Why does this shite always happen to them? To be fair, Laura was the sorta lass who enjoy a nice fisticuff or two, but even she knew when that kind of behavior becomes counterproductive. Case and point, this latest state of affair the Immortal Spirit battlegroup and the Ynnari had found themselves in. Yvraine, being the massive bitch that she was, had drawn her sword and was pointing it at the indomitable Isha, which naturally elicited an equally dire response from the Sororitas and the Ishari eldars. It took only three fucking seconds for the two sides to be at each other's throat, guns and swords trained with deadly intent across the small divide separating the belligerent parties. Two seconds more and everybody's gonna be dead, and Laura can't allow that.

"Oi! Can you cunts maybe calm down?! No offense to the gents in attendance of course," Laura bravely stepped forward and went to stand between the battlegroup and the Ynnari. She waited, and when no one got trigger happy in the intervening seconds, Laura took a deep breath and played the diplomat. She might not be any better than Tangmo, but fuck, someone had to step up. "Now I understand that shite is very emotional right now, but can we please try to articulate our grievances in a civilize manner?"

"Stand aside Mon-keigh, I've had it with your incessant prattling," Yvraine got a manic look in her eyes as she turned to Laura, the sword was still pointed at Isha but the British inquisitor knew how quickly the trajectory of the blade can change. "Your words corrupt all, killing you would be a service to the universe at large."

"I cannot even begin to explain how much of a bad idea that is," Yuki was wearing her creepy grin as she slid soundlessly in beside Laura, the katana at her belt angled for an iaido draw. In response to this threat upon Yvraine's person, Lelith materialized out of thin air and joined the Herald, arms crossed over her chest and blowing a kiss at the Japanese exarch. And yes, she was still wearing the bikini, a new set too judging by the darker shade of glossy silk "Great! I get to kill both Yvraine and Lelith, what a lovely day!"

Laura caught Yvraine's frame tensing, a miniscule change to the body that indicated an eminent attack. She would be fucking death before she can pull the hellgun's trigger. Oh well, at least it'll be a named character who killed her and not some stray bullet fired by a random grunt.

"Don't," Laura was bracing herself for death when a radiant white light overtook the red of the chamber, the Ynnari backing away from the blinding illumination. Even Lelith had to cover her eyes. Predictably, Yvraine didn't blink as a glowing Isha stepped forward and came to stand within the Herald's sword range, moving too fast for Elnys and Celestine to catch her. "I will ask you again Yvraine, for the sake of all Aeldari living and yet to come, cast aside your intent."

"What do you know of my intent?!" Yvraine snapped and placed the tip of her sword on Isha's armored chest. "Unlike you, the fate of our species rest upon my shoulders! Mine alone!"

"Rest assured Yvraine I know very well the burden you carry," Isha's tone was kindly, which had the opposite effect of calming Yvraine down, the blade shaking dangerously against the goddess's breastplate. "I have no herald to delegate my responsibility. The crushing weight you feel is most familiar to me."

"Don't talk to me as if I'm a babe born yesterday!" Yvraine was snarling now, although compared to Isha she really was just a child. "Stand aside Isha. If life has to be sacrifice for death to reign, then I will not hesitate to see it done!"

"Halt," Isha uttered simply, stopping the Ishari eldars from reacting violently to Yvraine's very blatant threat. Laura thought for sure a bloody mosh pit was about to erupt but thankfully Isha's soft light was calming both parties down, the Ishari and the Ynnari holding their ground warily. With the bloodshed for the moment put on hold, Isha held her hand out to Yvraine, palm raised. "See what I have seen."

"No!" Yvraine hissed but it was clear her fury was wavering, the hesitation manifesting in the increasing quiver of her swordarm. "If I touch you, I'll die. A goddess like you can take a life with a flick of the hand, how convenient it would be for you and the battlegroup for me to perish."

"I am a goddess of life, my power cannot kill," Isha stated simply with nothing but patience. "Touch my hand Yvraine, and you will know the truth."

Please take Isha's hand, please take Isha's hand, for the love of the God Emperor you stuck up bitch take Isha's hand! Laura was about to loudly articulate the panicky mantra when, either the God Emperor really was listening or the Herald got annoyed after hearing her telepathically, Yvraine spat a slew of harsh sounding Aeldari curses and thrust her hand at Isha's own. Tension and hostility drained from Yvraine, within a nanosecond her visage went blank and the sword at Isha's chest came to dangle laxed her side. The Herald started to sway but Isha's closed her fingers tightly, holding Yvraine in place. Hazarding a glance forward, Laura let out a sigh of relief when the Ynnari, after a quick wave from Lelith, lowered their weapons, prompting the battlegroup to follow suit after a stern urging from Celestine. Maintaining her carefree countenance, Lelith clasped hands behind buttocks and glided closer to the entwined Isha and Yvraine, head titled to watch the Herald from a playful angle whilst responding to Celestine's warning glare with a cheeky wink. With the standoff more or less averted for the foreseeable future, both sides were starting to spread out and adopt a less rigid formation when Yvraine stumbled two steps back from Isha, tears streaked the Herald's cheeks.

"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" Nikki appeared beside Laura and whispered into her ear.

"I don't know," Laura was equally breathless as Isha closed her distant with Yvraine and gently pulled her into a soft embrace, the Herald allowing her head to be guided down so that it was resting on the goddess's shoulder. Needless to say, everyone was confused as all fuck, but in a good way because it was the sort of curiosity that prevented bullets from flying. "Things are looking good, I guess? But just to be on the safe side, can you please aim the sniper at Yvraine's head, in case she stabs Isha in the back."

"Warm…so very warm," Yvraine spoke lowly, her timbre was steady yet tears continued to flow. "All I know is coldness…Ynnead is a cold god."

"Yes, such is the responsibility of safeguarding the dead and the lost," Isha's sigh was kindly as she held Yvraine tighter, causing the Herald to drop her sword. The metallic clang was abnormally loud in the absolutely silence, life and death joined before the unmoving personification of war. Realizing the importance of this moment, Laura magnetized the hellgun to the power pack and started filming with her data-pad. "I cannot even begin to comprehend the fortitude of such an individual who would willingly assume the mettle of Ynnead's herald, and I dare say my brother made the right choice."

