Amazing the crap your mind comes up with while sitting in a tractor most of the day. So here, have this.
Reviews and criticism are welcome. Let me know about any lore issues. I know the broad and medium strokes of this franchise, but it's damn near impossible to know it all.
Disclaimer: I don't own Warhammer 40,000.
Prologue With a Side of Purging.
How does one accurately explain living having the echoes of an old life rattle around your head? Most likely very inadequately. Unless you're John Gramaticus I guess. He could explain very well and concisely, no doubt due having done this type of shit over and over again. Well unlike him I haven't the experience. Still, being reincarnated into probably one of if not the worst universe to be reincarnated into is not the best even if you end up in the Schola Progenium. 40k high school wasn't so bad. One of the few places in the world where you can choose which career you want to follow. At least until it is decided for you.
I'll be honest I wanted something that could be cushy but also fulfilling so the Administorum was out. I don't think I could stand the paperwork.
Tempestus Scions and stormtroopers go into the worst places imaginable on purpose so no. The chance of becoming an Inquisitor's lackey is fairly low too.
I didn't even look at the Sisters, even the non-military orders were crazy. The Familius didn't sound too bad until I realized that babysitting inbreds was not a job that sounded fun. Dialogus was a nope due to the fact that all that studying and paperwork rivaled the Admins. The Militant was just suicidal, and the Enteral Gate oddly enough was intriguing, but too much of an unknown. I don't care if I got to dual wield bolt pistols like Laura Croft and an electro-whip like Indiana Jones, and I was too squeamish for the Hospitaliers.
I finally settled on the Commissariat. Mostly I had a better chance of surviving. (I think?) Commissars (the decent human beings) generally had a better chance of ending up with some form of plot armor. Even if they went through hell. And I didn't have to follow orders like a automanton. I could think outside the box.
Of course that all changed when I noticed an old lady planting flowers. I was around thirteen, the age when you had to make a choice, or get hauled off to the guard for indecision. I was heading to hand in my choice of field when I saw her. She was old with stark white hair and weathered skin. Her fingers were heavily gnarled and she looked like she was having a hard time. I stopped, thinking that I was on a free period anyway so I asked if she wanted help. I should have kept on walking like everyone else.
I expected her to refuse out of some sort of "I am not that old yet," pride.
"I suppose these fingers aren't as precise as they used to be. Thank you." Those gnarled old fingers bespoke heavy training in use of a weapon. I think she might have been a sister of battle if her hair style was anything to go by.
"So Girl, where are you from?" She asked. She eyed my silvery hair.
"My parents were guardsmen from Lyr," I said. I didn't know much about Lyrians as a people to be honest. The Imperium had so many worlds and colonies it was crazy. That and I never really cared for one.
"Ahh, the Stormworld." she said. "Your people were nearly named an abhuman race if I recall. Have you ever been shocked?"
I found myself nodding. "Thankfully we weren't or I wouldn't be here."
"Indeed," she said. "For that, I am glad the Lyrian Mobile Scouts are some of the best the Imperial Guard has to offer. You should be proud."
Being a step away from being declared abhuman was almost as bad being an abhuman in some sense. The only consolation I could retort with was that the thoroughness left little doubt. The fact that it was debated for over a century didn't help. One of my classmates, Tanya, the bitch, we were learning how to work on various electronics. Mostly to see if we had Ad Mech potential. She claimed the machine was powered down, but it wasn't.
Tiny arcs of electricity flowed through my hair and were seen on my exposed skin for an hour after touching the damn vox. Apparently a natural evolution from the massive amount of static electricity that clogged up the atmosphere from the constant lightning storms that plagued the surface. I was so embarrassed I ran out of the classroom.
I was the one who got in trouble too for leaving class without asking permission. Tanya claimed it was an accident, not a disguised attempt to highlight why my people's human status was in question for so long. We were eventually let into the Imperium as regular citizens. Still, the stigma remained for some time after, enough to name an outcast.
After that, any friends I did have were suddenly always busy or just outright didn't want to hang out anymore. All say for one, Calamity. She was no outcast. In fact she actually had other friends despite her wanting to hang with me most of the time. Her skin was tan and hair was a burnished brown, contrasting my pale and silver hair, and she had striking green eyes. She followed me around a lot back in those days. Only friend I had. Pretty sure she would follow me anywhere. I did try to encourage her to take the path she wanted at least when the time came.
