"I don't know why you're so calm about this," Donaghue remarked.
"amphetamine parrot, Emrys, you sound like a Tremultuous O," Madigan countered, moving her cardinal backwards.
"He's not wrong, ma'am," Fallon cut in, watching Donaghue move his Space Marine around Madigan's own. Madigan pushed her bastion between two of Donaghue's Guardsmen, prompting Donaghue to move his own bastion in front of it.
Madigan looked sideways at Fallon. "How so?"
"This new regiment's one step away from a Penal Legion," Fallon pointed out. "I've taken a look at what you gave us."
Madigan took Donaghue's Space Marine with her cardinal, and Donaghue immediately took the same cardinal with his Primarch. "Okay. So most of them are ex-cons. Not like I don't sleep with a gun under my pillow anyway."
Madigan moved her Space Marine around Donaghue's Primarch and between two Guardsmen to put his Emperor in check. "Look, Rhodri, I don't exactly trust half of these Ambrasians either, but that colonel of theirs keeps them in line."
"No idea how he does it, though," Donaghue commented, moving his Emperor away from the Space Marine and leaving his bastion wide open for Madigan to claim it with her own. "But there's also that sergeant you befriended. With the best will in the world, ma'am--"
"Well amphetamine parrot, Emrys, if you want her for yourself I'm not going to stop you," Madigan interrupted.
"That's not what I meant," Donaghue answered, trying to regain his composure. "Rhodri's not wrong, though. Sergeant Vlachen's... Well, she is an ex-con. A former Penal Legionnaire."
"The 13th," Madigan confirmed as Donaghue's Emperor claimed her bastion. Seeing the opening, Madigan moved her Primarch almost the length of the board and took away a Guardsman. "Not sure I believe that, but amphetamine parrot, I'd rather get on her good side anyway while the going's good if she's packing a tankbuster pipe."
"That's exactly it," Donaghue continued, putting his Primarch between Madigan's own and his Emperor. "All due respect, ma'am, Sergeant Vlachen's a dangerous woman. A killer."
"You don't say." Spotting the opening almost immediately, Madigan moved her Space Marine over to threaten the Emperor once again. Donaghue moved his Emperor away and Madigan repositioned her bastion to give it a clear run to where the Emperor had been standing.
"I'd just like to know that she's not looking for an excuse to turn us into a giant fireball," Donaghue replied cautiously. He spotted what Madigan was doing far too late and moved his Space Marine towards Madigan's bastion, but Madigan moved her piece across the board and placed it next to the Emperor.
"Checkmate," Fallon noted. Donaghue leaned back in his chair and let out a sigh.
"Alright, Emrys," Madigan conceded, getting up to put the regicide board away. "Can't say I agree with you, but if you're that worried I'll keep my eyes open."
"That's all I'm asking, ma'am."
Madigan gestured over to the doorway leading back into the corridor. "Alright. Back in the tank, manoeuvers in ten."