That Strangers Song

[Captain Juan Juarez]

The heavy thrumming of the Thunderhawks engines cut through his senses with ease as he sits in solitude within the armoured troop compartment and yet that nameless tune drifts about his ears unforgotten and undimmed by the passage of years.

Ninety seconds, the jarring voice says as it drifts from the wall vox-speakers.

 

Locking his armour servos in place the Marine feels the music in his ears stop as it is replaced by the heavy thump of the landing gears smacking into the ground as the Thunderhawk lands.

 

Within seconds he is up on his feet, uncoiling with startling speed as his hands reach up for the sheathed and heavy looking sword and swings it across his back. Just as smoothly he holsters an ornate yet darkened bolt pistol at his hip.

 

As the assault ramp drops he lifts his corvus-pattern helmet from where it hangs at his belt and dons it surely, locking the environmental seals in place just as the ramp clangs to the ground.

 

Two Astartes stand before the ramp, their bolters ported against their chests as a third and more ornately armoured Marine steps for and bows at the waist as he removes his helmet.

 

“Lord Matthias,” the helmetless Marine says in a gravelly voice. “Welcome Lord Matthias to the world of Sarador.”

 

The newly arrived Matthias does not speak, merely nodding his head slightly before striding between the three Astartes towards the idling Landraider just across the landing area.

 

“Captain,” the taller of the bolter-wielding Marines, a freshly induced Astartes, says to his commander. “Who is this who disrespects your rank and Company so?”

 

The Captain of the 2nd Company does not look back, though his stride is broken somewhat. “That, brothers, is the Master of Discipline. Pray you never come closer to the Sergeant than this.”

 

As the Landraider roars away, the Captain climbs aboard his personal command Rhino with his two honour guard and beckons the driver to follow.