WH40K In service to the Imperium: Episode 6 [IC]

[Legital]

Imperial system J897
Halo zone
Chartered transport Shining Glory
Thermidorian Barracks

Commissar Claus looked Corporal Deboyne over. He hadn't, to his knowledge, met the woman before nor seen her uniform variant amongst the Thermidorians. He knew how few women were actually front-line infantry combatants, but her armor certainly didn't belong to that of a vehicle crewman, so he supposed that the Thermidorians possibly received some reinforcement since the time after Pan Arcadia, or that they were breaking out some armor for the women. Either way, that was not important at the moment.

"I am looking for Colonel Vanhayn, or Captain Irvine. Even Commissar Scharnblücher will be acceptable. I, along with Captain Weimar and First Sergeant Bayer, would be most appreciative if you could direct us to one of them, Corporal." Claus said, taking a glance at the other two Higarans.

Weimar, and Bayer as well, were silently impressed with the woman. Claus had told them about the Thermidorians, and how they inducted many women into the Imperial Guard. On Higara, that was unheard of. Only men were capable of volunteering and being conscripted; women were allowed as auxiliary personnel or medicae, but not as Guardsmen. The rigid and clear speaking corporal seemed to put some holes in the idea that women couldn't serve like men, but Weimar wanted to see them in combat first, despite having heard Claus' stories. Anyone could show proper military discipline. It was how they acted on the field that mattered.

[Aelosia]

Imperial system J897
Halo zone
Chartered transport Shining Glory
Thermidorian Barracks

Corporal Deboyne followed Claus' glance at Claus' companions for less than a second before redirecting her stare again at some undefined point in nowhere. During that instant, however, Claus, as a trained product of the Imperium's Scholam, could see a clear defined emotion. And that emotion was contempt, expressed by a haughty rictus in the left corner of the Corporal's mouth. The moment was so brief that it dissappeared almost as soon as it appeared, but it was there. "Colonel Vanhayn and Captain Irvine are away on a Cadre Gathering, Commissar Sire" said the woman without ceasing her strict monotone speech. "Commissar Scharblücher might or might not be attending military discipline duties, but I will guide you to my current commanding officer so she can give you further directions on how to meet the Colonel. Please do follow me".

Clicking her heels again, the woman rotated on the spot flawlessly, as in on a parade, and started to walk towards the bulwark, that opened with a whoosh after she pressed some sort of pad at the side of it. At the other side of the door, five additional troopers dressed in the same attire stood firm, unmoving, as if they were standing there in the same way all the whole time. And perhaps they were. There was something that could be easily pinpointed about the Cuirassiers uniforms and equipment...It was perfectly groomed, painted and maintained, looking as new. In fact, under careful detailing it didn't look new, it was new. Even the most carefully groomed trooper in the Imperium could not maintain their equipment in such a pristine state after seeing action. Claus knew thermidorians were careful around protocols and dressing codes, but even the matt black paint on the weapons of the Grenadiers was entirely uniform, without firing marks or a single scratch. Their armor could be repainted and polished, but the plates protecting these soldiers had no dents, no imperfections, even smelling as if they had just taken out from a Munitorum box.

The corporal passed through her companions as if they did not exist, expecting Claus and the others to follow. One of the members of the strange standing parade detached herself from the group and crossed the bulwark before it closed again, clearly going to take the post the Corporal had left empty. Deboyne led Claus through a short hallway before the group came out into a large nave cradled inside the cargo hold, filled with vehicles of different sorts. At the beginning, Claus could see about a dozen of parked Taurox vehicles, usually deployed by Tempestus Scions, but this ones were modified with wheels and painted in the traditional grey and blue thermidorian colors. As the Cuirassiers they had seen, this group of vehicles seemed too new, a couple of them even still covered by some sort of protective covering sporting a symbol from a Forge World, and still smelling of fresh paint. More Cuirassiers hanged around, dressed in full battle kit as if they did not take a single moment of respite outside of it, toting their guns around with intent when they saw the trio of strangers, although all of them did rest into guarding postures when they saw Deboyne leading them.

After leaving the Taurox behind, the group walked surrounded by more vehicles covered by protective fabric until they reached another group of threads. These ones were almost too familiar to Claus, as they were the Hydra and Basilisks mobile platforms he did know from previous campaigns alongside the thermidorians. These vehicles did look different from the ones before, looking battered and well used, many of them even then being repainted or in the final stages of extensive repairs. The sounds of mechanical devices echoed everywhere, and the light from blowtorches illuminated the scene from several different places. Instead of the unmoving Cuirassiers, this place was filled with frantic activity, as thermidorian soldiers dressed in the common tanker fatigues Claus was familiar with walked around holding tools and pieces, or were busy working on the vehicles, most of them applying some sort of base to their painting.

Corporal Deboyne stopped right in front of a stash of dented armored plates removed, clearly showing of battle damage, and a couple of figures standing next to them. The Cuirassier clicked her heels together producing the already typical sound, but it was somewhat lost in the hammering and and welding taking place nearby, so she had to repeat the gesture two more times until she got the attention of whoever she was looking for. After a brief exchange of words with someone in a low voice, the Corporal turned again in the spot with the same discipline as earlier, and then left the way she came, not saying another word at the higarans, not even directing her glance at them again.

A figure in traditional thermidorian fatigues, with oil stains and welding soot showing everywhere approached the higaran trio, and stopped right in front of them. The woman was wearing a beret on her head, with the Captain insignia attached to it, and walked towards Claus as in awe. As she stopped right under his nose, being smaller than he was, he could see her neck was surrounded sy some sort of neck brace or cervical collar with a crude speaker grafted on front, and a black balaklava covering the woman's features with the exception of the eyes.

Those eyes took a long glance at Claus, one of them milky white and without eyelids. Then she spoke, with an eerie mechanical voice that came out from her neck and not from her mouth. "My oh my, for a moment there I thought I was seeing some ghosts. Amsel and Hess, entering here as so many years before...But you aren't Amsel, no, I saw him die, a good death that one got. You were his kid, his...Student. Now a full-fledged Commissar now, aren't you? Older...Scarred...Grim. Good to know, good to know war makes grown men out from some and husks from others".

As she spoke, she moved her head side to side, as if trying to get a better look of Claus, at the same time showing a red ribbon arranged in the form of a flower attached right under the edge of her beret. "You can't recognize me now. No face, no voice. War took them both. I knew you once, Amsel...No, Claus, wasn't it? Claus the Kiddo, now Commissar Claus, Sire".

"And that one isn't Hess neither", said the woman peering to Weimar. "Hess was handsome, oh he was. This one just has the moustache!...Bzzz...Bzzz...Bzzz", the voice interrupted itself, after a second of high pitched static noise. "I guess you lads will be meeting the Colonel, as she has been waiting for you quite a while. She called for you on her Regiment, requested you specifically, Claus, because she failed to get you killed at Arcadia, so she wants to finish the job, as she will do with us all. Maybe she'll manage to get Hess killed again, or whoever this one is Bzzz...Bzzz...Bzzz...", shrieked the apparatus that gave voice to the woman, seemingly uncapable of reproducing whatever sound the throat was trying to produce, scaringly similar to a husky laugh.

