Chapter VI:

Dead men walking

Republic of San Magnolia's Eastern Front, First Ward, June 13th SY 2148

Plumes of black smoke rose from the destroyed husks of Legion drones after the Imperial Guard repelled another enemy raid. They were getting bolder and pressed with their attacks, getting more frequent these few passing days.

Observing the battlefield on the edge of the abandoned town, Captain Parris pensively contemplated the scenery. The sun was starting to set, revealing its warm glow for an hour or two more. From down below his observation post, he could hear the moans and cries of the wounded being carried away by stretcher bearers to Chimeras designated to evacuate them to the stadium.

Once again, it was a successful operation with minimal casualties, Captain Parris was glad to have the Eighty-Six of Spearhead Squadron for their timely intervention. Their first line of defence almost fell to overwhelming numbers and now with the Legion deploying their own artillery and counter-artillery batteries, it was only a matter of time before their air support would contest with the Valkyries and Vultures of the Imperial Navy.

"Hydra to Undertaker, can you read me?" The vox-caster behind him blared to life.

He retrieved the handset and spoke loudly, "Undertaker to Hydra, loud and clear, over,"

"Hydra, patrol concluded, the enemy have retreated. We're RTB to Spearhead." Captain Nouzen reported flatly.

"Very well, Undertaker. Return safe and rest up, we'll handle it from here, over."

"Copy that. Undertaker, out."

Spearhead Squadron hasn't lost a member that day which he was hopeful for. But the situation on the ground was starting to wear on the men. They wanted to take the fight to the enemy and not staying within the town where they could be easily wiped out by a massive artillery barrage. He shared these fears, but Colonel Frazyer was adamant that the regiment would stay on the defensive and await the general's orders.

He spun around and gazed upon the enormous white walls of the Gran Mur far over the horizon. A massive fortification of steel and concrete, the Gran Mur is itself a series of similar fortifications with artillery cannons, automated machine gun turrets and anti-air guns that acted as the Republic's last line of defence. Sinisterly, it also acted as a deterrent against dissent and rebellion from the Eighty-Six, with its series of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, jagged trench lines filled with spikes, rows of barbed wires and tank traps. Even if the Eighty-Six somehow united and started an armed revolt against the Republic, reaching the Gran Mur would only spell their quick demise.

The Gran Mur was a symbol of the Republic's isolationism and cowardice towards the war and against the very people that have built it, the Eighty-Six.

Last time Parris was in a meeting with the general and the other officers of the battlegroup, there were talks of bringing down the wall and force the Alba to fight their war.

He wished that day would come soon.

Marshal Arnem quietly watched over the rows of Korpsmen from Eighth, Nineth and Eleventh Companies embarking on their transports. These Krieg guardsmen would be deployed to the edge of town and start digging out their first line of defence. Trench lines, heavy weapons emplacements, tank traps and Accordion wires along with Heavy Mortars in the back lines. General Farestein estimated that with this large body of activity set outside the town, it would draw out the Legion and pull their focus on them. While that would happen, the faster elements like Spearhead or the Kasrkins of First Company would push one flank and eliminate the Legion's artillery batteries while on the other flank, the Cadian's Fifteenth Armoured Company would pour out and crush the main force with their platoons of Leman Russ battle tanks.

The Imperial Guard received actionable intel from Spearhead's field commanding officer, Captain Nouzen, that the Legion will deploy much larger raiding parties and probing actions, testing their defensive capabilities before launching an all-out, large-scale offensive on the Republic of San Magnolia.

Where he received such intel, the general didn't bother to ask, Nouzen's intel were always accurate and faster than their own early warning system. It was like he could sense the enemy coming before they could see them.

With the help of their techpriests, the enginseers of the Adeptus Mechanicus succeeded in implementing the small portable vox-casters found in the Kasrkins' left wrist armour and ported the device into the Juggernaut, allowing the Eighty-Six pilots to finally communicate with friendly forces, although only at short ranges. Still, it was a much-needed improvement for the upcoming battles that awaited the strange alliance. Only time would tell if they could finally best the Legion and launch their own counter-attack.


June 15th, SY 2148

"Undertaker to Spartan 1, come in," Captain Nouzen hailed through Trooper Gelt's vox-caster.

"This is Spartan 1, we receive you," He answered plainly.

"Be advised, Spartan 1, I've relocated Gunslinger's position to higher ground, location: four hundred meters to your North-East. She'll act as bait but it should give your men enough breathing space to close in and wipe out the Löwe,"

Holmes took the handset, "Spartan 1, noted. We'll support Gunslinger, if need be, over and out."

The Kasrkins were posted on a dirt mound covered by tall pine trees. First Company was scattered about in squads to avoid being a large target for enemy artillery strikes. As their backup, the Krieg Grenadiers and Heavy Weapons Squads were able to provide mortar support and additional firepower with their Storm Chimeras.

As per their battle plan, Spearhead Squadron and the QRF were deployed along the right flank, far from the centre. They will strike once the Legion exposes its flanks to press more numbers into the centre where a whole battalion of Krieg guardsmen provoked the enemy vanguard. Finally, the Leman Russ tanks of the Fifteenth Armoured Company were posted along the left flank, ready to provide heavy fire support if need be.

"All units, all units, this is Colonel Frazyer. Be advised: enemy troop movements have been detected; the centre has managed to gather their attention. Prepare to attack. The Emperor protects!"

