The Multiverse Project: Warhammer 40,000

"Open fire!"

Elskerinne Eldul raised her wrist mounted storm bolter and unleashed a hellish barrage on the monstrous Mawloc. Amberley, along with the canonesses, huskarls, shield-maidens and Honor Guards, added their firepower to the mix, explosion wreathed the beast's ridged and spiked segmented body. The Mawloc was barely fazed by such trifle annoyances however, and reared its head high in disdainful pomposity before unleashing a thunderous roar that knocked the Sororitas off their feet.

"We need to fall back to the Star Pillar," Amaryllis, canoness of the Ebon Chalice, told her sisters in arms.

"The worm must be destroyed first," Heloise of the Sacred Rose countered. "If it goes underground again, it can attack the fortress from below."

"We need heavier firepower!" Galatea bellowed over the din.

"Pilot, we need your assistance," Eldul tapped her winged helm.

"For the love of the Throne, I'm not blind you know?" Commander Ae-shin was less than coordinal in her response. "I already told Tangmo I'll take care of it. Just stand clear of the blast, things are about to get really messy."

"Fall back to the fortress!" Eldul waved her spear in the air. "Tactical withdraw, keep the Tyranid pin!"

"Beware of the warrior organisms, sisters," Bellona yelled as the Adepta Sororitas started up the stone steps at a brisk pace. "They're swarming out of the hole. Watch your backs!"

"Wait! Where are the Tallarns?!" Colonel Kasteen spoke up suddenly and it was only now that Amberley noticed their absent.

"They were just behind us," major Ruput Broklaw, the Valhallan's second in command, looked around in alarm, "what happened?!"

"Last I saw of them was at the River boulevard," Ciaphas Cain said, the commissar was uncharacteristically out of breath. "They're in the Emperor's hand now."

"I rather it was the Tyranids that got them," general Sulla added darkly to the agreeing murmur of her Valhallan colleagues.

"Quit your yammering prisoners and get moving!" Skoleif, the elskerinne right hand woman, ushered them onward quickly as the piercing timbre of fighter jets drew nearer. Not needing to be prompted any further, Amberley took Cain by the arm and dragged him after the retreating Sororitas and Valhallan.

"Still trying to be a hero?" Amberley smirked as the air strike's thunderous report swept over them, turgid orange glow painting the world in lurid illumination.

"I have a reputation to keep," Cain said as they approached the closing gate of the Star Pillar keep, the ever loyal Kasteen, Broklaw and Sulla quickly waving them inside.

"Not now you don't, you're job now is to survive," Amberley flashed him a knowing look as the entrance slammed shut behind them, followed by the hisses and scrapes of sealing locks.

"Prepare yourself my warriors, this is where we will make our stand!" The elskerinne's announcement was answered by a rousing roar from the Frost Bringers as they went about pilling up furniture to create a makeshift barricade. In no time at all, a wall of broken woods and statues stretched from one side of the spartan hall to the other, huskarls and shield-maidens swiftly taking position behind the defenses.

"I thought the place would be bigger," Kasteen commented as the Valhallan joined the Sororitas.

"We are not one to indulge in wasteful excess," Eldul waved around the small chamber. "This antechamber is the only route that leads to the Star Pillar's control terminal."

"Give us weapons," Cain strode up to the elskerinne, his gait suspiciously stiff and funny looking. "You'll need all the help you can get."

"Get the lasguns," Eldul told a group of shield-maidens before returning her gaze to Cain, one brow rose in a fiendish arch. "I'm surprise you can still stand."

"I've endure worst," Cain was not amused by the comment.

"Oh, don't be like that," Eldul crooned wolfishly. "You enjoyed it, did you not?"

"Not as much as I would have liked," Cain actually had the audacity to reply in a jesting manner, remembering too late that she was standing beside him. Before he can attempt to explain himself, Amberley displayed her displeasure by turning away and walking toward the Valhallan. Men sometime need to be reminded of the depth of a woman scorn, the right woman that is.

"How are you holding up, Regina?" Amberley asked the Valhallan colonel.

"Well, I'm in dire need of a nice long bath and a shave," Kasteen managed a laugh. "But otherwise, everything is fine."

"Thank you for coming to help us, lady inquisitor," Sulla bowed lowly at her. "We would have been dead otherwise."

"I never leave my friends behind," Amberley was surprised that she actually meant those words. Although rescuing the 597th had always been the primary objective, it was her selfish impulse and personal feeling toward Cain that had spurred the Immortal Spirit battlegroup to Frystasvard. But after working with them for so long, Amberley has come to regard the Valhallan as her friends, even Jenit Sulla, who has been known to fawn over Cain.

"I believe a congratulation is in order, Jenit," Amberley smiled at her.

"Oh, thank you lady inquisitor, I still couldn't believe it," well, that makes two of them.

"Were all of you treated well during your incarceration?" Amberley changed the subject, might as well kill some time while they waited for the Tyranids.

"Well enough, lady inquisitor," Kasteen said.

"Speaks for yourself," Broklaw groaned beside her, the major was walking and moving funnier than Cain.

"Oh please, you always stumbled back into the cell with a stupid smile on your face," corporal Mari Margot, the Valhallan boxing champion and the regiment's psychopath, sneered at the major.

"Well…they were gentle the first few times," Broklaw admitted sheepishly. "But then they got more…aggressive."

"Aggressive?! They were downright brutal!" Trooper Vorhees exclaimed. "They never gave us any rest, when one of them was done another took her place. Twenty of them had me an entire night!"

"That sounds like a dream come true, why are you complaining?" Sergeant Grifen shared a smirk with Margot.

"Because it's a nightmare!" Vorhees shot back. "Strength of the flesh has limits!"

"What did the Frost Bringer do to you lots?" Amberley inquired the male portion of the 597th, all of whom bashfully avoided her inquisitive gaze.

"The shield-maidens and huskarls take the men away to bed them," trooper Janny Drere shot Vorhees a displeased look. "None were spared, not ever the commissars."

"The Tallarn were less than pleased though," Margot added. "You should be happy that the only thing they did was ride you. Many Tallarn came back bruised and bleeding, the sisters were more than happy to indulge in pain, so I heard."

"Outworlder men are such whiners," Skoleif appeared behind them with four carts brimming with dated looking lasguns, which the Valhallan quickly armed themselves with. "They were well pleased the first few times before the complaining starts."

"You took them against their will," Janny fumed at the huskarl.

"Bah! How can we take something that is already given freely by men?" Skoleif scoffed and the other huskarls laughed. "Ask them then, did they not enjoy every moment spent with us? Given how vigorously they respond, it was clear you Valhallan women were not competent in your bedside duty."

"A good thing then that we're about to show you the mettle of Valhallan women," Kasteen glared at the smirking Skoleif.

"We shall wait with breathless anticipation," Skoleif droned as she reloaded her bolter.

"You will not be disappointed, lady huskarl," Amberley tested the weight of the lasgun and flipped it over in quick inspection. An ancient model of dubious quality, probably haven't been used in several centuries. Not exactly the Zetton model, but it'll have to do. "Where are the rest of the Valhallan and Tallarn? The record shows that over twenty thousand personnel were sent to Frystasvard."

