I did not get time to sleep right away, even after I managed to get Idris out of my tent. She was so overly thankful that it bordered on annoying, but I understood where she came from. Most, if not all other rogue traders or other people of importance with enough rank to force her away from her designated position, would never have acknowledged the trouble they caused for her, much less reward her the way I had. But it was not out of the goodness of my heart, I needed allies and favors. Giving away wealth was one of the easiest ways to do that, and when dealing with a merchant, also one of the best. And when you took into account what I was planning, she would be even happier when the new plans I was making became a reality.

I crafted orders and sent messages for hours after she finally left with her new treasures, moving all the native troops to the outside, and manning the barricades around the mountain. I was left with precious few men inside, but it was quickly remedied when troops from Idris ships began making landfall alongside mine. When I finally was done planning and sending orders, I dragged myself over to the cot that had been set up for me. Metal frame and a piece of cloth stretched out to lie on, it felt like the finest silk and the softest mattress when I let my head fall on the straw pillow, and sleep overtook me before I could even enjoy the feeling of laying down.

I have no clue how long I slept, the inside of the mountain giving no clues to what time of day it was. But I felt, maybe not refreshed, but at least I no longer felt like a high-functioning zombie. Idris had been busy in my absence, having her arch militant organize the troops and prepare them to invade the underhive with all the modern weapons we could ship down without suspicion. Las rifles, grenade launchers, shotcannons for my troops, frak and krak grenades, flamers, and other wonderfully destructive things, except artillery. Autocannons had been placed on the barricade leading further into the mountain, alongside guardsmen armed with heavy stubbers. Anything less technologically advanced than us would have little to no chance of breaching the initial defensive line. And 2 more were under construction behind the first one. You could say a lot about the Imperial Guard, but they knew how to dig in and make it as costly as possible to dislodge them again.

The increased defenses had bolstered morale substantially, as had the knowledge that they were free to use the weapons they were familiar with. Kill squads had already been assembled, a mix of Idris's and my troops. The shotcannons mine had, would be devastating to anything the Skaven could throw into close combat, and the Las rifles Idris's troops had would be perfect for clearing out enemies from a distance. The combat engineers were working diligently on smaller barricades that could be fitted to a cart and pushed by 3 men, giving us the possibility of setting up temporary defenses that could serve as firing platforms for heavy weapons, if we came under pressure. A simple, but ingenious idea. Each of those small barricades would have 6 men assigned to them. 3 to move the barricade, 1 heavy gunner, 1 supporting gunner, and 1 ammunition carrier. 3 barricades in total would be made, to be deployed in a staggered pattern that would allow our troops to file behind the heavy guns and add their firepower to them. it was a simple and elegant solution to the problem of attacking an undercity, providing us with a movable defensive line.

And while Trokk was still out of the equation, his 3 Ogryn subordinates were eager to take revenge for the attack on their leader and they were hanging around the tunnel leading into the mountain, hoping for another attack to hit us so they could get an outlet for the pent up frustrations and anger. I planned on bringing them along, but I still wanted to keep them in the back, as an ace in my sleeve, if things get hairy.

I stretched out and sat up to rub my face and eyes before I got dressed and started putting on my armor. Today was going to be a long day full of fighting, and that would not change shortly. This mountain contained hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Skaven. And we had to kill them all to secure the planet again. I stretched a final time, made sure my clothes were sitting well, and stepped out of the tent.

The atmosphere inside the mountain had changed. from a cautious and expectant quality, it now felt light and welcoming, and I was stunned momentarily by the change. The fact that the troops' mood changed so drastically by giving them weapons they knew and relied on, was something worth remembering.

I was approached by one of my aides the moment I stepped foot outside. "Lord, native troops have been relocated to the outside defenses and the first 5000 troops have arrived and are ready to deploy as we speak. Supplies have been shipped down as well as auspex reports on the enemy." The young man handed me a data slate to go over and I immediately went through the initial reports. at last 12 million skaven, judging from the Lifesigns and the size of the undercity. It also showed underground tunnels leading to the various villages and cities nearby meaning that the clever rat bastards had already infiltrated Imperial society, either with their foul schemes or introducing strange narcotics to the population, which was also the most likely. An addict was infinitely easier to control.