Regardless, I spent a free hour helping the old woman plant flowers. Wasn't the worst waste of time. It was soothing in a way. No good deed goes unpunished and I would find out that small act would set my life on a trajectory opposite of my intended career. It was how I was later forced into the Adepta Sororitas, as a Sister of Battle. Because "the God-Emperor has a wicked sense of humor," a wise man had yet to say. I was born about two thousand years before he would even be born. At least I would be long dead before Cadia fell. I didn't want to see the Galaxy ripped in half. There was some small mercy. I am not sure what I could do about it either.
I'd laugh like a maniac if I wasn't in prayer right now just thinking about my luck those years ago. Though I'd let a small giggle escape my lips. Thinking of that day a few years ago.
Had to keep myself occupied somehow. I hadn't slept in two days. My knees were killing me from kneeling, my mouth was dry and I could barely keep awake. It didn't help that the damn place was full of incense and the room kept that perfect temperature which reminded me of how nice it is to sleep in and just…
My eyes snapped open.Don't fall asleep, don't fall asleep by the God-Emperor, don't fall asleep. It had become a mantra of sorts. I focused on the statuette of the God-Emperor standing above a massive cobblestone furnace of Golden fire. Its mouth was big enough to house an Astates. His golden form alight from flames dancing below. The furnace was how our convent received our name. The Order of the Sacred Fire. It was said when the Emperor visited the world. He needed a weapon and crafted one with a furnace he built. The furnace still burns as hot as the sun. It is said those or pure faith will not be harmed if they stick their arm in the furnace.
Frakking Warp, the Sisters had to be here sometime right. My impatience was wearing thin. The other girls were scarce. I saw only a couple I knew. There were forty of us in the beginning. I was placed somewhere in the middle and could only see maybe three others still kneeling in front of me and peripherally. My vision was damn near fading and turning black at the edges. I wasn't much longer for the waking world it seemed. Oh, well guess I getting sent to one of the other orders of the Sororitas wouldn't be so bad. Don't know why I tried so damn hard for the Militant arm anyway. Must have been an urge to at least not half-ass it.
Just as I was about to pass out, a hand laid on my right shoulder. I would have jumped if I had the energy. I lifted my tired head and looked at the Celestian smiling down at me. A stray lock of silvery-blond hair fell in my face as I did so.
The Celestian in question had skin that was a shade darker than my own pasty white skin. The Celestian's jet black hair was cut in the traditional bob cut of the Adepta Sororitas. However instead of rocking power armor she wore a slim dress outfit that was a cross between a Nun's habit and Victorian dress minus the ruffles.
Looking up at her I watched her say. "You passed Novitiate."
I was so tired. I was supposed to say something along the lines of "It is by the Emperor's grace." Something to that effect. I forgot. You try kneeling and not sleeping for two days and remember some holy traditional greeting that goes… back thousands of years. What I actually said… well mumbled, "God-Emperor, that's wonderful," and I fell over. Close enough.
I think they let myself and the other nine girls that did make it through the last of the endurance trials sleep damn near a whole day. Then it was time for our vows, but first we had one more item of business.
So there I was standing there with the other girls outside the armory a day later. I looked around and marveled at the craftsmanship of what was just a mere hallway we stood in. A bit gaudy but I found that I liked it.
The old Palatine spoke up as she moved to stand in front of the door. Her face was scarred and the cybernetic eye looked like it was pressed into her face like playdough.
"Novitiates. Listen carefully. You have passed your final test before you say your vows." She smiled. I hadn't seen that before in this temple. "I am proud to have so many recruits pass the final Trial of Endurance. You are a mere step away from taking your vows." She got a whimsical smile before continuing. She looked back at us. "Let us proceed. You may remember halfway through your training, we had you enter the armory one by one. You were blindfolded and told to walk around and let the God-Emperor guide your steps. I am certain you are all wondering what that was about."
Well yeah, I was freaking curious what that was about. That was a weird frakking day, only because we broke from routine. For one we didn't have to whip ourselves. That was nice. I do mean full-on whipping with a flail and everything. It is not the most looked forward to part of my day.
As far as that armory day went, I still didn't know what the fuck it was for. I knew only I had some quiet shadow following me around to make sure I didn't impale myself on whatever nasty sharp weapons that resided within.
"Follow me." Palatine turned on her heel and motioned us inside. When we marched in we spread out in a single file line. The room looked massive with a plum full of weapons that some of the Hive nobles would have a hard time getting a hold of.
