Tangmo did not expected to find a freaking slum on a sci-fi utopia planet, but now that he and his troops were traversing through it he couldn't be more relieved. He had always wondered why everything was nice and clean in Star Wars and Star Treks and Babylon 5 and the Orville, now he knew where all the janitors and workers lived. Imagine his surprise when they came upon a subterranean colony inside one of the major artery leading to the void beneath the Aeldari temple, Khaine's resting place according to Laura. See, Tangmo and the main characters weren't even supposed to be in the slum, the original Aeldari tunnel had been rendered impassible by a cave in so they had to make a detour through one of the side passageway. If he was to make an educated guess in regard to the slum's existence, Tangmo deduced that when the Federation failed to breach Khaine's sanctum, the original workers and miners were forced to remain and then used as menial labor for the many underground thoroughfare burrowed deep into the planet's crust. The hodgepodge homes and rundown buildings, clinging to every surface of the vast cavern, were the only thing keeping Tangmo and the battlegroup alive.

"Should've known the fucking rats would run back to their nest!" Tangmo gritted his teeth as he ducked beneath the partially destroyed hovel, the quality of the construction can only be politely described as questionable considering how it barely stopped the storm of bullets and lasers pouring on them. Good thing the Federation can't aim for shit, or there would've been a lot more dead bodies. "And now the fuckers are rushing out of the sewer like fourteen century Europe!"

"They appear to be significantly more coordinated than before," Leilatha made her calm observation as she stared unblinking down the iron sight of her bolt pistol. She pulled the trigger and a nearby cluster of buildings collapsed in a cloud of fiery dust and agonizing scream. "Strange how they can barely navigate the slum though."

"Those living on the highest spire of the Hive know next to nothing of what lies below," Krix held the trigger of her rapid-las down for close to ten seconds, when she released her finger a dozen twitching corpses carpeted a narrow alleyway. Very pleased with her work, Krix turned with a smirk to Luva. "Ain't that right Luva?"

"I wasn't always the prim and proper lady you know, I've had my fair share of excursion," Luva snorted, the semi-auto flashes of her lascarbine never fail to draw pained, fatal yells. "But you're right, when you live where the sky can be seen you cease to care for what lay beneath the earth."

"Thank the God Emperor elitism and oppressive social structure is a constant across every civilization," Tangmo snorted and winked at captain general Marwen. "Same goes for you guys right Marwen?"

"Just ask Firnera what she thinks about me and the Guardians," Marwen rolled her eyes but stiffened a moment later, her gaze narrowed down the barrel of her shuriken catapult. "Here they come again, all guns at the ready and prepare to repel!"

"Get the wounded ready, we're moving out!" Tangmo tapped his earbud, prompting the guardsmen and eldars behind him to dash out of the room they occupied, heads held low as they swiftly passed along the Thai commissar's command. "Grenade launchers and flamers forward, here they come!"

Unlike the untrained mob they've fought on the surface, this batch of troops were obviously the cream of the crop of the Federation's military. No rousing declaration of justice and freedom, no unrestrained cry of war to announce an attack, what the battlegroup now faced were waves of armed men and women silently approaching them at a sprint, every step taken covered by well-placed supporting fire. Predictably the first few times they did this the guardsmen and eldars got bloodied pretty bad, but the Immortal Spirit battlegroup were quick learners and had effectively adapted a successful counter measure. In this particular instance, after making quick hand signals to the main characters, Tangmo ordered the battlegroup to remain low and weather the Federation's advance. This predictably encourage more enemy soldiers to emerge while their fire support teams swiftly occupied the many buildings that ringed the engagement area.

"Wait for it…wait for it," Tangmo slowly poke his head above cover, shouldered his lasgun and yelled. "Grenades and rockets, demolish the buildings! The rest of you, wait for my command!"

Bangs and pops resounded, followed immediately by reverberating explosions and great gout of debris filled gusts, within a few heartbeats the battlefield was shrouded in thick roiling grey. Panicky yells and screams echoed hauntingly from the sudden lack of visibility, the distorted voices were rising to a fever pitch when Tangmo and the battlegroup emerged from cover and trained their weapons forward, "open fire, kill those fuckers!"

Muzzles flashed kaleidoscopically across the veil, lasers and shurikens tore through the dust to reveal a scene of brilliant devastation. Pack too tightly together, the Federation troops were scythed apart in droves, bodies collapsed limply to the ground in a spasming mess of gory viscera, blood danced across the air like revenants of glittering crimson. But they recovered quickly and an orderly retreat was made, the futuristic soldiers performing the withdrawal with steely discipline, even managing a spluttering return fire.

"Flamers, light them up!" At Tangmo's order tongues of roaring fire flew across the killing field, dousing the immediate vicinity in promethium inferno. "That should keep them busy. Alright ladies and gentlemen, let's get the fuck out of here!"

After laying down a few parting shots, the battlegroup made their exit from this section of the slum, and being the heroic badass that he was Tangmo waited until everyone had left the building before sprinting after them. This tactic of quick repositioning had been working pretty well so far, the vast intricate labyrinth of claustrophobic homes and cables was a challenge to navigate for both the Immortal Spirit and the Federation, but thanks to swift eldar drones and experience developed after a lifetime of fighting in similar environment the battlegroup was able to avoid pitch battle and forced the pursuing host into guerilla skirmishes.

Even then Tangmo knew it wasn't going to last.

"Do you have a plan?" Leilatha spoke up after the battlegroup hunkered down inside a lightless warehouse, squeezed in between rows of misshapen homes and what appeared to be a factory. "We can't keep this up. They have more troops and are slowly bleeding us dry."

