Chapter 2: Allies, Advisors, and Admechs

*One Month Later*

Elliah Fayden could see little inside the dark troop hold of the Chimera. The dim lights turned normal faces into gaunt, pale corpses, masked in shadows. The vibrations of the engine ran up her legs and made her teeth chatter. Stifling and crowded, people bumped into each other as the vehicle trundled over the uneven ground.

Fayden turned around in her seat to look out the narrow firing port. The outside world was as grey on the surface as the clouds they had passed through during planetfall. Meridian, the crown planet of Subsector Aurelia, had so far failed to impress her. They had deployed directly in their transports, and she had yet to actually set foot on the new world.

She still remembered the day that the Imperium had come to Artemis. The great ships of the Imperial Navy had arrived over Madrigal, the planetary capital. They were collecting their tithe, men and women willing to serve the Imperial Guard. It was a chance to see the stars, and with nothing to go back to, Elliah had eagerly joined the ranks.

What followed was six months aboard a training vessel. It had been grueling work, whipping the farmers of Artemis into professional guardsmen. Those who washed out of the physical training were quickly reassigned to logistics and promptly forgotten. There was no place on the battlefield for them. She was PFC Elliah Fayden of the 31st Artemians, 6th Urban Brigade. She was ready for anything.

Not a week after their training had been completed, the 6th Urban had received their first orders: Aurelia, a remote subsector on the Easter Fringe. A series of recent campaigns had left the subsector weakened, and the Imperial Guard were being deployed en masse to put down insurrections and keep the peace.

The vox speaker broke the monotonous hum of the engines. "Attention all, this is General Derim. We are nearing our primary target, Capital Spire's Administratum Complex. Our objective remains: establish forward positions around the Governor's palace and make contact with Elena Derosa. We have had no contact from the 85th's Regimental Command, and we assume there is a communications blackout. Prepare to disembark."

Captain Melner spoke up, "All right, final weapons inspection, check your gear for any malfunctions or jams." The compartment lights brightened. Elliah lifted the casing's latch and split the lasgun apart. She made sure that the focusing crystal was properly aligned. Hotshot ammunition packs were powerful, but took a heavy toll on the gun's components. An improperly aligned crystal could wreck the weapon.

Satisfied that the battery connectors were free of dirt, she snapped the casing shut and locked the hotshot pack into the gun. The charge light turned green, indicating that the Accatran model lasgun was ready to fire.

The Chimera ground to a halt, and the back hatch opened. Captain Melner was first out of the vehicle, followed by the rest of the platoon. The 2nd Company disembarked from their vehicles and assembled in the street. Finally on the ground, the sight nearly overwhelmed Elliah.

Massive effigies of heroic looking men clad in mighty armour adorned the streets like lampposts. Over the side of the road, the Spire dropped off for hundreds of feet, intersected with dozens of crisscrossing paths, from narrow gantries and sidewalks, to enormous freeways, like the one Elliah was now standing on. She had to pull back from the edge as her head began to spin.

Sergeant Polris hefted his backpack over his shoulder. "Come on squad, let's not keep the General waiting. Looks like we're on foot from here on out. Anyone have any questions before we move?"

Corporal Ariana, a stocky woman a few years older than Elliah, stepped forward. "It's awfully quiet, sergeant," she said, looking around. "Was the spire swept before we arrived, or something? There's not a soul in sight."

"Our priority is to link up with the Vendolanders, corporal, not to look for civilians," said Polris. "They're probably all holed up inside these hab blocks. Until we get confirmation otherwise, treat this as a combat zone. Anything else? No? Then let's move. Jurek, you're on point."

The company set off on their march down the street. The Chimeras revved up and moved aside down the to allow the next wave to deploy. In the distance, the Governor's palace, the administratum complex, towered above the rest of the city. Capital Spire grew upwards, piercing the clouds at its highest levels. The top of the palace was obscured by the grey skies.