"Have some of the troops stationed in the cities where these tunnels emerge. Have them set up a kill zone and put the entirety of the local garrison on overwatch duty near them. When the killing starts, the vermin will try to escape. We will not let them!" I ordered as I pointed out where I wanted the troops. "Also ensure that we have a supply line that reaches out constantly. If supply lines get broken, we get cut off." The aide presented the Aquila and hurried off. I looked around and saw squad after squad of soldiers mixed from both fleets, getting along and doing their duties. Many of Idris's troops kept stealing glances at me and those of my officers within view, but when my troops continued to be unbothered, smoking lho-sticks and drinking recaf while doing their work, they seemed delighted to engage in the more relaxed atmosphere among my people. In truth, I didn't care much for how they looked while they did their work, as long as the work got done in a timely and efficient manner. As far as leadership went, I was leaning heavily toward the lenient side of things, one of the better things about being a rogue trader.

The barricades had been reinforced and upgraded from wood to plascrete, and heavy weapon emplacements bristled near every entrance, including our own. Oh, the wonderful paranoia of an Imperium where you couldn't even trust your fellow man, to place his trust in you. The first 2000 men were ready and eager to get this war started, with an additional 3000 ready to move as soon as more troopers made landfall. With guns, and troops that knew how to use them, there was no reason to hurry, so I ordered Auspex crews to move with the scout teams so we could catch any building ambushes or massing of troops ahead of us, and slow, methodical assault began. I had no other protection than the troops around me, an oversight on my part that would need correction and I ordered, via the master vox, the 3 Ogryns to be escorted up to our attack battalions, and then I gave the order for a cautious advance. Sure, the commissars didn't like my approach to warfare, but it left more soldiers alive after engagements, which in turn gave me more veterans to work with that could influence the raw recruits. Besides, I had conveniently gotten rid of all commissars on my ship, as I didn't need the risk of being imprisoned and having command taken from me on account of a zealous morale officer.

A side effect was more compliant soldiers as there was no need for a constant stream of people taken from some random village or town who needed to be taught how to perform basic duties. This removed the need for commissars and gave my bosun's time to focus on training my troops, giving me rather well-disciplined and efficient soldiers. In time, they could become famous, but that would take years, if not decades, of achievements to reach such a reputation. But I was getting ahead of my thoughts, now was the time for action.

We began a slow approach into the mountain, the first line of men holding shotcannons while moving at a crouch, the second line holding las rifles at the ready, aiming over and between the first line. A fairly standard approach for trench warfare, and this was not much different. Closed spaces, limited room to move, and a plethora of places for ambushes to lie in wait. Not much different from the attack on the hive city, except that we had a truly staggering technological advantage. I prayed it was enough to overcome the literal millions of Skaven we faced. scout teams of 5 ran ahead to do their jobs of finding the enemy before we made contact and discovered any enemies waiting to spring a trap or take out potential stragglers.

The barricade carts were ready, the wooden barricades on them wouldn't be worth their weight in a proper fight, but they would do the job of protecting against arrows and thrown weapons. Not that I expected any Skaven or abomination of their making, to get within throwing distance of them, the autocannons attached on top, with the ammunition boxes in the cart below, made for effective and intimidating weapons, if a little out of place on their improvised movable platforms. They would make a proper mess of things.

We made it to the point of the last ambush, the splattered blood on the walls and floor spoke the language of the fight we had been through. But nothing happened as we continued down the tunnel. It slowly, almost so slow you didn't notice, grew larger as we went deeper into the mountain when one of the scout groups came running back. It wasn't a panicked run, so they were most likely bringing news or going to find a different route. They signaled us to stop, and I gave the order as the scouts approached.

"A lot of life signs around the next corner on the right. Most likely an ambush, but it might be a coincidental gathering. I doubt it though, it was too quiet." The trooper stated in a low voice. I nodded and ordered 20 men to chuck frak grenades around said corner before following up with a 500-man kill squad.

"What if there are more of those rat ogre things? Frak grenades won't kill them if they have armor." one of the young officers questioned and I stared him down for a few seconds before reaching out and patting the las pistol on his hip.