"We need to link up with her eminence Isha and lady Celestine," Marwen made her suggestion. "General Henry's reinforcements are too far away to be of any help."

"I'm afraid that's not possible, captain general," Fanduin shook his head severely, his lips drawn into a thin stern line. "From the last report I heard another large contingent barred our way to Khaine's sanctum, furthermore her eminence Isha's cohort is being assailed from all side. Their situations are no better than ours."

"We can't abandon this place then," Tangmo adjusted his awesome commissar cap and smoothened his awesome commissar coat, releasing a pall of grime in the process. "I don't doubt the girls' ability to hold those fuckers back, but if we give up any more ground the Federation can just steamroll them. Basically, we need to hold out as long as we can. I hope that will be satisfactory?"

Tangmo flashed his canine in a grin when the guardsmen and eldars gave their hearty assent. Leave it to the warring denizen of Warhammer 40k to be utterly fearless in the face of insurmountable odds and certain death. Many were eager as all fuck to gloriously charge the enemies.

"Good that we're all on the same page! Okay, now we need to…!"

"Where is the commissar?!"

Tangmo was about to lay down the groundwork of his amazing plan when an extremely angry feminine voice shattered the air, the timbre possessing the hard edge of seniority and was undeniably powerful in octave. The announcement was coming from the many loudspeakers Tangmo saw scattered across the slum, there must've been thousands of the damn thing and now all of them had been hijacked by this pissed off woman.

"Meko, you still alive? Ah, good," Tangmo nodded when the radio captain came to stand at attention before him. "Scramble the frequency and mask our location please, it looks like the Federation are finally ready to surrender."

"Of course lord commissar," Meko and the main characters laughed aloud. After about thirty second of typing across the data-pad on his armguard, Meko held his thumb up to Tangmo, "all done sir, when you're ready."

"You have to be very specific madam," Tangmo wasted no time and made his charming response to the woman, lasgun slung across his shoulder as he casually strolled across the warehouse. "At the present we have four commissars operating across the planet, to whom are you making inquiry upon?"

"The one that destroyed the university," the woman went on heatedly and Tangmo noticed the growing rhythmic pounding of multiple gigantic footsteps. He seriously did not like how the dangling lamps swayed precariously above them, it made him feel like those two kids in Jurassic Park watching the water ripple in the glass. "What was his name? Tango? No, Tangmo, where is commissar Tangmo?!"

"Let's just say I'm inside the same tunnel as you," Tangmo stopped pacing and fixed his gaze on one of the ground level window, shadows of guardsmen and eldars darted quickly across the dirty glass as they went about fortifying the warehouse. "Who do I have the pleasure of speaking too?"

"I am Anna, field marshal of the Federation armed force," the woman made her introduction. "You killed my daughter Nina."

"Ah, I see," Tangmo sighed. He and the battlegroup were in serious trouble now. "Despite the circumstance, it is an honor to make your acquaintance."

"Spare me you fucking monster!" Anne roared, anger and anguish laced every word. "My daughter wasn't a soldier and you slaughter her and her friends like they were animals!"

"This is a war madam, casualty is inevitable," Tangmo thought about being snarky but decided against it, serious moment should not be ruined by forced levity. "Your daughter played her part in opposing us, she made her choice and I was the consequence that ended her life."

"What are you doing?" Marwen shot Tangmo a confused look. "I was the one who pulled the trigger, not you."

"Hardly matters now," Tangmo shrugged. "The field marshal was already gunning for me, no point saying that you did it. Besides, I would look like an absolute tool if I try to deflect."

"Where are you?!" Anna bellowed, what little control she possessed having evaporated. She was no longer the field marshal but a furious grieving mother, Tangmo honestly preferred to fight the former. "None of you are leaving this planet alive! Show yourself coward!"

"Emperor speed then field marshal," Tangmo made his goodbye, tapped off his earbud and met the expectantly looks of the main characters with his stern own. "Okay, so, I'm not gonna lie, we're in for some serious shit right now. Our most pressing objective is to find this field marshal and kill her before she kills us."

"Lord commissar," all eyes turned to captain Minka who had appeared at the warehouse's entrance, her tired face was resigned. "The field marshal had found us."

Making sure to put on an impassive commissariat face, Tangmo clasped his hands behind him and strolled toward where Minka was standing. By the time he stepped outside Leilatha and Marwen had taken their place beside him, with the main characters bringing up the rear, all of them proud in bearing and utterly indefatigable in body and spirit. Not gonna lie though, Tangmo truly came close to losing his shit when he found that an army of tall ass mechs had surrounded the warehouse. The imposing war machines, several dozen of the fuckers, were taller than five storey building and had their entire complement of arsenals trained on the battlegroup. Whistling sharply, more to hide his fear than anything, Tangmo fixed his gaze on the biggest mobile suit of the group, a sleek looking bastard with a silver paintjob trimmed in blue. Come to think of it the Federation must've been massive weeb because the mechs shared very recognizable design to Real Robot anime, Gundam and all that other shit.

"Field marshal Anna, I presume?" Tangmo snapped the mech a sharp salute. "Please to meet you madam."

"I'm going to enjoy this," field marshal Anna was not in a talkative mood, as was displayed by how she pointed the apartment size cannon squarely at Tangmo. He would have found the situation very comical if it was happening to someone else, not so much when he was the dumbass staring down the glowing barrel, the energy within bubbling and simmering. "You and yours die today."

"It was a life well lived madam, for I have spent it proudly in the service of the God Emperor, I cannot ask for a better end," Tangmo took off his awesome commissar cap and made an immaculate thespian bow. Around him the main characters struck parade ground stances, more than ready and willing to share his fate, it was very fucking touching. "Congratulation on your well-deserved victory field marshal, may your luck be repeated in the coming days."