There were ten weapons plinths. One for each of us I guess. On each was a melee weapon and ranged weapon of some sort. I noted that six were chainswords paired with five bolters and a flamer, two were eviscerators with bolt pistols, and there was one power sword again with a bolt pistol. A beautiful straight bladed sword with an aquilla shaped crossguard that radiated a holy aura. I vainly hoped I chose it. Then again I would most likely end up with a regular chainsword which was cool I guess. Oh, and the last weapon, now that remained at it was a… Holy Shit! A power ax!
A two handed weapon to be sure, it was simpler than the power sword with a long haft and a double bearded head. The small amount of ornamentation did it a favor. Its polished adamantium blades furled out with a bit of golden filigree on the staff and the pommel. Involuntarily, I almost stepped forward to admire it, but stopped myself.
"Now," the Palatine called out. "Please step forward when called."
"Novitiate Tanya, the fourth one from the left." It was the power sword. Damn oh well. Why did it have to be that bitch? Why couldn't she become a commisar or something. She would no doubt lord over us of how she was guided to the damn powersword.
"Novitiate Ventra, the third from the right." The Flamer and chainsword. Ventra was Tanya's lackey for the most part. I was honestly surprised she passed. She didn't seem the type to make this far. Still, I held back a sigh of relief knowing I wouldn't get saddled with a flamer. I wasn't really that much of a pyro.
"Novitiate Bell, The fifth from the right." An Eviscerator. Nice. Bell may be a Leticio Divininatus thumper (even for a Sororitas.) but damn did the weapon suit her. I wouldn't be surprised if she started talking by only quoting verses from that noble book. At least it was written before Logar went to Chaos. Shame Emps handled Monarchia so poorly.
"Novitiate Calamity, the second from the left." A bolter for Cally it seemed. I was glad she was here, but I did wish she went into the Dialogus or the Familus. I didn't want to see her in the Suicide Squad.
"Novitiate Rylanor. The third from the right." My eyes widened slightly when I heard my name. I got choose my own when I was old enough due my parents not giving me one. Don't look too much into it. The Schola needed a name for official records, that was it. The Man in charge of the taking our names just told to make one up as he was busy. Still, I double checked that I wasn't actually counting from the left or something. I got the power ax… and a bolt pistol too. I approached it with a bit of trepidation. This was a power weapon after all. A weapon like this was coveted by so many.
I lifted it off the stand upon which it was held. I spoke the Litany of Activation and thumbed the activation rune. The double-bearded blades crackled to life. I deactivated it after a moment. I looked at the others. They all seemed in awe at their particular weapon. I mean they were all works of art to an extent that would aid our holy mission to bring about the Light of He on Terra the Galaxy's darkest reaches. I did see glances my way. Tanya gave me a brief look of annoyance that I ended up with a power weapon as well.
I tested the wait. It was heavy, but not so much that I couldn't get used to it. The power armor would take up most of the slack anyway.
"Now that you have your weapons, the time has come to swear to He-on-Terra your undying faith and loyalty." The Palatine said. I had just noticed that her right arm was painted the same gold as her tabard. Our convents armor was generally painted black with a golden taberd. We were an offshoot of Ebon Chalice I think or was it Our Martyred Lady? Regardless, that meant she had stuck her arm into the furnace. It was an option for the new sisters. Though I think you could do it at any point, not just at initiation. We wouldn't be doing that today anyway. Usually the ceremony took place when the Bishop visited. He liked to witness the ceremony. Still I wasn't sure if I had what it took to do that.
Now I won't go into the initiation ritual all too much, mostly hours of hymns and chanting. The usual, and then we said our vows. The reason we needed our weapons was they were a crucial part. Something about starting our journey with them and ending it with them. Luckily Power weapons were actually pretty light. Well, light for a warrior practiced with them at least. Any fool of the street might not actually feel the difference. It did make me feel sorry for Bell, having to lug around that eviscerator without armor for hours. Even with training they were heavy.
Regardless throughout the day. We slowly had our new armor placed on bodies one piece at a time. I had seen the sisters wearing it while on duty, even going out onto the planet our monastery was stationed on to conduct purges and bring back heretics for execution. There were other more mundane things as well, it wasn't all purges. Most of them didn't wear helmets. Typical. Now I wasn't quite sure if I would get one. Some chapters didn't allow the power helmets until you proved yourself or something. So hopefully my convent wasn't as daft and at least offered the option.