"That's what guns are for, soldier. You lead the charge." I said, and I saw a thousand curses aimed at his own stupidity flash through his eyes before he presented the Aquila and confirmed my order. I could live with much, but not with officers who didn't have the tactical wit to use the tools that were literally provided, by me, to overcome the challenges he might encounter. The rest of us filed back, allowing the barricades to get into position 100 meters from the corner. Enough of a killing ground for melee enemies to be denied access completely, but not enough to prevent a supporting charge by my remaining 1500 men. My master vox crackled to life and I got confirmation that reinforcements had arrived to take over defensive positions in the command cave, letting the remaining 3000 men of my attack force move out, with my 3 Ogryns in tow, and I saw the men approaching the corner stiffen as the sound of my vox was carried into the tunnels. Like the idiot I was, I had not turned down the volume.

20 men in front started sprinting forward while preparing their grenades, throwing them blindly around the corner before hauling ass back to the now-forming firing line that was slowly backing up. And then the sound reached me, a moment before the explosions of the grenades rang out. The sound of thousands of skittering feet. Thousands upon thousands. It sounded like the mountain had woken up, and was releasing everything with feet, at once, to encroach upon our position. Then the grenades went off, drowning out everything but the rumbling and exploding. Risking a glance backward, I saw the autocannon crews racking their slides to indicate they were armed, loaded, and ready to unleash hell on anyone unlucky enough to get caught in their crosshairs. The 500 men I had sent forward in an assault were backing up in a controlled retreat, and I wondered what they had heard that made them so frightened. Sure, it sounded like all 12 million Skaven had started running toward us all at once, but a lasrifle shot would take down a Skaven. and we had 1000 of them present, along with 1000 shotcannons, and 3 auto cannons.

A thought hit me. My men were not prepared the way I was. They knew nothing of this enemy and had no clue what to expect. I grabbed the master vox and broadcast it to all channels. "Soldiers of the Imperium. The enemy that approaches you is a backward and heretical one. A mutant race that worships ruinous powers and delights in spoiling all that is good and true. They fight mainly in melee, but any enemy that spouts green flame, shoots green tracers, or uses foul sorcery, is a priority target for all units. Heavy weapons will focus on any large enemies that might approach and otherwise thin out the horde. Time your shots. Shotcannons reload when the las rifles fire and then cover them when they reload. This battle is going to be different from the first encounters. It will not be over easy! It will not be over soon. But we are soldiers of the Imperium! Our numbers know no end and our courage overflows from our hearts! So, do your duty and grant the Emperor's mercy to the foul mutant scum that infest our planet!".

A roar of acknowledgment rose from the ranks as they settled into comfortable firing positions and trained their weapons forward. Then the enemy turned the corner—giant rats. Many thousands of them, all skittering toward us like their lives depended on it. I didn't even have to give the order, the auto guns roared to life within a second of the first mutated rat turning the corner of the side tunnel. The kinetic rounds ripped through the soft bodies, killing handfuls at a time, but it did nothing to stem the tide. Then the las guns joined in and it was like throwing a wall up against a wave. The suicidal charge was staggered as the lasers ripped through flesh and tore bodies apart, but it only lasted a moment before enough dead bodies had piled up to protect rats close to the ground until they crossed the barrier of corpses and it quickly became apparent that there were enough bodies, with enough intent, to eventually get close enough to engage in melee, at least i we didn't change our approach to this battle.

Skaven had started showing up among the giant rats, as well as rat wolves and the occasional rat ogre. The auto guns did their job and focused down the large enemies, but every second they spent not thinning the horde, it came closer at a frightening speed. I had to take back the initiative and regain the momentum. I had effectively been forced on my heels and I had to take action. But did we engage, or did we retreat, again?

"ADVANCE!!" I bellowed as loud as I could, and the shotcannon armed troops started advancing, slowly and methodically. They fired in ranks rather than individually, clearing space ahead of them and sending wounding shrapnel toward the ocean of fur and claws that tried making its way to us. When they needed to reload, the second rank would move forward, giving the first rank time to reload. We started gaining ground, slowly, painfully, in a grinder of death that did not see my sie go without casualties. every once in a while the boom of a jezzail sniper rifle would ring out and claim at least a few lives, as would thrown weapons from the occasional Skaven that showed up among the rats. Clan Eshin assassins were using the flow of bodies to try and conceal themselves, and the experienced killers knew how to use their tails to increase the velocity and distance of a thrown blade, and their precision was uncanny. More than one blade has flown near me, only my agility and luck saving me from fatal hits, but I did sport several cuts around my face and hands. One of the throwing stars had embedded itself in the chest plate of my carapace armor, a testament to the speed at which they were flung at us.

