Aessina Heresy
591.M38
Segmentum Obscurus, Aessina Sector
Insurrection at Essinar Metropolis
Delta District sublevels beneath Ezrael Performing Arts Center
The squad made its way down the darkened corridor, the only light coming from the lamps on their helmets. Each carried a rad-suit, waiting to don it at the last moment so as to not interfere with their ability to fight. As he walked, Sergeant Kovic waited impatiently for word from Privates Canocic and Sluka who were again working their way in front of the squad, remaining roughly thirty metres ahead and waiting whenever they reached an intersection. Specialist Voss and Private Novus again were covering the rear. Kovic noted that Herod, immediately in front of Voss and Novus, was unusually quiet for a change. Mannus walked beside Herod and was constantly monitoring her vox-box for word from the Privates.
Kovic tried to pay attention to his surroundings and see what guidance his squad members might need but he knew time was counting down on the generatorium reactor and concentration was difficult for him. Against his better judgement, Kovic's attention kept drifting toward the conversation between Gelika and Primaris Psyker Brecht occurring in front of him.
"My Mother served as one of the chief entertainers in the court of Agio Belcourt, the planetary governor before she was killed in the first bomb raid of the insurrection. Through her I gained admittance to the Ezrael Performing Arts Center and even managed an invitation to perform during the week celebrating the last Emperor's Gift before the insurrection came to Essinar," she finished sounding sad. "During our studies, my friends and I learned of the crypts in the remnants of the Old City and decided to try to find our way down to them. I miss those adventures," she said. "Mother was strict and the training was difficult but I always felt at peace exploring the chambers down there with my friends. After Mother was killed, I just wanted to help however I could."
Kovic noted that the psyker was nodding thoughtfully as if her words had meaning to him other than the prattling of a teen girl. "So, you are very certain we will soon reach an access stairwell and that access will lead us into the Old City?" Gelika nodded in response to the psyker's queries. "Most importantly, I am placing our safety in this matter on your judgement, after turning round and bout going down the access will we be under the Arts Center or under the generatorium when we make our way into the crypt area of the Cardinal District?"
Kovic watched Gelika closely as did Brecht. She looked very worried and answered, "I…think so," and then tried to force a smile.
"Have faith in the Emperor, young one," came the fatherly response from the psyker. Kovic knew that Primaris Psykers were the battle psykers of the Imperium, making them some of the most dangerous individuals who would take the field in service to the Emperor, even more so than a space marine in many cases. However, the varied manner in which he watched Brecht deal with people led him to believe the psyker had duties that extended beyond what had been officially relayed to him by Colonel Minoc. He rationalized that might be somehow related to the fact that the psyker's Overseer was a navigator.
Almost on cue from the Sergeant's musing, "We are here," came Overseer Terzo's voice from in front. The two privates were there, standing ready and alert at the entrance to an old stairwell whose doors had long ago been removed. "How much time, Brecht?"
"We are perilously short on time. Roughly fifteen minutes. Gelika, to the front with me now and we run. Lead!" The Privates moved out of the way long enough for the two to take the lead from them and then followed, even before the Commissar and Overseer could file in. Kovic noted that he had drilled his squad over and over but nothing made men move like true danger and the danger of the generatorium reactor going critical was about as great a danger as he could imagine. The squad swiftly moved down the access stairwell.