Khial
Located on the planet's uncharted continents, unexplored by the planet's natives, refugees from Kommicus V and the rest of the Imperial Forces settled down and began colonization. In the "new world", a Hive City was under-construction with residential and industrial areas will be. The city was foreseen to cover the half of the northern continent once it's completed. The entirety of the southern continent was planned to be converted into farmland to feed the populous. Any native Xenos living in the continents were exterminated with not a single member of any species surviving the Imperium's might. They remain undiscovered by the world's natives and would only reveal themselves when the opportunity presents itself. This is what Lord Inquisitor Garett Hawkins had planned for the future. Naming the world Khial, an ancient word for 'magic'.
It had only been a year and a half since he and his forces were engulfed by the Warp and taken back 300 years through time back to his home planet before it was taken over by the Necrons. Squads of Tech-Priests and Skitarii are sent by the Mechanicus to deal with the Tombs scattered across the globe. With the goal of ending the Necron threat before any could awaken from their tombs. They had yet to report back.
It might take his forces and the Mechanicus a few more years to complete construction of the Hive city and the farmlands. Zaku mechs and Servitors made out of the many Xenos from the new world assisted construction crews on the City's completion. The Adeptus Arbites patrolled the city thoroughly to enforce the Imperial Law acting as Judge, Jury and Executioner. It took a year to construct the city to what it is today, fortified with numerous defenses like turrets, anti-air batteries and many others. With a spire that stretches to space and a space dock for the Voidcraft, accessible via space elevator.
And half a year to conquer the rest of the continent and annihilating Xenos inhabiting it. Feudal humans and abhumans inhabiting the new world are assimilated into Imperial society, told that military service grants them citizenship in their society. The Planetary Governor of Kommicus V survived the Chaos invasion and gladly took management of the city and farms as Garett assigned. Re-establishing contact with the wider Imperium will have to wait until the God-Emperor's rule is solidified in the world. They had yet to reveal themselves to the kingdoms of the old world where he used to live centuries ago.
Numerous spies were sent to the old world for reconnaissance and intel gathering. Anything noteworthy was reported back as well as anything on the resurgence of the Demon Lord. If it was related to Chaos, they will have to reveal themselves to the kingdoms and eliminate it.
Garett lived in a two-story mansion with pristine white walls adorned with the Aquila at the front entrance above the door, currently standing outside of a balcony and looking at a wide view of the city below. Located at the city center, within the spire where nobles live, it has a gothic style architecture and was guarded by several Inquisitorial Acolytes, ensuring their Lord's safety. The Lord Inquisitor has been busy in the past year and a half, formulating plans upon plans once they revealed themselves to the wider world. His team had been occupied with tasks within the city. Yui visiting recently built Churches and Shrines to the God-Emperor. Nao and Bangle exploring the wilderness near the city's borders. And Barry was in the industrial sector alongside fellow Squats, overseeing the production of materials and weapons.
As for what happened to him in the last year and a half, nothing much has changed. Except for one event that had been a grand celebration since their arrival. Looking behind him, Brittany sat on a sofa inside the mansion's living room. He was relieved to see her alive amongst the refugees. She was in tears in their reunion after his leave to enact his vengeance crusade. In her arms, she held an infant boy, a year old. Indeed, the grand celebration held after the first cathedral built on the city was his marriage with Brittany. All citizens attended the event, including his team and the Space Marines too. A Priest of the Emperor blessed their holy union and pronounced husband and wife under the God-Emperor's gaze within the massive cathedral. All cheered for their union and his team congratulated the couple on their marriage. A grand party was held after the ceremony and their child was the firstborn of Khial.
Walking back inside, still wearing his Commissar uniform and cap, Brittaney had a soft smile on her face as she cradled their son and wore a red dress adorned with roses. She found the courage to confess her feelings to the Slayer since their reunion. It was a heartfelt confession made under a statue of the God-Emperor in a beautiful recreational park for Nobles. To her surprise, he confessed his feelings about her, repressed under his diligent duty. Soon after, they got married and Brittaney soon gave birth to their son. With a son to nurture, he had more reason to complete his duty and exterminate all Orkz and Goblins.