"This end now, scum," Anna snarled, Tangmo can practically see the woman's frothing clenched teeth. "The Imperium and the Aeldari will never set foot on this planet again!"

"You are mistaken madam," Tangmo put his awesome commissar cap back on and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his awesome commissar coat, adopting a relaxed posture. Hey, he was gonna die anyway might as well get comfortable. "The Imperium of Man is now aware of the existence of this planet. In six months a new armada, larger and more heavily armed than the battlegroup, will invade this system." Tangmo contemplated his next words then decide what the hell, "plenty of time to bury your daughter."

"And she will rest with your ashes drifting above her tomb!" This was it then. Welp, Tangmo tried his best to delay but it was clear field marshal Anna have had enough of their little chat. Folding his arms over his chest and jutting his chin out, Tangmo stared into the barrel without blinking, if he was gonna die he ain't closing his eyes. Tangmo waited, feet tapping the ground agitatedly, yet the blinding flare never came. One brow quirked, Tangmo tilted his head to the side and saw that the field marshal's mech was staring at something to their immediate right. "By all that is holy, what is that?!"

Finally, Tangmo was actually kinda hoping that a Deus Ex Machina would come and bail his ass out, cutting it a little close this time but he ain't complaining. Sighing audibly, not at all ashamed when he bent forward in relief, Tangmo glanced in the direction where the heavy pounding of a quick jog was – oh my fucking God it's a fucking Avatar of Khaine! Truly believing that the stress was making him hallucinate, Tangmo turned to the stalwart main characters and found nothing but shock and awe plastered upon their faces. None moved, time seemingly ceased to exist as the roaring titan plowed through the slum like they were made from soft sand, heading straight for the flabbergasted Federation mechs.

"Back…" it was the nearing heat that pulled Tangmo out of his dumbfounded gawking, holy shit it's only been five seconds and the damn thing was nearly on top of them. His arms flapping like a recently decapitated chicken, Tangmo waved wildly at the main characters. "Back! Get the fuck back inside, holy shit! Go, go, go!"

The main characters needed no prompting and with forgivable haste hauled ass back inside the warehouse, prayers to the God Emperor and Isha abound, those more limber in physique jumped gracelessly through the windows which Tangmo found very fucking hilarious. Captain Minka however slipped and fell to the ground, hissing a slew of curses as she failed to find her footing. Being an upstanding gentlemen of chivalric persuasion, Tangmo spun around and scooped the squawking Minka up in an ignominious underhand carry, thankfully the Cadian captain was small and light so the Thai commissar had no problem leaping back into the warehouse with her, right on time too because a flaming foot crashed down not ten paces from where they were standing earlier.

"Sorry about that captain," Tangmo placed the red faced Minka on the ground, she sprang back up immediately to a round of snickering. "Please don't kill her Leila, I was being a gentleman. Now stay put."

"And where are you going?" Leilatha asked, her brow quirked questioningly but she did not move to stop Tangmo from rushing back outside.

"Yo, an Avatar of Khaine just showed up to fight a buncha anime mechs, there's no way I'm missing this!" Tangmo stepped back onto the street and was struck by the tangible heat left in the Avatar's wake, the invisible wall almost knocking him on his ass. "Holy fuck, that's hot!"

With herculean effort Tangmo managed to stay upright, beads of sweat cascading down his face as he glanced up at the unfolding titanic clash. Field marshal Anna reacted swiftly to the oncoming threat, with a speed that belays the size of her gargantuan war machine the mech swung the laser cannon at the Avatar of Khaine. She was not fast enough. Before the payload can be unleashed the Avatar launch his burning sword of wreathing fire and glowing glyphs at the field marshal, the form very reminiscent of renaissance Italian fencing as opposed to the stereotypical big monstrous swing. The blade plunged easily into the mech, the field marshal harrowing scream echoed across the slum courtesy of the loudspeakers. Her agony didn't last long fortunately, for the Avatar sliced the mech into four pieces with a blinding sequence of onehanded swings, the mech exploding brilliantly as the personification of Khaine's wrath struck up a guard like that of a dueling European swordsman. Seeing their commander, and quite possibly the Federation's last hope destroyed with such heartbreaking ease, the other mechs started fleeing when the Avatar dashed at them, what followed was a fire storm that left behind nothing but burning wreckages.

"It's like watching Pacific Rim in real life," Tangmo pulled a canteen from his belt and drained the water inside. The liquid was heavenly on his parched throat. He was stashing the flask back on to his belt when he saw that the main characters had joined him, all of them gobsmacked by the hell the Avatar of Khaine had unleashed. "Hold up, were you guys here the whole time?"

"Of course lord commissar, we weren't going to let you watch the confrontation on your lonesome," colonel Krillen spoke up, earning murmurs of agreement from the main characters. "And by the God Emperor what a magnificent sight it was."

"And here I thought you would find this to be blasphemous," Fanduin the Warlock quirked an amused brow at his Homo Sapien compatriots, all of whom were in the process of voicing less than serious reply when a powerful explosion ripped the landscape apart, a mushroom thunderhead of flame blooming wide and high, "by Isha infinite mercy!"

"Our understanding of the universe has evolved beyond that point," colonel Evangeline of the Mordian Iron Guard daintily wiped dust off her immaculate uniform. "We are pious to the God Emperor, but we have since become more openminded and tolerant of Aeldari beliefs and customs, as I'm sure you and yours are reciprocating in kind."