"Under the mountain, in the dungeon," Skoleif tapped her booted feet on the ground. "Don't worry, the entire complex is under lock down, they're probably safer than we are."

"And maybe Jurgen's stench will scare them off," subdue laughs rippled down the barricade in response to Margot.

"Or maybe lure them to our incarcerated compatriot," the Valhallan turned and saluted Cain, who smiled encouragingly as he joined them, Eldul, her Honor Guards and the Sororitas canonesses following not far behind. The elskerinne and Amberley traded sharp look, nothing but spite passed between them.

"Good to have you with us sir," Sulla said brightly, her eyes gleamed giddily.

"Wouldn't miss it for a thing, general," Cain put on a brave face and took his place beside Amberley, chuckling when she still gave him the cold shoulder. "So what's the situation outside?"

"Inquisitor Vail, do you read?" Commander Ae-Shin voice boomed in her ears.

"Go ahead commander," Amberley tapped the vox caster.

"We did all we could for the Tyranids mam," Ae-Shin continued. "We thinned the herd, but more are still headed toward your position. My squadron is returning to the Immortal Spirit for refueling and rearmament, we'll be planet side again in about fifteen minutes, and from the looks of things the battlegroup will take twice as long to reach you."

"We'll do our best, thank you," Amberley said.

"Emperor speed mam," Ae-Shin gave her blessing before cutting off the transmission, the same moment the keep's entrance bulged inward to a resounding bang.

"Make ready!" Eldul's power spear glow an icy iridescent blue, crackling with energy as she raised it high above her head. "The Allfather smile upon us from his Golden Throne, do not disappoint him this day!"

"The God Emperor will see us through this darkness!" Galatea raised her voice above the Frost Bringer's bloodthirsty din, her power zweihander blazed a fiery white. "Trust in him to deliver us from evil and lead us to glorious slaughter! Ave, Imperator! Domine, libra nos!

"Domine, libra nos!" The other canonesses intoned as the first gap tore open, the iron groaned agonizingly to the ceaseless invasion of claws, talons and fangs. The shield-maidens and Valhallan opened fire on the widening breach, scorching it black and coating it in hissing boiling ichor. The Tyranids retreated from the man size hole and was replaced by the pounding tempo of charging hooves.

"Everybody get down!" Cain bellowed as the mighty entrance exploded into shards of scrap metal, and trampling over the bent and twisted ruin stomped the Tyrant Guards, the four hulking monstrosities roared triumphantly as they bulled into the hall.

"Open fire!" The elskerinne yelled and the entire barricade erupted in a brutal conflagration of weaponries that crashed into the Tyrant Guards. But bolts and las appeared to only anger the quadruple beasts as they lowered their carapace craniums and charged, unheeding of the damage it received.

"Break!" Eldul shouted, prompting the shield-maidens, huskarls and Valhallan to scramble away from the flimsy barricades, while the elskerinne, Skoleif and a handful of Honor Guard stood their ground, right in the path of the stampeding Tyrant Guards.

"What is she doing?!" Broklaw blurted, the Valhallan and the canonesses were bunched up on the right side of the hall.

"The woman is fearless, I'll give her that," Bellona grunted with a hint of respect.

"Look!" Grifen pointed at two Honor Guards standing in front of the elskerinne, their hands raised at the Tyrant Guards as a translucent sheen enveloped the group.

"Psykers," Crestienne of the Argent Shroud sneered, but thankfully did nothing beyond making a warding gesture with her fingers.

"Brace!" The Honor Guards locked shields as the Tyrant Guards made their final sprint at the unmoving preys, snarling and spitting in bestial exaltation. The thick cranium of the alpha beast crashed into the invisible barrier, pushing the two Storm Singers back into the shield wall behind them, blood spurting from their mouths. The Tyrant Guard bounced off the translucent barrier, neck snapping back grotesquely, a deep crack splitting down its head. It reared drunkenly on its hind legs, killing the momentum of the other charging beasts as they collided into the dazed pack leader, the Tyrant Guards piling up into a twitching heap of entangled, kicking limbs.

"End them sisters! For the Allfather!" Eldul lowered her power spear and charged the disorientated Tyrants Guards. Skoleif, the Honor Guards, the huskarls and the shield-maidens close at her heels.

"For the Emperor!" Galatea and the canonesses roared and joined the Frost Bringers in swarming the Tyrant Guards. Despite having regained their footing and slapping aside some of the Battle Sisters, the Tyranids were not able to stop the Sororitas from converging on them, the warrior maidens of Frystasvard stabbing and slashing at every fleshy bit between the crevices of their carapace armor, while those of the more daring hearts climbed up the beasts and attacked them from above. Eldul and her girls should consider themselves lucky that the Tyranids were weakened by their enforced hibernation, or they would have been in trouble.

"Order sir?" Kasteen spoke up as more Tyranids stormed into the hall, a dozen Warriors and a massive swarm of hormagaunts, the usual affair.

"We attack the enemies head on! Let's show the Sororitas how we win our battles!" Sulla had regained her fighting spirit, along with her trademark stupidity.

"As invitingly glorious as that may sound, general Sulla, I believe a more nuance approach is required in this situation," thanked the Emperor for Cain's safer approach to combating the foes of the Imperium. "I suggest that we find a strong defensive position and provide the Sororitas with supporting fire."

"Right, that seems more reasonable," Sulla said sheepishly, "thank you sir."

"Give the order then, general Sulla," Cain flashed her his famous smile, the Valhallan was practically glowing.

"Yes sir!" Sulla beamed, looked around, and took off toward a sturdy looking pile of destroyed statues topped off with broken chairs and tables, waving the other to follow. "This way! We'll make our stand there!"

The hundred or so Valhallan dashed forward and, with the precision and discipline they're famous for, quickly set up a firing line and unleashed a sustained salvo on the Tyranids trying to flank the engaged Sororitas. They managed to take down three Warriors and a score of hormagaunts before the Tyranids spun on the new source of nuisance and stalked slowly toward the entrenched Valhallan, the hissing sounds they made were mocking in resonance.

"By the Throne, if we only had the Zetton with us," Amberley growled and decapitated a Warrior, the barrel of her hellpistol glowing a dangerous white.

"The what?" Broklaw asked as he smacked his malfunctioning lasgun.

"The Immortal Spirit got their own lines of lasgun," Amberley shot another Warrior, punching a scorching hole through its chest. "They're so reliable and powerful that I've forgotten how bad the rest of the Imperium's manufacturing quality was."

"Yeah, I noticed how their lasguns looked nothing like ours," Margot commented then squawked when a Warrior sprinted for the barricade. "Shit! In coming!"

A Tyranid Warrior leapt at Janny and Vorhees, both talons raised, their desperate las shots bouncing harmlessly off the chitinous torso. A blur of silver lashed out before the bony blades can descend, the Warrior gave a gurgling shriek before getting wrenched sideway. The Tyranid crashed hard on the ground and its head flew from its shoulders in a fountain of blood. And from the bleeding stump the whip sword's segmented blade slithered back toward the approaching Bellona.

"Save your ammo," Bellona and the canonesses joined them, the Tyranids snarled at the six armored women. "We'll take care of this."