"I must serve him," Yvraine barred her teeth, not in anger but in painful desperation. "We are losing…nothing I do is making things better. If I don't do this now, She Who Thirst will be triumphant…I'm sorry, this must done and I must be the one to do it."

"I understand Yvraine," Isha eased back from the hug then raised her hands to cup Yvraine's face, her thumb moving to flick away a droplet of tear. "The awakening of Ynnead must be done, for the survival of the Aeldari. And we shall help you."

"How?" Yvraine's tone hardened somewhat, "how can you possibly help us? Death and war is the absolute anathema to life, the ruination of all things you hold dear, in what conceivable way can you offer aide?"

"It is true that Khaine and Ynnead are my opposite, but we are not in opposition to each other," Isha explained. "Life, death, all is but a part of existence, the two halves combined to make a single whole, one cannot exist without the other. War is a catalyst for a new cycle of rebirth to begin, a change from one state of affair to the other, and this is where I offer an alternative to your conundrum."

"Can it be done?" Yvraine asked, only the most perceptive can hear the tiny glimmer of hope in her tone.

"I make no promises, nor will I lie to you and have you believed that the path ahead will be easy," Isha said sternly. "But I will do everything in my power to make it a reality."

It was clearly not the answer Yvraine wanted, for she shook her head free of Isha's hands and took several steps back, eyes closed and head bowed. Both the battlegroup and the Ynnari were at a crossroad, whether bloodshed will be avoided depends solely on Yvraine's decision. The British inquisitor tried to gauge the Herald's mood, but her rictus visage revealed nothing but deep introspection. Not leaving anything to chance, Laura slowly drew the claymore from her back and pressed the tip to the ground in a relaxed guard. Her biggest concern right now was Lelith, and Laura felt her blood frosting over when the Drukhari turned to stare at her, all playfulness gone and replaced by a deathly blankness, and where in the hell did the twin curved serrated daggers came from?! Laura didn't have time to ponder this though, for Yvraine opened her eyes, fixed Isha with a sharp look, then walked to her fallen sword and picked it up. Laura was starting to silently curse the unfairness of the universe when Yvraine slid the weapon back into its scabbard.

"For your sake, and that of mine, this gambit better work," Yvraine wiped her eyes quickly, cleaning away the last vestige of tears. The Herald inhaled deeply, straightened her posture until it was regal, and to Laura's relief she no longer appeared to be on the verge of a furious outburst. Sure, she was still haughty as shite, but the dangerous edge to her temper was no longer presence. Folding arms over chest, Yvraine sighed then locked eyes with Isha. "You will require my help?"

"Yes, I do," Isha nodded. "Will you help me?"

"I must," Yvraine declared with all the pomp she could mustered, which was admittedly impressive in octave, her voice ringing clear across the chamber for both the Ynnari and the battlegroup to hear. Then with visible reluctance on her part Yvraine extended her hand to Isha. "This I vow, and may you and Ynnead strike me down if I or the Ynnari breaks this oath."

"I accept your vow, lady Yvraine," Isha reached out and clasped hand with Yvraine, both maintaining the stoic presentation although it was clear they found this non-Aeldari physical contact to be very awkward. After nearly a minute Isha and Yvraine broke the handshake, and to relief of all no calamity befalls them.

"You can relax, lady inquisitor," Laura narrowed her eyes at the smiling Lelith, the Drukhari had her arms crossed under her breasts, pushing them up, and seriously where in the bloody hell did her daggers go? Besides the bikini and the gauntlets and the boots she was wearing nothing else. "We're friends now."

"I honestly don't know how to feel about that," Laura slowly magnetized the claymore to her power pack and, seeing how the Ynnari were holstering their weapons, waved for the battlegroup to reciprocate the gesture in kind. Groaning when the Sororitas and the Ishari refused to comply, Laura turned to glare at them. "For fuck sake you daft cunts, can you please put the fucking weapons away?! We're allies again, things are simmering down, so how about you don't fuck this up for everyone?!"

"Stand down, all of you," Laura exhaled loudly in relief when Celestine intervened on her behalf, and it was this that finally convinced the battlegroup to disengage the hostile stance, but not without an abundance of displeased murmurs. Waving away the Ardent Blade, Celestine shifted her attention to Yvraine. "Then again, it will take more than a handshake to convince me that you will honor the pact spoken, I've seen many times how easily the wind can carry away a promise."

"And here I thought my action would please you, lady Celestine," Yvraine did not attempt to hide the venom in her tone. "I even used the Mon-Keigh's crude method of communication. It bespoke a great deal about my conviction to emulate Imperium's custom."

"How gracious of you lady Yvraine," there was nothing welcoming about Celestine's little grin. "I commend your tenacious drive to thoroughly understand the deeper human experience."

"Celestine, I must ask that you treat lady Yvraine with respect," Isha was polite in her utterance but iron it carried was clear. "What is about to transpire will also benefit the Imperium and mankind."

"Very well," Celestine offered Isha an apologetic bow. "How shall we proceed then?"

"The monolith's outer shell must be pried away so that we can reach the inner core," Isha explained and strode up to Galatea and her canoness buddies, the move brought alarmed words from the Ynnari but none dared to stop the goddess. "Honorable Sororitas, I humbly ask that you assist Yvraine and her host in this task, if both parties work together then progress will be greatly hastened."

"If that is your request, then we shall comply," Galatea bowed but nevertheless deferred to Celestine. Humans and eldars of the battlegroup might be mates now but deeply ingrained dogma can never be cast aside, "by your leave, lady Celestine."

"You may, see to it if you please," Celestine ushered politely at the crystalized molten lava monolith thingy at the center of the chamber, prompting Galatea to brace the power zweihander on her shoulder and flashed quick hand signals to the assembled canonesses and Celestians and Sisters of Battle. The Sororitas moved to surround the monolith with energized steps, conversation regarding how to attack the centerpiece rippled across the chamber. They were soon joined by the Ishari eldars, and after a moment of hesitation the Ynnari stepped forward. It was surprising to see the Ishari be more hostile to their kin than the Battle Sisters, but thankfully cooler heads prevailed and the Ynnari were allowed into the circle.

