Tales of the Amber Vipers Chapter 16

Across the Amber Viper's base frantic activity was occurring. Everywhere chattel servants laboured to load supplies, taking possession of munitions, parts and fuel as quickly as they could be brought to the gates. Long lines of repurposed servitors dragged heavy crates onto waiting shuttles and cargo-lifters, which launched from their pads with earth-shattering roars the second they were cleared to fly.

The work was arduous but none doubted the need. These supplies were the lifeline of the Chapter, sustaining them for however long it would take them to find another war to join. Like a man stocking up for a famine everything that could be saved was jealously hoarded, there was no telling how long these supplies would have to be stretched for. So the mortals laboured as shuttle after shuttle lifted for orbit, knowing that the rebel army was mere days away and would not hesitate to sever this critical lifeline.

With all the hustle and bustle of the base the return of a single Thunderhawk almost went unremarked. Viper's Bite coasting in to a reserved landing pad like a thief in the night, settling down gently onto its claws with precise bursts of thrust. It was a surprisingly gentle touchdown but then the Amber Viper's couldn't afford to risk their precious gunships with showy displays of piloting and unnecessary stunts. Keeping even two relic craft like these flying was straining their infrastructure.

Viper's Bite clinked as its engines cooled and teams of servitors and Chattels hastened to tend to its weary spirit. Meanwhile the front ramp descended, allowing the passengers to disembark. First out was Sergeant Reddam, pushing his bike, followed by the rest of the squad. Tebes' bike was being pushed by Glord, as the young warrior still wasn't back to full strength. Together they limped down to the hard Ferrocrete and there they stopped.

Reddam surveyed the area and saw the busy activity, he took it in at a glance for he had seen such sights a thousand times before and knew the signs of a base that would not be here a minute longer than necessary. Behind him Glord propped the bike upright then made a show of loudly clicking his back as he exclaimed, "What, no welcoming party?"

Larus pulled the attack bike to a halt next to him and stated, "The Chapter is at war, we are a low priority."

Joffel snorted from behind them, "I thought the Chapter Master was going to shower us with laurels."

"He is busy with important affairs," Larus snapped.

Kazao was the last to finished unloading his bike and said, "Well someone comes."

Reddam saw Joffel's lip curl but he had the good grace not to say anything; thankfully at that point he saw Apothecary Shrios and the artisan Nathanal hurrying towards them, bearing various items and seemingly in a rush. Reddam faced them and called, "Hail Brothers!"

Shrios marched right up to them and said, "So it is true, the secret got out, can't you keep one thing to yourself?"

Reddam was used to the Apothecary's blunt tone; they were both of the 'Old Seventeen' and had fought through hell together. Reddam shrugged and said, "I don't command the universe, war is an unpredictable thing."

Shrios sighed loudly and tossed Kazao the object he was holding, it was a Stormtrooper's helmet and the Apothecary declared, "Try not to lose this one; we are not made of coinage I'll have you know!"

Kazao hastily ripped the bandages off his scaled face and everybody looked away as he jammed the helmet on, hiding his mutation. Reddam saw the chattels averting their eyes and knew they had been commanded to keep their mouths shut. Reddam faced Shrios and asked, "How fares the war?"

Shrios sighed, "Dorn's Blood, its bad, Primus Cohort are zipping back and forth trying to slow the rebel advance while Secundus Cohort has been driven from the field. You're the last lot back."

Reddam stepped closer and hissed "Fang-rot, you're supposed to say Fang-rot."

"Oh… yes," Shrios muttered distractedly, "Why can't I get that through my head? Now where's Tebes? There you are, let me look at that wound… Flying frak, who taught you to apply a dressing like that?! Come here and let me show you how it's done."

Reddam let the Apothecary care for his wounded charge but at that point Nathanal gasped and declared, "What have you been doing to my bikes?!"

Reddam half-turned and saw the mortal crouching to peer under the suspension of one of the bikes and inspect the damage. Reddam replied firmly, "Fighting a war, that's what."

Nathanal reach underneath and picked out a shard of bloody bone and exclaimed, "Have you been running people over again? I told you that's no way to fight a war!"

At that Larus snarled, "Watch your tone, chattel!"

But Reddam rebuked him, "He fixes them, so we can fight with them. Respect his work and the care he shows for our Machines."

Nathanal stood up and touched the large dent on the back of the attack bike, where Reddam had crashed into it and said, "Whoever did this was careless and disrespectful, it will take me ages to fix."

The Sergeant could feel the eyes of his squad boring into the back of his neck but loudly changed the subject, "Where is the Chapter Master?"

Nathanal replied without looking up, "Over by hanger seven, making his plans."

"Come on then," Reddam declared, "Let us go and report to our lord and master."

The squad left their bikes in the artisan's care, knowing he could tend to them better than they ever could. Tebes had to endure a stern talking to on proper wound care from Shrios but soon they departed and marched across the base. Everywhere they saw chattels dashing to and fro and more than a handful of Brothers from Secundus Cohort. Reddam noted there were no Brothers of Primus present, obviously they were engaged at the front, a place he would dearly love to be.

As they walked Larus remarked, "Are those trenches around the city?"

"Surely not," Kazao replied, "The Amber Vipers have no use for defensive warfare."

"Think you know better than the Chapter Master now?" Joffel sneered.

