The Multiverse Project: Warhammer 40,000

It has taken some time, but Eurydice finally decided that she quite like working on the Immortal Spirit. The various advance amenities across the ship offered a life of content and comfort, and the halls and corridors she tread upon were clean and bright, a stark contrast to the perpetual night of the Night Lords ship she once slaved on. Her duty, although no less taxing than before, was now shared among younger novices she chaperoned, using her lifetime of experience to train and mold them into powerful Navigators in their own right. Furthermore, the people aboard the ship were surprisingly open-minded about them. Sure, some tenseness remained, but the hostile superstition was blessedly absent. It was nice to walk from one block to another without people glaring and hiding their children. She even found a quaint little bar on the floor level of block A where she frequented, and was currently enjoying a nice pint in her private corner of the establishment. All in all, Eurydice can't recall the last time she felt so at peace.

Yet there was always trouble in paradise, as the old saying goes. And that anathema of serenity was seated across from her.

"And here I was hoping for a little quiet moment to myself," Eurydice sipped slowly, savoring the flavor.

"Sorry," commissar Tangmo said sheepishly, his hunched, fearful posture clashing greatly with his commissariat uniform. Although he showed her absolute deference, she'd never taken a liking to him, and he knows it. Ever since Kolasi, Eurydice had suspected that the commissar and his friends, the general and the Space Marine, knew about her time under Talos Valcoran's captivity. How, she did not know, but such knowledge can be used against her and those she holds dear. Although the boy haven't shown any inclination toward such action, she wasn't about to trust someone whose job was to shoot his own men. Something Tangmo was famed for not doing, Eurydice admitted begrudging.

"So…um, how was the Warp transit? Bumpy? Smooth?" Tangmo tried to strike up a conversation.

"It was fine," Eurydice shot him down tersely.

"Yeah," Tangmo fidgeted in his seat as a waitress placed a coaster and a glass of beer in front of him, the boy nursed it for a moment before taking a big gulp.

"Why are you here, lord commissar?" Eurydice tried to be polite but failed to keep the bite from her tone.

"I drew the short stick," Tangmo said.

"Is that so?" Eurydice quirked a brow, "you have yet to answer my question."

"To apologize, I guess?" Tangmo hazarded a smile.

"Shouldn't Brother Sergeant Damien be the one making this apology?" Eurydice fixed him with a cold stare. "He forced my husband into a warzone, after all."

"More like nudge in that direction, but yeah, he kinda did," Tangmo finished his beer, coughing from the unnecessary haste. "Also, Damien is…intimidated by you."

"Know no fear indeed," Eurydice said dryly. "Are you afraid too, lord commissar?"

"You seriously can't tell?" Tangmo chuckled nervously.

"I'm just a harmless old woman lord commissar, your fear is misplaced, not to mention childish," Eurydice chided, maybe a little too harshly. "But I thank you for showing the courtesy of apologizing to me."

"Don't mention it," Tangmo nodded, "but honestly, I kinda wish Damien told us about his plan with Coreth. We might've been able to talk him out of it."

"What done is done," Eurydice stated simply.

"Still, he was awesome in that Thunderhawk though, even Gallus was impressed," Tangmo wistful recollection drew immediate ire from Eurydice.

"You intent to use my husband again," Eurydice flung her accusation at him.

"We'll let you know in advance next time," Tangmo grinned then waved the waitress over, his empty glass held out to her, "another round please?"

It was only after Eurydice nodded that the waitress reluctantly, she noted with satisfaction, poured Tangmo another glassful and intentionally spilled some on his sleeve.

"They like you," Tangmo observed, his earlier reservation seemingly evaporated.

"The gentleman running this establishment is very open-minded and appreciate my patronage," Eurydice nodded at the heavyset man eyeing them from behind the bar.

"You're a good tipper too I bet," Tangmo continued.

"I'm a generous soul to those I've taken a liking too," Eurydice said.

"Am I close to getting on that list?" Tangmo asked.

"You will not like my answer, lord commissar," Eurydice answered tightly.

"Welp, I tried," Tangmo took his time with the beer. "Mind if I finish this before leaving you alone?"

"Be my guest," Eurydice leaned back into her seat. "You already made yourself at home."

"You'll never see me here again, I promise," Tangmo said good naturedly. "Shame, this is a nice place, wouldn't mind bringing Henry here for a brewski."

"I'm sure you will find other places…"

"Ah! Just the person I was looking for!"

At the chirpy announcement, Eurydice glanced over Tangmo's shoulder and felt her blood turned to ice. Gliding toward them with a friendly smile was an inquisitor, not Tangmo's brunette friend, no, the other one, the blonde. What was her name again? Amberley Vail, yes, that's it. She realized what was happening then. Tangmo was here to distract her, softening her up for Amberley to begin the real interrogation. The glare she shot him was almost as lethal as her third eye, something Coreth can testify in recent days.

"It's not what you think!" Tangmo spluttered and held up his hands defensively.

"Isn't it?" Eurydice seethed, cursing herself for falling into such a blatant trap.

"You gotta believe me I didn't know I was being followed!" Tangmo pleaded with such stark sincerity that Eurydice almost believed him.

"Please don't be angry with the commissar, he truly doesn't know," Amberley invited herself to a seat at their table. "I am pretty good at that."

"Inquisitor Vail," Eurydice greeted curtly.

"Amberley please," the inquisitor smiled warmly, a well practiced façade, and waved over the waitress from before. "A glass of your best wine please."

"To what do I owe the pleasure, inquisitor Vail?" Eurydice pressed on.

"Don't be like that, Navigator Eurydice," Amberley made a crestfallen face as the wine glass was set down before her. "I truly hope that we can be friends in the coming days."

"That seems most unlikely," Eurydice continued. "So, what is the purpose of this conversation?"

"Your husband and friend warned me of your temperament," Amberley sipped the wine delicately, grinning all the while. "They also refuse to divulge any information about you."

"They are good people," Eurydice said pointedly.

"No doubt, but now I got you right where I want you," Amberley smirked. "I just want to know you better."

"You will find me as unreceptive as my husband," Eurydice narrowed her eyes.

"Shame, perhaps your daughter will be more talkative?" Amberley's timbre sharpened dangerously.

"Yo, that's harassment," Tangmo cut in. "You can't do that."

"But I can, lord commissar," Amberley said innocently. "It is my duty to gather information on person of interest."

"Am I under inquisitorial investigation then?" Eurydice took a deep breath, doing her best to maintain the stern façade that was quickly becoming undone.

"I'm sorry you see it like that," Amberley reached into her ultramarine blazer and Eurydice couldn't help but noticed the contrast between them. Unlike Eurydice, who wore a single piece conservative dress of a classical Imperial style, Amberley was clad in a stylish trouser and white lacy blouse of the latest fashion. While Eurydice had a sharp, commanding and handsome visage, chiseled from years of hard service, Amberley was perky, starkly feminine and radiating welcome. A pretty girl, all things considered, but at that age, Eurydice was sure she could give Amberley a run for her money.

"Now," Amberley withdrew the new data-slate, a black rectangle that unfolded neatly into a seamless flat square, her immaculate fingers danced over the screen. "I found your husband to be extremely interesting, given his recent exploit."

"Leave him out of this," Eurydice warned lowly.

"For a normal human to fly an Astartes Thunderhawk so flawlessly bespoke of a honed experience," Amberley ignored her threat. "And given your impeccable knowledge in navigating through the Warp, I became quite curious as to where you have served before entering the service of the Immortal Spirit."

"We have worked aboard many merchant vessels," Eurydice gave her half the truth. Unfortunately it wasn't enough for Amberley.

"What about military vessels?" Amberley went on. "Have you, Victoria, Coreth and Marlonah worked on a Battle Barge before?"

"If you have an accusation inquisitor, why not just lay it bare before me?" Eurydice hissed.

"I am not accusing you of anything, but I need you to answer my question," Amberley said.

"No," Eurydice shot back a little too quick and a little too loud.

"Are you sure?" Amberley took a sip of her wine and swirled the magenta liquid slowly.

"Eurydice already said no, what the hell more do you want?" Tangmo interrupted, and Eurydice was actually thankful for the commissar's intervention. Steadying her breathes, and easing her grip off the pint, Eurydice watched as Amberley turned to face Tangmo.

