"Comrades, brothers and sisters in the Tau'va, I call you we are gathered today to discuss the current war and decide how our humble expedition may best serve the Greater Good."

Aun'Sek was seated on the central platform in the middle of the bridge of the Mont'ka'a, her voice easily projected, so that she could be heard even over the omnipresent murmur that existed when so many beings were confined to too small space.

"An enemy has been ranged before us unexpectantly, slaves to a dead empire, corpulent and rotting, but through the providence of the Tau'va and with the generous contributions of our new allies, we will prevail!"

A good speech, Throatslicer opined, clearly defining the Imperial enemy, but without alienating any of the Gue'vesa allies.

And speaking of allies, Throatslicer turned his gaze across the bridge of the Mont'ka'a, the usually serene space filled over capacity, the bridge being the only room both large and secure enough to attempt to facilitate a full gathering of the expedition's command cadre.

Members from every caste were present throughout the space, standing in tight groups and cadres. Aircaste admirals, Earthcaste Head engineers, Watercaste diplomats, and of course his own Firecaste command cadre all jostled for space in the white walled chamber. Interspersed amongst these blocks of Tau were other faces. The clacking beaks and spiked crests of the Kroot and humming wings of the Vespid beat a light tatou throughout the chamber. At the same time, the ambient murmurs and heavy breathing of the human auxiliaries, could also be heard, the easy chatter of the Gue'Vessa juxtaposed with the nervous breathing and tense posture of the Cenian human delegates.

Even now their Imperial conditioning tells them to fear that which is different, Throatslicer thought as he compared the reactions of the two groups of humans. They might as well be different species.

Throatslicer saw it in the way they carried themselves, the straight backed Gue'Vessa, loud and clear eyed showing the optimism and determination second only to the Tau themselves. By contrast the stuffy humans of the Imperium were cringing things, circled in a tight ball like prey beasts surrounded by predators, their heads bowed lest they catch ire of their masters. It was the eyes thought, that Throatslicer found most disturbing. He saw the way those eyes shifted and scanned, always searching for a threat. He saw the way they subconsciously checked the reflections of the screens and tablets that they carried, searching for a dagger in the back that they feared could come at any moment.

But mostly, he saw the feral glint in them, a glint that would induce their owners to fight beyond fear and pain, because in the misery of the Imperium they inhabit, what alternative did they have? That, Throatslicer reflected, was what made those creatures so dangerous.

"I apologize for the cramped accommodations, but I wished that all would be here, a representative from every member of the Tau'Va to give a voice to what may be. I have asked every caste and contingent to put forth their perspective, so that a unity and clarity can be achieved. I call forth the Shas'El, to put forward the fruits of his planning that all may see and

contribute."

In response to Aun'Sek's proclamation, Throatslicer stepped forward just beneath her command throne and clicked his fingers, activating the holosuite built into the foot of the command throne. Instantly, a clean blue sphere of light came to dominate the center of the room, the sphere denoting Cena Primaris rendered down in excruciating detail to about the size of a Tetra reconnaissance bike. Clicking his fingers once more, the hologram zoomed in to the largest continent on Cena Primaris and expanded further, until a fully scaled cross section of Hive Graingather was on full display, looking to all the world like a great tiered cake, that had just had a slice taken out of its side.

"This is our battlefield, or at least the only one that matters. The PDF and the populace has largely been enlightened by the truth and those that remain in their superstition are largely focused here, on the only settlement worthy of the name on this world, the Hive Graingather." With that, Throatslicer turned and intertwined his fingers in the gesture of the Kon'Phi, the sign of the grateful comrade to the head diplomat of the Watercaste contingent.

"From the information generously garnered from our allies, we have managed to draw a rough estimate of where the enemy has gone to ground, being focused around this area here." As Throatslicer said this, a red outline appeared around three Hive blocks that inhabited the Southwestern corner of the hive, roughly 200 meters below ground level. These blocks were on the very borders of the Underhive, which Throatslicer knew was only nominally under the control of the planetary governor.

"However, these here are not recidivists or PDF deserters, but Imperial Guardsmen, sent, we have been told by the governor, as a vanguard, precipitating a full-scale advance into our Empire."

At this the room audibly gasped, and while the Firecaste present were too disciplined to begin murmuring, the other castes and aliens present were not so stoic.

Good, thought Throatslicer, let them know what is at stake here.

