Tales of the Amber Vipers Chapter 325
The feasting hall rang with cheer. A mess deck had been cleared for the Amber Vipers to celebrate, and feast they did. Long tables were piled high with preserved meats and dried fruits, victuals taken from various worlds. Barrels of beer were drained swiftly, only to be continually replaced by weary Chattels. Light came from flaming braziers set around the walls, their smoke giving the atmosphere a feudal aspect, as if the Serpens Rex was home to a feral world king. The laughter and boasting were deafening, as were the songs sung by carousing squads. The Amber Vipers were jubilant and in a mood for revels.
Coluber grinned as he grabbed a wedge of grox-jerky and gnawed on the tough fibres. Hardly a High Lord's delicacy, but it was filling and salty. The Amber Vipers may not have the best but they made the most of what they had. Along the tables young Transhumans filled their bellies and were glad. That this would put a serious dent in the Nest's supply caches went unremarked, four hundred Transhumans could out eat a regiment when given the chance. Coluber and Ferrac and Shrios were making quite a dent themselves.
Coluber gnawed on his jerky as he cast his eyes over the gathering. The fierce warriors of Primus carousing next to the swift killers of Secundus and the youthful Snakelets of Tertius. Stripped of their armour the scars across their arms and biceps were visible, marks from a life of war. He saw Sergeant Reddam laughing with his squad brothers, Tebes, Larus and Joffel. Kazao was absent, strange, but then he was an aberrant, he could hardly be seen among decent folk. The Cerberii were also absent, they deserved no revels, and the wounded remained in the Apothecarions.
Nearby Sergeant Thaddis was trying to down a whole platter of pickled eggs, cheered or jeered by various Brothers who had wagered for or against his success. Brothers Uriem and Tarkus were engaged in a head-butting contest, taking turns to slam their brows into each other. The laughter surrounding them was deafening, as they staggered drunkenly. Tarkus drove his skull into Uriem's face, to the cheers of many, but the return was twice as hard. Coluber thought he would surely fall, but Tarkus rallied and smote Uriem so hard he fell down, left insensate from the blow. Tarkus swayed but raised his arms in triumph as all celebrated his victory.
Without thought Coluber picked up a tin mug full of beer and slugged it back. He grimaced as the taste hit his tongue. He'd never acquired the appreciation for the rough brew, given it was fermented from algal baths in the bowels of the Nest he doubted they'd ever fix the issue. He was surprised when a bottle was held up before his face, filled with glossy-red syrup.
"Jocquil?" Ferrac offered.
"Where did you get this?" Coluber asked.
"Found it in the Erusted's reliquary," Ferrac grinned, "Thought the Blood Ravens might have some good loot, I found a whole stash of these."
"Quaesitor Eruditio," Coluber idly corrected, "And this is ceremonial wine… Throne, it's three thousand years old!"
"Does that mean you don't want some?"
"Hold on," Coluber said. The Chapter Master set down his tin mug and cast about for a clean replacement. He spied a black chalice among a missorted pile of cups and snatched it up. Ferrac filled it with spirits, thick and treacly to pour, but rich in aroma. Coluber took a slug and found it flavoursome and peaty, a heady brew that coated the tongue in golden honey. Much better than beer. The Blood Ravens had been holding back the good stuff.
Shrios shook his head, "We should be working."
"Oh, cheer up," Ferrac chortled, "We won, time to celebrate!"
"You won," Shrios muttered, "I'm the one who has to stitch the dying back to together. The Apothecaries are full of wounded."
"They'll get better," Coluber sniffed.
"And they won't forget they were left out of the revels," Shrios argued, "You should have waited a few days."
Ferrac rolled his eyes under his mask, "We have just gained a mountain of loot. We need to mark this moment."
"You got loot. Tanks, ships, armour, what did I get? My experiments ruined, a pile of dead brothers and then you order me to do it all over again!"
"Maru's gene-seed is hardly a threat."
"Easy for you to say!"
Coluber barked, "That's enough! Shrios, our lives are hard, and the only end we can expect is to die in battle. We all accept this when we are recruited. So let us enjoy the good times when we can."
Shrios fell silent, looking glum. Ferrac feigned indifference, stuffing some dried figs into his mouth. It was odd to see him without his bulky jump pack and axe-rake, with his many, many scars on display. Coluber knew these two as well as the back of his own hand, and sensed their discord. The moment was heady, but needed more than feasting. He needed to mark the event formally. Coluber turned and leapt onto a table. He lifted his voice to cry, "Give me your eyes!" The noise abated slowly, various brothers nudging the others till all looked to the Chapter Master. A sea of curious faces greeted him and Coluber knew they were wondering what he intended. They'd faced danger and death and it was time they were rewarded.
Coluber declaimed, "Brothers, we have faced the tides of misfortune and fickle fate and overcome them! Your bravery and resolve have been legendary, and each and every one of you shall remember these days with pride! And yet there are those who performed beyond even these lofty heights. Let them be rewarded: come forth Sergeant Tarkus!"
