In Service to the Imperium (IC thread)

[Segmentia]

In Service to the Imperium
OOC thread

Transport ship Gorgon
En-route to the world Evisor
Mission: Suppress local rebels and restore Imperial order on the planet

Faith, war and death were the only constant things in the galaxy. Colonel Arktheleon Lividivus had seen plenty of all three back on Cadia, and then time and time again as the 1162nd Cadian went from planet to planet, taking some, defending others. All in the Emperors name. War had whittled down the original 6,427 men and women of the 1162nd Cadian regiment to a mere 327 men and women. And to make up for the losses they had had to fold companies of non-Cadians into their ranks, something that did not sit well with the original members of the regiment.

Now they were cooped up on a transport ship, destined for the planet called Evisor, where the locals had rebelled against the Emperor and Imperium. And the 1162nd was being sent to put them down. The regiment had been on the ship for nearly two months, though the various companies had mostly avoided each other and stuck to themselves. Indeed even Colonel Lividivus hadn't talked much with the other officers much. That was about to change.

Lividivus was sitting at his desk in the quarters he had been given by the navy. It was modest sized, but Arktheleon didn't have much to decorate the room with, just the regimental banner, which was proudly displayed on the wall behind the desk. He had sent for a commander briefing, and as he waited for the other officers to arrive, he was going over the regimental statistics.

Competent was the nicest word he could think of for the other companies. Nothing that could match Cadian skill. Nothing that indicated it, yet at least. Arktheleon intended to make sure these non-Cadians were put to the test in the coming campaign. He just hoped the original Guardsmen of the 1162nd lived long enough to see it though.

[Mereshka]

As Captain Yachenkov strode briskly through the plain hallways of the massive Navy vessel, he couldn't help but feel a certain wariness. Nikolai knew the Colonel, at least in passing. It was impossible for a Captain to not be at least acquainted with his commander officers. Still, it had never been what one might call a friendly relationship. He had always sensed a certain underlying resentment from the Cadians; it had always been so, even when the Botun 3rd had originally been folded into the Regiment when Nikolai was a regular Trooper. He supposed he could understand the felings behind it. Cadian Regiments were legendary in the Imperial Guard. Their skill and devotion to duty was supposed to be unmmatched. Now the so-called 1162nd Cadian Regiment was made up mostly of non-Cadian companies. It must irk. Still though...the men of Botun were just as devoted to the Emperor, and most of the surviving original members (it had been long enough now that the Company had a large amount of Whiteshelds in it's ranks) had been forged in the slums of Botun, or the deadly jungles whose virulent diseases and fierce predators tested any man. They were just as capable as any Cadian, and Nikolai intended to prove it.

It was then that he entered Colonel Arktheleon's office. He halted, and fell into a salute. "Sir!" He barked, "Captain Yachenkov the Botun 3rd reporting."

[Armageddon Steel Legion]

"Kriegsman report in!" Shouted Alexis as the men and woman of her company formed up, the line upon line of gas-mask wearing trooper stood, silent as she spoke."Let's show these Cadian wimps how real Kriegsman fight!" The men shouted a cheer as the Vherma flag flew, the crimson red contrasted with the white circle with the black tiger in the middle, showing it belonged to a Vhermactia regiment. She then walked over, taking a peep in the artillery girl's rooms through a peep hole before opening the door and walking to the commander, saluting him."Uber-Reicher Alexis reporting in!" She said, accent heavy with Vhermactian. (German.)

[Volmachtia]

Major Edouard van Ries quietly observed his drilling soldiers as he patrolled the length of the hangar his company inhabited. 4th Platoon, led by Lieutenant Voorder, trained with bayonets, impaling plastoid dummies and beating them with the butts of their guns. Voorder, his helmet unclamped, smiled ever so slightly. 3rd Platoon was in typical firing drills; their heavy Idrus-pattern lasguns putting big dents into the targets. The guns were ferocious but had fewer shots and were rather bulky. Lieutenant Jozef led them, unlike Voorder, grimacing fiercely. Lieutenant Guvar led his 2nd platoon in exercises modeled on the projected terrain of Evisor, craggy and rocky; not to mention hot. A powerful sunlamp stood over them; most pressed on, but one soldier faltered and collapsed, gasping for air in his heavy carapace armor. Guvar hurried over and got the man moving again; if Jozef led 2nd Platoon, that soldier would likely have been whipped.

Sergeant Major Gels, senior NCO of the Skavakarn troops, led 1st Platoon in Ries' stead as they studied tactica briefs issued by the Imperial command staff in charge of the coming campaign. Nominally they were supposed to be for officers only, but Gels liked pissing off Command, and so stole one and printed out more. A tech priest had beeped angrily at him over it, but Gels had little regard for the cog-frakkers. The cogboy hated the Navy bastards anyway, so he kept his mouth shut. Enemy of an enemy.

As Major Ries observed his company's drills and preparations, he wondered when Colonel Lividivus, that Cadian hotshot, would call them up for the full invasion plan. As little blending as there had been between the Skavakarn and Cadian troops, it might be good to get them mixed together to glue the regiment's ethnic loyalties into an Imperial loyalty only. Battle did that the best; it also helped the Cadians that the men of Skavakor weren't known for being fearful, and sure as hell not merciful. Heretics had killed their world many years ago. Not one would be spared that didn't have vital information. Their heavy Crassus transports, which mechanics were working on in the corner of the hangar, had dozer blades that could punch through light fortifications with ease.

Yes, the Skullers were ready. Now they just needed to wait. As he watched, a Regimental staff rating approached him and handed him a call for all company commanders to meet the Colonel. Taking it, clenching his jaw, Ries set off immediately, attaching his matte-black helmet and fixing the skull-mask's clasp, giving him, like all the Skullers, the appearance of an armored skeleton. They were, in a way. Kill, then die. That was what they were. As he made his way to the Colonel's command desk, he briefly nodded to a few Navy personnel he had gotten to know despite his best efforts. The frakkers always tried to cut deals of battle spoils.

As he entered the command room, he offered a brief, curt "Colonel." and took a seat two down from him.

[Legital]

Hess slipped on his calf high boots, nice and shined, and checked over his uniform one last time. He wore a simple grey wrap, the standard jacket for Higaran armored personal, and he wore matching grey pants. Upon the collars of his uniform, the silver shining rank of a Major was displayed proudly. Hess wondered if he would eventually be promoted when he and his men left this fold regiment, to create a new Higaran armored regiment. Of course, that was a big if. He knew that this regiment would stay the way it was until they were all dead, or following crippling losses, folded into another regiment.

He held no particular disdain towards the other non-Higarans, but it was somewhat difficult to get along. So many different backgrounds mixed together typically caused tension. In some cases, the several groups mixed well. Others it was a time bomb waiting to explode. But he held everything in a good light, hoping for the best. They were all the Emperors men, and there was really no reason not to get along. They would soon be dieing together whenever they reached their destination. But still, that feeling was still there. That all these other men were different, and most likely despised you. It was a souring thought.

Walking towards the small mirror in his smaller officers cabin, he made sure his mustache was in order. Like most Higaran men, he sported the traditional handlebar like facial hair, and he also kept his sideburns which was what many younger men wore. Hess was not a young man much anymore, but he was still rather youthful being only in his early-forties.

