The Eldar Ranger materialized from the shadows like a ghost, her long rifle still smoking. "Your war beasts hunt well, mon-keigh," she said, "but they track the wrong prey." I might have taken offense, but we'd fought alongside these Rangers for three weeks against the Tyranid splinter fleet. They'd earned the right to speak plainly.
She pointed into the darkness. Our beasts had been tracking a Tyranid scout strain, but her warning made me look deeper. There, almost invisible - the faintest shimmer of a Lictor's chameleonic scales. The Rangers had saved us from an ambush.
"We fight together today," I acknowledged, careful to maintain formal distance despite our cooperation. "Tomorrow, the hunt may find us on different paths." She nodded, understanding the unspoken boundary. We could coordinate against this threat without compromising our respective loyalties.
The League of Votann's weapon designs were magnificent. As I watched their heavy weapon teams coordinate with our assault squads, every instinct as a Smith yearned to study their technology. But that way lay danger - not just from potential censure, but from the very real risk of compromising our chapter's technological purity.
"Your war beasts guide our targeting solutions well," their Forge-master commented. I simply nodded, directing the conversation toward tactical matters rather than technical specifications. We could appreciate each other's effectiveness without crossing the line into technical exchange.
When they offered to "improve" our weapons' targeting systems, I politely but firmly declined. Better to maintain clear boundaries than risk even the appearance of technological contamination.
The joint operation with Craftworld Mymeara required delicate handling. Their Farseers' precognitive abilities complemented our war beasts' hunting instincts perfectly, but we had to be careful. Too much coordination could raise uncomfortable questions from Imperial authorities.
We developed a system of indirect cooperation. Our war beasts would mark targets with their behavior, which the Eldar Rangers would then eliminate from extreme range. No direct communication, no explicit coordination - just two forces working in parallel against a common enemy.
When their Farseer offered to enhance our beasts' capabilities through some Eldar sorcery, I refused. Some lines cannot be crossed, even in the name of tactical advantage.
The League vessels made excellent screening units for our void operations, their heavy guns complementing our strike cruisers' mobility. But when their Guildmaster suggested a permanent joint patrol arrangement, I had to refuse.
"We appreciate your effectiveness," I told him carefully, "but our paths must remain separate. We can coordinate against mutual threats when they arise, nothing more." He seemed to understand, responding with a practical counter-offer - they would share void-traffic data through Imperial authorities, maintaining proper protocol.
Sometimes the best cooperation is the most indirect, maintaining effectiveness without compromising loyalty.
The war beasts sensed the Eldar before we did, but their reaction was unexpected. Instead of hostility, they showed the same alertness they display when working with fellow hunters.
The Eldar Rangers moved like predators themselves, and the beasts recognized kindred hunters.
This presented a challenge. While their natural affinity made coordination more effective, we had to be careful not to let it develop into something more. I kept the beasts at a professional distance from our temporary allies, maintaining clear separation even as we worked together.
When the Rangers offered to share their beast-handling techniques, I declined. Some knowledge is better left unshared, no matter how tactically useful it might be.
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