"What about the Tyrant Guards?" Amberley asked.

"What Tyrant Guards?" Morelia flashed a toothy grin and charged a Tyranid Warrior, ducking easily under a decapitating swing and shattering its leg to pieces with her thunder hammer. Amberley glanced to the left and found the vanguard beasts getting butchered by the Frost Bringers.

"Woah, they're really good!" Margot exclaimed in awe as the canonesses plowed into the Tyranid's rank, Warriors and hormagaunts alike slain with horrific ease, the Sororitas leaving a carpet of twitching dead xenos in their wake, limbs and bloods flying with every thunderous stroke of their weapons.

"The Adepta Sororitas are famous for their prowess on the battlefield," Cain said then leaned in close to Amberley. "When they're not screaming and killing things like some psalm shrieking harpies."

Amberley quirked a brow at him, "commissar Tangmo said the same thing, are you sure the two of you never met?"

"Trust me, I'm not likely to forget someone like him," Cain reloaded the laspistol she gave him. "Maybe he read it from that memoir you wrote about me."

"Perhaps, but I think he knows more about us than he's letting on," Amberley said, "to the point where I'm starting to get a little concern."

"Is he a threat to you?" Cain asked sharply.

"I don't think so," Amberley shook her head. "To tell you the truth, I can't quite make sense of him and his friends…"

A monstrous roar shattered the air. The elskerinne twisted and wrenched her power spear free of the last Tyrant Guard and barred her teeth at the hulking, twelve foot beast sauntering into the hall, proud and confident like a victorious king about to take the conquered queen as his prize. The Hive Tyrant brandished his four arms, everything above the elbows engineered into serrated talons the size of a man, the limbs unfurled wide like raptor wings. He roared, the hall shaking from his deafening resonance, his long worm like tongue lapping across his fangs as he approached Eldul. Behind him came more Tyranids, pouring passed him and rushing for the defenders.

"Come on then!" Eldul yelled and charged the Hive Tyrant while Skoleif and the Frost Bringers intercepted the Tyranid's reinforcement. Lightning and hails of ice shot forth and struck the Tyranid swarm, stuttering their advance long enough for the Frost Bringer to plunge into their midst, surfs of blood billowing skyward in glinting droplets of rubies, the warrior maidens fighting with unparalleled bravery despite being battered and outnumbered. Not to be outdone by their Sororitas cousins, the canonesses added their battle cry to the fray and charged the mosh pit.

"Let's go help them!" The Frost Bringer's heroic display was fanning Sulla's impulsive temperament again, and for once, Amberley couldn't blame her. The Frost Bringer's action was very infectious, even she was tempted to join the fight. So it was of no surprise that the Valhallan, paltry in numbers and weakened by weeks of incarceration, abandoned the safety of their barricade and charged the Tyranids. To her utmost embarrassment, Amberley found herself going along with Sulla's insanity, screaming Imperial war cry at the top of her lungs, shooting and slashing hormagaunts with her hellpistol and power sword alongside the general, the colonel, the major and Cain. Still, Amberley had to admit that the simple act of losing oneself in combat was decadently exhilarating. They were doing a decent job of it too, until the elskerinne barreled into her and Cain, sending all three of them crashing to the gore smeared ground.

"Eldul! Are you okay?" Nice Ciaphas, go ahead and asked her first.

"That one is strong," Eldul groaned and climbed off Amberley. The elskerinne was raising her shield when the Hive Tyrant stomped into view, his four talons flexing tauntingly as a group of Honor Guards, huskarls and shield-maidens charged the leader organism. The carnage that followed was woefully one sided. The Hive Tyrant made short work of the warrior women, bisected torso, sundered limbs and decapitated heads flew across the hall as he leisurely cleaved his way through the Frost Bringer ranks, armors, guns, swords and axes proving to be of little hindrance to the monster. Spurred by their leader's unstoppable rampage, the lesser Tyranids became emboldened and renewed their assault with vigor, the swarm quickly surrounding the Valhallan and pockets of Frost Bringers scattered around the hall, the rings of chitin and fangs slowly, but surely, tightening around the defenders.

"Tell me, inquisitor," Amberley jumped with a start when Galatea and the canonesses materialized behind her. "If the leader organism is slain, then the entirety of the Tyranid army will fall into total disarray, is that correct?"

"Theoretically speaking, yes," Amberley nodded.

"Then we know where to strike the killing blow," Amaryllis got into a graceful fencing stance and tilted her head at Eldul. "Can you fight?"

"Don't insult me," Eldul spat as the canonesses took their places beside her, drawing a harsh laugh from the elskerinne. "Ha! And here I thought you don't trust me."

"Trust? In due time. Respect? You have earned ours in abundance this day," Crestienne stated matter-of-factually as Skoleif joined them.

"Are we just going to stand here," Skoleif tightened her grip on the long-handled power axe, "or are we going to kill that damn thing?"

"Shall we then?" Eldul grinned at the canonesses, who nodded. "For the Allfather!"

"For the Emperor!"

The Sisters of Battle charged the Hive Tyrant, who gave a satisfied ululation and bulled toward them, his four claws unfurled for the killing swoop. The blades descended, striking nothing but empty air as the Sororitas spread out, dashing around the beast with startling speed and attacking with surgical synchronization, sparks flew as power weapons struck carapace.

The Hive Tyrant didn't sound too sure of himself anymore.

"They are very formidable," Cain commented beside Amberley, who nodded wordlessly, awestruck by the Sororitas. The six canonesses, all of whom having perfected their craft of death, moved with a singular deadly purpose, striking, feigning, and blocking the Hive Tyrant's counterattack as if they were of one mind. Soon, slimy rivulets of red ichor streamed across the Tyranid's carapace. More surprising were Eldul and Skoleif, who seamlessly fall into rhythm with the other canonesses, joining them in witling down the Hive Tyrant piece by bloody piece.

"What do we do?" Cain asked, the Hive Tyrant was down on one knee now, trying desperately to thwart the combined attacks of Heloise and Amaryllis.

"We should try to rejoin the Valhallan, that way…"

The Hive Tyrant belted out another earth-shaking roar, but unlike before the timbre was desperate and wounded. The call was answered by other Tyranid Warriors, who peeled away from the Valhallan and Frost Bringers and bounded for the leader organism. The beautiful, lethal dance of the Sororitas ended when the Warriors interrupted the routine, roaring and swiping their talons at the women, pushing them back from their leader. The Sororitas dealt with them quickly, but the interference was enough for the Hive Tyrant to recover. Hissing, the leader organism barreled forward, striking down his own loyal bodyguards and charged Eldul, who was busy killing four Warriors, unaware of the Hive Tyrant's approach.

"Eldul, look out!" Skoleif yelled as the Hive Tyrant went prone and pivoted his body in a full circle, the rounded, studded knob at the end of his tail hurtled heavily across the air, plowing through Sororitas and Tyranids indiscriminately. The elskerinne realized too late and wasn't able to raise her shield as the ball crashed into her side. The metallic crunch of destroyed armor echoed above the dins of battle and Eldul flew across the air, gouts of blood bursting from her mouth. She crashed badly onto a pile of dead hormagaunts as six Tyranid Warriors fell upon her, talons rising and falling in merciless strokes.