A knock came upon his cabin door, and he called for the person to enter. The man who walked in was much more youthful than Hess, barely shaving. It was his adjutant, Charles Reed. Reed was tall, not quite as tall as Hess, but a good height never the less. Unlike Hess' brown hair, his hair was much fairer, being of a hazel coloring.
Snapping to attention, the young man nodded to Hess. "Sir, I take it you received the message?" Hess nodded, clipping his Bolt Pistol into his holster. "Yes, I did Charles. Colonel Arktheleon issued a command meeting. Would you like to accompany me?" Charles thought for a moment, and decided that he had little else to do. "Of course Major. Perhaps we could finally speak with the other commanders of the other companies. Feelings have been rather...cold, if you do agree." Hess nodded, "I agree completely. Hopefully we won't fall into any petty feuds that the Guard is so famous for. Come, let us be off."

The two men left the cabin, walking through there company's assigned section. Most other Higarans they passed wore their jackets, some buttoned, some not, while others wore no jacket at all, showing off their white cotton under shirts and Y-suspenders. Some men even wore their tank helmets, which Hess knew that some of them wore them purely out of habit, while others could not travel without them.
The men seemed to be in a good mood today, and they had been for the endurance of the trip. Some slight scuffles between themselves and other companies, but nothing that was worthy of the young Commissar Felix Amsels wrath. Amsel was a good man, polite and pleasant to be around, but he lacked a general assertiveness. Yes, he had that Commissar wrath, but he did not often use it outside of battle. Some dared say he was unworthy of being a Commissar, and Amsel, always ears open, quickly showed them how unworthy they were.

And speaking of Amsel, he was walking down towards their direction. He was drinking out of his silver flask, something all Higarans were issued with, and it was most likely Higaran brand whiskey. Many regiments placed restrictions on alcohol, but two flask worth's (the common measurement of alcohol the men used) was a 'legal' consumption amount. No where near enough to make a man unstable, but enough to redden his cheeks and warm his insides.

"Greetings Major, Charles. I take it you have somewhere to be?" He asked, offering a polite bow. Hess nodded, answering before Charles. "Yes, a command meeting was issued. Surprisingly nothing spoke of accompanying Commissars, but perhaps you should float around in case your needed." Commissar Amsel nodded, beginning to depart. "Right sir, I'll stick around." And with that, they went their separate ways as Hess and Charles made their way into the hold of the 1162nd Cadian, the 'mother' company, which they were all folded into to.

They kept to themselves as they made their way through the hold, noting a somewhat feeling of isolation as they moved through the men Hess knew not. Nothing hostile, at least not openly, but noting friendly.
Making their way through endless hallways, they made their way to Colonel Arktheleons cabin. Charles waited outside while Hess stepped in.
Seeing his commander, Hess bowed respectively. "Major Hess of the Higaran 21st reporting as commanded, Colonel Arktheleon."

[Segmentia]

Colonel Lividivus looked up from his desk as the company commanders began arriving in quick succession. Yachenkov, Alexis, van Ries, and Hess who seemed to have brought a tag along. He decided to ignore that part for now. Arktheleon took off his officers cap and laid it down on his desk, though he didn't stand. "Thank you for responding to the summons in such a timely fashion." He said calmly.

"As it seems we are still waiting for a few of our fellow, I suppose we can talk while we wait. Though first," Arktheleon said and stood gesturing to the corner of the room where the Regimental Commissar stood, silent and imposing. "I trust you have all been introduced to Commissar Marrick?" Lividivus inquired. Marrick was an older man, Arktheleon guess he was in his late sixties. But that only increased the dread Arktheleon felt for the man. A commissar with such a long history would indeed be exceptionally efficient, and would have no doubt executed hundreds, if not thousands, of Guardsmen. Marrick was relatively new to the regiment as well, the last regimental commissar having been killed while leading a charge. The best commissars died quick. The efficient ones lived and continued with their work.

Merrick simply nodded in acknowledgement. Lividivus sat back down in his seat and waited for the other officers to start talking. He personally wasn't much for starting conversations. Something he and the commissar could relate on that level at least.

[Aelosia]

Thermidor Maidens Theme

Transport ship Gorgon
En-route to the world Evisor
Mission: Suppress local rebels and restore Imperial order on the planet

The click and clack of the boots of Major Victoria Aleinne Isabeau Katherine Vanhayn Debois Castel echoed through the cramped space of the transport ship corridor, as the tall Thermidorian walked towards the debriefing room. Exactly two steps behind her and with her left shoulder precisely twenty centimeters from the right of her commander marched First Captain Valerie Irvine, the Major second-in-command and assistant officer of the regiment of the 4th Thermidor Mechanized Spitfires. The corridor, as cramped as it was, was long enough as to let both women keep a conversation while they reached their destination.

"This looks like a ragtag band of never-do-wells and His Most Sacred Rejected Brigands, Valerie", spoke the Major without turning back to look at her subordinate, or slowing her precise and hurried step. "When you said the word Cadian, I was more than willing to offer the services of the Maidens to complement this regiment. Now that I know this is makeshift band made of rejects, I am not sure this was a good idea after all". The words of the Major sounded as arrogant as they wanted to sound, giving the words the typical entonation of the Highlander Nobles of Thermidor. "Have you revised the entire dossier, Captain?", she added with special highlighting in the title, noting the formal treatment.

Captain Valerie Irvine was an officer even more pragmatic than her superior, if possible. She lived in a world of unrelated data. She took a look at the folder she held in the crook of her arm, and fixing her primitive and yet extremely fashion eye correction accesories, prepared her response to the chastising of the Major. "The Cadian 1162th, the remaining company from the original regiment, earned several commendations, and remains a Cadian regiment. The best of the best. They even have their original Coronel".

"A Thermidorian Coronel would have never survived the decimation of their men. How so a Cadian one did?", continued the Major, taking a small pause to pass a finger over the handrail parallel to both sides of the corridor, and realizing it was too filthy to be touched. She resumed her fast pace, rubbing her index against her thumb as to clean the dust and oil stain. "I imagine we can count that as ability, and not a flaw".

The Captain walking behind paused at the same time as the Major, and resumed the walk with identical movements, although did not dared to touch the handrail. She managed a smirk, knowing what was the opinion of the Major on Thermidorian male Coronels, about their rashness and the waste of lives they were willing to suffer to obtain victory. Pragmatism and the insight of saving of lives and talent to fight another day was something the Major valued a lot, against what many Imperial Guard Commanders and Generals seemed to think. The Captain looked again at the folder and continued her lecture. "The Imperial Swords of Mercina is, or was, en elite regiment. Comparable to the Elysian Drop Troops, and their colonel is a female officer, as we are. What surprises me in that most of their losses happened in an incident labeled as classified everywhere. I guess the Major already know what that means".

The Major nodded, again without stopping her pace or looking back at her subordinate. "Some kind of enemy the Inquisition or a similar organization does not want to get known. Perhaps Xenos, perhaps a corrupted world. Well, I can accept those paratroopers", she commented. It was a common practice for the Imperial Guard command to hide from the records the information on enemies as classified, especially when dealing with the Ruinous Powers, or particularly ashaming defeats against Xenos.

"Then we have the Skullers. 8th Skavakor. They lost most of their original numbers due to a tyranid onslaught", added the Captain, checking more notes.