"But enough nonsense. I imagine you are expected by the Colonel at the Officer's meeting, Commissar Amsel...Not Amsel, Claus it is. Sorry, my skull doesn't weld properly sometimes...Bzzz...Bzzz...Bzzz....I'll guide you there, if you care to follow", she said, gesturing Klaus to follow her to a different hallway to the other side of the nave.

[Legital]

Imperial system J897
Halo zone
Chartered transport Shining Glory
Thermidorian Barracks

The three Higarans walked in silence as they followed Corporal Deboyne deeper into the Thermidorian section. All three eyed the other armored women with some curiosity; this was not because they were fair members of the opposite sex, but because of their attire and equipment. A Guardsmen didn't see new equipment often. Certainly armor and weapons could be adjusted and maintained over time, along with vehicles and heavier equipment, but anything that served in the field could be identified but various factors. A scratch here along the flank of a lasgun, some pitting along the top of a helmet, the dulling of paint, or fraying of clothing. These were not particularly hard to notice. But anything that was so shockingly new that it appeared to have been fresh off of a manufactorum's assembly stood out like an ork attempting to pass itself off as a human.

Weimar and Bayer were not particularly impressed, but from what they remembered from Claus, these Thermidorians seemed...different. The heavier armor and weapons was a dead give away, and the rigid parade ground formality of the cuirassiers was somewhat of a surprise as well. Many veteran units weren't as concerned with parade ground formality as greener ones, but Weimar could think of several that were. From the things Claus said, Weimar got the impression that the Thermidorians were professional, strict, and efficient. What he saw from the cuirassiers was relatively haughty.

Even though Claus was a step in front of him and Bayer, Weimar could tell the young commissar felt the same. Perhaps things changed in the time he was gone, or perhaps, as he was thinking, new Thermidorians had reinforced the others. That wasn't uncommon for Higaran regiments that were close enough to home, but there were those unlucky enough to get sent far enough away that the practical aspect of homeworld reinforcement was overlooked completely.

When the environment opened into the active area of working woman and gathered vehicles, the three Higarans visibly relaxed. Grenadiers were often lower class citizens, so the parade ground was not their natural habitat. Claus was still young, and had learned under the likes of Amsel, Hess, and Gustav. His service with them left more of an impression than his years at the Scholam. As Amsel had once said, a trooper shouldn't despise a commissar for being disciplined. The trooper should feel ashamed. Not to mention that the sudden cruelty a 'nice' commissar could show was more shocking and created a better response that brief kindness from a rigid disciplinarian. Human emotion was something that needed to be manipulated, and Amsel (along with Claus and many Higaran commissars) believed that could be done without having guardsmen hate you. If a guardsmen would feel joy from your death rather than sadness and a renewed vigor to kill the enemy, than you had failed as a commissar.

The Higarans came to a stop as the corporal brought them to their destination. Weimar limped to a stop with his left arm crooked at a ninety degree angle and pressed against his side while he leaned on his saber-cane, firmly grasped in his right hand.

Bayer and Weimar didn't pay anymore attention to the corporal when she departed than she showed towards them, but instead watched Claus and the other Thermidorian carefully. The Higaran captain could instantly tell that the woman was partially crippled, as he was able to spot some parts of an apparatus around her neck and that she had concealed her face. Weimar had spent plenty of time in a medicae ward, and he himself was crippled as well. The woman's voice confirmed the captains suspicion, and he felt a pang of sympathy for the other damaged soldier. War wasn't forgiving to the human body or mind.

Claus' expression hardened slightly as the woman approached as he felt a degree of sadness as well, especially as the woman spoke on. She was right in that he couldn't identify who she was, and that stung deeper than it should have. He noticed the red ribbon she wore, and he believed that Lexington was the captain that wore it. He wasn't sure, and he didn't want to cause her (or himself for that matter) any pain if he spoke her name, only to find that he was incorrect.

Her occasional confusion in names was also saddening in more ways than one. Claus knew he looked like Amsel to a degree, except for his very light brown, hazel hair compared to Amsel's raven black hair. Even Weimar to a degree looked like Hess. Gaunt, dark brown hair, broad shouldered but of a slightly lean build. And Bayer, Claus noticed, looked like a pict of Hess' second in command, Captain Cain, from when Hess was still an armor commander. An eerie feeling settled over Claus, and for a moment, he wondered if they were all doomed to repeat the lives of their predecessors. He shook that thought from his head faster than he could load a bolt pistol.

As the woman finished speaking, or what passed as it for her, Claus nodded his head politely as she motioned for the trio to follow her. They followed without word.

[Aelosia]

Imperial system J897
Halo zone
Chartered transport Shining Glory
Thermidorian Barracks

The figure leading the Higarans kept walking through the rest of the thermidorian barracks, that were nothing but a handful of carefully arranged campaign tents inside the vault, the tough fabric sporting white, deep blue and crimson red. At first look, having to rise tents inside a enclosed space such as the cargo vault made no sense at all, but the canvas and string constructs, similar to old pavillions, seemed to serve some sort of identification and organization purpose for the different units in the thermidorian company. Each one was decorated with unit markings, and from those marks it could be seen that the crew of each vehicle shared one tent, named and marked in the same way as the vehicle they served. More likely Claus had seen the colorful tents before, and perhaps he knew that the motifs were usually embroidered by the crews by hand. As a matter of fact, several of the motifs were unfinished, and a couple of troopers, seemingly off duty, were finishing them handling some sort of long, menacing needles tied to strong threads of different colors. They were watching the higarans for a moment with awe and expectancy, but seemingly the presence of the Captain discouraged any from coming closer.

That was a scene that repeated itself as they crossed the barracks. Many of the troopers tried to approach to take a look at Claus and the higarans, almost as if they had seen similar men before, but just a quick glance from their Captain seemed to scare them away from coming closer. The amount of war wounded on this side of the camp was staggering. First was a girl with a couple of empty sleeves, peeking from the side of a tent, then another sitting in front of a pavillion adjusting something with an Allen wench on her metal prosthetic legs. Several faces had gruesome scars, the kind of melting flesh knitted and scarred that only tankers and flame troopers were familiar with, many of them bald or just with strands of hair, many limping away after taking a look at the newcomers, perhaps even aware and ashamed of their sorry state. It seemed that none in this part of the camp was unblemished or intact in any way, although their uniforms and equipment seemed well maintained, but in no form close to the impolute perfection of the Cuirassiers they had met earlier. They had hit the place were the Pan Arcadia survivors remained. There was no retirement plan for Scholam Graduates or their auxiliars. Not Even In Death Did Duty End.

