Day 292, Year 986, 41st Millennium
Hive Karthion
Hive Spire
In a room with four walls of dull gold-plated metal, adorned with the Korvax family crest and sculpted iron aviators with outstretched wings, the room was dimmed more than it should have been, intentionally designed to make the visitor feel automatically "below" the ruler.
Vann stepped in, dressed in bloodstained pdf soldier's armor from a recent clash. He removed his helmet, revealing a face so expressionless it seemed emotionless in the presence of the person who could theoretically be considered his older brother—the brother he hated most.
At the end of the long table, Valen Korvax, clad in a black robe embellished with luxurious silver metal, stood waiting, his face as expressionless as a sculpture. Though he didn't speak, Valen's gaze instantly made the room seem smaller.
"…You are late," Valen said, his voice flat, but the pressure was like a cold blade cutting through a skin.
"There was a minor problem at that church. I've taken care of it," Vann replied in a calm tone.
Valen glanced at his younger brother's cybernetic arm, the mark of damage visible, for a fleeting moment. Before turning his attention to the information tablet on the table,
"A malfunction? Or are you telling me that the lower-ranking soldiers dared to assassinate you?… You must have been ambushed by an assassin," Valen said indifferently, as if what had happened was perfectly normal.
"…It wasn't human from the start… It's a group of mutants who infiltrated," Vann replied coldly. Just that sentence made Valen immediately acknowledge it was a serious matter. He narrowed his eyes slightly, like a hunter smelling blood.
"Genestealer… in the refugee camp that serves as a supply and logistics point to the front lines, which you oversee," Valen said as if it were an expletive.
"What a disgrace."
"This is something that could happen, and it's not something to be ashamed of… If it knows my name… it means 'someone' on Spire has been allied with them for a long time… and there must be a mole in our minds, a mutant." Vann spoke with considerable displeasure. Valen was silent for a moment before a faint smile appeared on his face, the kind of smile that would see the entire district executed for a minor riot. (Which his older brother had actually done, and often enough.)
"Don't worry, I'll handle them all, no matter which family they belong to," Valen said with a slightly arrogant smile. Vann didn't respond. He wasn't into his brother's boundless ruthlessness; he preferred a more systematic approach, aiming for the desired results.
Valen closed the data slate and turned to look his younger brother directly in the eye.
"Now… something more important. Your invasion plan for four days from now." Valen's voice grew heavier. He slowly walked around the table, closer until their breathing became threatening. The yellow eyes of both were at the same level.
"I warned you in the meeting… if your plan fails and you let the hybrids and heretics continue to control the main elevator…" Valen threatened, leaning closer until a cruel glint was visible in his eyes.
"If the plan fails, it will cause immense damage… we might even lose… and even if we win, our citizens who work in the factories won't be enough to produce those resources to pay taxes to the central government." "The central authority will send an inquisition when we don't pay our taxes in full," Valen said, his smile growing increasingly inhumane.
"We'll be investigated, and sometimes all the power we've accumulated will be seized? And you know that in the other hive cities on this planet, the situation isn't as bad as here... Everywhere else has cleared out all the heretics and mutants. Only a few remain... If your plan isn't good enough and we lose... you know the other noble families will target us." Valen spoke with a thoughtful tone. Vann didn't avert his gaze. He spoke calmly but firmly. Vann sighed wearily; his hated older brother was still a power-hungry lunatic, and he knew the situation outside. Everything else was improving.
Except here.
"I know... and I won't make the same mistake. And I don't care about those noble families," Vann said coldly. Valen stood silent for two seconds, staring at his younger brother as if assessing the potential of "the weapon he once created." Then he spoke with a voice as cold as if slitting an enemy's throat without blinking.
"Good…because if your plan fails," Valen patted Vann's shoulder lightly, but the pressure felt like his fingers were digging into bone.
"I won't hesitate to use this as an excuse to propose locking down the hive city, then draining all the air, or injecting poisonous gas, or, even more creatively, raising the temperature until nothing can live there. Eliminate everyone and everything down there, and I won't let you off." Valen spoke in a cold and terrifying voice. Vann showed no emotion, but his heart grew even colder.
