A/N: See first chapter for disclaimer. Also I don't own any references, only the plot. Enjoy my friends.
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462969. M41. Ultima Segmentum- Zodiac Sector-Space Fortress Holis
Lord-Commissar Danolov Bracket sat and yawned as he a waited his turn to speak in the briefing room of The Grand Crusader, though it was closer to a stadium in actuality. There was room enough for tens of thousands of officers, tech-priests, imperial naval personal and any other people VIPs that needed to use it. Today it was not full to the brim with military officers, but instead three hundred and fifty commissars had filled its most central seats and were debriefed on the Zodiac's systems population's of fur clad humans. Unlike feral worlders though, these fur clad humans were actually covered in fur from head to toe, having grown it themselves or in two worlds have scales instead of skin.
The two other lord-commissars described the different populations and what regiments were going to be raised on the various worlds. First up was Lord Commissar Jenks, he was the most senior of the trio and had the largest cader of commissars to debrief. He described five different worlds, the desert world of Nagaspire and its inhabinates of human/snake people who, if it could be forgiven the scales looked human till the waist up, but from the waist down had a body of a snake. The next world he described was that of Minostaur Alpha, its inhabitants being giants comparable in size with ogryns but having a body covered in fur, hoofed feet, a bulls head and a normal IQ. After that he talked of the planet of Equestria, there were horse people just above the height of a normal man but possessed of great stamina and pyskers and of flying troops. There was the stubborn Hornus, their bodies able to consume anything. The last world he talked of was the world of Lagomorphus, this along with the Ratical world, was to be the largest of the Guard tithe, over three hundred thousand rabbit eared people were to be part of the forces gathered from there.
After that Lord-Commissar Haus took the stand. First he showed the world of Avianas, its people being flightless bird people of various plumage and of body type. After that came the feral word of Porcoross, its porcine inhabitants having just less in common with orks then humans. The next gene type he showed was that of the acrobatic Feleinus, their bodies graced for alsorts of eniviroments and were some of the most adaptable forces that was at the guards disposal. Finally Huas finished with the Sapius Erectus, a developed culture and their bodies being the most similer to the humans own form… except for the fact that they looked like primates.
Then it was time for Danolov to speak. As he walked to the podium he realized that his bones didn't pop so much thanks to the rejuv treatment he had received. Now instead of the graying commissar of forty he was a few months ago he was now a youngish looking man, looking like he did in his mid to late twentys, his dopey blue eyes no longer winking, his hair the light brown color it was before going white and- the servo's in his artificial legs whined, bringing him back to reality. He had lost his right leg below at the knee to a traitors bolt pistol over… 10 years ago now was it?
He stood at the podium and began to speak of the raised regiments his Commissars would oversee. First was the Ratical's world, it was to put it lightly, ram shackled, with hives that regularly fell apart and its populace able to replace loses of hundreds of millions if not billions in a single generation, they were a rodent race. After that he described the Dracona, they were in clear contrast to the Ratical, there were tall and heavily armored with scales that could stop shrapnel from a bolt pistol, some even having the ability of flight and of breathing fire. The Dracona though were small in number, no more then a few hundred million, and built their homes to last for millennium. Then he talked of the Canenids, he took his time with this group since he had worked very closely with them in the past.
The Canenid's called themselves Poxmosians and had a long standing cult of the Emperor, they had grand temples of white marble dating back thousands of years. The theologians of their world and scholoa's of the Imperium were able to come up with several theory's as to why this was so. The two most popular were that either in the Canenid's distant past the Emperor of mankind came to Ligula Santo's in a dream inspiring him to conquer the world and set up temples in His Name, or that Ligula Santo's who after conquering the world declared himself 'Emperor Eternal' and deified himself. What ever the case may have been the Canenid's had a long standing military tradition of 'the strong survive', starting from birth they were trained and weeded out till they were in their teens and became a 'Pack' the pack could range anywhere from a squad sized unit to that of a full platoon of troopers. The pack was bonded for life and a the best way to describe what the Poxmosian military used them for was like a tamed bunch of Space Wolves who could easily adapt.