"Indeed we are," Fanduin nodded, his face caught between hope and regret. "If only this harmony was achieved sooner."

"Yes, you Aeldari aren't that bad at all," colonel Kenshin's start of a grin morphed into a grim scowl, his hand snapping to the grip of his katana. "Prepare yourself, the Avatar is coming!"

Okay, so it would be pretty awesome to draw sword and stand firm against a titan of fire, but for once Tangmo decided against the rule of cool and waved for the main characters to stand down as the colossal living weapon came to stand before them. Tall and indomitable, his gigantic frame rendered more daemonic by the burning destruction around him, the Avatar of Khaine glanced down and saluted crisply.

"Good to see you safe and sound, lord commissar," the Avatar of Khaine spoke, his distorted but extremely familiar voice made the very air vibrate. "I had feared that I arrived too late."

"…Olatien?!" The cogs and wheels in Tangmo's brain fell into place, but even then he didn't quite believe his own deduction. "Dude, is that you?!"

"Yes lord commissar, it is me," even though the snarling mouth didn't move, Tangmo can tell the former Fire Dragon exarch was grinning. "I heeded the call and fulfilled my destiny."

"Thank the God Emperor for that, all of us were this close to getting turn into past tense," Tangmo tried to laugh but the noise that came out was a croaking shameful thing, sounding more like a butchered duck. Coughing quickly to clear his throat, Tangmo held his thumb up to Avatar Olatien. "You saved us all Olatien, thank you."

"It was my pleasure lord commissar," Olatien was bowing lowly, the heat wafting from him was unpleasant to say the least, when a cacophony of exploding ordnances rumbled behind him. The Avatar turned toward the renewed fighting, and Tangmo like to imagine that Olatien was quirking his brow. "Ah, the Ynnari are engaging what remains of the Federation forces, from where I'm standing it appears a rout is imminent." He turned back to Tangmo and stood at attention, "permission to engage the enemy sir."

"Yo, you're literally a walking incarnation of a war god, I don't think you need my permission to go and open a can of whoop ass," Tangmo spread his arms out in an 'are you serious bro' gesture, but when Olatien remained unmoving he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Okay, sure, go and raise hell dude, have fun!"

"Thank you lord commissar," Olatien saluted, hefted his sword high, and with an earth shattering roar charged into the fray. By the time he'd reached the enemy Tangmo and the main characters can still see his sword rising and falling.

"You knew he was coming," Leilatha slipped in beside Tangmo and offered him a grin. "That was why you stalled the field marshal with your usual candor."

"I gotta be honest Leila, I had no idea this was gonna happen," Tangmo shrugged then turned to Marwen, the captain general had Isha amulet in her hand and was mouthing a prayer to the goddess. "What's going to happen to Olatien after this?"

"He will cease to be," Marwen said sadly. "Once his purpose is completed, the power will consume him and he will become one with the war god."

"That's a fucking shame, Olatien was a good man," Tangmo shook his head and took in the slum, nothing stirred beside the men and women of the battlegroup. "I guess we won again."

"And all of us are very glad for it," Krillen swept his gaze at the main characters and got an unanimous nodding of heads in response. When that was done he shifted his attention to the ramshackle buildings around them. "Strange how we didn't run into any resident of the slum, it's clear that people lived here until very recently."

"They were probably the poor bastards we killed en route to the university," Tangmo ran the sleeve of his awesome commissar coat across his forehead, the black fabric coming away drenched. "They herded the slum people into the military."

"Or perhaps they made death sounds extremely attractive, the posters we found were very well made," colonel Bruce of the kilt wearing Grey Watch commented grimly, kicking away one such colorful advertisement lying on the ground, "can't blame them for believing the honeyed words, when you're born in a place like this you'll reach for the first light you see, even a false one."

"The Federation, the Galactic Republic, the Planetary Union, the Imperium, when you siphon everything down to the core it's all the same shit with the same problem," Tangmo's lips peeled back in a smirk. "However, there's always one who's better than the rest. And that's fucking us."

Guardsmen and Aeldari alike thrust their weapons high into the sky with a boisterous roar, barrels and bayonets brandished victoriously now that battle was over, for real this time.

"Oi mate, you still alive?!" Tangmo cringed when Laura shouted into his earbud. He appreciated the concern, truly, but holy crap the Brits can be super loud when she's worried. "Tangmo you little shite, come in! Are you there?! Answer me you cunt!"

"Chill Laura, I'm not dead!" Tangmo gave his response with extra volume. "Olatien showed up just in time, did you know he's an Avatar of Khaine now?"

"Oh thank the God Emperor, I got worried for a second there," the relief in Laura's voice was palpable, half laughing and half sighing. "And yeah, we know Olatien turned into an Avatar of Khaine, I was there when it happened. Didn't see the transformation though, was too busy killing the bad guys."

"Dude, I think we're the baddies in this instant," Tangmo and Laura shared a laugh but the Thai commissar became serious a moment later. "But seriously, it's a damn shame about Olatien. He was an upstanding citizen of the battlegroup. The lord exarch's ultimate sacrifice will be remembered."

"Oh don't worry about him, he'll be fine," Laura verbalized a carefree shrug. "Isha performed some magical ritual on him before he made his henshin transformation. According to her he'll be able to revert back to his former self, albeit with a glowing piece of diamond in the middle of his chest and exhausted to shite like he'd just done a night worth of pub crawl."

"Huh, that's nice and convenient," Tangmo tapped his foot slowly. "So uh…how are things on your end?"

"Nice and quiet, we're extracting the last of the STC data now," Laura responded easily. "Guess we'll be seeing you soon, eh love?"