"Here they come," Gunther announced as they felt the ground shake beneath them.

As predicted, the Legion deployed its heavier and hard-hitting units to the flanks to overwhelm the centre line and support the main force of Ameise and Grauwolf. The stormtroopers waited for Nouzen's signal, for his squadron to fire the first shot.

The first shot rang from Gunslinger's cannon and all hell broke loose. Springing out of their cover, Spearhead Squadron rushed forward, quickly dispatching the unaware platoons of Scout and Dragoon types. The Imperial Guard forces replied as well, wiping out a whole platoon and Ameise and taking out a platoon of Löwe.

The strikes were surgical and deadly effective. The Legion drones stood no chance from the surprise attack, quickly losing control of their flank. Taking advantage of their success, the combined forces pushed forward, meeting the enemy at close range and prioritising their fire on the Löwe.

Thanks to Spearhead's Sixth platoon relocation, the Juggernauts were able to cover fire a wide area and with the Löwe's poor gun elevation, they were relatively safe. They attracted the ire of the lighter drones but by the time they reached Gunslinger's platoon, they were already cut down by the Imperial Guard and Shin's platoon.

"They're halting their advance. Push forwards!" Holmes ordered, vaulting over his cover, "Gelt, order the Grenadiers to push as well. They'll reinforce our right flank and push down from there."

"Sir!"

The Kasrkins sprinted across the grassy plains. The world around them was showered with machine gun fire and salvos of cannons. Streams of lasfire ripped through the battlefield, easily perforating the Scout drone's armour. Hekler hefted her prized plasma gun, laying down burst of plasma fire onto the enemy with precision and steely determination.

"Boss! Your left!" Pavlo warned.

Holmes spotted at the last second an Ameise that was charging at him. He barely dodged it, turning around and poured intense heat from his hot-shot laspistol into the drone's rear armour, igniting its small ammunition compartment. The machine gun rounds cooked and detonated, rippling through the drone from the inside, with a few flying out of its carcass.

Holmes' head jerked to the side as a round hit the side of his helmet. He merely shook off his daze and returned to his duty, "Up that mound and keep fighting!" He ordered sternly, slightly annoyed by the flying ricochet.

As they assaulted the next mound of woodland, he noticed to their left was a lone Löwe standing in the middle of a marshland. Finding it odd, he directed his squad to destroy it. It was at that moment he heard the engine roars of a Juggernaut. He turned towards the sound and was surprised to see a lone Juggernaut trying to sneak up on the Löwe. He shifted his gaze back on the tank, noticing its turret gun slowly swivelling towards the lone Juggernaut.

"Damn it, it's an ambush! Move towards the Juggernaut, they're going to get stuck over there!"

"Not that way, Kirschblüte!"

"Ah! What? Wetlands? Here?"

"I can't move… no…"

"Double time! Move it!"

"I don't want to die…"


Korpsman KT-800063-P, or nicknamed Pajk, silently stared at the little girl his squad and the Cadian Kasrkins rescued from a surprise Legion attack. One of the Kasrkins, a combat medic, nursed the young pilot's wounds, applying a sterile gauze around her left thigh. A stray round has struck her during their exfiltration, but from the looks of it, she'll survive.

Kaie was still shaken from the ordeal. Were it not for the Cadians' timely intervention, she would've died and turned into a Black Sheep, she was certain of that. For once in her life, she felt absolute fear and relief at the same time. The emotions still fresh, she started to choke out before sobbing quietly. She felt a warm hand on her back, rubbing up and down to console her.

Pajk's head tilted to the side, quizzical and fascinated by the Kasrkins show of affection towards the small girl. He ignored their relationship or what they meant to each other, yet a part of him wanted to console her as well. He didn't have much of a life himself. His eighteen years of living were spent in the underground bunkers of Krieg, sent to the gruelling training of the Death Korps before earning the title and quickly being shipped off to Armageddon.

Showing or knowing affection was all too foreign to him. He had witnessed from time to time during his post at a Hive city in Armageddon, where refugees would console their young ones from the sounds of cannons and Ork flyers.

Kaie wiped the tears away and looked around her, eyes perking up at the men and women that saved her life. Then one of the gasmasks wearing soldiers was staring straight at her. She suddenly felt self-conscient and looked away, hiding her puffed cheeks and bloodshot eyes under her arms.

"It's not polite to stare at someone, guardsman," Holmes quietly told Pajk.

"My apologies, sir," Pajk responded almost autonomously.

Flight Lieutenant Jenniah turned her head to the rear compartment, her red eyes searching for Holmes, "Holmes, we're dropping her to Sturnn?"

"Yes, we'll unload the wounded and the pilot then we're going back to the frontline with Spearhead." Holmes explained straightforwardly. Jenniah replied with a thumbs up. The Kasrkin officer turned back to the Kriegsmen aboard the Valkyrie. "We'll make this quick. Once the wounded are off, restock on power packs if need be and regroup to this Valk in ten minutes. Clear?"

"Clear, sir!" They replied dutifully.

"And remember, once we're back on the frontline, it is going to be a hot landing. Stay alert and open fire at anything not human." Pavlo added loudly over the hums of the aircraft's engines.


Death Korps Marshal Arnem silently observed the raging battlefield with his binoculars, his only form of protection being the waist high sandbag wall of the observation post. His Korpsmen held their trench lines, pouring down en-masse lasfire and bolter and heavy stubber rounds. The Cadians on the flanks made quick work of the Legion, slowly but surely surrounding the main force. However, their artillery guns weren't silenced and were starting to zero in on key heavy weapons emplacements.