Finally he came to the last planet, Vulpine." This world is the most interesting of all." Danolov said." Unlike the other worlds describe this one is most similar to an average Imperial world. Its population hovers around 3,000,000,000 and it's embraced the modernization of the Imperium fully."
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462969. M41. Ultima Segmentum- Zodiac Sector- Vulpine
Kaci rode in the back of the chimera holding onto her las-gun, a tri-pac pattern weapon. She looked at the other PDF troopers, their faces a mask of worry just as much as hers was at what they were about to do. After the tithe had been placed on a planet everything seemed normal for the first few weeks, yes the PDF were being put through training everyday and her job as a clerk had become harder with all the new paper work of creating an Imperial guard regiment, but other then that everything seemed calmed. Then the rioting began with the lower classes at seeing how job benefits were cut, they were joined by Schola Libera students finding their loans skyrocketing, all to help pay the Imperial Tithe.
At first there were protests for weeks, peaceful protests of well dressed people voicing their legitimate concerns, then they became more and more violent. At first the Arbiters were able to hold back the mobs, having to only block rocks, kicks and the rare fire bomb… then the rioters took guns to their battles and everything changed. The mood changed, dropping their clean suits for dirty and grimy garments and instead of flinging rocks now shoot bullets at the arbiters. The arbiters were killed and pushed back to their pricents till even they were over run. By then the first PDF troops were rolling into the three worse affected cities. That had been a month ago and now the PDF were rolling into restore order to the last city that had held out the longest, Carbarrius.
A bullet pinged off the chimera, an auto-gun round not a las-gun. Kaci and several other troopers jumped, for the first time in their lives the squad had come under enemy fire. The Chimera came to a stop." Troopers up." Their sergeant, a male fox by the name of Nelvan stood up as did the rest of his squad." Set las-guns to medium, safeties off and Narb load frag." Eight las-guns came to life and the squads grenade launcher was loaded with frag shells, the sergeant drawing his pistol." Alright-" The sergeant took a breath and pulled down on the hatch controls." Move,move,move!" The troopers rushed out into their first battle.
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462969. M41. Ultima Segmentum- Zodiac Sector-Space Fortress Holis
Danolov continued." Its inhabitants, are fox like in appearance, but are omni-vores like the other populations of the Zodiac system. They have adapted to the Imperial Creed admirably and have gone from flintlocks being the cutting edge to able produce flak armor and las-guns for the sector in just a few hundred years. They have taken to the Imperial style of dress and worship, discarding their half forgotten version of our Holy Emperor and taking into their vision the essehiarcy's. "
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462969. M41. Ultima Segmentum- Zodiac Sector- Vulpine
Kaci followed her sergeant at a run, he quickly found them cover behind a brick wall of a building and took stock of the situation. Kaci looked around and found herself in a manafactorium district, bodies of rioters and of troopers dead on the side of the road behind her. She turned to hear the chimera's multi-las firing off shots at an unknown rioter, more auto-guns pinging off its turret. Her sergeant finished talking through the vox unit on one trooper's back and turned back to the rest of his squad." Alright, we are going to link up with Platoon G a block up the street from us. They are at a barricade and containing the rioters in a manfacturium building. The rioters have access to body armor, so when you see a rioter aim to kill."
"How did the rioters get body armor?" Kaci asked, surprised by that fact. Her sergeant responded." This is a manufacturium district where they make body armor. Were lucky that other units had secured the las-gun district." Kaci nodded in understanding now. Though the rioters would be armored, they were not as well armed as her or her squad would. She was kitted up similar to that of a Cadian trooper, though the helmet had to of been modified for ear protection and the las-gun she carried was her own worlds variant." Thanks sarg." She said. Nelvan turned away." Squad follow my lead… three… two… one. Move!"