"Yeah, we were heading to you guys anyway, see you in a bit," Tangmo terminated transmission and waved over the main characters. "See to the wounded and patch them up, we're gonna be moving out soon, Isha can take care of the more grievous injuries." Shouldering the Zetton lasgun, Tangmo made a quick check and found the weapon to be at optimal efficiency. "Make ready ladies and gentlemen, we've won but I'm not taking any fucking chances."

"Hey! Nice to see you…" Laura's joyful exclamation trailed off when she saw the condition of Tangmo and his troops as they entered Khaine's chamber. The men and women and elves of the battlegroup were proud and tall in bearing but also thoroughly bloodied by the Federation. Pieces missing from armors, dripping red bandages fastened tight around stiffened limbs, comrades leaning against each other's for support, it was a rare and shocking sight for the Immortal Spirit battlegroup. "Jesus God Emperor Christ, oi! We need some help over here!"

Predictably it was Verity and Alnelle who rushed to the aide of the new arrivals with an army worth of healers, medics and hospitallers at their backs. The dynamic duo were making a beeline for Tangmo when he held up a stopping hand and waved at the guardsmen around him, the hospitaller and the medic nodded and changed trajectory.

"Oh my God Tangmo, are you okay?!" Tangmo let out an undignified squawk when Laura wrapped him up in a powerful hug, she might be causing more damage to his battered body but how else was she gonna convey her concern? "Anything missing, arms and legs still there?!"

"Got pretty fucking singe but I'm okay," with some effort Tangmo extricated himself from the embrace and proceeded to adjust his awesome commissar coat when Yuki, Nikki and Lita joined Laura. After he was satisfactorily presentable, Tangmo gave the chamber an appreciative look over. "Holy shit, you guys didn't get it easy either."

"We weren't in any real danger dude, we got Celestine and Isha on our side," Yuki pointed at the goddess who was rushing to aid the injured guardsmen and eldars, "I'm glad to see you more or less unscathed."

"Got a little careless back there, not gonna lie, I thought for sure the Federation was fucking done after the beating we gave them," Tangmo shook his head and reached for the canteen at his belt. He uncorked the top, tipped it into his mouth, and groaned when nothing came out. "Damn, didn't even notice it was empty."

"Here mate," Laura handed Tangmo her yeti thermos, the Thai commissar nodded his thanks and drank deeply. "Nice and cool, there should be some ice left in there."

"There are, thank you Laura, shit was so hot back in the slum that not even my Thai ass can handle it," they shared a chuckle before Tangmo returned the canteen to Laura, his visage looking a lot better. "Seriously, I got real fucking concern this time. I can count on one hand the frequency of that happening."

"I know what you mean, we had similar premonition when rescuing Isha," Lita offered kindly but her face hardened a moment later, brow drawn in a rictus frown as she listened intently to the earbud. "The battle's not over yet. Lendor's with Henry and the tanks, he's saying that the Federation troops had breached a section of our defenses. I'm going up to help him."

"Count me in, someone have to stop you from heroically saving your boyfriend," Nikki and Lita traded fist bumps. The Mexican Warseer was relaying her commands via the earbud when the Ukrainian exarch turned expectantly at Laura and Yuki. "What about you two?"

"Can I?" Yuki fluttered her lashes at Laura like a child asking her mother if she could jump into a ball pit, "kinda itching for a little melee, you know what I mean?"

"You go on ahead, I'm staying here with Tangmo," Laura exemplified this point by throwing her arm over Tangmo's shoulder and giving it a good possessive squeeze. "Besides, he's positively traumatized. I need to heal his fragile mind."

"Don't coddle him too much," Lita made her goodbye and with Yuki and Nikki in tow headed for one of the massive platform that had descended from the temple above, the elevator trading one group of Sororitas and Aeldari for another. Laura and Tangmo waved their farewell as the anti-grav elevator ascended out of sight.

"I got something stronger in my coat mate," Laura patted a hidden compartment inside her awesome inquisitor coat, "a real kick to the throat."

"Thanks for the offer dude, but it's a bit too hot for one of your homebrew scotch," Tangmo politely declined. "Right now, I want a nice big glass of A Root Beer float, with a big fucking scoop of vanilla ice cream."

"Great, now I'm craving it too, until we get back to the ship then," Laura and Tangmo traded nods. "Forgot to ask, how's Leilatha? Is she okay?"

"She's totally fine, see?" Tangmo caught his girlfriend's attention by jumping up and down energetically, arms wheeling so fast that his awesome commissar coat started flapping like a pair of wings. He tried to wave her over but Leilatha only shook her head and made a playful shooing motion. "Shame, if there's one thing she loves more than me its actual Imperium work."

"She's not afraid that I'm gonna whisk you away?" Laura glanced seductively at Tangmo.

"I'm more worry about you whisking her away," Tangmo flashed his extremely punchable grin. "So, how did things go on your end?"

"Besides the little confrontation with the Ynnari earlier, things was rather formulaic," Laura stretched her arms above her head until it popped satisfyingly. "The Federation tried to attack us but we creamed their arses, they fought pretty good though."

"Oh yeah, no doubt about that, they managed to get us on the rope for a moment," not the sort to be standing around and doing nothing, Laura and Tangmo started pacing the chamber to break the monotony of the conversation. "The field marshal had it out for me. I was responsible for her daughter's death."

"You killed her?" Laura asked curiously without judgement.

"Marwen did," Tangmo shrugged. "No point correcting the field marshal when her mind is already made up."

"True, true," Laura concurred then turned to him with the fakest angst she can muster. "Tangmo…are we the baddies?"

