The Wall. Westeros.
Inquisitor Allectus Jacobus of the Ordo Malleus was not used to having his orders questioned by anyone as even those of the Imperium who'd never heard of the Inquisition felt compelled to follow his orders if only because Allectus tended to be escorted by heavily armed people. However, Lord-Commander Mormount was not an Imperial citizen, as such he knew nothing of the God-Emperor or the authority that his divine majesty had entrusted to the Inquisition. Normally his ignorance would not have saved his life. What did save him was the Inquisitor needed the Lord-Commander's cooperation.
"The Night's Watch has been an independent organisation since its founding" argued the Lord-Commander.
Allectus was sitting in the commander's office and trying to make the man see sense. The Inquisitor's arrival had caused quite the stir given that he'd landed outside of Castle Black. Not one had even dared come near him at first other than one brave man called Jon Snow who'd approached the shuttle along with his animal companion. He didn't know much about the young Night Watch recruit, but Suzan seemed to think that he was important and she was a good judge of character, at least when you could understand her judgements.
"The world as you know it is over, Lord-Commander" stated the Inquisitor "The Imperium has come. You have already felt our presence".
Lord Jeor Mormont was no fool. He'd quickly realised that the shaking of The Wall and the appearance of a flying machine were connected, he just didn't understand how.
"What are your terms?" asked the leader of the Black Brothers.
The old bear figured might as well hear the man out.
"Join us and I will transform the Night's Watch from a collection of tired men and exiled criminals into a proper Imperial Regiment. You will have powerful weapons, all the supplies you need and I will bring hundreds of my own people to join you. We can restore and man all of the castles given enough time. I will find you many new recruits and have your men trained to use the weapons you will be supplied with. If the horrors to the north did survive the wrath I unleashed upon them then you will not be found unprepared when they attack The Wall. You know what kind of power I can unleash. Let me share some of it with you".
That was tempting. The Night's Watch was dying a slow death and the Lord-Commander knew this to be true.
"In return, I would expect you to make men available to me should I need their aid against what threatens mankind," said the Inquisitor "There is more out there than you know".
The Inquisitor had found warlocks and worse things in the far east. On the far side of Essos beyond the Five Forts was a land not that different from the lands beyond The Wall only with deserts and jungles rather than snow and haunted forests. Foul things roamed in those lands, mutant creatures and cannibal raiders. Orbital bombardment would take care of many of the threats, but men would need to be sent in to be sure. Just as they would need to go north to ensure that the dead were defeated.
For that, the Inquisitor needed his own army. The Night's Watch wasn't much, but they were sworn to guard the realms of men and didn't answer to any lord other than the one they chose. Many of the Black Brothers were better suited to a penal legion than the kind of regiment that the Inquisitor needed to build so he would need to 'borrow' at least a few squads of veteran men from the Lord-General and as many navy armsmen as could be spared. They could train the Black Brothers and help prepare them for the conflicts ahead.
As for that Jon Snow lad that Suzan seemed so taken with, perhaps it was time that the Inquisitor took on an apprentice, someone who could carry on his work should he fall.
"You will remain Lord-Commander and oversee the formation of the new regiment which will carry on your traditions and swear the same oaths," said the Inquisitor "I will find someone who can serve as your aide, someone who can help you transform The Night's Watch".
Once all the men here had lasguns, with a mixture of flamers and other support weapons mixed in, they'd become much more effective against the dead. Should any remain. Given training could go beyond Westeros to fight in lands they'd never heard about, but that would take time. Thankfully the Inquisitor had it.
"What will you do if I refuse?" the old bear wondered.
He'd seen the strange weapons carried by the Inquisitor's warrior and the heavily armoured woman. He didn't know their power he just understood that they were dangerous. Given that the New Doom had shaken The Wall the Lord-Commander imagined that The Wall could be brought down as well.
"Then I will gather what man I can and take The Wall from the south," said the Imperial "Your traditions will be lost and new Night's Watch will be set up".
Mormont knew that it would be pointless to resist people who could make The Wall shake and make metal machines that flew.
"I will inform the brothers of what must happen if we are to survive," said the Lord-Commander.
They wouldn't like it, but there wasn't much they could do about the coming changes other than accepting them or be wiped out. Even if the armies of The North came to their aid it might not matter given that these Imperials could summon up the kind of power to cause a New Doom.
"I will give you a few days to decide," said the Inquisitor.
With that, he left the Lord-Commander's office knowing that Jeor Mormont had a lot to think about.