Everyone was congregated in the mess hall, eating and chatting to pass the time. Nova, Tempest, Torch and Reynolds were all sitting at one table, discussing the day's training.
"Now Tempest, I know you know this but you forgot that when someone hooks you from the right, you should counter with a good low kick," Torch said.
"I know," Tempest growled, "I was just trying to give you a fair chance." Everyone started laughing.
Elsewhere; Hector, Cassie, Garius and Todd were sitting at another table.
"Garius, when you fire a pistol, remember that the muzzle is pointed away from you," Hector said.
"I hate shooting," Garius said. Todd started laughing.
"Don't be so bad on the kid," Cassie said.
"Kid?" Garius shouted. Then Cassie started laughing too along with the rest.
Sturm, Ryan and Zariel were sitting nearby.
"When I was watching I noticed you left yourself wide open Ryan. When you jumped behind Reynolds' boulder, you're shoulder was way clear to Todd, lucky he didn't get you," Zariel said.
"Ah stuff it," Ryan replied.
"Well he is right," Sturm said.
"Meh, it doesn't count for anything though, it was just an exercise," Ryan said.
"Can I join in?" Thomas asked, passing by.
"Go ahead," Zariel said.
"So what we talking about?" Thomas asked, sitting down.
"We were just discussing Ryan's blunder earlier today," Sturm said.
"Oh you mean when he left himself wide open," Thomas said.
"See, even he knows," Zariel said.
"Get off my back already," Ryan said. They all just laughed.
"Hey look over there," Ryan said, trying to change the subject, "Poor Grade got himself stuck with Knoff."
They all looked and sure enough, at another table sat Grade opposite Knoff, with Adams sitting a few places away.
"Poor guy," Thomas said.
"And that's how you can use a multi-melta to light a pipe, just make sure not to singe off the end …" Knoff was saying.
Grade had a pleading look in his eyes as if to say can't you shut up for just one minute.
Then another figure appeared at the door way. He slowly walked over to Grade's table and Knoff fell silent. His mouth was still moving but no sound was coming out. Grade looked up at the figure.
"Just a little trick I learned once I met this one," Ephassus said, indicating Knoff, "He still thinks he's talking loud and clear, but he doesn't realise that we can't hear him."
"Thanks," Grade said.
Adams nodded with a smile of relief.
"No matter how long he's been here I'll never get him," Ryan said, turning back to his table.
"I would never expect you to understand me," the psyker said, suddenly next to Ryan, causing him, and everyone to jump.
"How did you get …" Ryan began.
"I'm quicker and quieter than you think," he cut in.
"Dam I hate it when you do that," Ryan said, turning around, but there was nobody there.
"All senior officers report to the strategium," a voice said over the wall mounted vox-caster.
"Well, I guess that means us," Torch said to Reynolds, standing up.
Grade offered a silent thanks to the Emperor and got up to leave too, leaving Knoff still talking silently to thin air.
"Looks like we'll be ready to go soon," Todd said.
"Good, it's been a while since I got my hands bloody," Garius said.
"Don't you ever quit?" Hector asked.
"Never," Garius grinned, "I wont rest until every enemy of the Imperium is dead."
"Good luck with that then," Todd grinned, "As for myself, I'm gonna get another drink."
"I'm gonna get me some sleep," Ryan said.
"Yeah, being knocked out has gotta be exhausting," Zariel joked.
"Hey, you wanna go a round with me?" Ryan asked, in a mock fighting stance.
"Um … no," Zariel said.
"Coward," Sturm said.
"Yep that's me," Zariel grinned
Ryan just shrugged and left.
"I gotta get going too," Thomas said standing up.
"I suppose I better get some sleep then," Sturm said.
"It is getting kind of late," Zariel said.
Hector got up from his table, yawned and said, "Goodnight guys."
They murmured their replies.
Todd got up to leave when Cassie said, "Er … Todd, I got a medical problem, could I see you for a moment," she gave him a wink.
"Sure thing," Todd said.
"You old dog you," Garius joked, getting up to leave too.
Everyone had left when Knoff's silence finally wore off, "Then the ork said to the eldar … hey wait where is everyone. Musta all gone, oh well, I'm getting kind of sleepy too, maybe I should turn in."
"So what's the problem," Todd asked, grinning. They were in his office in the 29th's med-bay.
"Oh, I've been having a bit of a twinge in my chest here," Cassie said.
"I'm sure you have, well let me just get my med-kit," Todd said.
The 'physical' continued for about an hour, with intermittent breaks full of nervous laughter and small talk.
"Well you should live," Todd said, "Just take one of these twice a day and I'll check up on you again next week."
"Looking forward to it," Cassie winked and walked out.
"I gotta get some sleep," Todd said after an extensive silence, and went off to his bunk.
In the strategium, Torch, Reynolds, Grade and several other regimental officers were gathered around a tactical readout of the world they were heading to. It was just outside the eye of terror and a breeding ground for chaos spawn. It was one of the few places outside the Cadian Gate that chaos forces could leave the eye of terror. Chaos had taken it decades ago from the Imperial garrison and the segmentum command deemed it imperative to take the planet back and secure it. Ten regiments of Imperial Guard were being deployed on the main front along with two companies of space marines of the Blood Angels chapter. The Cadian 29th would be deployed behind enemy lines to infiltrate to the heart of the chaos lines and take out their command. If they succeeded, the generals hoped that the chaos forces would crumble, otherwise, if the Cadian 29th failed, then there was a good chance that the whole operation would fall apart.
"We can do it," Torch said simply.
"Your faith in us won't be misplaced and, when we get back, we'll toast to our victory," Reynolds said.
They spent most of the night going over tactical details and strategy. It was early morning when they finally retired to their quarters, exhausted.