prostitute in Bar-Khos enlists herself in the army as a medic. On the orders of general Creed of Khos all convicted prisoners and those deemed too unfit for duty are enlisted into the Army. One of them is Bull who was previously discharged from the army for assaulting his senior officer. He later became a pit-fighter. He was found drenched in the blood of Adrianos, a commander who led the last successful offensive against the Imperial Fourth Army. Ash agrees to become the bodyguard of Mistress Cheer and her group of women who are prostitutes following the army. Ash sneaks away in the night and makes his way to the Matriarch's tent which is heavily guarded. He makes his way to her tent by killing a sentry and stealing his clothes and almost reaches the enclosure. Inside Sasheen and her inner circle are having an orgy with narcotics and slaves in celebration of having landed with the army, Ché is also present although he's not participating. The next morning soldiers looking for the person who killed the guard question Ash but Mistress Cheer covers for him. He parts ways with her after refusing to answer her questions. Sasheen sends Alarum as her ambassador to General Creed. He lays out the terms of surrender to creed with the threat that if he refuses every person of Khos will be killed and also offers him an ornate ceremonial dagger of Mann whose purpose is to take once own life. Creed attacks the Mann army in the night at first they make good progress but are later halted taking heavy losses. In the confusion Ash tries to reach Sasheen, Ché shoots Sasheen in the confusion and Ash collapses after he almost reaches her. Ché grabs Ash and they escape. Sasheen is still alive but barely. The Khos army reaches the city of Tume, they plan for a retreat by destroying the bridge. Ash, Ché and Curl are also in the city. While Ash is recovering Ché meets Curl and they escape from the twins Guan and Swan who were sent to kill Ché as he's been labeled a traitor. Once it became clear that the Tume cannot be held, Creed and the soldiers abandon Tume, However, there are still several people in the city itself including Ash, Ché and Curl. Sasheen has been poisoned by Ché's bullet. Only the Royal Milk is helping