Lady of Winter
As Regina looks out from a balcony of the newly built Gubernatorial Palace of Glacier Peak, she can't help but wonder how this became her life. If someone had told Regina Kasteen, formerly of the Valhallan 296th, when she was still a lowly private that she would one day become a Planetary Governor, due to being the only surviving highest-ranking officer after a devastating campaign she would have laughed in that person's face. If they had then retorted that she would become good friends and even share a bed with a Heretical Commissar who would come to save her and the survivors of said campaign, she would have them shot and then quietly dispose of the body. But as Vice Queen Kasteen, The Winter Lady, looked out over the ranks of the brave women and men of Adumbria marching into the Troop Transports. She couldn't help but feel pride in all she had accomplished, from taking a near decimated planet and regiment and turning them into a prosperous, and even happy, world.

"Good formations, and if what I've seen in the training fields is anything to go by. Those boys and girls will make a good showing of themselves." Captain Kruld says, leaning against the railing next to her. A pipe with what to her smells like Valhalan tobacco in his hands. The sounds of the gala celebrating the mobilization behind them were muffled by the half drawn curtains. "The Helmets still look stupid though."

Regina lets a snort escape from her, agreeing with him on that. "From what I understand, they are using an old uniform they dug up from some old archive that they updated with Slawkenburg Technosorcery. Cain let them go forward with the design. Something about letting them not be copies of his USA troopers." She says, noticing Sulla had made her way to just outside the balcony doors.

"I wouldn't feel too bad about that. No matter how good those Blue boys and girls are, they still don't hold a candle to Cain's pet Kasrkins." He says, letting out a harsh bark of laughter. At his words, she sees Sulla bristle in outrage. Before she could rise to the Adumbrian's defense, Sulla storms out. The only thing stopping her from death was the swift and subtle motions Regina gave to her silent gold clad bodyguards.

"I would ask the Captain to refrain from insulting those brave women and men. If not, I would be willing to duel you for the honor of those same women and men."

At her words, Regina can't help but fight to keep her exasperation from her face. Sulla is an excellent Quartermaster and even has the makings of an amazing officer, but she is just too grox headed. Always rushing forward when it would be better to hold the line. Kruld, though, doesn't seem to mind, "I meant no insult, lass, just stating a fact." He says, puffing on his pipe. "Put them against most other regiments I know in the Imperium, and I'd give them good odds of winning with minimum casualties. Hel, I'd even give them even odds against a Cadian regiment of equal experience, but the USA Troopers are a much different Grox entirely."

At this, he waves at her guards, "Even my boys are anxious about fighting them in anything less than a fixed position, and that's with the fancy toys we've got on top of training with them for over a decade."

Taking a deep puff from his pipe, he then turns to watch the snow fall and bounce off the transparent glass, shielding them from the freezing temperatures. "Your blue boys and girls may not be the monsters the USA are, but they are reliable. They'll take most positions and they're more likely to use their guns than run at the enemy, screaming at the top of their lungs. I would take a hundred of them for every Primitive World Regiment out there."

Regina, seeing her chance to defuse the situation further, faces Sulla. "Captain Kruld is correct, let's give them time to get the experience from this war. Now, what was it you needed, Sulla?"

Sulla seems to take a moment to collect herself before turning and saluting Regina. "Your Grace, I request command of the 12th Adumbrian Guard. I was a major part of their training, and I would not feel right just leaving them."

Regina almost sighed in defeat at this. Sulla had been sending requests to take command of the 12th company ever since they left training. She would have happily given Sulla command of the regiment because the officers are from her old company. Her advisors, though, had suggested holding her back because of the Mandrake incident. The only reason Sulla wasn't shot dead for the attempted coup was because of Regina's relationship with Ciaphas.

But looking at her now, seeing the desperation in her eyes to prove herself, Regina felt her resolve waver. With a sigh, she marshaled herself for the headache she was about to induce. "Sulla, I will allow you nominal command of the 12th-" Sulla's expression of joy was almost enough for her to stop there, but she had to keep going. "On the condition that Captain Kruld agrees to accompany you as your attaché."

At this, Kruld's head snaps in her direction before turning to face Sulla. Sulla herself looked torn between joy and mortification. Studying her, Kruld mulls over Kasteen's request before nodding his head. "Fine, I'll go with the girl make sure she doesn't get in over her head." He says while stowing his pipe. "Well, lass, let's go introduce ourselves to our new regiment, but we'll have to make a quick stop by the buffet first."

Regina could only watch as Kruld pulled a semi-mortified Sulla back to the gala. Turning away, Regina reminded herself to vox Ciaphas about the headache that would be manifesting in their futures before taking one last look at the falling snow. It was times like this that reminded Regina about the difficulties, that come with her duties.

"My Lady, it seems that Lady Krystabel is here she says that it is urgent... She seems to be in a "mood" My Lady." One of her guards says bringing her back to the present.

Feeling a headache about to form, Regina could only take a breath. "Tell her I will speak with her after the gala."

"I'm afraid she's already here My Lady."

As soon as the words left her guard's mouth Krystabl stormed onto the balcony in all of her Slaaneshi glory. "Regina, get in a dress I'm not letting that Tzeentchian Hussy take Ciaphas from us!"

A.N: This was originally supposed to be about the Adumbrian Regiments but then it became a bit of a look at how Kasteen is holding up. Also I'm still going with the idea that Adumbria is fielding these guys.