"You believe her account?" Amberley feigned surprised.

"Why wouldn't I?" Tangmo looked at Eurydice. "Hey Eurydice, you're not lying, right?"

"Of course not, lord commissar," Eurydice drank deeply to steel her nerves.

"See, she not lying," Tangmo flashed Amberley an obnoxiously sweet smile. "And isn't this out of your jurisdiction? Shouldn't you be dissecting orks, tau, eldar, or skaven or something?"

"The safety of the God Emperor's subjects always fall into my jurisdiction, commissar Tangmo," Amberley gave him a disappointed look. "I advise that you be more thorough when checking the background of those who come aboard the Immortal Spirit. Such sloppiness is unbecoming of a commissar."

"Oh, I'm sure you know all about commissariat sloppiness, inquisitor Vail," at Tangmo's less than subtle implication, Amberley's bright perpetual smile was snuffed like a candle in the wind. The shock that took its place was so sudden that Eurydice had to stifle a laugh.

"Excuse me, commissar Tangmo?" The smile returned, but this time with an unpleasant edge to it.

"I'm just saying you know a lot about us commissar," Tangmo went on, "considering how close you were with the famous Ciaphas Cain."

"I thought your name rang a bell," Eurydice fixed her gaze on Amberley. "You're the inquisitor who wrote and published that memoir."

"I see that you've read my work," Amberley brightened. "How did you find it?"

"It was a glowing piece of propaganda," Eurydice wasn't able to suppress her sneer. "You seem to be deeply enamored with commissar Cain, one have to wonder at your overall objectivity on the subject."

Amberley finished her wine, ruefulness now tinged her visage, "it appears that the Ministorum had doctored and censored my work when they published it to the masses."

"Oh? So there are unsavory aspects to the Hero of the Imperium that was omitted from your work?" Eurydice smirked when she managed to flip the conversation against Amberley, enjoying the minuet thinning of her lip.

"Now you know how it feels," Tangmo cut in smugly before Amberley can get a word out. "Everybody have secrets, so how about we just respect each other privacy for a change?"

Amberley locked eyes with Tangmo, a jousting of will that ended with the inquisitor leaning back into her seat with a deceptively carefree grin, "if that is your wish commissar Tangmo."

"What's the catch?" Tangmo asked, bored.

"A catch? Hmm, you could say that something else caught my attention," Amberley's gaze slithered slowly across Tangmo.

"Challenge accepted, inquisitor Vail," Tangmo chuckled.

"And I play to win, commissar Tangmo," Amberley raised her glass at him.

"All high ranking personnel please report to the bridge for briefing," Solveig announcement echoed smoothly across the Immortal Spirit, "ETA to target, three hours. All military personnel proceed to the hangar to await deployment."

"After you, inquisitor Vail," Tangmo waved at the exit but made no move to rise himself. "I'll catch up later."

"Of course, commissar Tangmo," Amberley bowed and glided gracefully out of the bar.

"Can I finish my drink?" Tangmo asked Eurydice. "I mean, I can just go over there if you want."

"Take your time," Eurydice said. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Tangmo emptied the glass in three big gulps and paid for both their drinks. "And thank you for tolerating me."

"You just stood up to an inquisitor on my behalf, I think you earned a little respite," Eurydice nursed her pint. "Oh, and you can tell Brother Damien that he is forgiven."

"He'll be glad to hear that," Tangmo gave her that strange greeting, a wai, if she recalled correctly, and got up with a contended sigh. "That was a good beer. I needed something like that for the nerves."

"Are you heading into danger?" Eurydice asked.

"That remains to be seen," Tangmo adjusted his cap. "We're about to meet an army of Adepta Sororitas."

"Like the one on Jigugeum?" Eurydice irked a brow.

"No," Tangmo grimaced. "These ones are on our side."

"Tera-Antebella," Laura spoke the name aloud, tasting the syllabuses on her tongue.

"You heard of this planet before?" Amberley asked from her right as she tapped away at the new data-pad, the design looked like it came straight out of Westworld, the HBO series, not the 1973 movie. No surprise, since the boys helped finalized the look.

"It's not that," Laura leaned forward and poked her head between the front seats of the freshly minted Myrmidon assault jeep, courtesy of the Jigugeum STC. It was basically a more versatile Humvee, with increased speed, more space, and better armor and armaments.

"Hey," she tapped Tangmo's shoulder, who was riding shotgun. "Does the name sound familiar to you?"

Tangmo looked thoughtful for a few seconds before snapping his fingers, "Lady Antebellum!"

"That's right, the country band," Laura nodded. "Their song on the Planet Coaster trailer was awesome."

"It's called Compass, Henry has it on his playlist," Tangmo said. "I actually have it right now, you want it?"

"Sure."

"And…there, enjoy," Tangmo tapped his data-pad.

"Thanks love," Laura sat back down.

"You two seem rather…acquainted with each other," on her left lady commissar Leilatha, aka Tangmo's girlfriend, observed suspiciously.

"Aww, don't worry about it love," Laura smiled disarmingly. "We're just friends."

"You better watch yourself Leilatha," Tangmo spoke up. "You're exactly her type. If you're not careful, you'll end up naked in a bed with her."

Laura's sharp kick threw Tangmo off his seat and into the dashboard. The dull thud of plastic on flesh was superbly melodic.

"Put your seatbelt on Tangmo," Laura smirked devilishly. "Remember, safety first!"

"Why you little…!" Tangmo was reaching back to strangle her when the Myrmidon suddenly came to a stop, Laura laughed out loud when the Thai was hurled back like a ragdoll.

"Fuck!" Tangmo sat up and glared at the driver. "Emperor fucking damn it Krillen, how about a little warning next time?!"

"We are at our destination," the handsome Cadian colonel answered. "And I was stopping you from harming the inquisitor."

"She's never gonna go out with you dude, so stop trying," Tangmo groaned and got out of the jeep, Laura joining him a few seconds later. They stood on the outskirt of an idyllic, classical looking city with tall buildings from the late eighteen to early nineteen century, complete with foyers and pillars laced in garland. And everything was on fire. Judging by the amount of smoke in the sky, the place has been burning for several days. But what caught her attention was the variety of people prowling through the ransacked street. The first sorts were guardsmen clad in blue armor with the white U insignia of Ultramar adorning their shoulder guards. Ultramar Auxilia, quite a long way from home. But the Ultramar foot soldiers paled in comparison to the lasgun wielding Native Americans fighting alongside them. Laura had to do a double take before concluding, without a shadow of a doubt, that these Imperial Guards were Native Americans, in space! And not the stupid kinds like the Kanak Skull Takers too. They were clad in brown and tan tunic of hide and fur, with hodgepodge pieces of flank armor covering their chests, shoulders, and knees. Apparently these were the good guys, as for the bad guys…oh, holy God.

"What in the fuck?!" Well shit, Henry saw them. Nostril flaring, the usually calm and collected Henry stomped toward a group of bound men and women sitting on a footpath, being watched over by a pair of grim faced Native American.

"Well ain't you the darkest thing here today," the man with the southern drawl gazed up at Henry. His uniform, and that of his comrades, was identical to the Confederate State of America.

"Who are you?" Henry demanded, his muscles twitching for a violent release.

"What does it look like boy? We're the Glorious Army of Tera-Antebella." He glared vehemently at the natives and an approaching group of Ultramar Auxilia. "And we've been betrayed by those who claimed to be loyal to the God Emperor."

"An interesting point of view, corporal," an Auxilia colonel strode up and saluted smartly, "colonel Antonius, reporting for duty general Henry."

"You know me?" Henry was taken aback as he shook Antonius's hand.

"The Immortal Spirit's exploit is well known across the Ultramar system," Antonius said. "The tale of the King Ghidorah's heroic charge, the dutiful and stalwart Ultramarines and the singing commissar has captured the imagination of billions."

"The singing commissar?!" Tangmo burst out laughing. "Holy shit, that's fucking awesome."

"If I may, commissar Tangmo, you have quite a following amongst our troops," Antonius said. "News of your coming has been a great boost to our morale."

"Happy to help," Tangmo tipped his awesome commissar cap, "but, duty first colonel?"

"Yes, of course, pardon me lord commissar," Antonius turned back to the prisoners. "Are you ready to talk?"

