The placid plains of overgrown grass swayed by the blown wind as it creates a hormonious chime. Only to be disrupted by the wheels of motorbikes charging straight towards the eldar crash site. This 3 man squad, under the supervision of Cpl. Castor Lorr — are on an reconnaisance mission under the command of Capt. Zack's orders. I can see the orange light 500 meters away. It was a dim light — like a small miniature bulb but he's certain they're close. Going full throttle on the gas pedals, I was ahead of my team.
10 minutes later.
Closing in on the crashed aircraft, Castor pulled the brakes and drifts side ways to stop. Brodrick Nesin and Clodius Hayden did the same. They were 3 meters away from the eldar craft. It burned like a massive bonfire as if it was a beacon.
Castor puts down the foot-peg, nestling the bike down. He takes out a pair of bonoculars as he scans the parameter. Then he signals Nesin and Hayden to advance by tapping his helmet twice. The boys complied and draw their lasguns at the ready while Castor takes on overwatch behind them. They move adjacent to the broken aircraft.
Then I whislted them to split up — the two pair nodded in unison. Nesin points to the left — Hayden understoods and went to the right. In the Hadrian regiment, it is mandatory to learn hand signals from each other in case your in a battle where your ears don't respond due the noisy environment or a reconnaisance mission. But for this instance, we kept silent in case a striking scorpion pounces out of nowhere.
Castor was still on guard pointing directly at the gleaming craft. He was still on edge about his superiors sending him out in the open. His shoulders were stiff, hands shivering from the cold night. If he didn't have his gas masked on, along with his visors; he wouldn't have to show such a weak face. Although, breathing in the condensation of air would be refreshing if it wasn't in the middle of this damned night. I would not have been this nervous to begin with. Nonetheless, he still has a duty.
"Hrrr... Nesin, Hayden! Anything you find useful?" Castor spoked impatiently. He can hear the Ork war machine rumbling in the distance and he would rather not know where it's coming from.
"Hey, bud. Aren't we gonna report this to Cpl. Lorr? His tone seemed uneasy." Hayden said as he feels ever more perturb.
"Look, all we need to do is find something that the higher ups would be interested in."
"Well there isn't anything that would pique my attention. Hey wait, do you hear that?"
"Yeah... Looks like someone was still alive. Hope they speak gothic cause an interrogation with the Commissar is going to be quite horrid."
"Should we report this to the Corporal?"
"Ah, I'm sure it's fine. Its only one eldar."
The two men carefully went to the source of the where the sound was coming from. They've search where the weak voice came from. It kept on creaking and moaning. Eventually, both of the men were able find what was making such a sound and they were quite intrigued. Underneath the rubble of fire and scattered debris, lay an eldar crying for help. But she never knew it would be one of her enemies.
The two men saw the eldar and figured it was woman. Nesin grinned to know it was lady. He had been pent up for almost 3 months now. He turn to Hayden to see if he was in his side. The latter also smiled directly at him with an approval.
By now Castor was fed up at this point. So, he decided to go watch what was stalling them. Then he hears screaming but sounded feminine. He sneakily advances to where the sound was resonating. What he saw gritted his teeth beneath the gas mask. Those two men were just only playing around with an eldar. But nothing could shock him more as to who thta eldar was.
"Hayden, help me take her armor off! I haven't had a taste of this for a while."
"Hold on Nesin-"
A small hole appeared in Haydens chest. As the smoke dissipates from the air in a matter of seconds. It created a crackling noise that Nesin instantly noticed. This took Nesin aback and tried to grab his lasgun but was shot anyway by Castor in the same spot where he shot Hayden. He withdraws his lasgun as there wasn't anymore threat. Well, at least for the time being as he stares at the horizon.
The eldar woman that the two pair assaulted was also startled by the Mon'Keigh's sudden betrayal. He just stood there — not doing anything but stare at the worlds border. Then he turned and came in closer. She closed her eyes and gripped a toy that she holds tightly.
Until the Mon'Keigh dropped his weapon. Confused, she blankly peers at the man coming closer. He stops, removing the gas mask that covered his mouth — then the visors. When she took a glimpse at his face in the dim fire. Her jaw fell as she couldn't believe who she has witnessed.
"C-Castor?" She stutters. Still processing to the present. Her eyes beamed at his plain brown eyes.
"Indeed, I am." He smiles at her. Then saw the wooden figure equited in her slender hands. "I see you've kepted it safe?"
"What?" She asked as to what he was referring to.
Castor didn't answered but points at the figure she was holding in her hand that was dugged in the ground. Realizing that he was referring to the wooden sculpture that he carved for her. Now burned as a result of the unexpected destruction to their aircraft. It had a dark layer of charred wood surrounding it.
"Aemylth?" Castor calls out in a gentle tone,
She quickly came to senses and shakes her head. "Y-yes, I've tried not to ruin though I think it is already scorched." Aemylth replied nonchalantly. "But why did you do that?" She inquired.
"You mean what I did to my men?"
"Yes, why did you?"
Castor stayed silent but gave in anyway. "They were already dead once they've entered the guard. Soon, I'll be joining them so it doesn't matter. As long as I don't get caught." He remarks the sentiment while giving off a grim look on his face.
Aemylth never knew Mon'Keigh would be so cruel to their own kin. Although admittedly, her kind would have done the same given the circumstances. Nevertheless, she was saved yet again by the same Mon'Keigh twice. Castor puts on his gas mask and visors — then picks up his lasgun on the ground. Aemylth was confused as to why he was leaving.
So, Aemylth gets up and ran to Castor. She grapples one his hand which surprised the corporal. Her breath was heavy; he can tell due to the condensation of air that puffs out of her mouth. He puts down his gear and faces Aemylth.