At the end of the tents, the huge mound that marked the Inflecto Maestus, Vanhayn's customized Macharius tank, signalled the end of the camp on this side. The gargantuan warmachine seemed as battered and lambasted as the soldiers working around it, some of them repainting it, some others laying cables from sockets located between its venerable armor plates, but most occupied with monitors, screens and holopads filled with flowing data. The sight of the command vehicle was as a dignified war veteran, its proud Honorifica Imperialis colors flying from one of its antennaes, clean but filled with fist sized holes, the paint chipped and absent from repaired and replaced plates from half its structure, the hundred of arm-thick cables as some sort of life support that was keeping the old machine barely alive, but defiant.

"Well, you can take it from here by yourselves, I have no wishes to Bzzz....Bzzz...partake in the ceremonies or pleasures of the living. After you pass the tank, the big one, there's a hallway to the right, Commissar Amsel", said the Captain with her weird mechanical synthetizer tone. "It takes you to the central area where the Officer meeting is held. You, Hess and Cain can meet the Major there. She will be eagerly awaiting the Higaran that was Promised", said cryptically the maimed officer before she clicked her heels, in a way that wasn't clearly a disciplined salute, nor open mockery, turned around, and dissappeared the way she came, quickly fusing with the shadows around the place until she couldn't be seen anymore.

[Imperial City-States]

Imperial system J897
Halo zone
Chartered transport Shining Glory
82nd Vakarian Heavy Infantry , Echo Company
Vakarian Barracks



Klaus groaned loudly as his eyes opened. His entire skull was wracked with pain.

"Easy Sir, you had another episode." Trooper Sartin, one of the unit's few original medics said calmly as he withdrew several drugs from his medical bag.

"Who saw me?" Klaus asked in panic, he was extremely weak and could barely lift his arms.

"A Fething Commissar." Staff Sergeant Stoner replied grimly.

Of all things.. Klaus thought to himself.

"No need to worry Sir, I've got Merrick on the job." Stoner paused before continuing.

Trooper Sartin quickly injected some drugs into Klaus's blood stream.

"Merrick intends to do it once we're plant side. That's all the information he's release." Stoner finished.

Klaus laid his head back painfully.

Merrick, had been the 82nd's handyman for as long as anyone could remember. In exchange for passes from any menial duty's and a sight ration increase. Merrick was willing to remove any problems that the unit had, be it stealing spare parts for the Chimera's or removing troublesome individual's from the chain of command.

Slowly Klaus could feel the throbbing pain in his head ease away.

"Get me on my feet!" Klaus ordered harshly. Quickly Sartin and Stoner helped up the Captain as he balanced unsteadily on his feet.

Several Vakarian's were in full battle dress outside of the medical area he'd been taken to.

"Did they come for me?" Klaus asked cautiously.

"Not yet Sir, was just a precaution." Stoner replied.

There was dead silence as the Vakairan's realized that their Captain had rejoined them in the land of the awake.

Klaus looked around uneasily.

"We have been chosen." He said just loud enough for those in his immediate vicinity to hear. Painfully Klaus rose to his full height and shakily made his way toward a line of tables where Several Vakarian's were cleaning weapons.


we've been chosen!

Klaus would never let anyone know it, but he was both immensely afraid and excited. To be chosen by Arkhar was one of the greatest honors a Vakarian warrior could receive. It was rare to happen to an individual but to an entire unit was almost unheard of.

[Legital]

Imperial system J897
Halo zone
Chartered transport Shining Glory
Thermidorian Barracks

The three Higarans quietly admired the Thermidorian tents as they passed by them. The varying colors and stitching was pleasing to the eye, and Claus found himself once again appreciating the tents and the work that went into maintaining them. The Higarans didn't have anything like it, especially the grenadiers, who made their home in the back of their centaurs or in fox holes near their vehicle. As a commissar of a front-line infantry unit, Claus was quite familiar with sleeping and lounging in fox holes or trenches. After a while, he began to feel safer when he was below ground level than he was above it. It wasn't uncommon for Higarans to feel that way. Any form of Higaran camp that was constructed on the field by their hands, no matter how far from the rear lines it was, was almost always a series of trenches and dugouts. They had nothing as splendid as the Thermidorian tents.

They continued along their way, doing their best to ignore the scores of wounded that peered back at them. This wasn't from haughty sense of being above the wounded, but instead it was mainly for their sake. Higarans were graced with the ability to send their grievously wounded and disabled back home if the chance arose. Naturally, that could take months, even years, after a soldier received such terrible wounds, but if they were close enough to home, they would generally be able to make it back to live out their lives as auxiliaries on Higara as PDF troopers or instructors and assistants at any of the various establishments of the Imperial Guard and Munitorum. Unfortunately, the Navy and Munitorum didn't spare ships for the Higarans, so merchant traders or other vessels ferried the wounded back home. Sometimes, the captains of these ships did this of their own free will and as their service to the Imperium. Others needed some monetary encouragement. To see a large amount of wounded like this brought a sense of shame upon the three men.

Shortly, they came to a stop near Vanhayn's command tank, a magnificent and venerable vehicle with a dignified machine spirit, when the captain came to a stop and spoke up once more. Claus nodded as she gave them the last set of directions for them to get to their destination, though was relatively confused as to what the captain meant by the "Higaran that was Promised". It didn't particularly mean anything to him, and he caught a glance with Captain Weimar who offered a light shrug.

Commissar Claus quietly watched the woman leave, before turning back to the other two men with him.

"It truly hurts me that I cannot bring myself to recognize who that woman is. Without a face and voice, I just can't quite figure it out. I believe, perhaps, that it was Captain Lexington. I've only met the woman on a few brief occasions, but I am ashamed that I can't fully pin who she is." He explained heavily, and Weimar nodded in understanding.

"You mustn't worry, commissar. Whoever she was before, I'm afraid she is quite different now. And as you said, without a face or voice...well, that is already half of what makes you who you are." The captain explained, shaking his head. "I've seen it before with others. No one is ever quite the same after going though so much."

Sergeant Bayer twirled his mustache in thought and nodded, but said nothing.

"Right, let's go meet the rest of the regiment. I'm sure we've probably missed out on some important briefs, so we shouldn't waste anymore time." Claus explained, and took off towards the hallway the Thermidorian pointed out with the two company leaders behind him.

Soon enough, they passed through the hallway and through the doors which led to the chamber the current meeting was in. They paused as they reached what appeared to be an officers mess hall and they all looked around the chamber.

[Drakulstan]

Imperial system J897
Halo zone
Chartered transport Shining Glory
Officers Mess Hall

Nielsen waved a hand from his chair, a snort coming from his nose. ”No offense at all ma’am. I’ll have a battle plan ready in a few hours.”

He downed the last of his amasec and stood, taking Captain Irvine’s arm as a gentleman should and led her from the room. He smiled back at her, again somewhat nervously. The last several war zones he’d been in hadn’t had any women, so he’d done without comfortable companionship for close to eight years.

