CHAPTER ONE
"They've stitched you up sir"
Hearing the pitch of the engine change and the floor of the Valkyrie to shudder, the lone Naval officer began to stir and adjust is uniform as the pilot called out they were about to land. Bright sun light lit up the hold of the transport as the door opened and the crew began off loading cargo to the waiting guardsmen.
"Lieutenant commander Ursus!?" came a voice.
"Yes!" shouted Ursus, squinting as he stepped of the ship.
"Guardsman Dixie sir, the Captain sent me for you, this way please." The young guardsmen said, reaching for one of Ursus's bags.
As he followed the young guardsman through the landing area and into the wider base, he marvelled at the sheer number of troops and equipment gathered. He'd never seen an Ogryn up close and stared as a squad lumbered passed, dwarfing the regular sized men around them.
"Best not stare sir" whispered Dixie "they get angry or at the Ratlings either"
Ursus hadn't originally noticed the squad of squat abhumans gathered around a tent, rifling through a kit bag, presumably not theirs. Following his guide they passed several lines of tanks and other armoured vehicles, all preparing for the upcoming offensive. They eventually arrived at an open transport, its dropped ramp shaded by camo netting. Dixie pointed and the door and gestured to enter. Before his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, a gravelly voice welcomed him.
"You must be my new O.O.F "said the voice, "I'm Cpt Kychec, welcome Lt Cmdr. I'll keep this short and sweet for you. You'll be following me and the command element of the 9th company, I'm guessing you weren't told anything about the upcoming op so don't worry too much about it, I'll give you an overview but all we are doing is taking a bridge, all you need to do is stick with me and call in the air support, we'll take care of the rest."
Ursus spent another half an hour or so being briefed by Kychec, as clambered out of the vehicle, Kychec shouted.
"Dix, take him up to the stores and kitted out"
"Follow me again please sir, we'll get you squared away before we drop."
"Drop?" said Ursus, looking slightly bewildered
Dix shook his head "They've stitched you up here sir, they not tell you we are an airborne regiment. Guess not. Not to worry sir, we'll look after you so long as you look after us."
"No Guardsmen Dixie, they failed to mention the nature of your regiment, my posting was rather rushed, I've just completed my training. Now what exactly did Cpt Kychec mean about kitting me out?"
"Well" said Dix "You will probably want to swap your Navy uniform for one of ours Sir. It's safer. Last thing you or any of us standing near you want is for you to stand out to the enemy. Attracts fire you see"
"What do you mean 'attracts fire' guardsmen?"
"Our Regimental Naval liaison officer is with the Colonel, in the base, organising transports and such, you're stuck with us in the thick of it sir"
Dix dropped Ursus off at his assigned quarters. It had taken most of the day to gather all his gear. Thankfully he hadn't had to carry it all rather it had been dropped off for him. His room was small but neat a desk and chair against the near wall, a locker in the far corner and a footlocker at the bottom of his bed. Neatly laid on the bed was his new uniform, 2 pairs of khaki combat trousers, 2 khaki shirts and his white combat body armour and helmet. In his footlocker he found his new Bergen along with a water canteen, a knife, a mess tin and spoon and a personal medic kit.
After spending the next hour packing his Bergen with all his new kit as well as the personal items he'd brought in his naval kit bag, he pulled his chair outside his habhut and sat watching the rest of the army go about its preparation as the sun dropped in the sky. He pulled a data slate from his pocket and flicked through it, just reminding himself of the procedures he would have to follow in calling in the air support. Happy he had it all firmly in his mind, he looked up to see Dix walking to him, carrying a small crate.
"Here you go sir" smiled Dix, placing the container at Ursus feet. "I know you would normally carry a laspistol sir, but I reckon you'd be better off with this"
He popped the lid, revealing a folding stock lasgun, several ammo cells, 2 frag grenades, several smoke grenades and a laspistol. Dix dropped the lid, said goodnight and ambled off towards the mess hall.
Ursus grabbed the case and dragged it inside, laughing to himself, wondering what had happened for the Emperor to have cursed him like this. At least his Father would be proud; he'd wanted him to join the guard after all. Ursus, looked at the picture of his parents, the one he'd wedged into the lining of his helmet, smiled and placed it back on the desk. He climbed into bed, he knew he wouldn't sleep much, his stomach was doing cartwheels about what lay ahead, with a little tossing and turning he fell into a fitful sleep.