"General Hanks! Sitting here patiently instead of locking you up is already the greatest leniency I can offer! A Space Marine Chapter, twenty million Astra Militarum troops, and support from the Adeptus Mechanicus, and you couldn't even hold a remote star system!"
Fury burned in Sahansen's eyes, clouded with age.
"In my plans, you should have been able to hold the Euronia System for at least a century. If all the Imperium's armies were this useless, the Imperium of Man would have fallen long ago!"
Hanks's cheeks flushed crimson at Sahansen's pointed humiliation. Stiffening his neck, he spoke in a rapid rush. "Lord Inquisitor! I cannot accept such insults! The soldiers of the Astra Militarum fought bravely and sacrificed themselves for the Emperor; the Navy's officers worked together to fight Tyranids several times their number in space; even as the battle collapsed around them, the Space Marines chose to deploy by drop pod and nearly killed the Ork Boss!"
"They were all brave warriors! Their loyalty was beyond words!"
Lawrence, Chapter Master of the Xenos Slayers Chapter, also stared at Sahansen with a murderous gaze. His hand tapped restlessly at his side, as though another word from this human disrespecting his brothers would drive him to do something rash.
"Yes! They were all brave warriors! Their loyalty was beyond words!" Sahansen repeated in an even louder voice, utterly overwhelming Hanks.
"I've reviewed some of the combat records. I know Kester. He was a loyal and courageous man. This time, even the Imperial Navy, which so often looked down on the Astra Militarum, actively coordinated its efforts and fought a bloody battle against the Tyranids." Sahansen turned to Lawrence. "The Adeptus Astartes Chapter lost not only three companies of brothers, but also its Librarian and its precious ten-thousand-year-old Dreadnoughts."
Hanks and