A/N: See first chapter for disclaimer. I want to say thank you to Thunder Chief for giving a thoughtful review and a couple of ideas that I might use in the future (Space Wolves of Canenid anyone?). I will also say that updating will be sporadic and the first five chapters were me suffering the effects of the writing bug, which I wish would bite more often. Also it's because I'm doing a bit of gaming, converting and painting figures, which can be seen on DeviantART under Commissar Danno.
Alright a warning about this chapter then. This chapter will feature an off camera rape followed by a description of a violent, very painful, but oh so worthy execution. I need you my reviewers and fans to tell me whether or not this will constitute a rating change to M, after reading the chapter. If not for the site admins cracking down on M rated stories I would have had it stayed in T.
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924969. M41. Ultima Segmentum- The Warp- The Holy Santo- Enroot to Space Fortress Holis
Kaci had found out that working with the Lord-Commissar was not as frightening as she thought it was going to be. She didn't have Danolov looking over her shoulder, scrutinizing every pen stroke and threatening to blow her brains across her desk because she misspelled a name. It was quite the opposite in reality, Kaci was a few meters away from his desk and he kept his head down to do paper work on his own. Most of what Danolov did was focusing on the sensitive aspect of his position, as in investigating any abnormal reports from troopers to make sure that they were not chaos pawns. Though right now on The Holy Santo there were only a thirteen commissars attached to the Vulpine contingent, Bracket was still in charge of over eighty different commissars in his section alone. So as it stood the reports he was getting was small when compared to what he would receive once he arrived on Hollis.
Most of the reports he was getting were standard daily's on how a particular regiment was faring, which after reading he would pass off to Kaci to be filed. Though there were other reports dealing with particular guardsmen that he had to read as well, if they made it to his desk it was either serious or thought to be serious. One of the less serious reports, he laughed aloud when reading." What's so funny sir?" Kaci asking after hearing a full half minute of chuckling from a man who was suppose to be one of the scariest people on the ship.
" Commissar Reath of the 6th is calling for an investigation into his regiment because they show signs of Chaos taint. He says the most visible aspect that the regiment is tainted is because of mass amounts of hair loss." Danolov looked up, a smile across his lips." Apparently he's never heard of shedding and is fresh out of the Schola." Kaci giggled, she as well as her people were just now shedding their winter coats. Having it been early winter when the Vulpine regiments were sworn in they had developed a layer of protective fur, a layer that after two months aboard The Holy Santo they were shedding from lack of use.
To the commissar that regiment may of seemed like the taint of Chaos was metamorphing them into Deamons, the ships cleaning crew for the shower pipes probably knew that they were deamons since they clogged the pipes." Sounds like a hairy situation sir." Kaci added the pun. Danolov and the guardswoman laughed a little more before he quieted down." I'm going to have to write to Reath and explaine to him some things about Zodiac physiology." He shook his head and went back to work, Kaci doing the same thing after he finished speaking.
/
It was so odd for Kaci, she had heard tales from the sisters of how Commissars were suppose to be exemplars of Imperial rule, dark figures to hold the line of battle when others would break. Not to be a laughing, good hearted and understanding person… and especially not a loving father to a half Zodiac son.
Since she started working for Bracket, Kaci had seen and talked to his son almost on a daily basis. Sometimes it was at shooting range where she and his father offered tips with las-guns and pistols. The boy was a fast learner and after a month of practice could now shoot regularly at the center three rings at twenty yards with his las-pistol. It was taking longer with the las-gun though because the rifle was nearly as big as he was, though if he steadied on a stand he could accurately shoot.
It wasn't just ranged combat that Kaci helped tutored Julius in. On occasion, at Brackets insistence, she would show the boy the basics of filing and paper work. Though Kaci, because of having to answer the endless 'Whys' and make sure Julius didn't ruin anything valuable, and Julius, because this was work and not shooting a las-pistol/gun, disliked the situation. They learned though to work through the problems.
She had also learned that his father was also his son's teacher, since it was impossible to get a permanent tutor for the boy. It wasn't that Danolov couldn't afford one, it was just that because of the dangers involved in both intergalactic travel and warzones was too much for a civilian tutor to handle. So he was his son's, math, history, religious and gothic instructor all rolled into one when he could find the time.
Kaci had once asked Danolov when he got back from a tutoring session with his son, why he didn't send the child to a boarding school on some far flung world far from any combat so he may return fully to his duties as a commissar. That was the first time she received the 'Stare'. This wasn't a understanding or kindly stare, this was a glaring stare that froze her back and made her fur stand on end." Julius, is my only child." He began, his voice cold and deep as a cracked glacier plate." I do not want to send him halfway across the galaxy, subject to predators of booth humanity and the xeno. Then receive an education at a boarding school with no bearing to protection from the influences of the warp and the attentions of his class mates. He maybe human, but he has the appearance Zodiac sector he will be no better off. My son stays with me till he decides what he wants in life."