Elliah found Fenn and walked next to him. The two privates had struck up a friendship during training, and both had been assigned to Polris's squad. Fenneth Tov had a youthful handsomeness, and he wasn't afraid to show it. His skin was a few shades darker than Elliah's, like many of the Artemians recruited from the equatorial farm regions. He always had a smile on his face, and his confidence was inspiring.

"Can you actually believe the size of this place Fenn?" she asked.

"It's certainly a looker," Fenn said, looking around at the surrounding towers. "How far up do you think we are? You could fit all of Madrigal fifty times over in this spire, and it still wouldn't make up a fraction of the size."

Elliah smiled. "Well, the grain silos are nothing compared to this spire. This place is incredible."

"Hmmph, it won't look so incredible once the bolts start flying and we all get killed," Elliah and Fenn turned around to see Manrey following them. The other guardsmen gave him a wide berth. He wasn't quite right in the head.

"What makes you say that, Mad Dog?" Elliah asked dryly, already anticipating the answer.

"We're not here for the sightseeing. All nice and cosy on the surface, but when you get down to it, there's something nasty underneath everything. I've heard stories about the Imperial Guard you know. They say that a whole planet's worth of people go and fight for years and years, and never go home. Even heard some stories that when they're finished fighting, they go and kill off any of the survivors so there's no witnesses afterwards."

Elliah looked to Fenn, who rolled his eyes and kept on grinning. She said, "If you're so sure we'll never see home again, then why did you join at the founding? It's voluntary service."

He grunted. "Yeah, that's just what they want you to think."

"Whatever Manrey. Next time those big mean inquisitors you keep babbling about show up, you let me know," Elliah picked up the pace with Fenn, leaving Manrey further behind.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," muttered Manrey. "Blind idiots, all of you."

"Quiet back there!" Sergeant Polris barked. "Stay sharp, the Palace is just ahead. Look for the giant needle in the sky."

Fenn and Elliah smiled. It was a new experience to be sure, but life in the Guard couldn't possibly be as bad as the Mad Hound suggested.

Merrick was sitting on the edge of a granite fountain, enjoying a moment of peace in an otherwise hellish existence. He dipped his hands into the fountain's basin and splashed his face, letting the cool water trickle down his grime covered skin. Even with the overcast skies, the muggy air was stifling. Across the palace gardens, Merrick's detachment of the 4th company sought shade from the oppressive weather.

Hurst and Kippler sat nearby. Hurst lay with his back against the fountain, grabbing a few minutes rest. Kippler was set on the pavement, disassembling and reassembling his long las. He'd grown very fond of the weapon, and cared for it as a mother would care for her child. The man had an almost unnatural sense of accuracy, easily one of the best shots Merrick had seen.

It had been quiet lately. Upon their return to Angel Hive, the Vendolanders had taken up their positions to defend the capital. The Vandis cultists mounted occasional raids, but there had been nothing near the scale of the previous attacks on Capital Spire. Still, the traitors took their toll on the guardsmen, and the regiment's limited numbers prevented them from effectively rooting out the enemy cells.

They were effectively under siege. The planetary defense force and the adeptus arbites were occupied with another round of food riots among the populace. The crusades had stripped much of Meridian's wealth and resources, and rampant piracy had slowed imports from the Typhon and Calderis systems to a trickle. Capital Spire was on its own. The guardsmen were simply delaying the inevitable at this point.

Hurst prodded him in the shoulder. Wadden was staring down the street leading to the palace. He heard the rumble first, a low hum that grew steadily louder. Across the twin suspension bridges that crossed the gap between the palace and the city proper, an army was approaching.

Merrick was on his feet in seconds, strapping his Hellgun's backpack onto his shoulders. "Shit, I didn't think the dogs would try a direct attack. Hurst, warn the rest of the men. We've got company." Kippler had no time to reassemble his weapon. Instead, he took the gun's scope and pressed it to his eye.

"They're not flying the Vandis colors, sergeant," said Kippler. He adjusted his scope to focus more sharply. A thin smile appeared on Soras's face. "I see the Aquila, sir. They're Imperials.