"The soul stones, can you help me retrieve them?"
"A what?"
"Soul stones, the ones that keep our spirit away from she who thirst... They're underneath that rubble. They are all trap." She said in a very weak voice. Likely from the trauma of the crash. He didn't know what these soul stones that she is spouting onto him but he'll do what he could.
"Then what do you need me to do"
"Help me get them all one by one, please..."
"Fine, I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you, Castor..."
"Don't mention it, Amy..." He muttered a word that reminded him of a person he knew.
"What?"
"I-Its nothing... Let's get started shall we?"
It took them around 20 minutes to get rid of piles upon piles of scattered reminents of a broken ship. Just to find what Aemylth describe as a polished gem that holds a persons soul together. He never knew why these things were so important at first back when he fought the eldar in the past. Now, he knew the sickingly nature of these precious jewels.
It was as if he was carrying someone who was already deceased. If his family had these, then maybe he would never have to feel so guilty. But he doesn't know if these things would work on humans.
They collected around 13 soul stones. Placing them inside a ragged bag that he looted from Haydens corpse. Upon extracting the valuables; he finds a peculiar book. It was a diary of Haydens personal life. He never even think as to open it and read its contents. Castor just puts in his hands. Returning it from whence it belongs. Aemylth too knew why I gave it back.
Now that they've collected all the stones that we found. In fact, she remembers each and every single one of them. A trait, Castor finds interesting. He prepares one of the vacant bikes and gave it to Aemylth. He also buried the deceased bodies of his fellow guard. Lorr didn't have a reason to kill them but he did anyway and there was no turning back as soon as he made that decision. He sometimes question his loyalty. Is he with the emperor or with a xenos that his entire species despise.
Castor and Aemylth bid their farewells but before she could ride the bike. He gave a small kiss in the cheek when he called out to her. She turns away from Castor with a flushed face then strodes to the bike grumpily. Castor chuckled as he goes to his motorbike. By that time, she already drove towards what seems to be somewhere close to where her kin are currently stationed. He doesn't know the location and he will never know it. So he drove to the designated safe zone.
0500 hours
Within Primoris Valle.
It was nearly morning since the Orks unexpected appearance. The imperials have started to quickly make fortifications to defend the entrance. Commanding it was Captain Gavinski Zack and Commissar Janette Ironfang. Cap. Zack was busy fortifying bunkers and digging trenches as well as placing basilisk artillery to strategic positions. While Commissar Ironfang tried to keep the soldiers morale high.
Among the ones that did nothing was Anya'a squad. All they've done is sentry duty and are stationed dangerously away from the rest of the main force but are close enough for them give the rest an early warning signal. They've all stayed vigil to their surroundings. Not leaving an inch of dirt nor plant unchecked. They were also given bikes in case for them to escape if they spotted anything suspicious.
Frohock Louvina nervously gulps. She had been standing around for the past 6 hours — only taking brief naps while taking turns to watch over the bikes. Czevak quickly rode his sentinel to scout the general vicinity. Escorted by Brad Valencio and Rawne Bookmiller, Staton picked a spot for him to have a birds eye. Sargeant Anya and Domitian were pre-occupied keeping in contact with the strike force. As for Castor and Nesin; they haven't arrived yet. Its making her even more anxious.
"Miss, Louvina. How are you holding?"
"AH! You scared me there sarge... *Hooo* What are you doing?"
"I've only came to update you that Czevak and the others have located the Ork force closing in. So we'll have to pack things up and warn Commissar Ironfang."
"What about Castor? (and Nesin too)" Louvin said worriedly.
"Why? Have you developed a crush on him?" Anya teased her.
"No! Its just that they haven't returned yet in their reconnaissance mission. Could they have been slaughtered by the orks?"
"Hmm..." She ponders it for a minute then shrugs it off. "If I know one thing that stubborn Lorr is good at. Its getting himself out of trouble." Anya distainfully said.
"How do you know its certain."
"I don't, because by now; he'll be here riiiiggghhhhtttt.... Now."
Out of the blue, Cpl. Castor came out of the woods. Drifting to stop the momentum of speed he accumulated. This took Louvina aback and trip to her knees while Sgt. Anya stood motionless. Her expression stern and relief. Yet a bit ticked off. She then looked behind Castor and raised an eyebrow as she twitched her lips. Squinting her eyes at him; she notices the scares and bloodied stains in his fatiques and flak armor
"Corporal, Castor Lorr. Where is the rest of your team?"
"As you can see... I narrowly flee from the clutches of the Orks."
"So... Did you find anything useful?"
"There was nothing to search if the damn place was already looted to the brim by those maniacs."
"Hmm... Then hitch a ride with Louvina. You must be tired of driving all night Lorr."
"W-what!!!"
"Oh don't be such a baby..." Anya pinched her cheeks as she continuously harass her. "Also she has a crush on you."
"NNOO!"
After a bit chatting. Louvina relented and agreed to give me a ride. Bookmiller was flaberghast as what happened to my condition. Valencio was being Valencio- [I SAID CALL ME BRAD!]. Czevak still tried his futile attempts to get Anya's affection. Staton would stay behind to ensure they weren't safe. As for Felix...
"Wait where is Felix?" Castor asked Louvina.
"Well..." Louvina hesitant to answer that question
*****
Meanwhile within the trenches that the guard were hectic at work in digging. Felix was stuck on janitorial duties because some arsehole left the portable toilet clogged. He was left behind by his own squad. Sometimes, he wished if he was the one that was picked to do the recconaissance instead of Castor. Felix even thought if this was the emperors punishment.