"How are we supposed to break all of this apart?" Canoness Crestienne of the Argent Shroud stroke her chin thoughtfully, her moment of contemplation ended with an annoyed tsk when elskerinne Eldul of the Frost Bringer thrust her power spear at the craggy surface. The honed metal struck the monolith in a cascade of brilliant sparks and a palm size piece flew off. It clattered loudly to the ground, the pulsing glow fading until the chunk crumbled to dust. "There's always that, but I doubt it would be very effective given the size."

"Not that I don't mind a bit of sweat, but you are correct," Eldul smirked wolfishly and kicked the ashen remains away, "explosive or something more precise?"

"We have no idea how the monolith will react to such a massive application of firepower. It can either speed up the dismantling or destroy it completely," exarch Olatien of the Fire Dragon came to stand with the Sisters of Battle, the Aspect Warrior never took his eyes off the monolith as he tinkered with his Fire Lance. "In this instance, I believe a more nuance approach is warranted."

"I agree with him," mistress Lithia of the Avenging Knights walked up to the towering effigy and ran the curved tip of her power scythe across the surface, Freddy Kruger style. The Batman canoness cast her gaze up and down, more than likely taking a reading via her helm, then waved over her cadre of handpicked Celestians. "Castrum, Taelin, Vivian, get the correct geometric reading on this thing and plan out the most optimal paths of incision, we'll be going in nice and slow."

"And we shall naturally help," Lelith offered and the Ynnari stood at attention. "We are at your beck and call honorable Sororitas."

"Thank you, lady Lelith," Lithia nodded slowly then leaned over at Olatien, trading hushed private words. Placing hands on hips, Lelith only chuckle at the gossipy display.

"Well this is all nice and dandy," Laura put away her claymore and with Yuki, Nikki and Lita in tow joined Celestine, Isha and Yvraine. "Now milady Isha, I beg your pardon for so obviously prying, but would you mind sharing what you've just telepathically showed Yvraine? I really want to be in the loop."

"Certainly lady inquisitor," Isha said amiably, Yvraine on the other hand spared Laura and her mates sideway glances but did nothing else. Isha waited until Celestine, Greyfax and Elnys drew closer before speaking. "What I saw were memories of Khaine, his many deeds and sins, but more importantly his fateful battle with Slaanesh and what comes after."

"What do you mean come after?" Yuki piped up. "I thought Khaine lost the battle and then shattered into a million pieces. That's where the Avatar of Khaine came from, right?"

"It is true that Khaine was unsuccessful in avenging his kin, and Slaanesh was triumphant," Isha explained. "But out of the many pieces that was scattered across the Warp and the Webway and the black infinity of the galaxy, this one possess a high concentration of his soul."

"And it's in this monolith here," Nikki whistled sharply and the Battle Sisters within earshot of Isha snapped their heads at the war god's tomb in alarm, prayers and warding gestures abound. "Fucking hell, we're always hitting the jackpot, aren't we? This explains why we eldars are suddenly becoming more aggressive, the residue of Khaine is leaking into our brain."

"I don't understand, how did Khaine's soul survive the fight with Slaanesh? Wasn't he more or less destroyed?" Lita cast a worry glance around the chamber, holding the Singing Spear closer to her chest. "Please tell me this isn't the place where they fought, because if that's the case then I'm gonna freak out bad."

"You need not fear lady Warseer," Isha giggled at the wide eyed Lita, "the battleground was inside the Eye of Terror, you are quite safe here in Segmentum Ultima."

"So how did Khaine's soul ended up here?" Celestine asked. "Did he managed to avoid the killing blow from Slaanesh and fled?"

"No, Slaanesh's victory was absolute," Isha shook her head then waved around the chamber. "He had helped from this Fortress World and its denizens."

"It is the work of massive sorcerous ritual then," Greyfax entered the conversation, her tone cold and suspicious. "How can you be sure that the entity inside the monolith is Khaine? The Warp is tainted and the Chaos Gods are cunning in their machination, this pillar could be home to a host of daemons for all we know."

"I can assure you lady inquisitor, no daemons lurk within the tomb," Isha made her reassurance but it was clear Greyfax was far from placated. "When I reached inside the monolith and touched the core within Khaine, or at least what's left of him, remembers me." The goddess sniffed and quickly wiped her eyes. "The joy I felt from him, so different from when he commits his bloodletting, of knowing that others beside him survive the fall of the Aeldari people, was what convinced me that it is truly the Bloody Hand God inside the monolith."

"Imitation is one of the Chaos Gods' many fortes," Greyfax shrugged noncommittally.

"But they can't recreate memories," the smile Isha bestowed upon Greyfax was like when a very patience teacher indulged her pigheaded student. "And he had shown me images that only the Aeldari pantheon can recognize, going back as far as the War in Heaven."

"Her eminence Isha is correct," Yvraine spoke up, color draining from her face as the recollection returned to the forefront of her mind. "It coincides with vision Ynnead had shared with me, memories of times that not even the Aeldari can imagine. This was what convinced me of her eminence's sincerity."

"Okay, that's good and all, but how exactly did the bloke ended up here?" Laura waved upward as flying eldars and Seraphims started circling the monolith, many hovering close to physically touch the surface. "Did the memories reveal anything about that?"

"The people of this planet were responsible for sequestering Khaine inside his tomb," Isha went on. "They perform a biding ritual at the moment of his defeat."

"I have heard about this," Elnys, the Dire Avenger handmaiden, entered the conversation, but stopped when everyone turned to look at her. It was only after Isha nodded friendlily to her that Elnys continued. "Thank you your eminence. What I wanted to say was that cabal of Farseers and Warlocks who are devoted to a specific god can create a bond so strong with their chosen patron that they can interact with divinity. Similar method was used to locate her eminence inside Nurgle's Garden and facilitate our rescue operation."

"This must've been a great bastion for such an undertaking to be successfully accomplished," there was a note of respect in Celestine's tone, but she became inquisitive a heartbeat later. "If that was the case, then how come the Acorium Federation was able to best them?"

"I can easily piece the fragments together," Isha shifted her attention back to the monolith. "At the apex of the Aeldari Empire, many Fortress Worlds exist across the galaxy, to safeguard against orks mostly but to also prepare for when the Necrons awake. All of them are connected via a specialized channel within the Webway, similar to when I use my power, and it is very likely that this planet was the most powerful within the sector.

