powerful command, a young strapping lad around Lingxin age, that would be about nineteen or twenty, strode forward. And like the Buxiunese colonel he was clad in an Imperial Guards, ancestral armor hybrid, in this case a tosei samurai armor, the intricate crest atop his kabuto was fashioned into the effigy of a flaming sun.

"This is colonel Bishamonten Kenshin," Takeda introduced him. "He is of the venerated Bishamonten clan, famed for their victory during the Great Expansion. His forty thousand infantry of the 868th Dawn Blade will serve you well."

"An honor to meet you sir," Kenshin bowed, his handsome clean shaven face, manly chin and well defined cheekbones was even more bishonen than Krillen. Basically, he was the kinda guy that steals your girlfriend. Lingxin however, wasn't impressed. If anything, she looked pissed.

"Bishamonten," she growled the name, "the Butcher of Wu Han."

"It appears that you are acquainted with our reputation already," Kenshin smile was gloating, and Tangmo prepare himself to intervene.

"Of course," the chilly calm radiating off Lingxin was unsettling. "The house of Xun was happy to show them Buxiunese's hospitality during the war of aggression."

Fearful whispers rippled across the hall, Kenshin himself stiffened and said a little breathlessly, "the Demoness of Guo Tao."

Now it was Lingxin's turn to grin, and goddamn was that shit terrifying. Coughing, Tangmo stepped in between the two colonel and said,

"Right, now that we're all properly introduced, we shall be on our way. General Takeda, I believe that the men are already departing for the Immortal Spirit?"

"Indeed lord commissar," Takeda nodded. "As for the resources that were requisitioned for your battlegroup…"

"Will take some times, yes, general Song said pretty much the same thing," Tangmo nodded briskly. "I would love to stay for a cup of sake but unfortunately we must take our leaves, so sorry."

"Before you leave, we have a gift for you," at Takeda quick hand gesture, a fireteam of guardsmen escorted a young girl of about fifteen clad in a miko garb toward them. She had a sober, almost fearful, but otherwise pretty face framed by long waist length hair. Her pale complexion made her looked like a freaking yurei.

"This is Hanako," the girl bowed at Takeda introduction, and it was then that Tangmo noticed a white headband fastened above her brow, the piece of cloth was covered in bold calligraphic kanji letters. "We understand that you exited the Warp before entering our system, may she serve you better than your previous Navigator."

"Thank you general, she will be a lovely addition to our cadre of Navigators," Tangmo nudge his head and Hanako fell into line behind them. "Anything else generals?" Shaking heads answered him. "Good bye then."

With that, they made their way back to the Valkyrie, and Tangmo wasn't able to relax until it flew well away from Kuro Taiyo's orbit. The atmosphere didn't improve however, the hostility between Lingxin and Kenshin was making the other occupants suffocate. Attempt at levity by Orhul, Bruce and Aileen all failing miserably. Thank Christ Hildebrandt was seated between them, or things might've gotten ugly. Everybody let out a collective sigh when the Valkyrie finally landed inside the Immortal Spirit.

"Well that was tense," Tangmo chuckled mirthlessly then turned to Lingxin and Kenshin. "Thank you for having the decency not to kill each other in transit."

The two colonels narrowed their eyes on Tangmo then nodded, "good, now come with me."

Tangmo led the two into the bustling hangar, men and machines alike went about preparing the many transport ships and Valkyries for combat. At the far end, he could see the two new regiments being given a welcoming orientation.

"You have twelve hours to settle your forces into the Immortal Spirit's schedule and routine," Tangmo told them. "And another twelve for rest and relaxation before mobilization; is that clear?"

"Yes sir," the two colonels said at the same time.

"Hildebrandt," Tangmo waved the Krieg colonel over, speaking loudly for everyone to hear. "I want the Death Korps to double their patrol around the Buxiunese and Kuronese quarters; I don't trust them to act like adult just yet."

"Jawohl, Herr commissar," Hildebrandt saluted and marched off. Gazing passed the scowling Lingxin and Kenshin, Tangmo noticed something out of the ordinary. Eurydice and Tristan were on deck, talking enthusiastically with a bald headed eight year old monk in a red and orange Tibetan robe, a golden embroidered scarf circled his head. Hanako was walking slowly toward them.

"We have also provided a Navigator for your mission," Lingxin spoke up. "That is Liang of the Kong Bei monastery."

"Nice," Tangmo nodded appreciatively then turned back to the two colonels. "Play nice and get some rest. I'll see you guys in a bit."