"Let's see, I'm dressed like the biggest Hugo Boss fan from the 1940s while you look like you've just had a field day burning women at the stakes, so yes, we are indeed verily, without a hint of irony or subtly, the bad guys," their maniacal laugh ended when they reached the blackened mummified pillar that had housed Khaine's soul, Tangmo crying out in shrilly distress. "Holy fucking shit, it's like Shin Gojira's tail!"

"I know right? Looks a thousand time worse than in the movie though," Laura watched as the nuns and elves went about tinkering with the many machines that had been placed around the grotesque pillar, all moving with purpose and expertise. "Khaine's souls and an Aeldari device housing the rest of the STC was inside it, we got both out ten minutes before you guys arrived."

"Things are going well then," Tangmo pointed at the glowing Ark of Covenant casket on the anti-grav platform, "let me guess, Khaine's soul is in the Indiana Jones's box?"

"It is," Laura leaned in closer to Tangmo. "Yvraine was gonna use it to trap Khaine's soul before sacrificing him to Ynnead, according to her that would speed up the god of death ascension. She's not doing it anymore, don't worry."

"That's good to hear," Tangmo said, relief naked on his face. "So what's happening now?"

"Apparently the Ynnari will be setting up shop here," Laura told him. "At least that's what I heard Yvraine, Isha and Celestine discussing after the battle died down. The fact that nobody is shouting at each other in the intervening minutes is a good sign that the idea is gaining traction."

"It's a very interesting development, I'll give you that," Tangmo got a thoughtful look on his face, like Laura he was welcoming of the idea. "Did Yvraine give any specific reason? I mean, this is stabbed right in the middle of Imperium territory."

"The entire galaxy is Imperium territory mate, but Yvraine did say that the Ynnari needed a permanent stronghold for them to consolidate and plan their next move. Apparently they've been a fleet based organization since their founding, and given recent events they kinda need a place to regroup," Laura made a summary of the conversation she heard earlier. "Guilliman wouldn't mind, this planet didn't even belong to the Imperium, I'm more worried about the High Lords and Imperium bureaucracy though. Big Blue hasn't been making a lot of friends in high places."

"He doesn't need to," Tangmo snorted. "Jaghatai's return changed everything. If the communiqué across the Warp Eurydice had intercepted is to be believed, Genghis Primarch is bringing stability through fire and sword while his Caesar counterpart cauterized the aftermath with ink and pen."

"Bloody hell, I fucking love good news," Laura grinned suddenly and tapped Tangmo's shoulder urgently. "Oh! You're gonna love this mate, another Primarch came back recently."

"I'm sorry what?!" Tangmo's eyes bulged to saucer at this news. "When the fuck did – no, that doesn't matter, who came back?!"

"Lion el Johnson, the Primarch of the Dark Angels," Laura gave her answer. "Gonna be one hell of a reunion, from what Lelith told me the Lion haven't met the Khan or Guilliman yet. If the books from the Black Library are any indication, I don't want to be anywhere near that sibling conversation."

"A Roman, a Mongol and a knight walks into a bar, the jokes write themselves," Tangmo was starting to chuckle when he stiffened and went about adjusting his awesome commissar ensemble. Following the trajectory of his gaze, Laura smirked when she saw the Sororitas and Aeldari main characters approaching them, Yvraine and Lelith included, the gait unhurried and decidedly very friendly. "How do I look?"

"You're ready for the ball princess," Laura giggled then tipped her awesome inquisitor hat at the maidens of Warhammer 40k. "Afternoon ladies, I trust your conference went swimmingly?"

"Indeed lady inquisitor, I believe both the battlegroup and the Ynnari had come to an agreeable accord," Isha spoke up before Celestine or Yvraine can open their mouth and spun around to face the two with a friendly smile. "Wouldn't you agree, ladies?"

"Yes Isha, a beneficial agreement has been reached, more or less," Celestine promptly ignored Isha's huffing pout and turned to Tangmo. "Lord commissar, I am glad to see you alive, I got quite concern when I heard about the ambush."

"Oh, thank you my lady Saint," Tangmo bowed quickly but wasn't fast enough to hide the blush creeping across his face, Celestine have that effect on people. "Yes, the battle was hard and we lost many good soldiers, but thanks to Olatien and the Ynnari the Federation was swiftly defeated."

"I shall voice my prayers to the brave souls who had given their lives for the battlegroup, humans and eldars both, Domine Libra Nos," Celestine intoned lowly, the Sisters of Battle echoing the prayer solemnly. "Rest assured lord commissar, they did not die in vain."

"I know they didn't, thank you lady Celestine," Tangmo waiied Celestine and flashed her a dashing grin, the Living Saint reciprocating with dainty chuckle. Out of the corner of her eyes Laura caught Greyfax with a withering look on her face. "So, what's happening on this end my lady Saint? I heard the Ynnari are taking up free real estate."

"You are correct lord commissar," Isha joined the conversation, and after a persistent waving Yvraine and Lelith stepped forward. "The Ynnari believe that with the planet under their custodianship, they can strengthen both Ynnead and Khaine to the point where they can pose a direct threat to the Ruinous Power. The Imperium will also have an ally who can directly lessen the effect of the Rift."

"I'm cool with that, God Emperor knows we need all the help we can get," Tangmo was of course very receptive of this development, what he didn't expect however was the neutral reaction coming from the Sororitas, besides a few shrugs and murmurs the nuns made no other comment. Noticing the mood, Tangmo turned to Celestine. "How are you taking this?"