"We have to help her!" Cain didn't wait to hear Amberley's response and dashed for the fallen elskerinne. Skoleif was already there, her power axe a shimmering blur of blue that cleaved through the Tyranids. Unbelievably, Eldul was already rising to her feet, panting heavily and leaning on her power spear for support, her shield raised weakly, but defiantly, at the Hive Tyrant. The canonesses, seeing what was transpiring, tried to come to the elskerinne's aide but swarms of hormagaunt swiftly blocked their path, forcing them to fight through ranks upon ranks of suicidal drones, slowing them down for the Hive Tyrant to finish his prey.

"You have to flee!" Skoleif was trying to yank Eldul away when Amberley and Cain reached them, but the elskerinne planted her feet in the muck and gore, refusing to yield her ground.

"I will remain here Skoleif," Eldul flashed her bloody teeth in a wolfish grin. "Are you with me sister?"

"Until the end sister," Skoleif nodded grimly and raised her battle axe while Eldul pointed her spear forward, the elskerinne's movement marred by pain. The Hive Tyrant let out a sound that could've been a chuckled and braced his legs for a charge, only to be struck squarely in the face by dancing bolts of lightning, the impact sending him stumbling back with a pained snarl.

"Mother!" A girl dashed passed Amberley.

"Himinn?!" The elskerinne spun around and burst into a coughing fit when the girl wrapped herself around her midsection, spittle of blood accompanied every wet hacking.

"How did you…? Where are your sisters?" Eldul got her answer when Astrid and Sigrid rushed passed them and attacked the leader organism. Dazed from the young girl's sorcery, the Hive Tyrant can only managed clumsy, but no less deadly, swipes as the two women mercilessly assaulted him.

"You're supposed to be somewhere safe," Eldul pushed her daughter away, coughed some more, then straightened her back with great effort. "Astrid was supposed to make sure you and Sigrid are far away from the battle."

"We're not children anymore!" Himinn huffed. "And we will not sit by and let you fight the Great Devourer alone!"

"She's of our blood, alright," Skoleif smirked and Eldul gave an endearing grunt as she patted Himinn on the head. The sweet familial moment ended when Astrid and Sigrid flew back into their midst, rolling and tumbling to a stop not a pace from where they stood. Sigrid sprang spritely back to her feet, brandishing a dagger and a sword, while Astrid screamed in agony, cradling her left arm.

"Astrid!" Eldul dropped her spear and helped Astrid up, uncaring of her own pain. "It's alright my daughter, stay calm, I'm here, breathe slowly."

"Fuck!" Astrid cried, tears streaming down her cheeks, leaving behind a rivulet of clean flesh free of blood and grime. "I think the bastard dislocated my arm again."

"Stand back Astrid," Eldul took the spear from Skoleif's proffered hand and hefted it up at the Hive Tyrant. "I'll keep you safe."

"No! You can barely stand yourself!" Astrid snapped and picked up her sword, her left arm daggling uselessly at her side. "I am not going anywhere!"

"Neither will we," Sigrid and Himinn joined them.

"The Hive Tyrant is injured, and his swarm is dwindling," Cain spoke up and pointed his lasgun at the Tyranid's charred, half melted face. "I believe that if we concentrate our attack, we will be able to…"

The Hive Tyrant opened its maw and unleashed another earsplitting shriek, a chorus of inhuman roar answered, heralding a fresh batch of Tyranids reinforcement that spilled into the hall like a flood, the churning mass heading straight for the tired defenders.

"Tell your guardsmen to make a break for the inner chamber," Eldul pointed her spear at the archway behind them. "You can barricade yourself in there and wait for the Immortal Spirit battlegroup. We'll hold out as long as we can."

"We will not leave you and your warriors behind," Cain declared chivalrously, having seemingly forgotten that Eldul was his kidnapper and tormentor for the last several weeks. "The Valhallan are prepare to make our stand."

"Besides, we don't have time to retreat anyway," Amberley said. "We can't outrun them."

"Then we stand and fight," Skoleif hefted up her axe, prompting Eldul, Astrid, Sigrid and Himinn to close rank and raised their weapons, miniature storms churned on the young girl's outstretched palms. The leader Tyranid made a hacking noise which Amberley assumed was a laugh, then make his slow, confident approach, his minions screaming and stampeding up to join him. Amberley was about to resign herself to death when a wall of raging fire burst from the right side of the hall and engulfed the Tyranid's reinforcement. It lasted not five seconds, but the damage was appallingly effective. The mighty host of hormagaunts and Warriors were scorched to the bones, many lay in twitching, charcoal heaps. The defenders who were not occupied with fighting all turned toward the side corridor where the flame had emerged, even the Hive Tyrant was growling in that direction. A voice reverberated from the fiery passageway, a low rumbling melodic baritone, a psalm judging by its solemn tune. And striding out of the fire, black coat billowing, a Zodd lasgun in one hand and a bolt pistol in the other, arms unfurled to the side, came commissar Tangmo, singing lowly, menacingly, his powerful vocalization amplified by the hall's stony interior.

"Rex patrum, insillis, picata mundi diris. Rex patrum, ignis imperia!"

He hefted up both the lasgun and bolt pistol and unleashed a barrage on the groggily Tyranids, cutting down the lesser organisms in drove. Then, sauntering alluringly up to his side, inquisitor Laura lowered her flamer and immolated the Tyranids trying to regroup.

"And we bring fire! Sing fire! Scream fire and forgive! Forgiving the liar, by fire we live! We bring fire! Sing fire! Scream fire and forgive! The last of our blood we will give!"

Amberley had heard of commissar Tangmo's renown, or infamy depending on who you asked, regarding his battlefield eccentricity. And now that she was able to witness it first hand, Amberley was pleased to see that the commissar did not disappoint. Never losing his pitch or key, commissar Tangmo rushed toward the mass of hormagaunts, his two guns blazing, tearing through the Tyranids ranks with ease. Moving in sync with him were inquisitor Laura, High Ranger Erik and exarch Yuki, the four of them forming an unstoppable vortex that hungrily devoured every Tyranid in their path.

"Sons of God and sacrament, the night we're dying for. By the call of pyromania, bring fire into war!"

"Don't just gawk! Keep firing!" Amberley yelled at Cain and the flabbergasted Valhallan, all of whom were staring at commissar Tangmo's path of destruction in rapt, slack jawed, attention. It was only after she started firing at the Hive Tyrant again that the storm of las returned, with increase gusto she noticed.

"Rest in flame by testament, at midnight we return. Raising fodder for the living, the trail of life we burn!"

Blazing blue spear lowered, Eldul and her family gave a mighty war cry and charged the Hive Tyrant, sparks flew as sharpened steel clashed against razor bones. But despite being outnumbered, the Hive Tyrant held a clear advantage, easily standing his ground against the Frost Bringer's combined assault, managing to send Sigrid, Himinn and Skoleif sprawling while keeping the determined Eldul and Astrid at bay. The Hive Tyrant looked about ready to go on the offensive when the canonesses, having dealt with the hormagaunts, entered the fray once more. Together, the Sororitas surrounded the panicky Hive Tyrant and began the methodical task of chipping away at his defenses.