Another barrage of enemy artillery shells impacted on the trenches. Tall shrouds of dirt and mangled corpses shot out of the earth. A Heavy Bolter team was destroyed in the barrage with a dozen of infantrymen with them. The Basilisks behind him responded in kind, their Earthshaker cannons thundered mightily, easily drowning the firefight for a second.

Husks of Ameise and Grauwolf flew into the air, the shell craters created natural tank traps for the Löwe, forcing the heavy behemoths to clumsily manoeuvre around the smoking craters.

"Herr, Marshal," A Krieg vox operator hailed him calmly from behind. Arnem fully faced him and nodded in response. "Kasrkin elements have spotted the enemy artillery guns at these two coordinates," The soldier explained by pointing out the locations the Cadian stormtroopers relayed to him.

Arnem nodded, satisfied with the work of the Cadians, "Send in the Death Riders."

Kasrkin squad Gorgon 8 of Third platoon, First Company, were taking effective enemy fire. After relaying their coordinates to the Death Korps vox network, they were swiftly spotted by a cluster of butterfly-like drones that just happen to circle overhead. Not only did these small drones relayed their findings to the nearest Legion units, but they also jammed all vox comms within the squad, cutting them off from any friendly unit.

Ameise drones aggressively pushed up the hill, taking casualties without flinching. The Kasrkins laid down superior lasfire and melta streams of destruction. Spread out to a firing line, the only covers the guardsmen have were large rocks and thick trees.

"Annihilate them all, men! Take them all to the Warp!" The squad leader, Master Sergeant Ekhter, bellowed roughly, his shaved head exposed to the battlefield.

"Krak out!" A trooper shouted before hurling the hand grenade down the hill, blasting away a Grauwolf on impact.

Quickly becoming a nuisance, one of the Skorpions, a long-range gunner type, shifted its long 155mm howitzer cannon at the pesky human squad. Its roar shook the ground as the artillery shell soared out, hitting the side of the hill. Though the explosion didn't wipe out the squad, the blast was powerful enough to suppress them, sending two of them down the hill.

Ekhter shook off the dizziness from the shockwave and quickly recovered, his power sword activated and hot-shot laspistol already spewing out concentrated beams of lasfire. He eliminated two Ameise before deftly dodging a sweeping strike from a third Scout-type. He riposted by slashing one of its front legs, destabilizing the large opponent. Without skipping a beat, he thrusted the disruptive energy filled blade through the side armour. The sword pierced the armour as easily as it pierced flesh. He twisted the blade and drove it across the side armour for maximum damage.

The Ameise dropped helplessly on the ground, sparks shot out of the long gaping wound caused by the power sword. The Master Sergeant looked around for the Kasrkin that was thrown into the air with him. A few dozen metres further down the hill, the other stormtrooper was desperately gunning down the incoming wave of Ameise and Grauwolf, taking the brunt of their machine guns with the carapace armour. Suddenly, a Grauwolf leapt forward, its large high-frequency blades drove through the man with gore and blood jutting out of the wounds.

The Kasrkin defiantly grabbed a krak hand grenade, pulled the pin and threw it on top of the drone. "Eat lead, you fragging parasite!"

The grenade punched through the Grauwolf's central processor, instantly destroying the unit. Ekhter didn't have the time to recover that man's dog tags as more and more drones charged at him, pinning him down in a shell crater while the rest of his squad tried to push down to rescue him.

"Watch your fire! Friendlies inbound!" He heard one of his men shout in alarm.

Even through the cacophony of the firefight, the Kasrkin was still able to distinguish the distinct heavy gallops of a special breed of creatures. The genetically modified war horses of Krieg's Death Riders. Through flying bullets and plummeting artillery shells, a 40-man platoon of the famed Death Riders formed a wedge to maximise their charge potential. The wedge formation was a favoured tactic in the cavalry to breakthrough an enemy infantry formation with shock, awe and violence.

With their hunting lances pointed towards their targets, the Krieg cavalrymen charged relentlessly. Their gleaming cuirass, more decorative than offering any real protection, blinded the Legion. Curiously, the Legion didn't open fire, they too were as shocked and surprised as the Kasrkins, witnessing a glorious and magnificent sight of cold determination, intrepid courage and human perseverance.

Not expecting a charge, even less so fighting them in melee, the Legion drones halted their assault in confusion, their central processors haven't considered such archaic tactics. Though it lasted a few seconds, it was ample of time for the Death Riders to meet the enemy head on. Their hunting lances were tipped with melta grenades, where upon impact with their target, the grenade would release it deadly blast into the enemy. The lances ripped through the Ameise and Grauwolf with ease, each fallen with a sizeable wound and molten metal draining out.

With the initial charge a success, the faceless Death Riders switched to their power sabres and continued their onslaught, meeting the enemy in brutal melee. Their genetically enhanced horses were truly closer to a monstrous beast rather than being a relative to the horse. It was taller, larger, sturdier and hairless thanks to the combat drugs and chemicals that were being pumped into their blood streams. Like their riders, they wore gloomy gasmasks and had very short lifespans. Yet, it didn't stop these impressive beasts to aggressively attack their targets, clawing and stomping them with their sharpened claws.