I shifted my shoulders as the tech priests installed the power pack on my back. One of the white robed adepts approached me with a helm. Some of my fellows refused it with a simple hand gesture as was custom. I wasn't as foolish. The Emperor protects, and one of the ways he did so was giving us access to high quality power armor. So I accepted the helmet. In hindsight I would never regret this decision. Alas I couldn't see my immediate future, and the events that I knew about, like Cadia's fall and some other events, were too big for lil' ol me to influence in any real way. Unless I could find a way to prevent the Armless from using his Blackstone fortress to break Cadia, then no, I could not do much. Besides, it was 842 M39 around two thousand years before all that. Barring warp fuckery I was set to live and die long before even the Nids showed up.
Best I could do was keep a level head and prevent my sisters from matyring themselves needlessly. Easier said than done. Now that was a prayer I often sent the God-Emperor's way often even years later. Just maybe I would live long enough to change how the covent organized themselves, like adding basic tactics to our combat style. While the appeal of wading into the fray cutting down all those heretics and xenos, was rather cathartic, it normally wasn't the best tactical move.
It would be another year of advanced power armor training, using proper armor, not the hand-me-down training gear we wore back at Schola and even at the convent for a little while. It was quite the sensation to have gear that while old that was in perfect shape. It didn't feel at all cumbersome when the powerpack was activated.
The world our monastery was on had been attacked by Chaos forces. Not an uncommon thing on this world. Well, it wasn't exactly the trial by fire I would have liked. Through some sort of bizarre luck. The Raiding Fleet was held back for now in orbit, but the forces of the archenemy did touch down. My squad was sent to deal with an influx of cultists that usually cropped up before an incursion. I wasn't dumb enough to question orders despite feeling uneasy about spreading out our forces. I went where the Canoness sent me. Making a fuss might end me up in the Repentia so I kept my mouth shut.
We had to go into the city sewers, because of course we did. I was thankful for the Auspex in the helmet. Other than the occasional mutant. I couldn't take any chances that they were in the cult we were trying to root out though. So through in some instances of very bad luck, the mutants in our path met an ignoble end. Though odds were that our approach was already reported despite everything.
The Celestian, her name was Sarah, stopped her own helm scanning the corridors. I heard nothing on the auspex in my helm. or saw any lifesigns on my readouts. However I knew Chaos cults were crafty and would pop up at the most inconvenient times.
A helmeted figure moved up beside me bolter in hand. It was Cally. She took my lead and started wearing a helmet a while back. Many still wouldn't wear proper head protection. Still I hoped it would catch on. Unless I was ordered, this piece of headgear was going to stay right where it was. The Emperor's protection is great, but I find that I shouldn't make it so hard on the guy by foregoing the physical protection. If I could make his job even minutely easier than I am for it.
Chanting could be heard from down the way. Most likely the cultists as the life sign scanner started to show us something. I had my bolt pistol drawn. The corridors were too small for my power ax to be useful. We had the element of surprise it seemed. Now all we had to do was keep quiet and capitalize on-
"For the Emperor!" The Celestian shouted. My sisters and even myself, more out of reflex, chorused the battle cry. Well, frak. It was a small hope. Hopefully we would enter a room big enough for my ax to be useful at least.
Luckily it was a massive antichamber. Filled with purplish light, and an awful smell. Despite that there were silks and barely clothed cultists standing there ready to summon something. I started landing pinpoint shots holding my bolt pistol one handed. The power armor absorbed the recoil, stabilizing the shots.
"Sister," I voxxed Cally, "Take out the furthest ones from us with your Bolter."
"On it." Cally said. Then we were fell upon by more cultists. It wasn't a trap like I had thought but some Cultists had been stationed for defense of the ritual. They bum rushed at us hoping to take us out.
Cally turned to fire on them. I shouted back.
"Focus on the ritual!" I shouted. "I will cover us!" I couldn't help but grin as I clamped my bolt pistol to my thigh plate, bringing my Power ax to bear. I loved this thing. I was first to lash out. My ax's powerfield carved them up like butter. There was some autogun fire but it was of little consequence. It would just ping off my armor. While I was hacking and slashing, some of the cultists let out moans of pleasure as they died. Oh lovely Slaanesh cultists. Well at least when they "got off", I found that they tended to give me an opening to kill'em.
I kept the ax constantly whirling as the mob pressed in. I found I wasn't alone. The Celestian's Chainsword could be heard next to me whirring as it violently cut cultists to pieces. The other two members of our squad were firing away. The circle began to dim as the ritual lost power. Cally had kept up her firing in the meantime along with the other three sisters in our squad. The three bolters made short work of the cultists performing the ritual. There was a collective howl of agony amongst the cultists before the ritual failed. They seemed to chant harder in desperation.