"Who are y'all supposed to be anyway?" The corporal ignored Antonius and fixed his sneer on the Immortal Spirit's high command, more specifically the Asians. "Quite a colorful bunch ya got here. Heh, you even got some of them Ekkaroq savages with you. These one got some pretty dresses on too."

"…Is he insulting us?" Lingxin crossed her arms over her chest.

"I think he is" Min Jae, the recently promoted colonel of the seven thousands strong Jigurean Homeland Rifle, let the barrel of his lasgun drifted lazily over the nervous prisoners.

"So unwise," Kenshin stroke the pommel of his katana.

"Yeah, he said we look like them," Tangmo pointed at the two Ekkaroqian sentinels. The Asians and the Native Americans traded looks then, eyeing and checking each other out.

"We do look kinda like them, from some angle," Min Jae offered after a moment.

"If we still live in a cave you mean? Ow!" Lingxin got a firm smack on the head from Tangmo.

"I'm getting real tired of this pissing contest, corporal," Laura stepped forward, the Antebellan flinching when they saw the I and skull on her awesome inquisitor hat. "Now tell us what you know or things will get very unpleasant."

"Why are y'all on their side?!" A woman shouted then snarled at Antonius and the Ekkaroqian. "They're the ones who betrayed the Emperor and laid siege to our planet!"

"Yeah, yeah, everyone's the bad guys except you," Laura rolled her eyes then turned to Antonius. "So what the bloody hell actually happened here?"

"Under direct orders from Lord Guilliman and Saint Celestine, a call to arm went out to the Adepta Sororitas," colonel Antonius said. "The six major orders answered and assembled at the Ultramar system before setting off for Tera-Antebella. The sisters were given their directive, and despite commandeering our ships, they have not told us what their mission is."

"And they just attack the place?" Laura said.

"After a diplomatic overture, yes, they fell on the planet with fire and fury," Antonius nodded. "The Ekkaroqian are our planetary ally, while the Antebellan are regarded as hostile."

"The savages poisoned their mind!" A youth bellowed indignantly. "The sisters have forsaken righteousness and embraced the lies of these animals!"

"It was you who had damned yourself," an Ekkaroqian spoke up, his voice deep and powerful. "You have turned your back on the teaching of the Great Sky Father and copulate yourself with sins."

"What the fuck did you people do to piss the Sororitas off so much?" Damien cut in. "I mean, shit, they don't go around wiping out cities without a probable cause."

"We didn't even know what happened!" The woman spoke up again. "One minute they were talking to us, and the next they were gunning us down! They didn't spare anyone, not even the children."

"We were warned that this would happen," the first bloke spoke up.

"What do you mean?" Henry asked him.

"A week before these bunches of Sororitas showed up, another group came to meet the governess," the man continued. "They asked us for assistance concerning some artifacts in the plains. We agreed, but they warned us of treachery, then all of this happened…guess they were right."

"Which order did these Sororitas belong to?" Henry pressed.

"I don't know," the man shrugged. "All I know is that they just showed up one day, with no ship or nothing, and came to us. Come to think of it, their armor was kinda strange."

"Did one of them wear a golden trimmed sapphire armor with tattered silks flowing down her back?" Damien asked.

"…The leader, yes," the man said slowly.

"Did she have bright, flowing blue hair?" Tangmo asked and the man nodded.

"Well shit, you done fucked up now," Henry's chuckle was mirthless and menacing. "Those Sororitas you met? They were Chaos. No wonder the nuns creamed your ass."

"We tried to warn them," the other Ekkaroqian spoke up. "Those women reeked of…wrongness. Like a foul stench in the wind or an oily stain that marred the stream."

"You should've listened to them," Laura said then turned to Antonius. "So the sisters were pursuing their Chaos counterpart here?"

"The rumors are true then," Antonius and his men looked genuinely distressed. "I mean, there were whispers among the men, but the sisters were quick to silence them."

"The ramification of this knowledge would be catastrophic on the Adepta Sororitas," Amberley entered the conversation. "They are supposed to be immune to corruption, after all."

"And they'll kill anyone who knows about it," Laura was incredulous. "And we're supposed to help them?!"

"That is the mission Lord Guilliman gave us," Amberley said. "We are to support the Sororitas on their mission, even if it means purging this planet."

"No problem here," Henry said darkly and drew his laspistol, the bound Antebellan flinched.

"But…but we didn't know!" The woman stammered. "Please! You gotta believe us!"

"It doesn't matter now, does it?" Henry was unusually dark as he gazed at Antonius. "Do you need anything else from the prisoners?"

"No sir," Henry didn't wait for Antonius to finish his sentence before pulling the trigger. It wasn't an accurate shot but a wild, careless application of lasbolts meant to inflict pain. Henry scored the prisoners in the arms, legs and chests, nonlethal shot that left them writhing in agony. It was only after the screams died down that he put them out of their misery.

"Ladaee, what's the ETA on the tanks?" Henry holstered his laspistol.

"Fifteen minutes," Ladaee and the main characters stared at him like he had just sprouted bat wings and demon's horns. "Henry…is everything okay?"

"I'm fine," Henry snapped at Ladaee, the commander engineer stepping back with a gasp.

"Hey!" Laura rounded on him. "You better get your shite together before you do something you'll regret."

"I said I'm fine!" Henry gritted his teeth.

"No you're not!" Laura got up in his face, "please mate, you're better than this!"

Henry looked at the corpses and blinked, the darkness in his eyes fading, recognition and realization returning like a man doused in icy cold water, wrenching him back from that black place few men can return from.

"I'm…I'm sorry," Henry quickly wiped his sweaty brow. His shameful glance refusing to meet Ladaee's concerned eyes.

"Don't be such a bloody sod mate," Laura grinned and pushed the stumbling Henry at Ladaee, who quickly caught him. Laura gave Ladaee a wink and she returned it with a grateful nod before leading Henry away.

"Is he going to be okay?" Tangmo nudged his head at Henry who was hugging Ladaee tightly.

"Hopefully," Laura adjusted her coat.

"Right," Tangmo turned to Antonius. "Are there any more Antebellan prisoners here?"

"We have thirty four of them in custody sir," Antonius said.

"Kill them all please, there's no point keeping them alive," Antonius was slightly taken aback by Tangmo's easy order. The main characters however, were totally at ease with his announcement.

"It will be done," Antonius saluted crisply.

"And where are the Sisters of Battle now?" Damien asked.

"Two days north sir, they're marching double time for Taranta, one of Tera-Antebella largest city," Antonius said. "We'll need to hurry if we are to catch up with them."

"The transports ships are already here, we'll move out in a couple of hours," Tangmo watched the hulking rectangular spaceships broke through the atmosphere as he flipped open his data-pad and said, "admiral Ae-Shin, do you ready, over?"

"Standing by, lord commissar," a stern woman answered. Beside the Homeland Rifle, the Jigurean have also committed three thousand fighters and bombers to the Immortal Spirit war effort. The fleet has since been upgraded to look like a modern day air force, with a little sprinkle of Ace Combat, thanks to the Jigugeum STC.

"How's the reconnaissance going admiral?" Tangmo asked. The navy has been mapping every continental landmass the moment they entered Tera-Antebella's orbit.

"The entire planet will be mapped out within the hour sir," Ae-Shin said.

"Are there any large body of troop north of our position?" Damien poked his head above Tangmo's shoulder.

"One moment Brother Sergeant," Ae-Shin was silent for a moment before speaking. "Yes sir, there's a large army moving northward, and it looks like they're walking straight into an ambush."

"Ambush?" Laura joined Tangmo and Damien.

"They're heading into a valley mam," Ae-Shin continued. "Thermal reading and satellite images show a large contingent of tanks and heavy gun emplacements hidden amongst the rises and crevices. It's going to be a bloodbath."

"Ae-Shin, I want you to warn the Battle Sisters and offer them our help," Tangmo strode back to the Myrmidon jeep and called shotgun again, Laura held the door open for Leilatha before taking the backseat.

"Copy that, lord commissar," Ae-Shin logged off as Tangmo put on his seat belt and tapped Krillen's shoulder. The jeep lurched into motion and swerved back onto the main road, veering dangerously close to a burning ruin.

"That'll get us on their good side," Laura smirked.