The Death Riders were taking casualties after the Legion have recovered from the shock, gunning them down and cleaving through their ranks. The Kriegers didn't retreat, nor did they stop their assault, they continued unflinchingly, buying time for the heavy cavalry to arrive.

"Haha! The tanks are here!" A Kasrkin exclaimed with glee.

"Run you bastards! Face the hammer of the Imperium!"

The Löwe that covered the Skorpion were quickly silenced by the mighty thunderous booms of the Leman Russ battle tanks. Rolling over the hill, the Leman Russ tank squadron spread out and let loose their massive array of weaponry; from the battle cannon to the Exterminator autocannons and Punisher Gatling cannon to the lascannons and heavy bolter side sponsons. The Leman Russ main battle tank was the Imperial Guard's wrath made manifest, with a whole spectrum of variants to cater to different types of missions or to counter a type of enemy, the venerable Leman Russ was a morale booster for the ground troops and the bane of its enemy. Just like the average guardsman, the Leman Russ was also deployed in large numbers, their thick front armours made them the perfect tools for a full-frontal assault or a breakthrough, crushing any enemy line with shocking efficiency.

Desperate, the lightly armoured drones retreated to the Skorpion to defend their artillery guns with their husks. It just made the tanks' job easier, pouring all their firepower into the concentration of Legion drones. The Skorpion guns were silenced in mere seconds.

Sensing the lost of their artillery batteries and with the human force at the centre charging forward, the Legion initiated a total withdrawal, managing to recover only a fraction of their dead. The Death Rider platoon, despite taking a fifty percent casualty rate, didn't pause to regroup. They continued to hunt down the remaining drones until they reached a pre-determined perimeter. The Basilisks from the rear rained down their Earthshaker rounds on the retreating enemy force.

About half an hour later, Marshal Arnem finally called a ceasefire, satisfied that the Legion was out of their hair.

"General Farestein," Arnem hailed through the Master Vox of the headquarters, "It is my duty to report that the enemy has been successfully repelled."

"Copy that, Marshal… uh, stay on alert but do not pursue the enemy. The Emperor smiles upon you once again. Good work and take some rest. Understood?"

It was clear in the general's voice that the "rest" was more of an order than a suggestion. Reluctantly, Marshal Arnem obeyed his command and will issue out the order once they've retrieved the dead and wounded in the field. He placed down the handset and turned to the smoking and desolate battlefield. The once beautiful and harmonious grassy plains, prairies and forests of the countryside was ruined and stained with mangled corpses, burning husks and carcasses and smoking shell craters.

From his estimation, the Guard may have lost between two hundred to four hundred men. It was, so far, the largest Legion attack they have faced, but he had a dreadful feeling that it wouldn't the last one nor was it the largest the Legion could pull off. Maybe it was experience or his innate instinct, but the Legion will launch a full-on invasion with overwhelming numbers and firepower, matching the Imperial Guard's own force and maybe more. If that happened, he and his regiment would gladly die in defence of this world, he would finally atone for the sins of his ancestors for daring to betray the Imperium of Man and turning their backs on the God-Emperor of Mankind. It was the only way to redemption for the men and women of the Death Korps…

In life, war. In death, peace. In life, shame. In death, atonement.

Such is the mantra and raison d'être of the Korps. They were the sons and daughters that would be sacrificed to the Imperium's toughest battles, where sheer attrition and prolonged sieges was their natural habitat. The battlefield is where they truly belong.

Just like the Eighty-Six.


From her command screens, Lena stared hopelessly at Kirschblüte's name being blacked out, the large and bold red destroyed status replacing her name. Her stomach fell into a pit, her heart almost ceasing to beat. If only she was faster, if only she studied the map more. Her moment of laxity caused another death among the veterans of Spearhead, and it was because of a simple and recruit mistake… her mistake, her fault.

Lena lowered her head, her voice wavering as she announced the end of the battle, "Enemy eliminated, mission complete. You all did very well…" She took in a deep breath and exhaled heavily, "I'm so sorry about Kirschblüte… I-if only I've found the maps sooner… if only I did a better job! I'm so sorry…" Major Milizé lamented, her usual silver bell voice on the verge of cracking.

"Sorry?" Came the blunt response of Laughing Fox, as if annoyed by her pity apology. "What are you sorry for?" Lena raised her head in shock. His voice increased in aggression and hatred, "From where you're sitting, a dead Eighty-Six or two is nothing to worry about, right? Something that might slip your mind by the time you make it home for dinner,"

"See, we don't have much to do here, so most of the time we can play along with your little act. I don't discriminate like those other people do. I've never once thought of you as pigs…" Laughing Fox distastefully imitated her, with each sentence piercing her with a venomous blade, "But not now, not after we just lost another of our comrades. I need you to understand that right now we don't have the time to deal with your hypocritical bullshit!"

"It's not-"

"So what? Did you expect that we wouldn't care once we lost one of our own? Yeah, maybe you're right. We're not a high minded, idealistic Alba like you! We're nothing but sub-human pigs!"

Lena shook her head in protest, "N-no you're wrong! I've never thought-"

"I'm wrong?! Tell me how I'm wrong! You throw us out here on the battlefield like we're weapons to be used until we break! All while watching from your warm and safe place inside the walls! All while acting like everything's all right in the world as we fight and bleed and die! If that's not treating us like pigs, then tell me what is! You're so proud of not calling us Eighty-Six but you're leaving it unsaid. Do you think we're out here fighting because we wanna be?! That we chose this?! You locked us out here! You forced us to fight! You caused the deaths of millions for the last nine years and you've done nothing to stop it!"