One in particular, an emaciated fellow with cords sticking out of his head, stood up with a staff in hand. The Celestian voiced the word as I thought it.
"Psyker!" the Celestian shouted. She charged, her bolt pistol firing. I had just slain the last cultist charging at us when I followed. This bastard had to go down fast. An arc of electricity flared out, and the Celestian screamed in agony as fowl energies wrapped around her. I was Glad to see the others had shifted fire on the Psyker immediately as well. He looked at them in annoyance. The bolts bouncing harmlessly off his psy shield.
I didn't draw my bolt pistol. Not yet at least. The Celestian's armor was still smoking, but she stood up, and continued her shaky charge allowing me to match her pace. Her Chainsword stopped midair as the psyker halted the blade. I wasn't far on her heels. I took note of how strong the psyker was. Luckily before he could kill the Celestian, I decided to tackle the frakker. He was expecting me to swing from my ax, and have another easy kill when I got it stuck in his psionic field. The full weight of my power armor overloaded the shield with an explosive force. It nearly knocked me off my feet. Yet I continued to charge. I didn't let him refocus his power. Instead, balling my fist, I pulped his skull. I loved power armor so much. Still I was grateful he hadn't been more powerful. We would have been toast.
I turned to see a bunch of dead cultists. Remembering the fading purple light, I realized how close we were to something nasty being summoned. The Psykers body twitched. Cally riddled the corpse with bolter rounds using the last of her mag, pulping it even further. She swapped out the empty soon after.
I turned to the Celestian. She had fallen back to one knee. She was kneeling but still alive.
"Sister, how do you fare?" I asked as I reached out a hand to pull her up.
"My armor took the brunt of the witch's foul power." She stood and looked at the others. "Our work here is done. The Arbities can clean this mess up." She swayed. I reached and steadied her.
"We should get you back to the convent Sister, the Hospiltalers should look over your injuries." Despite the Helm she wore, I could hear the slur in the veteran battle sister's voice.
"I agree," she said with reluctance.
"Sisters, help me get the Celestian back to the Convent. She took a good hit." Cally moved immediately to take the Celestian from me. The other two in our squad, Delilah and Helena, covered us. I was the last to leave. Holstering my power ax when we entered the corridors. I looked out on the ritual site. I unclipped a frag grenade and tossed it near the psyker's corpse. I drew my bolt pistol as I dived into the tunnels once again to catch up with my sisters.
We made it back to the rendezvous. We weren't the first to arrive. Bell's squad had been first.
"Hospiltaliers, Celestan Sarah is in need of your services." Cally led the Celestian away. I went over to Bell.
"How did your hunt fair, Sister?" Bell looked at me, her face was impassive though the reserved expression told me she was unnerved. There were still bits of cultists in her raven black hair.
"It went well. There was so much blood." She looked down at her eviscerator as if remembering the affair. "They were so misshapen, and hard to look at. Some had bizarre mutations. Hooves and claws were everywhere."
"Try not to dwell. I assume you prevented the ritual." I asked to get her back on point. It sounded like she was describing Tzeentch cultists. Damn four sites, meant four Chaos Gods. Their cultists were really going for the big time.
She only nodded.
"You should get your hair washed, The archenemy has been known to corrupt with less."
"You dare question my faith." She growled.
"No, but I would not wish to allow tainted heretic guts to sit on my hair longer than I had to." I countered. Bell's eyes seemed to wake up and her arms went up to her hair. To try and shake the corpse bits loose.
I stopped her. "Sister, you'll make it worse. Go see the Hospitalers."
She looked at her hands to see they had even more gore on them. "Thank you sister."
I watched her go, hoping she didn't feel guilty enough to willingly join the Repentia. I shivered at the thought so those suicidal maniacs.
Cally appeared beside my shoulder. "The Celestian will be alright, the armor did protect from the worst of it. She is still having balance issues. They are sending her back to the convent. You have command of the squad from here until this operation is over.
I nodded, "I hope I can live up to Sister Sarah's leadership." I felt the weight sit on my shoulders. If our squad frakked up it was on me.
"The God-Emperor works in mysterious ways." Cally said.
"Have you heard any word from Tanya's Squad?" I asked. I looked to see Galia's squad in the distance. They either had the Nurgle Cult or the Khorne Cult. Judging from the slime spattered on their armor, it the former.
"No, She and her squad haven't reported in yet." It was then I heard over the Vox the Palantine's voice.