"He's beautiful, isn't he?" Brittaney asked her husband, taking a seat beside her.
"Hm…" Goblin Slayer nodded, taking off his cap and placed it on his lap, "He is…"
"I wish our peaceful days would last forever…" Brittaney said in a somber tone, "Even if its wishful thinking, I believe that this age of war will one day end…"
"It will come…" Garett comforted his wife, "Should the Emperor be healed and rise from his Golden Throne, He will lead humanity to victory and peace will return."
"I hope so…" Brittaney leaned her head on his shoulder, Garett patted her head to comfort her, "If we did travel through time, I would see uncle again… but that means we'll be talking to our past selves."
"Indeed." Garett affirmed. The door creaked open from behind them. The couple looked behind to see an Inquisitorial Acolyte walk in. Garett stood up and greeted the Acolyte with the Aquila sign. The Acolyte returned the gesture with their devotion. The Acolyte was dressed in black robes with the Inquisitorial rosette hanging on their front and a copy of the Lectio Divinatus hanging on their waist at their belt.
"Greetings, young Acolyte." Garett spoke, "What urgent matter do you bear upon my home?"
"Greetings, Lord Inquisitor." The Acolyte bowed their head, "One of our Astropaths sensed a ship dropping out of the Warp and into Realspace."
"Imperial?" Garett inquired, "We had yet encountered any Imperial vessels in this sector. Considering we are in an uncharted system; it is highly unlikely."
"Yes, milord. It is an Imperial vessel." The Acolyte confirmed, "What's more important is the icon the vessel bears. It is an Ecclesiarch vessel."
"Have you made contact with it?" Garett asked
"We have, Milord." The Acolyte answered, "The ship's captain informed us the Ecclesiarch herself is onboard."
"Bring them into the dock." Garett ordered, "Prepare an estate for the Ecclesiarch herself."
"By your will, Milord." The Acolyte obeyed, "And there's an urgent report from our spies from the Feudal Kingdoms."
"Elaborate." Garett simply said.
"The so-called 'Demon Lord' has arisen and their armies and the Heroine herself are preparing to fight." The Acolyte informed the Lord Inquisitor, "Your forces and the Astartes are ready to deploy on your command."
"Do so at once!" The Lord Inquisitor commanded, "We shall unite this world in the God-Emperor's name!"
"By the Emperor's will!" The Acolyte hastily left soon after to inform the generals of the order.
"Leaving so soon?" Brittaney said, standing before him with their child cradled in her arms, "I was hoping you could stay for few more weeks…"
"My duty is never-ending…" Garett leaned forward, kissing his wife, "But I'll be back. Promise."
"I know…" Brittaney gently smiled, "You'll be back. And I'll be here waiting for you…"
"May the Emperor guide you…" Brittaney said as Garett walked out, before giving her one last look.
"To you as well, Brittaney." Garett said, "Stay safe. The Acolytes will guard you with their life."
"See you soon…" Brittaney said as Garett left the room and the estate, going to fetch his team. Brittaney looked down and saw the baby stirring in its sleep.
"Shh… there, there…" Brittaney rocked her son to sleep in her arms, lulling the baby to sleep, "Your father will be with us soon. Once his duty ends, he'll have time to spend with us."
Demon Lord Castle
On the Demonic castle's outskirts, within a corrupted land bordering the Feudal Kingdoms, two armies met on the field of battle. One of good and evil. One was the armies of men, elves, dwarves, and many other races fighting for peace. The other was the armies of demons, monsters, dark elves, and all who fight in the name of tyranny and chaos. Both sides fought fiercely in the name of their beliefs. It was the final battle of the war against the demon lord. The Heroine and her team are also on the battlefield, fighting their way through hordes of enemies. The war for their world will soon end once the Demon Lord is slain by the Chosen Heroine. Guild Adventurers are also fighting on the battlefield, seeking glory and riches upon the fallen foes of men.
