Warhammer 40k : Space Marine Kayvaan

Elizabeth smiled faintly, noting that Kayvaan hadn't corrected Syladria's assumption. She chose not to clarify the misunderstanding, allowing it to work in her favor. "I am Elizabeth, a loyal servant of the God-Emperorw. Syladria of Alaitoc, I am aware of your purpose here. It's heartening to see you recognize the necessity of unity in the face of Chaos. Compared to the filth we fight, the tensions between our races are trivial. Cooperation is our only path to victory."

With that, Elizabeth performed a slightly awkward Eldar gesture of respect. Though her attempt was clumsy, it was enough to leave Syladria with a more favorable impression of the human leader. "We share a common goal—Rosina's death," Syladria said.

"And we need her body," Elizabeth countered without hesitation. "Her crimes against the Imperium—massacring civilians, attacking officials—must be judged. Even in death, justice must be declared."

"How can you use human laws to judge an Eldar?" Syladria asked sharply.

"Oh?" Elizabeth's smile didn't waver. "Do you still believe your friend is Eldar?"

Syladria fell silent. The Rosina she had known—the genius and pride of Alaitoc—was gone. In her place was a slave to Chaos, a puppet of Slaanesh. After a moment, Syladria relented. "Very well. You may take her body, but anything that belongs to my people must be returned."

"Agreed." Elizabeth stepped aside, motioning for Syladria to follow. "Now, let's discuss further details in the command post. We've been working to clean up the filth infesting the ancient city, but the situation is far from ideal. Fortunately, we've had assistance from a researcher familiar with the area, which has been invaluable."

"Lead the way." 

Elizabeth guided them past one of the Vulcan gun towers to a bunker partially buried in the ground. "This is our temporary headquarters," Elizabeth said as she gestured for them to enter. "It's far from luxurious, but we're not here for comfort. Please, come inside."

Inside, the command post was sparse but functional. Gustav was bent over a table, intently studying a map. Across from him sat Hilsa, the squadron leader, meticulously cleaning her firearm. Hilsa's focus was unshakable, her movements almost reverent. For her, weapon maintenance was more than a practical task—it was a ritual, akin to the way ancient knights tended to their swords after battle.

Elizabeth frowned slightly. "Hilsa, the weapons can wait until after the battle. Take my retinue, equip them with flamers, and ensure every trace of flesh outside is purged. Leave no residue of Chaos behind."

Hilsa set down her firearm without hesitation. "As you wish, my lady. I'll burn it all."

"Don't worry about the commotion outside," Elizabeth said, her tone calm as she gestured toward the military history map pinned to the wall. "Hilsa and the others are handling the cleanup. Let's focus on the current situation." She pointed to a location on the map. "We initially marked the dungeon entrance as our assembly point because we didn't anticipate it being overrun by Chaos corruption. Logically, that shouldn't have been possible. Until the ritual is complete and the dimensional gate stabilizes, no Seraphea should be able to breach the warp-tearing currents of an unstable passage. Higher-level Serapheas wouldn't risk the journey, and lesser ones would be shredded by the violent energy flows. Normally, such incursions are impossible."

Elizabeth paused, her expression hardening. "The plan was straightforward: bring the Eldar strike team to the dungeon, intercept Rosina, destroy her altar, and divide the spoils before heading back. That was Phase One. Phase Two involved baiting the defenders into ambush positions outside, where our forces could strike decisively. Ideally, we'd neutralize the Eldar as well—because no one underestimates their cunning and walks away unscathed." Her voice grew sharper. "But no one expected issues this early. The first step alone fell apart. We assumed Rosina was the only threat, focused on her rituals and vulnerable to a coordinated assault. Even if she was powerful, she couldn't stand against our combined strength."

Elizabeth's brow furrowed. "We didn't count on her having Chaos Serapheas as backup."

Kayvaan, standing beside her, crossed his arms. "Those Serapheas shouldn't be here. It's far too risky for them to cross unstable rifts. Yet they're here, hidden within the dungeon. Why?" He shook his head, clearly frustrated. "This doesn't add up."

Elizabeth nodded slightly but remained silent. In her mind, the answer was obvious: a more powerful Chaos entity was pulling the strings. Such entities cared little for the expendable lives of lesser Serapheas, using them as tools to achieve their goals. However, this wasn't something she intended to say aloud, especially not in front of their Eldar allies. Trust only went so far. "High-level Chaos Serapheas are far too calculated to waste resources on a whim," Elizabeth said cautiously. "There must be something in this dungeon they want—a prize worth the risk."

She glanced toward Kayvaan, who seemed deep in thought. "We could request immediate support from the Ebony Shadows," he muttered. "Ship-based artillery could level this place and destroy whatever Serapheas are after."

Elizabeth sighed. "If only it were that simple. The Adeptus Mechanicus would never allow it. Gustav's presence alone makes that option impossible."

"True," Kayvaan admitted, shaking his head. "Still, we can't afford endless speculation. Whatever Rosina and her Serapheas are planning, it ends here. Kill her, destroy the altar, and close the rift."

Elizabeth gave a curt nod. "Agreed. Now, onto practical matters," Elizabeth continued. "Before your arrival, I led a team into the dungeon for preliminary reconnaissance. It's as dangerous as you'd expect. Serapheas are lurking, ready to strike, so we couldn't risk going too deep. We lured some of them to the entrance and eliminated them, but we'll need to venture further this time. Be prepared." She gestured toward the map again. "This ancient city is anything but ordinary. It has a unique shielding effect—outside its gates, it appears completely mundane. Neither electronic instruments nor psychic detection work. The moment you step inside, though, it's like crossing into another reality. The air itself reeks of Chaos, and every breath carries its foul taint. Strangely, the corruption doesn't leak beyond the city's boundaries. It's as if the walls contain it."

Kayvaan frowned. "You mentioned interference. Is that why we can't pinpoint Rosina or the altar's location?"

"Exactly," Elizabeth confirmed. "It's as if the city was designed to block all psychic activity. Instruments are useless, and our spiritual senses are blinded. Tracking Rosina in these conditions will be nearly impossible."

Syladria, a veteran of countless battles, muttered under his breath. "An ancient city with this level of protection... it's incredible. How large is this place?"

"It's enormous," Gustav remarked as he placed a three-dimensional model on the table. The structure, made of interconnected metal rods, resembled a honeycomb.