"Jailflesh, for sure. Or if not, something similar", said the Major Vanhayn raising her chin.

"How can you know?", answered the Captain. "They seem to have a clean service slate".

"Imperial Guard commanders usually send disposable or scarcely talented Guard units against genestealers", added the Major while raising her right index in the air. "It is a common practice, as most Imperial Guard units, even elite ones, serve the same purpose against the Great Devourer. Only to delay it for something else to deliver the killing blow. So, it does not matter what kind of troops you use, and in most cases, they use either penal legions or disposable regiments, saving good troops for other theaters with need of tactical finesse. As I said, those skullers are more likely cannon fodder. Please mark them as so, and forbid the soldiers to engage in any fraternal ties with the men of that regiment".

The Captain flipped the parchment page and kept defending her point. "Higaran 21st Armoured. Over fifty Leman Russ own. Assimilated after losing part of their strength..."

"Losing part of their strength and they still have over 50 tanks?", intercepted the Major out loud. "That must had been a hell of a big tank company originally then".

"Seems like", answered the Captain. "The Commander has made his entire career on that regiment".

"I see", pondered the Major before openly smiling. "I have a soft spot for tankboys, being a tankgirl myself. Please let me know who is he before the meeting starts. I just hope he is not some sort of Hive raised scum".

The Captain rose an eyebrow and fixed her glasses over her nose again. "Uber Reichers 34th. Siege Company. The biggest company around. Distant cousins of the Death Korps of Krieg, as far as I see. They hold ten times more guns than us, deploying a battery of towed fifty Earthshakers cannons".

"That's a lot of punch, with that kind of firepower I would not even bother to aim", sighed the Major, knowing that in comparison her entire company seemed to be a platoon. She blamed in her mind again the ancient tradition of warfare from Thermidor, which made artillery companies small contingents to accompany vast divisions of infantry. She swore that Thermidor kept using tactics that belonged to the XIX millenium, and so far her service in the Imperial Guard, alongside other regiments from the entire galaxy, has proven her right. Thrmidorian tactics were completely outdated. "Anyway. I respect the discipline and commitment of the Krieg doctrine regiments, so I will be kind with those. I just hope their numbers do not give their commander too much leverage in the tactical meetings".

"Won't happen", said the Captain. "As I said, the Colonel is cadian. Cadians do not do politics".

"Pray they do not, or we can end either assimilated into that siege company, or even worse, used as bait for their guns", answered the Major, wrinkling her nose at the thought.

"The artillery in their regiment is not self-propelled, but static and towed, as usual in Siege companies", answered the Captain. "Anyway, I would suggest the Major to get into the good side of their Commander, as more likely we will end working back to back with them. Cooperation in arcs of fire and firezones is important during bombardments".

"I'll take that into consideration, Captain Irvine. His name?", said the Major, realizing they were close to the hall of the meeting already.

"Her. Alexis Columbein. Commended for taking on an ork nob with an axe or something similar", issued the Captain, showing some surprise.

"And that is why I love to be an artillery officer", answered the Major gripping the grip of the power sword hanging at her hip, a family heirloom of great cost and value, and yet that has never leave the scabbard in combat. "Anyone else?” she asked, trying to finish the small briefing before reaching the room.

"51st Trovik. Sappers", said the Captain, checking even more notes around the files. "Demolition specialists. Our competition, so to say", the Captain realized her small joke had no effect on her superior before continuing. "Another regiment of ork survivors. More hardened vets who have suffered tons of casualties in trench warfare or cleaning ork from tight places. Common sight during this age of the Segmentum, though. The interesting fact is that they have an entire battery of flak at their disposition".

"Sapper are usually a disgusting lot. Full of mud and dust and a grim disposition. Better to stay out of their way", remarked the Major with her best refined Thermidorian accent in High Gothic. "However, it is always good to have them around. It seems like the regiment now is able to counter anything. I guess I'll have to congratulate the Colonel on his choices".

"The last is the 3rd Botun infantry. Good, reliable cannon fodder for the assault and the trenches. Typical guard issue soldiers, with some of Catachan here, a bit of Tallarn there", said the Captain as they reached the door of the meeting hall.

"Perfect", added the Major before entering. "I was missing some normal grunts over that myriad of specialists over there. It is interesting, this will be the first tactical meeting in the guard that I am not the only female officer. I guess after all that time deployed with the Eight Volpone changed us all right?".

The Captain signalled the Major the door before her commander entered. The time spent with the aristocratic and yet extremely effective Volpone troops have left good memories in all the soldiers and officers of the Thermidor regiment, so similar to their Volpone counterparts. “Anything else before we enter, Major?".

"Yes, if you choose someone to back up during this meeting, who would you choose?", asked the Major in a whisper.

"The Colonel", answered the Captain. "You can always count with a Cadian, and there is the fact that he is your direct superior, too".

The pair of Thermidorian officers entered the hall and looked towards the Colonel Lividivus. Both women did the common Guard salute to a superior, made without a flaw, and then offered the Colonel an elaborate Thermidorian salute, clacking their boots together and crossing her arms over their chests. The uniform of both women seemed to be quite more flamboyant and elegant, and expertly tailored and maintained, than those of the other officers around, but that did not make them feel ill. Many regiments also talked about how elegant and foppish the Mordian uniforms were, and yet noone disputed the fighting abilities of them. The same could be said about the Thermidorians, although to be honest they were far more famous by their extremely disciplined close order charging regiments of infantry than for their accurate and disciplined artillery women. "Major Victoria Vanhayn. Thermidor 4th Mechanized Artillery. Reporting".

The Major took her seat, with the Captain sitting behind her and looking at her notes. They did wait for the Colonel to start the briefing.

[Segmentia]

Arktheleon nodded. "Major, thank you for joining us. Though I expected you sooner. We will wait a few more minutes for the others before starting the proper briefing. Though I would like to hear your opinions on the regiments strength and configuration?" Lividivus inquired.

[Mereshka]

Being the first to arrive and be seated, Captain Yachenkov had an excellent opportunity to watch his fellow offiers, and size them up. He was well aware that he was perhaps the lowest-ranking officer present, yet he didn't let that bother him. Nikolai was a career soldier; he'd risen through the ranks through skill, determination, and a handy talent for not dying. Which, ironically enough, would have been impossible had the Botun Regiment remained as it was. Botun officers were typically the younger sons and daughters of the surface-dwelling rich and arisocratic, who had been bought a commission so as to not interfere with the family's inheritance. Troopers and NCO's were stations fit for slum-dwellers and jungle savages, better for little more than cannon fodder.

As such, Nikolai for most of his life had held an understandable dislike of the officer class. To him they were rich boys who didn't understand the struggle and sacrifice of the brave men and women on the line. They gave orders from the rear, sipping thousand year old vintages while their social inferiors bled and died carrying out their commands. Despite having become an officer himself (which in itself had been a huge shock to him), Nikolai maintained many of those old prejudices. He had realized years ago that he would still have to order men to their death. It was eternal duty of the Imperial Guard to die to protect the Imperium. Yet he felt he had a deeper appreciation for this sacrifice, having been in the tretches and slogging through bloody mud himself countless times.

