Heartbreak117

  "Milords and Midies." I greet the Space Marines and Sisters of Battle, who are being briefed by Sergeant Johnson, with an Aqui sign. "Corporal Ein and Private Weiss rep for duty." o me, Weiss makes the same symbol with her hands.

  I then turn to Johnson, snapping a salute. "Sergeant."

  The three parties nod at Weiss and me, with some of the Space Marines and Sisters of Battle removing their helmets. Mama, who is one of them and represents the Order of Our Martyred Lady, introduces the Space Mario us.

  "Corporal Ein and Private Weiss, these are the respected Space Marines of the Samander Chapter. Today, we are fortunate enough to be apanied and aided by their Chapter Master Tu'shan, and Chief Librarian Vel'a. It's thanks to their Thunderhawks that we could swiftly deploy such a big force." So not Tu'na and Vel'. Noted.

  True to Mama's words, Samahunderhawk Transporters are dropping multiple pairs of Rhino APCs. While most of the Rhinos bear the Samander livery, some adorn the colors of the Order of Our Martyred Lady. Seeing how I am gazing at the deployment of such a rge meized for slight surprise, Mama chuckles.

  "The Adeptus Meicus expresses a vested i in the uified void ship. Uhe authority of Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl, a Joint Task Force was created to explore the crashed vessel. The Joint Task Force, or JTF for short, now sists of elements from the Adeptus Meicus, the Samander Chapter of Space Marihe Order of Our Martyred Lady, the Imperial Navy, and the Cadian 8th Regiment of which your 3rd Ptoon is a part of. Since a member unit of the JTF is under duress, a QRF is sent to aid the QRF, as weird as it may sound. These," Mama gestures to the t forms of the Samanders and Battle Sisters alongside their nd vehicles and aircraft. "are the QRF of the Joint Task Force."

  Although the reasoning behind such a prompt force deployment is very straight to the point and very much open to questions, I decide it's not my pce to wonder. Instead, I bow gratefully at the armored figures in front of me. "Although my Sergeant might have already expressed ratefulness, allow me to offer Milords and Midies the gratitude of 3rd Ptoon for your timely arrival. If not for your help, I fear we would have eventually been forced to make a st stand."

  Though Mama and the other Sisters of Battle, headed by a helmeted and bolter-equipped Tsavorae, amicably return my gratitude with amicable gestures, the Space Marines only nod appreciatively. On his part, Johnson only smiles while crossing his arms, tending to silently watch what will happe or until the versation requires his input. With mild surprise, I notice that Weiss mirrors my a once more, even if it isn't truly required of her at the moment. Still, I note how the Rookie doesn't seem at all fazed by the presence of the Space Marines despite her prior show of unease. She pys the part of a respectful Guardswoman a tad too well, too natural that makes it seem impossible for her to be a mere Private and this is her first time seeing the Emperor's Angels. More food for thought, to be sure, but I digress.

  When I look up ahe source of the approag hulking steps, I y my eyes upon a Space Marihat dwarfs even the rest of his peers. I identify the t personage as the Chapter Master of the Samanders, owing to the impressive armor, Iron Halo, and ons he bears. He wears a suit of a Artificer Armour. Two pauldrons sit upon his hulking shoulders, wrought into the image of the snarling fire lizards of Noe from which the Samanders Chapter takes its name. A cloak of samander hide, a more venerable and honor-strewn version of that worn by the Samanders' 1st pany warriors known as the Firedrakes, is draped across the Chapter Master's broad back. Attached to his left hip is the decorated and a Prometheus fmer while he is carrying the Strormbreak Thunder Hammer with his right hand. The Chapter Master is the first to remove his protective helmet, an a to be followed by his Chief Librarian and a few other Samanders.

  "Well met, young Ein." Honor markings cover Tu'Shan's noble tenance, a physical legacy of his deeds writ into his ebon flesh. His glowing red eyes carry withihe weight of the world, making them gleam mysteriously with each small movement. Yet, despite wearing a face that scare a child into blissful sleep, the Chapter Master dispys the face of a gentle giant. "You and your rades have honored yiment and Cadia today for being professional and decisive in the line of duty." Much like Tu'shan, Chief Librarian Vel'a, and the other Space Marines dispy sincere respect as Defenders of the Imperium to one another.

  I respectfully reply. "You honored us with your words, Milord. We did only what any good Imperial Guards would do and to the best of our ability."

  "Then the Imperium is blessed to have you all under Her wings." Tu'shan gives o nod before his t presence gazes around the formation of JTF elements. "As, Time waits for no ohe circumstances with the Traitors have made it so that we must make haste to the crash site. There must be secrets within the voidship for the Traitors to make themselves known in such a rge number."

  Vel'a also interjects while gazing at the ses of reinf Cadian 8th Guards, using fmers to burtlefield carcasses. "There's also the question of where the Traitors came from."

  Tsavorae adds. "And whether or not the Traitors will be appearing still. Regardless, the bolters of the Sisters thirst for the Traitors' demise. No one is to harm our fellows with impunity."

  Vel'a nods in agreement. "A sehat we all share."

  "Still, caution and proper preparation are required." Mama raises her hand to calm dowheads. "Until the Tech-priests from the Dominus arrive, we will pn our approach to the voidship and for whe i. Sergeant Johnson, a resupply Valkyrie is on the way. Outfit your Ptoon to fit the task at hand. You will be apanying us in expl the internals of that voidship. I figure 3rd Ptoon is ag to uand what's going on."

  Johnson salutes. "Yes, Ma'am. I will make sure the unit packs a fmer or two."

  Mama nods at that while Tu'shan adds. "I will have the Thunderhawks patrol the airspace above the crash site. They will give us the cover we need and prevent further enemy infiltration into the area."

  "Air cover is always wele in sarios like this." Mama ents.

  Suddenly, I raise a hand to suggest. "If I may, is it possible to have the Thunderhawks or Valkyries deploy Sensor-skulls on the voidship? We use the Skulls to s for entrances and maybe explore the internals before our entry."

  Tu'shan directly replies. "I will have our Thunderhawks notified. We should have preliminary re data on the ship when we arrive."

  Tsavives me a thumbs-up. "Good idea, Ein. We would have missed the Sensor-skulls due to us all having powered armor and firepower."

  Mama doesn't say anything but does give me a proud nod and a wink. Heh, she also had the same idea in mind but stayed silent to see whether or not I would make my presenown. Moving on, more suggestions and informatioraded between everyohis happens while more and more units are airlifted into the operation zoech-priests disembarking from shuttles, Guardsmen and Guardswomen hopping off Valkyries, with additional Cadian 8th Chimeras and Tauroxes arriving from elsewhere... The whole se puts a strong emphasis on the words Joint Task Force, which is weird because I don't think the 40K universe ever dispys this cept.

  Regardless, the time soon es for us all to set out to the crash site, rearmed, refueled, and reinforced. If there are more Traitors around, the JTF beat back everything they reasonably bring to bear without triggering another Bck Crusade. Still...

  Why is Weiss and I being sandwiched by Mama and Tsavorae in one of the Rhinos, with the Samander Chapter Master and Chief Librarian looking at us in barely hidden amusement? What the Hell did I miss and why are Weiss and I not riding in a Chimera instead?

  Sharing a look of puzzlement with Weiss, I wonder.

  'Did we just get yoink?'

  Heartbreak117