"Do you think that if you act nice and talk to us everyday that it is some kind of substitute for treating us as human?! You didn't care enough to ask us for our real names! It didn't even cross your goddamn mind!"

That last statement broke her. Fully realizing the effect and impact of her selfish act, she was no better than any Alba, she was just as discriminate and uncaring as any Handler they've fought under, she just mascaraed it with her candid sense of justice and equality. She failed the very basics and decency of establishing a trusting relationship based on respect: asking another fellow human's name.

Lena couldn't take it, her breaths became short and laboured, tears of guilt fell down her porcelain white skin. She wasn't like the Eighty-Six, she was just another ignorant, selfish, dirty white pig.

Theo breathed through his grinding teeth, he finally released all of the pent up anger he had since the new Handler took command. He couldn't take it anymore. How can this white pig princess dare to call herself just when she didn't even consider asking for their names. Even a space faring civilization like the goddamn Imperial Guard had the decency to respect them as human beings. The Cadians have never once mistreated them, nor did they looked down on them for being an Eighty-Six. They were merely shocked to seeing child soldiers, but they were willing to sacrifice their own men to help and rescue one of them. They made a difference in their survival and on the battlefield, not her, not that white bit-

"Theo…"

"Shut up, Raiden!" Theo snapped at him furiously, "This white pig doesn't deserve your help!"

"Theo." Raiden insisted sternly.

Theo realized his mistake and bit his tongue, "Understood…" He sighed regretfully.

While Raiden talked over to Handler One, the rest of the Spearhead Squadron either mourned in silence or stifled their pent-up rage, not in the mood to chat with anyone. Their Juggernauts remained still, waiting for Shin's orders.

Meanwhile, they idly witnessed the Imperial Guardsmen starting to evacuate their dead and wounded. Their Chimera armoured personnel carriers were packed with their corpses and crying wounded, some Valkyries were required to help extract the critical wounded. But for those that were unrecognizable or too mangled were unceremoniously piled up before a team armed with flamethrowers set the corpses ablaze.

Shin stood in front of Kaie's Juggernaut, his 9mm handgun unholstered. He inspected the heavily damaged Juggernaut. He was surprised to see no sign of blood or a body part. He hoped that she was killed by the hull's crush. He observed the battlefield around the Juggernaut. There were heaps of destroyed Legion scattered around the wetland, each were riddled with smoking lasfire holes or were destroyed by powerful plasma weapons. He also found among the husks, corpses of the Kriegers, as the Cadians call the faceless and silent gasmask wearing soldiers. There were about five or seven corpses, each filled with blood filled bullet wounds or third degree burns on their bodies caused by an exploded Chimera.

He stood over one of the corpses, examining for any Legion attempt of collecting their brains. Finding none, he was about to pull a trigger into the head when he noticed a group of Death Korps soldiers arriving in the wetland. The masked soldiers had their lasguns slung over their shoulders as they marched with purpose towards the downed Juggernaut.

A Centaur armoured transport vehicle rolled slowly behind them, transporting the dead. The soldiers wordlessly started to pick up the corpses of their fallen comrades, retrieving the weapons and backpacks. Any useful equipment that could be retrieved was immediately taken before they ungracefully threw the dead body into the Centaur.

One of the soldiers stopped in front of him, his black, void-like lenses staring straight into him before slightly shifted his gaze down at his handgun. Shin couldn't tell why, but despite the gasmask obscuring his face, he felt an odd familiarity with this particular soldier, as if they crossed paths one day. He then noticed the faded serial number written on the soldier's right shoulder pad: 800063-P.

"Have we already met, trooper?" Shin asked with a raised eyebrow.

The Krieger nodded quietly before speaking up in a stoic voice, "We did, sir. A few days ago, when one of your pilots died," He reminded him flatly.

Shin nodded in acknowledgment, remembering the act the soldier has done to end Tohzan's suffering. He didn't want to admit it, but he was appreciative of the soldier. He did his duty without hesitation nor asking for permission; he saw a severely wounded soldier and put him to rest by ending his pain. He respected that.

"I appreciate for what you've done for him. Thank you, sincerely," Shin stated honestly.

"There's no need for thanking me, sir," The Krieger replied modestly, "I just did what the Emperor intended us to do; to die fighting,"

"Have… have you seen the pilot of this Juggernaut?" Shin pointed at Kirschblüte.

"Yes sir," The Krieger replied bluntly, "My squad and the Kasrkins rescued her when she was shot down. She was evacuated to the field medicae at FOB Sturnn," He reported dutifully.

"She's still alive?" Shin asked out loud, not really directed to the soldier.

"I don't know, sir. But the last time I saw her, she was taken to the medics already bandaged up,"

Shin fell silent, disbelieving the Krieger's statement. Did they really manage to recover her before she was executed by a Legion drone? He needed to verify with Lieutenant Holmes and if possible, take her back to their base.

"Thank you, trooper," He said sincerely, "Tell me, what is your name?"

"My designation is KT-800063-P, but my issued name is Pajk," Trooper Pajk replied monotonously, as if reciting a prompt.

"Issued names? Something like a Name Bearer like us?" Shin wondered curiously. "I'll try to remember your name. Until we meet again, Pajk," he said as he turned to Undertaker.

