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---------------04:13 Shipboard Time---------------

Catherine ran her hand through her brown hair, walking briskly towards the darkened vehicle bay of the Ardent Flame. She didn't know who had summoned her, or why, but she had so many friends – and enemies – that it paid to be ready for anything. Replacing her commissar's cap onto her head, she ensured her power-blade was charged and her laspistol ready before entering the vehicle bay.

It was dark. The walls of the bay thrummed with power, and dim lights on the ceiling flickered on fluctuating circuits. Catherine was unsure where to go, so she walked carefully towards the Indomitable, her personal vehicle. 'Being the Regimental Commissar for an armored regiment has its perks' she thought as she ran her hands up and down the ancient armored plates of the Malcador tank. “It's really a beautiful vehicle, isn't it?” said a voice in the darkness, as if it could read her mind. “Ancient of provenance, with quite the history behind it. Now, I suppose you're wondering what I invited you here to discuss?” A well-dressed woman with a holstered pistol and a bionic hand stepped out from the lee of the Indomitable, tipping her hat.
“Yes, yes I have been.” replied Catherine.
“Do you know of the reports you've been filing on the Xenos Tau? Addressed to a certain Inquisitor?”
“Yes, I do. They're a secret...”
“Not from everyone, my dear” replied the stranger. “In fact, Inquisitor Grendel and I are working together. I have something for you, Commissar Lynaris.”
Taken aback, Catherine replied “I see. I believe you have me at a disadvantage – I do not know your name.”
“Verily. It was important, for a time, that I hide my identity. I am Inquisitor Illyria Cortant, of the Ordo Hereticus. I was investigating Grendel for his radical obsession with Xenos artefacts, before I realized that he has a point.”
“Xenos artefacts? That's why we've been reporting on the Tau war-engines?”
“Precisely, Commissar. Now you're getting it. As for why I'm here...”

The Inquisitor stepped backwards, pressing a small button held in her palm. Behind her, a large set of crates that had been on the Ardent Flame before the arrival of the Concordian armored regiment collectively began to open. Inside were three massive shapes, but they were hard to make out in the darkne- 'Wait.' thought Catherine. 'They can't be...' But they were. A trio of Tau Hammerhead battletanks sat in the bay. Catherine could feel the tension in the room rise by a fraction. If anyone else had witnessed the revelation...
“These are Tau Hammerhead tanks. You've fought them before, in the Damocles Gulf.” said the Inquisitor.
“Yes, they are.” replied Catherine flatly.
“These aren't just any Hammerheads, however, Commissar. These are specially refitted and reverse-engineered to fit and be operated by a human crew.”
Catherine trembled slightly. “You want us to put our tank crews in those machines? Omnissiah preserve us from such illogic!”
“Yes, Commissar. That is exactly what I expect of you.”

---------------13:43 Shipboard Time---------------

The mood around the table was tense. Lieutenant Royan banged his fist on the table, practically shouting: “We cannot undertake such a task. Even with the protections of an Inquisitor, we would be committing heresy in the eyes of the Adeptus Mechanicus and our souls would be forfeit from the Emperor. This Inquisitor is not -” With the click and whine of precision bionics, Marshal Orlov Malinenko cut the Lieutenant off before he could finish with the clenching of his right hand. The ensuing silence lasted some time, with only the half-cybernetic breathing of the Marshal audible in the smoke-filled room as he puffed on his cigar.

At last, after what seemed like an eternity, he spoke: “I lost the right side of my body to a Tau Railgun.” Regimental Commissar Catherine Lynaris subtly smiled, having heard the story more than once. Marshal Malinenko went on: “The filthy Xenos' first round glanced off the turret armor of good Steelhearted, but the second round went clear through the gun mantlet. Tore me practically in half, obliterated my gunner, and pulverized my loader's bones with it's passage. If Feist hadn't been so good on the lascannon, I'm sure it's third shot would've finished us.” Orlov paused, scanning the room slowly with his head, like a tank's turret slowly rotating. “Fortunately, House Malinenko pulled out all the stops and pulled in all the favors, and the Adeptus Mechanicus was able to put me back together again.” Commissar Lynaris guessed where this was going. “Imagine, now, if we had those railguns. They can't compete with our Vanquishers, perhaps, but they'd go a long way to improving the main gun of our basic Russ.” 'That was a bold statement', thought Catherine, as she said “And of course, gentlemen, all of this is strictly confidential.” A murmur of “Yes ma'am” and “Of course, Commissar” ran around the conference table.

“I want to issue the Hammerheads to a new squadron. We'll call it Detachment 217, in honor of the Inquisitor's shipping number.” Malinkeno gestured to the silent Inquisitor next to him as he spoke. “I want Lieutenant Sopal as squadron commander, and he'll have anyone he needs for the other two vehicles. Understood, Lieutenant?” The Marshal's gaze settled on a lieutenant near the middle of the table. “Yes, Marshal, perfectly clear!” the Lieutenant replied with a lisp born from a scar that ravaged his once beautiful face. “Good, Lieutenant.” replied the Marshal, cracking a smile with the half of his face that still could. “That settles it for now, then, ladies and gentlemen. Unless you have any words for us, Commissar Lynaris.” With the whine of bionics, Marshal Malinenko stood up, gathering up his cap and his cane. The gesture said far more than his words – he did not want the Commissar to speak. Catherine decided to defer to him in front of the Inquisitor, but she would be sure to take such matters up with the Marshal in private, later...