As the battle wore on, a thunderous rumble was heard through the skies. Both sides of the battle halted combat and looked to the skies. A cluster of meteors fell from the skies, piercing through dark clouds overhead. All combatants scatter as the meteors crashed on the ground with a mighty quake. Dust clouds kicked up from the impact as more landed on the ground. Some were thrown off their feet and launched off the ground for those near the impact. Some were unfortunate to be crushed underneath. Soon, the meteors stopped falling and all was quiet. Soldiers from each side inspected the meteors closely.
They were metallic and were colored green/white. Suddenly, they opened up and gigantic armored humanoids charge outwards onto battle. Both sides were shocked as they were wielding terrifying weapons that cut through armor with ease and burned them alive. The army of good realized they are attacking the demons and their enemies. They joined the fight and slaughtered most of them. The final battle soon became a one-sided slaughter as the armored giants let none live, killing all with no remorse.
There were no survivors on the Demon Lord's army. At the battle's end, all on the side of good took a short rest as they took in the sight. Countless corpses of both sides littered the battlefield and the armored giants began burning the dead soldiers of the Demon Lord. The Heroine and her team were about to storm the Demon Lord's castle until a thunderous rumble echoing throughout the cloud-covered sky. Everyone looked up and saw a most awe-breaking sight. Parting the dark clouds as sunlight pierced through, a massive metal airship the size of a large city descended from the heavens. Adorned with angelic statues and religious icons, armed with many cannons, it aimed all of its armaments towards the demonic castle.
Bright flashes accompanied by the sounds of thunder cracked throughout the battlefield as countless artillery shells bombarded the castle. The earth quaked as the shells impacted the ground with dirt and dust kicked up by the shockwaves. Every soldier took cover as the bombardment continued. After what felt like hours, the bombardment stopped and all came out of cover, seeing the aftermath. There was nothing left of the Demon Lord's Castle. Nothing but rubble was left after the bombardment. Assuming the Demon Lord was inside the castle during the whole ordeal, they were most likely dead as no living or unliving thing could survive that level of ordnance. With the Demon Lord presumably dead, the Heroine was denied of her battle with it. The victory never belonging to the Army of Good or the Heroine's team; It was claimed by the mysterious allies who descended from the heavens as if sent by the gods.
The Heroine cautiously approached one of the armored giants. It wielded a large sword with rows of sharp serrated teeth along its edge.
"May I know who you are, Great Warrior?" the Heroine asked the giant, "From which kingdom do you hail?"
"I am Raziel of the Salamanders Astartes Chapter!" the Astartes introduced himself with a booming voice, "We hail from the Imperium of Man! We are sent by the God-Emperor of Man to cleanse this world of Heresy and Chaos!"
From that point on, the world will know the Imperium's might. Every monster and mutant will fear them until the End Times.
Some time later…
In the Frontier town, inside the Adventurer's guild, Adventurers of all kinds from all corners of the world are gathered inside in search of wealth and glory. Among all the other adventurers, Goblin Slayer and his team sat on their table in the Guild's second floor. They do what they usually do when idle from questing; maintain their equipment or search for new quest. For Goblin Slayer, it's the usual routine; Think of ways to kill goblins and waiting for goblin quests to be posted.
It has been sometime after the end of the war against the Demon Lord. Kingdoms are recovering with their allies helping them rebuild. He heard about a new faction hailing from the New World known as the Imperium of Man; But he didn't care as never concerned about politics between the Kingdoms' nobles and rulers. Their constant gossiping and squabbles won't do him good when he had more goblins to slay.
The Guild's doors opened and all occupants looked towards the entrance, wondering who entered today. Two teens entered the building. One wore green armor covering their head and torso, wielding a boxy metallic musket carried by a strap on a shoulder and a large sword with serrated teeth along its edge. The other wore armored red mage robes and wielded a staff adorned with an Aquila topper. The two walked towards the Guild's reception desk, ignoring the stares they were getting. Guild Girl expressed her usual smile and greeted the two in a professional tone.