He then turn around the corner, back hunched as he ran down the street his squad following him. Behind them the chimera barked and shot covering fire at the rioter's position in a huge brick and mortar building. In five minutes they ran down to the barricade. Narb fired off a frag grenade when he reached it but it only took out a piece of masonry." Hold your fire." Nelvan growled as they took cover. The sergeant was quickly met by lieutenant Grel, the officer darting past a heavy bolter squad." Sergeant, were going assault that building in five minutes. I need your grenade launcher to blow out the doors, understood?" Nelvan nodded." Yes sir." Then to his squad." Give them pot shots and keep their heads down." The troopers did as they told, popping up above cover to take a few shots at the rioters, aiming for the windows. When Kaci took her shot she could see that the rioters had secured several heavy stubbers, she fired at one of the teams and ducked back down.
Two more times she did so, the last having a piece of shrapnel lodged in her left arm, it was a small splinter of metal and after grunting in pain and taking a look at it she realized that it was nothing she had to worry about till after this fight. From down the line Grel yelled," covering fire!" Sixteen las-guns raised as one and fired, making the rioters go to ground. The grenade launcher then fired two karak grenades at the door, the first round buckling the door in and the second round blasting it off its hinges." For the Emperor, charge!" The lieutenant waved his chain sword above his head and led the charge. Twenty five PDF troopers then ran as one, the lieutenants squd being the first to enter with las guns, a bolt pistol and a heavy flamer firing into the manafacturium. They were followed by another squad with a heavy flamer, finally Kaci's squad was the last through the door, firing off las-gun rounds.
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462969. M41. Ultima Segmentum- Zodiac Sector-Space Fortress Holis
Bracket took a sip of water." The Vulpine were some of the most eager to join the Imperium as well, allowing a Soratis to be built in their capital city and allowing them to teach their orphans and children. There are now two full fledge Vulpine priests and Battle Sisters are now allowed and being trained from the populace. Its PDF forces are fairly well trained as well, on par with any average world. As far as the Imperium knows there is no heresy being practiced by its citizens and if there is, its well hidden. Keep a vigilant eye as always when dealing with the new regiments."
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462969. M41. Ultima Segmentum- Zodiac Sector- Vulpine
Three troopers fell as they rushed into the manfactorum, Kaci didn't know which squads they belonged to other then there were either seriously injured or dead. She could also see and smell flamers unleashing their fiery payload into rioters to her left and straight ahead. The rioters were in confusion, running away as their comrades were consumed in flames their fur burning from the ignited promethium. Nelvan turned to his squad." Reload, fix bayonets and advance." They complied reloading their las-guns and fixing bayonets." Advance." The sergeant yelled and the troopers started to move forwards, las-guns aimed forwards.
Kaci took this time to take a look at what she and her fellow troopers were getting into. As they passed the smoke created by the flamers she could see that they were now in a factory, two conveyer belts still running pieces of flak jackets down the lines, never to be assembled now. Above them ran a cat walk ringing the walls of the factory with several bridges running along it. Then she could see something else as well, everywhere she looked she could see propaganda, including the rioters 'Eight Points of Disorder', their doctrine. She was snapped out of her watching when she heard Grel yell." Squad Nelvan, right face and kneel. Hostiles!" They complied, Staci getting on one knee as she saw rioters run up from a stairway." First rank fire! Second rank fire!" Grel yelled, the squad complying and firing a stead stream into the group. They were armored but ten rioters fell quickly from the several score shots her squad had provided, and a grenade launcher also ruined their day. The rest of the rioters fell back into the stairs." Squad Rew, stay and cleanse this level. Squad Nelvan, your with me." Grel then led the troopers over the dead bodies, his tail slick with blood from a rioter auto gun which pieced its lower side.
Panting Kaci followed the lieutenant and her sergeant down the stairs. She almost slammed into them when they reached the bottem." Holy Emperor, I think we found their propogan-" Grel took a bullet to the throat and fell down, a look of shock in his face. His vox operator was the next to go down before the platoon command and infantry squad jumped to cover behind a massive printing press. Kaci looked around and saw that their was a cat walk above them, flashes of light appearing from that direction." Sir." She had said to Nelvan." Yes private Narabi?" He turned to her, clearly busy enough as it was." Sir I think there might be hostiles above." She pointed to the cat walk.