"Guardedly," Celestine answered truthfully, her countenance leaning more toward cautious as opposed to outright distaste for the agreed upon proposal. "But on principle, myself and the Adepta Sororitas are in agreement with the Ynnari. I am more concern with how the Primarchs and the High Lords of Terra will take this news though, because at the end of the day the Imperium are conceding territory that rightfully belongs to us."

"I don't foresee any problem with Guilliman and Jaghatai. As for the High Lords, they'll fall in line with what the sons of the God Emperor wants," Tangmo said with unshakable certainty. "You don't need to worry lady Celestine, me and the Eight are gonna draft the proposal and sent it to Ultramar at the first opportunity. The official side of things should be done within a week."

"That should be within the timeframe for us to permanently deal with the Acorium Federation," Celestine grunted a pleased tune and turned to Khaine's cadaverous monument. "Now that the task of extracting the STC and safeguarding Khaine's soul is reaching its conclusion, we can shift our priority to the complete extermination of the enemy."

"Should be easy enough, after the failed counterattack they'll have nothing left to fight with, but we won't be sloppy about it either," deviously pleased snickers answered Laura's announcement, when the mirth died down she shifted her attention to Yvraine and Lelith. "You joining us? Plenty of targets to go around."

"We shall," Yvraine nodded firmly. "Since we are claiming this planet, I do not want insurgents striking at us from the dark. Clashes with the Ruinous Power and other malign forces is not a possibility but a certainty, and I rather my gaze be turned forward. Besides," a dark grin lifted the corner of Yvraine's mouth, scary and hot in equal measure. "It would be poetic for us Aeldari to bring about the Federation's deserving end, a long overdue vengeance on their hubris and audacity for daring to strike at their better."

"Leave some for me Yvraine," Tangmo winked at the Herald of Ynnead. "I have receipts my own."

"May the best warrior win then, lord commissar," Yvraine stared down her nose at Tangmo, but unlike before the haughtiness was lacking bite and leaning more toward friendly challenge. "I hope your injury won't be a hindrance."

"Nah, Isha's passive magic already healed me, I'll be waiting for you at the finish line," Tangmo started fidgeting then, the Thai commissar's visage taking on an aspect not that dissimilar to a misbehaving child who'd been forced to admit his wrong doing. "And…I wanted to apologize for our verbal confrontation from earlier, it was extremely unprofessional of me and if my hasty words caused offense, I'm sorry."

"…You were right about him," Yvraine gave Celestine a sideway glance. "He's warm and soft underneath all that blood and grime."

"Can we be of further assistance?" Laura cut in before the fuming Tangmo can make regrettable retorts to Celestine's very correct observation about his person, the Living Saint's innocent fluttering of the lashes did not improved the Thai commissar's mood. "Both of us are ready to lend a hand."

"That will not be necessary lady inquisitor, as far as I can tell everything is running very smoothly," Isha found Tangmo's rising rage to be very amusing. "Once all of Khaine's soul is transferred to the sarcophagus, I shall help the Ynnari create a shrine for him, and Ynnead too of course."

"How long will that take?" Tangmo calmed his arse down, his voice betraying a clear note of concern. "Will you be, umm, required to stay on the planet for an extended period of time? The battlegroup can wait, it's not like we're in a hurry to go to our next target."

"It will take only three days for everything to be completed," the warmth radiating from Isha easily soothed Tangmo's concern. "You need not worry lord commissar, I will remain with the Immortal Spirit battlegroup."

"Oh thank the God Emperor, I got a little worried there for a second," Tangmo heaved a sigh of relief then tried unsuccessfully to restore his cool equilibrium. "Seriously, I'll fight every Ynnari if it means you stay with us."

"I doubt you would be victorious, lord commissar," Lelith spoke up, making sure to strike a deliciously provocative pose for Tangmo, the elf woman seriously did not need to lean down like that.

"Doesn't mean I'm not gonna try," Tangmo allowed himself an impolite eyeful of the giggling Lelith before, with herculean effort, tore his gaze upward and stabbed his finger at a group of descending platforms. "Welp, I better get out of here before I do something stupid. Good day."

Laura honestly wanted to stay with the ladies of 40k but she didn't want to be a bad pal, so she tipped her awesome inquisitor hat in goodbye and slipped in beside Tangmo, easily matching steps with him.

"Not that I don't appreciate you sticking with me, but you can stay down here if you want," Tangmo glanced over his shoulder with a sly look. "Damn, all the grimes actually made them hotter."

"Indeed it does," Laura held her fist out and Tangmo bump it. "But no, it won't be fair for the rest of us if I just hung back. Last I check the fight isn't over yet, and I'm not the kinda of gal who sits out a nice brawl."

"You and me both buddy," Tangmo stepped aside for the Sororitas reinforcement to walk off the platform and tapped his earbud. "Leila, you got everything under control down here?"

"I do," following Tangmo's gaze, Laura found the lady commissar giving her boyfriend a playful wave. "You can go have fun with your friends."

"Thank you," Tangmo waiied his goodbye and with Laura and a gaggle of wounded climbed onto the platform, the Wraithbone made no sound as it lifted off the ground. Fixing up his lasgun and sidearms, Tangmo smirked at Laura and said, "are we winning mom?"

"Yes son," Laura patted Tangmo on his head, "I believe we are."

A month and a half later

When Tangmo opened his eyes, he knew that the fleet had transitioned back into real-space. The feeling could not be easily articulated into words, but if Tangmo had to make an attempt then he would say that it feels like there's an extra layer of firmament above normal reality when journeying through the Warp. The sensation was dreamlike, sort of, but not so overt that it would negatively and irrevocably affect his mind, more like sensing and seeing a very subtle haze of ethereal unreality at the edge of his vision. All of those feeling stopped with a jarring suddenness when the Immortal Spirit exited the Immaterium, and Tangmo was very glad he slept through it, he vividly recalled the rush of migraine and shuddered involuntarily. Blinking to clear the last residue of sleep, feeling pleasantly refresh after a goodnight rest, Tangmo stretched lazily on his king size bed and saw that he was alone. He glanced at where Leilatha was supposed to be and found ruffled duvet and pillow, her discarded uniform from the night before nowhere to be seen.

