Authors Note: Hello all, here's another Imperial Guard story about a different army, but Captain Steele will be making an appearance. Please feel free to add comments and feedback as I could use some motivation to finish this project. Enjoy!


Lieutenant Kennedy

"Lieutenant Kennedy?" The man behind the desk asked me as my second in command helped drag me into the small waiting room.

"Yes, the Major sent me a summons." I told the half metal scribe who stared at the white wall for a minute before looking up to me and Veria.

"That was a month ago. This tardiness will be noted." He stated in a monotone voice.

"You'll have to excuse me on account of being pinned down behind enemy lines for two months." Veria snapped at the half human. He stared off into space again for a solid fifteen seconds.

"This has been noted." He responded. "She will see you now." He said and went back to staring as I guessed he sorted files or whatever these weird scribes did. I limped over to the door as Veria opened it. I walked in to see the Major in her immaculate uniform with her over sized cap and jacket on. I always found it odd how her jacket was three sizes bigger than needed and was worn no matter what the temperature was. I reluctantly went to attention and saluted which felt like I was stabbed in the ribs.

"Major." I grunted between ragged breaths. She inspected us with disdain, taking her time as I wheezed. I had my normal uniform on but I hadn't had time to change, much less visit the medicae. The once snow white parts of the uniform where now covered in dirt, ash, burns, and dried blood. I had blood soaked bandages wrapped around my grimy blue vest, with matching bandages on my head and leg. Veria wasn't much better as she had her longlas on her back, and her arm in a sling. She was also cover head to toe in dirt and grime.

"At ease." She said almost making me collapse but luckily Veria caught me with her arm.

"Excuse me Ma'am." I apologize. "I got your message before I was able to stop by the medicae so I am still not at full health. May I sit?" I asked her making her frown as she thought about it.

"You may." She said reluctantly. "And why did you bring her?" She asked waving her hand to Veria whose face was clouded with anger.

"I couldn't walk on my own, so I brought my most trusted women to help me." I told her calmly as I grunted lowering myself into the chair. "I did not want to delay you anymore then I already have."

"Delayed is an understatement Lieutenant." She said making Veria snap.

"You'll have to excuse us, we were just pinned down behind enemy lines for a month!" She snarled but I held up my hand.

"That's enough!" I told her forcefully, making her grumble and step back. "My apologies Ma'am. Tensions are high after our mission, are supplies were not intended to last for that long."

"Yes, because you were sent in to assassinate the leader and call in an extraction. It was not a complicated mission!" The Major stressed.

"Ma'am, the cult you sent us into was much more powerful than expected." I told her. "There were four times the numbers expected."

"Not to mention it was a frakking trap! They knew we were coming and shot us out the sky!" Veria put in but I only held up my hand.

"She has a point Major, they were expecting us." I told her.

"Are you accusing me of tipping off the enemy Major?" She growled.

"No Ma'am, but I would personally suggest an investigation into anyone who knew." I told her calmly.

"You are not the Major here, so that is not your call Lieutenant!" She snapped back.

"No it is not Ma'am." I nodded. "So may I ask why I was called in?"

"Yes, I would like to discuss your command team and your rank." She said shifting to grab several thick files. I sighed knowing exactly what was going to happen. I had this conversation so many times. "You have surrounded yourself with a variable rogue gallery Lieutenant." She said opening the first file.

"I also trust my team with my life." I told her.

"Oh really?" She cocked an eyebrow. "Private Phoebe. Heavy Weapons specialist. Heavy Flamer. But I see that she was only issued a flamer, not a heavy flamer. I also see there are quite a few citations for techheresy here."

"Yes, she petitioned for a heavy flamer multiple but was denied, so she improvised." I shrugged. "That flamer is the only reason I'm alive right now as she was able to hold off many of the cultists."

"Private Kaitlyns A.K.A Katie. Vox op. I see that she has had some problems with officers in the past."

"They didn't respect her, so she didn't respect them." I explained tiredly.

"She had something to do with a commissar stepping down?" She asked looking confused.

"The Commissar was fraternizing with a member of the Medicae, Katie found this out, and decided to bring this to light." I told her. "She did not do this in an appropriate manner which lead to the commissar resigning. Unfortunately this lead to the unfortunate Medicae having to step down, so I recruited her as my personal squad medic."

"Yes… I see that." She said thumbing through the file before picking up the next one. "As for your other special weapon expert." She said glancing at the women who was taking deep breaths, trying to not lose her cool like she often did. "Several drunk altercations, and I see here a report of weapon discharge off of the firing range." She said as Veria stepped forward.

"Ma'am, that was a friendly competition with some of the the ra- uh… Auxilaries." She told the Major.

"So you claim in the report but these auxilaries were nowhere to be found when the guards found you." The Major stated.

"That's what ratlings do! They scamper away and no one ever sees them!" She protested as her voice raised.

"Never-the-less you discharged a weapon off of the firing range which is a punishable offense." She stated coldly. "And you Lieutenant." She said sifting through the last folder. I let myself breath out quietly as no CO had ever found anything in that file. "The same as the rest," She started making me start in confusion. "A request for summary execution due to dissertation of your post."

"What!?" Veria and I shrieked in unison.

"Yes, you were given orders two weeks ago but you neglected this assignment leading to your branding as deserters." She explained like this was a completely normal course of action.

"What the frak!? We were fighting for our Emperor damned lives!" Veria shouted marching towards the desk.

"This is absurd!" I told the unmoved commander. "My women were fighting and dying for this army and you now want to execute us?"

"I don't make the rules. You did not report for your duty Lieutenant, you therefore are a deserter." She told me. Veria slammed her fist on the table.

"This is groxshit!" She shouted as I tried to restrain her.

"Veria, you need to calm down!" I urged her as the door smashed open as guards came in.

"This is a mistake!" I shouted as the guard yanked me to my feet which felt like my chest was ripping like fabric.

"I don't think it is Lieutenant." She smiled cruelly as Veria pulled out of one of the guards grasp and punched him but her hand met with a crunch. She cried out in pain, holding her injured hand before she was slammed to the floor and a rifle cracked into the back of her head. "Take them to the brig with the rest of their squad."