"Or maybe it won't," Leilatha added skeptically.

"Well shit, let's hope the psalm-singing harpies are in a good mood today then," Tangmo laughed and Krillen let out a snort of a chuckle.

"Commissar Tangmo!" Amberley gasped. "That is a very rude thing to say about the Adepta Sororitas!"

"But every commissar is saying the same thing, isn't that right inquisitor Vail?" Bloody hell Tangmo, out of all the people you have to go pick a fight with, you chose Ciaphas Cain's girlfriend?! Idiot! But before Amberley can respond, Ae-Shin voice boomed from his data-pad.

"Lord commissar, the Sororitas have rejected our help."

"Fucking seriously?!" Tangmo couldn't believe his ears.

"They told us to stay clear or be marked as hostiles," Ae-Shin continued.

"The diplomatic thing to do would be to stand down," Amberley told him.

"Too bad I'm retarded when it comes to diplomacy," Tangmo grinned. "Ae-Shin, bomb the Antebellan anyway."

"Are you sure sir?" Ae-Shin asked.

"The Sororitas thinks they can bully everyone into submission, let's show them that the Immortal Spirit battlegroup won't be cower," Tangmo said.

"Yes sir," Ae-Shin replied enthusiastically as Tangmo locked the data-pad's screen.

"I doubt they will be happy that we blatantly ignored their request," Amberley said.

"We are not here to make them happy," Leilatha spoke up, and Laura found herself smiling in agreement.

"Okay Antonius, give us a run down on the situation," Tangmo, along with the main characters, were gathered around the digitized map of Tera-Antebella sprawled across the circular tabletop. After five days on the road, they were catching up to the Sororitas.

"There are about nine thousand Sisters of Battle deployed on the planet right now," Antonius said and Tangmo let out an impressed whistle. "The six major orders, the order of Our Martyred Lady, the Valorous Heart, the Ebon Chalice, the Bloody Rose, the Argent Shroud and the Sacred Rose have all contributed significant resources and manpower to this mission. They have also assumed command of my twenty thousand strong Ultramar Auxilia and the Ekkaroqian planetary guardsmen, which I have no idea how many there are."

"We are many," the Ekkaroqian lieutenant at the table, Mato, spoke up. "The tribes and nations of Ekkaroq are now rallying to the Daughters of the Sky Father."

"So what is this planet called exactly?" Alistair spoke up.

"Ekkaroq for the native, Tera-Antebella for the Antebellan," Hildebrandt said.

"There's also a commissar amongst their ranks…I mean, our ranks," Antonius continued, getting the attention of Tangmo and Leilatha before glancing at Amberley. "Like the lady inquisitor, Lord Guilliman has requested her by name. She is attached to the Auxilia right now."

"This commissar has a name?" Henry asked.

"Severina Raine," Antonius said.

"From the 11th Antari Rifle?" Laura piped up.

"The one and the same," Antonius nodded.

"She quite a handful isn't she?" Laura snickered.

"Commissar Raine is a very hard woman, lady inquisitor," Antonius glanced demurely at Tangmo and Leilatha, fearing that he might have offended them.

"Yo, who the hell is Severina Raine?" Tangmo leaned toward Laura and dropped his voice to whisper, his conspiratorial conversation became less inconspicuous when Henry and Damien joined them.

"She's the main character from a Black Library short eBook called 'Execution' by Rachel Harrison," Leilatha said. "It's very good, if you have time check it out. Anyway, Severina Raine is a by the book commissar unlike Gaunt and Cain, her shtick is that despite trying to be one of the guards, and she does try, she will send them on a suicide charge without a qualm."

"I can already tell we'll get along great," Tangmo deadpanned.

"That's pretty much it on commissar Raine, now let's get back to the briefing, everyone's staring," with that the quartet returned to their places around the table like nothing had happened.

"Sorry about that," Tangmo began but was interrupted by the reverberating boom of distant thunder. "Ah, I see the sisters have commenced their assault on Taranta."

"How do we proceed?" Xiphos asked.

"It's about…seven at night, standard Terran time," Henry looked at his watch. "Taranta is a big city with about ten million people, not to mention heavily fortified. This is gonna drag out and the city is only a hundred kilometer away, so we should be able to get a good night sleep before heading out at dawn."

"Any guarantee that the sisters won't shoot us on sight, lad?" Bruce put forward the unpleasant possibility.

"They are loyal servant of the God Emperor like us," Evangeline stated hotly. "I'm sure they can be reasoned with."

"The Sisters of Battle are fanatics," Krillen's words drew a sharp glare from Evangeline. "And now that they're assaulting Taranta, the only talking they'll be doing is with bolters and flamers."

"Krillen's right," Tangmo nodded. "But we're not here to fight them, so naturally we'll talk, but with our tanks, guardsmen and Space Marines at the ready."

Assenting murmur answered him.

"I'll tell the navy to keep an hourly update on the siege, in case we have to go and rescue the damsels," Tangmo and the men laughed, but the women weren't amused. "So I guess that's it for tonight, check your gears, check your ammos, have a nice meal and get some rest, we march at first light."

With that, the meeting was adjourned and Tangmo took out his data-pad, checking the tally on the bet he has made. The odds were horrifically against him.

"Are you really gonna do it?" Laura shot him an unbelieving look.

"I am," Tangmo grinned and put away the data-pad.

"You're a dead man," Damien observed.

"We'll see."

Welp, so much for this dragging out.

"How in the fuck did the sisters managed to take an entire city overnight?!" Tangmo bellowed into Laura earbuds as the vanguard sped toward the churning black plumes marring the dawning sky.

"Hell if I know, Ae-Shin said the walls came down at around four in the morning," Damien added. "The defenders apparently suck dicks."

"Of course they suck dicks, they're Confederate scums!" Henry fumed. "Bunch of racist, redneck pieces of shits…I'm gonna kill every last one of them motherfuckers!"

"Henry, love, you have to calm down," Laura cut in before the American popped a blood vessel. "These people are not Confederate love, they're Antebellan. They didn't fight against Lincoln during the Civil War. Now breathe deeply and repeat after me, they are not Confederate."

"Okay, okay, they're not Confederate, they're not Confederate, they're not Confederate," the mantra worked for about ten seconds. "They still look like those grey sons of bitches though."

"Just remember not to go overboard love," Laura shook her head and stepped on the pedal, the Myrmidon roaring across the open plain.

"The Sororitas sure are effective in their vilification," Amberley observed beside her.

"Yeah, I'm still wondering if that's a good thing or not," Laura swerved the Myrmidon left and led the vanguard toward a wall of sandbag. "Holy shit, the smoke looks even worse up close!"

"Wood is the primary material used in most Antebellan building," Amberley said as Laura brought the Myrmidon to a stop at a guard post being manned by a company of Auxilia.

"If they don't ease up on the flames, we're gonna have a bloody firestorm on our hand," Laura rolled the window down and turned to the approaching guardsmen. "Let us through!"

"You're from the Immortal Spirit? Emperor's mercy!" The guardsman leading the group squawked when he saw the King Ghidorah and the six Macharius rolling to a stop behind the convoy of Myrmidon jeeps and MKII Chimera APCs.

"Can you take us to your commanding officer please?" Amberley leaned over Laura, smiling brightly at the guardsman. Bloody hell her knockers are so soft…wait, what?!

"Umm…we're like, the only people left," the sergeant stammered, obviously not used to having two beautiful, hot women talking to him. "The captain should still be here? I thought I saw him talking to the Sororitas and the Ekkaroqian near the frontline."

"Thank you!" Laura blew him a kiss and drove into the camp while the sentries quickly cleared away the defenses for the rest of the vanguard to enter. Navigating through the rows of tent, Laura caught a few glimpses of injured Sororitas, Auxilia and Ekkaroqian shambling toward the field hospital set up by the hospitaller. After about a minute Laura reached the front and holy shit, she just drove straight into hell. Taranta burned. The sky above the metropolis was alight with orange and red. Inferno pulsed like the beating heart of a great, furious beast, pillars of black smoke and twisting tongues of fire danced high above the ruinous vista. And standing before what used to be the city's wall was a group of Battle Sisters, Ultramar Auxilia and Ekkaroqian. Taking center stage was an Ekkaroqian woman screaming at a sister, while an Auxilia captain act as a buffer between them.