The next officer to arrive was...what was that rank? Uber-Reicher? Uber-Reicher Alexis. Nikolai frowned. He hadn't the faintest idea of what that meant. It sounded grandiose, that was for certain. Did she outrank hm? He had no idea, but he made a mental note to find out. Not knowing the exact chain-of-command might land him in hot water, and he had no intention of boiling ay time son.

He had little time to observe the Uber-Reicher, however, before Major Ries of the Skullers entered, wearing a rather bizarre looking skull-mask. Nikolai had seen some of the Skuller men wearing it, and assumed it was a trend amongst the soldiers as an homage to the Company name. He was a little bemused by the fact that it was apparently standard dress, even for the officers. Still, Nikolai knew for damned certain that the Major outranked him, so he wasn't about to go ruffling any feathers about the matter. Even if it was silly.

The next officer was also a Major. Major Hess, who if he remembered correctly, commanded the armour company. He smiled. Nikolai had a deep appreciation for tank commanders. He could recall countless times when the day seemed nearly lost, he was down to nothing but his bayonet and faith, and then came the cavalry in the form of a Leman Russ tank. Every veteran infantrymanknew well the feeling of relief and jubilation at seeing a formation of Leman Russes punching a hull through whatever hell the infantry had been fighting through.

Yachenkov couldn't help but raise his eyebrows in surprise at the next entrance. Just how many Majors does this rag-tag Regiment have? He wondered to himself, as sure enough, the next officer wore the insignia of a Major. The third he'd seen at this meeting. He began to feel acutely out of place. He even began to wonder if there had been some sort of mistake. Was he supposed to be in this meeting? It seemed awfully full of high level officers for his Captain self to be amongst them.

Still, the Major seemed...efficient. Almost cold in her bearing, though her dress and odd salute were rather outlandish. From what he understood, her company was comprised entirely of women. He couldn't help but grin at the thought. He was hard-pressed to think of any unit that sounded more terrifying. One of the fiercest soldiers under his command was a woman, one of the Jungle savages. He was her commanding officer, and she still scared him.

[Orcoa]

Major Rebecca Durnn walked down the steel hallways of the ship, frowning hard as she thought over the message from her new Superior officer. She was pissed that she was kicked down to Major, after all her long hard years of fighting in the guard she has been put in this position thanks to "idiot fuckheads" in the higher ups in the Guard.

She sighs a bit, making sure she does not show her emotion over the issue since she has to be calm and cold as possible dealing with her new comrades. Her troopers shared a bit of disquiet to their new fellow soldiers but they have been most helpful and willing when called on. This made her smile a bit, she had taught them the hard lessons of war and battle...and now they are showing it.

She heads into Colonel Lividivus office, standing at the Door and giving him a quick salute to him.

"Major Rebecca Durnn, Reporting in Sir" said Durnn loudly like a true warrior, she stands straight and tall as she has always done. She was a strong woman, with long brown hair tied into a ponytail. She was a middle aged woman, one with small scars on her face that show that she had be on the front lies. Her most defining feature besides her fairly beautiful looks was her black eye-patch. She had gained that after a eldar ranger tried to murdered her on a small imperial world in butt fuck no where. Her uniform was that of Mericna design yet a mix of cadian as well, making her look very fierce and letting her show that her nickname "Ice Queen" was true.

[Legital]

Hess, noticing others were taking seats, decided to do so as well. Charles stood near the back, staying out of the way of the main area and way of the arriving company commanders. Within the Higaran company, there were not such strict formalities. Anyone could attend a meeting unless specifically it was for officers. Neither Charles nor Hess had any information on this meeting, so Charles had to keep back. With the commanding officer a Cadian, there was no reason at all to push the boundaries. This was essentially the first official meeting among the commanders, so first impressions meant everything.

And speaking of first impressions, Hess noticed the commanders filling in. He also noticed that, even though this was their first meeting together, he knew little if nothing about the other commanders he would be serving alongside. He never had access to any files and reports. After this meeting, if nothing was revealed, he would have to get Commissar Amsel on the case. A political officer had more pull to those things than even someone like Hess. No one wanted to stand in the way of a Commissar.

Unlike Amsel, the regimental Commissar Merrick was a much older man. A man who had most likely seen much. Even though tankers were in the thick of it as well, it was the infantry that were really close to it all. They were the ones who slept in the trenches, who fought hand to hand against Xenos and heretics. They had to sleep in the dirt and mud, not knowing if that shell overhead had their name on it. Tankers had it hard, but no where near as hard as the infantry.

Captain Yachenkov was the commander of the 3rd Botun, this Hess knew. Old fashioned foot-sloggers, nice and simple. He knew little of their world, but Yachenkov was a big man. Hess was a broad man himself, but not as big as the Botun. He wondered if the other Botuns were as large. If they were, then perhaps the Cadians had some challengers. In his experience, the larger the Guardsmen, the harder they fought on like bastards. The less intelligent they were too, he added pensively in thought. Hopefully, that was not so.

Twirling his luxurious mustache in thought, with his right leg crossed over his left, Hess looked at the next company commander, another Major, Edouard van Ries. That man was the commander of the 8th Skavakor, known widely amongst the other men as the 'Skullers', thanks to their skull like mask they wore as part of their uniform. It reminded Hess of the Death Korps of Krieg, but he never saw any of the cold Kriegsmen in person. He was not sure to fear them or not. Keeping his distance from the Skullers and any Kriegsmen he met would probably be for the best.
The Skullers were also infantry, however they were the heavy hitting aspect of it. They were most likely shock troops, used to being in the thick of the action. Glory hounds no doubt.

Next was Alexis Kolumbein, the ever so rare female commander of the Uber Reichers. They were the regiments siege company, also similar to the Death Korps of Krieg and Skullers. Which was surprising to Hess as he did not imagine a siege company being folded into a multi-role regiment, despite the multi part. Siege specialists were just that, siege specialists. Why by the Throne would they need one of them unless they were heading somewhere where they were much needed? That was a sobering thought. The last thing he wanted was another barren world covered in mud and trenches, exchanging artillery shells back and forth in a war of attrition. He would never forget the image of a full Leman Russ disappearing in soupy mud. He never wished a death like that upon anyone.

The next to meets Hess' eyes were perhaps the most interesting attachment to this dysfunctional little Guard family they called a regiment. Still twirling his mustache, Hess had to disguise a wide grin. Major Victoria Vanhayn, another female commander in the regiment, leading an artillery company. The most interesting part about her and her company were their uniforms. Hess had no quarrel with fine uniforms and dress, but he had to favor efficiency over looks. Perhaps that was just the tanker inside him thinking, but it was true. His grey wrap and pants was nothing compared to the elegant Thermidor uniforms.
Also interesting about about the Thermidor company were that they were all women. He'd met the occasional female Guardsmen and commander before, but a full regiment of women? Now that was something quite unheard of to him. But not in the least did he doubt their fighting capability. It was, as his young adjutant liked to put things, a 'culture-shock'. Hess could not help but wonder how that would work amongst the other companies, which he assumed were mostly all men. His regiment was made up of all Higaran men, young and old. But all veterans.

Putting his delighted amusement aside, Hess watched as another entered the already small room. He had to search his mind for a moment to remember her name. A ranked commander, Rebecca Durnn commander of the 1th Imperial Swords. An Ariel regiment, if he recalled correctly. Hess would not be jumping out of any aircraft unless it was on fire and he had a perfectly safe parachute harness. His feet belong on the ground, specifically in a tank, not dangling in the air. He wondered how they managed.