"What?" said Merrick, surprised. "We've had no contact with anyone off planet for weeks. Are you sure?"

"Do these eyes lie, sir?" said Kippler. "They're Guard, look for yourself, sarge."

Hurst took Kippler's scope to see for himself, then passed it to Merrick. "Looks like reinforcements have arrived. About time."

"Thank Emperor for that," Merrick said. The tension built up inside him deflated and was replaced with palpable relief.. This was the first good news they had had in a long time. "Waddy, go round up everyone you can. Let's make our guests welcome. See if you can find Remer and get him to help you."

"I'm on it. You can go greet them for us. But try to be nice. Not every Commissar is like Connor, you could get your head shot off." Hurst set off at a jog, heading for a cluster of soldiers set up further back towards the command center. Kippler finished assembling his long las and followed Merrick towards the oncoming column of tanks.

The Leman Russ tanks leading the column shared a drab blue grey camouflage pattern. The lead vehicle ground to a halt in front of him. The turret hatch swung open, and an officer with General's markings climbed out. He had a finely combed moustache and a large scar across his chin. A receding hairline and squinting eyes gave the man a permanent scowl, which he leveled at Merrick and Kippler.

Arms behind his back, the general spoke with aristocratic pomp, much to Merrick's annoyance. Always with the formalities. "I am Brigadier General Tullassar Derim, Artemian 31st Regiment, 6th Urban Brigade. We are here to aid in the pacification of Meridian and her fellow planets within the subsector."

Merrick saluted, "Sergeant Major Merrick, 85th Vendoland, 4th Grenadiers Company sir."

"At ease, sergeant major," said Derim with a wave of his hand. "Where is your commanding officer? I wish like to speak with him as soon as possible."

Merrick hesitated for a moment before responding, "That would be me, sir. I am in charge of the detachment guarding Governor Derosa."

"You are in charge?" said Derim, surprised. The general stepped down from his tank to stand face to face with Merrick."Where are your captain, sergeant major?"

"The regiment is spread out across Capital Spire, sir. We're too few to cover the entire region, so Colonel Banastre had us spread out to defend strategic locations across the spire."

"We've been in transit for a month. It seems my forces require an update on the situation. We expected the majority of the 85th to be on the frontlines."

Merrick chuckled despite himself. "Sir, Capital Spire is the frontline. The 85th is about a third of what it used to be. What we've cobbled together here is all that's left of the Imperial Guard forces on Meridian. Until you showed up that is."

The general was disappointed. He sighed, "Very well, sergeant major, I will have my men spread out to reinforce your positions. Personally, I wish to see Governor Derosa. Perhaps she may give my army a better view of the situation."

Merrick smiled wryly. "Certainly general. Might I interest you in some of the local attractions?" Merrick gestured to a half crumbled statue. "Over there is what's left of a monument to the Blood Ravens for their defence of Angel Gate two years ago. Of course, back then it still had its head and it wasn't covered in bolter holes, and when Angel Forge actually worked."

Tullassar looked exasperated. "The Forge is gone, too?"

Merrick shrugged as they walked back to the complex, the tank column following behind. "So far, yes. The techpriests have been trying to revive it, but they have had little success. The Chaos forces must have put a curse on the manufactorum."

"An under strength regiment and a ruined forge," said the General. "It seems we have our work cut out for us, Sergeant Major."

"Certainly sir, I'm sure this will be quite the partnership!"

"I don't share your sense of humor, sergeant major," Tullassar muttered."This is my battlefield now, Merrick. I expect you to defer to my command, is that understood?"

Kippler, silent through the entire conversation, spoke up. "Well, technically, sir, in lieu of a proper chain of command between two disparate regiments, overall command falls to the Planetary Governor. Derosa is the de facto leader until proper lines can be established."

Merrick grinned and gave Kippler a quick wink. "That's right, General. So let's play nice, shall we? We need each other."

"Don't push your luck, Sergeant Major," said Tullassar, glaring. "The Governor will hear of your insubordination."

Rolling his eyes, Merrick led onwards. "Yes, I'm sure she will."