But we were gaining ground. We had retaken the momentum, and the flow of rats increased as we got closer to the bend. It was like a floodgate was opening, pouring ever-increasing amounts of bodies toward us, with every step we took.

"GRENADES!!" someone yelled out and I heard the telltale *Thump* *Thump* *Thump* of grenade launchers unleashing their explosive payloads as the frontline suddenly picked up the pace and sprinted forward 25 steps, almost colliding with the Skaven forces. Then the explosions began among the Skaven ranks, rolling backward in a continuous barrage meant to clear the way for the troops who now advanced rapidly, finishing off anything that still moved after the carnage had passed over them. I suspect that most of the said movement was merely twitching nerves, but better safe than sorry. I broke from the lines and moved to join the assault group, I wanted to know just how much more we were facing, and it wasn't like my savant perk could help me when there was only a single point of conflict and I was placed squarely in the middle of it.

We kept moving forward under the cover of the rolling barrage from the grenade launchers and we soon reached the large side tunnel from which the Skaven were pouring. The troopers did their best to get into position and block off the entrance with a wall of shotcannon fire, but without the supporting fire of the rest of my guardsmen and the heavy weapon carts, they could not shoot everything that moved. Every second we waited for the rest of the troops to make their way to us, giant rats and the occasional Skaven clanrat made their way through the wall of buckshot being sent their way and engaged in melee. I had no clue what was going on with the Skaven further down the tunnel, all my focus was being spent on firing my las pistol and swinging my falchion on everything that got close.

The giant rats were a pest, unnaturally fast for their size and aggressive beyond understanding. And there were so many of them. Whenever one died, another 3 jumped forward in its place. Their black blood was already pooling on the ground around our feet and the walls were quickly changing color with the blood splashes, but it didn't seem to bother my troops beyond the inconvenience, and for just a fraction of a moment, I envied them. They had never known any other life and so they had no context for what I knew to be a better existence. This was all they knew. To me, it was a horrible experience, worse than anything I could have experienced or even dreamed up back home. To them, it was Monday, and I would forever envy that simple fact.

My little group was quickly getting tangled up in the melee, the Skaven's natural agility brought them closer at a speed I had not expected, and if something didn't change soon, we would be overrun.

But of course, things changed. The bigger portion of the soldiers that had held the fallback position, finally made it to the bend and every man that turned the corner opened fire as soon as they had a clear shot. The las rifles' rapid fire and the flow of more troops joining my side once again made the Skaven assault screech to a halt, despite its increased intensity. It was like rats and Skaven were crawling out of every hole, crevice, nook, and cranny, in the rapidly expanding tunnel in front of us. It was massive, almost as big as the main tunnel leading into the mountain, widening rapidly as I risked a look over the immediate enemies.

I saw an endless horde of giant rats and Skaven, ratwolves, and sporadic rat ogres, all making their way to us. But I saw something else, something that made my stomach turn with a fear I had forgotten existed. I saw a group of armored rat ogres being herded toward us by their vicious pack masters, heavily augmented with crude metal plating that had been grafted permanently onto their bodies. Some of them were even missing a limb that had been replaced by either a monstrous-looking blade or a large spiked flail. Due to the size of the rat ogres, it would be difficult to penetrate their armor, even with our modern weapons, as the metal plates were simply too thick to be shot through with ease. But there was a solution to that.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"READY KRAK GRENADES! AIM FOR THE ARMORED ONES!" I cried out, and several of the troops nearby also risked glances deeper into the tunnel where they saw the approaching doom. Against the regular medieval humans this planet produced, armored rat ogres were near impossible to kill unless you caught them alone and had a staggering number advantage or supremely skilled soldiers on your side. But to the Imperial Guard, it would be as easy as throwing or shooting a grenade designed to crack open tank armor.

It went as predicted, the grenade launchers fired the krak grenades, coated in adhesive material, and they struck true. The armored rat ogres themselves didn't seem to notice the small impacts of the grenades when they hit their armor and got stuck. 5 seconds later, the small explosions rippled through the tunnel and blasted the ogres' armor open, bending the plates inward and making them work against the targets they were intended to protect. Those of them who didn't die instantly went beserk, clawing and biting at everything within reach, causing further chaos in the Skaven ranks. Furthermore, the now rampaging ogres spread their fury to the giant rats and ratwolves, adding even more confusion to an already unmanageable situation.

