Wings of War

[Tyear]

Brother-Captain Ubertino walked past the training cages aboard the Volatilis Bellum, his eyes taking in his men as they sparred with each-other or servitors, blades clashed as they trained. The entire training complex seemed ripe with the smell of war, the captain couldn't help but let a grin wash over his face. His men were more then ready for combat, but so far this system had seemed lifeless. A few barren rocks though mineral rich were nothing worth colonizing at least not for the Imperium, a small detachment of the Adeptus Mechanicus however were forcing his exploration of the system further back as they drew samples from the rocks. He felt ill at ease in space, as he always had, the cold smell of this place doing little to quiet those thoughts. As he strode from the training hall he was alerted to the presence of a young man sitting outside it, his eyes took him in, he was in his early 30's and his hair had been shaved off, he wore the robes of one of the Remembrancers, an order that had deeply embedded themselves into every aspect of the great Crusade it would seem. In truth he didn't mind them, they hardly ever got in the way and the few requests that had been made by them were granted. He found himself not knowing the man before him now, "What is it you wish?", he asked softly, the baritone voice coming from his lips. The man clutched a small data-slate, "I uh.. the.. Remembrancers aboard your ship would like to extend a gift to you", he narrowed his brow slightly and took the data-slate, the image on it was a painting, their last deployment several of the Remembrancers had been allowed to watch them depart.

 

Apparently one had made a painting of it, "Show it to me..", he said softly, following the smaller man, who often glanced to make sure the cloth-clad Astartes hadn't vanished yet. Ubertino bent low as he stepped into their quarters, the door half-stuck, as he strode in, several muttered whispers, nudging of others as they woke to his presence. "Siline", the man spirited away to a young woman, she seemed far too young to be one of their oder, only fifteen years of age. They exchanged quick words, though Ubertino caught them all, apparently the woman was the painter. She smiled and led the giant following her into a small alcove, Ubertino's eyes glanced to the idol tucked into a small hole, he had seen that figure before. It should not have surprised him, there were many amongst those on the Great Crusade who prayed to their 'God'-Emperor. His attention was caught however by the young woman as she showed him the painting, it almost felt alive. He had been there with his command squad, veterans of many wars fought in the Emperor's name. Orsino his company champion, was attaching an oath of the moment to his armor, whilst Isua stood holding the unfurled banner of their company. He turned towards the woman, "Do.. do you like it my lord?", she asked, her hands fidgeted with a small aquilla at the end of a chain. "You are better then me", he said, she narrowed her eyes, "My.. lord?", he turned to her this time his mind more collected. "It's a fine painting, and.. I am no lord. But if you offer this to me as a gift.. then I will gladly accept it", the woman showed the very start of tears at the corner of her eyes as she smiled. "I will strive to make something even better"

 

Ubertino nodded and thanked them again before stepping out into the colder hallway, the painting in his hands as he walked away with it. Entering his quarters he was greeted by Orsino sitting in his armor, the soft humming of Power Armour filling the room as they locked eyes. "You seem dressed for war", Ubertino remarked casually as he placed the painting on his desk. "We found life on one of these barren rocks Brother", he said with a smirk on his lips. His eyes seemed hungry for war, then again Orsino always seemed like that. "What happened", he asked, already taking of his robes, "The Mechanicus found something buried, a tomb, whatever was inside didn't appreciate their wandering gazes as we lost contact soon after", Ubertino relaxed as he felt the cold metal against his chest, the feeling of security was welcoming to say the least. "They have requested our help?", he asked, Orsino grinned, "That they have, whatever this was must have scared them", Ubertino nodded as he felt the comfortable weight of the sword on his hip. Forged by a member of the Iron Warriors the blade held a wicked edge, even without the power field around it. "You have assembled the council?", Orsino nodded as they stepped onto the floor and strode towards the command room. Ubertino's hearts beat a little faster, war had come to them at last.

 

As the door slid away the pair of Astartes strode into the room, their sheer presence dwarfed everyone in the room, the Imperial Army commander attached to their fleet stood ready, his black hair oiled backwards, the uniform looking sharp-pressed just as the man did. Commander Alin nodded towards the two giants, across from them a figure of Magos Hasith floated. "Magos", Ubertino spoke, "I heard you had.. problems?", there was a few moments delay before the Magos offered his own voice, "The Adeptus Mechanicus force attached to Fleet Seventy-Six requests troops from the combined forces of both the Ninth Legion and Imperial Army group Forty-Six-Seventy", Ubertino narrowed his eyes this was no small think the Magos asked for, "What did you find?", the Magos waited a few seconds more before answering, "The Adeptus Mechanicus force attached to Fleet Seventy-Six requests troops from the combined forces of both the Ninth Legion and Imperial Army group Forty-Six-Seventy", Ubertino gritted his teeth, the Magos had seemed willing at least to answer his questions. "That's not what I asked for.. what is down there?", this time there was no delay as the Magos answered, "Mechanicus expedition group found ruins buried beneath planet crust", Ubertino called up the plans that had been voxed to them, the main Mechanicus camp was empty, devoid of life, there was a tunnel leading down into the earth. Ubertino glanced towards Orsino, "Ready the troops", he turned towards Alin, "I want your best troops on the ground", he ordered the man as he walked away himself.

 

The ship seemed to come alive as men were roused from beds, Astartes armed themselves as they made ready. Ubertino himself was busily planning the main drop phase, they would deploy only part of their forces, he would lead them himself. He looked at the numbers, a hundred-fifty Astartes, at least five-hundred men that Commander Alin had readied as well as what the Mechanicus were sending down in terms of Sevitors, with all accounts they should crush whatever was down there. He looked at the possibilities who would lead the expedition and his eyes lingered on Tedesco, a veteran leader, a solid Astartes. He would lead the expedition force and if need be they could be reinforced with everything else. As the orders trickled down Tedesco smiled, at least the Sixth Company would taste war again. He marched his men to the embarkation deck, his helmet tucked beneath his arm he took in the sight of their stormbirds being readied his men shearing oaths. He knew that Commander Alin was already ordering his men planet-side, whilst his vox chattered with Mechanicus deployment data. He locked the helmet into place as he took his seat inside the belly of the storm-bird.

 

 

Questions, Comments etc are very welcome!

 

Thanks for reading.