Reddam ignored their sniping but he was also confused, he had seen the rebel's armaments and knew these defences would do little more than slow them down. He thought upon it but could see no reason for this strategy, yet could only trust his Master knew something that he didn't. As if thinking of him has summoned the Marine, Reddam spied the Chapter Master in his battered plate, standing proudly with his head held high. He was talking with another Marine outside a sealed hanger, a scarred veteran with a determined set to his eye. He was holding an axe-rake in one hand and holstered at his hip was the wide bore of a rare Sledgehammer gun.

Glord started in surprise and whispered, "That's Battle-Captain Ferrac! The finest warrior in the Chapter!"

Joffel sounded amazed as he breathed, "The author of our most glorious victories, to fight beside him is an honour."

Tebes however muttered, "The most blood-soaked you mean. He's got more Amber Vipers killed than most enemy armies have managed."

"Shut-up," Reddam growled as they closed then called, "Hail Master."

Coluber eyed the Sergeant as the squad bowed before him and then he sternly spake, "Reddam, you're not dead."

"Not yet," Reddam replied candidly.

Ferrac uttered in a low growl, "Shame, I really wanted that spear of yours…"

The trio stared at each other for a long moment then their faces cracked and broad smiles broke out. Reddam couldn't help it; he had fought and bled beside these two since before there were any Amber Vipers and they with him. Their bonds were unbreakable and they had shared too much to have any rancour between them.

Ferrac laughed as he slapped Reddam hard on the shoulder and exclaimed, "You are to be congratulated, you lasted a full day longer in the field than any other unit of Secundus. Same old Reddam: first into the fray and the last out."

Reddam grinned and remarked, "I see you've been busy too…"

Ferrac hefted his axe-rake and Reddam saw bloody smears over the pick side and upon the opposing chain-teeth were dark stains. The Battle-captain looked proud as he said, "I've barely stopped fighting since we last spoke."

Reddam politely ignored the hatched out mark of a lupine skull with a blood drop upon the back of the reclaimed weapon and asked, "Did your kill-tally reach triple figures?"

"Naturally," Ferrac stated proudly, "I was eager for more than thin Heretic blood, but we all have to suffer small indignities. It's been mostly hit and run attacks, slowing them down as best we can."

Coluber stepped in and said, "Yes, so diverting a Thunderhawk was a serious drain on our efforts. I trust you appreciate that fact."

"Yes my Lord," Reddam stated deferentially.

"Now let me look at you lot," Coluber barked eyeing the squad.

The young Brothers stood straighter as their Lord loomed over them and announced, "You have covered yourselves with glory and your names shall be read aloud at our victory feast. You have my thanks and as a reward I have a new mission for you. A high-priority target has been uncovered and I need you to eliminate it."

Joffel boldly shouted, "You can count on us!"

"Indeed," Coluber replied, "One of the local nobility has become inconvenient and scurries away to his secure villa south of the city. You are tasked with ending this individual along with his allies and servants, prisoners are not required or desirable."

Reddam frowned at that and asked suspiciously, "Is this target a rebel?"

"Does it matter?" Larus stated, "A target is a target."

Tebes agreed, "Death to any who oppose the Amber Vipers."

Reddam didn't like the indifference in their tones but Coluber was already drawing a data-slate from his belt and presented it saying, "Our frigates slipped over his villa and took a look. Examine these schematics, I want you to show me how much, you've learned so present me with a viable assault plan in two minutes. Naturally, I expect nothing less than perfection from you."

Eagerly the squad gathered round buoyed by the responsibility laid upon them but Reddam stepped closer and said, "Master, a word if you will."

Coluber nodded and they stepped away, leaving the youths behind. Reddam looked at his superiors and said, "My lord, permission to speak freely?"

"We already know," Ferrac butted in, "Kazao's mutations got leaked. A shame, we would have liked a few more missions for your unit to bond first but you handled it well."

However Reddam said, "Not that, it's about this mission. Why is this man a target?"

Coluber's face was as stone as he said, "Nugga requires him dead and I need Nugga… for now."

Reddam's lip curled and said, "Are we assassins now? Guns for hire?"

"Not you too," Coluber groaned, "I've had this argument with Ferrac already."

"He's right though," Ferrac commented, "This is beneath us."

Coluber looked at them and said, "Don't you think I know that, but it has to be done. We can't afford the luxury of a conscience at this stage. The Chapter has no time for us to be quibbling over morality when we walk the precipice of extinction."

Reddam glanced at his squad and sighed, "I worry about what we are teaching the next generation. They already show scant concern for their sacred duty. We know what duty is, but when the last of us dies who will remember our nobility? Who will the Amber Vipers be when the 'Old Seventeen' are gone?"

Coluber's grim visage cracked and he breathed, "Truthfully, that thought plagues my meditations. Will we create something better than we knew before or will we forge another host of renegades, like those who drove us into our Exodus? I try to see an honourable path but we are out of options, this is who we have to be, until we are strong enough to stand proud and independent. The Amber Vipers must survive and grow stronger. I won't let anything stand in the way of that, no matter what it takes."

Ferrac placed a hand on his shoulder pad and said, "That is why we follow you, but know you are not alone in this."

Reddam concurred, "We are with you, to the last drop of blood."

Coluber lifted his eyes and said, "Space Marines are supposed to have no use for hope but you two remind me of what it was like to know such things. Now Reddam… let us see what your squad has come up with."