"You promised!" Laura heard the woman yelled when she stepped out of the jeep, Amberley, Antonius and his Auxilia taking position behind her.

"Taranta was taken, as was agreed upon," the sister, an Ebon Chalice judging by the black armor, responded apathetically.

"The city burns!" The Ekkaroqian waved at the raging fire. "We told you incendiaries weapon will do more harm than good and you ignored us!"

"The Antebellan were well dug it," the sister spoke slowly, as one would to a slow child. "This was the most optimal way to quell the resistance."

"My people are still trapped inside!" The woman raised her voice shrilly. "They'll be burned alive!"

"And their sacrifice shall be remembered," the sister said heartlessly.

"You…!"

"Anaba don't!"

The Auxilia captain grabbed the woman before she can take a swing at the sister. Things look about ready to escalate when the captain saw Antonius approaching.

"Anton! Thank the Emperor!" As the captain waved them over, everyone shifted their attention to the Immortal Spirit battlegroup.

"What's going on Rollins?" Antonius said.

"Umm…a disagreement?" Rollins offered sheepishly as Anaba shook him off and backed away from the Sororitas with a scowl.

"Look, I know things are literally on fire right now, but maybe we should cool off a wee bit, yeah?" Laura went to stand before the Sororitas. "What is your name, sister?"

"Sister Emmanis, lady inquisitor," the sister saluted.

"Nice job with the city here, Emmanis," Laura continued. "How about you leave some for us next time?"

"I thought you already had your filled, seeing how you like to interfere with our operation," Emmanis's eyes narrowed on Laura.

"You know, people normally say thank you when we bailed them out of an ambush," Laura was starting to get a little annoyed.

"We don't need your help fighting the heretics," Emmanis nudged her head at the flaming Taranta, "as you can see."

"I'll keep that in mind," Laura's lips thinned when Tangmo, Leilatha, Krillen, Evangeline, Bruce and Kenshin joined them.

"Goddamn, we missed the party," Tangmo's eyes widened at the destruction.

"Well, the fight is still on going sir," Rollins spoke up. "The defenders are scattered across the city and they're not going down easy."

"The Sororitas will bring them to heel soon enough," Emmanis declared.

"With the bodies of my people serving as tinder for your pyre," Anaba added darkly.

"Say what now?" Tangmo asked.

"Apparently Ekkaroqian civilians are still trapped inside the city," Laura glanced at Anaba, "right?"

"Yes," Anaba nodded. "The Daughters of the Sky Father had promised to liberate us from the tyranny and persecution of the Antebellan. Yet here they are, willfully throwing away the lives of my people along with the sinners and blasphemers."

"The Emperor will sort out His own," Emmanis said coldly.

"Do the lives of the Sky Father's children means so little to you? Have you completely forsaken your humanity?" There was almost pity in Anaba's words, the gesture revolted Emmanis however.

"Anything we can do to help?" Laura asked.

"There's nothing you can do," Anaba scoffed bitterly and pointed at the city's western reach, where the flames appeared most furious. "The fire will reach the slums soon."

"Meko! Break out the drones!" Tangmo waved the captain and his team over. They placed their large packs on the ground, unpacked quickly and assembled six unmanned aircrafts that looked like a miniaturized version of the Avenger drone.

"That look so sweet mate," Laura admired the drone's wide white wings and gentle curves.

"I know right? I can't believe all of this stuff was inside the Jigugeum STC," Tangmo leaned over Meko's shoulder, the captain typing quickly across his data-pad. "How's the connection?"

"Establishing links with the control center now," Meko grinned when green icons flashed across the screen. "All systems clear. Machine Spirit Albert, can you please run a quick diagnostic to confirm system integrity?"

"Everything is great on this end Meko," a chirpy female answered.

"…Who is this?" Meko's face scrunched up in confusion.

"Meko! It's me, Mary!" The voice said indignantly. "Remember? The other Machine Spirit Laura brought over to help the overworked Albert? I've been helping around the ship for the last two months?"

"Oh yes! Forgive me Machine Spirit Mary," Meko bowed at the data-slate. "I'm guessing Machine Spirit Albert is unavailable?"

"I'm on break dude, Mary can take care of everything," Albert spoke up.

"Very well, everything appears to be in order. Thank you, Machine Spirit Mary," Meko tapped the screen a few more times before turning to Tangmo. "We're ready to launch, lord commissar."

"What is that contraption?" Emmanis pointed at the six drones on the ground. "Have the Mechanicus sanctified those machines? What is their – Ahhh!"

Emmanis ducked with a squeal when the drones shot over her head, the engines creating a massive backblast as it soared into the sky.

"Calm the hell down, it's our unmanned drone," Tangmo tapped his data-pad as real time transmission started streaming in. "And don't you dare shoot them!"

"Drone?! Like the ones those xenos tau used?!" Another Sororitas raised her voice sharply.

"Our drones are being control by a team of operators up on the Immortal Spirit, the machine have no autonomy of thought," Laura opened communication with Henry and Damien. "Are you getting this mate?"

"Yeah," Damien said, "holy shit that's a lot of fire."

"What of the slums?" Anaba strode up to Laura, hope and fear warring on her face. "How far have the fire spread in the west end?"

"Get me some visual on the western part of the city please," at Laura's command, six windows popped up on the screen, each showing a fiery crescent creeping slowly on a shanty looking part of town, Anaba sobbed pitifully at the sight. "I'm sorry Anaba, I don't think there's anything we…"

"Switch to thermal," Henry spoke up, and after a few seconds of contemplative silence he continued. "Ae-Shin, I want your bombers to carry out a precision strike on these coordinates."

"Lord general, you do realize you're asking me to bomb a raging fire?" Ae-Shin wasn't entirely sure she heard Henry right.

"There are five large pockets of fire blazing right now," Henry elaborated. "They're isolated for the moment and the bomb can kill the oxygen and put them out, or at the very least lessened it for the King Ghidorah and the Elsa to mount a rescue operation."

"The Elsa?" Damien asked incredulously. "Did you just name one of the Macharius after a Disney princess?"

"The main cannon fire a freeze ray," Henry said. "It's fitting."

"That's lame," Damien groaned.

"Just let it go dude," Laura can tell Henry was smirking.

"Be advised, hostiles are still active inside the city," Tangmo glanced at Emmanis. "Can you tell your sisters not to shoot them please? And that a bunch of bombs are about to drop?"

Emmanis nodded and spoke into her earbud.

"Well this is interesting," Laura brought up a new window. "Looks like the main bulk of the Sororitas are converging on…what is that, a mansion and a plantation in the middle of a bloody city?"

"The Antebellan cherish their rustic way of life," Anaba sneered as she peered over Laura's shoulder. "The height of civilized culture they say."

"I say we go meet them," Amberley joined her.

"I'll get on it," Henry voice had a demented edge to it.

"No love, you go rescue the Ekkaroqian, get the Tallarn to help," Laura cut in. "Damien, take the guardsmen into the city and neutralize all hostiles, me and Tangmo will take a strike team to go meet the Sororitas."

"Wait, what?" Laura strode back to the Myrmidon before Tangmo can object.

"Bring the colonels and their best men along, we need to present a strong front for the Sororitas to see," Laura got into the driver's seat and strapped herself in. "I doubt eloquence would sway them, given the current temperament."

"Who the hell died and made you queen?" Tangmo asked.

"You in a second, if you don't behave," Laura smiled brightly and trained her hell pistol on him.

"Fine," Tangmo groaned.

"Leilatha, Evangeline, Aileen, Anaba, you're riding with me and Amberley," Laura stabbed her thumb at the backseat. "We girls need to stick together."

"Just the way she likes it!" Tangmo flashed his canines nastily before strolling back to his own jeep.

"Get fucked arsehole!" Laura flipped him off, turned the ignition then poked her head outside again. "Hey, are you really gonna do it?"

"Oh yeah!" Tangmo laughed and got into his jeep.

"What is he going to do?" Leilatha asked as the Myrmidon rolled forward.

"Don't worry love, I doubt he'll do it for real," Laura swerved around a bend and onto the main thoroughfare, death littered their path. Fire burned furiously around them, every building consumed in various stages of immolation. Burnt bodies chained to stakes dotted the footpaths and intersections at regular interval, while above, dangling from gables, lintels and roofs, were condemned men and women, what remained of their skins flapped like tattered banners in the breeze.