"Rex patrum, insillis, picata mundi diris. Rex patrum, ignis imperia!"

Tangmo and his companions were staring down a group of Tyranids, arms wide in a taunting gesture as the Warriors and hormagaunts charged the cocky quartet, fangs and talons screaming for blood.

"And we bring fire!"

Tangmo blasted a row of hormagaunts, tossed away his empty Zodd lasgun and landed three fatal bolts on a charging Ravener, turning its torso inside out.

"Sing fire!"

Laura swept her flamer over a horde of hormagaunt, a beautiful phoenix that wrought hell itself upon her enemies. Her satisfied laugh was dementedly melodic.

"Scream fire and forgive!"

Erik was a ghost amongst the Tyranids, sliding easily into their ranks, his eldar rifle slaying by the scores, the distorted trail of shuriken bullets shimmered like stars above the neat rows of corpses.

"Forgiving the liar, by fire we live!"

Yuki's two swords cleaved a bloody rent into the mass of xenos, the eldar blades tearing effortlessly through fleshes and bones.

"We bring fire! Sing fire! Scream fire and forgive! The last of our blood we will give!"

Amberley had expected a little more fanfare, but alas the defense of the Star Pillar came to a quick, one could argue, abrupt end. By the time commissar Tangmo's song ended, the Hive Tyrant was already a mutilated mess. Two of its once proud talons were charred stumps, the deadly flail like tail severed and left to twitch like a headless snake, one of his legs was flayed and twisted, rendering him immobile; lastly his mandible was gone, the long lolling tongue hanging in miserable tatter. The Hive Tyrant glared at Eldul, his hateful eyes never leaving the energy coated blade, the unblinking white orbs taking in every inch of the steel as it plunged into his skull, melting bones and brains into bubbling slush that poured through the many orifices on his head. Light fled his eyes and the Hive Tyrant collapsed to the ground, dead at last. Leaning on Astrid and Skoleif for support, Eldul held her spear high and roared in triumph, the surviving shield-maidens, huskarls and Honor Guards adding their own cheers to the jubilation. Then Eldul's knees gave away and her vocalization broke into wet bloody coughs, her body bent like a crone.

"Oh shit, Eldul, you okay bro?!" Tangmo and his friends sprinted up to the elskerinne.

"If the Allfather deem this to be my end, so be it," Eldul managed a shaky grin as Sigrid passed her a water skin. She managed a few sips before the cough arrested her again.

"Miriya, what is your status, over?" Galatea tapped her vox caster, speaking with clear urgency. "I need Verity up at the Star Pillar, now, the elskerinne is badly hurt and we don't know the extent of her injury."

"I can check what kinda damage we're dealing with," Yuki knelt down beside Eldul. "May I?"

"…Go ahead," Eldul nodded weakly.

"Get the armor and boob plates out of the way, I need to feel the injury," Yuki continued, and only after an affirmative grunt from Eldul did Skoleif and Astrid started removing her raiment.

"Yeah, feel her up Yuki! Ow!" Tangmo's smirk ended when inquisitor Laura punched his arm, hard.

"What's the situation across the city?" Kasteen asked Laura as the rest of the Valhallan joined them.

"The Hive Tyrant is dead, so I suppose everything should be dandy?" Laura tapped her vox caster and listened, a smile rising with every nod. "Yep, I'm totally right. With the leader dead, all the Tyranids went crazy, they're running around blind all over the place, all we need to do now is mopped them up."

"Yo, did we just totally kick the Tyranid's asses?!" Tangmo started laughing.

"Damn right we fucking did," Yuki held up a strange hand gesture where her pinkie and index finger were raised while her ring finger, middle finger and thumb made a pointed wedge. "Too sweet me!"

"Fuck yeah, OG Bullet Club!" Tangmo made the same gesture and touched it with Yuki's own, the process repeated with Erik and Laura. The four of them were sharing a companionable laugh when a relieved groan from Eldul announced that her armor has been removed, the woman breathing easier now that she only had her body glove on.

"Just relax, okay?" Yuki ran her hands across Eldul's side clinically, the elskerinne hissed sharply, teeth barred in a snarl, her grip on Astrid's hands was tight and shaking. This went on for about five minutes, with the eldar pressing on the elskerinne's torso and asking if it hurts, before pulling her hands back. "Alright, as far as I can tell, her ribcage is busted up, badly. There is most definitely internal bleeding. She we'll need surgery before things get really dicey."

"I want a surgery unit delivered to my location, ASAP," Tangmo tapped his vox caster and glanced upward. "Ryvin, Zuhra, you there? How are things on your end…okay, good, because I need your help. The Frost Bringer leader is hurt and I need you two to help Verity perform surgery on her…get Tyra to bring you guys here…cool, I'll see you in a bit."

"Will she live?" Galatea stepped forward.

"Hell yeah she'll live, the Immortal Spirit have the best medical facility in the entire galaxy," Tangmo gave Galatea a look. "What? You disappointed?"

Galatea's eyes narrowed on him, "the elskerinne fought with honor and dignity, we do not turn our backs on an ally of such caliber."

"So you're okay with Himinn over there?" Tangmo pointed at the shy bespectacled girl looking away from the canonesses combined attention.

"We are already tolerating the eldar witches," the look Galatea shot Erik and Yuki was not kind. "I doubt we'll have problem accommodating human psykers at this point."

"Holy shit, I'm so proud of you guys!" Tangmo's laugh was not well received by the canonesses, their bleeding weapons angling dangerously toward him. "Oh, come on! That was a compliment!"

"Thank you for your timely assistant, lord commissar," Cain entered the conversation and held his hand out toward Tangmo.

"You're most welcome dude," Tangmo took Cain's hand and shook vigorously, smiling as he turned to his friend. "Yo, I'm shaking hand with the hero of the Imperium! Quick, take a picture!"

"He's not wearing any shirt mate," Laura pointed at Cain's half clothed form.

"It gives him a Conan vibe though," Erik added thoughtfully.

"He still looks like shit," Yuki made a face then glanced at the equally filthy Valhallan. "They all look like shit."

"I believe she is correct, me and my men need a good shower," Cain grinned then let go of Tangmo's hand. "I would be more presentable and ready for a photo opportunity then."

"We'll be sure to provide you and the Valhallan with every available amenity," Tangmo tipped his commissar cap at him.

"So what is to happen now, commissar Tangmo?" Cain asked.

"Well, we're probably gonna be helping the Frost Bringer restore order for the time being," Tangmo glanced around the hall, something of a frown creasing his face. "Don't tell me your buddy Beije got killed by the nids."

"Beije abandoned us en route to the Ice Peak," Cain told him.

"Ah, that's good then," Tangmo said.

"Why?" Cain asked.

"That means I still get to kill him."

Well shit, he did get to kill that little fucker. It took two more days, but hey, Tangmo ain't complaining. After the battle for Frystasvard, the scattered Tyranids forces were easy picking for the battlegroup and the Frost Bringers. And thanks to the Immortal Spirit super high-tech sensors, they were able to easily pin point the nids's location and kill them with fire, so wiping the planet clean should only take a few weeks. That means there would be plenty of time to deal with this particular problem standing in front of him.