"I will win. Don't worry," Vann assured confidently, even though he knew he might lose. Valen smiled slightly, as if amused, but in truth, he was curious to know what would happen if he lost and his family collapsed.
It would surely make him very happy.
"Am I worried about you? No… I'm only worried about the family's interests," Valen said, his voice slightly raised. He turned his back, ordering sharply,
"Go, Vann Korvax… and don't disappoint me again." Valen spoke with a mocking tone.
"Do I want to have expectations of you? And more importantly, don't call me by that name. I have no connection to this family since you made Father banish me." Vann spoke with anger in his voice before putting on his helmet and walking out of the room. His tall figure disappeared into the shadows of the hallway.
"But you still managed to struggle… you were able to climb from the lowest position to this one… you don't deserve to be of Korvax blood, do you, little brother?… And don't forget that everything you have today is because of my mercy; otherwise, you would have the same fate as that sister." Valen called after him. Vann frowned slightly. His brother was still like this? It started with the assassination of his own sister to seize the position of head of the family. And perhaps it could be said that everything he had now was because of his brother. From a nobody who struggled and started from scratch to climb to this level...
But that's not something his brother can claim as a favor.
"Go to hell, brother..." Vann turned his back and yelled at his brother before hurrying away.
______________________________________________
Day 295, Year 986, 41st Millennium
Karthion Hive
Upper Hive
Refugee camp area near St. Lucila's Church
Erik hugged his pillow for another two seconds before letting out a long sigh.
"Just a little more sleep," Eric muttered to himself, hoping his murmur would change the situation. But of course, there were no miracles in the dark future he lived in.
He slowly rolled off the bed, his hand still unconsciously clutching the hem of the t-shirt he was sleeping in, the lingering shame since he had to inhabit a woman's body. The unfamiliar body made him wary of his every move, even in the empty room.
Erik climbed down from the third-tier bunk bed before looking around to see if anyone was there. Surprisingly, it was his roommates. They'd been gone for days, and no one new had moved in. While it made him uneasy, at least he'd be sleeping alone. Eric glanced at the uniform he'd placed in the corner of the room.
Eric rummaged through the pile of clothes and pulled out a pair of rather stiff, long trousers. He shook them out slightly, took off his own shorts, and slid his legs in one at a time, pulling the waistband up to his waist before fastening his belt.
Next came a thin undershirt, which he hoped would protect him from chafing caused by the long-sleeved shirts. He felt the fabric was very rough, clearly not designed for durability or comfort. He had to take off his old shirt as well and put it on, realizing he needed to remove his belt to get his water toys out before he could tuck the shirt in.
Then came the shirt. He found the fabric somewhat rough, like most shirts he was familiar with in the area, just coarser. After buttoning the last button, Eric sat down on the ground and spent a while putting on his socks and tying his shoelaces, a task he wasn't quite used to.
And finally… well… how should he describe it? It was a chest protector made of thin metal plates. He didn't know if it would protect him, but he had no choice but to wear it to increase his chances of survival.
As he put it on, the weight pressed rhythmically against his chest and back. The armor was designed for protection, not specifically to accommodate a woman's figure. Eric felt the armor pressing against his chest tighter than he expected, but he didn't let the discomfort bother him. He twisted slightly to adjust the position and tightened the side straps. Once put on, it felt a little uncomfortable.
"What a hassle," he muttered softly to himself.
The half-helmet, which looked like a typical military helmet in 2020, was lifted. He carefully placed it on his head. The metallic click of the leather straps signaled that the dressing was complete. All that remained was to check his appearance in the mirror in the corner of the room. He looked better than he thought in this outfit.
"Don't be so self-conscious," Eric said softly to himself with a small smile. He looked really cute right now. Then he realized he'd forgotten to fix his hair. Eric tidied his hair before tucking it into the helmet, making sure no long strands were sticking out. ...Sigh... Eric let out a long sigh. He said doing this was just self-consolation. Now he's likely to be heading to the front lines... He doesn't even want to imagine what will happen to his life... Just escaping the Lower Hive with the mutant enemies hunting and attacking him occasionally is already making him feel terrible, disgusted, and stressed...
