Aessina Heresy
591.M38
Segmentum Obscurus, Aessina Sector
Insurrection at Essinar Metropolis
Capitol Imperialis Magna Currum
The floor and walls within the great Capitol Imperialis designated as the Magna Currum shook and groaned as artillery fire landed about it. Still, the enormous mobile command base held together. Sergeant Kovic strode down the corridor, his tall stature carrying his helmeted head above that of those around him. His regimental uniform, sable with silver trim, was showing signs of wear from digging trenches with his squad but the urgency with which he had been summoned by Colonel Minoc had not allowed for him to improve upon his presentation. Again, the Capitol Imperialis shook from the bombardment.
The Sergeant quickly stopped, turning to face a hatch on his right labeled in High Gothic, "Locus Informa 3", or Briefing Room number 3 in the Low Gothic vulgar. He paused for a moment, then stared into the pict-capture box on the hatch and knocked firmly. After a moment, a voice responded. "Enter, Sergeant Kovic." There was the audible release of the locking mechanism after which the hatch slid from left to right, into the bulkhead. Kovic took a deep breath and then strode into the room. The groaning of the bombardment was reduced to a muted rumbling within the briefing room as the hatch slid back into place.
Kovic quickly recognized the tall and helmeted ebon-skinned man standing in front of him as Colonel Minoc. Despite the Colonel's sable and silver regimental uniform being notably worn, it still appeared to have been pressed that day. To the Colonel's right, standing at ease, was a helmeted Commissar wearing the standard red-trimmed great coat bearing epaulets on its shoulders. Standing at ease in front of the Colonel and with their backs to the Sergeant were two helmeted guardsmen attired in the same sable and silver regimental uniform as the Sergeant wore, save for being in pristine condition. The leftmost was holding a staff in his right hand, resting its end upon the ground. Without pausing to further discern their features, the Sergeant stepped up beside the rightmost of the two guardsmen, came to attention, and sharply brought his hand up in salute. "Colonel Minoc, Sergeant Kovic reports."
The Colonel sharply brought his hand up in a return salute, then down, followed by the Sergeant's. "Stand at ease, Sergeant," came Minoc's quick response. Kovic complied, clasping his hands behind his back and mirroring the stance of the two shorter guardsmen to his left. "Your squad has been assigned to achieve a mission of vital importance to the Imperium. You will escort these Warrant Officers, Primaris Psyker Brecht and Overseer Terzo, in their performance of a personnel extraction from the under-city." Colonel Minoc paused for a moment, giving Kovic a moment to look over and examine the two Warrant Officers and digest what was being laid before him.
"Primaris Psyker Brecht will have the final say in all matters related to this mission, without exception." At first glance it was clear to the Sergeant that Primaris Psyker Brecht was the guardsman holding the staff. He was lean and muscular, covered by tattoos of runes and sigils inked in blue and silver on every exposed portion of his flesh, including his face. His emerald eyes shone from within those runes. His staff was shod with silver on the bottom and a golden aquila on top. Similar runes and sigils were burned into its wooden surface and lined with silver.
Colonel Minoc then continued in his slow and measured speech, "Warrant Officer Terzo is Primaris Psyker Brecht's Overseer. He will ensure the Primaris Psyker's safety as well as ensure that he does not fall prey to the machinations of the Warp, enacting the Final Sanction if necessary." Sergeant Kovic noted that the Overseer's appearance was far more normal than that of the psyker. His eyes were a common brown and the sable and silver fabric skullcap he wore beneath his helmet, covering most of his forehead, gave him the appearance of a welder. Welding being a common task required of infantry from siege regiments, the fabric skullcap gave the Overseer an appearance that would seamlessly fit into any squad of the Vorlossian regiment.
"With an understanding as to the reluctance of some guardsmen to work with any psyker, even those sanctioned by the Imperium, Commissar Treves has been assigned to ensure that loyalty to the mission will not be compromised," Minoc added with a tone of certainty. The Commissar stood motionless at the mention of his name. Kovic knew that any member of his squad would receive an explosive round in his head from the Commissar's bolt pistol without hesitation if he showed signs of threatening the mission's integrity.
"Your squad has already received their requisition chits from the Munitorum and they should be gearing up as we speak. The Warrant Officers will fill you and your squad in on the mission parameters as they see fit. Any questions, you can direct to them." The Colonel paused for a moment and then continued, "Dismissed." All four quickly came to attention and saluted with the Colonel returning their salutes, and then they departed through the hatch. For a moment, the muted rumbling of the bombardment became a roar and then died again as the hatch returned to the closed position.
With the room emptied of all save the Colonel, he stood there pondering the situation. The last thing he had expected was a command from Inquisitor Domingus herself. Now, he was allowing her two Throne Agents to masquerade as members of his regiment while pulling a squad into the under-city instead of filling a much needed position shoring the defenses. Worse still, he wondered, What might there be in the under-city in the form of heretics or worse rather than mere traitors to the rebellion? The questions continued to mount in his mind. Where was the sector fleet of the Imperial Navy? He had anticipated the fight would have already been taken to Mazera, the home world of the forces who had rebelled against the Imperium and attacked Essinar, but that had not happened. Why had the command astropaths received no communications from the fleet? The questions were without end and without answers. When would the parts arrive to repair the Behemoth Cannon of the Capitol Imperialis? As if sensing the Colonel's thoughts, the mighty Magna Currum shook as an artillery shell exploded upon its armor.
But, before he could continue brooding or proceed to doing more constructive work, there was a knock on the hatch to the briefing room. Colonel Minoc looked at the pict display attached to the bulkhead to see an image of a plump robed man, the combined command Rector, Azimus Voltice. Dreading where this would lead as the Rector appeared giddy with excitement, Colonel Minoc answered, "You may enter, Rector Voltice," and activated the hatch release mechanism.
The Rector stormed in as the sounds of war briefly escalated with the opening of the hatch. "Did you hear the wonderful news, Colonel Minoc?" he blurted out. Before the Colonel could respond, the Rector continued, "They were able to dig little Gelika out of the rubble she was buried in. My little saint-to-be is alive and well." He sounded so self-absorbed while speaking that Colonel Minoc nearly punched him in the mouth. "But, she wishes we would just let her be. That way she can quietly keep working to bring supplies and ammunition to the guardsmen without fanfare." After pausing for effect, he continued, "At first I was shocked, shocked I say, when considering the effect her near death has had on the morale of the guard, but then realized how wonderful this is. I remembered what you said regarding how previous saints had been canonized posthumously and after witnesses had seen them perform miracles after their deaths. So, I suggested to the combined command that we make an official announcement, declaring her dead. Gelika has become quite recognizable and if she keeps appearing after being declared officially dead, everyone will think she is a truly risen saint. This will have an immense effect upon the morale of the troops. Having made myself her sponsor for sainthood, my ascension in the ranks of the Ministorum will be ensured and you will be remembered by me for the aid you have rendered me in this with your knowledge, Colonel Minoc! Praise the Emperor and his Divine Will!"
Colonel Minoc took a deep breath and managed to release his anger by breathing, again passing on his desire to punch the Rector in the mouth. Rector Azimus was selfishly and joyously calculating his personal rise through the Ministorum while Colonel Minoc was not sure of surviving the day and his men were dying in the streets of Essinar. Again, the Capitol Imperialis shook from the bombardment.