7 years after the Battle for Ilano Primus
Sister Nimue stood guard outside the Barrack-Temple of the Order of the Ardent Soul, on the world of Baetica. She was a member of the ancient society of Adeptus Sororitas, warrior-woman of the Ecclesiarchy and of the Ordos Heraticus of the Emporers Inquisition.
She was clad in ornate gold and white power armour, among the best protection the imperium could provide, covered by sky blue robes.
Another sister came out to join her.
"Greetings Cannoness, what news?"
"Greetings Nimue. Still no news from our patrols. Communications are still down, though the short range vox-casters are still operational. I dont like this."
"What of the Astropath, is the witch still sickly?"
"Aye," replied Katrina, the Cannoness, with a grim face, "the witch mutters in his sleep about scratching, or clawing, or some such nonsense. when he is awake he speaks more nonsense of something covering up his connection to the warp, but what could do that?"
"I've heard stories of Tyranid invasions that would cut off entire sectors, but not until the xenos attacked. Or right before it. I would be much more comfortable about this if we could contact Governer Gruul."
On the horizon, a plume of dust rose from the grassy plains. "A patrol returning most likely, but you never know. call out Squad Luka," ordered Katrina. Nimue voxed the barracks, and shortly afterwords 10 sisters, lead by Sister Luka, quick-marched toward the gate. The precaution was not needed, and in half an hour a Sororitas Rhino pulled in front of the gate. Squad Breya filed out of the side hatch. "Greetings Breya, it seems my caution was for naught. For this I am glad. Luka, return to the barracks, Squad Breya, come with me for debreifing."
they made their way through the archways into the main hall of the complex. Inside, servitors and Ecclisiarchy serfs worked on the communications problem that had plagued the fort for a week.
Breya started her report, "Sister, it is not little that I have to say. Foul Xenos have landed on this, the Emporers world. They are Tau, of the water caste. a small ship landed less then a week ago and they talk with the governer of trade and other dealings that we cannot allow. When we reached the capital city, Granslund, they had already landed. we marched into the meeting hall of the palace, were they were already in conferance. short of killing all of the foul xenos, as we should have done, we told them that under order of the Adeptus Terra and the Eccilsiarchy this world belonged to the Emperor and the Imperium of Man, and that no Xenos could offer anything that we could not already have through the Emperor. Gruul was greatly angered, but we made him see sense. After all, the threat of the Inquisition does much to weaklings such as him."