(Karpathia, 3 years before the Reclamation of Honor's End)
This moment seems so distant now, thinking back… it almost feels absurd. There isn't much to tell about the world of Karpathia. It was and still is a standard Imperial agriworld, 85% of the planet's surface is being used as farmland, mostly to grow grain, rye and some sort of corn. The remaining land is occupied by the massive pastures, kept up for the livestock; anything that is not related to farming is concentrated in one of the three hive cities. What little industrial output those cities possess are all for manufacturing farming equipment, combines, power tools and basic machinery.
Thinking back, I wonder why anyone in their right mind would recruit people from such a simple planet. Tithes were met; one way or another, there was no reason for the ruling monarch to send able manpower to the Guard. So why? Why did they send me, and thousands of my comrades to die on Honor's End?
- Sons and daughters of Karpathia! The Emperor and his Lord Primarchs are calling for us to serve! Mankind needs the Karpathian will, to face the heretic scourge tainting the Imperium's holy ground! – The loudspeakers conveyed the propaganda as we were getting on the train. From there, our only stop is going the spaceport and from there… well at that time, I didn't even know where.
- The Imperium depends on us, and you, brave soldiers of the Monarch, the heroes that will serve justice against the dark legions! Be brave, oh good soldiers of Karpathia, we and the planet cheers for your victory and will rejoice upon your glorious return! - I shut the window close; I really didn't want to listen to that sappy nonsense any longer.
Looking out the car, the remaining soldiers of the former Karpathian PDF were getting on the train, dressed in their greyish blue uniforms, lasguns over their shoulders, almost happy to leave. Some of them even had the luxury of their families coming out to see them off, parents, siblings, spouses and such. Hugging, kissing and weeping, while those who are being sent off were trying their best to keep up a though demeanor. At that time, I only rolled my eyes at the sight, not because I detested them for being sentimental, but maybe… because I was jealous.
- David? – I heard someone calling my name from the other end of the car. Looking over the seats I saw a short, light blonde haired man standing in the door.
- Gabor? – I asked back. – Where is Viktor? –
- Still with his family. – Gabor said as he set his bag and lasgun on the side of the seat next to mine. – I barely managed to get away from mine. –
- I see. – I said turning back to the window.
Minutes passed by, and the train hasn't even budged an inch. Our car was starting to get full as more and more soldiers finally got on. I occasionally saw a few commissars walking by our seat and a few down on the platforms. They came with the Imperial Guard, to overseer the recruitment. I didn't know much about the process or the hierarchy of the Guard, so I had little reason to fear them at that time. They looked down on us, we looked back up… some of us were even bold enough to flip them off occasionally, they got what was coming to them once we got on the ships.
- So… - Gabor began after he realized we won't be leaving soon. – Do you know? – He casually asked, without a hint of concern for our destination.
- Know what? – I asked back.
- Where are we going? I mean from the dock? – He leaned closer to hear my answer.
- Why do you think I know? – I raised a brow at him.
- Well… you are an officer, so I thought... –
- Corporal, by Guard standards I'm not an officer or not important enough to tell me anything besides pushing me around. –
- Rough, I mean… as a PDF you were what? Lieutenant, captain or major? –
- Lieutenant, but anyone who can count to 20 is made a senior officer around here. No offence. –
- Nah… none taken partner. I agree, genuine people like us are all but uneducated yokels and rednecks, while the bluebloods get to have all the fancy things on this world. You do know who was made our colonel, right? – Gabor asked, actually sounding a bit worried, not for himself, but for me.
- Mario "Pigface" Burton. – I said and looked outside again. The platforms were starting to clear up; it seemed only the civilians remained to wait for the departure.
- Are you Ok about it? –
- The Guard doesn't give two shits and a penny for what I or you think. Like I said, anyone who can count to 20 can be made an officer, but who has cash and connections will be made one for sure. – While I was explaining this to Gabor the doors to our and the rest of the train cars were shut closed. The commissars who were on the platforms have also got on and the train started up.
Its horn muffled the cheering and the farewells of the crowd, many of the soldiers hurried to the windows to wave at their families and friends they were leaving behind. We slowly began to move and I couldn't help but to look at the passing crowd. Women and children, waving their hands or hats at us, with smiles or tears in their eyes, they've remained on the platform until our train has left the station, for a moment I set my disgust for Mario away and couldn't help but to feel left out. Most, if not all, of these men and women had someone on that station, except me… what will happen if I die in combat?
