The Scouts were busy listening to their Sergeant when Akileus arrived. As he approached, he noticed that Sergeant Nicolaus was field-stripping a sniper rifle, and teaching his initiates to do the same. A Scout Sergeant's work is never done, Akileus thought, as he entered the training hall, being forced to bow his head in order for the doorframe to accomodate his suit of Terminator Armor.
"Ah, brother Akileus. I was told you'd be joining my Scouts for this fight."
"I did.", Akileus said, standing up to his full height again. He dwarfed every man in the room in his giant hulking suit, and the Initiates were looking at him in awe. For them to be honored with the presence of a Battle-Brother of the revered First Company was an honor, indeed. They all knew they'd be fighting with him, and he could see the eagerness on their faces, hid as it was behind the years of combat experience these Scouts had already endured. They were the moral weak point of any Space Marine Chapter, those who still had a memory of their homeworld fresh in their minds. He pointed at the Scouts before turning his head towards the Sergeant, asking:
"How many of them have fired an Astartes sniper rifle before, outside of training?"
"All of them, Captain. Some of them even saw action on Tartarus. They're not as green as they may seem to be.", Nicolaus responded.
Akileus raised a brow. Tartarus had become one of the Chapter's most legendary campaigns, and had propelled Gabriel Angelos into prominence in the Chapter Council. His new weapon, the Daemonhammer God-Splitter had already become a legendary weapon, and one of the Chapter's most sacred relics.
"But you feel they need a few more battles under their belt before they are ready to don power armor?"
"Aye, brother, I do. But it will not belong before the Chapter as a squad of fine new Devastators."
"We'll see how the battle goes, first. I won't lie about what we're fighting, or why: We're fighting the Imperial Guard for violating the autonomy of the Space Marine Chapters. He believes he can command us, a snot-nosed boy general."
Of course, that was only half-true, but Captain Thule had promised that the secrets of Kronus would die with those that discovered it, and Akileus was not one to back down from that promise.
The Scouts nodded almost in unison. They had been schooled well, Akileus thought, to be able to mask their worry so well. Or perhaps they had truly steeled their hearts at the prospect of fighting Guardsmen.
"We will be moving out at 0630 tomorrow to secure a foothold on Victory Bay. Once we've secured a somewhat safe stronghold, we'll split into two battleforces, one mainly consisting of Davian Thule's own Fourth Company, as well as one headed by Captain Angelos' Third Company. The First Company, as well as the Chapter Honor Guard, will be split evenly amongst these two battlegroups. The Tenth Company elements will be sent into the western bogs. We know the Governor-Militant will keep his artillery there, and you're to take it out. Should you, however, encounter strong opposition, you will be equipped with a teleport homer. I will deep-strike in to stand by you, then. Remember, once we've secured the artillery as well as the main Imperial Guard stronghold within eastern Victory Bay, do not cross the bridge until we've found out what the crater in the center of the Bay is. We do not want to encounter any unexpected surprises."
"I've been wondering about that myself, brother. Do you have any idea of what it may be?" Nicolaus was always like this, asking poignant question after poignant question. Although not as natural a leader or as good a marksman as Cyrus, the almost legendary 10th Company Scout Sergeant, Nicolaus was nonetheless inquisitive, and was most at ease when he knew all the details. A valued asset in a leader, not necessarily in a Blood Raven, Akileus mused to himself.
"I do not know, and it doesn't concern the mission tomorrow."
"Who will join us on the surface, besides Captain Thule?"
"Captain Graius of the Honor Guard will be coordinating efforts along with Captain Thule. He'll be with the Third Company."
"And Captain Angelos?"
"He will be providing support from the Litany of Fury. This is Captain Thule's campaign, after all."
"Of course, brother." Nicolaus nodded. He'd given up on getting any more information out of his brother.
"I'll be briefing the other Scout squads now. Knowledge is power."
In unison, as if only one single, booming voice had spoken, the Sergeant and his squad responded: "Guard it well."
Akileus nodded as he left out the door. The Sergeant had instantly gone back to field-stripping his gun and telling his initiates to do the same, barely wasting a second.
Aye, thought Akileus, they'd make good battle-brothers indeed.
