"Sir, yes sir!" Gideon sat up as quickly as he could. He wasn't expecting this. Asmond was looking at him with the usual scowl on his face. Slowly, Gideon stood up, stretching out of his trance. "Thank the Lion, you can do something once in a while!" Bellowed Asmond. "Get to the Falcon Blade Briefing Room. You have ten minutes." With that, Asmond turned and left the room. Gideon wondered what that had been about while he locked in the briefing room coordinates on his bracelet. Following the map, he ran down the rock hallway. The distance was just under five miles, so he felt confident he could make it. The strange dream last night had him puzzled though. To his knowledge, marines could not dream. Maybe it wasn't a dream. Perhaps it was Sergai talking above him, or someone in the hall outside their dorm. Gideon slowed to a walk as he approached the room. Twin plasteel doors guarded the entrance, waiting for the proper password to enter. In this case it was as simple as touching them with his hand. They parted horizontally, and he stepped inside. It could be described as cavernous he thought. Four lights were suspended above a single row of chairs. Smooth Gray stone created the floor, and a huge screen occupied the wall to his left. Gideon quickly made his way to one of the chairs. A desk was attached to each one, and a small computer sat atop every desk. Asmond was standing between the desks and the giant screen. When all the marines had taken a seat, he presented himself in front of the squad. "We are now hard pressed for time." Asmond spoke loud, but in a calm voice. "The new initiates have only two weeks to complete training." There was muttering among the squad. "I know this is going to be very difficult, but with hard work, it will pay off. We are going to be running a campaign on Tyros II. A small agricultural world in the Agatha sector. Upon arrival we must launch a massive offensive against chaos forces in the Northern part of this world." The screen behind him came to life as he finished his sentence. It showed a golden world, orbited by three moons. A small oval boarder was drawn in red, then amplified. On the computer screen in front of him, Gideon could see several buildings that were labeled. A power plant was at the very top of the screen. In the middle where half a dozen rectangular buildings, all marked barracks. Several squares dotted the boarders of the map, all marked guard tower. "We will be inserted by high flying Thunderhawk Gunships. The power plant will be hit first." Gideon watched a green arrow move north towards the power plant. "Killing the power will disable the turrets. Specifically the basilisk turrets in the back here and here." Fire engulfed the image of the power plant, and small X's covered all of the turret squares. "Then the main strike force will enter through the gate here." A red arrow entered from the left into the center of the base. "The fifth and sixth company will neutralize the enemy." Now flames erupted where the barracks had once been. "However, this will require special training for insertion. Mobility is paramount to ensure that everyone makes it down in one piece. If we come down in parts, were in trouble. So as of right now you are all doing special maneuvers." The room fell dead silent. Gideon almost didn't believe that he was going to see real action. He had been waiting a long time for this. Finally, in only two weeks he would be able to prove his worth in combat. "Any questions?" Asmond asked. The room stayed silent. "Then lets get to training." The room filled with noise as the new assault squad stood to leave. The monitors flicked off, shrouding the room in darkness. Gideon approached Asmond while the other marines where exiting the room. "Sir." Gideon said while staring directly at the wall in front of him. "What do you want initiate?" Asmond replied in an impatient voice. "Brother Techmarine Malachai said my armor would not be finished until the end of next month." "So?" "What am I going to use as armor?" "Do you think that I am going to send my men out there without armor boy? Is that what you are trying to tell me?" Asmond was almost shouting now. Gideon's twin hearts started to beat faster. He didn't think Asmond would react like this. "Sir, no sir. I was under the impression that you would advise me as how to solve this problem." "Why didn't you tell me when I asked you to?" "Sir?" "When I asked if their were any questions numb-nuts." "I assumed this would not affect the group." Asmond was yelling now. "You assumed? And not only did you assume, you thought that your not having equipment could not effect the group, or the mission?" "Sir, yes sir." It sounded worse than it was. But it would leave a mark. The burning sensation moved from his cheek to his throat. Asmond returned his hand to his side. "Now, you can use your anger to figure it out on your own." The Sergeant turned on his heels and walked out of the room. Gideon was fuming. He walked through the door and turned right. Fumbling with his bracelet, he was able to lock in the coordinates for Malachai's room. Michael strolled up beside him. "Ouch, looks like Asmond decided to take a piece of you again." Said Michael. "Where are we going?" "I am going to speak with Malachai about my armor. I don't remember you receiving any orders to follow me." Gideon was in no mood to play games or relax. He had just been insulted and he wanted to know if his armor was going to be ready in time for the drop. The last thing he needed was Michael trying to cheer him up. Getting Michael to give up though proved harder than most thought. Truth be known, you would have to cut off his legs to keep him from running. Then he would drag his body along the ground and knaw at your ankles. Gideon pounded on Malachai's door. After a minute he turned on his heels and walked forward. Locking in the coordinates for the workshop. Whenever Malachai was not in his bunk, he was most likely to be found hunched over some piece of machinery. Gideon was surprised to find that it was only one mile strait down the corridor he was in. Jogging towards the old techmarine's workshop, Gideon's bracelet beeped, then the map had coordinates for the mess hall. He glanced at Michael, who was looking at his own bracelet. Michael shook his head and turned around. Gideon kept jogging down the hallway. He wanted answers, even if it meant skipping a meal. Unlike the other doors Gideon had seen the doors to the workshop were marked. Pushing on the pressure pad next to the doors, Gideon waited and thought about what he was going to ask Malachai. The doors slid open with a loud crack. Gideon walked through and was surprised at what he saw. Several groups of shapes where huddling around, muttering incantations and prayers. Plates of metal were being pushed through several different machines, spewing out metallic shavings. Cords and wires lay on the floor joining various tools that were being picked up and dropped at intervals. Each group consisted of eight servitors, a techmarine, and a techpriest. Gideon quickly spotted Malachai in the far corner. He carefully stepped around tools and debris, making his way across the room. |
OUTSIDE INFLUENCE VOLUME I By Brother Gideon |
TOMES OF VALOUR |
This story has been reproduced with permission from the author. Many terms used in this story (such as Space Marine, Eldar, and others) are Trademarks of Games Workshop, Inc. Their use here is not intended as a challenge to said trademarks. |