He smirked." Good job catching that private. Narb, I want Karak grenades on those four supports, bring them down." Narb nodded." Sir yes sir!" Nelvan then yelled." Covering fire!" The squad then stood up and fired their las-guns in the general direction of the enemy. They were greeted by a scream of a rioter, then two troopers went down. But that was enough time, Narb fired three times at the support structure. There were screams, half a dozen or so, as they fell down the cat walk into a printing press, they were front page news literally now. That actually stunned the rioters as they watched their comrades be turned into bloody letters and propaganda material.
Kaci turned her las-gun onto the rioter's, she looked at their leader. He was a big fox, his face covered in fresh eight pointed stars-scars, he was also wearing glasses similar to Kath… which was impossible because he was… she had lost track of him when he said he wanted to voice his opinion against the Imperium..." Kill them all!" Nelvan order and she opened fire with her las-gun bolts striking their leader down." Sweep forwards and eliminate, secure the basement." Her squad and the remains of the command squad moved forwards. They lost another trooper but were finding the task easier with the enemy leader dead. When she reached the body though… she looked away, it was Kath, but he had changed. He no longer looked like the handsome college student he once was, he had multilated himself with… such disturbing sigils, which was made worse by the fact that he was riddled with las-gun bolts, that had passed through his armor.
When it was clear that there wasn't anymore hostiles she turned away and proceeded to puke her guts out. Today she was forced to kill, today she had met death and it had been by her side, it made her sick to the stomach and she let it flow out of her. She wasn't the only trooper to have these feeling in the basement, Narb and another PDF guardsman also lost their lunches to the gor and destruction they caused.
After a minute Nelvan got them standing up right again, his fur turning green but still able to keep his last dinner down." Alright, clean out your mouths with some water, then swallow some fresh. After that we're leaving."
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462969. M41. Ultima Segmentum- Zodiac Sector-Space Fortress Holis
"I want to mention that these troops from Vulpine are going to be mixed gender regiments. Commissars, I want you keep an eye on both sides of the gender spectrum. I want you to realize that you are just as responsible to the well being of troops outside of combat as much as in the warzone. That means making special provisions for couples, children, or one forcing themselves onto another, which the last I expect you to investigate and provide justice as you do to cowards on the battlefield. Finally these regiments are brand new and not battle tested. I want you make these regiments want to fight out of duty instead of fear, I'm not saying fear isn't a useful weapon, but make them respect you and put into their minds the consequences of victory or defeat." He then looked out onto the crowd and asked." Any questions?" There was none, though he was sure to have to answer some on the three month journey. Though at least he'll be able to teach his son how to use some las-guns by then.
"Very well. At 0900 hours Terran standard tomorrow we will take leave onto our troop ships. That will take us to our various worlds, to pick up the new guard regiments." Danolov crossed his hands across his chest, forming a stylized Aquilla. The black coated commissars did the same." The Emperor Protects." Bracket said, the commissars saying the same phrase." The Emperor Protects."
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462969. M41. Ultima Segmentum- Zodiac Sector- Vulpine
Kaci looked back into the propaganda room, Nelvan watching her." Better to destroy and rebuild then let it fall back into their hands." He shrugged and told the flamer-operator to set it on fire. The flamer sparked to life and caught paper, bodies and flammable ink on fire. He had Grel's sword with him, using it as a crutch for his nicked ankle. The foxes ascended the stairs, meeting the remains of Squad Rew, only two troopers." Right, better stick with us." Nelvan told the devastated squad, the combined total of survivors at twelve, including the three survivors of the weapons team." Lets leave this place, its on fire down below and the rioters can't use it. We'll use the Chimera to get back to PDF command." He looked at his troopers and sighed. He crossed his hands across his chest and said." The Emperor Protects." The Guardsmen that could repeated the gesture, Kaci among them." The Emperor Protects."
'Those who are loyal to him.' The fox girl added to herself, any hope for a normal life, besides that of a guardswomen, was now in flames.
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A/N: Well that was my fastest update.