"But the power used to safeguard the surviving remnants of Khaine will take a heavy toll on all involved, and I believe that was how the Federation won, they struck at the moment of weakness."

"If the intel coming in from Tangmo is to be believe, the Aeldari didn't go down without a fight. Apparently it took the Federation several generations to win the war," Laura spoke up. "What can we expect to find in there?"

"We'll know soon enough," Celestine said then gave Yvraine a sideway glance, the two women might not be throwing hands but the animosity refuses to abate. "Tell me Yvraine, what was it that you hope to accomplish here? It is more than clear that you and the Ynnari are aware of the true nature of this planet."

"Our original plan was to find the essence of Khaine and sacrifice it to Ynnead to hasten his resurrection," Yvraine reciprocate Celestine's quirk of a brow with a visage of pure boredom, followed by a dismissive shrug. "No reason to keep it a secret now, her eminence saw through my intent with ease. And to put your trouble mind at ease Celestine, I will not be pursuing that course anymore."

"Good to see you ire toward reason for once," Celestine made her barbed comment but her countenance soften a moment later. "How bad can things be for you to take such a drastic action?"

"Bad enough, you of all people should know how blind desperation can leads to decision that can easily be regarded as insanity, the Imperium is a living proof of that," there was no poison in Yvraine's utterance, only gloomy exhaustion. Pinching the bridge of her nose, Yvraine shook her head in disgust. "What am I saying, look at us now, we're no better than the Mon-Keigh at this point."

"I thought the Ynnari had discovered artifacts that can resurrect Ynnead?" Celestine asked.

"The Crone Worlds where the artifact resides are inside the Eye of Terror," Yvraine deadpanned dispassionately. "As you can imagine, this had render us utterly incapable of acquiring the only means to resurrect Ynnead."

"I thought there were ways for the Aeldari to venture into the Eye of Terror and the Warp at large," Celestine pressed on. "According to reports compiled by the inquisition denizen of Commorragh frequently travel into the Warp, can you not ask them for help?"

"There's a bounty on her head, set by Vect himself," Lelith strode up to the group. Yvraine shot her an annoyed glance but nevertheless nudged her head for the Drukhari to continue. No more cheeky playfulness now, Lelith had adopted a sharp visage that bespoke of heavy severity, befitting the subject at hand. "Yvraine's mission to awaken the god of death had created a political chaos inside Commorragh, from the highest houses down to the lowest serfs bloody debate rages across the city."

"But why has that happened?" Isha spoke up. "Shouldn't the people of Commorragh rejoice at the coming of Ynnead?"

"If Ynnead is to be successfully brought back to life, then Commorragh will simply cease to exist," Lelith waved at herself. "We are what we are because of our fear of Slaanesh and what awaits us after death, all that we have done is nothing but desperate measure used to stave off the inevitable. But if Yvraine is successful, if Ynnead ascend to his rightful place, then pursuing such existence will not be needed anymore, we would be free. Many great houses do not want this, it disturbs their comfortable status quo you see."

"That is heartbreakingly shortsighted," Isha shook her head. "It never ceases to amaze me how mortals can be so lacking in commonsense."

"It's a natural way of the world at this point," Celestine can only shrug in response to Isha's statement. "So what can we all gained from freeing Khaine?"

"The liberation of Khaine will help with the war effort against the Ruinous Power, while also hastening Ynnead ascendency," Isha made her explanation. "What I had propose to Yvraine when our minds were joined was to create something similar to the Harmony Nexus once Khaine's remains has been successfully excavated, a gateway device that connects the material world to the Webway, more specifically the portion that used to be the sanctuary of the war god and his followers."

"And the Ynnari will be in complete custodianship of this?" A hint of suspicion returned to Celestine's voice.

"Most of it," Yvraine told her. "Her eminence Isha, and by proxy the Immortal Spirit battlegroup, will of course be given a portion of the remains. We understand that there are Aeldari within the battlegroup who would wish to accept the Bloody Hand God as their patron."

"…Ah, now I understand," Celestine nodded slowly and Yvraine's lips peeled back to reveal gleaming white teeth, the Living Saint and the Herald reaching the same conclusion in that moment, "clever Yvraine, very clever."

"Uh…can someone please fill me in?" Yuki's head darted this way and that, her incomprehension shared by the quartet and Greyfax and Elnys. "There's a big piece missing from the picture here, can you help a girl out?"

"Ynnari who dies in battle will have a sanctuary after death, just like inside the Harmony Nexus or the Infinity Circuit," Isha told Yuki. "Due to the dormant nature of Ynnead, his followers have no afterlife they can reside in. But if Khaine's soul is successfully extracted, then from his essence Warlocks and Farseers can create a place where slain Ynnari can take their final rest," Isha turned to Yvraine then. "An entirely new sect of Khaine's acolytes will have to be created and tasked with working alongside those of Ynnead's."

"With the help of the data extracted from the STC, it should be easily done, war and death has always been a fruitful union," Yvraine nodded.

"So in layman's term," Laura spoke up. "You're gonna free Khaine, create a sanctuary for him in the Webway and…use this new place to siphon souls directly to Ynnead and hasten his resurrection?"

"Well done lady inquisitor," Laura can't decide whether Yvraine's compliment was condescending or not. "This way we can empower both Khaine and Ynnead to the point where they can be a direct threat to the Chaos Gods, and given enough time this new power can theoretically help us venture into the lost Crone Worlds."

"That's actually pretty fucking amazing," Laura shared enthusiastic nods with her mates. "Although I can't help but feel a bit icky that Khaine, or what little remain of him, is being used like a prop to help Ynnead. I'm not religious in anyway, but this sounds a tad sacrilegious."

"It is not the best solution, I will admit," Isha grunted, herself clearly not at peace with how things are developing. "But we have no choice. Despite all the tribulation I went through at the hands of Nurgle, I was lucky to be whole, Khaine does not have that luxury. He will not be happy, I can already feel his infamous temper rising, but hopefully he will come to recognize in time that this is to his benefit." Isha shifted her gaze to Yvraine then. "Please help him."

"We will, your eminence," Yvraine might've been chiseled from cold granite, but in that moment the Herald was genuine in her declaration. "Once Ynnead's ascension is completed, the Ynnari will devote our effort to restoring Khaine to his full might."

