Umbram Ignis Chapter 28
"Thank the Throne we're getting out of here," Lorath exclaimed as his squad marched into the Thunderhawk.
"We're not out of trouble yet," Zeax countered, "Not till we get through that warp-route, before it collapses."
"We'll get out," Priyar stated, "Then we can say goodbye to our allies."
He watched as the Smoke Jaguars made their way to their own Thunderhawk, heads held high. Even now Priyar didn't know what to make of them. They had defied his every expectation of Astartes, sometimes bold and brave, others withdrawn and sly. They had abandoned their allies, but then come back. They had shed blood for victory, but did not seem to glory in the triumph, sharing no laurels, not that Priyar could see anyway. Never had he encountered Space Marines like this, and he wondered if all Sons of Corax were so, or if these Smoke Jaguars were as strange to the Ravenlord's other gets as they were to everyone else.
"I'll be damned glad to be rid of them," Zeax sniffed.
"Not like other Chapters at all," Lorath agreed.
"You've met other Chapters?"
"Salamanders, in my early days in Eighth Company."
"What were they like?"
"For a Chapter famous for protecting the common man, they don't half love burning people alive," Lorath snorted.
With that the pair strode up the ramp, leaving Priyar alone. The Sergeant sighed and made his way to his own gunship. His squad was already embarked, but Sergeant Mylos was waiting at the foot of the ramp. He looked on suspiciously as the Smoke Jaguars took off, heading towards the airlock that dominated the sky.
Priyar caught his fowl expression and said, "You don't approve?"
"I do not, they were untrustworthy from the start."
"Toran trusted them, and it worked out."
"Toran gambled with our lives, I expected him to fail."
"If you don't like the Captain so much, why not ask for a transfer?" Priyar sighed.
"It's not about dislike, it's about speaking the truth. Toran needs someone to say when he's making mistakes, even if he won't listen. I'm trying to help him see the truth."
"What truth?"
"That the Storm Heralds shouldn't be depending on others, we should be proud and self-sufficient. Leading humanity by example, not kneeling to lesser men."
Priyar's eyes narrowed, "That sounds like High Chaplain Samect's speeches, I didn't take you for an Emperor-worshipper."
"I'm not talking about faith, but policy and Samect has a point," Mylos admitted, "Gorgall is shaming the Chapter with his bowing and scraping to bureaucrats and quill-pushers."
"Chapter Master Gorgall," Priyar icily corrected.
"After everything that's happened, tell me you agree with his decision to trust the Smoke Jaguars," Mylos snapped.
"I..." Priyar started, "I... suppose not."
"Exactly. Gorgall is too moderate, too willing to let everyone speak, when he should be commanding obedience. He's dragging the Storm Heralds through the mud; it can't be allowed to continue."
"Are you threatening a Chapter Master?" Priyar accused.
"Not at all, that would be counter to everything the Storm Heralds stand for. But... no Space Marine lives forever. Death in battle is inevitable. Gorgall will fall someday, to an Ork's choppa or a Traitor's bolt round, don't pretend it isn't true. After that a new Master must rise, one who will make the Storm Heralds great again. And we must be ready for that day, that Toran joins the right side without question."
"These are unworthy thoughts," Priyar scorned.
"But you don't refute them," Mylos pointed out, "It's all moot anyway, such days are many years away. We have time to pick the right side."
Mylos strode up the ramp and left Priyar alone. The Sergeant took one last look at Clom, seeing the drab greyness and bleak existence of its people. Once he thought such misery beneath him, but his own future looked equally bleak. He wondered if Mylos was right, that a day would come when Brothers must choose a side. He dearly hoped not, but then hope was of no use to Space Marines. He would deal with whatever came his way when it came. There was nothing else he could do. So he departed Clom with a heavy heart, wondering if this mission was only the start of his woes.