He shook himself mentally as he led her to the regimental “briefing room”, which was a small cargo bay with benches, several tables and a small holo-tank. Here, he could help put together the approach that would be used in the overall battle plan. And with such charming company besides!

He helped Irvine to the seat or standing area of her choice, pulled out his own dataslate and got to work.

The trick was the foot-bound infantry and the Baneblade. If there was a road to the hab, then they could go four miles per hour to let the infantry keep up with them. The hab they were coming from to their target appeared to be only about twenty-five terran miles from each other. Foot-slog infantry could cover that in about nine hours, although longer if they had to go off-road. The vehicles could cover that in an hour and forty-five minutes, or just under four hours if off-road. At least the Basilisks could be left far behind the offensive to provide fire support, if the two habs weren’t shelling each other as it was.

The problem of keeping together with the Baneblade is that it left the faster elements of the regiment bound and not using their skills. So a scouting screen to locate enemy positions, along with communications with the artillery components of the regiment would mean that they could clear the path for the column. So the Viridians would seek and destroy enemy units ahead of the column.

The column itself would be led by the Calthian tanks supported by the Higaran Stormtroopers, with the Higarans to act as a Quick Reaction Force to assist the Viridians in case they got stuck in something they couldn’t get out of.

Behind them would be the Segmentian and Thermidorian armored units, with the Segmentian Leman Russes acting as a “bodyguard” unit for the Baneblade. The Baneblade itself would be a heavy centerpiece in the assault on the hab.

Behind the armor would be the 3rd Xie, along with the Persican 501st and and 82nd Heavy Vakarian. Bringing up the rear of the column would be the 117th Cyclopean Mechanized.

Nielsen also made the recommendation that the Hydras the company possessed (six Thermidorian and three Calthian at last count) be spread throughout the column for maximum anti-air coverage.

He also made the recommendation that the Basilisks could remain nine miles behind the fighting in order to provide artillery support, along with the appropriate security detachment, likely from the Viridians who could keep up with rapid repositioning that was needed in a mobile artillery unit.

As to the rate of infantry speed, he supplied three suggestions. They keep pace with the infantry, which would be slow going. They leave the infantry behind, which would leave a large chunk of their fighting force behind. Or the infantry ride the top of the tanks a la tank desade, which could conceivably carry the entire force at the speed of their slowest armored vehicles. It would also keep the infantry from tiring themselves out on a forced march and leave them fresh for the fighting.

An hour and a half later, Nielsen’s uniform jacket was on the back of a chair along with his weapon belt as he sat back and nodded at Captain Irvine.

”I think that’ll do it.” he said tiredly.

[Morrdh]

Imperial system J897
Halo zone
Chartered transport Shining Glory

When the meeting reached the point where Stormwell decided that his presence there was surplus to requirements, he made some quiet excuses and departed the Officer's Mess. Once he was some distance down the corridor he pulled out a comm-bead that had been in his pocket and spoke into it. "Bray? Did ye get all o' that?"

"Just 'bouts sir." Answered Lieutenant Bray, Stormwell's second-in-command who gained the position on Pan Arcadia after the previous holder was killed during the early stages of the rebellion there. Despite Stormwell picking him at random and then offloading a large part of his workload onto the poor officer, Bray had thus far proved himself most capable at the task he was lumbered with. Bray most useful trait as far as Stormwell was concerned was his ability to handle regimental business when Stormwell was otherwise preoccupied after a heavy night's drinking session. "Sergeant-Major Midnightte is overseeing our inventory as we speak."

"Good, good." Muttered Stormwell. "See wot ye can dig up on our charmin' holiday destination."

"Already on it sir, will have a 'slate ready within the hour."

"Good man, keep me posted if anything else crops up."

"Will do sir."

[Bredtonia]

Captain Leng Arnesen
Imperial System J897, Halo Zone
Chartered Transport Shining Glory
Regiment-Assigned Officer’s Mess

Capt. Arnesen had managed to finish her drink during the course of the conversation that exploded around her. Indeed, the rather heavy and tense nature of the conversation she was observing probably had something to do with it. (The quality of the liquor being the other major factor.) It had provided both an interesting briefing on the upcoming mission, as well as an interesting preview of the nature of her Peers, particularly under pressure.

"For what it's worth," Leng put forward to Vanhayn after a pause of the room going quiet, "It sounds like a good plan to me. It's a nice change to hear with the overall plan is, for once." She picked up her empty glass again and rotated it, needing something for her hand to do. "I'm looking forward to tactical meeting for the assault group."

Leng put the glass back down and leaned back in the plush chair, tapping her fingers on the armrest while she replayed and considered what had been said during the quick and occasionally heated exchanged. She snapped back to reality as the Higerian group entered the room, her eyes quickly settling on the distinctive uniform of the commissariat.

"Commissar, Gentleman." She asked as they paused to look around. "Are you looking for someone?"

[The Tophat Empire]

Lieutenant Ingvar
Imperial System J897, Halo Zone
Chartered Transport Shining Glory
Cargobay

"Get those crates moving, I want that chimera moved to its designated parking space, Move it!" Lieutenant Ingvar shouted, He, and the rest of his Company had just unloaded onto the Chartered Transport Shining Glory, now he had to make sure everything was in order, troops, munitions, and everything else. Other wise CC would go ballistic at the inspection. The commotion around him was deafening, yet organised. The troops trained to do everything in perfect formation, even carrying boxes was done with precision, all the Troopers marching with perfect pace.
"Where are we going to unload our personal things, Sir?" one solider asked. "Frakk if i know, put it in the corner over there" Ingvar responded, clearly annoyed.

---

Captain Charles. J. Oswald
Imperial System J897, Halo Zone
Chartered Transport Shining Glory
Officers Mess Hall

Catain Oswald where walking towards the mess hall, he had tried to get into contact with the commanding officer for a good hour now, with no success, so he was on his way towards the Officers Mess Hall, in the hope of finding someone to report to, He entered the Mess Hall. His left hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He looked around, and after spotting the group of officer he walked up, cleared his throat, clicked his heels together, and spoke "Captain Charles. J. Oswald, commanding officer of the 31st Mechanised Praetorian Guard Company, recently added as the eleventh company of the Segmentian 557th regiment, Reporting Ready for duty"

[Aelosia]

Imperial system J187
Halo Zone
Chartered Transport Shining Glory
Officer's Mess Hall

The colonel nodded to Arnesen, happy to have her support, although she was still interested in dealing with Babadook's doubts than anything else. She turned to the Recon Captain and said "Once we get a rough plan from Nielsen we can sand and polish any edges and be done with it. I expect that..." Vanhayn stopped mid-sentence from what she was saying and turned towards the door as she felt someone else coming in, Arnesen herself giving a welcome to someone entering the room.

