Uncharacteristic author note - Spot the secret joke in this chapter!

The sound of marching boots on metal was deeply agreeable to General Geart. It was the sound of order, of power, of his campaign getting back on track. As he looked over the men of his 34th Collodian, he allowed himself a smile, Admiral Swanson had managed to get the ship moving in the correct direction, and made intermittent contact with some of the fleet.

Provided the Tau fleet wasn't fully recovered, he would be able to get onto the planet with the next 4 hours. Geart was confident that as he was still alive, the Tau had not managed to recover enough to blow the Imperial fleet from the void, they were in at least a poor shape as they were if not worse. He still had not heard about anyone being possibly available to interrogate his prisoner, but he wasn't really surprised. From what he understood, it was always the Tau who approached them with translators ready, trying to turn them with the heretical Greater Good.

Major Craft had reappeared shortly, advising the prisoner was secured, then drifted off again. The General was more concerned with sorting the ship now, the prisoner was a nice idea when they didn't know anything, but now they could go ahead with the attack.

The men were forming up, not too many gaps in the line, and only a few sentinels had been too badly damaged during the battle to take a further role in the campaign. All the tanks and APC's had been securely strapped down as routine, so where all ready to go once the techpriests had sorted the flooded engines from the zero gravity experience.

Broken reports where coming in from other areas of the fleet, but it seemed like it was a pretty similar situation, minor losses with the men being prepared following contact being made with Geart. This would be a spectacular recovery, worthy of his intended legacy, General Geart would win victory from the end of defeat, it couldn't have been a more worthy story for the records of holy Terra.

But General Geart was not a fool, he knew this would still need to be executed properly. But he had all he needed, once he had landed and set up a command site, he could direct the campaign as needed, use the Sanguine Dragons to take the brunt of the Tau attacks, then sweep in and take victory for himself. It was only a matter of time.

Everyone was pleased to see Alishia had calmed down as she walked back up to the group. She had kindly declined the offer to take a blink back to them, still feeling a little unsettled by the process. They had chopped a section of the crop down to sit it and covered the vehicles in the cuttings to camouflage them. It's was just starting to get light, Batty slid a mess tin into her hands, She looked at the contents only just realising how hungry she was. She took a big spoonful of the thick liquid, expecting the usual bitter taste, surprise to find sensation of fine grox meat washing over her tastebuds.

'What is this?' She pronounced

'Inquisitorial rations!' beamed Batty, holding the silver foil packaging beside his grin.

'Still can't believe the difference.' said Grimes 'I'll never be able to go back to standard rations.'

'Finish up soon, we need to get moving, Sun is coming up.' Jad cut in.

'Where are we going?' Grant asked, everyone looked at Jad

'You are going to Newlaiden.'

'What do you mean?' Bannerman said softly, clearly unhappy at the thought of leaving the heavily armed group.

'I mean this is it, we have been held up long enough, we have a very specific mission to complete, and you guys need to get to safety and rest.'

'You can't just send us off, your Inquisition, you supposed to protect us.' Grant challenged

'We are supposed to follow orders, I didn't need to let you live when we found you, let alone give you food and water, hijack you some transport and look after you for the night.' He was obviously not planning on discussing this further.

'But it's still a day and a half journey to Newlaiden on Trakarts?' Bannerman protested

'Enough!' Alishia cut in, 'Jadden is right, he has no obligation to assist us.' She turned to him. 'She turned to him, 'we will make our preparations, and we will be ready to move within the hour.'

'Thank you.' Jad nodded.

'You can't be serious? Alishia?' Grimes pleaded, but Alishia knew that Jad was right. They had talked about a lot of things that night, one of those was her role as a commissar. He had made her see that it wasn't about being going for glory, She was supposed to be there to scare the Guardsmen into action, to get the job done. And the job now was to get back to Imperial lines. The men may want vengeance and glory, but they needed to get back to friendly lines, were they could be redeployed where they would be most effective. They did not choose the orders, and neither did she. She was only in charge because every other officer was dead, she would get back to Newlaiden and do her duty. Jad had made her see that she had to not care about the death and the pain. She had never understood during her training, even when she was a cadet, the squad always banded together, but she couldn't do that anymore. She was too soft for war as she was, and that was why men died, if she wanted to save these three men, to get her squad through this, she needed to be hard.

There were still voiced protests, mostly from Grimes, but Alishia had got them to pack up everything onto the Trakarts, not that they had a lot left, and forced them onto the vehicles with some stern words. Jadden and the others had moved on while they were still arguing. She had wanted to take a moment to thank him for his assistance, but the moment had never come to pass. She had put Grimes with Grant on a trakart, in the hope he would quiet him down and so she didn't have to hear him once they got moving.

'Are we ready?' she asked, Grant gave her a nod and swung a leg across the trakart. Bannerman was sat ready to leave, Grimes was still arguing about following as he took his place on the rear portion of the seat.

