Inquisitor Stella walked into the dimly lit war room aboard her new temporary base of operations – a Piety Class Cruiser, as it hurtled through the Nachmund Gauntlet. Three days ago, High Lord Inquisitor Thaddeus Vane had contacted her, the moment she had corrected her KIA status on Inquisitorial channels. Bizarrely, Thaddeus had given Stella command of the Sangua Terra operation. Why her? He was up to something. Him and her both. 

A feeling of underhanded plotting permeated the air within the war room. An Aeldari Spiritseer, an Astartes Chaplain, a Sororitas Canoness, an empty chair with a sign saying ‘Reserved for the Commissar,’ and a hulking fellow in Terminator armour, who approached her.

“Inquisitor Stella. I am Inquisitor Laren Nerys,” the Terminator said. “We are joined by Spiritseer Khelensil Mirenna, Chaplain Jehanu and Canoness Clair. We are your temporary command council and await your orders. Our forces are assembled for the defense of Sangua Terra.”

“Pleasure is all mine,” Stella said as she scanned the information displayed on the myriad of green screens in the room. “Nice threads by the way. I used to command a squad of [Redacted] Terminators. That armour can take some punishment.”

“Correct.”

“So, I hear you’ve requisitioned the Celestial Void Lions?”

“Correct.”

“Grand, I’m going to need you to transmit a No Kill Order on a VIP,” Stella requested as the Chaplain approached.

“Consider it done. Who is the VIP?”

“Myself. I have some history – a misunderstanding with the Void Lions which I’m not going to explain right now,” Stella said as the nearby Chaplain released his grip on his sheathed chainsword.

“All is forgiven in the God Emperor’s light, Inquisitor,” Jehanu grumbled.

Stella bowed her head, looking to avoid eye-contact. “Grand. Errr, let’s get down to business. Canoness, are your Sisters of Battle ready?” Stella asked.

“They are already singing prayers of our enemy’s destruction,” Canoness Clair responded with feverish optimism. “Thirty of the best Seraphim and Zephyrim are at your disposal.”

Stella clasped her hands together. “Oh… That’s impressive. But, do you have any tanks or anything… heavier?”

“Why would you need a tank when you have thirty of the finest Seraphim and Zephyrim?”

Stella blinked absently and turned to the xeno in the room. “Spiritseer. I hear you have come to our aid?”

“My forces will defend Sangua Terra. It is within both of our interests…” Khelensil Mirenna trailed off.

Silence.

Stella raised an eyebrow. “Oh. Wonderful. I’m used to your kind calling me a-“

“-Mon-Keigh,” the Aeldari interrupted.

“There it is.”