Narabi didn't argue with Bracket, instead apologizing to him. At the apology he said." It's alright. Just… don't mention that again." He said in a softer tone. She didn't and they returned to their retinue.
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Up to now Kaci had thought that Bracket was more of a moderator then an actual commissar, he would take action when it was raised to his attention of certain situations going on in the regiments and non-violently take care of the problem. That was till this day, when a Death Korps trooper barged into Brackets office unannounced." Sir, your presence is requested immediately with the 8th Regiment." Kaci was stunned into silence, this was the first time she had ever seen a Kreigan barge into anywhere without letting his presence be known and without a formal gesture. Bracket was stunned as well, having served with Kreigans for five years now, but he was the first to recover." What has happened trooper?"
The trooper stood at attention, realizing his mistake." I'm sorry sir, I did not follow proper procedure. I realize my failing and seek to correct it." Bracket sat straight up." I can forgive this small infraction soldier. Now tell me the reason behind this intrusion." The Kriegan spoke." Sir, there has been a gang rape. 9 male Vulpines ganged up on their female squad mate. Trooper 356-875 heard it going on and stopped it, he did not kill any of the Vulpine's, sir, but they are under guard and have suffered broken bones and bayonet wounds. The female is in critical condition and is comatose. Commissar Totenkraft as me to request your presence immediately sir."
Kaci right hand covered her mouth when she heard of the gang rape and of its aftermath, at the same time Danolov picked up his phone to Death Korps command." Captain 174, I request a centaur to be taken to my office now. There is an emergency in 9th regiment that needs my immediate attention…. good, I'll be waiting outside then." He then put on his commissar cap and his great coat." Corporal Narabi, put on your helmet and ready your las-gun. We are leaving in 2 minutes."
"Sir yes sir." She said and grabbed her helmet and las-gun. At the same time Bracket belted his weapons belt across his waist, a bolt pistol and a power fist." Also your Primer, Guardswoman, never know when it will come in handy." Kaci did so, grabbing it from her knapsack before placing it into her cargo pocket on her right leg." Come along trooper, your getting a free ride back to the 9th." Bracket said to the runner." Yes sir."
Danolov walked out of his office and into the hall way and waited, his lackeys following behind. The centaur rumbled up to the office no more than two minutes later, this was a grenadier pattern centaur, not the artillery version. It was more heavily armored then the regular tractor and didn't have seating so the passengers had to hold onto the hand holds. Quickly the trio boarded the machine and it sped off. Kaci was surprised at the speed the machine had and was glad that this was an even metal surface rather than a battlefield, otherwise she may of have been flung out of the back if they hit a hole.
In a few scant minutes they reached the ninths barracks and directed to the motor pool where the attack happened. They could see two a crowd of vulpine soldiers gathered around a semi-circle of kriegers, who were in turn surrounding another group of kriegers, which were guarding the nine rapists. Danolov hopped off by the first Krieg line, there he was greeted by a kriegan lieutenant, Colonel Kollo of the ninth and two commissars. The first commissar was Totenkraft, the ninths assigned moral officer, the other was commissar Grend, The Holy Santo's commissar.
Danolov spoke in rapid fire." Colonel, I want you to clear the crowd out and seal off the motor pool." Then to the lieutenant." Good job in responding, you may returned to your men and continue guarding till I have need of you." The two officers did as told, leaving the three commissars to talk.
" Alright." Bracket crossed his arms, looking at the pair of commissars." I have the feeling that we may have a problem with jurisdiction." It was true, though a regimental commissar would have jurisdiction normally with his regiment on planet side, on an Imperial Navy vessel the very same regiment were subject to the rules aboard ship so a ship board commissar might have jurisdiction. It was a problem that cropped up sometimes and was more harmful then good. Judging by their reactions Danolov knew that there was a problem, so he sought to correct it." Commissar's Totenkraft and Grend, as highest ranking agent of the Imperium on this ship, the investigation shall be directly under me. You two will work together under me while investigating this crime against an Imperial Soul, is that understood?"
" Yes sir."," Understood sir." They said, Totenkraft being first followed by Grend a moment later." Good, now then which one of you was on scene first?" Totenkraft stepped forward." I was sir. I arrived as soon as I received a runner from a Krieg squad telling me what had happen. I rushed here with a squad of Vulpine guardsmen to find Lieutenant 87-355 rounding up the rapists." Bracket closed his eyes and took a deep breath, bracing himself.' Now comes to hard part.'