At the steps of Capital Spire's administrative offices, Hurst had assembled Daredevil Squad. They weren't many, but they were some of the hardest fighters in the company. Remer was passing the time balancing a helmet on his bayonet. Hurst looked at him. "You know, you get more out of those things if you wear them. Whose is that anyways? It's obviously not yours."

"Eh, I found it," said Remer. Spinning the helmet around on the tip of the bayonet, it suddenly spun off and clattered on the ground. Vornas huffed, amused at his friend's clumsiness.

"Where did you find it?" pressed Hurst.

Remer shrugged. "I don't know, I just picked it up."

"Never mind," said Hurst with a sigh. He noticed the column begin to move once more. He straightened up. "All right, men, let's look sharp for our guests. Either use it or lose it, Remer."

"Right, sarge." Remer not too discretely kicked the helmet away. Feigning innocence, he and Vornas shared a chuckle while Alek just rolled his eyes and tried to at least look professional.

General Derim passed by the 4th company soldiers without so much as a nod. "Your men are not much to look at, sergeant major. They could stand to learn some discipline."

For their part, the Vendolanders weren't really trying to impress anyone. Merrick kept that to himself, but he didn't let the general's comments on discipline pass him by. "Sir, with all due respect, we are eighty men against hundreds, if not thousands. We didn't know you were coming, so you'll forgive us if we haven't washed and put our best dress uniforms on to mark the occasion."

General Castille had been so similar to Derim. All the bluster of an aristocrat, and none of the respect and pragmatism needed to win over his troops. Derim turned on Merrick, glowering under his brimmed cap. "Watch your tone, sergeant major."

Hurst, sensing trouble, quickly marched towards Merrick and the General's with the Daredevils in tow. Unlike the others, it looked like Hurst had taken the time to polish his armour plates. They shone brightly in the midday sun. Coming to a halt, he snapped off a perfect salute, which Tullassar responded with immediately. "Sergeant Hurst, sir. Welcome to Capitol Spire."

Tullassar seemed impressed with "At ease soldier," The general sneered at Merrick. "Perhaps your men may have manners where you do not. Sergeant Hurst, I wish to speak with Governor Derosa immediately. You will escort my retinue as well. They're useless mostly, but they handle the small things letting me focus on the big picture."

Hurst nodded, "Of course, General. Squad, fall in. Remer, Alek, you take the front, Vornas, take the rear."

"I'll take the back with Vornas, Hurst," offered Merrick. "You and the General seem like you have much to talk about." Merrick smirked, quickly hiding it when the General whipped his gaze towards him.

The general's retinue caught up with them, an eclectic group of oddities and functionaries, minded over by a hawkish man and a stocky Commissar with a dark smile. Derim spoke to the tall officer, "Colonel Nolt, take over exterior operations whilst I am inside." Have the brigade reinforce the outer defensive lines, set the flares for supply drops. Contact me on Priority Vox Channel Primaris if anything happens. May the Emperor guide your footsteps Colonel."

The tall, lanky colonel saluted, making the sign of the Aquila before leading the officers to their posts. At his orders, they dispersed in a hustle. Merrick watched them go, envious. The officer's departure left the group with the Command retainers. The actual soldiers and leaders were off to do the fighting, leaving them with the fat slobs who somehow hung to the command roster like leeches. He shook his head and fell into line beside Vornas.

"So Vornas, what do you think of our new guests? " he asked.

"It looks like the fat one's chin is trying to swallow his mouth." said Vornas dryly.

"They look like a bunch of arrogant pricks to me," he muttered. "Though, that Nolt fellow, he seems smart. My money's on the colonel. If this general turns out to be another washout, I'm sure he'll be the one to watch."

"Well aren't you a cynic today, sarge."

Merrick grinned, "You know me, Vornas. I can't stand pompous jackasses. He'll have to impress me first."

Vornas thought for a moment, his face impossible to read under the scar tissue and burn marks, "He seems like any other general, boss. He's proud, educated, pampered, and blissfully unaware of his soldier's needs. You know the kind, the regular flavour of arrogance that always crops up in the command staff. Hopefully he'll last longer than Castille did."

