One couldn't think the planet to be infested from the bridge of The Pure, it looked just like any other of the thousands of planets Michael had visited.
Of course appearances were deceptive, every marine knew that by now. Michael had once seen a demon world that looked so innocent from a distance that had almost ordered them to leave, for no evil could live on such a place.
But evil was a weed, an infection hidden beneath a fine exterior, only visible once you'd burnt away the beauty and kindness covering it. Michael felt his shoulders stiffen at the memory, to cut away what you loved most, to burn it to cinders and let protests and begs fall to deaf ears...it was a strength you never had, but acquired. And then to see what you had loved for what it truly was...it seared away at the soul.
Forcing himself to relax he looked down at the datapad in his hands, tallying their works from the last days. "Three thousand rounds, eight canisters of flamer fuel and two ton of bombardment shells. An injured brother, a dead brother...and five recruits." He frowned, the numbers were anything but pleasing. "I am not happy with this, five recruits is not enough to make up for a lost brother and so much ammunition."
"We are not here for recruits brother captain." Librarian Ewain pointed out, turning Michael found the librarian bowing slightly where he stood, gaze downcast.
"Thank you for the information, most helpful." Michael snorted, scowling at the librarian. Then he turned to look at the helmsman. "Has there been any news of the barge? Is it close?"
"Still too far away to reach us with any message." The marine replied, curt. "As for any other vessels...none but a cobra class destroyer."
"Really?" Michael raised an eyebrow. "And why haven't I been informed of this sooner?"
The helmsman remained impassive. "I'm doing it now, the destroyer left a mere fifteen minutes ago."
"Elaborate."
"They arrived twenty minutes ago, did a standard hail of the planet, then contacted us once we came within their detection range. With you in decontamination I found myself forced to inform them of the situation, apparently no imperial vessel had received the planet's distress call and the destroyer was here on standard patrol."
"That's a surprise." Michael snorted, the imperial communication grid was like a sieve, not much information was actually caught. "So you told them about the infection and our mission to purge the filth?"
"Yes."
"Nothing else?"
"Of course not brother."
"Very well." Michael nodded, frowning at the holographic map between him and his council. "I suppose it cannot be helped, but with the imperial machinery informed of the situation the time before an inquisitor picks up on it will be short. We must work faster." He glanced up at the techmarine standing a little to the side. "Brother Fichus, have you been successful?"
"Yes brother captain." The techmarine made a gesture, the holographic map between Michael and his council instantly came online. First showing the planet in its whole, but then quickly zooming in towards a spot that Michael found oddly familiar. "The signal is arriving from here, point four-six-eighty two. "
Michael frowned. "That is familiar...didn't we find some survivors in that area?"
"That is correct captain, but they were on the surface, the signal is coming from underneath the city, approximately here." He pointed at a glowing dot in the holographic projection, what had to be a few feet underground in the middle of a bunch of corridors criss-crossing one another. "Connected to the city's sewer system."
"That sounds like bad security." Michael pointed out.
"Perhaps not brother captain." Ewain muttered, fingers playing with the staff in his hands. "Most avoid the sewers, and those that work there would not go where they are not needed. Perhaps the site was chosen by virtue of psychology?"
"That's ridiculous." Michael glowered, making the librarian take a step backwards. Coward... "None the less, if that's where the placed it we will take it back. The problem will be getting back...helmsman, send a message to that other marine detachment we have out, I want all marines aiding us on this one."
The helmsman nodded, a hand coming up to press against his helmet as he switched to the long range communication within it. Why he still put his hand against his ear Michael didn't know, nor care. "Yes captain, sending retrieval order..."
Michael turned to Ewain, the librarian grimacing as he no doubt realised what the captain wanted. "You will accompany us brother, with your powers we can keep a majority of the unclean away from our rendezvous point, I will of course put a squad of marines with you."
"I suppose I will accompany you?" Techmarine Fichus asked, voice neutral. "You might need my aid in opening any security gates."
"It would go faster...and safer...then blasting them open with plasma and explosives." Michael admitted with a nod. "Very well, arm yourself well brother and I'll see you in the hangar." A wolfish smile played upon his leathery features. "We will hit the place hard and fast, cleanse all in our path and seize the relic, and then the planet will be purged by our great barge..."
There was a grin in Fichus voice when he bowed. "As you order brother."