"Welcome to the Adventurer's guild!" Guild Girl greeted the two, "What brings you two here?"
"We are here on official business on behalf of the Imperium of Man and the Lord Inquisitor." The female mage spoke, "My name is Natalie Gyanko and this is my companion, Matt Roszak."
"Uh… Aren't you suppose to introduce yourselves by your titles?" Guild Girl asked.
"We're aware of the privacy of names here, Miss." Matt said, "We introduce ourselves by name in our home. It's only a difference in culture."
"I see, I see…" Guild girl said, "What manner of business does the Imperium have with the Adventurer's Guild?"
The mage procured a scroll from a satchel she carried, unfurling it on the table.
"We bring a message directly from the king and our Lord Inquisitor." Matt said, "The scroll is a direct copy of the treaty made by the king and our Lord Inquisitor."
"By the decree of the King and of the Lord Inquisitor, in the stead of the God-Emperor, the kingdom and all guilds within are to be annexed by the Imperium and declared Imperium territory after brief negotiations." Natalie paraphrased on what was printed on the scroll, stamped with the King's official seal and the God-Emperor's Aquila.
Outside of the Guild, the Imperial Guard arrived just as the message was delivered. Arriving by air via Valkyrie and Arvus transports, accompanied by Tech-Priests and their Skitarii. News travelled fast as the Imperium relayed the news to the surrounding villages. The Imperial Guard entered the town without resistance and began their annexation. The Guard was also bodyguarding a high-profile military leader along with their trusted aid. Townsfolk began hiding in their houses and kept their children safe.
Lance and Anna, the Commissar and Jungle Fighter, were at the town hall, relaying the message to the mayor. The mayor was surprised by the king's decree but had no choice in the matter as it was a direct order from the king himself. He had given the town guards to let the Imperial army enter. The Imperial Guard began tearing down banners of the Kingdom and began redecorating them with the Imperium Aquila.
Back at the Guild, Matt and Natalie left shortly after they delivered the message to the Adventurer's guild; Heading out to meet up with Lance and Anna. Guild Girl relayed the message to the Guild headmaster. The adventurers went on their usual business, but for Goblin Slayer and his party; They decided to check the situation outside. Heading outside, they witnessed Imperium soldiers taking over much of the town. War machines of steel strode upon the stone roads and Red soldiers of Steel walking besides them. Among the humans, Goblin Slayer sees what resembles Halflings, Half-Ogres, and Dwarves among their ranks.
When Goblin Slayer approached the Guardsmen, Matt and his team, about it, they explained that they are humans who evolved differently. After their reveal to the world, the Imperium of Man honestly presented themselves as a Human Supremacist Theocracy. They refuse to acknowledge any other race apart from humans, believing they are superior to every other. Humans whose bodies changed through evolution are accepted into their society as they are still human and the emperor has accepted far worse. The Half-Ogres are Ogryns, hulking humanoids with the minds of children. The Halflings are known as Ratlings with little difference to their feudal counterpart. And the Dwarves are known as Squats, humans who grew up in a heavy-gravity environment that shortened their height.
It was an honest surprise to the party that what seemed to be different races they knew are in fact human to the Imperium. Matt and his team left afterwards as they received orders of extermination of mutants and monsters in the Frontier.
"That is quite fascinating." Lizard Priest said, stroking his chin, "This certainly places new perspective on what we know on many races we knew."
"That really confuses me on my races' origin." Dwarf Shaman said, "Wonder how the myths are related to us being humans…"
"To think that some races are human really confuse me as well…" Priestess said, "Did the Earth Mother made some races human? This is making me question her teachings the more I thought of it…"
"It's probably best not to overthink it, lest you become a heretic." High Elf Archer said, "From what I've heard, the Imperials waged war against the Dark Elves. I still haven't heard any news about the war."