Waiting for the awkward silence to dissipate, Hess continued examining the others with a faint look of amusement, never moving his hand away from his mustache.

[Aelosia]

Major Vanhayn sat with her back completely straight, her posture a statement of military correct etiquette, with her Captain at her side. She let her gaze to pass idly over the assortment of gathered commanders until the Colonel spoke to her while nodding, "Major, thank you for joining us. Though I expected you sooner. We will wait a few more minutes for the others before starting the proper briefing. Though I would like to hear your opinions on the regiments strength and configuration?" Lividivus inquired.

She did not forgot there was a Commissar, actually two commissars in the room, but one seemed to be a Senior Commissar. Victoria has always liked the Commissariat, of all branches of auxiliar officers of the Guard, since her years in the Schola Progenium. She did not had one attached to her command structure, given that the "inspiring" abilities of a Commissar were more needed closer to the action than in the rear lines, where usually the Thermidorian Maidens were placed, but the Major would not had minded the presence of one, although female commissars were rare. Commissars led by example, and used more pragmatic ways of inspiring the troops than the demagogic confessors and preachers. Loyalty to the Empire was a concept more akin to the pragmatic mind of the Major than the abstract concept of faith.

Major Vanhayn looked directly at the eyes of the Colonel, trying to find if his remark about timing was some form of chastisement. She decided it was not, and it would look better if she did not answer back at all at a superior officer, even although a excuse relative to the lack of knowledge of the ship whereabouts was an easy exit. Excuses were for weak minds. "I am honoured you ask for my tactical insight, Colonel", she answered quickly, and although her words were a courtesy, the tone of voice they were issued with clarified the no-nonsense personality of the Major. Snatching the dossier folder from the Assistant Captain and opening it in front of her, the Major started her answer "My Captain have stored some notes on the regiment composition, if I may", she quickly stared at the papers before starting to speak in full.

"This gathering is a mixture of specialist regiments, with the clear exception of the 8th Skavakor and the 3rd Botun companies, which by their nature are more common in the lines of the Guard", she turned to both Major Von ries and Captain Nikolai in turn, as to explain herself that it was nothing personal, but a statement of fact. "Airborne, artillery, siege, armor, and sappers. There is one scenario that comes to my mind where such assortment of troops could be efficient, and it is urban combat. I imagine you asked for our companies to replenish the 1162th for either of two reasons. First, you singled us to be assimilated due to some specific task you have in your mind, or two, we were the only men available. I hope it was the first, for the Gilded Throne of Terra, because if it was the second, some of our companies are going to end in a tight spot, whatever are the characteristics of the battlefield we end together". Her discourse have been delivered in a emotionless tone of voice, clearly designed to avoid offending anyone's sensibilities about the capabilities of their own men. "Even in the case of urban combat, while we are close to optimal composition, the earnest and loyal men of the Higaran 21st would be relatively out of their preferred element, as everyone knows armoured platoons are at a disadvantage when fighting in such close quarters", here she turned to Major Ibram Hess, giving him a smile of camaraderie to an armoured commander to another, but also because she fancied the glamour style of the man's moustache, that made Victoria remember her own father. "I include my own self propelled vehicles in said group, alongside the Higarans. Tankers do not like alleys and tight places. Or high buildings filled with enemies with rocket launchers on every window".

"To sum it up", she said, knowing it was taking her too long. "I would congratulate you in the choice of regiments, if you did it with a specific goal or theatre in mind", she said to the Colonel. "If you did not, I would give you the tactical appraise that in any theatre the 1162th finds itself against any kind of enemy, you are going to find some of your companies extremely effective, but yet you will find others lacking. And that holds true for any theatre with so many specialist companies involved. However, I can also perceive that given special tactical and strategic acumen, all companies can be deployed effectively to the best of their ability. And I also heard that there are no regiments better than the Cadians, from dozens of Guard commanders across the sector", she paused before clarifying her words, making sure her statement was not an attempt at being a sycophant of her superior. "Not a compliment, and I cannot truly certify that the cadians are the best of the best, as the others say. All I say if that reputation precedes them, and now, precedes us, so we better try to live up to said standard". She finally stopped, knowing that the eyes of many of the commanders present were fixed on her, specially Hess and Yachekov. Deeply she was worried they could feel offended by her statements, as she meant no insult, but she did not show any of that concern in her features, remaining calm and strictly fixed in the high thermidorian posture, with the chin held up.

[Legital]

It was not long before the silence was broken, and Hess was pleased to see it was Major Vanhayn. In his long career, the first words out of a persons mouth were typically a good way to size them up. The way they say things, how they say them, and with what kind of emphasis they put on certain words. Listening to the Thermidorian, he could tell she had noble blood in her, or at the very least she served long enough besides it in her career. He could tell by the way she toned her words, made eye contact, and never slipped up (He also realized that could be from a very strict military career). Either she was very confident or very arrogant. But she had something different about her that made him believe the former. As she spoke of her notes she had arranged, which he wondered how by the Throne she compiled them if there was no access to them, at least on his side, Hess made his own mental notes.

The woman's opinion seemed to be rather close to his own, in regards to that they had one too many specialized regiments, which made Hess wonder on the nature of their mission. He believed that healthy variety created the fabled unconquerable Gard regiment, and here they certainly displayed that aspect. However, with variety, came a narrow list of missions. Infantry were needed everywhere, that was elementary, and the armor and artillery came as support. That already was a base for the typical Guard and a generalization for most missions. Then, the sappers came to mind. Again, he could agree with that being involved. Engineers provided crucial work for every member of the Guard, whether they are building things or tearing them down. But then there was the Airborne and Siege companies. That was the kicker here. What were they needed for exactly? Of course they were useful, but why have them if they are not needed?

Hess also realized how bold the woman was. She spoke with the casualness Hess would expect amongst his company, yet it was balanced with strict formalness. It was a pleasant surprise, he found. Perhaps he was not stuck in a regiment full stuck up bastard officers. Things looked rather well, but of course the sapper commander was late. All it took was that one informal, brash, bad boy to ruin it all. But just by everyone's looks, they seemed more and more like an alright bunch as the Thermidorian went on.
Ibram Hess found himself drawn back from his thoughts at the mention of his company's name, along with the following compliment and actual friendly smile. Hess returned the smile, offering a polite nod of acknowledgement.
As the woman brought her speech to an end, he was surprised at how she spoke of the Cadians. Surely she had seen them in action? Or at least knew of their highly militarized culture? Hess could not imagine a Cadian regiment that did not fall under a category labeled best. But then again, it was not right to assume everything is one way. In all technicalities, they were all in a Cadain regiment. Already one commander was late, which he could not fathom the punishment he would receive if this was a full Cadain regiment. According to some rumors amongst his men, Cadain Commissars beat their officers to death when they did not act accordingly. There was always that one infamous Commissar from that one Cadian armored regiment, whose names escape him, but the man actually executed by crushing others skulls. Hess found himself glancing at the Cadain Commissar, casually trying to spot an augmetic hand.

Once the speech was over, Hess had to think for a moment in regards to how the woman sounded to him. She indeed knew how to play words around, but it was genuine. Indeed there was some noble air, but she did not seem that arrogant. In the end, he found no offense taken. However, he could not speak for the others.
Clearing his throat, Hess shifted his posture before speaking.