"Okay, this look a little excessive, even by Sororitas standard," Laura took a right.

"This is certainly an anomaly," Evangeline agreed. "The sisters are ruthless, but all of this seems unnecessarily cruel."

"We should've brought more guns," Aileen made her input.

"They wouldn't dare attack Imperial commissars and inquisitors," Leilatha added.

"The Adepta Sororitas are not immune to foul play, lady commissar," Amberley warned. "I have seen them behave in reputable ways before."

"That's nice," Laura stepped on the pedal as they entered a large flagstone path flanked on both side by large, ancient twisting trees, the branches forming a leafy canopy above them. Beyond the trees were cotton fields that took up a couple of acres, thank fucking God Henry wasn't here. But no slaves toiled in the field singing sad songs, no, instead dozen of Antebellan were fleeing across the open range, being pursued by Ekkaroqian warriors and Battle Sisters. Some fell to arcing tomahawks, others to stream of blazing promethium, the killing terrible and thorough. The white, southern style mansion was coming into view when Laura stepped on the break. Battle Sisters, hundreds of them, all armed to the teeth, blocked their way. The armored women turned toward the fifteen jeeps convoy, flamers, bolters, heavy bolters and melta guns hefted up at the ready.

"Identify yourself," a group of Valorous Heart converged on them.

"I'm inquisitor Laura of the Ordo Hereticus, attached to the Immortal Spirit battlegroup," Laura saluted and glanced around at the less than warm reception. "What's going on here?"

"The Sororitas have business to conduct with the planetary governess," the Battle Sister went on. "Turn your jeeps around, this is none of your concern."

"But we've been given direct order from Lord Guilliman and Saint Celestine to aid the Sororitas in their mission," Laura pressed on.

"Your help is not needed," the sister said sharply.

"That's not up to you, or your canonesses," Laura pressed on. "Now let us through, we're on the same side for the Emperor's sake."

The sister whispered something to her cohorts before turning back to Laura, "leave your vehicles."

Laura traded looks with Amberley and shrugged, "fine."

Laura stepped out of the Myrmidon, followed by Amberley, Leilatha, Evangeline, Aileen, and Anaba, their movement slow and cautious, half expecting gunfire to erupt at any moment. Behind them Tangmo and the guardsmen exited their jeeps, so far so good.

"Fix bayonets!"

Uncaring of the bolters leveled on them, the Immortal Spirit guardsmen nonchalantly fastened the bayonets to their lasguns, shouldered it smartly, then got into a pristine four ranks marching column behind Tangmo, who has given the order.

"When you're ready," Tangmo nodded at Laura.

"Are you sure about this?" Laura asked.

"Why not? They're not playing nice, so why should we play nice?" Tangmo met the Sororitas's glares with a bored, nonchalant look.

"Point taken," Laura waved them forward. "Let's go!"

In parade formation, the Immortal Spirit guardsmen marched down the road, the beats of their boots making a hearty rhythm. Around them the Sisters of Battle matched their steps, weapons held close to chests, ready to be brought to bear. The procession progressed tensely, the guardsmen and sisters trading hated looks at each other, the hostility tangible. Laura was about to try and lightened the mood with idle conversation when the buzzing crack of an electro whip sundered the seething silence, the terrible snaps was followed by a broken high pitched squeal. Laura quickened her pace, following the rising clamor until she reached a huge courtyard where a naked young boy, chained to an iron pole, was getting flayed by a Mistress of Repentance, the Sororitas watching his torture with frightening solemnity. Holding up her fist, Laura brought the column to a stop and strode closer to get a better look.

"Please!" A woman in a torn frilly dress screeched, disheveled sandy gold hair framing her tear stricken face. "Let him go! Please! He knows nothing of what happens!"

"He suffered because of your lies," a brunette Sister of Battle clad in an ornate power armor, a canoness in all likelihood, spoke down at the kneeling southern belle. The color scheme was that of the Martyr Lady.

"I told y'all everything!" The woman sobbed hysterically. "A group of Sororitas asked us for help and we gave it to them! They wanted to know where…"

"And still you spew more falsehood?!" The Bloody Rose canoness roared and waved at the Mistress of Repentance, "again!"

The whip came down, the boy shrieked and the woman wailed, splatter of blood swishing across the white flagstone.

"This is madness!" An Auxilia lieutenant stomped forward with a group of guardsmen, heading for the boy. "Noncombatant are to be treated with respect and dignity in accordance to the codex of war, you cannot make a public spectacle out of him like this!"

"The heretic is in our custody, to do as we please," the Ebon Chalice canoness said coldly. "Know your place guardsman."

"This is wrong!" The lieutenant persisted.

"Keep them on leash, commissar Raine," at the Argent Shroud canoness's words, a prim commissar, her blonde hair did up in an immaculate bun, stepped forward and placed herself between the guardsman and the canoness, her handsome, pretty face was severe.

"Step back Roman," she said sternly.

"You cannot be okay with this!" Roman waved at the ravaged boy.

"You have your orders, lieutenant," Severina Raine pulled her bolt pistol free from its holster. "And you will obey them."

Roman seethed, stopping his advance but not backing down either.

"You speak of purity, yet here you are trying to hide your own sin!" A chaplain, kneeling with the other prisoners, declared hotly.

"The chaplain speaks true," a mechanicus priest, also bound and on his knees, gave his monotone input. Not far from the cyborg was a flaming Chimera with the Mechanicus logo on it and a large metallic box the sisters were prodding with their bolters, a computer in all likelihood. "The Sororitas have many secrets."

"Hold your tongue, cog," the Sacred Rose canoness warned then eyed the boy. "Is he still alive?"

Walking up to the pole, the Valorous Heart canoness grabbed his hair and yanked savagely, he squealed effeminately from the rough ministration.

"Please! No more, no more!" He babbled between sobs and whipped his head at the southern belle on the ground. "Mama! Mama help me! Mama!"

The southern belle tried to scramble to her child, but the Martyred Lady canoness kicked her face first to the ground and planted an iron sole on the squirming woman. The boy wept anew, calling desperately for his mother.

"You still haven't lost your breath," the Valorous Heart canoness observed with a hint of amusement before pointing at someone in the crowd, "hospitaller, over here."

The wall of armored women parted and a demure hospitaller in a white carapace and mail coif stepped forward. With hesitant steps, she went to stand before the Valorous Heart canoness and bowed.

"How can I be of service?" The hospitaller said.

"Give him the Confessor solution," the canoness said.

"But…you can't!" The hospitaller gasped. "He's already injured, the pain will drive him insane, maybe even kill him!"

"The most potent tool must be use when questioning a heretic," the canoness tilted her head at boy. "Give him the injection."

"I…I…" the hospitaller stammered, her hesitation clear.

"That was an order, girl," the canoness raised her voice.

"I…" the hospitaller glanced pleadingly at one of the sister, "Miriya please!"

Wait a minute, Miriya? As in, Miriya from the Sisters of Battle books by James Swallow? Standing on her toe, Laura peeked above the armored clad crowd and saw her. Jet black hair framing a superbly beautiful face, made more badass by crisscrossing scars on her left cheek. So the hospitaller must be Verity, her sidekick. Miriya cast a pained look at the Martyred Lady canoness, which was most definitely Galatea judging by the epic red cape she wore, who received it with a grave one that brokered no negotiation. Sighing, Miriya nodded resignedly at Verity, "do as she says."

Verity went pale but submitted to the inescapabilty of her position and approached the shaking boy, his forlorn gaze begging for mercy.

"I'm sorry little one," Verity said as black liquid swirled and filled the syringe on her right forearm.

"That's our queue love!" Laura announced.

"About goddamn time," Tangmo adjusted his awesome commissar cap and addressed his men, "you guys follow us in but hang back, we're doing the talking."

"Oh no," Evangeline was rightly horrified as Laura and Tangmo rudely pushed their way through the ranks of Battle Sisters. Verity was pressing the needle into the boy's squirming neck when the pair emerged onto the courtyard.

"Oi! What's with all this Spanish Inquisition shite?!" Laura shouted, causing Verity to spring back with a frightened squeal.