"It doesn't matter to me…" Goblin Slayer said, "I'm more interested on what they'll do and what impact they have on our profession…"
"Worried they might put you out of a job?" Dwarf Shaman questioned
Goblin Slayer shook his head, "Not really, even if they put the Guild out of business, I can continue my work as a freelancer."
"Are you always thinking ahead of every situation, Slayer?" Priestess asked, "Does your mind ever get exhausted?"
"Yes." Goblin Slayer simply said, "And no. My mind rarely gets exhausted when I always expect a Goblin attack, even when I sleep."
"That's our Slayer for you…" Dwarf Shaman shrugged with the Elf sighing, "Slaying the little gremlins even in his sleep."
"Attention! Attention!" An Imperial Priest gathered the attention of the townsfolk and Imperial Guardsmen, "I bear news of upmost urgency! The Lord Inquisitor will be arriving in a moment's notice! Prepare yourselves for his arrival with haste!"
All Guardsmen hastily prepare themselves for the Inquisitor's arrival. Goblin Slayer and his party stood on the sidelines, curious to know who the Inquisitor is. After minutes of waiting, a bird-shaped airship flew overhead; It hovered outside of the town's walls before landing outside. The gate opened soon after and came stepped in the awaited Lord Inquisitor.
"Guardsmen! Salute!" an Imperial Officer barked out. He and rows of soldiers saluted the Lord Inquisitor and his trusted aid. Goblin Slayer's party was shocked at who arrived in town. It was like looking at a mirror but the reflection is tangible. In front of them was none other than themselves.
The two parties locked eyes with each other as they came face to face. The Lord Inquisitor took off his cap and held it at his chest. He held a small smile upon his gray skin and hair with red eyes gazing upon the group.
"Greetings, Slayer." He spoke, "I am Lord Inquisitor Garett Hawkins of the Ordos Xenos, known to many as the Frontier Hero and Goblin Slayer."
Two parties, future and past, met together. Both from different times and societies. Two slayers, a Lord Inquisitor and Feudal Adventurer, met their own selves. All the while the fate of the world hangs on a thread with the threats of Necrons and Chaos lurking about.
Dark Elf Kingdom
The Dark Elven Capital of their kingdom lay in ruins and razed to the ground with fires blazing all over the city. Countless Imperial Guardsmen marched upon its ruined streets, executing any surviving Drukhari that survived the siege. The Imperial Guard sieged the capital of the Dark Eldar after countless victories in the one-sided war. The army besieging the city was composed of Cadian Shock Troops and the infamous Death Korps of Krieg, who were aboard the Carmine Revenant as a secondary army for Garett should a city or large camp be besieged. Being siege specialists, the Death Korps wasted no time encircling and bombarding the city with hundreds of Basilisks mobile artillery. Earthshaker rounds detonated within upon impact, killing hundreds of thousands within a week. Even when they pleaded for their surrender, they kept up their bombardment until the capital was razed. Every man, women, and children were slaughtered once the army marched inside, taking no prisoners as they enact racial genocide in the name of the God-Emperor.
Among the Guardsmen, there was Rachel Thompson the former Heroine. Stripped of her title and holy sword, she was conscripted into the Imperial Guard. Accompanied by Haruka and Honoka, they are part of a three-person squad. They are deployed with the Cadians to wage war against the Dark Elves. Amidst the fighting, the Dark Elf genocide horrified her to no end. She felt horrible as she continued killing defenseless civilians, forced by their Commissar in fear of execution for insubordination. Each kill stripped away more of her humanity. Her eyes became hollow from the countless slaughters that her team partook in. Her teammates shared her sentiments and wished they weren't part of it but it was part of war.
"Am I really a hero?" She questioned herself, looking at her bloody hands, standing in the ruined city surrounded by countless Dark Elf corpses, "After all the crimes I've committed before the gods I worshiped?"
She grimly chuckled as her sanity breaks down. "Humans are the real demons… Hehehe… Maybe I am a demon in human form…"
The taint of Chaos further spreads as her mind slipped further into insanity. The laughter of thirsting gods ever louder in her mind.