"Anyone would be better than that fracking moron." said Merrick sharply. "For once, I wish we had a proper leader. It's no wonder we're losing ground out here, half the officers are insane. Did I ever tell you about what it was like back in the 203rd, when it was just Alek and I? Our sergeant was a psychopath. He had us shooting up civilians. There was no skin off my back when he dropped dead. Served the bastard right."

"Got that right boss." laughed Vornas. "Sergeant Hurst seems to like him anyways." Vornas pointed at the pair. Hurst and the General were having an animated conversation.

Merrick spoke, "Yep, with any luck, that'll keep us in his good books for a while. Let the aristocrats talk, and let the career soldiers do the fighting."

"You don't think Hurst is a good fighter, eh?" said Vornas, surprised.

"I'm not saying that Hurst isn't a good fighter, Borik, but don't you ever get tired of listening to him sometimes when we're off duty?"

Vornas shrugged. "I tend to block out conversations when we're on break, boss. You try listening to Remer's theories. Maybe we should stick him on this General someday." They both chuckled, envisioning Remer trying to talk to Derim about his ideas.

The doors to the Administratum headquarters were old, huge, and creaked like the hinges hadn't been oiled in centuries. It wouldn't surprise Merrick if that were true. Groaning, they slowly opened before the group. The general's entourage stepped inside and entered an entirely different world.

Unlike the abandoned boulevards outside, the massive hall was packed with workers, refugees, and officials. Scribes were diligently trying to organize lengthy relocation charts, Arbites officers were on guard detail to keep the refugees in line, and the refugees were shouting about ration shortages. It was times like this that Merrick enjoyed the quiet outside world. The noise was unbearable.

They had to push through the crowd to reach the far side of the hall. There, Hurst summoned the lift. Merrick felt the ground shift as the elevator ascended and quickly gained speed, zooming towards the top level of the Spire, where Governor Derosa's office overlooked the entire hive.

Light broke upon the glass windows of the lift, revealing the full expanse of the Capital Spire as the lift sped up the side of the tower. Peering below, Merrick could barely make out the shapes of the new troops. They were little more than specks, and rapidly growing smaller. Above the cloud line, Angel Hive's spires appeared as golden towers piercing the grey cover, and the sun shone brighter than ever.

Up here, it was easy to forget the troubles of the world. For all its beauty, Capital Spire was one of the last bastions of Imperial order left on Meridian. Angel Hive stood contested, with the blackened, corrupted Spire Legis sitting ominously in the south, encircled by great fires where the House Vandis insurgents had razed parts of the Hive.

The dull monotone of a servitor broke the silence. "Level 1500, Administratum command center, Governor's chambers. Please stand back as the doors open."

Scribes worked steadily behind their large, wooden desks. The special sound dampening devices built into the wall kept noise to a minimum, but also gave the floor an air of stuffiness. The quiet alone was enough to satisfy Merrick and the Daredevils. He respected Derosa too much to complain, she had a good head on her shoulders, and her heart was in the right place. That alone was more than he could say for the planet's nobles.

Passing through an oak doorframe, the group entered Derosa's office. Two lurching gun servitors flanked the doorway, multi meltas and heavy bolters trained on Merrick's men. He groaned inwards, if gun servitors were here, then the Magos must have dropped by with more complaints. Sure enough, there was the techpriest, adorned in a red robe, cybernetic augmentations gleaming in the golden sunlight. He and the governor were in another heated argument.

"Governor, I do not understand why you persist in hampering my recovery efforts! This is a very delicate matter, one that only I am qualified to undertake!"

Derosa set both hands on her desk and stared down the priest."Dolthem, as I have stated numerous times already, we are in no condition to mount an excursion to the outer reaches of Angel Forge! My top priority goes to maintaining the vital functions of the Hive and keeping the Manufactorum District from being used as a staging ground. The 85th is already stretched thin enough holding off the Ork raiders and Heretic cells without you demanding aid as well. It is your responsibility to get the Forge back online, not the Guard's."

