The Emperor's finest Chapter Eleven
M40 the world of Kheive Location unknown
Darkness surrounded him, pulling him into an a lightless abyss. How long had wavered here, between life and death he wondered, his mind a haze. As he hovered between life and death, he could hear faint sounds and fell something tugging at him, pulling him up from the abyss and back into the light.
Jeffrey's eyes slowly open, his mind coming to sense with what happened. Pain followed shortly there after as he noticed that he was wonded, a piece of shrapnel embedded in his stomach. He grunted as he untied his seatbelt and looked around to survey the damage. The indomitable was totaled, the last shot piercing it's own flank as it destroyed the last of greenskin deads. The interior smelled of blood and burnt steel and smoke filled the air.
As he struggled to get out of the tank he wondered what happened to the rest of the crew. He soon got his answer as he found their bodies one by one. They had all been slain in the explosion, both Hoel and Ladislo died by shrapnel cutting into their veins and likely bleed to death. Ivoand Ifa were vaporized by the explosion and only scraps of their fatigues were left. Guilt weighed him down as he considered what to do next. If only he had been faster, he thought, then maybe they would have made it as well.
Mourning would have to wait, as he would have to get put of the tank and attempt to fall back to imperial lines. He unholstered his las pistol and slowly climb out of the tank via the commanders hatch. He held his breath as he opened the hatch, not sure if some greenskin savages were waiting for him or not. To his immense relief, no one was around. The bodies of both guardsmen and Orks littered the streets. The towers they were fighting for had been destroyed and the sounds of fighting were distant. For the outside perspective it was a miracle that he made it out, the entire flank of the indomitable was chared black by the explosion.
He didn't feel particularly lucky though and with a deep sigh he dug up the remains of his fallen crew, ignoring the pain in his abdomen as he did so. Rainfall began to pour down, the weather echoing his downcast mood. His mind naturally tirned back to the vow he had made just before the explosion. "Is that reason why you spared me?" He thought bitterly. Rage and bitterness filled his heart, even though the crew annoyed at times they were still comrades and they deserved better than to die on some Emperor forsaken moon. He prayed over them as attempted to bury them as best he could.
With that done he walked back towards imperial lines, specifically the foward operating base within the city which was using a former civilian hospital as both a command center and military hospital. His footsteps became heavier and heavier as bloodlost and fatigue caught up to him. He saw the bright lights of a motor vehicle drive up the empty streets and stop in front of him. The guardsmen interrogated him, likely trying to ascertain if he was a deserter or not. He fought back the urge to scream at them and instead answered their asinine questions as best he could. Eventually his injuries caught up to him and he passed out again.
He woke up a few days later in the hospital, in a daze. He laid in bed, stewing in anger and
confusion before he heard a knock and turned to see an imperial guard officer walk in and they exchanged curt greetings. The officer cut straight to the point and debrief him on the situation, Jeffrey would be receiving a promotion to that of second lieutenant. Apparently they were so strapped for experienced crews and commanders that he was given the role.
The thought of him having to lead a new crew into this shithole sickened him. He cursed beneath his breath but kept his cool and accepted his orders. As soon as he recovered from his wounds then he would be sent back to imperial lines and would be given two weeks to whip some fresh faced recruits into a crew. Anger continued to build as he thought about it, but instead of raging he channeled it into a cold hate for the enemy, as well as the imperium for treating them like dogs. Anger turned to worry as he wkndered how in the world he would teach them when he barely had much experience himself.
"By the Emperor, you frakken prick" he thought to himself.