Frontier Town
"This is quite a predicament." Said a Noble dressed in black, "This made my visit more complicated as it was."
Trazyn, disguised as a Noble in Mourning, found himself in the middle of an Imperial annexation by the Imperium shortly after his visit. He returned to Khial to collect more artifacts and interesting individuals; Only to find the Feudal Kingdoms annexed by the Imperium of Man. He could only assume an Imperial Exploratory Fleet discovered the star system and rediscovered the lost colony. He watched as rows of Imperial Guardsmen and Skitarii marched along the cobble streets as he hid himself near an alley.
"And just when I had to get the Slayer and his team!" Trazyn said in frustration, "No matter, I'll just have to improvise and adapt to this new situation. I'll have to return to Solemnace first and gather my Acquisition Phalanx should things get dire."
Trazyn, with the use of a Trans-dimensional relocator, vanished in sight. He reappeared next to his personal Tomb-Ship, "The Lord of Antiquity", located hundreds of kilometers away from the Frontier Village, far from Imperial eyes. The Lynchguard greeted their lord for his return. Trazyn and his Lynchguard boarded the ship and made their quick escape from the planet on stealth as it fazes out of existence and reappearing on the dark side on the planet's red moon, avoiding Imperial vessels patrolling on orbit.
"My goals remain unchanged with the Imperium annexation." Trazyn said to himself, sitting on the Necrodermis chair in the Tomb-Ship's bridge, Crypteks preparing the Inertialess Drives for a jump, "I will have all this world's artifacts and awaken the Tombs within it! For we ruled this world once and we will rule it again!"
The Lord of Antiquity jumped back to Solemnace and the Infinite will soon return with an army in the pursuit of preservation and awakening.
Frontier Wilds
Matt, Natalie, Lance, Anna, and Fiddler are traversing the untamed plains of the Frontier. Matt, Natalie, and Lance are aboard a Salamander Chimera with Anna riding on her Pet Catachan Devil. They were tasked by Inquisitor Hawkins to hunt down any Greenskins and monsters roaming the Frontier, alongside several other independent Kill-Teams on the Frontier. They had encountered a few roaming hordes of Goblins and Orks on their travels and they had yet run into anything that could pose trouble to them.
"*Yawn* Lance, what time is it?" Matt tiredly asked, with Natalie blinking in and out of sleep, leaning on his shoulder. The Chimera wasn't exactly made for comfort and they had to make do with the soft cushions on their seats. "It's been like hours since we last encountered Orks…"
"4 PM. It's only been four hours since our last fight with Greenskins." Lance answered Matt's question, "Are you really eager for a fight?"
"Not really. But when you've been traveling out here with nothing to do, you'll start looking for something to do." Matt said, "Like the Priests said, 'Heresy grows from Idleness'. And I'm following it."
"True, it is getting kind of stale without anything interesting happening." Lance said, "But we are technically not idle since we are actively searching for monsters that threaten humanity. Our hatred for our enemies is the emperor's greatest gift to us!"
"I agree with your statement." Matt said, he peeks out his head out of the Chimera into the surrounding plains, gazing into the surrounding grass fields, "Where's Anna?"
"She's ahead of us with her pet insect. Scouting ahead of us." Lance answered.
After a few minutes, Anna returned to their side, riding on Fiddler's head.
"Anything interesting, Anna?" Lance asked, "Any monsters ahead?"
"No, nothing interesting apart from the occasional bandits that kept Fiddler fed." Anna replied with the Catachan Devil munching on a bandit's corps between its mandibles. "But I did find a good place for us to make camp." She pulled out a Data-slate, presenting a map of the Frontier made from Aerial reconnaissance data.
"Up ahead is a river bountiful of fish and fresh drinking water. Perfect for a camp." Anna said pointing to a spot on the map.
"Thanks Anna." Lance said with a smile to which Anna returned with her own, "We'll make camp once we reached it."
