Chapter 7: Landing at Last

(Apologies for the delay in chapters. I had run out of drugs. Not joking either, I need this stuff for this story to make sense.)

Ryyken adjusted his cap, straightened his medals, and had cleaned his boots twice already. Contact with an unknown splinter of humanity was just moments away. The numbers men and women he had with him comforted him, but only to a small extent. Even the guard could lose, and a mere five hundred troops would be split asunder a massed assault of any variety. Even if the guard were veteran, clad in experience along with their flak. The announcement had passed 10 minutes ago that they had pierced the atmosphere, and would be landing at the designated point in approximately another ten. There had been a lot of busying about, and now Ryyken inspected himself once more in his room before meeting with his troops. They were to go out first, and were practiced in the art of a fancy arrival during basic training back on Caracalla.

Caracalla… it seemed as if it had been a lifetime since Ryyken was on Caracalla. He remembered how Jayni had reacted when he had begged for her hand in marriage. How beautiful it had been. How abruptly it ended, when the 167th had been picked for guard duty.

"Sir?"

One of the enlisted men, sounding rather panicked, knocked on the door, and Ryyken whipped around, his thoughts banished.

"Understood. Tell everyone to get in formation."

The sound of footsteps clattered away, and Ryyken thought to follow them.

They had drilled for this. This was their purpose. Representatives of the Imperium, warriors bedecked in silver scales that shone like the moon. Mechanicus Men, leering and blathering on about their latest project to anyone that listened. Fleet Officials, in Imperial Dress, along with a contingent of the grey-jumpsuited armsmen that prowled the Princess. The witch had been locked up in a small compartment, Praise the Tide. Ollm recited prayers, lit incense and prayed more. He was a comfort to Ryyken and his men, and Ryyken was glad he had come along. Even if the original purpose of bringing a priest was to convert the populace, Ryyken was glad to be led in prayer by someone who knew what they were talking about for once. The Administratum officials had been poring over charts, maps, topographies, holo-vids, and everything else. Even now, right before the doors would open and the Caracallans to form a vanguard, they were still fussing over dataslates.

"Ready!" A voice shouted over the intercom, and the huge bulkhead doors started to slide away. Ryyken marched toward the light, aware of the sound of a large mob. As the ramp slowly deacended to the ground, Ryyken could see thousands of people, milling around behind a large barricade. Ryyken turned toward his men, and raised his hand.

"Present!"

(Yeah, short chapter. I know. I'll do another one soon.

Notes:

In the 40kverse, the Indomitus Crusade is ongoing.

In the SEverse, this is manga-friendly. Think of it as slightly before the battle for Brew.)