A slightly smaller Mess

the door looks heavy. Very fucking heavy.

"I take it you have a way to open it"

the kreiger opens it. silently. with their hands, just pulling it open with a creak.

*He nods and flicks on his flashlight, illuminating whatever is behind the door*

its an old, abandoned tunnel. rusty, dark, and dank.

"Clear"
*He walks in shotgun raised*

the kreiger stays close as they go deeper

*Gwydion illuminates the path forward as they advance*

it's not long before they find bones, very old bones, in various equipment

*HE KNeels down and inspects the equipment*

seems to be lots of utility stuff. Maintenance guys and factory workers.

*He goes deeper*

the kreiger stays close

Charles: indeed.

hera: *Taking the mug of thick black caffeine* "For the help. And not murdering us all." *She picks up a dataslate on the coffeetable, and hands it to charles*

he takes it, looking at it

*Its a report from captain byrne of the emnity. Apparently, even without his ship he feels the need to keep up his routine. it details "The fleet disposition of our tenuous allies" The necron fleet is expansive to say the least. Enough to have rolled over them, even with the ark mechanicus and hammer of flame.*

Charles: hm. Interesting.

Hera: "Strange feeling. Putting trust in a xeno. " *she sips her caffeine*

Charles: May not be the last time you have to.

Hera: *finishing her caffeine, she walks over to the wardrobe and retrieves her red sash and stormcoat.* "not something i'll get used to."

Charles: *is already dressed* one day you will.

Hera: *Tying the sash around her waist* "No... i don't think so."

Charles: something wrong?

Hera: "Xenos are enemies to be crushed beneath the boots of the guard, not allies." *She says this like she's quoting something, while strapping on her sword and laspistol*

Charles: who taught you that? *he's not got a mocking tone in his voice or anything, he's genuinely asking*

Hera: "Commissar Dunsen." *she makes the sign of the Aquila over her chest*

Charles: *chuckles* I have no doubt he believed every word he said, and wanted only to tell you the truth...but unfortunately he was mistaken.

hera: "Preaching directly from the imperial creed i believe."

Charles: which is itself, heavily laden with propaganda and mistakes. You do remember when I told you that the current imperial faith is based heavily on a book written by a traitor primarch?

Hera: "I... Try not to think about it overly."

Charles: I know. But to be blunt, very much of the imperial creed is....false.

Hera: "I still believe the emperor wished humanity to rule over the galaxy. Not share it with xenos."

Charles: true enough. But he also understood that sometimes you have to work with them, like it or not.

Hera: "until the time when we can rid ourselves of them." *she sounds very sure of herself in this. It sounds as if theres nothing to dissuade her*

"Depends on the species, if we're completely honest. Why exactly, hera, are we humans destined to rule the galaxy?"

Hera: "As the emperors chosen. Who else would be?"

Charles: and... just for argument's sake, why, in the grand scheme of things, does being the 'emperor's chosen', matter?

Hera: "He is the only god who still fights chaos?"

Charles: not true. Cegorach does. Ynnead does now it's been born. Gork and Mork 'fight' chaos.

Hera: "I... Honestly don't know enough to argue that. Gork and mork are the ork gods... right? They just fight everything. And... the eldar gods are dead or hiding."

Charles: Cegorach still fights chaos, through the harlequins. He supposedly directly challenges slaanesh for the souls of dead harlequins also. And Ynnead, I don't blame you for not knowing, it was 'born' literally a month or so ago.

Hera: "How do you... Fuck it." *she shrugs.* "We got shit to do charles. No time for a philosophic debate."

Charles: of course. Sorry. *smiles*

Hera: "Come on, out the fuckin door. We've got Xenos to sort out." *she starts shooing him towards the door*

he chuckles as they go. cue heading to the necrons montage.

*Amonet is waiting for them in the hangar bay* "Inqusitor. I see you brought. Your... Aide?"

Charles: She is my apprentice, not my aide. Inquisitor Hera Immalia.

Amonet: "My apologies mamzel Immalia."

Charles: now, what is it you need?

Amonet: "You are knowledgeable in matters of the mind inquisitor?"

Charles: I am. Telepathy is a personal speciality of mine.