"Pah, it is easy for you to say that from behind your desk, Governor," spat the Magos. "You say that you want your forge repaired one day, and then deny me the means to do so the next!"

"Oh, and in what way does the repair work require armed soldiers, Magos?" said Derosa pointedly.

"For security purposes, madam."

Merrick couldn't help but grin at the way Derosa leapt upon the Magos's poor word choice. "And for that purpose, Dolthem, you have your Skitarii. I see no reason to divert resources to supplement what you already have. The answer is no." Derosa noticed Merrick and the others at the door. "Now if you please, I have an appointment. Show yourself out."

Dolthem turned to view the new arrivals. His left optics cluster lit up. Merrick felt uneasy as the harsh light stared at him. "What is this then, Governor? You claim to have no further personnel to provide me, and yet here stand fresh subjects! Are they unavailable as well? Do not think you can overlook the servants of the Omnissiah. I shall have my expedition plans settled, one way or another."

Derosa snapped, "And when you do, I will be sure to congratulate you for such a rousing success. However, I haven't the time or the patience to listen to your ramblings any longer. You may show yourself out."

The AdMech stopped in the doorway, his optics glaring back at the Governor. "We shall speak again on this matter, Governor." he said coldly, voice tinged by the metal respirator fused into his skin. The gun servitors followed their leader out of the office, slamming the wooden doors behind them.

The governor leaned backwards in her high backed chair and sighed. "You must be General Derim. Elena Derosa, Governor of Meridian and liaison to the Administratum. I apologize for my attitude with the Magos, general. The Adepts have been pestering me for days insisting I authorize a dig team to aid them in some excavation along the outskirts of Angel Forge. Management here is not what it used to be."

Derosa offered her hand. Tullassar bowed and accepted the handshake, "You needn't worry yourself, Governor. I have four thousand fighting men at your disposal. We're here to put things back on schedule."

"I shall be glad to have them. It has been some time since the Guard has been reinforced. The Vendolanders have had their hands full, to say nothing of the Arbites Precincts and the Planetary Defense Forces"

Merrick saluted smartly. "It is our duty to serve, ma'am. No Hound will get by us."

"And for that I am deeply grateful, Sergeant Major, your services to the Subsector are admirable." She smiled at Merrick, who gave her a quick wink.

Tullassar butted forward. "There appears to be a lack of security for your office, Governor. I can have a Stormtrooper detachment assigned to you for protection within the hour."

"That won't be necessary, General," said Derosa, shaking her head. "I have learned not to trust others with my personal protection, even the Guard. It nearly cost me my life once. I don't make mistakes twice."

"Then how do you plan on defending yourself, Governor?" said Tullassar skeptically.

"I have my methods." she said letting the words hang. "Shall we sit? I assure you, they are far more comfortable than a cramped troop carrier." She motioned to the large, open air room behind her desk, lined with luxurious chairs and couches.

It was Hurst's and Merrick's job to talk to the higher ups, so the other Daredevils wandered off to the veranda while the officials got to business. The group seated themselves on Derosa's large couches. She looked like she hadn't slept for days, noted Merrick. Her eyes still had that fiery determination in them, but she was looking more and more drawn every time he saw her.

"Very well, General, I shall tell you what I can." She snapped her fingers. A thin figure in a deep blue robe appeared out of the dark recesses of her office, carrying a small metal box engraved with the Aquila. "My adept can provide the current tactical data you require, General. I can provide you with a summation."

One of the General's retinue cleared his throat to speak. He was a portly man, wearing a scribe's uniform that seemed three sizes too small, and he had a thin mustache and a double chin adorning his sweaty face. "Governor, do you think it wise that we have this discussion in the open? We are on the edge of a warzone, in the open air. Would you not rather have this conversation indoors where it is safe? As a woman, I am sure that you would rather be closer to your-"

Derosa cut him off. "I can assure you good sir, that we are perfectly safe here. The void shield installed in the building is strong enough to withstand orbital bombardments. It is strong enough to keep the traitors at bay.' Her tone was hard and confident. "Capital Spire is the safest place in Angel Hive at the moment. We are housing millions of refugees. Do you seriously think that I would have this assembly meet here if I was not certain of our safety?