"I find myself concurring with the good Major Vanhayn's report. I'll follow you through Hell, Colonel, if that meant completing the mission, but as I'm sure we all know, certain skills fall into certain areas. With all of the specialties around us, I am eager to hear where our deployment is at."

[Armageddon Steel Legion]

"I have to dis-agree with Cadians being the best, I've seen other regiments do better. No disrespect of course." She then smiled at everyone before noticing Victoria.. Well, she'd have a piece of that after the meeting but now. A tall female commissar stepped in, covered in a trench-coat, handing Alexis a file before nodding to everyone and leaving."Hmm, seems famous composer Ufrick Alo has came to inspire moral by playing his songs about the Guard, interesting. Now about that urban warfare. We can do with that, bombard, gas then burn em' out."


//Sorry, it's short. I'm pissed because I lost my really long post.

[Segmentia]

Lividivus nodded to Major Durnn before turning and listening to Major Vanhayn's report. He would not admit it here, but he was impressed with the Thermidor major, and apparently her captain as well, as it sounded like the captain was the one who compiled the report. But it was a good sign for someone to keep competent officers around. He noted that the women did her best to not insult anyone with her assessment of the other companies. So she understood the need not to have useless grudges floating around between the officers. Another good mark for the major.

As Vanhayn finished, Major Hess spoke up, and Lividivus nodded at his comment. Followed shortly by Uber-Reichen Alexis. He took no offense or disrespect from her comment, but frowned as a commissar entered the room. How many black jackets where running around this regiment? Before anyone else spoke up, Arktheleon decided to address the speakers in order.

"Major Durnn, I apologize for your demotion, but Commissar Marrick pointed out that having two colonels may cause some issues. I assure you that if, and when, your company is rotated back to a Mercina regiment, your rank will be reinstated." Arktheleon meant that. Reaching the rank of colonel, especially for a female, was difficult when you weren't born with a silver spoon. So to have that rank taken away would have made most people rather bitter.

Lividivus then turned and looked Major Vanhayn right in the eyes. "Actually major, I had no say in what companies were reassigned to the 1162nd. I may be its commander, but it is the Emperors regiment, so I do as commanded. I would have preferred more infantry companies myself." He informed the officers in the room, being truthful, but leaving out the bit were he would have preferred Cadians as well, though he imagined they knew that.

Then he turned to answer Hess, frowning at the mans mustache. The remainder of the original 1162nd were all cleanly shaven, as Lividivus preferred. But he supposed he would have to live with it, so long as those with facial hair kept themselves looking neat and orderly. "Our first mission will be too put down a rebellion on a backwater mining planet by the name of Evisor. It should be a simple mission. Not much opposition, just the local PDF and some militia forces. The terrain will be our main obstacle. Damned near barren, apparently. Blistering heat during the day, mild temperatures during the night. So I expect everyone to inform their troops on the importance of proper hydration." Ark glanced at the other officers.

And finally he moved onto the last speaker, Uber-Reichen Alexis. He had yet to form an opinion of the Vhermactian, other then that she had the largest company, and might possibly cause trouble if she disagreed with an order she might be given. Something to look out for. "So long as this Alo character does not interfere with preparations, I have no issue with his being here. Perhaps Commissar Marrick will attend this morale lifting?" Lividivus looked toward Marrick, who simply nodded.

Arktheleon then turned his attention to the two other company commanders, Major Edouard van Ries and Captain Nikolai Yachenkov. Both infantrymen, something Lividivus could relate to easily. van Ries was a heavy infantryman though, where Arktheleon had just been regular line infantry his entire life. Still, he had much respect for the 'Skullers' as they were nicknamed. Not every regiment sent against the Tyranids survived. It would be quite a boon to have such experience in the regiment. As for the men of Botun, they had been with the regiment for several years now, though there had still be little interaction. At least so far as Lividivus knew. His company, which had most of the survivors from the regiment in it, had always been busy. Other companies may have interacted more. Regardless, it was good to have a company with them that had already bleed with them.

The only commander missing was Commander Jason Murrik of the Trovik 51st, the regiments sappers. Arktheleon didn't know what was taking him so long, but he would let the tardiness slide this time.

[Mereshka]

Nikolai couldn't help but feel a slight irritation at hearing Major Vanhayan speak. There was nothing about what she said that was offensive, really; indeed, her speech seemed carefully modulated to avoid ruffling feathers, which Nikolai could appreciate. Plus, he knew she was right. His company was infantry through and through, ground-pounders and bullet-biters to the last man. They had no big guns beyond a lascannon, no armor but for a handful of Chimeras, just enough to transport no more than a fifth of his force. Still...class prejudices died hard, and her voice was dripping with good breeding and education. Even still, he nodded politely, showing her that he took no offense from her statement. Or at least none that he accepted as legitimate.

He had to admit that she made several good points, points only reinforced by Major Hess. Nikolai had been in the Guard twenty years now, and he had never seen a Regiment so lopsided as theirs. Normally infantry companies made up the vast majority of the force, especially in a supposed Line Regiment. Something seemed quite off about the proliferation of specialized companies. Even the other infantry company was heavy infantry. As near as he could tell, the Botun 3rd was the only true infantry company in the regiment, aside from the original Cadians.

He frowned when he saw another Commissar enter the room. A third Commissar? That was a sign of trouble if Nikolai had ever seen one. The other officers didn’t seem particularly bothered by it; but then, they wouldn’t. Commissars never bothered tankers or artillery units. They were placed in the thick of the fighting, with the infantry. They were there to watch for signs of cowardice and disloyalty. As much as Nikolai mistrusted officers, he loathed Commissars. As a Trooper he had seen too many friends executed or beaten bloody by zealous Commissars for him to be overly fond of them. As far as he concerned, they were the hounds of the bureaucracy, less concerned with faith in the God-Emperor than loyalty to the Imperium as a whole.

He took his eyes off the woman and returned his attention to the Colonel as he began to speak. He nodded when the Colonel revealed that he had no choice in picking the units to be assigned to the Regiment. It made sense. No competent commander would ever request so little infantry, and no one had ever accused Cadians of being incompetent.
When the Colonel finished, he finally spoke up. “Well, Colonel.” He said with an easy grin. “As always, the boys and girls of Botun are at your service. We ain’t no Cadians, I know, but we’ll fight and bleed as men, and that’s about all one can ask, right? With so few infantry units in the Regiment, it just means we’ll have to fight all the harder, and we ain’t ever turned away from a fight.”

[Orcoa]

Major Durnn took her seat and listen in on the group, showing little emotion and a bit of coldness at all this. She was thankful for the Colonel reminding of her about her option to regain her rank when she returns home...but she put that all away at the moment and focused on the matter at hand.

"I'm sure that we like to hear more about our former posts but at the moment I want to know what kind of hellhole we are going to. This is a mining world where rebels have taken over, what are we talking about here? Are they heavily armed? Fortified up the ass? Any signs of the Great Enemy?" said Durnn, she crossed her arms and looked across the room with a cold frown. She wanted to know everything about this mission, she was risking her boys and girls to a bunch of rebel miners and she wanted to know what the hell was really going on...since she could get a whiff of something not right about the whole thing.