"Well, well, well! What the fuck do we have here?!" Tangmo sauntered up to commissar Beije and the dozen or so Tallarn prisoners, all of whom were escorted into the White Petal district by three platoons of heavily armed Krieg grenadiers. Hey, if they were gonna be here for a while, might as well chose the comfiest place to stay. "Did you actually think you can hide from us?!"

Beije didn't answer, choosing instead to glower at Tangmo and the Eight.

"Moltke, where did you find them sons of bitches?" Tangmo took a sip of his awesome cup of hot cocoa, Lita's secret recipe, and goddamn it tasted amazing.

"They tried to steal our Chimera, Herr commissar," Moltke told them as the main characters, Cain, the Valhallan and the Frost Bringer included, surrounded them, wearing expressions that varied from satisfaction to disgust to pity. "But we quickly apprehended them."

"Out of everyone to rob, you chose the fucking Death Korps, Jesus!" Tangmo slurped up the last of the hot cocoa, wiped the whipped cream and marshmallows from his lips, and placed the cup down on a nearby table. "Guess it's the end of the line for you."

"You do not have the right to do this!" Despite his attempt to sound authoritative, Beije's voice was pitched embarrassingly high. "There must be a tribunal to determine…"

"Commissar Raine, what is the punishment for a commissar who abandons his duty and run away like a little bitch?" Tangmo turned to his commissariat colleague.

"Summarily execution," Raine spoke with clinical nonchalant. "And not even the pitiful reinforcement you've summon can stay our sentencing."

"Reinforcement? What are you talking about?" Beije demanded.

"Do not play dumb with us!" Eldul seethed and stomped up to him, her spear, now relegated to a walking stick, tapped an agitated tune.

"Should you even be walking after the surgery?" Damien asked.

"I'm fine," Eldul snapped at the Ultramarine then glared at Beije. "There's an Imperial battleship in orbit above Frystasvard right now, demanding to see the 229th. They've already send down a detachment to this very location."

The smug grin that curved up Beije's face was sickeningly infuriating, "the providence of the God Emperor never abandons the faithful. Now all will know of this wretched place and the heresy that infested it."

"Just to be clear, you didn't send out any SOS?" Henry pointed at a Valkyrie descending on a clearing three hundred yards away.

"Prayers are stronger than any machine," Beije said piously.

"This doesn't make sense," Astrid added. "With the Star Pillar functioning at maximum capacity, no message, astropathic or otherwise, should be able to leave this planet, let alone the system."

"I'm sure we're about to find out," Miriya said as the Valkyrie touched down, kicking up plumes of dust that quickly settled once the engine powered down to a gentle hum. The main characters made an about face and went to stand before the lowering ramp, while the Krieg tightened their square around the prisoners. Wait a minute…Tangmo did a double take on the Valkyrie and found that it had a desert camo. Talk about inappropriate paintjob. But that also mean they have another faction of Tallarn to deal with, fuck! Standing beside him, Al-Ramah, Salahdin and Khaleela held their lasgun at the ready. What strode out of the Valkyrie surprised them. Eight Tallarn soldiers, split into two columns of four, marching in crisp, trained steps, came to stop before the half circle of main characters, leading them was a stern individual, standing with regal ease. They were all women. The soldiers were clad in a battle worn, but ornate armors similar to what Arabian heavy cavalry wore during the Crusade, and the leader wore a rippling Middle Eastern robe of elegant black and gold, bolt pistol and a shamshir hung from the sash around her waist, and instead of a hijab she wore a keffiyeh. Despite being of middle year the woman was of astonishing beauty, with handsome cheekbones, sharp aquiline nose and narrow face of dark caramel. Her piercing brown eyes took in the main characters with heavy severity, judging and calculating. She inhaled deeply, as one was about to speak, and Tangmo braced himself for the obnoxious demands the woman was about to make. Instead she sneezed, loud and very unladylike.

"By the Emperor, it's really cold here!" She blurted and held herself tight, shivering all the while. The way her teeth chattered was actually kinda cute.

"M-Mother?!" Al-Rahman stammered and wait a goddamn minute did he just said mother?!

"Ahhh!" The Tallarn squealed and, dropping all façade of a hardass leader, leapt at the wide-eyed Al-Rahman. "Oh my little habibi, I've missed you so much!"

"Great rayiys Mavia!" Both Salahdin and Khaleela quickly dropped to their knees, heads planted on the ground. "We were not expecting you! It is a great honor!"

"Oh, don't be like that!" She went over to the two and lifted them off their prostration. "It's good to see the both of you again. Thank you for looking after my boy."

"Wait, hold up," Henry stepped forward. "I'm sorry, but, what in the hell is going on?"

"Ah, you must be the Immortal Spirit high command I've heard so much about," Mavia smiled warmly at the Eight and bowed politely. "I am Mavia, rayiys of Tallarn, at your service."

"Nice to meet you," Tangmo wai her. "To what do we owe the pleasure, honorable rayiys?"

"Oh, so polite! Why did you say he was the one who swears a lot habibi?" Mavia glanced at the guilty looking Al-Rahman.

"Bro, did you snitched on me?!" Tangmo locked his crazy, bulging eyes on the frightened Tallarn colonel.

"I-I was just…it was a private conversation with my mother!" Al-Rahman stammered, then squawked when Tangmo, playfully, wringed his neck and shook him.

"Motherfucker you snitched on me?! Excuse me Mavia, but can I kill your son?" Tangmo asked the rayiys as he continued to strangle the whimpering Al-Rahman.

"I rather you didn't lord commissar, he's such a sweet boy," Mavis said and Tangmo easily released the hyperventilating Al-Rahman.

"Good thing your mother asked so nicely," Tangmo gave Al-Rahman a friendly slap on the back and the main characters broke out in a hearty laugh.

"Why are you here?" Eldul was definitely not laughing as she stomped up to Mavia, back straight and proud despite the obvious pain it was causing her.

"By the Emperor, do you need some help?"

"You were the one who requested to know where the 229th was, did you not?" Eldul snapped harshly at Mavia, the elskerinne would've raised her spear at the rayiys if it wasn't the only thing holding her up.

"Yes, I…" something clicked with Mavia then, and her worried frown turned into one of pained realization. "They behave abominably toward you and yours, didn't they?"

"To put it lightly," Eldul sneered as if everything was Mavia's fault, and the rayiys took it with a graceful bow, accepting the blame that wasn't her own.

"I understand that you don't trust me," Mavia went on with disarming vulnerability. "But you must believe me when I say that I am not here for the 229th's benefit."

Eldul eased her stance and leaned on the power spear, "go on."

"I am here to see that justice is brought upon them," Mavia pointed at the 229th prisoners and holy shit her serious face was deadly, and amazingly hot.

"Hold up a minute, love," Laura stepped forward. "I think we're missing a big chunk of the entire picture here."

"Tallarn is under the control of my confederacy," Mavia began her tale. "After two decades of bloody war, I was able to establish a new order based on equality, meritocracy and reason, a shining beacon for the Imperium to emulate. But we were opposed, and our enemies are not shy on allying themselves with the Ruinous power."