"However" Throatslicer said, forestalling further talking, "I would like to stress that this is only an advanced force, in fact, it is outnumbered by the forces that we have brought to this planet, let alone the PDF armies that the governor has gratefully put at our disposal." With that, Throatslicer took a glance at the Cenian delegation. Some were clearly shocked to learn that their fellows were to serve under Tau command, but the leader of the delegation, a human with a weather-beaten face and clad in an overabundance of brocade did not react, clearly already aware of the governor's bargain with the Tau.

"Therefore," Throatslicer continued, "we have various options in how to deal with the Gue'la,and to properly entrench this world before the enemy arrives in force. My staff and I have already devised two separate battle plans, which will be demonstrated and debated here, before being selected for implementation by honored Aun 'Sek" Throatslicer said as he gestured to Aun 'Sek, who silently nodded at him to continue.

With another sweep of his hand, Throatslicer shifted the holoith once again, this time projecting a chart bifurcated down the middle, each half depicting the details of each plan in the flowing calligraphic runes of the Tau. Each half was notated by a singular Tau rune, Letho for the rightmost plan and Uzo for the leftmost, the first and last letters of the Tau alphabet respectively.

"As you can read here" Throatslicer proclaimed, aware of the fact that the Cenian delegation could not in fact read what the graph said, "each plan plays of a different strength of our forces here."

As Throatslicer gave his audience a few moments to peruse the plans at their own leisure, he reflected on the quality of forces that he could bring to bear on this campaign. While his own fire warriors were superbly disciplined and equipped better than any Imperial Guard force, many of his troops were not of such quality. Similarly, his auxiliary forces were skilled but only in specialized roles which, by-in-large, were neutralized by the dense urban landscape that comprised the disgusting hives of mankind. He was left then with the vast bulk of his force consisted of the Cenian PDF, an undisciplined force even by Imperial standards and lacking in critical equipment. With a force such as this, Throatslicer knew simple plans were the best. And it was with this consideration that the two plans were conceived.

"The first plan, codenamed Letho, has been devised by me and my staff and is based on Kauyon principles. While an entrenched enemy proves difficult to ambush, I believe that our strategy here is an acceptable application of the principle. This plan calls for a stricter envelopment and isolation of the hive blocks that have been occupied by the enemy, followed by a series of harrying strikes on enemy positions across the line. Ideally, the enemy will be drawn out and ambushed, if not, the lack of supplies that our blockade will impose should bleed them white before long. They should all starve to death within two months and run out of ammunition far before that" Throatslicer concluded. "I would like to add that this is the plan favored by me and my staff."

As Throatslicer made to continue his presentation, he was interrupted by a voice that was soft yet filled with authority. "And this plan of yours, it will leave us enough time to prepare for the impending Imperial reinforcements?" Aun' Sek asked. Though they did not vocalize it, Throatslicer could see from the reactions of his fellow Tau that they were discomfited at the Etherial's interruption. Such a break in the harmony of the speech of a high ranking casteman, while well within the right of one of the Aun caste, was highly irregular and a sign that Aun' Sek had considerably less faith in this plan than he did himself. Knowing that the chance to implement his plan would live or die on what he said next, he considered his next words carefully.

"A fair question, honored Aun. The majority of the other defensible sights on the planet have already been secured by our loyal allies and are being further fortified by the efforts of Earth caste engineers. Furthermore, from the reports provided by the governor, we should not expect the arrival of the Imperial force here for a half a year, though the imprecise nature of Imperial FTL methods make this estimate only nominal." Aun 'Sek nodded thoughtfully, seemingly satisfied with the answer.

"Our second plan, marked as Uzo, will take less time than the first" Throatslicer continued "as it is based on the Mont'ka. This plan exists in three phases. The first phase of probing attacks will commence along the line. This will proceed a second phase of simultaneous strikes at key areas, aiming to break down and isolate the individual hive blocks. Finally, with the blocks isolated, we can crush the remainder of the Imperials at our leisure."

"This excursion was not sanctioned by myself or my staff and it has cost us dear" the dull voice said. Flat and slightly muffled by his rebreather, the voice of Lord-General Minor 999983- Helbourg echoed clearly throughout his command center. Standing around him and the holoith table that took center stage in the now thoroughly cleaned and refurbished temple to the Omnissiah, was a gaggle of aids and Quartermasters, all standing masked and silent like a jury of the damned.

For Serana Vilsk, her one solace was that they weren't looking at her, though behind their omnipresent gasmasks one could never quite tell. Instead, those lidless eyes were set upon her companion, whose own mask glared back defiantly at his prosecutors.

"Twelve men, four quad launchers, four trucks, and nearly all of your civilian auxilia were lost in your unsanctioned raid against a target of questionable military value, as well as exposing our knowledge of the interhive tunnel networks to the enemy." The general continued, his measured voice, as with all members of the Death Korps, masking his emotions just as well as his rebreather.