"Thank you lady Yvraine," Isha bowed respectfully at the Herald then strode toward where a group of Bloody Rose Celestians and Eternal Legion princeps were priming their meltas and plasma, "one moment please before you commence with the excavation."

"Of course your eminence," Celestine Jenatea nodded, tapped the side of helm to relay Isha's request, and stepped aside as the goddess reached out to touch the onyx surface of the monolith. Eyes closed, she muttered lowly under her breathe and sends a stream of silvery light into the war god's tombstone, creating a near transparent veil that completely enveloped the black and red effigy. She pulled away and nodded at the Sororitas. "You can proceed now."

"What did you just do, if you don't mind me asking," Lita and the quartet scooted closer to Isha as the nuns and elves began the task of deconstructing the monolith. Setting there heat weapons to the lowest output, the Battle Sisters went about cleaving pieces off the tombstone, sparks flew and slags dripped to the ground in sizzling droplets from where superheated lasers and simmering plasmas made contact with the pulsing rocks. The Aeldari applied their weaponries in a similar manner, with the Fire Dragons spearheading the task, the Fire Lances proving to be very effective in removing large uncooperative chunks.

"Not at all lady Warseer," Isha wiped a speck of black from her skirt when a particularly large slab shattered across the floor. "As you would recall mistress Lithia's prognosis from earlier, the tombstone possess sentiency, meaning that despite having the façade of an inanimate object it can still feel pain. I simply deadened Khaine's nerves, an anesthetic to keep him calm and free of agony for the remainder of the proceeding."

"I'm sure Khaine will appreciate your kindness," Laura cast her glance across the chamber they occupied. The Sororitas and Aeldari were currently busying themselves with Khaine's tomb, and the fact that all eyes were trained inward wasn't sitting well with her. "We should set up a defensive perimeter."

"What for?" Yuki waved at the Ynnari, all of whom were helping the battlegroup with earnest vigor, even managing to win over a few nods from the Ishari. "Yvraine and her buddies are already here."

"I'm not talking about them," Laura went on. "We haven't heard anything from the Federation in a while, and it's making me nervous."

"Are you serious?" Nikki turned to Laura with a look of pure incredulity. "Those fuckwits are done, that's the reason why we haven't heard anything."

"You could be right, but you could also be wrong," Laura drew her hellgun, the super laser held ready in her hands. "But I rather not take any chances. Besides, what could posting a few sentries hurt?"

"Guess you right, the quickest way to get fuck is to be complacent," Nikki conceded to Laura's extremely legitimate observation and waved over Celalira the Farseer. "Yo Celalira, think you can spare some people to guard our backs? Just in case we got some unwanted guests."

"Of course lady exarch," Celalira's fingers flashed quickly, summoning several squads of heavily armed Biel-Tan Guardians, Christ almighty when did eldars started carrying heavy machine guns and assault shotguns? "Spread out and form a perimeter around the outer edge of the chamber."

"We shall assist you," canoness Morelia and koso Myorin stepped forward, behind them were the Celestian of their respective Ordo. Laura wasn't at all surprise that the Valorous Heart and the samurai portion of the Celestial Serenity did not find enjoyment in archeological work. "It would be more productive than picking apart rocks."

"Hey now, a literal god of war is inside that monolith, but I sympathize," Laura offered Morelia and Myorin a cheeky smile, the two canonesses snorting good-naturedly in response. "Go ahead then, but keep your eyes peeled, nothing ever goes easy for us."

"None shall escape our vigilance lady inquisitor," Myorin bowed lowly and with Morelia led the knight and samurai nun to where Celalira and the Guardians stood waiting. Herself currently not involved with the task of freeing Khaine, Laura started pacing the monolith, her easy steps were akin to those of respectable tourist. After making a full circuit, her mates mirroring her movement, Laura couldn't help but be pleased by the quick progress being made, the monolith's mighty girth had now been rendered lean and narrow, every flash of laser whittling away more excess layers to reveal stones of brighter hue beneath. Laura was starting to wonder why the illumination was glowing fiercer when a Golden Pride ingonyama, after using her power assegai spear to pry loose a chunk, revealed what could only be described as a mess of slithering arms calcified in black.

"Yo, is that an arm?!" Yuki blurted as the ingonyama bolted back and waved over her Sororitas and Aeldari compatriots, all of whom quickly brandished their melee weapons at this latest discovery. "Holy shit that's an arm – no wait, it's a fuck load of arms! What the fuck, I thought Khaine's the only one in there?"

"Forgive me lady exarch, I should've been clearer earlier," Isha spoke up. "Khaine is not physically inside the monolith, rather it is the remnant of his spirit that had taken refuge in there."

Yuki was nodding to Isha's explanation when, after a particularly loud pounding from what was likely a blunt weapon, the remaining layer of galvanized lava cascaded to the floor, the twinkling chime as the pieces struck the ground was very reminiscent of shattered glasses. Dust billowed across the chamber and when the charcoal veiled settled the monolith transformed from menacing to outright horrific. It was a roiling pillar sculpted from what had once been flesh, what should've been carven Wraithbone were instead a congealed mass of entwined bodies, clutching and crawling and climbing upon one another to unspeakable height. Crowning this grotesque creation, wrapped inside a maddening web of bent blackened mummified eldars frozen in their last posture of contorted agony, was a shining fist size diamond hued in a red so deep that Laura thought it was a drop of freshly spilled blood.

"That is fucking hardcore," Yuki was unapologetic as she gawked at the sculpture with naked appreciation, very much a stark contrast to the dismayed Isha and Celestine. Bloody hell even Yvraine was disturbed by the sight, the unease shared by the Sororitas and the Aeldari as they slowly backed away from the cadaverous monument. "So this is what happened to the last of the eldars after they sealed up this place, they used their own bodies to create a protective sanctuary for Khaine."

"Seriously, I love horror movies, but this is a little much," Laura grunted and held her hellgun a little tighter. Blinking, Laura scrunched her face at the pillar, "okay, this might sound crazy, but I swear I've seen something like this before."

"Shin Godzilla, right Yuki?" Nikki turned to the Japanese exarch who promptly nodded her confirmation, "can't believe that shit showed up in a Godzilla movie of all things."