She didn't force him to be quiet as he was at least moving in the right direction, but she didn't want to stop him, he was saying everything she was feeling, but had now realised was not helpful. She held both starter buttons for a moment and the trakart coughed onto life. She sped away from the others, knowing they would follow her, Bannerman had picked up on her mood and had fallen in line very quickly. Grant was too busy covering Grimes' load up of equipment, to add his voice to one side of the argument or the other.

She rode straight toward Newlaiden, going cross country, the Trakarts steered softly around obstacles, she checked the mirror occasionally to see the others behind her. The wind was cool in the morning air or Kethrin, and she leant back relaxing in the strange peace that had fallen across her.

Collus was preparing his strike out from Newlaiden. They had finished salvaging Gene seed from fallen brothers, Drake had finally subdued the remaining 13 Death Company marines in extended prayer. Normally they would be executed after the battle, but this campaign was not over and the veteran psyker had foreseen they would yet have a part to play in this war. He had only been on the planet for 12 hours, but he had delivered a critical blow to the enemy, it was imperative that he keep up the momentum and deliver the killer blow to the xeno usurpers. He had received reports that the fleet had finally regained some semblance of activity, and had finally reached the planet. The first Guard drop ships were making the descent, General Geart had sent a brief transmission, claiming that he had the situation in hand.

Collus had not acknowledged receipt of the message, it was a fool who claimed victory before it was won, and it was an insult to claim a victory that had been won by the Sanguine Dragons, not the Imperial Guard. The portly general was expecting the Astartes to assault the tau drop site on his order, but the marine had studied war for many years, and knew that the time strike was now.

'Brother Maddox, Are we ready to deploy?' he spoke softly into his armours vox unit.

'Yes Brother, All squads are in the Stormravens, the heavy armour is being secured now. Drake is still in prayer with the forsaken in the thunderhawk also.'

'Excellent, I shall prepare to embark. I have redeployed you with the Land raider. I shall travel by Stormraven also, my honour guard will drop in and act as a rally point for the assault.'

'Understood.' came the clipped reply.

He turned to the serf beside him, 'Maintain this area ready for our return. I want the city secure as we have no option of evacuation for the refugees from the outlying villages. Tell the governor that his defence force will need to remain on alert.'

'Aye, My lord'

Collus made his way to the Storm raven. His honour guard fell in behind him. The attack would be under way shortly, and this planet would be secure for the Emperor and the Golden Throne once more.

Nen'sho had spent the entire night reviewing reports from his scouts, the returning units of the Newlaiden strike and what little was coming back from the fleet. It seemed the enemy ships had recovered far quicker than his own forces had. The Kor'Vattra was still drifting for the most part, and the captains of the 2 ships that had regained propulsion had taken shelter on the far side of the planet, in the face of the 6 Imperial vessels heading planet ward. There were vague reports of the initial gue'la strike forces vessel having taken up a geo stationary orbit over Newlaiden, but this could not be confirmed.

There news that the enemy had spent the night securing the city against further attack, giving Nen'sho the time he needed to re organise his forces. Aun'El Cha'riss Uanta had really inspired him to take the fight to the enemy, and he had not slept since his visit to him. But he now had his counter strike planned. He had taken the first steps getting the whole battle force together at the drop site, and scripting an intricate multi layered assault on the enemy.

He was just transmitting the plans to his shas'ui as he climbed into his XV8-05 'Enforcer' Battle suit. He ran through his routine, and checked his systems, marker lights operational, Jet pack operational, Smart Missiles Systems online, Burst cannon online, Pulse rifle online. He tested the movement, everything responded correctly. He gave the jet pack a test fire, and he rose smoothly, the step down in lift coming as expected, allowing the suit to drop comfortably.

'Pathfinders move out, Heavy support prepare to shadow the main advance. Transports head out on my signal. Forward Stealth teams, report any activity you find. We are running on full assault procedures.' He confidently announced his orders out to his forces.

He watched with pleasure as confirmation markings flashed up from each squad on his HUD. He zoomed his view onto the remaining Riptide striding along beside the force. Its Ion Accelerator held high in salute of the Tau offensive. He received the notification that his two guard battle suits were is position behind him, and he proceeded to fall into position with the main force.

'Really think you were right sending them guys back?' Josla queried

'We have enough to worry about, without some tired line soldiers getting in the way' Jad replied.

'That's true, but we are jumping into a Tau position in the middle of a warzone. Wouldn't a few extra guns help?'

'They would be too nervous, I can't have them blowing our cover, this is supposed to be as quiet as possible.

'You really pulled the dark side out the commissar by the way?' Varner cut in

'Yeah, looked real cold about moving on.' Josla added 'What did you say to her?'

'Just cleared up what she is here to do. She isn't a squad leader, she isn't a keeper of the peace she a commissar, and if she blames herself for every death she will get those men killed.' Jad countered dryly

'You tell her that for her benefit?' Josla raised an eyebrow, Jad didn't reply.