But if that happens, there's going to be fierce fighting... And from what she learned from Vann, there's a major invasion tomorrow. How much danger is he facing by being on the front lines...? More risk... More stress... It's going to be awful... He knows how terrifying it is to fight enemies with firearms... It... It's not like fighting those aliens or zombies with only melee weapons... He could die at any moment.
Eric sighed softly again before grabbing his clothes and gathering them to wash... He didn't know when he'd be able to... But if he could get them back, that would be good... Maybe the new tenant would throw them away.
Eric checked everything one last time to make sure it was in order... Then he slowly looked in the mirror, gazing at his face, which looked like any other day, but today it didn't look very happy...
Perhaps he should just get used to everything and try to find small joys in these situations...or even...
Eric shook his head, trying to clear the negative thoughts from his mind. He opened the door and walked out of the room, but before he closed it, he turned back to look at it for a moment and thought...maybe he should take something with him, something he once received from someone else.
Eric walked to his bag, which contained everyday items and money. He rummaged through it and found a cult machanic amulet he had received from a tech priest who had saved his life when he was lost in the Under Hive.
Eric held the amulet in both hands, pressed it to his chest, and silently prayed for the tech priest's soul to rest in peace. Oh...and maybe there's a luggage storage service here. Who knows, if he leaves his things in the room like this, his money and other belongings might disappear.
Eric picked out what he thought were necessary, like a comb, sanitary pads, and stuffed them into his bag as much as he could fit in his pants, along with some strong painkillers (which could easily lead to addiction).
Eric locked the door to his room and went to where the clerk was located. Upon arriving, he asked if he could leave his belongings there. There was no such service, but after some clever bribery and sweet talk, he was allowed to. It was quite unexpected, considering the camp was supposed to be very strict, yet there were officials willing to accept bribes and kickbacks… but since his belongings were already protected, he didn't think much of it and walked to the camp's assembly point to line up and prepare to be sent to the front lines.
But upon reaching the wide assembly area, dimly lit by steam pipes and small lamps, reflecting red dust and oil stains, Eric felt like a lamb in a pack of wolves, ready to be devoured at any moment. Of course, they weren't going to devour him.
The conscripts surrounded him in a dense group. Some had dirty faces, with hastily drawn tattoos, and their demeanor was boisterous, reckless, cowardly, and vulgar. Most of those Eric saw were teenagers. Those who seemed to be around his age (Eric in this body is approximately 25 years old) were talking loudly, shouting and teasing each other, using foul language as if it were a polite way of greeting here. Some lightly punched each other on the shoulder, others shook their heads and made playful faces to elicit laughter. The atmosphere was lively, chaotic, raw, and uncompromising.
Eric tried to avoid eye contact. His face was obscured by a black face mask and glasses. He could only feel the scrutinizing gazes from the corners of their eyes. Some pairs looked suspicious, some had mocking smiles, and some stared analytically as if planning to molest him. Luckily, his mask covered him enough to protect him from being questioned too much.
"Look over there… isn't that the woman? The one who's been assigned to our unit…" one of the recruits said, leaning softly towards Eric.
"Yes, so what?… Just you wait, I'll get her soon enough," another said with a smile.
"Don't be ridiculous...look at how you guys look, you'll scare her. She's not some tough girl like the gang members from your neighborhood...She'll be mine, I'll show you." One of the more mature-looking guys chimed in with a cheerful smile.
"Why don't we share her?" another man in the group said. Then they all turned to him, bursting into laughter.
Unbeknownst to them, Eric heard everything they said. He bit his lip, restraining himself from punching or slapping them. He didn't retaliate, even though he was terrified, suspicious, distrustful, and extremely angry. He knew arguing wasn't an option. He couldn't win. Arbites might see, or things could escalate beyond repair.
His mind was preoccupied with something else...what to do if they actually did what they said...and the answers came to him easily in just two or three ways.
First, just shoot them if they threatened him. Because on the battlefield, no one cares how those guys die; a lie is enough.
Secondly, shoot to defend yourself.
Thirdly, run away. That's all. Because honestly, his close-combat skills are terrible, and he can barely imagine what would happen if he got caught.