The blubbery familiar was subdued. "Y-yes, of course your grace. I... apologize for my brashness."

"Good. But if you feel threatened by the smell of fresh air, feel free to make use of the scribe's quarters. I'm sure they would be more suited to one of your office. Until then, do not feel the need to pass comments on matters you do not understand."

Incensed, the scribe tried to stand, but he was caught in his midsection by a sharp strike from the General's stick. Tullassar looked at the man with disgust, forcing him back into the seat with merely a stare. "I apologize for Zerick, my chief scribe is not well versed in social etiquette. Apparently I have yet to break him of his habits. Now, you had information to discuss with me Governor?"

"Yes General. You should be aware of the delicate position we are in at the moment. Ever since the Black Legion attack last year, we have been dealing with an ever growing number of cults and uprisings. My predecessor, Gregor Vandis, currently holds sway over most of the major cults, and has been pushing to take back Capital Spire for months. Most of their forces are limited to Urizen Hive in the south, but we have faced numerous raids within Angel Hive regardless."

"We thought that we had regained control of Spire Legis last year during a protracted assault," explained Hurst. "But the minute we pulled out, the insurgents just rose up again. We lack the numbers to keep Legis under control. What's left of the 46th has been on watch if they make any major pushes, but it's a holding action at best."

"And then there's Urizen Hive, further south," said Merrick. "General Castille thought that the 85th would be able to establish control over the Hive if we took Urizen's main spire. Cut off the head and watch the rest crumble. Cost us two thirds of the Regiment, as well as most of the officers. We're running with skeleton command structures, with NCOs like me covering until replacements can be found."

General Derim listened intently as they continued. He hadn't asked any questions yet, but he was sucking up information like a sponge.

"Unfortunately, there have been setbacks, some small, others unacceptable," said Derosa. "We lost control of Angel Forge due to a corrupting virus planted by the Black Legion. I've had repair crews and Mechanicus aid working for months to try and get the Forge back online, but some individuals seem more interested in exploiting the abandoned foundries for their own ends. The Forge is little more than a glorified barracks for the remaining Guard forces."

Tullassar scratched his chin. "I see, governor. And how do you wish to combat this threat? What resources do we still control?"

Derosa motioned for her adept to set the box on the table in front of them. The box opened, revealing a three dimensional projection of the Capital Spire. Several lines of data scrolled down the side of the image, statistics covering electrical outputs, crime rates, food shortages, and other information relevant to the Spire's operational status.

"As of last month's report, we currently control seventy five percent of Angel Hive," said Derosa, pointing to a particular data strand. The appropriate visuals glowed orange to indicate their position on the map. "Much of the upper city has been cleansed, but the Hounds have managed to entrench themselves in the underground tunnels connecting the outer hab blocks and other Spires. The manpower shortage has made it impossible to mount a significant offensive against their outposts."

"Not that we're in any position to actually do anything about their strongholds." said Merrick, cutting in. "If I may, ma'am? The 85th Vendoland is a write off at this point. We have maybe thirteen hundred soldiers to cover the whole damn Hive. We're spread too thin, we can't find their base, but they can't break out lines."

"Indeed," scoffed the General. "Yes, I'm sure you all must have stories to tell. It is unimportant, Sergeant Major. My men will see to your problems soon enough."

One of the General's aides, a man as thin as Zerick was round, leaned forward in his seat. "Governor, what should happen if the Administratum complex is attacked? How well prepared are we to withstand an assault?"

Derosa spoke. "As I said, the spire is surrounded by a number of void shields, and we have a full contingent of Arbites stationed here. Nothing short of a Titan's weaponry can break through our defenses. Only a fool would attack us directly."

"The problem is," muttered Merrick quietly, "I'm not sure the hounds are smart enough to know that."