The realization made me feel anxious, even after the crowd cleared away from the windows and we left the station way behind us, I couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness off. Gabor remained silent; he thought I was finished so he didn't have any reason to question me further. He was wrong; I had lots of things to say… I hate Mario, I already miss home, I fear what will happen and so on, yet… as always I kept an indifferent expression.
It was a long train ride until we reached the spaceport; the usual groups were already forming around the car. They killed time with whatever they could, some played cards, and some talked, dreaming about the life in the Guard. Indeed, thinking back at it now, it all seemed like a good adventure full of glory and dignity… we were wrong.
(3 years later on the planet Honor's End, No Man's Land, 6 months after the invasion)
I was gripping my laspistol hard and slowly moved the barrel to the side of my head. Looking up at the sky, I figured that I had no memories to feel fond of. My "friends" were dead, my officers left me to die, the only consolation I have was that I managed to outlive them because of their selfishness. I wish I could have savored that moment when Marion was ripped apart by bolter rounds, while he tried to save his fat skin. He tried to throw me under the boots of that Renegade Marine, idiot, to think I even bothered to try to save him.
I suddenly heard footsteps coming from behind, snapping back to my own reality I instinctively threw myself on the ground. There was no cover for me to get behind; I was in the open so… wait, why am I even trying? Maybe, just maybe… I just found a better option to die than committing suicide. Dying at the hands of traitors, yeah… sounded like a better death than to just shoot myself.
Getting up slowly, I accepted my fate. I knew it was only a question of time… this was the point where nothing mattered. Left behind, facing the horrors alone and survive only to return worn out to a world that… that had nothing for you anymore. I never believed in destiny, but this made too much sense to not think about it. I was on my knees, when I heard lasguns being fired, my body reacted naturally and I was in the mud once more. Soon the traitors from behind, retaliated the fire and I was now in the middle of the shooting.
- Why are you here?! – I hissed to myself as I was lying on the ground. – So now you decided to be heroes?! – I thought as I gritted my teeth in anger.
Where was this heroism when we really needed it? Where were they when we got slaughtered by traitors and renegades? They ran, tails behind their legs while we held the fucking line! How dare they, how dare they act like honorable men, when they had none to begin with?!
I had enough; I jumped up and opened fire with my laspistol. I was right; the group of traitors was tagging behind me. When the shootout started, they quickly threw themselves in a small crater for cover. I caught them off guard; the first traitor had a surprised expression in his bloodshot eyes before I burned a hole into his head. His comrades caught on, once they noticed laser fire came from the side as well. I managed to kill two more before the last of them aimed at me, I threw my gun at him and in the moment while he was surprised, I tackled him.
The traitor was clawing at my face, trying to kick me off and such; however his scratches and punches all missed. I strengthened my hold on his neck and I could feel my hands digging into his fetid skin. His attacks became weaker and I clutched his throat stronger as he was getting weaker. After a few minutes, he stopped moving so I let him go, I was wheezing and my heart was racing. I didn't know what was going on anymore, I was ready to die, I gave up… then why? Why did I even bother to help the guardsmen out?
I got off from the choked traitor and went to collect my service pistol, as I did I soon found myself facing five armed guardsmen, pointing their rifles at me. They weren't Karpathians; they had black flak armor and light brown uniforms beneath it. In this situation, a sane man would have raised his hands up and pleaded for mercy… but me… I kept on staring them down with my usual indifferent look and went on doing my business.
- Stop! – One of them shouted and shot a bolt before my legs. – Identify yourself! –
- Really? – I said, I don't know why, but it was the only thing that came into my mind.
- I said identify yourself! – He ordered again. I let the order pass my by, and just stood there shaking my head. Mentally sighing, I decided to raise my hands and tell them what they needed.
- David Sobernick Hughes, lieutenant of the Karpathian 7th infantry regiment. Will that be all, sir? – The guardsmen came closer and the one, who ordered me to answer, went behind my back and handcuffed me in an instant.
- You are under arrest until further orders! - He declared while putting my hands behind my back.
- What are the charges?! – I demanded and then one of them hit me in the face with the stock of his rifle. I felt the pain spreading from my head to the rest my body, as I fell to the ground. The five guardsmen circled that crater around, to see if there were any traitors left alive, before I lost my consciousness, I felt one of them grabbing the neck of my uniform and began to drag me out from the ditch.
The first chapter after the prolog, I hope you enjoyed it!
Sorry for any spelling or grammar errors.
Feel free to review and share your thoughts!
Until next time!