Pajk mutely watched the young teenager get back into the Juggernaut and head off to his base. He stared at the retreating war machine for a few more seconds, the captain's words stuck in a loop in his head.

"There won't be a next time, sir…" He said to the wind.

He didn't have the luxury or privilege to live that long. He needed to atone for his forefathers' sins. He was already dead, a mere, nameless corpse among an ocean of other dead men, that was still searching for the final resting place and a ticket to redemption.


The Valkyrie landed gently on Spearhead Squadron's airstrip. The rear compartment ramp slowly dropped, the Kasrkin squad disembarked and automatically headed for their barracks to unload and clean up their equipment. Lieutenant Holmes was the last one out. Upon stepping out of the ramp, he unclipped his carapace helmet and took it off, letting the warm breeze cool off his sweat and grime filled face. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Today's battle was tougher than usual, two of his men were injured and he was informed that about fourteen Kasrkins of First Company were killed in action.

The Legion was getting bolder and fiercer, if they didn't launch a counter-offensive soon, he was certain that the country they are defending would fall.

"Holmes!" He heard the flight lieutenant call to him.

Jenniah, their Valkyrie's pilot, was a native of the Mobian Domain, born on the lustrous and exotic world of Pavane. She was a tall, tan skinned woman, as tall as Holmes. She had bright crimson eyes that matched her warm smile and short auburn hair. She was attached to the 501st after their intervention on Atoma Prime. Her piloting skills caught the eyes of both Captain Parris and Admiral Ravenkin and they requested for her transfer from the mysterious Inquisitor Grendyl. It was also during that campaign that she met Holmes and the Spartan squad. Her daring and sometimes reckless piloting manoeuvres and her likeness for dangerous missions earned the respect and affection of the Kasrkins.

She and Holmes also started their secretive intimate relationship shortly after their meeting, their opposite personalities attracting each other. Though he doesn't show it, Holmes goes completely soft whenever they were alone, even if those moments were rare, they somehow managed to hold their relationship strong.

She stood beside him, hands on her hips while she stared at the setting sun. "Heh, it's a beautiful sight but not as amazing as on Pavane," She commented casually with a shrug.

"It's certainly not as beautiful as you, love," Holmes nonchalantly corrected her.

Jenniah turned her mildly surprised head towards her partner, "Did… did you just give a try at flirting, Cadian?"

"I can stop if you want," He responded flatly with deadpan eyes.

"Please don't," She quickly begged, "Wouldn't want to miss that for anything in this galaxy… or even in this life,"

Holmes chuckled lightly, staring gently back at her, "Maybe we'll have a more peaceful life after this one,"

"Yeah, I'm not too sure in that," Jenniah replied bluntly.

"Just trying to be idealistic,"

"I know, but I prefer you being realistic, darling,"

"Alright, then we'll surely be dead in the next world,"

"…"

"What?" Holmes asked as Jenniah gazed at him with bland eyes.

She chuckled dryly and walked back into her Valkyrie, "Thanks for ruining the mood, I was about to give you a kiss of encouragement, but you just lost that privilege,"

"Wait? No, come back!" Holmes cried playfully, earning the middle finger from her. He shook his head and was about to follow her in the aircraft when he heard someone call his name.

Internally cursing himself, he turned around looking for the owner of the voice. He spotted Captain Nouzen walking towards him. He met him halfway, saluting respectfully, "Captain?"

"Lieutenant Holmes, I've been told that Kaie has been rescued by your squad,"

"That is correct, Nouzen. She has sustained several injuries, and we sent her to our medicae back at the FOB. Why?"

"How long do we need to wait before we can have her back?" Shin asked straightforwardly.

Holmes thought pensively, considering the girl's injuries and time of recovery, "I think in a day or two she would be off the hook. I think she just has a gunshot wound on the leg and a couple of sharpnel cuts," He answered frankly.

Shin's face visibly relaxed, relieved by the hopeful news, "I… I want to personally thank you and your men on my squadron's behalf. They have taken her lost quite badly,"

"Understandable, captain. If you want, I can personally fetch her for you first thing in the morning," The lieutenant proposed sympathetically.

"I would like that, lieutenant, thank you,"

"Don't mention it, Nouzen. Your squadron has done extremely well out there, you saved a lot of lives," Holmes responded humbly, "I would also like to extend my thanks to Major Milizé, that young girl performed quite well in the heat of battle. She must be an excellent commander,"

"I'll tell her, lieutenant," Shin assured plainly and made his way back to the squadron's hangar, where he would deliver the good news.

The Eighty-Six were gathered at the hangar with their Juggernauts, their faces covered in grime and sweat. The air was tense as their morale soured with today's battle. It has been particularly intense and violent for everyone. They haven't encountered a Legion force this large before, but they knew that it wouldn't be the last and instead it'll be the norm for now on.

Lecca was consoling a saddened Mikuri in her arms with Myna offering her canteen of water. Kurena stayed in her seat in the Juggernaut, arms crossed over her chest as she glared at the command sticks, her anger directed to a certain Handler rather than her own war machine. Theo sat beside Laughing Fox, staring at the ground dejectedly and tiredly. Raiden patiently waited for Shin at the entrance of the hangar.

"Want a word with them?" He asked quietly. Shin nodded firmly. "All right, guys! Gather around!" He instructed clearly, prompting everyone to assemble loosely around them.