Even though he felt uncomfortable and angry, he tried to maintain a steady stance. He slightly raised his chin, scanning his surroundings. He saw some people pushing away smaller individuals or staring mercilessly at the weaker ones, but he restrained himself. He knew that acting impulsively could affect himself and other uninvolved gunmen in the group.
"Hang in there, Eric…" he murmured sarcastically to himself, trying to encourage himself, breathing slowly to calm his apprehension. He knew that adapting might be the only way to survive, but it didn't satisfy him at all.
Until…
Heavy footsteps sounded as a formidable-looking officer in a stern military uniform strode into the courtyard. Everyone stopped talking and turned to look instantly, as if pulled to a crisp. The thugs who had been joking around moments before fell silent and quickly lined up in order. Their rugged figures instantly formed a straight line. Eric, too, blended in like everyone else, straightening up and adjusting his hat to completely cover his face.
The officer faced the troops, scrutinizing them for a moment before beginning his speech in a stern voice, filled with a powerful and both captivating and chilling rousing rhetoric.
"Young men and women, you social scum… today you have the honor of joining the PDF forces to deal with the heretics and mutants who dare to invade and destroy our homes… and to eliminate and torture our loyal citizens… their existence is a sin and a heresy… and you must be the ones to cleanse this heresy and sin from this place!!! We will kill and burn them, making them aware of the wrath of humanity! Tomorrow there will be a great invasion. You will have the honor of invading to seize the main elevator, a vital supply point for the enemy."
"Let the enemies of mankind know… let them feel the terror!
Cleanse them from Hive Karthion!
FOR THE EMPEROR!!!!"
The words "For the Emperor" rang out as the final syllable. The official's voice broke into a command, and everyone responded with roars and hoarse voices. Some shouted wildly, others grinned triumphantly. Eric felt the tremors of the crowd's response, like waves crashing against him, almost making him lose his balance.
Eric was momentarily disoriented. He didn't understand the frenzy around him, but he didn't want to stand out and draw more attention. He forced his voice to join the others, even though he was confused by the deeper meaning of the words. His voice was higher pitched than the others, causing him to stumble over the final syllable, but he reluctantly shouted along. His voice blended in with the crowd, as if trying to blend in.
"For the Emperor!" The final word escaped Eric's throat, even though he still felt uneasy about the rather left-leaning and extreme wording. Not responding might make him an easier target. Shouting along was the safest option in this situation. To prevent others from knowing that he was a heretic who didn't believe in the Emperor, the officer quickly gave the next order as his voice faded:
"Quickly grab your weapons and regroup at another open area. Troop transports and trucks will be coming to take you to the front lines...and remember, Emperor Protect!" The officer said goodbye before disappearing. Then, everything instantly became orderly, incredibly. They were all ordered to go to the armory to receive weapons.
Eric was quite happy to hear this, because finally he would have weapons to defend himself and wouldn't have to fear anyone harming him...because anyone who dared to cross his line would be shot in retaliation.
Meanwhile, several soldiers in the line were speaking with excitement, also receiving weapons and about to fight the heretics. Seeing the person in front of him get a gun increased their hopes, but when it was Eric's turn, he removed his mask and smiled like a child about to receive candy. Instead, the officer handed him two magazines for the Lassgun.
"Wait a minute? Why didn't I get a weapon like everyone else?" Eric asked, his voice barely audible. How could he survive on a battlefield like that without a weapon? How could he defend himself? The officer simply turned around before coldly replying:
"Go collect weapons from the corpses, soldier... Our resources are insufficient... Go now, you're wasting other people's time." The officer spoke coldly before dismissing Eric. Eric could only nod reluctantly before walking away, staring at the two lassgun magazines in his hands with a look of disappointment and emptiness.
How could he defend himself like this...? How could he survive against those guys when he had almost no weapons? Was it really that bad that they even gave him weapons?... Eric thought anxiously.
And what about his plasma pistol, which he took from the space marine's corpse?... Oh, damn.
Eric, currently in a mood he'd never been happy before, walked along the line to board the vehicle to the front lines, feeling a little dejected about his life. Even as a conscript, he only received a uniform and two Lassgun magazines, and now he had to go to the front lines...but suddenly, a familiar voice rang out.