"Wait, when did this happen in Shin Godzilla?" Lita piped up and scratched her head in confusion. "I don't remember anything like this."

"It's at the end, pretty much the last shot of the film," Yuki told Lita. "Anno pulled a creepy Evangelion shit and had Gojira giving birth to bipedal humanoids. Those fucking things were crawling out of his tail."

"I gotta go watch it again," Lita narrowed her eyes then pointed at the diamond crowning the sculpture. "Is that Khaine's soul up there?"

"It is not," Isha shook her head in the negative. "If I recall correctly, that is the symbol of office for the governor militant of the Fortress World. I think they wore that during official business."

"Pardon me Isha, but something tells me it's more than a simple bureaucratic ornamentation," Celestine spread her wings wide and turned askance to the Aeldari goddess. "Is it safe to touch?"

"I believe so, but just to be sure," Isha waved her hand and sent a glittering transparent mist at Celestine, the Living Saint was enveloped within a heartbeat, "good luck."

Determination taunt on her face, Celestine inhaled deeply and leapt gracefully into the air, quickly reaching the summit. She reached out and took the diamond in her hand, predictably the Living Saint returned to the ground unscathed. Turning the perfectly cut diamond around in her hand, Celestine was about to make further examination on the glowing jewelry when the unmistakable rumble of multiple explosions rumbled across the chamber. Laura got extremely concern when it became apparent how near the booms were, but before she can finish her thought a section of the wall opened up. The people emerging from the portal were definitely not of the battlegroup or the Ynnari.

"There they are! We found them, they're here!"

"Congratulation! Here's your fucking prize!"

If there was a tool that can guarantee the complete erasure of any problem in a breathtakingly small amount of time, it would be the heavy bolter. This undeniable fact was demonstrated to the fullest capacity when a pair of Valorous Heart Celestians trained their high caliber bolt throwers at the Federation troops who were rushing through the newly opened entrance, the mass reactive rounds turning them into mist of sizzling gibs. The Battle Sisters didn't let go of the triggers until fiery explosion bloomed from the wide corridor beyond and no other sounds besides agonizing howls can be heard.

"You sure you're not a psyker dude, because that was a masterclass of clairvoyance you just pulled off," Lita winked playfully at Laura and tapped her Singing Spear to the ground, sending out waves of cresting silver across the monolith chamber and beyond, the Aeldari magic easily phased into the circular wall. Holding the shaft tight, Lita's visage was one of growing concern as she glanced quickly across the flat hall they occupied. "They're coming from every direction."

"Wait, seriously?" Nikki quirked a brow and Lita responded with a solemn nod, "what the fuck – how the fuck was that possible? I thought the boys already took care of them!"

"Damien did mentioned that there's basically another city under the capital, the Federation must've retreated into the many subway stations and arcades and underground residential areas to wait for when we got our guards down," Yuki drew her P90 eldar submachine gun and checked the ammo. "Too bad our guards aren't down."

"All units, battle station and prepare to repel, massive Federation counter-attack are occurring across the planet. In the name of the God Emperor drive them back! Blood and fury, make them witness imperial might!" Henry bellowed across the intercom. In the background Laura can hear constant booms and pings, indicating that the King Ghidorah Stormhammer had come under fire. "Laura, you there? Are you alright?!"

"For the moment we are," Laura tapped her earbud as the battlegroup and the Ynnari formed a circle around Khaine's tomb with speed and precision. "I should be asking you that question mate. Things sound very dicey on your end."

"They're coming out of the ground dude, I mean shit, I knew those fuckers have the home field advantage but I didn't think it would be this bad! It's like every patch of dirt hides a fucking trapdoor or some damn thing – five o'clock, five o'clock!" Henry yelled and the muted but very loud discharge of the King Ghidorah's triple barrels reverberated from the other end. "One down, a hundred more to go…oh for fuck sake. Be advice, the Federation is bringing out mechs, a lot of fucking mechs, fucking Gundam Code Geass looking motherfuckers."

"Mechs? Bloody hell, they're getting serious," Laura made an audible tsk. "How big are the wankstains?"

"Just a bit bigger than the Wraithguards and the Paragon Warsuits," Henry muttered under his breathe then, the American was not having a jolly time. "They pack a punch, I'll give them that. And they made up for the lack of armor with speed. Good thing we brought a fuckton of guns, logic dictates that if we apply enough application of firepower in a single direction we're bound to hit something."

"Can't argue with that," Laura shrugged, because for the moment this was the best plan they got. Hopefully the battlegroup can adapt and conquer the Federation's counterattack before casualties started piling up. "Seriously thought mate, is everything under control?"

"Not gonna sugar coat it dude, we're in for one hell of a fight," Henry adopted his serious tone. "But we'll pull through like always, just gonna take a bit more effort this time."

"I know what you mean," Laura quirked a brow when a section of the wall opened partially, the movement stuttering like a malfunctioning machine that refused to work properly. It looks like the Federation haven't quite figure out how to get the Wraithbone to obey them, and they paid the price when Celalira and the accompanying Farseers and Warlocks sent rivulets of serpentine magic into the narrow portal, the torrent of jettisoning flame lasted a lot longer than the screams. "How are the others?"

"Erik and Damien are having a blast, they've always liked target rich environment," Henry told her. "I'm worry about you guys and Tangmo though. From the last transmission I got from him, his forces are getting badly bogged down in one of the underground passageway."

"Tangmo will pull through, he also does," Laura tried to hide the worry in her voice. If something happens to him Laura swore she's gonna burn this fucking planet so bad that people on Holy Terra will be able to see the blaze. "Good luck Henry, I'll call you later."

"You too Laura," Henry nodded on the other end and terminated transmission.

"How in the fuck did the Federation fuckers managed to interact with the Wraithbone?!" Yuki piped up as the battlegroup and the Ynnari fall into the best firing line they can managed given how atrociously flat the elevation of the chamber was.

"My best guess is that they hacked the infrastructure with ultra-advance technology," Lita gave her glowing Singing Spear warm up spins then stab it to the ground, looking every inch like a general about to lead her warriors into a fateful battle. "But seriously, I think we have bigger things to worry about."