"Who dares?!" Galatea roared as the Battle Sisters quickly surrounded the outnumbered guardsmen, lasguns squaring off against bolters. Commissar Raine and the Auxilia didn't move, themselves not sure what to do.

"We dare," Tangmo was bouncing on his feet like a fighter waiting for the bell to ring, beside him Laura cracked her knuckles, announcing herself ready for a fisticuff.

"Know your place, boy!" the scarlet hair canoness of the Bloody Rose seethed. "Or I will kill you where you stand!"

"Try it, and I'm gonna break your fucking neck," Tangmo locked eyes with the Bloody Rose canoness, the woman snarling at him like a lioness.

"Right after I give you a pretty little Glasgow smile," Laura added maliciously then swept a piercing look at the Sororitas, more than fed up with the nun's holier than thou attitude. "Do I need to remind the lot of you of what happens to people who pull their guns on an inquisitor?! Now, I suggest you all lower your weapons before things get really ugly." Laura stabbed her finger at the canonesses, "starting with you six."

"Are you threatening us, inquisitor?" The Ebon Chalice canoness said flatly.

"Yes, yes I am," Laura nodded. "Oh, and we have a huge Baneblade just around the corner and a Gloriana ship above your heads that can kill the lot of you ten times over. So yeah, keep pointing those guns at me and see what happens."

The canonesses traded look, Laura and Tangmo's unpredictable behavior was so confounding that they couldn't tell if the duo were bluffing or telling the truth. Wisely, they chose the safer option and lowered their weapons, the other sisters complying reluctantly.

"Smart moves, ladies," Laura took off her awesome inquisitor hat and bowed gracefully. "Oh, where are my manners? Inquisitor Laura of the Ordo Hereticus, please to make your acquaintance."

"Lord commissar Tangmo, at your service," Tangmo wai and the Auxilia lit up in excitement, but a stern look from Raine swiftly shut them up.

"The politely response now would be to introduce yourself," Laura put the awesome inquisitor hat back on while the canonesses blistered at the disrespect. Inhaling deeply, the Argent Shroud was the first to step forward and bowed.

"Crestienne, canoness preceptor of the Argent Shroud."

"Bellona, canoness preceptor of the Bloody Rose."

"Amaryllis, canoness preceptor of the Ebon Chalice."

"Heloise, canoness preceptor of the Sacred Rose."

"Morelia, canoness preceptor of the Valorous Heart."

"And last but not least, canoness preceptor Galatea of Our Martyred Lady, the commander of the Neva convent." Laura cut in before Galatea can make her introduction, the surprise on the canoness's face quickly morphed into one of cold suspicion.

"You know of me?" Galatea said levelly.

"Well, more like I know her," Laura strode over to Miriya and held out her hand. "It is truly an honor to meet you Sister Miriya, I'm a great admirer of your work."

"…Thank you," Miriya took it and shook guardedly.

"Did you get your Celestian rank back yet?" Laura blurted.

"Sister Miriya is far from retaining such an honored place amongst our ranks," Galatea said matter of factually and Miriya flinched at the blunt words.

"A fucking travesty," Tangmo snorted. "Fucking saved the Emperor himself from a psycho psyker and singlehandedly blew up a Necron moon and all you got was a demotion."

"Life's unfair mate," Laura shrugged.

"I know, but that's not gonna stop me from complaining about it," Tangmo said.

"How did you…?"

"But we're getting off topic," Laura went on before Miriya can questioned Tangmo, pointing at the whipped boy. "What the hell is this?"

"His mother the governess refuses to admit her crime," canoness Amaryllis said. "She insisted that a Sororitas order was responsible for the populace turning to heresy, when it is clear that the Antebellan have been dabbling with the Ruinous Power for generations."

"But I'm telling y'all the truth!" The governess wailed. "A group of Sororitas came to us, led by canoness…"

"Syrathel," Tangmo finished her sentence. Laura was not surprised when the gathered sisters gave him a look that say 'he knows'. They've obviously been trying to cover up their tracks while at the same time forcing the survivors to confess to a more preferable narrative before killing them.

"Yes! You know of her?!" Hope gleamed in the governess's eyes.

"She's a Chaos Sororitas, we fought her on Jigugeum," Tangmo said. "You've been tricked like those Buxiunese and Kuronese jackasses, doesn't make you any less guilty of being stupid though."

"So, we are not the only one who is aware of this corruption ," an Ekkaroqian man stepped forward, stained from head to toe in blood, a stern and imposing individual with an undeniable air of leadership.

"You got that right love," Laura held out her hand. "And you are?"

"Akecheta," the Ekkaroqian took her offered hand and shook awkwardly.

"Just like in Westworld," Laura mumbled.

"I'm sorry?" Akecheta asked.

"Nothing," Laura ended the handshake. "So how come the Sororitas haven't set you on fire yet?"

"We have sworn to keep this knowledge a secret and help them pursue the tainted maidens and the Antebellan defilers," Akecheta said. "In return they have promised to free my people from bondage."

"And by your own words, sundered that oath," Morelia eyed Akecheta crossly.

"These new comers know the truth, the pact is not broken if they are aware of our predicament," Akecheta went on smoothly, much to Morelia charging, "even if I'm coming to regret our agreement. My people burn from the fire of your making and you did nothing to help."

"That's enough colonel Akecheta," Raine approached him, a hint of sympathy on her face. "We did all we can, however it is a sad truth of war that collateral happens. I understand your frustration, but you must not allow it to deter you from duty."

"Yo Henry, what's the deal with the Ekkaroqian?" Tangmo flipped his data-pad open.

"We got them out dude!" Henry's happy chuckling blared from the speaker. "We stopped the fire from spreading and got everybody out! The freaking bombs did the trick!"

"They are safe?" Akecheta hurried up to Tangmo's side, joy gleamed on his hardened face.

"Who are you?" Henry asked.

"War chief Akecheta."

"Oh, so you're the war chief. Yeah, your people are okay, a little burnt and sooty but otherwise okay," Henry said.

"Praise the Sky Father!" Akecheta raised his voice to the heaven in pure exultation, his warriors joining with equal gusto.

"Yeah, I hate to be that one arsehole, but if you're gonna thank anyone, thank us," Laura wagged her finger between herself and Tangmo, looking terribly annoyed. Akecheta paused, glanced at the two, then bowed deeply.

"Yes, you were the ones who rescued my people from the fire. Thank you."

"Don't mention it dude," Tangmo put his data-pad away. "It's nice to shake things up a bit after all the killing and shit."

"That's nice and good, but I'm getting terribly bored of standing around and doing nothing," Amberley strode forward and joined their circle of conversation. "Inquisitor Vail, ordo Xenos, at your service."

"Vail," Galatea scoffed at the inquisitor, "Cain's consort."

"A grossly incorrect term," Laura was surprise to see Amberley's infallible decorum falter at the canoness's direct word. "We are partners in our fight against the enemies of the Imperium, both within and without."

"What do you need Amberley?" Laura asked.

"Have the Sororitas divulged any information regarding their mission?" Amberley bright façade mended itself quickly enough.

"Nothing so far, but we're figuring it out," Laura said.

"I have information regarding the Sororitas's true motive on Tera-Antebella," the tech priest raised his creepy, soulless robot voice. "Their purpose here is self-serving and in detriment to the Imperium at large."

"Shut your mouth!" Miriya roared and stomped toward the panicky tech priest, bolter leveled at his robot face.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Chill!" Tangmo grabbed Miriya's arm and wrenched her back.

"Take your hands off me!" Miriya shouted at Tangmo, but he wouldn't budge.

"Don't go near the cog fuck, he's probably gonna send some techno spore latching on to you or something," at Tangmo's explanation, Miriya stopped struggling but her hostile stare remained affixed on the commissar. "So stand back and let me check if he's clean. Then you can curb stomp him all you want, hell, I'll help."

It took a few heartbeats, but Miriya eventually relented, the tautness in her stance slowly ebbing away.

"Alright," letting go of Miriya, Tangmo aimed his data-pad at the captured tech priest and tapped the scan icon on the screen.

"What is that?" The tech priest demanded.

"Shut up," Tangmo responded the same moment green thumbs up flashed across the screen. "Okay he's clean, go ahead and turn the motherfucker into scrap metals."