'We know you feel responsible, but it wasn't your fault.' Varner solemnly added

'Yeah, we were being hunted down, surrounded, it was lucky any of us got out of there!' Josla sympathetically trying to comfort him

'Enough' Jad said sharply

'You know we all trust you.' She continued.

'Enough!' he said more fiercely. Josla pulled away, looked at her leader for a moment, before slumping into the covering of the benches. She gave Varner a look for him to speak further, but he shook his head.

They continued in silence for the next few miles, Josla listened to the banter going on between Wyn and Mal in the front about what Belle's engine note was saying about her machine spirit. Varner had stood, now discussing exotic firearms with Batty, currently arguing whether the Tau rail rifles where superior to an Eldar ranger rifle.

Jadden was sat across from her, leant forward, his hair covering his face, she could just make out the sunlight shining off his tattoos. Her mind drifted back to the terrible day that had changed Jadden so much, the mining facility in an asteroid field, she couldn't even remember the name of it now. She remembered Auren though, she was just a kid, but they all were at the time. That was 5 years ago. They had been dispatched to recover the research work of some explorator fleet magos. The fleet had been found drifting in the asteroid field completely wrecked. The only sign of life in the entire system was the mining facility.

They had entered the facility and found it barely had power, and there was no sign of the crew anywhere. It hadn't been until they were deep in the labyrinth of tunnels the genestealers had struck out. The accompanying storm troopers had been massacred piecemeal over about 15 minutes of silent ambushes, but it wasn't that that had affected Jad so much. After they had found the mad Magos deep within the foundries, worshipping at the feet of the patriarch, his mind utterly changed by the alien's control, they had seized his work and fled the complex. Jadden was so busy fighting for his life, he didn't see Auren fall behind. They reached the docking hatch, and he didn't even think as he pressed the release button. Auren reached the door just as the craft was jettisoned.

Jadden had watched unblinking as the stealers reached her and tore her apart, her blood and bones sucked into the void as she was cut apart. He couldn't do anything. She was dead within moments. In his rage he had tried to blink across to the ship, but it was too late. The whole team had to wrestle him back from the window, pin him down so he wouldn't get himself killed in a suicide jump into open space.

He changed that day. He had flashes of his old self at times, but not the same fun attitude they knew. He became a faultless leader, covered every angle and always got the job done, but he had lost his fire for the work. He didn't care about for the Imperium, or saving the lives. It was just the mission he was given now.

She looked at him now, the dark figure he had become, and wondered what was going through his tortured mind. It was just then the truck lurched forward and Mal brought them to a sudden stop.

The sight before Josla made her weak. The huge Tau battle force was spread out in front of them, heading straight for their position. Skimmers, Battle suits, low hanging flyers, the Tau had brought everything this time.

'Mal, moved to those trees for cover.' Jad ordered 'We will let them pass, assess the likely hood of the target being present and proceed from there.'

'Fine by me.' Mal quipped, wrenching the wheel across and speeding them toward the cover of the woodland nearby.

'There is no way we will pull anything out of that?' Batty turned 'We will be perforated the moment we get within 600 meters of them.

'Better hope the Ethereal isn't with them then hadn't we?' Jad said disinterested.

Geart had run from the ramp of the Valkyrie as soon the gap was big enough for his to get through. He surveyed the drop site, a number of squads had landed and were securing the area, and the sky above him was filled with the forms of his forces drop craft falling upon Kethrin Prime. He felt the warm rush of adrenaline fill him, he still loved battle even at his age. The forward command post was dropped in front of the veteran commander. He paced forward, watching the cycle of lights on the keypad as the systems started up. The big blast doors slid away, and three servitors lurched from the darkness. The techpriest within was busy chanting the start-up litanies, rubbing ointment onto the surfaces. Geart enjoyed the smell of a freshly landed command bunker, the unguents and oils filled his head. The Tech priest lifted its head, and it span mechanically to face Geart.

'General Geart.' It hissed through speakers 'Your command utilized nodal template is operational.'

'Thank you' He said slightly confused

Geart strolled around the bunker as guardsmen and Serfs ran to their stations, pulled in crates of files and data slates. The officers were shouting orders, and smoke from passing vehicles swept into the bunker. This was what Geart loved, this was where he was supposed be. He took a deep breath and prepared to get going.

'You there, move those files out of the walkway! Get them where they are supposed to be. Lieutenant check my feed, I want every unit to acknowledge connection to the Vox network. Major, I want all the division Colonels here telling me they are ready to deploy. Poiller, get me a link to the Sanguine Dragons, I want to know what they have been up to, and where the Frak is my Re-Caff!'

The Imperial machine was finally working, and Geart was at its heart. Ranks of Chimera transports lined up behind the tank line. Geart pulled his power fist from its mounting, He flexed the fingers pleased with the motion. The General stood tall behind his control pulpit, he surveyed his army through the armaglass window at the rear of the bunker. With a spin on the heel , he gave the order to move out across the vox. The growl of thousands of vehicle engines echoed out across the plains. The guard were at war.