"This" the general continued, "Is an irreconcilable waste of valuable resources in a siege situation. Already the Magos tells me that your regiment's artillery capacity has been cut by 8.3 percent." Before the general could continue however, the crash of the shrine's doors being brusquely opened rung out through the chamber, and Serana was sure that if they still had the flesh to express it, the surrounding tech priests would have cringed at the brusque treatment of their chapel.

"General, I appreciate your annunciation of the charges, but as you well know we have a defense to plan and supplies to stock, let's finish this quickly, I can't give that old Grox fondler Father Arquin time alone with the Regicide board, Emperor knows he'll tamper with it!" boomed a powerful voice coming from the chapel door. It was the only other voice in the room, Serana reflected, not muffled by gasmask or vocal modulation.

"Lord Commissar Ortis, have you come to observe the proceedings?" General Helbourg asked, his reaction to the commissar's late arrival utterly nonplussed thought Serana reflected that he probably felt some annoyance at the Lord Commissar's arrival. For the Death Korps, punctuality was valued almost as much as fighting ability.

Indeed, Ortis' proficiency in the latter is probably what made his lack of the former palatable to the general, Serana concluded.

'Indeed I do!" the commissar thundered. 'I am here to commend the good Colonel on his exemplary show of aggression and initiative in the face of the enemy, and to properly memorialize those bravely slain in the line of duty. And of course, to work out how to properly announce this information to the men and those civilians loyal to the Emperor.'

'You are aware that this is a punishment hearing, Lord Commissar? Unauthorized attacks on a primarily civilian target violates the standing orders as have already been laid out for this defense and are an unsanctionable waste of men and material.'

'And when, Lord General, were these orders dispatched?' At the remark General Helbourg turned to his aid, a major, Serana discerned based on the chevrons adorning his shoulder guard.

'Messengers were dispatched at 0400 yesterday, Lord Commissar' the major, who ,Serana reflected, probably did not have a proper name, replied.

'Is that so?' Lord Commissar Ortis remarked. 'Because for my part I only received the message around noon, from some breathless lad out of the 333rd came riding like hell into my own command bunker, informing me of the changes. Can you imagine, Lord General, sitting down for a modest lunch with some close acquaintances for some great snorting beast to come crashing through with some lad shouting about new standard directives while atop a war steed!'

'Your point, Lord Comissar?'

'Ah yes, my point here is that if I received such a vital communique so late, then how could we expect the good colonel here to follow an order that he had not received? After all, before your orders to the contrary, standing operational procedure is to engage the enemy wherever an opportunity presents itself.'

'This is so' the general said, nodding in agreement.

'Commissar Seranna. Did the colonel, or yourself for that matter, receive notice of this change in standing orders?' Ortis asked, a slight grin playing itself across the huge commissar's craggy features.

'No, Lord Commissar and Lord General Sirs, I can categorically say that we did not. As per standing orders, no vox communications detailing vital operational details were dispatched, and any riders that may have been sent out would have been delayed by a tunnel collapse at juncture Q17. It took a full hour for the engineers to clear the breech and I would imagine that in this time the colonel had left, leaving only his equerry in his stead to receive the message.'

Serana reported, returning Ortis' grin with a sly quirk of her own lips.

'And there you have it!' Ortis concluded with thunder in his voice. 'An officer can hardly be expected to follow an order not yet given, especially if it was to strike such a fine blow against the morale of the Xenos scum and their dupes!'

'With respect that is irrelevant commissar, an order is an order, regardless if the recipient is aware of the order or not. There is no room for insubordination within the Death Korps.' The unnamed Major said.

The cold detachedness of his tone was becoming increasingly annoying to Serana, it set her teeth on edge.

'That is so Major' General Helbourg replied with a nod of his helmeted head, 'What would you recommend my sentence to be?'

'Colonel 64371- Kurtzen should be relieved of his brevit command of the 3,671st Siege regiment effective immediately and demoted back to his original rank as captain' the major concluded.

'With respect, Lord General, such a demotion would be an unforgivable waste of valuable personnel, especially during a siege!' Serana said, her voice filled with an indignation for her friend that she knew he did not feel for himself. Serana knew that if she didn't act now, Kurtzen would be shunted off to some forgotten corner of the hive, to die ignominiously in the dark. She owed her friend a chance to retain his command, at the very least.

'We were already short on officers before we took up this garrison post, and no one knows the 3,671st better! To relieve him of command at such a time would be nothing less than a monumental waste!' Serana argued.