"Cultists in block C 343 were successful! Calling all Sisters to aid me! For the Emperor!" I looked at my squad.
"You heard the woman load up, we got a Daemon to slay! The Emperor Protects." I shouted, not wasting any time. If they were late or were overwhelmed we could have a real issue here. Whatever was being summoned, could link up with the raiders if we weren't careful. A couple of the Hostipalers joined us, checking over their instruments.
I saw Bell running up, her hair was cleaner now and she smelled of incense." She joined her squad on the Repressor Tank's ramp.
"Feeling better, Sister," I said over vox. I saw her nod, but she didn't say much.
A couple other squads joined us before lift off. I could only wonder at the shitstorm Tanya walked into. Tanya and I never got along, but I found her dying or any imperial citizen dying to any of the foul creatures of Chaos to be infuriating.
We made a mad dash for the site of the fourth ritual. When we rolled up, we didn't wait and charged in. There wasn't much time. I prayed that whatever was summoned was still bottled up in the damn sewers.
The sewers stretched on for a bit longer, but our power armor kept us going easily enough. The Vox came in.
"Daemons are pouring in, we don't know if we could hold them long!" Shit I thought, it was worse than I thought.
It wasn't long before bolter fire could be heard in the distance. The power armor all but launched us into the antechamber.
I drew my ax and charged a bloodletter that was about to surround the Palatine's squad. They had held their own for the time being. I saw Tanya slicing and dicing away at one of the beasts.
After I downed the creature, I turned and surveyed the antechamber. Many of the cultists lay dead and scorched. Some were still burning. The smell of burning promethium was everywhere. Ventra's work no doubt. I was looking for a focus or something that held the portal open. I had to be quick. The Portal would become self-sustaining if we weren't fast enough. There the blood orb it hovered over the portal. That was probably it. I pulled out my bolt pistol and started firing at it. It was riddled with bolter fire soon after. Cally took my cue.
Luckily for me and her as the Bloodletters all howled charged at me. The three monsters remaining seemed to zero in Cally. That was a stupid move on their part turning their backs to the Palantine's squad. Tanya, Ventra and the Palantine managed to leap on two of the bloodletter's backs. Another bloodletter hopped through the portal, but Bell and her eviscerator interposed herself between the bloodletter and its fellows.
The last one was for me then. As I readied my ax, I swung, catching the beast's blade. It was fast, not unlike what I imagine fighting an Astartes would feel like. Still, I just had to hold out until that damn blood orb. Luckily the bloodletter's fervor to disrupt the "anti-ritual" gave me an edge. It was in a hurry. I managed to sidestep at a frustrated swing and hack at its leg bringing it down to one knee and swiping off its head.
With the blood orb shattered under the heavy fire of the bolters, the portal faded. I moved to help finish the last bloodletter, but it wasn't necessary. Tanya and Ventra had just finished it off.
The Palatine approached. She nodded at me as she addressed the hospitallers.
"Check on Sisters Nora and Rena, They were caught off guard at the onset." The Hostpitallers rushed over.
"Helena, Delilah, go help them." I ordered. They didn't question it and moved up quickly to help lift the power armored warriors if needed.
The Palatine looked at me, "any word on the void battle?"
"We had just returned when we got the call from you for assistance." I said. She nodded.
"We must inform the Canoness of the raid's success. Where is Celestian Sarah?"
"There was a psyker in the ranks of the cultists we ambushed. She took a direct hit and wasn't able to continue the fight." I highlighted the battle quickly as we walked.
"You did well, Sister. The Canoness will hear of this." The Palatine said.
"I did what any of us would have done." I simply said.
She nodded and we continued walking. The debriefing would happen in full when we returned. I looked back to see Bell looking into where the portal once was. She was covered in blood again.
"Sister Bell," The Palatine called out, snapping Bell out of whatever was going through her head. She shook her head violently and followed us back to the Repressor tank. I would have to keep an eye on her. The Palatine gave her a look as well. I hoped I was wrong, and that Bell was just having a hard time dealing with the blood and not something more sinister. We returned to the convent. Without issue. The PDF managed to mob up the landing parties that did touchdown. The Navy was on top of their game today it seemed. Things would be quiet for a couple days until the Bishop stopped by, and brought a Cardinal with him.
A/N: This takes place around 848 M39 for reference. While not as rife like the 41st millennium, the imperium was by no means stable at this time either. This is a side project and won't see as much updates as my primary story focus at the moment.