Vanhayn fixed her gaze on the trio of newcomers arriving to the Mess Hall. A gleam on her eyes quickly appeared, seemingly relieved. She had requested a Higaran Company to serve with the 557th, but she was pretty sure by now that although Lividivus had satisfied her petition, the Higarans would be delayed and either unable to participate in the incoming campaign, or would arrive too late for the opening stages of the conflict. The Warp was a fickle thing, and those on the Other Side always would plot to stop those who worked for Humanity. She knew that a relatively depleted company of grenadiers had been assigned to the regiment, more heavy infantry as Vanhayn had planned and requested. Sieges of strongholds under hostile condition and heavy urban fighting demanded Heavy and Elite troops on then field, or endless waves of penal conscripts to be hurled at the gates and tunnels. Lacking the latter, she was more than happy to have the former, as she was more used to deal with highly trained and disciplined troops than with rabble in large numbers. For sure the Lord General had seen that way before Vanhayn herself could.

The presence of Captain Weimar was expected, as Vanhayn knew his file from her request, but as Claus entered she was overwhelmed by a feeling of dread. The long Commissar's attire, his face clouded by the shadow of his cap, and the sword at his hip...It was a spectre of someone she had known, the spectre of one of the men she admired the most. The spectre of a man whose death she had beholden.

Her jaw fell and her mouth opened and splayed, her skin going pale as the blood ran from her capillaries and was replaced by a chill sweat that dripped from her temples and spine. She stopped cold and took a couple of steps towards the man, her hand fleetingly going to the grip of the duelling pistol resting on the side of her hip by instinct, knowing that perhaps this was a translation mirage or a trick of the warp.

The Colonel took a peek under the Commissar's cap and resolved the man's features, afraid and sanguine at the same time to meet Amsel's face. But it wasn't Amsel under the cap, but Claus. That fact was a relief and a dissapointment at the same time, both expressions displayed openly in the woman's gestures as she sighed softly and her shoulders relaxed, her eyes meeting Claus ones for the first time.

"Claus, a pleasant surprise indeed. I didn't know you had been assigned to this company and regiment again", she said, taking a deep breath before speaking and displaying a weak welcoming smile. "You...For a moment....For a moment I thought....I guess you look exactly like him, but I also suppose it is as it was intended. You were His disciple, weren't you?", said the Colonel, her hand now resting calmed at her side. "Now a full-fledged Commissar on the Service of His Eternal Majesty. Anointed and consecrated".

She took Claus' hand and shook it with a firm grip filled with longing. "It is a pleasure to have you here, Claus. You are the best hand I could think of to wield Amsel's sword and legacy", said the Colonel directing a small glance at the weapon she had seen carving the bodies of Astartes no less. "Throne knows every mesh regiment need firm words and proper doctrine, and I know you learned from the best how to do both. Scharnblücher still holds the title of regimental Commissar, but we did not know you were coming. I guess you both can share equal status, but it's up to you Commissars to decide on your own chain of command. Any other Commissar our beloved and despised Mordian would try to stomp on, but I believe she would show tiny specs of respect for you in specific. Having a counterpart on her ways of authority might be better in the end". After speaking, Vanhayn turned to Weimar, offering her hand in the earnest way she could think of.

"I didn't want to be rude, Captain", she said, looking directly to the higaran's eyes and finishing her formal salute. "It is just that your Commissar and myself know each other from other campaigns, and we have shared some experiences we both value and try to forget", she continued with a sad grin. "Happy to have here. We have some heavy duty operations around, and qualified stromtroopers are always well received by any commanding officers, and your file says you are Higara's pride and a luxury to any Colonel to have".

She did offer her hand to Bayer, although she did not say anything to the man apart from a polite and formal greeting. Vanhayn was preparing some sort of verbal salute when another newcomer came into the Hall. After the meeting seemingly was going to the Warp and back, this was the hour of the good news, it seemed. The arrival of the higarans was as high a point as the arrival of the Pretorians, for nothing but a Pretorian Captain had entered the meeting room.

The Colonel could identify that uniform anywhere, as Pretorians were highly regarded in Thermidor, and their military traditions and regulations were one of the inspirations the Ecclesiarchy had taken into account when founding the Thermidorian Schola. In fact, most of the thermidorian Shock and Awe regiments looked like pretorians in different uniform. Being a veteran from one those regiments, Vanhayn had not passed on the offer of requesting a company of pretorians for the 557th, although as with the higarans, she did not expected her petition would be granted on if they would arrive on time. It seemed like General Lividivus was pressuring the Munitorum to get his old regiment into proper shape, and spoiling Vanhayn with whatever men or materials she requested. Sadly the Navy wouldn't spare a couple of Frigates and Apostle Squadrons as well, but the reach of Lividivus only covered Astra Militarum Munitorum.

The Colonel first clicked her heels on a pretty similar way to Oswald, her instinct chiming in, the classical thermidorian click actually inherited from Pretorian influence, but also offered her hand in a firm but friendly salute to the pretorian, letting him notice this wasn't a formal meeting as Vanhayn had not her head covered, and many of the officers were actually in a state of relax. "Also a pleasure to have us with us, Captain Oswald. With no insult or disregard towards those present earlier, I might add our chances of breaking this rock open and stomping on this rebellion for good has been exponentially increased", added Vanhayn as she now beamed towards the new arrivals.

"We were discussing tactics. I do have a plan regarding this mess, but I was hoping to listen to suggestions and tuning from the specialist forces", and with that sentence Vanhayn did eye Babadook and Harper for a second. "The rebels on this planet are holed into impregnable strongholds, and we are here to let them know there is no definition of impregnable for the Guard's Finest Corps. Long story short, I plan to infiltrate a stronghold while a surface push is carried out, and blow it from the inside as we tear their walls apart. That will serve as a lesson on impregnability for the local forces, both loyal and traitor. All information will be sent to the tactical officers of your respective companies by dataslate as soon as the details get sorted out for good", and here she did take another look at Babadook. "That's the short debriefing, do any of you have anything to add?", said the Colonel expectantly.

Regimental Command hub

The shadow of the Inflecto Maestus reflected on Nielsen and Irvine as the thermidorian Captain listened carefully to the explanations from the armor commander. While Irvine had served on threads during a rather illustrious career, her specialty were self propelled guns and artillery, so she wasn't an expert on armor shock tactics as Vanhayn had pointed at. Nielsen was their local expert on PanzerBlitz, as the Mordians called armoured assaults, and so she had been ordered to listen to the man and take every suggestion of his into account. For a moment, as he spoke, Irvine recalled Hess, the higaran Captain, a similar expert that had met his demise under the banner of the 557th, and hoped the handsome Nielsen did not meet the same fate.

As the man started to speak, the thermidorian Captain unplugged one of her weird prosthetics, showing some sort of opening plug at knee's high, exactly where her stump met metal, and placed a cable into the implant, directly linking herself to a dataslate connected to the regimental cogitator base. For all Nielsen could see, she was either recording everything he said, or just taking notes with her brain, picking any important data he might give away.