She then takes out a cigar from her jacket and she puts it into her mouth, lighting it with a Merinca match. She takes a long drag from the cigar and puffs out, leaving a cloud of smoke near her.

[Legital]

Hess listened carefully to what the Colonel said, but he could not help but frown. Clear information on their objective was what he liked to hear, but in the Guard sometimes you did not quite get half of what you want. Leaning forward on his chair, Hess was about to speak before Major Durnn did so.
He wanted to add the 'whats the catch?' after her statement as well, but he did not want to appear that he was doubting his commanding officer. He also did not want to appear like he was doubting that the Colonel told them everything. There have been times when he was told the Xenos are that way, so start shooting. Orders like those may be simple, but there was always a catch .

Noticing someone enter the room, Hess turned to regard the figure. It was another Commissar, and judging by the uniform and the fact that she went directly for Alexis, she was indeed the Uber Reichers company Commissar. She did not stay for long, and as soon as she appeared, she left. Hess wondered if he should summon Felix for an introduction, but he was off somewhere, watching over the troops no doubt at the moment. Perhaps playing a card game, winning with what the boys liked to call Commissariat luck. Hess grinned, that was Felix all right. A friend off the battlefield, a bastard on it.

"Also, might I add Colonel, do we know how long we have before deployment? My men are always ready, but it is good to let them know before you drop them into hot water." Hess asked a moment after the woman's question. That was also when he noticed her smoking a cigar, in front of her superiors. Hess knew that did not fly amongst the Higarans, as it symbolized disrespect, and almost eagerly he looked to the Cadian to see if a reprimand was in store.

[Segmentia]

Colonel Lividivus frowned as Major Durnn started smoking. He didn't mind that his troops and officers smoked, but he did mind if they smoked when he was near by, and since this was his office, and the Major had not asked, well, that just wouldn't do.

"Major, put that out." Arktheleon said in a serious tone. It was clearly not a request.

(Short post, sorry. Longer one coming up though.)

[Orcoa]

Colonel Lividivus frowned as Major Durnn started smoking. He didn't mind that his troops and officers smoked, but he did mind if they smoked when he was near by, and since this was his office, and the Major had not asked, well, that just wouldn't do.

"Major, put that out." Arktheleon said in a serious tone. It was clearly not a request.

(Short post, sorry. Longer one coming up though.)

Major Durnn nods as she puts out her cigar in a ashtray near her, she then looks back at the Colonel as she was still waiting for answer to her questions.

"Sorry Sir" said Durnn, showing no emotion as she had taken orders like this before and she knew it was better to get the Colonel on his good side...specially when there are commissars in the room.

She takes a drink of one of the glasses of water near by, washing away the sweet taste of her now put out cigar. She took a another look around the room and got a feel for her fellow officers.

Durnn would have a hard time getting to know all of them...but she knows if she and her troopers are to survive this new chapter in their lives then She better do so and fast.

[Volmachtia]

The brooding Major Edouard van Ries, skull mask glistening in the office's illuminators, rose.
"Pardon my interruption." the Major said, in a lilting and yet guttural accent. "I believe it should be noted that, despite our Vanhayn's considerations, a war is not won with specialty forces. Sappers. Artillery guns. Siege guns. You may be able to fight a trench war, but may the Emperor's woe come upon you should you be so foolish as to engage in urban combat with an enemy with knowledge of the terrain without infantry."

He paced lightly, heavy carapace boots clacking, arms folded behind his back. The black armor padding and bone-white fatigues made him seem like a ghost as he drew back slightly from the light.
"The men of Skavakor are proud, dedicated and fierce. Like our ancestors who were massacred by the Great Enemy's orbital guns half a millennium ago, we see ourselves as dead in the Emperor. It is merely our job to ensure that we take as many xenos and heretics with us before this destiny is confirmed. As specialist infantry, my men can breach the heaviest defenses. The Cadians, all respect to our Colonel, are strong and proud, but they are not heavy infantry. We would serve best on the tip of any spearhead."

He also turned to the Major Vanhayn, and proffered this as well; "Major, I acknowledge the value of this mixture of specialists for certain occasions. Yet, I feel the urge to correct you on this simple matter; Siege guns do not win wars. Mines do not win wars. Tanks and men seize fortresses and conquer worlds. Despite your understandable pride in your regiment's abilities, I believe you overestimate yourselves."

Careless of the others' doubtless chastisements, Major van Ries returned to his seat.

[Segmentia]

Colonel Lividivus nodded and stood up, sliding open a desk drawer and pulling out a folder. The folder had maps and printouts of Evisor, both about the civilian population, PDF forces, climate, everything one could really ask for.

"Now then, the Evisor rebellion, as far as we can tell, was not prompted by the Great Enemy. We believe that it sprung up from the 'unfair' tithe levied against the world. It is expected that most of the civilians will return to the proper way of things once we arrive and put on s show of strength. The militias and PDF forces will be another matter." Lividivus took a sip of water before continuing. "Evisor is a backwater planet, and not of any real strategic value, so the PDF is rather poorly equipped. It is an infantry-heavy force, with 90% of its strength being in to form of line infantry, with little in the means of support. There is a handful of Leman Russ tanks, and other vehicles, but they should be easily dispatched by our own tanks, Major Hess, that will be your task, with artillery support, of course."

Pointing to a spot on the map, Lividivus continued. "This is the PDF main stronghold. Its a well constructed fortress that may seem small, but leads into several large cavern systems. We believe the bulk of their infantry are stationed in there, so if we can cut them off, they will not be able to rush out reinforcements to their other outposts. Uber-Reichen Kolumbein, that will be your task. I trust your men can act as infantry?" Arktheleon inquired, not looking up.

"The largest concentration of rebel militia forces will be here." Arktheleon pointed to another spot on the map. "This is the prime city of Evisor. Not all to impressive, but a rats nest if I've ever seen one. A considerable number of caverns weave across the city, giving the locals a considerable edge. Once Major Hess has dealt with the rebel armor, the 1st, 3rd, and 8th companies will begin pushing into the city, with 4th company in support."

"Major Vanhayn, your company will provide artillery support for Major Hess's tanks, and then later for the push into the pime city. Major Durnn, you and Commander Murrik will remain in support." Arktheleon finished telling them the general plan. It most likely wouldn't hold up, but it seemed solid enough.

"We reach Evisor in three days, or so the navy says. Questions or comments? Speak freely and frankly."

[Armageddon Steel Legion]

"Indeed we can." She studied the maps before hearing a loud echo of music.. It seemed Ufrick had started to play his song about Cadia. "Now then. To war we go!" She stood and gave Victoria a wink before walking out of the room, heading towards her own quarters as her men, mixed in with the Cadians as they attended Ufrick's mini concert in the hangers. The men were ready to get into their transports and head towards the planet, but the Vhermactian ones were quickly being painted with Iron Crosses and lighting strikes as well as other Vhermactian imagery. One had the words." For the Kaiser!" Written on the side. Commissar Liara then entered the room and took Alexis's seat.


"Sorry about her disappearance. She gets excited rather easily." She smiled, fixing her gloves as she breathed through her gas-mask, her Valhallan accent strong and thick."I have read the Imperial Creed out-loud to the troops, now they ready to bring the guns of the Emperor down on the enemy and drown them in their own bodies along with Vhermactian bodies."

