Alice had been reading one of the informative tomes when two soldiers came into her room. From what basic knowledge of the Imperium's military forces she'd gleamed, she discerned the pair to be from an Army Grenadier Regiment.
Clad in heavy full body carapace armor and wielding hotshot lasrifles, they reported they had orders to bring her to meet with the command staff of the expedition.
She was slightly disturbed at how they spoke so clearly through armored masks that covered the entirety of their faces.
Now waiting outside the headquarters room, she saw the giant who'd freed her from slavery walk through its doors [https://img.wattpad.com/306322f0d6e63ab0b706fea9ff03bdcd32c97553/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4b773642723175347450737759673d3d2d313338313238303235342e313739613738336435306433336566383331303837303038383835392e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Now waiting outside the headquarters room, she saw the giant who'd freed her from slavery walk through its doors.
He gave her a polite nod and said: "Princess, if you would, follow me".
Turning around, Ghota walked back into the gathering with the bunny warrior and her two escorts in tow.
Imperial POV
The attendance of the meeting saw Ghota re-enter with a strange abhuman following behind, flanked by two grenadiers.
All except Arik Taranis and Count Formal were confused as to who this odd newcomer was.
Ghota gestured to Alice and introduced her to the leaders of the Expeditionary Army.
Ghota: Lords, ladies, may I introduce Princess Alice of the Bunny Warriors.
To the surprise of all, Alice brought her hands over her chest and performed a flawless aquila hand sign before bowing in greeting.
Alice had learned of this part of Imperial culture from some of the articles she'd read and asked the Iterator to teach her the universal gesture of respect and greeting of the Imperium. She knew if she was to establish ties with these other worlders, she would have to show her sincerity.
Straightening back up, she said: "Greetings esteemed heads of this army, as you were just informed, I am Princess Alice of the Warrior Bunny Tribes and I wish to join you in your fight against the Saderans".
Murmurs broke out as the members of the command staff discussed among themselves over this new development.
Some looked at the Princess with doubt, some with suspicion, others with curiosity. Fortunately, all of them seemed inclined to hear what the Primarch had planned instead of outright dismissing the abhuman as a needlessly complex unknown variable.
Arik Taranis lifted his hand and soon silence fell over the room.
Arik Taranis: First, to answer your question Magos, the individual I seek in the enemy's foremost city is the aunt of Princess Alice and Queen of the bunny warriors.
Agent Orval: And why is it that you wish to save this abhuman Queen and cooperate with these "Bunny Warriors" My Lord.
Agent Orval asked with a hint of confusion in his voice.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Arik Taranis: It is quite simple Agent Orval, we currently lack local support or precise intelligence over our foe other than general information given to us by prisoners and data collected from aerial reconnaissance. Furthermore, unless we desire to kill every single inhabitant of this planet while somehow keeping it habitable, we will need to acquire the loyalty of the planetary population. This shall be our first step in achieving these goals.
Looking back to Princess Alice, Arik continued.
Arik Taranis: Princess Alice, I have requested for some of the Imperium's most elite operatives to be sent from the other side of the anomaly. I swear upon my honor that your aunt will be freed within a week's time. In exchange, you will agree to gaining the support of your people.
Alice nodded and her face hardened as she stated solemnly.
Alice: So long as you keep your promise, I shall keep mine, My Lord. Once we have emerged victorious and my people liberated, I will swear loyalty to the Emperor and the Imperium.
"Very well" replied Arik before he looked at the assembled leaders.
Arik Taranis: You will all have one week and one week only to prepare your forces and plan for the strikes upon the enemy and the liberation of Italica. Once we have-
An adjutant came running into the HQ room, interrupting the Primarch. Panting and clearly out of breath, he drew the attention of everyone.
Arik glared at the adjutant and demanded an explanation.
Arik Taranis: Soldier! What is the meaning of this!?
The adjutant was stunned for a moment at having caught the ire of the Lighting Bearer, stuttering incoherently until ingrained military discipline kicked in.
Saluting as best he could in front of so many members of the Imperium's highest echelons, he reported.
???: My Lord, surveillance flights over the second Unknown Solid Terrestrial Portal Construct have reported a force of unknown size and origin exiting from it and battling the garrison of Saderan forces stationed there.
All members of the command staff were made speechless upon hearing this information except for the Proto-Primarch.
Quickly, Arik ordered, "Show me".
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The Lightning Bearer and all those around him gazed intensely at the holographic projection of the current activity taking place at the second Gate that'd replaced the image of the strategic map.
What could be seen from the high-resolution images being recorded from high altitude were the Saderan legions and their Auxiliaries being massacred by what appeared to be other humans.
Magos: *These recently arrived humans seem to possess technology just above that of the industrial era.*
Arik nodded, showing that he concurred with the Tech-Priest's analysis.
Judging by the vehicles, tanks and autoguns they used, the new arrivals were clearly more advanced than the locals of Falmart, but evidently still below Imperial standards of technology.
Though this certainly mattered little to those currently on the receiving end of their weapons.
Arik Taranis: Enhance the projection, search for any identifiable markings on these newcomers.
The adjutant manipulated the controls of the holo-table while uttering prayers to its machine- spirit as the images zoomed in closer.
Soon, flags could be seen flying on the back of the war machines firing on the Saderans and on the sleeves of the infantry supporting them, along with strange symbols that appeared to be the written language of the civilization from which these soldiers hailed from.
Arik Taranis: Magos, translate those symbols and scour the databases of your creed to find any data on them and the flag they fly from Terra's past [https://img.wattpad.com/7ba3094ec3c726dff51971c444450444a454422f/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5954586535396c356d315a4873513d3d2d313338313238303235342e313739613738356339643333663463663731363332333839353133342e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Arik Taranis: Magos, translate those symbols and scour the databases of your creed to find any data on them and the flag they fly from Terra's past. Colonel Faustus.
Colonel Domitius Faustus: Yes, My Lord.
Arik Taranis: Once the Third Reconnaissance Detachment returns, their new assignment will be making first contact with this new faction, consider this their...reward for insubordination. Castellan Brocious, have two legionaries from the Phoenix Blades temporally attached to the Third Recon, their diplomatic skills may prove useful.
Arik turned to the head Iterator and continued.
Arik Taranis: Prepare a member of your order to join the detachment to initiate talks immediately after a translation matrix has been created. Everyone, dismissed!
So did the JSDF fight there.
Author's Note: I'm not dead yet people!
Comments would be appreciated