Irvine just nodded to the Calthian, many of the points he raised agreeing with her own views on the use from each company. She did openly express her agreement with the Viridians scouting ahead and identifying targets before they reached range with the walls, and with leaving the thermidorian Basilisks at maximum range as to provide artillery support against hard targets while the Calthians dealt with any counter offensives supported by Higaran infantry and hammered the wall static defenses as well. Irvine also agreed that the Baneblade was the centerpiece of the assault, and that Segmentian Leman Russ were the best option for a Guard Corps on the Emperor Tank from this regicide board.

She did raised a point there however. "The Colonel needs her own tank to join the Baneblade on that stage of the assault. The Inflecto Maestus...", said Irvine as she gestured towards the modified Macharius Consul Tank, "...Needs to get close to jam enemy communications and cut their links with the other strongholds in order to confuse enemy troops and isolate our targets from other strongholds. The closer it gets, the more effectively our detection and interdiction systems will work. That's why we keep them mounted on this behemoth. So that's where our tank is going. Our other forces will keep with your plan".

The rest of the disposition was agreed by Irvine, nodding softly to Nielsen without further interruptions. At the end, when they reached the infantry pace question, she listened to the three options and quickly answered the dilemma by choosing one of the choices posed by the Calthian. "Most of the regiment is mechanized. Almost everything we will have for the assault. The rest will indeed ride desant to reach the walls. Speed is vital to maintain the surprise factor and deliver the shock needed. The infantry have to get to the other side of the wall quickly as well as soon as artillery and armor disable their main defenses, so I think that's the best option. We have enough Armored Carriers as to pull this off".

Those agreed dispositions were quickly sent to the tactical officers from each company involved in the assault by Irvine, asking for any modifications they felt vital, although noting that the general plan was already laid out and not subject to change unless fatal errors were discovered.

[Bone Fort]

Babadook thought long and hard about his current situation. In truth, he had much greater concerns about the plan then he was letting on. He figured that it wouldn't do to openly challenge his superior officer right in front of all the other officers. While his own unit would be unaffected by such things, he couldn't say for certain what effect it would have on the morale of the other units. He had tried to steer Vanhayn away subtly, but seeing as he had the social skills of a servitor and Vanhayn seemed to at times occupy her own little world, that failed miserably. And though having full tactical command was a great boon, that was worth piss when the strategy as a whole was geared towards failure, at least in terms of stealth. It seemed that he was going to have to just spit it out afterall.

"You do not understand. Or perhaps I was not clear enough. I was trying to sugarcoat it, but the plan will not work as is. You cannot do an infiltration op during a full on assault. Completely defeats the purpose. Infiltration by definition requires time and stealth, both of which are lost due to the assault. If you were to give us some time before hand to work our way into the city, however... our odds would be considerably more favorable."

[Great Houses of Xie]

Babadook thought long and hard about his current situation. In truth, he had much greater concerns about the plan then he was letting on. He figured that it wouldn't do to openly challenge his superior officer right in front of all the other officers. While his own unit would be unaffected by such things, he couldn't say for certain what effect it would have on the morale of the other units. He had tried to steer Vanhayn away subtly, but seeing as he had the social skills of a servitor and Vanhayn seemed to at times occupy her own little world, that failed miserably. And though having full tactical command was a great boon, that was worth piss when the strategy as a whole was geared towards failure, at least in terms of stealth. It seemed that he was going to have to just spit it out afterall.

"You do not understand. Or perhaps I was not clear enough. I was trying to sugarcoat it, but the plan will not work as is. You cannot do an infiltration op during a full on assault. Completely defeats the purpose. Infiltration by definition requires time and stealth, both of which are lost due to the assault. If you were to give us some time before hand to work our way into the city, however... our odds would be considerably more favorable."

Babadook seemed intent on ragging the Colonel regarding the supposed inability to infiltrate the hive while assaulting it head-on.

"Major, the Tactica recommends splitting the opponent's forces to achieve tactical superiority. Is there no wisdom in drawing the bulk of the enemy's forces to the surface, away from the infiltration team's efforts? The Dark Eldar are adept at distracting in one area to mask their true intentions. Emulating that seems prudent to accomplish our objectievs. With an assault as major as the one that's planned on the front gates of the city, surely, only a psyker would be able to see that the assault is just a cover for the digging infiltration team."

[Imperial City-States]

Imperial system J897
Halo zone
Chartered transport Shining Glory
82nd Vakarian Heavy Infantry , Echo Company
Former Vakarian Barracks
Drop ship Zulu-Three-One


Following the episode that involved the Commissar and the Vakarian Captain, the Company was quickly put to work preparing for their departure from the press ganged troop ship. What was formerly, a rather unorganized, but neat barracks, was now a bustling hub of activity. Dozens of crews worked back and forth preparing their Chimeras for travel, Pintle Mounted Heavy Stubbers were removed and stowed in the troop bay, Sandbags that normally adorned the front of the Chimera's were removed and stowed. In a matter of hours the Chimeras had been transformed from heavily modified, barely recognizable abominations that they were, back to their 'stock' configurations. Of course, this was just for travel and as soon as they had tracks on the ground all of these modifications would be remounted.

Long lengths of the hanger that once accommodated assorted crates being used as makeshift bunks were properly stored and documented aboard the Company's dropship. The entire unit was hard at work and one could even dare say that the Vakarian's looked like a Professional Guard unit rather than the brutal warriors that they were.

Captain Klaus Schweitzer strode forward quickly observing the ongoing commotion, The feeling of his Carapace armor was comforting and the weight of his Hellgun hanging loosely from it's sling was similar to the embrace of a long lost lover.

"Sir, First and Second Platoon report ready to deploy, Third had some minor issues with a damaged track but they should be finished loading their Chimera's within the hour." First Sergeant Robert Kaine reported, his voice slightly muffled by his helmet's respirator.


"Excellent work First Sergeant, Also ensure that all heavy explosives are properly stowed before we make atmosphere, we don't want another Maklar V." Klaus replied promptly.

Kaine snapped a sharp salute before turning away.

"One other thing First Sergeant." Klaus said. Kaine immediately stopped and turned to face him.

"Deliver my OP orders to Vanhayn i promised her them before we made land fall, i intend to carry that out." Klaus added. Quickly the First Sergeant grabbed the document and made his way to find a suitable messenger , typically the first idle Private that he laid eyes on.

As Klaus overlooked the men assembled below, many were laden with full combat loads, Their bulky Assault packs, normally left in the Chimera's for mobility's sakes, were strapped to their backs and most of the men lying on the ground reminded him of very old images he'd seen in the ancient text.