Tarkus blinked in surprise then was shoved forward by rough hands, "My lord?" the youth asked.
Coluber grinned, "Tarkus, you have performed above and beyond the call of duty. For this you shall be given a frigate and form a crusader host!"
"An independent command?" Tarkus gasped.
"Indeed," Coluber smiled, "You shall sail according to your own design, ranging far from home and taking the Amber Vipers to the stars. You shall gather such weapons, recruits and arms as you can, and then bring them back to the Serpens Rex. You shall have warrant to fight as you see fit, making whatever deals with governors you need to. You have my trust and those squads who sail with you shall treat your word as my own command!"
Tarkus looked stunned but his Brothers piled in, slapping him on the back and smiling broadly. Coluber was pleased for him, but it was a bittersweet reward. He'd dreamt up the independent formations as a way to spread their recruitment and supply efforts over a wider area, expanding the range of resources the Amber Vipers could claim. A few missions had been despatched but none could be considered a triumph. They'd come back battered and bloodied, only marginally stronger than when they'd left and with recruits barely enough to cover their losses. Still perhaps Tarkus could claim greater success than they had. There was also the thought that should anything dire happen to the Serpens Rex then the crusader hosts would remain to continue the Amber Vipers Chapter.
Coluber let the cheers ring for a moment then continued, "Let us give thanks for our victory here, and the changes it brings to our doors. All of you know we have grown larger than we ever thought possible, and it is time to mark that achievement. For this reason the Amber Vipers will today appoint new Captains!"
Stunned silence fell as the shocking news rang across the hall. Grins faded as worried looks spread and Shrios called out, "You mean to adopt the Codex Astartes?!"
Coluber frowned, "Divide into Battle Companies and Reserves? Adopt morning vigils and prayer meetings that last days? Masters of marching and parades and paperclips? No, such is not our way. The Amber Viper's formation has served us well, but it has grown unbalanced: too many squads for one lord to manage, too many voices arguing over our training cycles. We need to set our Cohorts in stone, with one leader for each. No more will Tertius and Secundus be seen as mere training pools for Primus, each will become a decorated formation in its own right. Thaddis and Reddam step forward!"
The pair looked surprised but did as bid, Coluber looked upon them with pride and pronounced, "Thaddis, you have proven your ability to lead in battle and shown diligent care for the Snakelets, for this you shall be promoted to Drill-Captain of Tertius. You shall lead our youngest in the field and be responsible for the training of recruits. Reddam, you have been our swift spear and the boldest of all Amber Vipers. First into battle, striking cold and fast as is our way. For this you shall be promoted to Strike-Captain of Secundus! Hail Drill-Captain Thaddis! Hail Strike-Captain Reddam!"
"Hail!" the crowd bellowed as they down their drinks in long quaffs. The aura of jubilation reached new heights as Coluber jumped from the table. The merriment was everywhere as the Brothers celebrated their new Captains, and Coluber was pleased with his decision. It was exactly what the Amber Vipers needed.
Ferrac however looked annoyed, "You didn't tell us you were planning this."
"You were the ones urging me to delegate some of the workload."
"Not like this," Ferrac muttered.
"You are just annoyed you can't keep messing up the training cycles anymore," Coluber needled.
Shrios snorted, "I bet it just grinds your gears that you don't outrank Reddam anymore, Battle-Captain."
Ferrac glared but Coluber put a hand on his shoulder and said, "If we have learned anything recently it's that we need to be greater. We aspire to the heights of glory, but wallow in dishonour. We have allowed our coarse nature to endure too long, we need to rise above it. If we are to count ourselves among the greatest of Astartes our quarrelling must end. You and Maru scraping over training, Primus and Secundus butting heads over prestige, these divisions are unbecoming of the Amber Vipers. Time we became what we always dreamed we could be."
Ferrac hung his head, "I admit, I haven't been the best at playing nice. I speak the truth as I see it, I'm not sure I can change that."
"I wouldn't ask you to," Coluber assured him, "But remember you are one voice among many, not the entirety of the Chapter. Other's voices have equal merit."
"I will remember that… but Maru and I shall never see eye to eye."
Coluber grinned, "Truthfully I think he enjoys exchanging insults as much as you do."
"Good," Ferrac smiled, "I have some ripe insults brewing."
"Not about his gene-line I trust?" Shrios pressed.
"Pah, low-hanging fruit," Ferrac laughed, "I won't waste my efforts on easy targets, when there's so much about his appearance and character that merits insult!"
Coluber could not help but laugh. The Battle-Captain would never change, but that was good. Ferrac was a vital part of the Amber Vipers, as were all the Brothers. Their nature was being thrashed out, not splendid as Coluber once dreamed, but worthy in ways unexpected. He was sure the Chapter would go from strength to strength, till the day came when they would stand proud among the greatest heroes of man. That was worth drinking to and Coluber drained his chalice, content that all was well within the Serpens Rex.