"You are very correct in that regard, lady Warseer," Celestine, after making several circuits around Khaine's tomb with Lithia to check on the readiness of the battle line, landed beside Lita. Wings unfurled like heavenly banners, Ardent Blade held at the ready, Celestine nodded and removed her free hand from the earbud. "I have summoned reinforcement and they shall be here within fifteen minutes, the temple and our landing cathedral are getting assailed by a large contingent of Federation troops. They underestimated our strength but are nevertheless determined."

"In the meantime we have to deal with these motherfuckers," Laura trained her hellgun at a newly opened portal, and rushing forth in an impressive formation comprised of jeeps and trucks and armored exo-suits came the Federation soldiers. Judging by the reckless speed of the advance, they had forsaken all caution for this last Hail Mary. "Here they come! Let it rip people, for the…!"

A shadowy blur, too fast for Laura to follow, darted from the tight ranks of nuns and elves before she can even finish her sentence. By the time she blinked blood and harrowing wails were erupting from the Federation troops. Flabbergasted by the unfolding carnage, it took Laura a few seconds to see what the fuck was happening, and honestly she didn't know whether she should be cheering or shitting her pants as Lelith Hesperax unleashed her hallowed art of death. And it wasn't a run of the mill killing either, oh no, because if war and death can ever be elevated to an ascended art form then Lelith had successfully achieved this transcendence. No movement wasted, her body transforming into a weapon of sublime beauty, Lelith were flashes of piercing silver cleaving into the ranks of men and machines, radiant halo of scarlet enveloped the Drukhari in a silken sheen of glistening red. Only a few minutes must've passed and in that time Lelith alone had completely decimated the enemies, leaving behind burning wreckages and twitching corpses as she disappeared into the large tunnel behind the decimated troops. Baying and howling raucously, a dozen Wych dashed after Lelith with barred teeth and gleaming daggers in hands, the dark elves were quivering with anticipation for the slaughter to come.

"Look alive lady inquisitor, more breaches are opening up!" Celestine had barely finished her sentence when the pounding staccato of gunfire erupted simultaneously across the war god's resting place, blinding flashes of bolts and shurikens and plasmas and meltas coalescing into a furious tempest of fire and iron. The chamber shook from the unleashed guns, fiery explosions wreathed the wall and ceiling, giving the many frizzes and murals demented aspects, gleeful of the destructions being reaped in their presence.

"Okay, the Federation fucks ain't giving up this time," Laura gritted her teeth as she swept an uninterrupted hellgun beam across a row of combat jeeps and heavily armed commandos trying to break through a little gap that had opened up in the battlegroup's line. The British inquisitor spat a slew of curses when several Sororitas and Aeldari had to be carried back, blood leaking from battered and cracked armor. Thankfully they healed immediately once they got within about ten paces of Isha. "They've been saving their best troops for this occasion."

"They do pack a punch," Nikki grunted her agreement after disabling a mech by decapitating the pilot inside the glass cockpit, thick viscera ran lethargically down the once transparent pane, "we'll beat them back."

"What exactly is the game plan here?!" Yuki snapped her head around at Isha, swiftly reloading her submachine gun after making sixteen consecutive semi-auto headshots, "I'm not liking the idea of standing in one place and waiting for the tide to crash against us!"

"I must ask that you hold your ground lady exarch, the sacrament we are about to perform is of the greatest importance and cannot be rushed," once again Laura was reminded how, if she really put her mind to it, Isha can pull off a fearsome leader persona. Uncaring of the bullets whizzing around her, the goddess of life shifted her attention to Yvraine, the Herald having waved over an anti-grav platform bearing a large intricately carved gilded casket in a style similar to the Ark of Covenant, the mystic artifact was accompanied by ten priestly looking Aeldari. "Proceeds with the invocation please lady Yvraine, follow my lead and do everything I say, Khaine does not take kindly to coercion."

"You're putting Khaine's soul in that?" Lita swept her hand across the air and sent a salvo of rockets hurtling back into a corridor they had emerged from. The resulting explosion made her Warseer's skirt fluttered epically as she locked eyes with Yvraine. "So this is what you were planning, you were gonna put Khaine's soul in that sarcophagus and then sacrifice him to Ynnead."

"A little too late for outrage, lady Warseer," Yvraine narrowed her eyes at the raging battle, closing in like a noose tightening the neck of a condemned prisoner. "Khaine's soul will be kept safe within the reliquary until a proper shrine can be built for him. That can only come to pass if we survive this."

"We will survive this, make no mistake about that. Isha, can you please take the diamond…"

"Please give it to me, my lady Saint."

Celestine was in the process of handing the glowing diamond over to Isha when lord exarch Olatien stepped forward, crisp in his parade ground stiffness.

"Are you sure Olatien?" Isha came to stand before him, deep concern playing across her visage. "There will be no way to undo this."

"I am ready your eminence," Olatien nodded slowly. Laura honestly didn't know what in the fuck the exarch was yammering about, even the other Fire Dragons were looking at him with clear confusion. "For you and the Bloody Hand God I shall do what must be done. The call had beckoned me since we've arrived in this system, and I go now to my fate with head held high."

"Celestine, please give me the amulet," Isha held out her hand and the Living Saint placed the glowing artifact in the goddess's palm. Her fingers closing gently over it, Isha held the diamond toward Olatien and pressed it to his armored chest, the exarch inhaled sharply but steeled himself a moment later. "This will help ease you into your rebirth."

"Rebirth? What in the bloody hell are you – oi! You fucking cunt that almost hit me!" Laura was pulled away from the strange scene when several lucky shots flew way too close to her awesome inquisitor hat. Blasting the fuckers who dared to shoot her, reducing them to burning melted gibs, Laura waved at Galatea and her mates. "We need to expand the defensive ring! All of us are too bunched up together, we're like fish in a fucking barrel!"

The reply to Laura's request came in the form of a thunderous barrage unleashed by the battlegroup, the uninterrupted full-auto staccato driving the Federation troops back with the expected effectiveness while the Sororitas and the Aeldari made their forward march. By the time the Immortal Spirit and the Ynnari's fusillade ended they've managed to expand the defensive area by more than fifty paces.