Klaus thought about the OP order he had just sent off. His intent behind it, was fully intentional, he would ensure that he, and his men, were as far away from the trouble some Commissar when Trooper Sartin began his work. Sartin had already delivered a list of items that he needed before he could complete his task, most of which Klaus had already procured. A stolen Uniform from the 865^th, An undocumented Long Las 'liberated' from one of the unit's more wealthy Black Marketers, Five Duty-Free passes were just a few of the items. Sartin never failed at his task, he was viewed with an almost religious reverence. Many referred to him as 'The Hound'.

Colonel,

As promised, i am delivering an Operations Order on where i believe my unit would be best suited, given the unique circumstances of the engagement where we intend on flooding the enemy stronghold prior to it's capture, I would like to formerly request the deployment of my entire unit to fight along side with Captain Stormwell's Deepwatch. It is my belief that the Urban warfare experience of my men, as well as the tunnel fighting experience of the deepwatch, will be invaluable. In this particular case, i would leave my unit's armored vehicles at the assembly area in the interest of mobility and maneuverability while supporting the Captain's offensive. I appreciate your trust in this matter.

Captain Klaus Schweitzer
82nd Vakarian Heavy Infantry

[Legital]

Imperial system J187
Halo Zone
Chartered Transport Shining Glory
Officer's Mess Hall

Claus had evolved quite a bit from the young cadet he was not so long ago, but he found it hard to maintain some of the emotion he felt when seeing Vanhayn again. He was more than delighted, and if she were a fellow Higaran, he would've happily embraced her and given her a hearty hand shake. Given the culture gap and the nature of his position and hers, he would attempt no such thing and never would.

The commissar instead hid his sentiments behind a measured expression, but couldn't help but smile. He was hurt to see Vanhayn briefly mistake him for an apparition of Amsel, but not in the usual sense. Claus had no intent on worrying the good colonel, and since he and Amsel had come from good breeding, they both possessed the trademark features of their people. He figured he'd have done the same if the situation was reversed, as few things were as unnerving to see a dead man return with two other figures which resembled, partly, other dead guardsmen. There were plenty of strange things in the galaxy, and guardsmen were often unfortunate enough to be those who witnessed such things. Phantoms returning from the battlefield was something that they didn't need to deal with, but in some ways, many did deal with such a thing to a degree.

Claus did not find himself bothered that the Mordian commissar was the regimental commissar. For one, after being junior to Amsel for so long, he would have felt he had some very large boots to fill. With the Mordian as the head, he would still be able to perform to the best of his abilities without allowing his occupation to burn him out quickly. He was still young and, compared to most others, relatively inexperienced in theaters of war. He could count the number of campaigns he'd been in on one hand. To be the head disciplinarian of an entire regiment, a fold regiment at that, would have been grueling.

When Vanhayn turned to Weimar, the crippled officer gave a polite nod and smile as the woman offered her hand. While he said nothing, he wasn't offended in any way at Vanhayn's actions. She and Claus knew each other from past combat, and he would have never allowed himself to come between two veterans meeting again. For a moment, he considered it odd to think of Claus as a veteran of the guard, but he knew that the commissar's youth was mostly just numerical and partly physical.

The arrival of another Guard officer caught Vanhayn's attention, along with that of the Higaran's. The officer, from what he had announced, was a Praetorian, but Weimar couldn't identify the name or place a location on it. That wasn't particularly uncommon given the thousands of Imperial worlds in the segmentum, let alone the possibly countless number of worlds in the entire Imperium. Either way, Weimar found himself instantly impressed at the figure in splendid red. The Praetorian uniform was quite different from the Higarans, but one could tell that they were at least from the same family in terms of general style. Both uniform jackets were of a solid color with a different color trim, with the trousers being of similar nature. The Praetorian uniform wouldn't be particularly out of place on Higara.

After greeting the other officer, Vanhayn broke into a brief introduction to their theater of war and their objective. Captain Weimar was glad that Vanhayn would be sending comprehensive reports back to the companies, as Weimar knew that information was key to a successful combat operation. However, given what she had said, he didn't have a word to add, and neither did Claus or Bayer. They all needed to look over all the information they had before they could give any input, and he looked forward to reading over the data.

After a moment, the words from the odd and off-putting figure at the gathering offered a relatively blunt objection, which peaked Weimar's interest. He was interested to see how Vanhayn reacted.

Commissar Claus also glanced between Babadook and Vanhayn, and though he didn't particularly know the current social situation of the gathering as he had just arrived, he did take a step forward and position himself in a way around the others that cemented his presence there. Openly telling a superior that their tactical planning was going to fail was bold, but given the history of the regiment, free communication between officers wasn't uncommon at all. Not to mention, Claus was familiar, or as familiar as he could be, with the operating style of Babadook's unit.

Still, Claus was sure to stay firmly planted at the gathering to oversee how this situation would pan out. There were some new faces along the old at the gathering, but he wasn't going to be idle in the face of a possible developing issue. For the moment, he would be a silent judge to the others around him. Weimar and Bayer exchanged a glance at each other, but they also maintained their stance at the gathering.

[Segmentia]

Imperial system J897
Halo zone
Chartered transport Shining Glory

Captain Karenth K’Svah left the officers mess with a frown on her face. She had no reservations about the assault itself, or even the plan really, other then the flooding the stronghold part. Never in her career in the Guard had she been in an assault that was meant to simply deny a location to the enemy. Segmentians took ground, that was almost their singular goal in the Guard. And if they lost ground, they just retook it later on down the line. That was not to say they weren't flexible, just that any amount of flexibility was meant to further the goal of taking ground. Never having served under a foreign officer made the adjustment a minor nuisance. Well, regardless, she had her orders and she would follow them, like any good officer would, Segmentian or not. She approached one of the hatch-ways to her companies housing and depot area, both merged into one of the large cargo holds. A group of four guards were posted at the door, though they were in the middle of a card game, their half eaten meals set on a small folding table. Guards were posted at most of the doorways into the bay, more for presentations sake then security, though some of the other companies certainly seemed like they might house unsavory figures, so a guard against would be thieves was always prudent. She waved for them to remain seated before they even began to get up, just telling them to carry on as she carried on through the door.

Once inside the hold the familiar scents of a ground formation hit her. It was a comforting scent, more like home really. Her lieutenants had a few platoons marching up and down the few open areas left between the small city of tents and prefab buildings. Off to the left were the forms of the company armored detachment, the Mars Pattern Baneblade dwarfing any other vehicle, and also being the pride of the company. Karenth was honestly amazed that they had been allowed to hold on to it. The tank crews were busy repainting their tanks, a process that had taken a decent amount of time, having to use multiple coats, and appeasing the machine spirits and all. The quarter master and his staff were laying out every bit and piece they had in their stores to take their last count of everything to make sure the records lined up. Basically all the things one might expect from a unit about to deploy. One thing was missing however, that Karenth noticed at once. Commissar Asilis Albor was notably absent. The woman was usually quite easy to pick out, or even just sense. Any Guardsman worth his rations would how developed a sixth sense when it came to commissars, and Karenth felt she was certainly worth her rations. A few inquires revelied to her that the commissar and her Storm Trooper guards/assault team had 'gone for a walk'. K'Svah groaned at that information and hoped nothing bad happened. Commissars had a habit of finding all sorts of trouble, and that was the last thing the company needed.

