Well then, you have the psychic-heavy Children of Apep, the large and advanced Tau Empire, the Dark Eldar raiders the Kabal of the Bleeding Thorn and the mercenary outfit the Dogs of War.

You visit the Kabal of the Bleeding Thorn

"Uh... Karth?" your pilot asks nervously through the speaker, as the shuttle docks into the ship. "Do... do I get one of your bodyguards? Best to keep an escape route open, right?"


"Yeah, I'll do that," you respond, nodding to the massive, gas-mask wearing Tribal Opie and a gladiator holding a pair of plasma pistols. 


"Got it, boss," the gladiator says, as you look around at the rest of your group.


Seeing as the Dark Eldar are almost certainly the most likely group to betray you of any in the Galaxy, you've stocked up on guards. The best of your forces surround you, ready to die for you. You've left your lieutenants on the ship so if it does go to shit, you'll have the majority of your leaders intact to continue your work. Only Fay has come with you, as your attempts to get her to stay led to her threatening to


"Knock out your teeth without needing to put her hand in your mouth". You didn't ask whether she'd punch out the back of your head, or go a... darker route.


The shuttle doors open, as your group raises their weapons. Three Dark Eldar stand there, there outfits adorned with blades and spikes. They're tall, dark figures, with a sense of misery reeking off them.


"Good evening," the only unhelmeted one says, its lips twisting upwards in a sick mockery of a smile."


"You must be Archon Merideza"


"Absolutely. I assume it's a pleasure," the Archon grins.


"You were allies to my predecessor, yes? Kyros?" you ask.


"Ah, yes. Kyros. Such an unfortunate man. I remember when he first came to me having such delusions of grandeur. Ending slavery, crushing Terra, becoming Emperor of Man! What a dreaded fool!" the Archon says, her grin looking more and more predatory with every minute. "I'll assume you're not as idiotic, are you?"


"I'll be optimistic and assume I'm not. I'm here to negotiate a non-aggression pact and an allian..."


"Yes, yes, this was expected. Well, we'll be clear. I assume you know of us and our past. I won't try to deceive you with lies, seeing as it'll be obvious. We're raiders. We raid the weak. You, however, are not weak, and not worth raiding. Stay strong, and that'll act as a non-aggression pact. Now, in terms of an alliance... if you're asking us to come to your aid when you're in trouble, we won't. We don't expect that of you."


"So, is that it, then?" you ask.


"No. We'd like to extend the offer we had with Kyros. When we're raiding, you can join us for raids on more high value, heavily defended targets, and we split the reward."


"We'll keep it in mind," you say guardedly.


"Terrific!" Merideza smiles.


"So... we need to talk specifics. What forces do you control, and what raider groups have pledged themselves to you?"


The Archon's "smile" droops, revealing a sneer that looks to be her face's natural position.


"We'll tell you about a job that needs assistance with, you'll tell us if you're willing and able to help us on it. That's it. Understood?"


You glare at the Archon, before nodding slowly.


"Surely if this was all you were willing to say, we could've done this through comms without me needing to come all the way out here."


Merideza smiles once more.


"I wanted to look you in the eyes," she says.


You stare at Merideza, before getting back into the shuttle.