"Hello, Erika!!!" Castra's voice rang out from beside him. Eric turned in the direction of the voice and saw her standing next to her parents. This time, she was wearing the same clothes as the other girls he knew, and she looked very happy. Eric stepped out of the line towards her and knelt down to be at her level.
"Hello to you too, Castra...What are you doing here today?" Eric asked in a soft and gentle voice. As far as he could remember, he hadn't seen her for several days...and she must be here for something.
"I came to tell you some good news," Castra said with an innocent smile. Eric thought this news must be something good about to happen in her life.
"What good news is it? I'm so curious," Eric asked, amused by the cheerful smile. But Castra's face looked a little sad.
"My family is going to a new planet, Cindralis Prime, a medium-sized industrial planet in the Segmentum Obscurus. That's all I know... Maybe we'll meet again... May the Emperor protect you, brother," Castra said, her voice trembling slightly as if she were about to cry. Eric took a deep breath... At least her family had the chance to move somewhere else, far, far away, even though he didn't know what that planet or region was.
"Then I wish you good luck, little one... May you pursue your dreams... and may you be happy in your new life~" Eric said with an icy smile, gently stroking her hand.
"If possible, I would like to see you again... Thank you, sister," Castra slowly hugged him gently.
"You too... Alright, let's go now, there's not much time." Eric, startled by the hug, hugged her back and gently patted her back. Before Eric got up and walked back to his usual spot in the line to board the troop transport,
(Author's note: It's such a heartwarming story...yes...why does it feel strangely sad?)
Inside the troop transport, it was incredibly cramped. He had to sit with other men, which made him incredibly nervous and uncomfortable. Before the cramped transport started moving, he glanced back at Castra and her parents as they walked away again.
Eric sat between two large conscripts who were joking and laughing, completely oblivious to Eric sitting between them. Eric sighed at the sight, then pulled out a Lassgun magazine and glanced at it before sighing again.
As the transport moved, everything became more chaotic. When the troop transport hit a bumpy road, his shoulder bumped against the two conscripts, making Eric feel incredibly tense. The conscripts inside the truck started talking amongst themselves as usual, but it was incredibly vulgar and chaotic, making him feel unsafe. Some of their words made Eric slightly uncomfortable. When Eric turned to his right, he saw something.
"Hey, why did the barrel of your gun hit my butt?"
"It wasn't a barrel gun."
"Huh? What did you say?"
"5555"
Loud laughter came from the conscripts standing nearby.
Meanwhile, taking advantage of a moment when one of the conscripts was distracted, he slowly reached out and drew a bayonet from another's scabbard, gripping it tightly. The worst part was, he was the only one in the compartment without a gun. It would be terrible if something happened. At the same time, he prayed that nothing bad would happen during this journey.
"Stop pushing!" one of the conscripts shouted.
"It's cramped!" another nearby replied.
______________________________________________
Three hours passed.
As Eric began to relax slightly… although these men seemed rude and intimidating, none of them threatened him… suddenly, the troop transport shook violently, crashing! The metal floor inside rattled before it came to a sudden stop, as if the brakes had seized. Eric barely had time to react. The inertia caused his body to be slammed against the two men beside him with such force that he let out a gasp.
His arm ached, and he felt suffocated, unable to breathe, but he didn't complain.
"Get down now!" Eric heard an officer shout from outside. Immediately, chaos erupted. Big, burly men scrambled to climb out of the train like a pack of wild animals. Everyone tried to escape the cabin as quickly as possible, and Eric didn't dare go out with the others for fear of being pushed over and trampled. When the crowd thinned out, he quickly walked out.
But as he stepped out from the edge of the door, he landed on the rubble and concrete debris in the wrong place and at the wrong moment.
The result was:
Eric fell face down on the cold, shattered concrete. His knees and hands hit the ground hard, throbbing with pain.
"Ouch…!" Eric cried out involuntarily. The people around him didn't notice. Some laughed; others almost stepped on his feet if he hadn't moved quickly. He pushed himself up as fast as he could, breathing heavily from shock and embarrassment, his face burning under his hood.