82nd Vakarian Heavy Infantry , Echo Company
Drop ship Zulu-Three-One

Any good commissar would establish a network of contacts within the unit to which they were attached, and Commisar Asilis Albor had done so almost without realizing it, both in the regiment and the ships crew. It gave her the much needed information and gossip that she wouldn't be able to achieve otherwise. Gossip and rumors might not have seemed valuable in her line of work, but a Guard regiment was more like a complex and delicate clock then anything else. All the pieces had to work in unison for it to work properly, and surprisingly enough the smallest little thing could end up breaking the entire mechanism. So it came as a slight surprise when she had heard about the 82nd moving into their drop-ship and setting up their barracks in there. She was all for preparedness, but to do so so early was a touch...odd. So she was headed there for a surprise inspection. Behind her marched four Storm Troopers, fully kitted out. These four troopers were the best from their storm trooper regiment from Cadia, and had been a gift to Asilis as a personal retinue for actions served for the Imperium. Even with their professionalism and veteran status they were rather unique individuals. Most notably at the moment was Lieutenant Consuela Hoyal. The woman didn't have her face-mask hooked at the moment, and her made up face showed.

Why the woman wasted her time with make-up was beyond Asilis, but Consuela could gut an Ork Warboss as easily as a person breathed, so she got all the leeway she wanted when it came to her minor oddities. The group made their way through the corridors of the ship, though they were rather vacant of any Guardsmen, though the ships crew still seemed to stand up a bit taller and straighten out their backs a bit more as the commissar passed. Probably a safe bet. Though not one for needless, heavy handed disciplinary measures for minor offenses, that didn't mean Asilis was easy going in her duties as commissar, even if she was junior to the regimental commissar. The group entered the area chalked out for the 82nd and Asilis noted a few guardsmen lingering by the dropship. With the groups direct walk towards the dropship, the guardsmen had little doubt as to what the commissar was doing here, and a few seemed to call out the alarm, as it were.

[Imperial City-States]

Imperial system J897
Halo zone
Chartered transport Shining Glory
82nd Vakarian Heavy Infantry , Echo Company
Former Vakarian Barracks
Drop ship Zulu-Three-One


Captain Klaus Schweitzer had been busy overlooking the inventory's of supplies from each of the platoons. It covered everything from ammunition and medical equipment, to the far more important things on a campaign like toilet paper and alcohol. As part of his unit's preparation for deployment, several of the Soldiers were forced to find creative ways to store their ramshackle distillery's in non-obvious ways in their transports. Typically there was a hidden panel underneath the floor boards in the driver's compartment.

As he was just about to flip to dig into second platoons 'unoffical' roster his helmet's vox kicked to life.

"Sir, we've got a Commissar here." a low and gruff voice sounded off.

Throne, Now...

"I'll be there soon. Don't shoot her......Yet" Klaus replied ensuring to add the final part of his sentence. Quickly Klaus buckled his respirator over his mouth and pulled his visor down over his eyes. Eventually he made his way to the Commissar and her retinue that had decided to make themselves known in his Dropship bay.


"Commissar, how can i assist you?" Klaus asked, his voice amplified by his Respirator's external vox.

After extending the question simply for formalities he saw several Vakarian's scattered about had casually moved into a 'low-ready' position with their Hellguns.

[Segmentia]

Imperial system J897
Halo zone
Transport Shining Glory
Former Vakarian Barracks
Drop ship Zulu-Three-One

Asilis and her storm troopers noticed the change in the Vakarian's stance, almost as if they were ready for a fight. Asilis didn't take her gaze from the captain though, seeming to ignore the situation even as her retinue went to a half-ready position, almost daring the Vakarians to escalate the situation. Asilis fixed Captain Schweitzer with a cold, uncaring look. She had read the dossier on the 82nd, along with the other companies, and she had easily spotted the history this unit had with commissars, just like the Catachans.

"Are you actively trying to have your unit purged, captain?" She asked in a near amused tone. "Or do you show all visitors the same...measures?"

Beside her Lieutenant Hoyal shifted slightly, making it clear that if a firefight broke out, Captain Schweitzer would be her first target.

[Imperial City-States]

Imperial system J897
Halo zone
Transport Shining Glory
Former Vakarian Barracks
Drop ship Zulu-Three-One

Asilis and her storm troopers noticed the change in the Vakarian's stance, almost as if they were ready for a fight. Asilis didn't take her gaze from the captain though, seeming to ignore the situation even as her retinue went to a half-ready position, almost daring the Vakarians to escalate the situation. Asilis fixed Captain Schweitzer with a cold, uncaring look. She had read the dossier on the 82nd, along with the other companies, and she had easily spotted the history this unit had with commissars, just like the Catachans.

"Are you actively trying to have your unit purged, captain?" She asked in a near amused tone. "Or do you show all visitors the same...measures?"

Beside her Lieutenant Hoyal shifted slightly, making it clear that if a firefight broke out, Captain Schweitzer would be her first target.

Imperial system J897
Halo zone
Chartered transport Shining Glory
82nd Vakarian Heavy Infantry , Echo Company
Former Vakarian Barracks
Drop ship Zulu-Three-One

Klaus couldn't help but smile underneath his mask.

"You're nobody special. We all serve the Emperor and are all subject to the same measures as anyone else. For the sake of politeness i'll have you know the last Commissar died of a most unfortunate accident where he found himself in the middle of a minefield, alone, after leading a very heroic charge against a heretic position. Poor chap forgot that the Regimental Commander's orders to hold position over rode his zealousness. But i digress, Why are you here, certainly not for the polite company and casual conversation."

[Carcharhinidae primari]

Imperial system J897
Halo zone to Inner cauldron
Chartered transport Shining Glory

As the various introductions went on a faint tremor ran through the ship as the main plasma drives ignited, starting the laborious task of boosting the ship deeper into the system. As you learned when leaving the staging grounds the Shining glory’s engines are at least somewhat temperamental, with loud groans of stressed metal, or bass hums regularly audible through the metal bulkheads. Over the next two days the blue light of the bright sun grows more and more intense, even through the heavily darkened windows fitted to the ship, until the warp shutters had to be deployed again to protect the ship from the hellish glare outside.
As the ship’s crew went about their duties they seemed a little weary of interacting with the regiment, preferring to work around them and making excuses, sometimes reasonably polite and sometimes less so, and finding work in another compartment.

Towards the end of the third day in the system the senior staff is again invited to the bridge to discuss the fine details of the ship’s arriving angle and orbit, and the conditions at the zone the regiment wanted to disembark at. With the time to orbit having been determined at the second day there has been plenty of time to stow, pack and park the regiment’s gear on the assigned shuttles.