1900 Hours, 2.233.992.M41 (Imperial Calendar)/ Sapesh System, Volodmir Heavy Industries Manufactorum Rooftop, Forge World Sapesh

"Got anything?"

Rabinov tossed a few items into a helmet and handed it to Baranova. The pair had been scouring the dead for extra supplies for the past half-hour. A simple yet nerve-racking task. Ever since First squad arrived, the heretics had tried to mount a counterattack twice and got beat back twice. Still, there was no telling where they would crawl out of next.

"Two power packs, full charge. And a frag." Rabinov said. "You?"

Baranova pulled an ammo belt off the neck of a dead guardsman and took the helmet. "So far, two power packs-one half charge, one full. Belt of stubber rounds too." Baranova said.

"Not great, but it'll do. I don't wanna test our luck out here. Best, we get back behind the sandbags." Rabinov said.

"What're you, scared?" Baranaova teased.

Rabinov shot her a look. "Stay out here and get shot up all you want. I'm heading back."

The pair walked back to the sandbags, passing by Petr and Naro who were fiddling with Naro's uniform.

"So do you think you can sew it up for me?" Naro asked.

Petr inspected the large tear on the side of his trousers.

"It's a pretty wide tear, normally I'd say get yourself a new pair but I doubt we'll be encountering a quartermaster anytime soon. If you can find me some material I can patch it up." Petr said.

"Great, and how much will it cost me?" Naro asked.

"A pack of lho-sticks and we'll be square." Petr said. He unstrapped the cargo pouch on his leg, took out a small tin and handed the pouch to Naro. "Until then, wear this to cover the tear."

"Thanks." Naro took the pouch and strapped it over the tear.

"Captain, we haven't even fully secured the factorum. We can't just leave the batteries after we fought so hard to keep them." Malehnkova said.

"This is urgent. You'll leave the bulk of E Company at Volodmir. I need you to get a team together and report to Company HQ!"

"Sir, if I may interject," Cherkassky said.

"There's no time! We need you and your best here ASAP! A valkyrie is inbound to pick you up!"

On that note Mingans voice cut out, leaving the two officers to ponder their situation.

"What the hell does he want us for?" Cherkassky pondered.

"Not sure, whatever it is he didn't want it over the vox." Malehnkova said.

She got up from the vox and walked back over to the sandbags.

"Listen up!" she barked. "Company Command has a job that needs doin'. The Colonel wants our best so First squad, you're up. Get your gear and get ready for pickup."

"Uh, Sergeant, are we just gonna leave Cherkassky and his men here?" Petr asked.

"The rest of E Company will stay here while we work." Malehnkova explained. "Now pack it up! I want everyone ready when that valk' gets here!"

The recording played and replayed on the giant viewscreen on the wall. Mingan alongside Bartonophius and Sister Eleanira watched intently. The last bit of the video was corrupted but the servo-skull had managed to capture the entire web of blight bombs that were wired up all over the sewer system. From the servo-skull's last ping they deduced that the web was in the heart of Sera and expanded for kilometers.

"So now that you've seen the footage you understand the urgency of the mission I'm proposing." Mingan said, pausing the video.

"If those bombs went off the entire city would be uninhabitable. The plague would spread to millions." Eleanira thought out loud.

"I have a strike team of my best guardsmen on the way. Genetor, I'm going to need you to figure out how to deactivate those bombs." Mingan said. "Sister, I need you to establish a quarantine zone around the maintenance entrance to the sewer line, here."

Mingan pulled up a map of the city center and highlighted the entrance.

"How large of a zone and what should we expect?" Eleanira asked.

"Sixteen kilometers minimum. Once the Genetor and the team reach the explosives they'll deploy a servo-skull to scan the area and record how far they reach and calculate blast radius. We'll adjust the quarantine accordingly." Mingan explained. "If all goes well, expect some minor effects of toxin exposure. Worst case scenario we evacuate the city."

There was a knock on the door and the Kizhak sentry peeked into the hallway.. A few words were exchanged before the sentry opened the door fully. Malehnkova stepped in and gave Mingan a salute.

"Sergeant Malehnkova reporting sir," she said. She scanned the maps of the sewer system and the video from the servo-skull.

"Good, you're here. I apologize for taking you away from the northern battery." Mingan greeted her. "But we've got a problem that needs immediate attention."

"My men are at your disposal sir. What's the mission?"

(A/n: Hey guys sorry for the lack of updates. I've been a bit busy with school and I'm fighting off a bout of writer's block. I apologize for the shortness of this chapter but I wanted to get something out for you all and keep the story going! stay tuned as things start to ramp up!

-S.W.G)