Shin glanced at each member of Spearhead, gauging their current emotions. He chose his next words carefully; he didn't want to repeat himself and spur them into a hasty reaction.

"I just talked with Lieutenant Holmes. His squad was present when Kirschblüte was taken out…" He paused for a moment. He wanted to be sure that they were all listening to him attentively, "Kaie's not dead. She's currently in the care of the Cadians back at their base. Latest news suggest that she would make speedy recovery and will surely return tomorrow or the day after."

Everyone's eyes widened with shock. They couldn't believe their ears, did Kaie really survived? Their shock was soon replaced with joy, hope and relief. Mikuri, Myna and Lecca cried in each other's arms, glad to hear that their friend was still alive. Anju spontaneously hugged Daiya, causing discomfort as he awkwardly hugged her back, his face turning fifty shades of red. While everyone celebrated, only Theo remained in shock. He soon realized that he threw the blame and viciously ranted towards the Major for no reason.

He groaned exasperatedly, feeling regret and guilt. He regretted his harsh behaviour and for sullying Kaie's honour. Even if she was killed, she wouldn't have liked the way he berated the Major in her stead. He knows he needed to confront Handler One about this sooner or later and he will receive a stern scolding from Kaie.

"With that said," Shin continued plainly through the cheering, "I want everyone present to apologize to the Major when we'll talk to her. She didn't deserve all the hate you threw at her. You all should've held your reservations about her and her being an Alba. For once she provided us with reliable intel and willing to stick her neck out for us," He reprimanded them stoically. "We all have our opinions on the Alba hiding behind the Gran Mur but remember she's one of the few decent people in the Republic. You should at least appreciate that."

They fell silent, some felt ashamed while others were indifferent to the situation, refusing to apologize to some white pig that acted like a princess.

"Return to your duties. Rest up and grab some chow. Dismissed." He ordered bluntly.

Theo exhaled heavily. He knew he would be in Raiden's and Shin's radar on that regard. It doesn't matter to him anymore, he needed to make amends even if he meant every word that he said to the Major. He headed straight for the barracks, wanting to sleep and mentally prepare himself for the next discussion with their Handler.


Forward Operating Base Sturnn, Republic of San Magnolia's Eastern Front, First Ward

Kaie opened her eyes groggily, her head felt heavy and her whole body was numb. A warm luminescent lightbulb hung from the cold concrete ceiling. Her ears picked up the muffled moans and pained groans coming from the other side of the room. She weakly sat up in the bed and looked around.

She was in a small, unappealing room. There were no decorations, no plants, no furniture other than her bed, a steel nightstand and a folding chair that was beside the bed. The door to her room was slightly opened, enabling her to hear the sounds of footsteps and distant voices.

Kaie felt the cool wind caressing her skin and jet-black hair. She turned her gaze to the left where there were once large window panels, now gone probably years ago when the Legion sieged the town. She figured that she was in some sort of field hospital of the Cadians, converted probably from an office building. The memories of the battle slowly resurfaced in her mind. She remembered the fear and relief she felt when the Kasrkins and the grim Kriegers arrived in time to rescue her. She remembered the pain she felt all over her body before she passed out due to exhaustion.

The door swung open, and Kaie immediately jumped in fright, ignoring the immense pain she felt on her left thigh. A single, upper half of a human skull filled with various mechanical tendrils, pincers and an antenna floated idly towards her. She backed away from it, lifting the covers up to her eyes like a child.

The floating skull stared lifelessly at her, its large, red bionic eye scanned her before it flew at the end of the bed, picking up a clipboard.

"H-hello…?" She asked frightfully, "Is anyone there?"

A woman clad in a khaki battle uniform with a white and red armband walked in the room hurriedly. She offered an empathic smile to the scared girl and gently pushed the floating skull aside.

"Hey, there little one. Sorry about that. Steve the servo-skull can be quite a frightening sight," She explained sheepishly.

The woman had light purple eyes, just like any Cadian she met so far, with a fair complexion and golden blonde hair tied into a messy low bun. Three long claw marks ran across the right side of her face. She noticed the red symbol on the white armband to be two snakes coiled around a staff with a winged skull at the top, indicating that she was a medic.

"How are you feeling? Other than shitting your pants because of Steve here," She asked half-jokingly. Somehow, "Steve" seemed to be offended and lightly bumped her shoulder in protest, "Don't care, Steve, you're still a creepy sight to see," The woman casually replied.

The medic stared at her curiously before gasping, smiling at her apologetically, "Sorry, didn't introduce myself: Corporal Cristen, but just Cristen is fine as well. You'll be under my care until we get you discharged and send you back to your unit." She explained assuredly.

Kaie reached her hand to her ear to resonate with her Para-Raid but felt a gauze wrapped around the edge instead, "What… what happened to my Para-Raid?"

"That vox bead on your ear? We had to take it out, that thing was busted and singed your ear. The Techpriests retrieved it for research purposes,"

She nodded in silence, feeling lonely with no one she knew around her, "How long will I be here?"

"Not too long, kiddo. You'll probably be off tomorrow. You're lucky to have been rescued by Lieutenant Holmes, he's probably one of the best in the regiment," Cristen explained. "Okay, everything seems all right. Take some rest, Steve here will get you some food and refreshments. If you need me or Steve just holler, we're just down the hallway on the left."

She set the clipboard back at the end of the bed and made her way out of the room with Steve the servo skull hovering behind her.