[Aelosia]

After finishing, Vanhayn was glad that Hess had caught her camaraderie signal and had started to play along, supporting her views. Emperor First, Regiment Second, maybe, but tankers got to support each other. It was no secret to anyone that tank and armoured companies, for all its power, were commonly relegated to the command of infantry generals and superiors.

When the Colonel turned he looked Major Vanhayn right in the eyes. "Actually major, I had no say in what companies were reassigned to the 1162nd. I may be its commander, but it is the Emperors regiment, so I do as commanded. I would have preferred more infantry companies myself.". The statement did not fit well in Victoria Vanhayn's mind. That meant that the regiment has been assembled on poor planning, or no planning whatsoever. If there was one thing, for the Lords of Terra, that managed to bring Vanhayn over the edge, it was to be in the middle of unprepared situations and setups. She realized this was not the colonel fault, of course, as he was as much as a victim of the choices as Vanhayn was, or even worst, as he was in command of the whole thing. She started to wonder which of the usual geniuses in the upper generalcy had decided the mash up, or even worse, if it had been the decision of some Munitorium adeptus.

The Major also saw in disgust how the airborne commander started to smoke. Not because of the habit per se, as the Major did not have anything in particular against it, but for the lack of courtesy to ask for permission from the others, especially the Colonel first. However, she did not showed her displeasure, trying to remain in the good side of everyone. So far, only a disdain look from the Botun, but she did not know if the look came from she being a woman, a major, a noble, or just something else, like what she just had said. Anyway, she was glad when the Colonel chastised Dunn. Not out of spite for the woman, but because it showed the Colonel was not a weakling unable to discipline even high ranking officers. But then again... Which Cadian was a weakling?

Then came van Ries. Honestly, Vanhayn found the man disgusting, exactly the kind of Guard Commander she did not like to deal with. Perhaps too obssessed with the killing, wearing a completely out of taste skull mask. When he rose, he delivered some sort of speech that, from her point of view, tried to be a response to her detailed assessment of the situation. Somehow, according to Victoria, it failed to answer to whatever she had said. she was sure that the man had understood, as she had feared, that she thought infantry companies were inferior to the specialist ones. More often than not, her opinion had tried to state actually the opposite, that so many specialist companies were a weak spot in the regiment composition, that they needed more infantry, but soon she realized that van Ries was not a man either used to understanding others, or argue with others. For sure he was pretty good at killing, and killing only. She just remained with her chin held up high as the man spoke, and stared at him with fixed eyes, refusing to be intimidated by the large figure in carapace armor (although she did accept it was quite intimidating). Yet the retort of the man was so unrelated to her points that she did not bothered to argue back, letting the point rest. She knew that both the Colonel and the worthy and thinking commanders like Dunn, Hess, and perhaps the Siege Lady Alexis had understood what she had tried to say. So she remained silent until van Ries ended his tirade and resumed her seat. She just turned to her Captain, who was visibly scared, and smiled with her lips closed.

The Colonel spoke again, detailing the mission ahead of the regiment. Luckily, it was a relatively simple mission. Simple and easy, according to Guard standards. Pacifying PDF was way more simple than to face demons, slaughter orcs, outwit eldar or assault Tau positions.

However, the Major placed a lot of attention to detail what the Colonel was informing them about. Simple details did win wars, as much as people like van Ries kept saying about determination and ferocity. She saw the logic behind sending the new regiment to a backwater world. The Generals had mashed the regiment together, but they did not trust its battle readiness. This Evisor affair was not a mission, but a simple test, a graduation examination for the Colonel.

Vanhayn did not understand why planets like Evisor kept revolting against imperial rule because of tithes. What they could think? The Empire would always send forces against them, and most of the time they did not have chance of defeating the better prepared and equipped Imperial Guard. Even in the case where PDF could win against the first Imperial mission, they would just find themselves fighting and fighting over again against more armies, each bigger than the former, until the rebels were crushed. It was better to pay taxes, in Victoria's opinion, than to fight against the Imperium, that was almost infinite in resources. And values like freedom, liberty, self-determination? Were they worthy of having your planet turned to glass and your children turned into indentured servitors? Not really, no.

So the PDF was almost entirely made of infantry. That was a relief, as the only true threat to companies like the Thermidorian Maidens were flanking or breaking armor charges. Some tanks would not be a problem, as long as Hess and his steelboys would find them and dispatch them quickly, in that was agreeing with the Colonel. More likely, the PDF would suffer a great blow to morale after the first battle, even after the few hours of fighting against guard, and would fold into themselves quickly. However, Vanhayn knew that overconfidence could be an issue. The overconfidence of the Guard.

She saw the map as the Colonel pointed at the rebel stronghold. Vanhayn was good with maps, it was one of her best aspects as an officer. She was great reading positions, topography and tactical situations. The Colonel had sent the biggest and heaviest company of the entire regiment towards the citadel, hoping not for an easy conquest, but just to force them to remain in place. Classic usage of a Siege company, for a refused flank manouver, breaking the enemy into smaller pieces to be devoured in turn, with their main force unable to support its wings. She liked the acumen of the Colonel already.

Then it was the city. For sure the armor was going to be deployed around it, unless the locals did the sensitive thing and dug them inside the city as static defense. It was a better plan than to let armoured formations in the open waiting to be devoured by Hess tanks. She nodded as the Colonel mentioned her company and the role it was supposed to fulfill. She had to follow Hess' trail until they discovered the armor, annihilate it, then return to creep barrage the advance of the infantry. That, if the armor was not dug in, in which case Hess tanks would have to enter the hell of alley urban combat, in a citty filled with tunnels. Vanhayn shuddered at the thought, but promised to support Hess up close with her Inflecto Maestus should the situation came at that.

Dunn would remain in support, of course, as the situation developed. It was another good move on the Colonel's part according to Vanhayn. Airborned would be able to deploy quickly in support of anyone else should the need arise, with a reaction time quite quicker than any of the other sections. She was no infantry commander as much as she liked wargames, but from now on she knew she could trust in the Cadian's judgment. She did not like in principle to leave Merrick in reserve, as more likely the Cadians, the Skullers and the Botuns would need of their sapping services as they advance to clean up defenses and bunkers, but she imagined that the Colonel had his own reasons for that choice.

She realized that probably the job of the Thermidorian company was the easier one in this plan, and felt a renewed respect for the other commanders, even van Ries. She nodded to the Colonel again, as to express her tacital agreement with his plan, and rose from her seat. "All the setup is clear for me. I do have a question, though, but not regarding the Evisor plan. Can I know the name of the General we are now serving? I wonder who is your, and ours, superior officer", she said raising an eyebrow at the Colonel, knowing that small piece of information could be really important in the future.

[Orcoa]

Durnn nods as she listened to the whole plan, liking how the Cadian worked over the many different styles that the former regiments have and uses them to the missions goals. She was a little annoyed that she and her men would be in a more support role, but this was not something she could change and plus it was better to do what was best for the mission.

She stayed in her seat as she kept her cold almost aloof look to her, she finally spoke up to the Colonel.

"Sir, Do you have a plan of attack if when the time comes for my men to attack? If not, I can help you with such planning" said Durnn, she was bold to ask such a thing but many officers from Aerial Attack Regiments are like this...it is what makes them do their best at their job. She took a quick drink from her glass of water, looking at the Colonel with a small frown.