NOTICE
1. The Bolter Pattern used in this chapter is by an artist and a piece depicting said Bolter can be found at a website called Deviant Art as the Perinetus-bolter by *MrRumbles
2. The music played during "The Symphony Of Battle" scene is the 1812 Overture Finale ( with cannons) by Tchaikovsky which I recommend you listen to at that point in the story.
Chapter V: The Scientist and The Symphony
We're standing in Lilith's laboratory and I cannot concentrate due to the place being filled with body parts. I eye the eccentric engineseer as she checks samples of my blood, spit, sweat, skin and even urine, which she says she's doing in the name of science. It feels tense standing right next to her since she has refused to answer my questions about her true identity and what it has to do with my past. No only that, but the disembodied eyeballs won't stop staring at me from their glass cylinders. The Magos Biologis examines my piss while explaining that it's her job to observe all aspects of physiology. I can understand duty, but does she have to have the testicle jar out in the open where everyone can see them?
Despite all that I'm still grateful for her payment. Lilith calls the weapon a Perinetus Pattern Bolt Carbine. I fear the colossal weight of the bolter as Lilith hands it over, but it is surprisingly tolerable. Lilith assures me that it won't be a encumbrance and that it was specially made for someone with my size. So, here I stand in Lilith's "House Of Organs", studying the large, exotic weapon within my grasp. And though I'm slightly distracted because I think I just saw one of the stomachs move in it's container, I still can't get the idea that my visions are memories off my mind.
It just doesn't make sense because my memory doesn't have any holes. I can recall everything from my childhood to now. Out of all those times I'm pretty sure I'd remember the horrors I faced in those dreams. While mulling this over I take a couple looks at short haired scientist who is loading "Lilithian" bolts into magazines for her gift to me. After much inner debate I accept that Lilith will tell me the truth when she's ready, and begin examining the elements of the bolt carbine. The long barrel suggests potential range, but the overall design is more compact, I assume, than standard patterns. From close observation I can heartily say that this bolter is going to kick some serious ass.
"You like it, don't you?" teases Lilith while handing me a duffel bag filled with ammo.
"It's big and shiny," I reply with a cheerful tone I normally only use with Spike. "But I'll have to test this baby out to make sure that it's reliable."
"I'm contented that you think so highly of it," states the tech-priestess with a grin. "If you would like, you could satisfy your eagerness at the-"
"Magos Lilith?" I hear a voice say from directly behind her.
The Psyker motions me to leave and slowly turns around. The bright light casting her silhouette on the floor tells me the voice came from a hologram transmitter. It must be the Locum Fabicator for a garbled metal grinding sound begins as I crouch and edge to the exit. I stand as I set foot in the steel corridor and jog a little ways till I reach my assigned quarters. Old Pepper II is placed in one of the horizontal lockers where she'll hopefully be found by Tech-priest willing to care for her.
Sleep is impossible now that I have a new toy to try out. To calm my nerves I take out some rations and take a couple bites. The stuff is what we stormies call "life jerky" because it looks and tastes like dried meat, but contains all the essential vitamins to keep us soldiers going. I begin pacing and within a quarter of an hour I'm taking a lift to the top floor. The engineseers in the Central Dogma ignore me as I make my way to a metal door hopefully leading to the roof.
I stop at the obstruction standing in my way of fresh air and stare at it's control panel for a moment. After pressing several wrong buttons I hear footsteps approach. The first thing I notice when I turn around is that the green-eyed woman isn't wearing her marble colored armor. Instead a raven black officers coat and trousers adorn her nimble frame. Porcia gives a scoff as I motion for her to access the terminal to the door.
Aboard another elevator we travel to the place I've been looking for. The roof maintains three landing zones, metal safety bars, and a great view of the surrounding district. I stroll to one of the edges and gaze down at the avenues crisscrossing the ground below. Porcia keeps her distance by leaning on the bars a meter away from me. Out of the corner of my eye I see her thoughtful expression as the wind flicks up her blond hair. It's only when I hear the buzzing of an antenna do I remember to pull out my handheld vox-caster.