"T-Thank you… for saving me…"

Cristen halted at the doorway and turned with a small grin, "Don't mention it, little one. The Emperor smiles upon you, thank Him instead."


General Farestein made it back to the surface, listening to the Death Korps Marshal's reports. Commissar Darius was also present for the debrief in the command tent, his vigilant eyes observing the high-ranking officers.

"The recent casualty report is as follows: a total of a hundred and twenty-three KIA, eighty-nine wounded, nine Leman Russ tanks destroyed, and twenty-seven Chimeras destroyed. Only one Juggernaut had been destroyed with its pilot still recovering in the field hospital. We've counted at least six hundred enemy units eliminated but it could be up to seven or eight hundred units."

Farestein nodded, content with the results. "The Legion is getting bolder, but we still hold the line. That is some good news,"

"But for how long are we going to keep defending this frontline?" Commissar Darius asked, his gaze shifted to Colonel Frazyer.

"If we continue to defend, we won't hold for much longer. A couple of more months before we'll surely run out of supplies before we run out of men." The regimental commander of the 501st replied honestly.

"And spreading our forces on all fronts will only strain our logistics," General Farestein concluded grimly, "We're going to need to act fast and unite every nation on this planet if we can hope to defeat the enemy… starting with the Republic of San Magnolia," He pointed at the Republic's capital city on the map. "We need to make ourselves known and take command of its government as soon as possible… without sparking a civil war soon after."

"We need more intel behind the Gran Mur. The political leaders, finding out who can be on our side and those who are going to be the opposition. We also need to know their military strength other than their conscripted Eighty-Six." The regimental commissar pointed out.

"How do you propose that we achieve that, commissar?" Farestein asked curiously.

"With small teams of Tempestus Scions, they can infiltrate and take out any opposition, ease the political tension before we make ourselves known."

Farestein shook his head, "No, it'll take too much time… time that we don't have at our disposal and the Scions will already be compromised. The Alba are a pure white faction, if you don't look like them, they'll immediately suspect you as an outsider. We need to act with shock and awe."

"Why not have one of the vessels hover just above the capital city?" Frazyer suggested plainly, "It is already established that no one on this planet possesses any form of space travel, so Cadia's Requiem is the perfect candidate to show off the Imperium's might. Surely anyone with common sense would bow down to us,"

"That may be our best option, but we still need a handful of people from the inside to vouch for us, to convince the rest of the Alba to fight with us,"

"I can have Captain Parris get in contact with the Handler of Spearhead Squadron. The Major did say that she was willing to collaborate with us by any means necessary," Frazyer proposed surely. "She may have other friends in high places that would help to coerce the Republic to fall under our control,"

"Very well. Have Captain Parris deployed to the Spearhead base and contact the Major. Tell her that she only has a couple of days to act and prepare before our arrival at the capital." Farestein instructed coldly.

Although he may have the numbers to best the Legion in every engagement, the Imperial Guard forces still lacked a lot of intel on the enemy's capabilities and numbers, soon or later, they'll wear out before the Legion. He needed the local population of this planet to stand up for itself and unite to defeat the Legion. With that, they'll have the firepower and manpower to destroy the enemy of this world. And hopefully, the planet will part of the Imperium of Man and contribute a tithe to the war effort. He was certain that the Para-Raid and the Juggernaut would be useful tools of war that could help change the tide… only slightly.

With the meeting adjourned, each officer went on their assigned duties. With the battlefield evolving in days, they need to move quickly and assert themselves in this world, either through brute and iron force or with diplomacy.

General Farestein was committed to end this war and bring this world back to the Emperor's light. May He witness this campaign and guide him to victory… or he'll try dying standing. For he is after all an Imperial Guardsman, a loyal and disciplined servant to the Imperium of Man and the Golden Throne.

Only in death does duty ends.


The distant sounds of battle echoed in the eerie countryside of the Republic. Two Death Riders, who were sent out on a scouting mission, silently observed with their binoculars the ongoing battle between a squadron of Juggernauts and about a battalion-sized force of the Legion.

Ever since their arrival on the planet, the Legion decided to probe the defenders' capabilities, trying to break through a weak link in the defences. Though the First Ward was where the battles were fiercest since it was the only highway that led through the Gran Mur and into the city Liberté et Égalité; the Imperial Guard have inadvertently forced the Legion to find other weak points in the defences, slowly wearing out the other squadrons that were already spread thin.

Furthermore, the Legion have also deployed their heavier units to the frontlines to counter the Astra Militarum's tanks and heavy weapons. With such a sudden concentration of force, the Legion plans a large-scale offensive on the Republic that would crush the nation in a matter of days, even hours if their fighting spirit broke before the city.

Ordered to stay within their established perimeter, the Death Riders reluctantly resumed with their scouting routes, ignoring the distant battlefield, where the squadron would later be decimated. Slowly but surely, the Legion chipped away at the Eighty-Six Processors. Name Bearers, the Eighty-Six's equivalent to veterans, were dying and too few to maintain the frontline and morale while recruits were getting killed in waves, further shortening the manpower necessary to halt the Legion's advance.

Sooner or later, the Republic of San Magnolia would crumble and its discriminate and coward inhabitants, the Alba, will pay dearly for their sins. Their own blood will fill the streets and they will all be assimilated to the Legion.

It was only a matter of time. They were all dead men walking.