"Wait! If you spare us, we'll give you the location of the Sororitas's relic cache and…!" The tech priest spluttered hurriedly and received Miriya's boot to the face for his trouble.

"Miriya, no!" Miriya was about to kick the prone tech priest when Verity rushed to her side, the hospitaller's horrified look stopping the Battle Sister from punting the cog in the head. Breathing hard, Miriya stepped back from the shaking machine man as Laura took her place.

"And this information is in that computer cube over there?" The tech priest nodded weakly at Laura inquiry, "Tangmo?"

"Give me a couple of minutes," Tangmo swaggered up to the computer. "I'll link it up with the data-pad and let Albert and Mary hack the damn thing."

"But he is not a tech priest," Verity spoke up. "How can he persuade the Machine Spirit to cooperate?"

"The Mechanicus are a bunch of lying sod love," Laura told her. "All this crap about them being the only one who can make things work are absolute bollocks, they brainwashed the Imperium into thinking that there's something divine about a machine when the reality is that anyone can use them. From the lowliest serf to the most opulent nobleman, all you need is a few hours of lesson, that's all."

"…Can I learn them?" Verity asked guardedly.

"Tell you what love, after this you can go have a chat with commander engineer Ladaee, she can teach you a thing or two," Laura smiled warmly and Verity blushed. Why the bloody hell did she blushed? Great, now Miriya was giving her the evil eyes.

"Yo! Dude! We just hit the jackpot!" Tangmo bellowed, excited out of his mind, the sisters baulking at his antic. "This fucking planet was a shrine world, an ancient stronghold of the six major orders! No wonder you people are so prissy about it, pretty much every important Sororitas artifact across the galaxy is here and I just realized I should not have said that out loud…fuck."

"Thanks a lot," Krillen's unhelpful comment was eclipsed by the clicks of priming bolters. The canonesses looked about ready to give the kill order.

"Fuck you, I got excited!" Tangmo shot back.

"Does that happen a lot, lad?" Bruce guffawed.

"Double fuck you, bitch!" Tangmo shouted.

"How can we help?" Laura cut in before the banter can continued, the offer throwing the canonesses off guard, none of them were expecting the Immortal Spirit battlegroup to be inclined toward assisting the Sororitas.

"You wish to help us?" Galatea asked condescendingly.

"That's what I said love," Laura grinned. "If we work together, everybody wins."

"And we should simply trust you with our confidence? Just like that?" Galatea continued, utterly unimpressed. "That is not how this work, inquisitor, the inner working of the Adepta Sororitas is not something we simply share with outsiders. The matter of faith is a delicate thing, it can be easily relinquished and misconstrue, we do not wish for our orders to be tainted by untruth that will surely come from careless mouths." At this, she gave Tangmo a pointed look.

"I get it, you guys want to keep your reputation squeaky clean," Laura said. "I don't think that's feasible after what happened at Jigugeum, but what we can do right now is stop those corrupted Battle Sisters from causing something worse than a PR damage. It's not hard to figure out that they're here for the relics."

"And we will stop them without your help," Galatea remained adamantly unconvinced.

"Seriously?!" Laura wanted to punch the brunette. "We are literary offering you our help and you're getting all stuck up? Bloody hell lady can you please, for the Emperor's sake, keep your ego in check and look at the bigger picture here?! If the Chaos Sisters get those relics it's not only you who's screwed, it's all of us! Like it or not, we're all in this together now!"

Finally Galatea's icy veneer thawed. With deliberate slowness, she turned back to the other canonesses and started whispering like a bunch of gossiping high school girls. After a minute, they spun to face Laura, Galatea still acting as the speaker and said:

"Inquisitor Laura, we have decided that an alliance between the Adepta Sororitas and the Immortal Spirit battlegroup would be in the best interest of all. Therefore, we accept your proposal for this union."

"That's great love! Thank you!" Laura snatched up Galatea hand and shook it vigorously, the canoness was not amused.

"We only ask that you respect the Sororitas's autonomy in conducting this mission," Galatea snatched her hand back.

"We have no problem with that," Laura shrugged, "right Tangmo?"

"Yep, no problem at all," Tangmo said.

"Jolly good love! Now, about these tossers…" Laura glanced menacingly at the bound Antebellan. "What are you guys going to do about them?"

"They have no use to us now," Bellona spat at the whimpering prisoners.

"Kill them then," Tangmo said.

"Permission for me and my men to carry out the execution, lord commissar," Raine glared at Roman for completely undermining her authority by asking Tangmo's permission instead of hers.

"Granted captain," Tangmo saluted. "Make it quick."

"Absolutely sir," Roman and the Auxilia led the bawling prisoners away and out of sight.

"Well, our job here is done," Laura puffed her chest up proudly. "We'll she you ladies at the rendezvous point outside the city once the civilians have been evacuated, sounds good?"

"That is acceptable," Galatea nodded and turned to leave, the other canonesses and Miriya's squad following her, "until then lady inquisitor."

"Wait, hold up, I have something to ask you."

Oh shit Tangmo, are you really gonna do it?! With an audible groan, the Sororitas spun around to face the approaching Tangmo.

"What is it, lord commissar?" Because of her straining patience, Galatea failed to notice that the Immortal Spirit guardsmen were staring at them with rapt attention, Laura included. Instead of answering, Tangmo's gaze drifted lazily downward until it was held unabashedly at Galatea's breasts, more specifically her boob plates. His interest wasn't lecherous, if anything it was more on the analytical side. That finer detail was lost on the Sororitas however, because when the sisters noticed where Tangmo was looking they didn't squealed and called him a pervert, no, instead the pissed off armored women reached for their weapons.

"How dare you…!"

"Does the plate match the cup?"

Holy shit, the mad lad actually did it! Galatea's bolter was raised half way up when Tangmo's pointing finger, trained on her metal cleavage, stopped it.

"…What did you just say?!" Galatea snapped each word off harshly, unbelieving of Tangmo's audacity.

"Does the breastplate fits, that's what I'm asking," Tangmo went on as if he was discussing the weather. "I mean, are they all standard size or are they made specifically for each sister?"

"The sanctified power armors are created to be a perfect fit for every individual Sister of Battle within our ranks," Crestienne explained while holding back the fuming Bellona, the Argent Shroud canoness's expression was one of barely restrained outrage.

"So they're all tailored made?" Tangmo continued.

"They are," Crestienne's patience was truly admirable. Laura had expected Tangmo to be dead by now.

"Yes, I can see that now," Tangmo swept his gaze over Miriya's squad, Verity covering her chest with a glare, her cheeks steaming red. "Thank you for your answer sisters, because you just made me a very rich man! Ha! Suck it motherfuckers, I'm still alive!"

Loud admonition erupted from the Immortal Spirit guardsmen, while the guardswomen just shook their head exasperatedly. The Sororitas however, can only stare as Tangmo jumped up and down in cackling delight.

"What in the fuck?!" Krillen bellowed.

"How?! How was that possible?!" Major Gaston of the Mordian Iron Guard was equally flabbergasted, but composed himself when Evangeline shot him a murderous look.

"The lad got the Emperor's luck himself," Bruce grumbled.

"My father always said I was a terrible gambler," Kenshin was already mourning his money.

"Thank you for your money my dudes!" Tangmo gloated and quickly tapped his data-pad, "sweet, sweet twenty million credits baby! Fuck yeah…" the commissar ceased his celebration and stared at the screen. "Ten million?! Yo Albert, did you fucked up my money?! Show me the money!"

"I am showing you the money," Albert gave his disembodied shrugged.

"Half of it is missing!" Tangmo pressed.

"Nope, someone else bet in your favor," Albert said.

"Who the fuck did that?!"

"Me!"

Laura laughed maniacally, holding up her data-pad like it was a WWE Championship belt, "I always have faith in you mate! And once again, you did not disappoint!"

"Y-You!" Tangmo was still babbling when Laura threw her arm over his head and guided him back to the Myrmidon, pulling him in so close that his cheek was pressed firmly against her breast. The guardsmen were laughing now, elated that Tangmo won't have all of the spoils.

"Let's have a stiff pint mate, that always cheers you up!" Laura glanced at Leilatha, the lady commissar was very cute when she's jealous. "Coming love? My treat!"