Personal Log of Alain Vrad
347.904 M41
Wow. The first entry in my new journal- excuse me, personal Log. Trust Zeeren to get me something so relentlessly practical. I suppose that's why she sought and received entry to the Adeptus Mechanicus. Don't get me wrong, I know the techpriests are vital to keeping our world operating. The factories, the shipyards, even the hives themselves would fall apart if the Mechanicus didn't perform their holy rites. I've just always preferred people to machines. Plus, I've always been satisfied with the Tool I was born with! Ha Ha!
Throne, I hope Zee never reads this…
But anyway. Today is such a big day for me. I graduated from Basic and Preparatory not three hours ago, and will soon be assigned a place in the Arbites. It's what I've always wanted, a chance to give something back to my homeworld. Of course, dad wasn't terribly excited the first time he heard it- he's a foreman at Scanda Hive's Main Plasma Reactor, and he wanted me to follow in his footsteps. Still, he had to admit, it's a good position and an important job, so eventually we made up. He bought me a beer, looked me square in the eye, and told me that if I ever fined him I'd find I wasn't to big to be spanked. I'm pretty sure he was joking.
We all went to the chapel, to thank the Emperor for all our good luck. It seems that all of the Vrad kids got their prayers answered. Mykal is a pilot for one of the Rogue Traders way out in the Fringe, Tyla married her childhood sweetheart and opened a small eatery on level 12, and Zeeren and me both got our dream jobs. It really makes you believe in the power of prayer, y'know? Mom keeps saying that we must have a direct line to the Golden Throne.
Of course, graduation also meant moving. All Arbites live at the central barracks, which means I have to pack up and leave my home behind me tomorrow night. Funny, there were times when I just couldn't wait to leave home, and now that I am…I just want to stay.
I'll write more tomorrow- right now I want to enjoy my last night here.
348. 904 M41
Well, that was fun.
A whole day at Arbites Central in the Capital Hive, mostly spent waiting in lines. The whole day started early, at 5am, when I left home to catch the shuttle to Capital Hive. It's clear on the other side of the planet, so I had a long flight. This was the first time I'd ever left Scanda Hive, and I was really excited to see the capital of Dobran's World. Capital Hive (or CapCity) was bigger than Scanda, and less polluted- that's about the only differences I could spot. The architecture, the people, even the zone and level names were the same.
We landed at the shuttleport at 8am. Then I had to find the damned place- at least that was easy enough. The Arbites Central Command is an immense black pyramid, surrounded by smaller habs for senior officials, and pretty hard to miss. Even if you did, the massive razor wire fences and the roving squads of Judges were a pretty good hint. At first they gave me some heat for being in the Secure Zone but when they found out why I was there they became downright friendly. They walked me up to the main building and gave me some helpful advice. They also gave me a list of where to go and in what order to be done as fast as possible. Emperor bless them, that helped me out!
First, I had to turn in my Training gear at the main armory. Although most of my graduating class had come at the same time as me, not many thought to go there first. So I got through that quickly; I turned in the mat-gray tunic, boots and the practice gun I've carried around for four months. Once the clerk signed my docket, I had to run to the other side of the complex and be formally signed out of the Training Unit.
That ended the easy part of the day.
Next, I had to register as a Trained Arbites Officer- that took forever, because my former classmates all thought that was the first stop. Needless to say, the bureaucrats didn't announce the mistake to everyone- they made us all wait in line while they told each one seperately. It took an hour to reach the desk and sign in. I was good and mad until I saw the clerk- poor fragger looked like hell. So I gritted my teeth and smiled and was as warm and polite as anyone could wish- it seemed to work, since he processed me quickly and even wished me luck.
After that, everything shutdown for lunch and most of my classmates had to go hungry. The commissary was for personnel only, and no one who didn't work at Central Command was allowed in. Fortunately, mom had insisted I bring a lunch, so I was all right. I shared what I could with my two best friends (Wyld and Taym), and wound up with little more than a half sandwich and a sweetystikk for myself. Oh well, you have to look out for your buddies, right?
My next step was to be assigned a Station. That was another long wait; it seems a fresh shipment of veterans had been transferred from off-world and were being assigned. Naturally, they took precedence, so I waited two hours before I finally got my assignment- Blue Sector. Blue Sector is in the Underhive of Scanda, and from what I've heard it's a mixed bag. On the one hand, it's in the worst, filthiest, poorest, and most crime ridden sector of Scanda, but on the other hand the officers there are the best. It's not what I would have wanted, but at least I'll be in the same hive as my family.
Next, I went back to the armory to pick up my new equipment. Naturally, there was a line- my former classmates had finally gotten their acts together, and were turning in their Training gear. Another hour down the fraggin' drain. Big bonus- I rated high enough in training to qualify as heavy weapons specialist. So while my friends were getting their shotguns, I get handed a Plasma Gun! I wish I'd taken a pict of their faces! Finally, I went to the guardhouse to find the two Judges I'd met before. I thanked them for their help, and bought them both snacks from the PX. Then, it was off to home to get my stuff.
After tearful goodbyes to my parents (yeah I cried, no shame in that) I boarded the Mass Transit Elevator, and went down to Blue Sector. It took twenty minutes to get down to the Underhive and when the doors opened, I wished it had taken longer. The place was almost totally pitch dark, with the only light coming from flickering glow globes. The air was…well, I can't say it STANK exactly, but it sure wasn't what I was used to. I found out later that the air down here had half the impurities of the air I was used to. Something to do with rising wind currents, or something. But weirdest of all were the people- the first one to speak to me (he wanted change) had three arms! I'd always heard stories about mutants in the underhive but I'd never really believed them until that moment.
Somehow, I managed to contain my shock, and make my way to the Arbites barrack. As one of the only properly built structures in the sector, the barrack wasn't hard to find. It was late at night by that point, so the staff sergeant issued me my bed and told me we'd see to the rest in the morning. I stumbled down the hall to the Male Judges Sleeping area and found my bed- I lucked into the lower bunk on the bed nearest the wall. I slipped my kitbag under the bed and slipped into my Off-Duty pants. Too tired to shower, I decided to lie down and get some sleep.
That's where I am now. Good night.
A/N
Ahhh, a return to my roots in Warhammer. I actually wrote this story before- a few years ago, actually. It got lost when my laptop got fried and I'm only now recovering it. Frankly, rhough, I think it'll be better than before- I've actually been through the military, and I'll be able to bring that experience to bear on my writing.
I'm going to tell you now, this story will most likely end up the red-headed step child of my current projects- but I will finish it! Just don't expect updates all that often is all.