The shock, though … the shock. Imagine thinking that this crowning jewel of the Empire’s defense—this place where war heroes and saviors are minted—imagine thinking it must be more secure and better protected than anywhere else in the Empire. Especially with its location in the duchy of Remus, jowl to jowl with the Capital itself. Surely something like that would be absolutely safe and far beyond the reach of the Heretics. Surely they could not besmirch a place so holy, so girded by the Grace of the Forge. And yet Angelsteeth Base suffered insult from the Heretics on a repeating basis. An attack every month that they barely repelled. Imagine being told that the Heretics have been tamed by the Truce of Logan—which none of the true Faithful desired—only to find out that the Heretics have been attacking a sacred base for years, with no consequences to show for it? The anger resulting would have set off a conflagration that the Throne could not contain. And the Imperial seat of power had its reasons for allowing the attacks to continue. Reasons of political expediency … some might even say cowardice on the part of the Emperor. But that is for historians to decide.

In any case, the banquet of Angelsteeth—all four courses, and the dishes and servings that comprise them—were sworn to secrecy. The truth of their situation classified and forbidden to leave the bounds of the station, on pain of court-martial and death. The one tasked with holding this secret together, the one expected to keep the iron bind around the mouths of their soldiers, was none other than the station’s commander.

General Tsung. Their background is frighteningly similar to that of your beloved Misery Nomaki. Born on a supergrav moon to parents in the clergy. Raised religious, but turned cynical by years of operating in a system that ran counter to everything they’d been taught. Despairing in matters of faith and war until a miracle crashed into their life and changed its direction.

For years the General simmered in frustration directed at the Throne, whose passivity in the war they considered an affront to the tenets of the Faithful. They had disapproved of the Truce of Logan and sent strong word of said disapproval to the Capital. But it was no use, of course. The Throne did, does, and continues to do what it wants. It expected the General to sit on their hands and follow its orders even if those orders said Thou shalt not raise thine hand against thy enemy.