The chaos that started unfolding in the Skaven ranks was just what we needed to regain the momentum, the heavy gun carts moving forward one at a time under cover of the 2 others. When they arrived, 2 of them added their firepower to ours, while the 3rd pointed its gun barrel down the main tunnel leading further into the mountain. No reason to risk a rear ambush. The addition of 2 autoguns to the already overpowering outpouring of death from my soldiers was the drop that made the glass overflow. The Skaven broke ranks to run away, but they never got that far before a new presence made itself known.

I heard a human voice chanting loudly in a language I had never heard before, and I looked around in confusion, unable to see anything but my troopers firing their weapons to the best of their abilities. Then I realized that the chanting was coming from deep within the Skaven ranks and scanned the area to try and find the source, and my eyes eventually spotted what looked to be a man, standing next to a grey seer and his stormvermin bodyguards that formed a living wall between him and us. The man I saw looked like the perfect vision of a madman. Runic symbols and ancient talismans had been carved into his body, covering him in his blood and what little skin was visible had a sickly grey and green color. His eyes were staring into eternity as he kept chanting without pause. The grey seer next to him was chanting as well, his violently green glowing eyes showing that he was under the influence of incredible amounts of warpstone. Every time the grey finished a chant, a new wave of giant rats poured out forward.

I was wondering what the madman was doing next to the grey seer, but he swiveled his head and locked eyes with me. I saw him move his lips and I heard him clear as day,

"YOU! You are the one who rejects the offer of power!"

"What are you talking about you crazy bastard?" I yelled back, as I genuinely had no idea.

"THE SYSTEM! It speaks to us, guides us, and rewards us. But you! You go against the plan, against your intended purpose! Why do you think it speaks to you the way it does? Nothing is a coincidence, but you are too blind to see! But I see, I see it all! And the system whispers to me, tells me secrets. Secrets about you, about your supposed 'victories', as you consider them. But they are all FAILURE! AND NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO FAIL THE SYSTEM!" The last words were delivered with inhuman volume, a screech of staggering intensity that seemingly empowered the Skaven that kept pressing forward, unrelenting, unforgiving.

Something within me got angry, truly infuriated, at the fact that everyone who knew about the system, also seemed to not only be favored by it but were also much better informed about the system as a whole.

"BE SILENT, CUR! I WILL NOT HAVE YOU PUT ME IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS YOUR DEGENERATE EXISTENCE! FOR I WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE EMPEROR, AND IN THE EMPERORS LIGHT I SHALL FIGHT, AND I SHALL TRIUMPH! YOUR FALL IS YOUR OWN, AND THE ONLY PART I WILL HAVE IN IT, IS THE GRANTING OF THE EMPEROR'S MERCY TO YOU AND ANYONE THAT THREATENS THE LIVES AND SECURITY OF THE IMPERIUM AND ITS PEOPLE! FIGHT ON MEN, FIGHT UNTIL WE ARE VICTORIOUS OR DEAD! FOR ONLY IN DEATH DOES DUTY END!" The words rose out of my chest, feeling familiar, yet slightly different, from the battle cry I used in the fight against the orks when I first entered this universe. I felt them more than thought them, my anger at the system and against the raving lunatic that claimed to understand and converse with the system, acting as the catalyst for what could only be a new ability. I was getting familiar enough with the system to recognize the pattern from last time, the same feeling of familiar ease combined with not knowing what the hell was going on.

My words hit him like a hammer blow to the face and he staggered backward a step before lifting his head to stare me down again. But this time, he was present. He was here, with no trace of lunacy or insanity. Only primal fucking hatred towards my very existence. The mere fact that I was still breathing was driving him mad with rage and he threw himself forward, ripping Skaven out of the way while hefting a vicious curved blade.

I denied him the chance to even get close. I holstered my las pistol in favor of the stub cannon and emptied all 6 rounds at the charging madman. the first 2 rounds exploded against a psychic shield, but the 3rd hammered through and clipped his shoulder. The last 3 tore his upper body apart, leaving entrails and his spine attached to a pair of legs as the only remains when his body hit the ground. Before I had time to celebrate his death or ponder both the mysteries of his words and his purpose here, I realized just how close I had come to being labeled as a heretic by the rambling of a mad lunatic. It was a good thing I publicly denounced his words as the mad ramblings of a heretic, but if enough people heard the same accusations come from completely unrelated sources, eventually suspicions would rise and I would have to be prepared to defend myself on a political level as well.