"Natalie, wake up…" Matt softly nudged the Psyker awake, "We're about to make camp…"
"*Yawn* Really, good…" Natalie stretched her arms and body, "It is getting uncomfortable in this Chimera…"
"But its fine so long as you keep me comfortable…" Natalie placed a hand on Matt's cheek, making him blush.
"You'll get more comfortable when we sleep together tonight…" Matt said, making the Psyker blush at his statement.
The moment once again was interrupted by Lance.
"We're nearly approaching the river." Lance stated, "You two can spend time together in private once we settle down."
Both sheepishly laughed from their intimacy.
The river soon came into view and the Chimera parked by it. The team dismounted from their respective transport. They unpacked army tents stored in the Chimera. Tents are soon propped up. Two tents for a pair. Matt and Natalie slept in one; Lance and Anna on another. The night soon came as the team conversed and ate their rations alongside cooked fish by the campfire made by Natalie's Pyromancy.
"To think we travelled 300 years back and on the Lord Inquisitor's home planet no less…" Matt said, "What a time to be alive… We even met the Lord Inquisitor's past self."
"If we are centuries back in time, doesn't that mean we can meet our ancestors?" Natalie wondered, "It would be a weird and strange meeting if it were to happen."
"It's unlikely to happen as this world has yet to be absorbed into the Imperium's hold." Lance said, "Most likely that New Cadia hasn't yet been founded and Cadia could still be standing before the Eye of Terror as we speak."
"That is possible…" Anna said, "Also, Lance, where were you born? I never had asked about it since we met."
"I'm actually from New Cadia myself, much like Matt and Natalie." Lance answered, "My parents were followers of the Omnissiah but I never followed their teachings and pursued my own path in the Imperial Guard. I enlisted in the Schola Progenium to be a Commissar and you all knew the rest afterwards."
"I'll be honest, you look more Martian than Cadian to me." Anna said, which got her a glare from the young Commissar, "Hehe, just being honest, no need to be snippy."
"So, you must have been born from a different city." Matt said, "What was it like in the Schola Progenium?"
"I've read about how very few came out graduating from the Schola itself from their intense training and tough lessons." Natalie said, "Is this true?"
"Pretty much." Lance shrugged, "Commissars are taught to execute insubordinate soldiers with no hesitation and react at the first sign of a soldier deserting. On top of that, we are also taught in military tactics and the many enemies of humanity itself. I lead a few team in live training sessions, sticking to tactics I've learned in my lessons. I also took an elective in weapon smithing from a Tech-Priest, where I got many ideas for the weapons I wield today. I never got to finish my education when I got incarcerated on Mars. And I thank the Lord Inquisitor for giving me a chance to redeem myself for the God-Emperor."
"Huh, its no different from the boot camp I trained in and the Psyker Schola Natalie went to." Matt said, "Scholas have got to be the most dangerous places we could be in."
"I wholeheartedly agree with you Matt." Natalie agreed with her childhood friend.
"How did you get your training, Anna?" Lance asked, "Since Catachan is a Death World, I assume your parents taught you everything about survival."
"Yes, you're right on that." Anna confirmed, "Us Catachans are taught on a young age on how to survive and I was no different from others. We forage our own food and kill any wildlife that threaten us. And most Jungle Fighters get their own training just by surviving day-to-day at home. My taming skill was born from me trying to befriend the wildlife around me."
"Huh, I wouldn't really want to live my life on the edge of death every single day." Lance said, the two other Cadians agree with him, "I prefer a comfortable urban life or on a world like this world we are on.
"Everyone has their preferences and I don't judge." Anna said, petting fiddler as he ate another fish in his mandibles.
Soon, the night lulled them to sleep and slept in their tents. They got comfortable with each other. In the Guardsman and Pysker's tent, faint moaning can be heard. Fiddler kept awake as he circled the camp, able to see in the dark. Any wandering Goblin or bandit that came close became his next meal. And by next dawn, their mission continues, hunting for monstrosities for the Emperor and the Imperium.
A/N: As usual, please leave a review and criticism is appreciated. It helps me write better.
Thank you and see you next chapter!