Alesia watched a battle unfold from the bridge of the Iron Warriors' flagship, the Iron Blood, alongside Kithes and Perturabo. She was fifteen now, and was given more duties as she grew into her position as Imperial Princess. One of the duties included accompanying her brothers in their campaigns to gain command experience. However, she was not allowed to go into combat situations as she still had no armor of her own.
"Those mountains are perfect ambush territory," she remarked as a company of Iron Warriors began to navigate the mentioned terrain. "I'm glad the Scouts managed to obtain some flora samples earlier. The forest covering the mountain might have to be burned today."
"I know you're not happy about that," her brother said with no hint of emotion, "but this is the brutal reality of the Crusade."
"The unification of humanity comes before all other projects, my Lady," Kithes reminded her.
"I know, Kithes," Alesia sighed, not wanting to go through this song and dance with her guard again. She noticed something on the display and zoomed in on a cliff of the mountain ten kilometers away from the Iron Warriors company. "Sharp shooters ten kilometers out. I'd place an ambush at five kilometers."
"The Scouts noticed them earlier, your Highness" one of the bridge crew reported. "The Tenth Company are aware."
The company continued to advance until they approached the area she estimated the ambush to take place. Every enemy fighter was dispatched by the Iron Warriors in a swift and efficient manner, including the sharp shooters.
"Looks like you were right about the ambush, little sister," Perturabo commented.
"My Liege," another of the bridge crew called out, "the planet's government is surrendering."
Several hours later, Alesia met up with her brother in his personal workshop.
"Why did you have me stay on the ship, big brother?" She asked him. When he went down to the surface to discuss the terms of the planet's surrender, Perturabo made her stay on board without explanation. "Is diplomacy not part of my current training?"
"It was for your own safety," her brother responded, picking up a miniature automaton. "Say it were really a trap to lure myself out in the open and you were with me. I could not guarantee your safety, even with your companion protecting you, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you."
She couldn't argue with his logic, driven by emotion as it was. Yet this felt very out of character for her brother in this instance. Alesia reached out and gently picked up the miniature out of his palm.
"I'm the Imperial Princess," she said. "I will forever have a giant target on my back, but knowing that, I still need to lead our people."
"You are still my sister as well," he pointed out as she let the automaton march around her open palm. "And it is mine and our brothers' duty to look out for you."
"Is that why you and Rogal constantly keep upgrading my furniture and security measures around my wing of the Imperial Palace?"
He looked away sheepishly before answering, "Maybe…?"
"How you are still single, I will never understand. All of my ladies in waiting say they would kill to have a husband that will build them massage desk chairs."
"I have no time for frivolous things like that is why."
"I dunno, brother," she teased him with a mischievous grin. "If Santodes can find himself a lady that awakens his libido with food alone, then you might find someone that makes your hearts skip a few beats."
"Like how that Silas boy is to you?" He retorted.
"Ha! He's already got someone of the same sex to cuddle with," she clapped back, surprising the Lord of Iron. "Father lost that bet with Malcador, and I'm not really interested in dating just yet."
"Good," he said, more pleased towards the fact she had no desire to court or be courted anytime soon. "What did Father lose in the bet?"
"Some of his best alcohol. Uncle Malcador was trashed for a couple of days, so it must have been some good stuff to knock him off his feet."
They continued to speak as siblings, eventually going back to the battle earlier and her progression as a tactician well into the evening.
Sanguinius couldn't help but worry for his sister. While her educational path was completely up to her and their father, he was afraid of her treatment by Perturabo.
"Brother?" Horus's voice brought him out of his thoughts. He, Horus and Lion were meeting to plan the next campaign on a world suspected to house a Man of Iron, something that had to be dealt with immediately. "Are you still with us?"
"My apologies, brother," Sanguinius said. "I seem to be distracted with worry as of late."
"Alesia will be fine," Lion said, knowing what he was talking about. "Perturabo may be a man child at times, but he has near endless patience with her and she won't take crap from him."
"I'd be more worried in Perturabo remaining in one piece," Horus jested and got them to chuckle. "In any case, we have a more pressing issue to worry about on Ullanor."
"Yes, of course." Sanguinius couldn't agree more on that. "How do you propose we handle this artifact? It would be unwise to not destroy it."
"Our main issue right now is the lack of intel," Lion pointed out. "We don't know if this thing can move on it's own or can fight back."
"Then let us get to strategize every scenario, brothers."