But I had no time to do anything about that, as the death of the cultist must have triggered some sort of psychic response, because from small caves and ledges, many hundreds of cultists covered in heretical symbols, some tattooed, others inked, and yet others carved. Even a few enormous warriors clad in massive iron armor lumbered out of some bigger caves. Chaos champions. Most likely aspiring champions of Khorne who had excelled and ascended to become exalted heroes. They would suffer the same fate as the rat ogres, but my concern was not what the enemy could field on this planet. My concern was the implications of chaos cultists among the ranks of the Skaven. From the look of the cultists, the sickly green skin, and the willingness to live among the Skaven, they could only be a plague cult, but with the goal of ending humanity, which would make them a cult of apocalypts.

Great. Not only did I get chaos worshippers thrown into the mix, but I got the ones who didn't even understand their own chaos god. But there would be time to worry about that later, hopefully, but I had to return attention to the present. With the added bulk of chaos cultists, we could no longer keep pressing forward, but we could reach a stalemate. and in a war of attrition, we would win without a doubt, our weapon advantage was simply too great.

"HOLD THE LINE! WAIT FOR REINFORCEMENTS!" I roared as loud as I could before I pulled back from the frontline. I had blood dripping from my face and hands, at least a dozen minor cuts from thrown weapons, and I was starting to feel woozy. The blood loss was manageable, but one of the blades had been caked in warpstone dust, and while my newly acquired resistance to chaos influence was able to handle it, the experience was like going through a severe influenza infection in a matter of minutes. I was exhausted, starving, dehydrated, and generally weakened, and the thought of what would have happened to me if I had not possessed my resistance made me shudder in fear. The steps back toward the massive cave we had under control were grueling, my feet felt like granite being dragged through mud and muck, even though I walked on stone floors. My head was spinning and the world was blurring out of focus, but I had to retain consciousness. Someone grabbed my arm to support me, and when I looked up I saw Idris, leading a small army of people carrying supplies and being guarded by a mix of both our troops.

"I got a supply line started and have sent word for more troops and more equipment. Most of the local lords have gathered, the important ones at least, and they are demanding you not waste their time further by forcing them to wait... Are you well, Lord captain?" Idris spoke professionally, but her eyes lingered on my wounds as she asked her question.

"While tired, I am feeling fine, Idris. But did you say the local lords demanded my compliance? I guess I will have to oblige then, if for no other reason than to show them just how far they have fallen from Imperial grace." I sounded angrier than I had energy for, but the local lords making demands of their planetary governor did not bode well for this future meeting. And while I was tired, exhausted, and drained, this could not be put on hold. Well, it could, but showing up with my wounds not even cleaned would show them just how big of a mistake it was to demand something of me.

"Idris, make sure the troops do not move further until we have established a new defensive line and reinforcements have arrived. Keep the supplies flowing, and I will go deal with our local lords." I was exhausted beyond comprehension and my voice betrayed it, but Idris did not have the authority to do anything other than agree with me. The short stop had given me enough strength back to at least walk with dignity, and if I took it slow it didn't tire me out. It also happened to make me exude an aura of being calm and unbothered, something that would undoubtedly boost morale in the troops, however unintended it was. I picked up a small honor guard on the way, as well as the 3 Ogryns that were still combat-ready, and gave a few instructive orders on the way out.

The local lords had set up camp outside the mountain, between it and the forest nearby, and when I finally got near, I saw the local population was busy preparing the lords camp and bringing them precious supplies that had been reserved for the soldiers fighting in the mountain. Looking over the scene I saw several junior officers directing the peasants and workers, and it took a while for me to spot who I was looking for.

"COMMANDER!" I yelled and the man spun around quicker than I had expected. The expression on his face was a scowl until he saw the men and Ogryns behind me. "M-M-My Lord governor!" He exclaimed but I raised a hand to cut him off.

"What are these men doing? Those supplies are for the soldiers fighting inside the mountain as we speak! I assume my orders were changed by the lords currently sitting in the tent, talking about how they can best make me dance like a puppet on strings?" I spaw my words at him like bullets, and from his expression I had hit the nail on the head. He swallowed hard before he managed a meek "Yes, Lord governor."