'Lord General, I must agree with my subordinate. A siege situation is no time to force such a change on the 3,671st as deposing their commander.' Ortis said.

'Allow me to observe him more closely in the coming days. You were already debating which regiment to keep as a reserve force. Deny the 3,671st the glory of frontline combat if you will, but let them keep their commander. The first option is a punishment, the second is a crippling and as you well know we will need all our resources in the days to come.'

As he spoke, Serana could see the genius guile in the Lord Commissar's argument. Denying the 3,671st an immediate chance of martyrdom would seem a fitting punishment to the macabre men of Krieg, and at the same time fulfill a vital strategic role that none of the other colonels would be eager to take-up.

'Perhaps, Lord General, it might be wise to inquire of colonel 64371- Kurtzen if he has anything to say for his defense.' A voice that Serana thought may have originated from one of the Quartermasters that flanked the general, but behind their masks, it was impossible to say who exactly had spoken.

Nodding in agreement, the general nodded his head and gestured for Kurtzen to speak. Don't muck it up now, Serana silently begged Kurtzen, Not after we've done so much in your defense!

The shrine was silent for a moment, waiting while Kurtzen formulated his response. 'My life' Kurtzen began, 'Belongs to two masters, my commander and my Emperor. I strive as always to do the will of the latter by enacting the commands of the former. If I am to be demoted, I accept this judgment as His will. If I am not, I accept this just as readily. I have already lived too long sir. My life is yours to do with as you will.'

For a moment, the general was silent, pondering the colonel's words inscrutably behind his gasmask. At last he spoke, his firm but not harsh as he delivered his verdict.

'A man who dies last still dies' the general said, quoting an old Kriegan proverb. 'Your suggestion has merit Lord Commissar. The 3,671st will move into reserve positions within Hive Block Alexev to be overseen by Lord Commissar Ortis. He will retain command of his regiment, with the provisor that any major tactical decisions undertaken on his own initiative will have to be cosigned by either myself or Commissar Ortis. Return to your regiments, you are dismissed.'

At that utterance Kurtzen issued a sharp salute and turned on his heels to march out of the chapel and back to the command Chimera that would take him back to the regiment. Sighing silently in relief, Serana folowed behind quickly.

Seated atop her hovering command throne on board the Montka'a's main meeting hall, Aun'sek observed her gathered commanders and delegates languidly, noting where the political support lay between the two proposed plans.

The Kroot representative, Shaper Kil'ik, had voiced her support for the more direct second plan, while her own military advisor, Shas'El throatslicer favored the more cautious approach. Each war leader over the hours long meeting voiced their support for one plan or the other. The aggressive elements within the Air caste, noting the Imperials lack of air support, urged for an intense bombardment of Hive Graingather, a plan which Aun'Sek noted caused the human delegation to visibly pale. The Water caste too advised that the political situation was ripe for a conquest, shamelessly admitting that they had no foothold within the ranks of these newly arrived Imperial humans and that, as they were now at war, there was very little they could do to further affect the outcome.

Some other factions, such as the Earthcaste representatives and the attached Demiurg engineers advised for undermining the hive in its entirety. Raising her hand to forestall further debate, Aun'Sek heard the command bridge fall instantly to quite. "Comrades" she began, her voiced measured but firm in the manner of the Etherials,

"All have spoken and been heard, and given their voices to the chorus of the Greater Good. The many voices of the Greater Good have been heard both here and throughout our great Empire, but this voice is but a measured whisper when compared to the blaring cacophony of Imperial fanaticism!"

As she spoke Aun'Sek could feel the crowd, previously engaged in organized but rigorous debate, all begin to sway with the power of her oratory.

"Therefore, we must make a statement, a message as clear as Clairthoni Silver that the Greater Good has put Her protection onto this world, and that the Emperor's bloody butchers and excisemen can ravage her no more!"

" Shas'El"

"Yes, Lady Etherial?"

"They are to be crushed utterly, you are free to engage under the strictures of plan Uzo as set out in this meeting, and Lady Shaper?"

"What is your will, Guider of the Lost Ones?" The Kroot mistress asked, her tone filled with the sibilant sounds and hard clacks of her beak.

"Let slip your hounds"

Hey everybody! This one was a real ball ache of a chapter and I'm really sorry it took so long!

I can't promise regular updates but I can definetly go faster than I have in future! If you have any

feedback for me about the plot, my writing style, etc. Please let me know! Improving as a writer

was the whole point of this project in the first place. Thanks again for reading my slop and have

a good one!