'You see, Korvane, this region has long been settled by mankind, but has never attained the status of those sectors closer to me centres of power. The Timbra Subsector, and the entire Borealis Ring lie at the furthest extent of Ultima Segmentum. We look to the Segment Fortress at Kar Duniash for aid in times of strife, yet we would do as well to petition Terra herself for help, for bodi are so distant that we would be long in our graves before any arrived. Thus, we may look only to ourselves, or to third parties, such as you, when times are hard'

The growling of the engines of armoured vehicles filled the valley floor once more. Korvane knew that the regiment of self-propelled artillery crawling by were called basilisks.

Droon was forced to raise his voice over the roar. 'And that, Korvane, is the reason for all this! The Imperial Commander spread his arms wide, the gesture encompassing the vast parade and the entire valley floor. 'You see. Droon shouted, 'Luneberg's forebears owe my own a debt of honour, and the interest has grown quite considerably'

'What debt my lord? Korvane asked, his own voice raised.

'The debt of ages, Korvane. You see, many, many generations past, my own ancestors and those of Luneberg entered into a partnership. They formed the core of a trade consortium that they intended would in time grow to encompass all the worlds of the subsector, and eventually, they hoped, bring prosperity to the entire Eastern Rim'

'A noble ambition' Korvane replied, seeing the sense in the region's worlds uniting in a common purpose.

'The intentions of my own ancestors were indeed noble, but this was sadly not so in the case of Luneberg's. It appears that, several years after the cartel was established, they decided to renegotiate its terms. You see, Mundus Chasmata and Arris Epsilon had established a profitable partnership, and were on the verge of bringing other worlds in the subsector into talks. However, Luneberg's forebears wished to dominate the emerging bloc, and displayed no qualms in reneging on the terms of the cartel's creation. They wished to cut us out, Korvane, and to establish themselves as the preeminent power in the Timbra subsector. You yourself have seen this propensity to dishonour, have you not Korvane?

Korvane thought back to the talks between his father and the Imperial Governor of Mundus Chasmata, realising that indeed, Luneberg appeared to believe he had some Emperor-granted right to change the terms of the agreement upon a whim. 'Indeed, my lord, I have seen it, and it helps to explain some of what Luneberg was attempting to gain from dealing with the Arcadius'

'Yes, he was almost certainly attempting to revive the ambitions of his forebears, to establish himself as a new power. However, I have good reason to believe he planned to do so not to build unification of trade interests, but for entirely selfish reasons. I believe Luneberg sees himself as superior to his neighbours, and wishes to establish direct power over the entire region. The man is a traitor and a bastard, the latest in a long, long line of traitorous bastards'

Korvane nodded, raising his magnoculars once more, and looking down towards the valley floor. He saw that the last of the Arris Epsilon Planetary Defence Force was filing by, ranks upon ranks of troopers, each bearing aloft a pennant sporting the crest of the House of Droon — an eagle's wing upon a golden circle, against a black field. Droon had good cause to launch a pre-emptive strike against his neighbour, for Luneberg was clearly mad, and more than likely to drag the entire region into madness with him.

'And so, Korvane, I have taken steps to curtail his ambitions, here, and now' Droon looked to the sky as he spoke. 'You see, we do not have our own fleet, such is the hardship imposed upon us by Luneberg's self-interest, but I have initiated a plan in which yours will play a leading role'

Korvane followed the Imperial Commander's gaze, craning his neck to look up into the sky.

Droon continued, 'Your coming here was unexpected, but fits my plan well' He turned as he stared up into the sky. 'Your fleet will transport my troops, while theirs… Droon pointed into the sky, 'will utterly destroy Luneberg's puny system defence force'

Korvane followed Droon's gesture, blinking against the glare and initially unable to see just what it was he was pointing at.

'After they have bombed his cities from orbit, my armies will land. Thanks to you Korvane, this will not be a mere raid. It will be a full-scale invasion.

Korvane's vision adjusted to the glare as he squinted into the bright sky. A dark spot appeared, swooping out of the sun's coronal halo. It separated into a number of smaller forms, moving at speed and in perfect formation. They grew in size as they approached, and within less than a minute, Korvane could see that they were vessels.

'My lord? he said, looking to Droon for some explanation of this new development. The Imperial Commander merely chuckled, not taking his eyes off the incoming ships.

Korvane gathered his thoughts, forcing himself to adopt an outward calm that he did not entirely feel within. As he watched, he saw that there were five vessels inbound on their own position, each somewhat larger than the shuttles the Arcadius made use of for interface operations.

The ships were wide and flat, with the distinct appearance of some bizarre sea creature. A wide, curved delta wing bristled with weapons turrets, a double hammerhead shape forming the prow. Korvane saw instantly that these vessels were of undoubted xenos origin, for no human ship he had ever seen moved so smoothly through the air, or, he realised with a shock, so quietly, for the vessels made barely a sound as they swept in.

'They are quite beautiful, in their way, are they not, Korvane? Droon asked, still not taking his gaze away from the sight of the alien vessels' approach.

Korvane had seen alien ships before, been onboard them in fact, and spoken with their masters, but nonetheless, he could not identify the origins of these vessels. 'Indeed, my lord. Might I ask-

'Who they are? Droon now turned to face Korvane. 'They are my new allies, or more accurately, they are mercenaries, willing to fight for our cause against the likes of Luneberg'

They were better equipped than any mercenary company Korvane had ever encountered, but at least that put them in Droon's employ, he thought, which might serve to keep them under control. 'And their origin? he asked.

'The galactic east, so I am told, beyond the Ring. Droon said, his tone dismissive.

'Across the Gulf? Korvane asked, unsure from Droon's answer whether the Imperial Commander was being evasive, or was merely ignorant of the issue.

'I could not say with any certainty, Korvane, and I would scarcely expect them to divulge the location of their world. I do not care from where they come, merely that their service will enable me, us, once and for all, to curtail Luneberg's treacherous ambitions. Do you condemn me, Korvane?

'Of course not, my lord' Korvane answered. Droon evidently felt some unease with the fact that he was forced to employ hireling xenos to prosecute his war, but Korvane was the scion of a rogue trader dynasty, and above such concerns. 'I merely ask out of curiosity, for I like to know with whom I deal'

'Commendable, I'm sure' replied Droon. 'Few men would understand the plight we on the Eastern Rim must face. Few would understand the means we must go to in order to defend ourselves from those who covet what little we have. Ah! Look, they land'

The five alien vessels had completed their approach run, and now lingered in almost complete silence over the valley floor. Korvane saw that they hovered over the only area of ground not occupied by the precisely arrayed defence force units. As he watched, the air beneath each shimmered, the tell-tale indication, Korvane knew, of powerful gravity drives in action. They would have to be powerful, he thought, to hold aloft the bulk of these craft.