"I am changing those orders again. The supplies go to the soldiers and the workers who have been removed from their duties will return to their duties, at once! In the future, if the order is not from me directly, you are to seek me out and get clarification." I left no room for debate or question and the only response I got was an Imperial aquila and a lowered head, which was enough to satisfy me.

"Shall I announce your arrival, Lord Governor?" The commander dared ask after barking angry orders at his subordinate officers.

"No, commander, I am quite capable of announcing myself." I moved past him as if he didn't exist, and walked over to the large tent. I could hear mumbled talking from inside, as well as what sounded like glasses being clinked together. I ripped the cloth to the side and strode into the tent as if I owned the place, which I technically did.

"Who are you?" A younger man, around my age, demanded. "And who let you in here, amongst your betters? and in such a comical attire" The last words were added with a snicker. I looked over the man. I saw a pretty face surrounding a pair of hard, cold eyes. Expensive silk with gold broderie hung on his lean frame and a thin smile on his pale lips added to the impression that I was looking at a young very spoiled lord. His words reminded me that I was still wearing my carapace armor, something this feudal lord would never have seen before.

"I am the man to whom you owe you fealty, your wealth, and your entire existence. And if you wish to keep either of them, you will address me as Lord Captain, Lord Governor, or my lord. Otherwise, your family will find itself destitute among the beggars and dregs of society!" I fired back and I saw his expression shift to one of anger, but he controlled himself and lowered his head before mumbling "My apologies, Lord Governor. But this meeting has greatly interfered with the plans of several of the lords and I-"

"Silence! When I want your opinion I shall ask for it!" I cut him off and turned my attention to the rest of the table. A gaggle of older and younger men were seated, most of them carrying a look of disdain and boredom, all of them clad in the finest cloth and silk. The plates in front of them were overflowing with food, while the soldiers and workers were restricted to rationed meals. I could smell the expensive wine from their goblets mixing with the copious amounts of perfume that surrounded the lords. The braziers burning in the corners were packed with expensive charcoal instead of the more commonly used wood. The gold trimmings and jewelry covering the lords almost made me lose my cool. The display of such excess while their people struggled for life was enough to burn the fatigue out of me and replace it with righteous anger.

I took a good long moment to scan the faces of each of the gathered lords, silently challenging through a stare. They all caved, eventually, and I could finally start speaking.

"You have, all of you failed your duties to the Imperium!" I began and the yelling that erupted from the nobles drowned out any noises. I looked back and pointed at one of the Ogryns who stepped forward and slammed a fist the size of a man's head, down on the table which immediately exploded into a shower of splinters and broken wood. The silence that fell over the lords was so palpable you could almost carve it with a knife.

"This is not up for discussion or debate. The next time one of you interrupts me, I shall grant him the Emperors mercy without hesitation!" I looked around the now standing lords and saw nothing but cowed compliance. "As for your failure to the Imperium, it is not too late for you to make amends. There are going to be major changes to life as you know it. I will not accept that an Imperial planet devolves into an inefficient autocracy that is too busy making itself rich to properly manage its charges. Because you are nothing more than that. Glorified stewards overseeing Imperial holdings on this planet. As for your failure, I return freshly from the frontline inside the mountain where an enemy has been allowed to grow strong and infest this glorious planet with their foul existence. I want an explanation, and I want it now. You!" I pointed at the younger noble that had first mocked me upon entering, and he was quick to answer.

"We have done the duty entrusted to us by the Imperium. And we have done it well enough. You claim to have returned from battle, but you might as well just have been working in the mine. I see no blood on you apart from your own, and if the enemy was such a threat, we would have discovered and dispatched them already!" His tone was aggressive and it was clear he sought retribution from the earlier reprimand. As a reaction to his words, I whistled sharply and the tent flap was once again removed. 2 of Idris's troops carried a heavily wounded, but still living Skaven into the tent. The ratkin had been secured by heavy bonds and was watched over by the 2 soldiers, holding their blades high, ready to strike it down.

All the lords drew back in terror at the sight of the Skaven, the ungodly stench surrounding it mixed with its muffled screeching. It was terrified, completely and utterly, and it struggled immensely hard to escape its bindings. "What in the Emperor's name is that?!?" One of the older lords exclaimed while pulling backward so fast that he bumped into one of his guards.