All traces of her amiability gone, Mavia clasped her hands behind her back and strode up to Beije and the 229th, aloof of the overt hostility radiating from the Tallarn prisoners, nor did she seems to care that none of them were bound. Stopping only two steps away from Asmar, the 229th colonel, Mavia leaned forward goadingly and said, "isn't that right, Asmar?"

The colonel snarled and was about to take a threatening step toward the rayiys when the Sororitas, knights and Vikings alike, joined her, weapon raised, while the Krieg guardsmen leveled their lasguns at the surrounded Tallarn.

"Please elaborate, rayiys Mavia," Galatea said, her bolt pistol trained on Beije.

"Lies! My men are pious and loyal to the God Emperor!" Beije roared at Mavia. "I've heard of you! You defiled and toppled the rightful ruler of your planet! You're a heretic!"

"My regime has already been legitimized by the Ministorum, commissar Beije, I carry a copy of the edict with me, if you're interested," Mavia said calmly.

"Did you collude with the heretics?" Miriya demanded, her plasma pistol humming dangerously. "Speak!"

"We are no heretic," Asmar growled. "But to save my world, I will not hesitate to set the traitor legion upon my enemy."

"What?!" Beije spun on his subordinate, teeth bared. "That is not possible!"

"The Khornate warband that attack us was directed to Tallarn by colonel Asmar's suggestion," Mavia went on. "After we repelled their assault, which was quite underwhelming I might add, the cultists were interrogated and, thanks to the STC technology given to us by the Immortal Spirit battlegroup, we were able to trace their flight manifest and communication data back to the 229th battleship of operation. Once the situation on Tallarn was stabilized, I set out across the stars with two regiments, intending on bringing them to justice."

"Which leads you here to Frystasvard," Eldul added.

"I thought it was pretty risky following them to where the Astropaths can't reach," Mavia shrugged. "But by providence, the God Emperor provides."

"You deserve to be destroyed," Asmar seethed. "It would have been poetic, heretic perished by the hands of another heretic. I have no shame for protecting our way of life, you women need to be reminded of your place. My only regret is that I would not be able to see you revert to your more natural position, lying on your back with legs spread."

"Well, righty-o then you fucking wankstain, thank you for making this super easy," Laura lit her flamers, prompting the Sororitas to do the same, the Krieg wisely backing away from the impending crossfire.

"Wait, just hold on a minute now," Beije spoke up with a desperate smile on his face. "I know nothing of this treachery, if I'd known I would've purged it from my regiment long ago. This is not my fault! You cannot expect me to know everything that goes on with my men!"

"You have already proven yourself an incompetent commissar," Miriya said. "And now, you have compounded that by allowing the taint of the Ruinous power to infiltrate the ranks of those under your command. You have earned nothing but a death sentence. May the God Emperor have mercy upon your soul, for I shall not."

"Yo, wait! Hold the fuck up!" To the surprise of all, Tangmo stepped in front of the Sororitas, his hands held toward them in a halting gesture. But the relief on the prisoners' faces drained away almost immediately when Tangmo drew his bolt pistol and trained it on them. "I'm the one who's gonna kill them, so back off!"

"Execution of heretics is the sacred right of the Sororitas," Miriya declared hotly. "This is our jurisdiction."

"The motherfuckers ran away, and shooting cowards is my job," Tangmo pressed. "Basically, I'm the one who's gonna be blamming these assholes."

"You have no power over this matter, commissar," Miriya was being her bitchy self again.

"Wanna bet?" And Tangmo assumed his dickish modus operandi.

"Stand down, Tangmo."

"Are we seriously doing this again?"

"I do not believe that anymore death will be necessary at this point."

Tangmo and Miriya's little catfight was brought to a premature end when none other than Ciaphas Cain stepped forward, looking nice and sharp now that he had some time to groom himself. Damn, the awesome commissar coat looks great on that dude.

"Despite commissar Beije recent action and his…outspoken opinion regarding certain topic," Cain had the decency to look sheepish when the gathered women glared at him. "He and the Tallarn 229th are valuable assets to the Imperium. They have proven themselves many times on the battlefield, few of those I can attest personally. In this time of strife created by the Great Rift, the Astra Militarum needs every able-bodied soldier they can get."

"I knew you to be negligent, but I didn't believe you would dare spit on the tenant of the commissariat itself," commissar Severina Raine came to stand before Ciaphas Cain, her disgust ill hidden. "Your friend over there flees from the battlefield, allows his men to conspire with heretics, and through his action almost doomed this sector to a Tyranid invasion. Nothing you say will excuse their crimes."

"I am merely suggesting that they be transferred to a Penal Legion," whoa, Ciaphas actually looked kinda pissed. "Or maybe hand them over to rayiys Mavia, who is here to punish them."

"They are to be brought before a tribunal on Tallarn," Mavia said easily. "Unfortunately they resisted and deadly forces had to be used. Alas, they perished in the firefight."

"One does not make concession with cancer, one removes it," Raine pressed on. "You're lucky you and your regiment ended up on the winning side, or else you would've been standing there with…"

The bang of discharging bolter cut Raine's sentence short and Beije folded lifelessly to the ground, all that remained above his neck was a charred stump, sizzling smoke rising from the meat and vertebrate.

"Oh I'm sorry, was I interrupting?!" Tangmo holstered his bolt pistol while rolling his eyes at Raine and Cain, then tapped Miriya on the pauldron. "All yours dude."

The roar of flamers devoured the Tallarn's scream, torrents of liquid fire immolating them in seconds, searing away flesh until all that remained were blackened flakes drifting away in the wind.

"What about those other Tallarn inside the cell?" Skoleif inquired.

"What do you think? Kill'em all," Laura waved dismissively then shot Cain a look. "You got an objection mate?"

Ciaphas backed away with a miffed nod, "it appears that your mind is made up on this matter, I shall not impede."

"You should take them out of the cell first," Nikki piped up. "I mean, the Ice Peak is already a mess, and killing people tend to get blood all over the place."

"Good idea," Skoleif turned to a group of huskarls. "Take a few squads with you, drag them out to the field outside the city and kill them."

"Yes mam," the huskarls saluted in unison before sprinting away.

"I ask that their remains be returned to us, noble elskerinne," Mavia turned to Eldul. "Although they are traitors, they at least deserve a proper burial on Tallarn."

"It will be done, honorable rayiys," Eldul nodded sharply, deep respect passing between the two women.

"Will you be leaving soon, mother?" Al-Rahman failed completely at feigning disappointed, the eagerness to be rid of his mom was so stark that the main characters couldn't help but laugh. Mavia noticed this too and Al-Rahman went pale at her predatory grin.

"Don't you worry habibi!" Mavia jumped the colonel and wrapped him up in a big hug, making sure to embarrass him by affectionately mashing his face into her bosoms. "I'm going to be with you from now on!"

"What?!" Al-Rahman, Salahdin and Khaleela squawked at the same time.

"Wait a minute," Damien cut in. "Did you just say you're coming with us?!"

"I am," holy hell, her smile was like sunshine after the storm.

"Okay, now I'm morbidly confused," Erik added. "I thought you were the leader of the confederacy or something?"