He clutched his bayonet tightly, afraid of dropping it in the chaos, while craning his neck to look for the other soldiers running to regroup in front of a collapsed building that might provide some cover. Soon, another troop transport arrived. Two or three vehicles parked and dropped off soldiers before driving away.
Distant gunfire echoed intermittently. Thick smoke billowed from a nearby alley. The smell of burning walls, oil, and dust filled Eric with fear, anxiety, and pressure.
This was the front line. The Upper Hive had become a narrow concrete labyrinth, filled with mounds of rubble from collapsed buildings, the site of a clash between the PDF forces and the mutants (Eric and most of the soldiers didn't know about the Geenstealer cult).
Eric struggled to get up when a familiar voice sounded behind him. It was the officer who had ordered them to get out of the vehicle.
"Quickly get up and form a defensive line, soldiers!" The terrifying voice boomed. Eric quickly turned around to see the officer staring at him, his gaze filled with murderous intent. Eric jumped up in fear and distress, but then...
Bang!...Plop!!!
A long red beam of light from a collapsed building struck the officer in the head, instantly exploding. Blood and brain matter splattered onto Eric's face and uniform. The other soldiers, witnessing this, quickly scrambled for cover.
"Sniper!!!" "Damn it!!" Eric blurted out in fear and anxiety. The blood and brain matter made him almost vomit.
"Where's the sniper?" Another soldier turned to Eric in panic, likely the second to be shot.
Eric, trying to get up, immediately crouched down in fear, crawling towards the fallen officer and searching him. He was incredibly lucky to find a Lass pistol and two batteries on the body. With those items, Eric tried to crawl through the rubble to find a safe place as quickly as possible.
BOOM!!! The sound of artillery fire rang out, and the building where he'd seen the sniper hiding exploded with a deafening roar and collapsed. Looking in his direction, he saw a Leman Russ tank with a large, short-barreled gun approaching to reinforce its defenses, along with increasing numbers of PDF troops. Eric seized the opportunity to quickly get up and run to take cover among the rubble. Eric quickly sat down, leaning against his brother's side, before checking his pistol.
_Why does this have to happen?_ Eric thought to himself, trying to breathe deeply to calm the fear he had just felt, while simultaneously planning how to survive longer.
You have to remember... whatever, he'll try to survive as long as possible. Eric looked left and right and saw many conscripts fighting fiercely against hordes of mutants charging towards the defenses... He tried to gather his courage to stand up and fight alongside them, but Eric hesitated, seeing that in just the first five minutes of the battle, dozens had already died in his area.
"Aaaargh!!!!" A man's scream rang out.
BOOM!!!!! An explosion rang out nearby, followed by the sound of cannon fire from a similar tank.
"Ricky, help me! Where's the medic?! Where are my legs?!"
"Oh my god, what the hell is that thing!!!!" "Someone with heavy weapons, go deal with them!!!"
"Don't die yet...hold on!!!"
"I'm listening...I'll try...I'm just sleepy...."
"Don't fall asleep!!!! Wake up!!!"
"No! The doctor's been shot! Hurry, help the doctor!!!!"
"What do we do?"
"Damn it!"
The cries for help and the shouts of soldiers nearby filled the air. These sounds made Eric feel terrible, anxious, depressed, terrified, and deeply worried.
"Why does this have to happen?" Eric muttered softly as he sat there, his eyes and face filled with worry. He gripped his lass pistol and bayonet tightly, wondering what to do next. If he stayed hiding, he'd be branded a coward by the other officers and face execution. But if he fled now, he didn't know if he'd survive. While he was thinking, he didn't notice that
In the darkness, several figures were navigating through the alleyways between the buildings. Each of these figures is a member of the Deathwatch, tasked with a covert mission from Inquisitor Korvin Hale to retrieve a certain object from beneath the Hive City. Their crucial role is also to assist the PDF forces in advancing and potentially seizing or destroying the massive elevator.
A secondary objective is to infiltrate and eliminate the Geenstealer Patriarch as quickly as possible to prevent them from summoning the Tyranids here.
And this battle continues…until tomorrow