"That," I said as I theatrically gestured to the Skaven prisoner, "Is one reason why I say you have all failed your duty. My troops are currently engaged in a fight with millions of these beings inside of the mountain, and you are all sitting here, demanding that the supplies I specifically ordered delivered to the fighting troops, instead be delivered to you so you can sit here and feast and feel important. Well, I am informing you now, that the life of luxury and debauchery you have been living, ends today. There are going to be some changes and I suspect that whoever is chosen to take over the job as your planetary governor, will not object to me increasing the workforce and lowering the number of useless nobles that need to be bribed and pleased for the Imperium to get its tithe in a timely and efficient manner.

As of this very moment, I am stripping you all of your titles and your holdings. You will work alongside the common man, all equal before the eyes of the Emperor!" I didn't get any further, the outcry from the gathered nobles drowned out any sounds. Several of them called for their guards to kill me, but only one person made a move against me. The young lord that mocked me upon entry. He drew his ceremonial blade and jumped over the table while swinging it at my neck. It was a wild attack, delivered by a man with the most basic of training which was forgotten in the fog of anger he saw himself in. I leaned back ever so slightly and watched the blade sail past me, a few centimeters from my throat, and as soon as it had passed I reached up, gripping the wrist of his sword hand and forcing it downwards in a sharp motion before I lifted my leg and pushed down on his elbow joint with my knee until I heard the snapping of the bone.

The screech of pain from the young lord was ungodly, and I followed up with a swift knee to the bottom of his jaw. Several of his teeth snapped when the armor plating on my knee impacted his head, but he was knocked out cold and stopped screeching. His guards had moved to stop me when I grabbed him, but the 3 Ogryns had intercepted them, making for a short and extraordinarily brutal and bloody fight in the small tent. The crushed metal armor around the mangled corpses left no doubt about the freakish strength of the abhumans, and the rest of the nobles had herded themselves as far away from the 4 of us, with the guards forming a shaking wall in front of them.

"Someone get this fool to a medicae and then send him to the penal legions. Attacking an agent of the throne is a crime punishable by death, but considering the circumstances, I am feeling lenient. Now," I turned to face the frightened lords, "Do we have any other protests to this new way of governance?" As expected, they all fell in line when the alternative was death or downright enslavement. By accepting, they would still be free to enjoy whatever life they could scrounge up after they had worked their daily designated hours. The unconscious idiot would wake up with an arm healing either from surgery or replacement, with 4 guardsmen standing by his bed, waiting to take him off-world to the nearest penal colony where he would immediately be enrolled in the legions created on such planets.

He would be lucky to survive more than 10 minutes.

"Lord, how have we mispleased you so? Had we known about the mutant filth, we would have dealt with it as quickly as possible. As for the tithe, we have all been bound by the whims of your predecessor. What offense have we caused?" The oldest of the lords spoke up, his voice respectful and his question asked in earnest.

"Cultists have been discovered consorting with the mutants. Heretical cultists. My current actions are the only way I can spare your planet, and people, from a fate worse than death. By dismantling the current power structure and instituting my own, I can keep the Inquisition from turning their attention this way." My answer was both truthful and full of lies. While it was true that I could keep the inquisition away from the planet by wording a message to them correctly, it was not my reason for doing what I did. In honesty, I simply could not be bothered to go through the hierarchy of power distributed unequally and inefficiently among self-serving local nobles. With total power came total control. With total control, I could find my way out of this backward, Skaven-infested shithole of a planet.

The thought of what the Inquisition would do if heretics or abundant mutants were discovered was more than enough to quell any further protests from the local lords. Their way of life had been, by their own hand, destroyed.

"Get them out of here, remove this tent so there is once more space for the troops, and someone get a message to the Omnissianic Congregator that the prisons and dungeons around the planet are fair game to satisfy the mechanicus need for more hands. I have no intention of owing the mechanical pseudo-heretics anything, so tell them they can take the entire damn planets worth of hardened criminals facing death sentences, life sentences, and those that do not have established families yet. Then make sure I am not disturbed until I leave my tent by my own will. Only Idris will be allowed to disturb me, and only in a true emergency." I gave my final order and left before checking if they were followed, but I could not hear the Ogryns following, nor my guards, so I suspected they stayed behind to see my will be done.

I headed straight for my tent, not even bothering to take off my uniform, boots, or weapons. Blissful sleep would be mine, and not even the whisper in the wind would prevent me from claiming it.