"I retired," Mavia spoke with such nonchalant that the Eight were left stammering to find a retort, causing the rayiys to chuckle. "I am a conqueror, no one can dispute that, and in that capacity I have united and brought stability to Tallarn for the first time in centuries. But I recognize that my duty as a conqueror has come to an end, now that peace has been achieve, and I can't see myself actually ruling anything. By the Emperor, I never handle any of the finer details of running the army anyway. I just delegate everything to my war council while I take charge of the actual fighting. And since there was no way in the Warp I'm going to spend the rest of my remaining days battling decrees, diplomats and sycophants, I decided to be a little more active in my retirement."

"Then who is in charge of Tallarn and the confederacy?" Salahdin asked, flabbergasted and shocked like the rest of them.

"Nassaar and Tasneem have succeeded me," Tangmo recognized the name, Tasneem was Al-Rahman big sister, four years his senior and Nassaar was his little brother by only a year. At the mention of the name, both Salahdin and Khaleela relaxed visibly.

"That's good to hear," Khaleela said and Salahdin nodded, the two of them not noticing how sulky Al-Rahman was becoming. "Tasneem is a prodigy when it comes to the nuance of ruling, while Nassaar is a natural born warrior. Tallarn is in good hands I see."

"Nassaar's strength lies in his defensive capacity, he can rally the troop to a spirited fight, but only if the enemy comes to him. He is a perfect general for peace time," Mavia noticed how deflated Al-Rahman was becoming and drew him into an embrace, a heartfelt one this time. "That's why I left him on Tallarn and sends Al-Rahman across the stars instead, my little habibi might not be as fierce but he is still a lion, with cunning, ferocity and kindness to spare."

"Thank you, mother," Al-Rahman smiled then gave his mother a kiss on the cheek, prompting Mavia to laugh uproarious and hugged him tighter. The show of affection elicited a round of 'aww' from the female main characters, both humans and eldars. The men snickered a bit, and the Sororitas watched the scene with a strange mixture of curiosity and…was that longing Tangmo saw?

"I thought you were here to kill the 229th?" Laura spoke up.

"That was the initial objective, yes," Mavia broke out of the hug. "But after that, we were going after the Immortal Spirit. Your trail was not hard to follow, after all. It was serendipity that I found both queries in one place."

"That's nice," Yuki said. "So how many men did you brought?"

"Two thousands of my elite guard," Mavia puffed her chest up proudly. "The infamous Desert Flowers."

"They sound more like belly dancers than soldiers," Erik commented.

"That's what they all think," Mavia winked at the Swedish eldar.

"Well shit, looks like we got a lot of newcomers joining the crew," Tangmo turned to Eldul and the Frost Bringers. "So how many of you are coming with us?"

"Nine thousand Frost Bringers have pledge their swords to the Immortal Spirit," Eldul grinned wolfishly.

"And you're leading them?" Tangmo asked and Eldul nodded. "How did that come about exactly? Aren't you worried about your people? Your planet? Your system? I mean, there's gonna be a lot more people coming here now that the Black Stone mine is officially open."

"I wouldn't worry about that," Mavia spoke up, drawing a surprise look from Eldul. "If you wish, we can help you with the Black Stone depository."

"Go on," Eldul was intrigued.

"By your leave, I suggest that Tallarn become your exclusive partner in the export of the Black Stone," Mavia said. "We will keep our supplier anonymous while writing you off the Ministorum watch list, making sure that no nosy bureaucrats come snooping. This way, you can keep this place a secret and at the same time help the Imperium push back the tide of Chaos."

"That's sound ideal," Eldul narrowed her eyes dangerously on Mavia. "What's the catch?"

"Consider it an apology for the trouble the 229th caused you," Mavia's grin was wicked with humor. "And can't a woman act out of the kindness of her heart?"

"What are you going to do with the Black Stone?" Laura asked.

"We've the scientific and manufacturing capability to effectively refine the Black Stone, courtesy of the Immortal Spirit's STCs, especially this new one from Frystasvard," Mavia continued. "We believe we can replicate the Cadian Pylon to a certain extent, which will be invaluable when fighting the Ruinous power."

"So why you are coming with us again?" Damien asked the elskerinne.

"I have failed Frystasvard," Eldul held her chin high. "I have pledge to defend its people from harms and to keep the Tyranid imprisoned beneath the planet. I have failed on both accounts. And to show my responsibility, I have relinquished my position as elskerinne and decided to lead my warriors in support to your quest across the stars. Atonement through exile seems more than fitting."

"But you defeated the Tyranid," Lita added kindly. "If it wasn't for your swift defense of the Star Pillar the Tyranids would've already taken over Frystasvard. It's not fair that you're exiled after everything you've done."

"Thank you for the kind words, lady Warseer, but it was I who elected this path," Eldul said.

"Then who will be running Frystasvard then?" Lita pressed on.

"A council is in session as we speak to elect a new leader," Eldul said. "They should be done by the evening."

"Cool," Tangmo said. "But we're still gonna call you elskerinne, unless you want to be call canoness from now on."

"She will grow to appreciate the name in time," there was a nasty hint of insidious promise in Galatea's tone. "All convert to the light, sooner or later."

"I very much doubt that, canoness," Eldul spat the title like it was a wad of phlegm.

"So…I guess that's it then?" Tangmo spoke up. "Yo Henry, give us a roundup on all the prizes we've won this time dude!"

"Well, not only did we curb stomped the fucking Tyranids," Henry adjusted his awesome general coat so that it fluttered dramatically. "But we also got the hero of the Imperium and the incomparable 597th Valhallan to join the Immortal Spirit battlegroup, along with a fuck load of Viking Sororitas, a bunch of Tallarn amazons, and two smoking hot MILFs! Hallelujah!"

"Praise the Lord!" Tangmo added enthusiastically, hands throw vigorously into the air, cornas held high.

"Amen, brother!" Damien gave Tangmo and Henry powerful high-fives, nearly dislocating their shoulders in the process.

"Umm…yay?!" Erik joined in timidly before getting dragged into the boys' celebratory huddle. He was laughing and smiling in no time.

"Are you idiots freaking serious right now?!" Nikki shot them an incredulous look.

"That is so disrespectful!" Lita raised her voice crossly.

"I expected better from the four of you," Yuki was maternally disappointed.

"Do you have to be so bloody immature?" Laura shook her head sourly.

"What is a MILF, if I may ask?" Gallus asked innocently.

"It's a term we use to describe sexually attractive mothers," Damien told him and pointed at the amused, and quite proud looking, Eldul and Mavia. "I mean, shit, do they fit the bill or what?"

"That's my mother!" Astrid and Al-Rahman shouted at the same time.

"I know, and they bring all the boys to the yard," Tangmo barked a laughed and too sweets his bros before settling down. "Alright, okay, everybody chill. Anyway, we're gonna be here a few weeks to make sure that every trace of the fucking Tyranids is purged from Frystasvard, which means there'll be plenty of time for the newcomers to learn about how we do things on the Immortal Spirit. So, let me be the first to say: welcome."

"I can already tell that this will be quite educational," Ciaphas Cain smiled politely while the Valhallan nodded enthusiastically.

"We'll see," Tangmo grin evilly and started laughing like a villain when Cain and the Valhallan blanched. Oh yeah, this is going to be fun.