Taking a few more minutes to enjoy the bliss of post sleep, Tangmo got up and reached for his data-pad on the night table, the neon glare harsh in the darkness. As expected, Leila had left him a simple message stating that she was heading to oversee the scheduled transition out of the Warp.

"Light," Tangmo said groggily and the bedroom slowly brightened as opposed to a sudden piercing glare. Yawning loudly, Tangmo stood up and went about making the bed with familiar mechanical efficiency. After five minutes, with the bed appropriately spotless, Tangmo made his morning ritual of bathing and brushing his teeth, taking considerably longer with his dental hygiene via a thorough application of flossing.

"Open window," Tangmo put on his boxer brief as the ceramite barrier covering the glass pane that made up a section of the wall folded open, revealing a seamless panorama of the galaxy. Oh nice, a violet blue nebula intersected by a glittering highway of stars, now that's the sort of view you wanna wake up to. He was in the process of admiring the incomparable sublime galactic tapestry when his stomach started growling fiercely, this was soon followed by gnawing emptiness begging for nourishment. With Leilatha already doing the commissariat work, Tangmo was free to go breakfast hunting. He was deciding whether to get something heavy like a plate full of eggs and bacons and beans from the Hungry Grox on Sector Four or a light meal of fruit cereal and yogurt near Isha's temple when his data-pad started ringing. He put on his awesome commissar cap, made sure it was rightly dashing, walked over to the night table and tapped the screen.

"Hey Lita, what's happening?" Tangmo said as he made a final adjustment to the collar of his awesome commissar coat, the call he's making with the Mexican Warseer was audio only. "I'm about to head out to grab a bite, wanna tag along?"

"That's okay, I'm not hungry," Tangmo's head snapped at the data-pad. He had known Lita for a long time, through thick and thin, and knew immediately when she tried to hide duress with an artificial carefree tone. Lita was in danger and was asking for help. His frame stiffened further when Lita spoke with a carefully timed cadence. "Tangmo, this is a very nice morning. I'm thinking about serving matcha, what do you think?"

"Matcha sounds very pleasant," Tangmo gave the correct response to the secret phrase the Eight used to communicate covertly, the Thai commissar already strapping on his swords and bolt pistol and laspistols. "Should I bring Carrot Cake or Red Velvet?"

"A Red Velvet would be delightful," Lita pressed on, Red Velvet meant that she required immediate attention.

"See you soon Lita," Tangmo modulate calm into his voice and terminated transmission. Within a heartbeat he opened the Eight private lobby, typed Red Velvet in all caps, pressed send, flipped then stashed the data-pad into his awesome commissar coat and headed for the door. The Immortal Spirit's clock indicated that it was 4am, standard Holy Terra time, making for an easy uninterrupted journey. Tangmo was entering the hallway leading to Lita's quarter when he was joined by Henry and Erik, they were armed with plasma pistol and sniper rifle respectively. The trio didn't exchange a word as they rounded a corner, finding Damien, Laura, Yuki and Nikki standing before Lita's room, all of them having taken breaching position.

"Ready?" Tangmo asked and got firm affirmative nods from the Eight. The Thai commissar stepped up to the double door and knocked politely. "Lita, we're here, may we come in?"

"Of course Tangmo," Lita made her reply, the rigid edge in her timbre unchanging. "Please come in."

Pulling a laspistol free from it holster, Tangmo held the sidearm tight in his grip and grabbed the doorknob, fingers coiling slowly around the brass orb. He turned to the Eight, traded one last nod with them, took a deep breath, turned the doorknob and dashed inside Lita's room.

Lita was seated at a table laden with pastries and snacks, a steaming floral tea set dominating the center, the Mexican Warseer didn't appeared distress but Tangmo was not at all relax because there was another person in the room.

"You alright Lita?" Tangmo and the Eight swiftly formed a crescent around the blonde woman standing before the panoramic glass wall, her back turned to them. The fact that she made no reaction at all was very concerning.

"I am," Lita took a pleasant sip from the teacup in her hand, the Mexican Warseer's temperament a stark contrast to her earlier call.

"Good," Tangmo leveled his laspistol at the woman and raised his voice. "Alright lady, don't try anything stupid and turn around, slowly. One wrong move and I'll blow your fucking head off."

"Is this how you welcome a guest, lord commissar?"

Tangmo paused, finger easing off the trigger, confounded and stunned because he had heard this melodic voice before, but not from anyone in Warhammer 40k. His remembrance came the same moment the woman spun around to face him, the stars and comets and nebular scattered across the window framed her lithe figure in radiant celestial light. She was clad in a form fitting gown of immaculate silken white trimmed in purest silver, hair of gold the shade of sunlight fell over her shoulders in a cascading wave, her elven face beautiful beyond mortal comprehension. She was an elf, but not the Aeldari of the grim darkness of the forty second millennium, no, she was of royal Noldor blood from the time when Ilúvatar first sang creation into the lifeless void.

"It cannot be…" Damien was awestruck, his bolter dangling lax at his side and was about to say more when Tangmo blurted loudly.

"WHAT IN THE FUCK IS LADY GALADRIEL DOING IN YOUR FUCKING ROOM?!"