"Very smartly done lady inquisitor," Laura looked up from the shimmering hellgun, might have gone a little crazy in the firefight if the glowing barrel was anything to go by, and found Lelith standing beside her. Covered in soot and blood but sporting no visible injuries, Lelith placed hands on hips as she watched her cabal of Wych slipped into the battlegroup's firing line, "nice to see everyone getting along."

"The feeling's mutual," Laura tucked a stray lock of brunette behind her ear then gave Lelith a quick look over, professionally and respectfully of course. "You've been busy."

"I could say the same thing," Lelith quirked an interested brow at Isha and Olatien before returning her attention to the corridor she'd recently evicted. "But yes, me and mine made significant headway into the tunnel before we were driven back."

"I'm sorry, did you say driven back?" Laura blurted a little too loud, causing Yuki, Nikki and Lita to spin sharply at the conversation, for her part Lelith did not appeared at all perturbed. "What drove you back, you're Lelith fucking Hesperax."

"You are too kind lady inquisitor, but even I cannot contend with a war machine of that size," Lelith went on nonchalantly, absently twirling her curved dagger around her fingers. "It is very imposing, almost as big as your Imperium Titan, the smallest variant that is. And a great host also follows in its wake, very large and very formidable in composition."

"They're en route via this corridor?" Galatea walked up to Lelith and waved her power zweihander at the portal currently wreathed in oily rolling fire, to which the Drukhari nodded. "They're concentrating their forces on a single entryway then, mustering for one massive push to break our line. Make ready then brothers and sisters, prepare to repel the enemies, in the name of the God Emperor they will quail at our wrath…"

The canoness's words trailed off suddenly and Laura trained her hellgun forward, she was starting to get confused when no enemies materialized through the flame when an individual walked passed her, his stride strong and purposeful as he left the battlegroup behind. It was Olatien, the elf man was ramrod straight as he walked single mindedly toward the lessening blaze, the fact that he was completely unarmed only made things more confounding to behold. Laura turned around and found Isha watching the Fire Dragon exarch, her posture reminiscent to renaissance painting of a maiden seeing a knight off to war.

"Your eminence I beseech you, we cannot waste any more time," Yvraine spoke up urgently and for once Laura agreed with the Herald. "We must proceed with the sacrament."

"Forgive me Yvraine, you are correct," Isha tore her gaze away and went to stand before the casket.

"That diamond thing is fused into Olatien's chest," Nikki spoke up breathlessly. "I saw it when he walked pass and it looked like Tony Stark's arc reactor but more organic."

"Okay, good to know," Laura was nodding when the first of the Federation APCs, heavily armored and heavily armed, rolled through the last of the dying fire and entered the chamber, big mounted guns swerved sharply to fix Olatien in their crosshairs. "But what does that shite do besides making Olatien suicidal?"

The universe must be in a very dramatic mood today, because the answer to Laura's question came in a resounding cacophony of gunfire and scintillating flashes. Laura was already reciting the exarch's eulogy in her mind but stopped when she saw how the barrage of bullets, rockets and lasers did fuck all to slow Olatien down. After a bout of rapid blinking, Laura saw how the projectiles, whether they be lead or light, were atomized midair before any of them can struck down the Fire Dragon. Laura was starting to think that the diamond was the cause of this when a gigantic gout of flame erupted around Olatien and consumed him. The Aspect Warrior made no sound or indication of physical distress and continued his approach on the Federation troops, his pace quickening when the gigantic mecha entered the chamber. Henry's description was on point, the sleek curvaceous robot looked like something that dickhead Lelouch would pilot. The Federation, and the battlegroup and the Ynnari for that matter, were trying to figure out what in the fuck was happening when a radiant pillar of light shot out of the ground, sending great gout of burning gale across the chamber and almost knocking Laura off her feet.

And bursting through the gigantic fountain of blinding fire, herald by earthshaking roar and quaking gargantuan footfall, came the most feared entity within the Aeldari army, the Avatar of Khaine. Not wasting time with cool anime posing or blank incomprehension of his new condition, what used to be Olatien thrust his burning hand at the befuddled Federation mecha, caving the chest area in an explosion of sparks and fire and shredded metal. Far from done, the Avatar plunged his second hand into the spasming robot abdomen, lifted it off the ground, and with horrific ease tore the mecha in two. Throwing the burning carcasses at the fleeing Federation troops, men and machines alike crushed into little better than burning skid marks, the Avatar of Khaine swept his hand across the air and summoned a great sword of roiling lava red, giving it a few warm up twirls before fixing his gaze on the corridor beyond. After about a minute of unmoving silence, totally unbothered by the Federation's paltry return fire, the flaming giant that used to be Olatien turned to the stunned battlegroup, raised his free hand, and waved.

"The enemies has been neutralized, I can see them fleeing," Olatien said, his voiced echoed powerfully and effortlessly across the chamber thanks to his gargantuan size. "I believe more are en route, if the radio chatter is anything to go by."

"Olatien?" Lita was the first to find her voice, her visage one of shock and awe as she tapped her earbud. "Is that you? Are you still in there?"

"I am lady Warseer. The diamond possessed the power to transform its holder into Khaine's Avatar and I was deemed worthy of this blessing," Olatien told her, and although his voice was distorted by an ethereal godly amplifier the interlaced joy was easily discernable. "With the help of her eminence Isha, I can now control this power and revert back to my original form instead of fading once my energy is spent. I swear by the pantheon that I…" The Fire Dragon exarch stopped suddenly and tapped the side of his head like he was listening intently to his earbud, which he probably was. With a speed that belay his size, the Avatar of Khaine dashed for the passageway the mecha had emerged from, his thunderous footfall quickly receding. "Forgive me lady Warseer but I must go, lord commissar Tangmo's force is nearby and is currently pinned down. I go now to relieve him and his troops."

"Good luck," Lita waved her goodbye before turning to her mates with a look of blank incomprehension, around them the battlegroup and the Ynnari were also wearing the same expression. "What the hell just happen?"

"Something good, that's what," Laura was wiping sheen of sweat from her face when she noticed a large number of platforms descending from the temple above. "Look alive Lita, reinforcement is here." Taking in a deep gulp of air, Laura bellowed at the battlegroup and the Ynnari. "Alright ladies and gents, please kindly refortify this place! The battle isn't over but it sure as hell is coming to an end!"