{oOo}
The Prime Lord of Eskrador stared defiantly at the screen. "My world will never bow to your Emperor, girl," he declared boldly.
Serenity shook her head sadly. "Is there no way I can persuade you? Otherwise I will have to ask my brother to bring your world into compliance. I beg of you, think of the people who will die as a result of your decision."
"I care not if Horus himself besieges our world! We will never surrender!"
"Oh, it won't be Horus," the princess assured him. "The nearest of my brothers is Angron."
The Prime Lord hesitated. "Angron the World Eater? The Angry One?"
"Er... yes." Serenity had to admit her brother did have a somewhat overblown reputation.
"I, uh, saw the cartoon," the Prime Lord admitted sheepishly. "But surely that incident on Ghenna was merely Imperial propaganda."
"Well the cartoon didn't really explain the politics, which were more complicated than they looked. And the violence had to be toned down before it could be shown to children."
"But he..." the noble blanched. He had thought that the bloody finale of that episode was comically overstated. "Um... you mean he really cut the..." he remembered that he was speaking to a lady. "...uh, maimed the city's ruler like that?"
Serenity coloured. "Oh dear. Umm... well technically yes..." This was painting such a terrible image of the Imperium.
"So about that treaty you wanted me to sign... when would be a good time?" Being a vassal to the Imperium would have to be less intrusive to the Prime Lord than what Primarch Angron apparently did to the leadership of human worlds that opposed them.
{oOo}