" Do you have details of the crime?" Totenkraft did and he explained how it took place. The victim was twenty five year old corporal Instre, under a quick an painful integration, which resulted in a completely broken hand of sergeant Fead, it was learned that he and the rest of the squad lured Instre into the motor pool under the premise to check up on their chimera. It was at the chimera where Instre's fellow guardsmen turned on her and started to rape her. It was during a brief lul in the rape that she was able to yell out for help. She was knocked un-conscious by a blow to the head, but not before trooper 356-875 had heard her call. When he arrived on scene a fight ensued between him and the other guardsmen. The fight was one sided all the way, one Death Korps trooper with over five years of drills and warfare, born to war, raised on a death world to die on a forgine battlefield, vs. nine conscript guardsmen who were cowards to lure a fellow trooper and take advantage of her. In a few brief moments all nine of the conscripts were beaten, bleeding and had broken limbs, while the kriegan only had to clean his bayonet.
As Totenkraft told of the events, Kaci excused had to swallow to keep her lunch down.
After firing off a few las-bolts, the trooper was able to have more guardsmen come and secure the area, only handing over control when the lieutenant arrived. Instre was wheeled away on a stretcher to the ships medical bay and the commissars followed by the rest of the ninth arrived….
" I got the picture." Danolov said, then he yelled over his shoulder at Colonel Kollo." Kollo, get two of your highest ranking officers and these men's lieutenant. You are to perform a court-martial now. I want this to be right and quickly. Is that understood!" He seemed to of barked that last word rather than yelled it. As the colonel scurried to do the lord-commissars bidding, he turned back to the two commissars." We don't have authority to execute guardsmen, unless in a warzone and when needed while they are committing the act… that doesn't mean we can't accept a 'request' from their commanding officer."
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Four hours later the nine rapists were led out to their execution posts by a full platoon of Death Korps. The entirety of the ninth regiment watching them as the reviled soldiers hands were chained above their heads. There faces were a mix, most showed fear, some acceptance, but Sergeant Fead's face was that of pure hatred, his eyes glaring at not only his regiment, but also the pic-casters broadcasting the execution throughout the ship to every other regiment and crew member who wasn't on duty.
Amongst the crowd of the ninth Kaci watched as her boss, Lord-Commissar Danolov Bracket stepped forward to address a microphone, his crony commissars flanking his sides." Men and women of the Imperial Guard, you are gathered here today to watch an execution." Danolov began, his voice deep and emotionless. He motioned behind him to the nine chained guardsmen." These men were once like you. They volunteered, they had pride and they wanted to serve the Emperor at one time. But that time is gone for them. Earlier today they lured a guardswoman, their fellow squad mate, to the ninths motor pool and proceeded to rape her." His voice harden to and icy edge." They are cowards for doing so, they have failed in their duty and let their lust control them, but most of all they are traitors. They have betrayed the trust their comrade had in them, the regiment that supported them, the home world where they were raised and The Holy Emperor who protects all his loyal children."
He took a moment for his speech to set in and surveyed the crowd. Rage and anger was creeping into their faces.' Good' He thought.' All the easier to control.' Danolov continued." Due to the actions of Trooper 356-875 their comrade was saved, though she is still unconscious and suffer from injuries that will affect her for years to come. For that action I'm putting the trooper up for a commendation." He pointed behind him at the prisoners." These men will never see a battlefield, that is another sin they have committed in their betrayal; they will not provide the Imperium of Man support for its armies when it is needed most. These men have been found guilty of rape, by your officers ,and I as well as Commissars Totenkraft and Grend have accepted the offer to perform the execution." He then took one more moment before saying." This is the fate of all traitors, know this and keep faith in the Emperor."
He turned away from the microphone and walked lockstep with the two other black coated executioners to ten paces in front of the posts. A guardsman broke down, his legs going slack, a puddle of piss gathering at his feet and his tail between his legs." Please don't, I-I didn't have a c-choice! It was Fead, he convinced me to do it. Please for the love of the Immortal Emperor don't do it!" Brackets responded by saying." Take aim." He raised a barrowed las-pistol, at the same time as Totenkraft and Grend did." Oh Emperor, I don't want to die." The guardsman was crying hard, his body and chains shaking with fear." Fire." Each commissar then fired three shots at their three targets, Danolov fired at the sobbing guardsman and at Fead. All three commissars missed the heads, instead their shots were between each of the rapists groins. They all howled in agony at the third degree burns they received to their gonads, even Fead was crying out in pain, his mask of hatred breaking.
Danolov let them wither in agony for a full minute letting nearly a hundred thousand guardsmen and women watch with horror the pain their fallen comrades were experiencing. He could imagine thousands of them crossing their legs and could hear groans of sympathy from the ninth." Take aim" He said at last, switching the power cell to full, satisfied that each of the rapists now wanted to die." Fire." This time the shots were between the heads and finally put the guardsmen down.
Danolov then turned to the Vulpine guardsmen, he didn't say anything but the message was clear.' This is the fate of all those who fail the Imperium. Do not fail the Empeor or face His justice.'