"Apex Squad do you copy?" I say clearly into the device.
"Apex Squad reporting, over," replies a familiar voice to my relief.
"This is Trooper Normand, what is your status, over?" I ask with a sense of caution.
"We've been gaining ground ever since you left, over," replies Sergeant Clye through some static.
"Roger that, have there been any casualties, over?"
"Affirmative…It's Spike…he lost a leg to a rocket, but I think...I think he's going to make it" reports Sergeant Clye, sighing the whole time.
I stare out into the drafty night as I contemplate what Clye just told me. By accident I let my concern trickle into an expression. I don't look at Porcia but I know she saw it. My moment of weakness.
"Is he-" I start say lowly into the communicator, almost in a whisper.
"Yes, Normand I already told you SPIKE-WILL-MAKE-IT, so stay calm," comforts the Sarge with his usual vigor. "Now listen closely because this concerns you too, understand?"
"Yes sir!"
"Apex Squad is being reassigned to Edif-" begins Clye before the connection drops. I'm looking at the vox-caster out of confusion when the lights start shutting off.
"What's going on?" I utter as I look at Porcia.
"The Third Wave has arrived," Porcia declares without further explanation
I look down to the direction of strange sounds playing from down the street. My superior produces binoculars from her belt and hands them to me. I hesitate to take them until I realize she already knows what is about to happen. I focus the binoculars in time to see Basilisk Tanks, with their headlights glowing in the darkness, roll foward in a pyramid formation of three in the front, two in the middle and one in the back. In front of the artillery I spot numerous platoons of Steel Legionnaires, some of which are armed with flamers, being flanked by a couple of Hellhounds. The queer noises I hear are coming from a Chimera transport in the back. It's chases is mounted with six loudspeakers placed in the usual spots filled by lasgun turrets.
(The Symphony of Battle Scene)
Music, that's what I think it's called. I've only heard the sounds of music once before when Apex Squad was summoned by a Commissar for a personal briefing. I loved the strange system of creating feelings with sound so I studied the terminology on my down time. The tune builds as the Basilisk Tanks raise their cannons. I shift my vision to the east where the armored division is facing. A few kilometers away I see hundreds of orks and a fist full of looted Leman Russ Tanks approaching and gradually building speed. The valorous symphony reaches it's climax as pyre lights up the night sky.
An inferno engulfs the enemy to the notes of the music, reducing the war band to ashes. I wouldn't believe there was life there If hadn't see it only moments ago. While changing locations to get a closer look I catch on that Porcia has been smiling the whole time. The lenses of the binoculars focus to sight of Legionnaires and Hellhounds torching survivors while the inspiring composition continues. As the beige coated guardsmen advance to one of the tanks a hatch opens. Five green beasts armed to the teeth quickly funnel out and charge the nearest soldiers only to be halted by streams of fire and lasrifle shots. I take one last glance of Commissar Belken executing the last ork as the music dies away.
"Normand was it?" catechizes Porcia as I turn to her.
"Yes ma'am?" I ask, watching her eyes drift across all the fire-lit landscape.
" Please, enlighten me…," she pauses to the point where I follow her gaze to some burning corpses. "What keeps you going in this unforgiving universe?"
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Well, this is my first time orchestrating (no pun intended) a large battle and I'd love to see reviews of what you thought.
Also I have some ideas for the next that cannot be decided without some help.
Inquisitor Talonius will be arriving soon and he will be travelling with a Priest as his advisor. The Priest is named Father Ezekiel Luther and is abnormally kind to troops.
The two officials will either have a group Orgryns who affectionately call Father Luther "Pa" or a Platoon of Elite Inquisitorial Stormtroopers.
You may suggest one or the other in a review or private message me. Thanks!