|Vanessa Nur-Kalles – Documentarist Remembrancer|
I am chosen as a new branch of the Official by the decree of the Emperor. I am a Remembrancer, and my duty is to record and prepare them for the chroniclers to share with the masses.
At first, I was happy to be chosen. However, it changes quickly when I am posted to the 13th Expeditionary Fleet, where the War Hounds take command. I witnessed something that should not be witnessed.
Blood flows as the War Hounds, 12th Legion, march into battle. Sea of blood, and a mountain of gore appear when they go to war. They do not take prisoners, and they do not care for humans. They come, butcher and destroy.
Those are the words that perfectly describe them.
At first, I thought those Astartes fit the image of their title, the Sword of Mankind and the Angel of Death. Sadly, it is not true. They are more savage than a human. Their bodies reek. The sweat they release is something that I need to get used to.
Not only that, the War Hounds do not want to talk to mortals. They see us as nothing but the dust underneath their boots. I froze in fright when I saw one of them walking out of the battlefield. He is frothing at the mouth like a feral dog from the adrenaline of battle.
He pushed me so hard my back cracked from the impact.
I don't know if that is a blessing in disguise, as I am now sent to another fleet. This time, it is the 2nd Fleet where the Void Stalker takes command. I hear rumors of a rather quiet Legion where the mechanicus hates them for something I don't understand.
I also hear a rumor of them releasing a dread that makes others uncomfortable when they get close to them. It looks like my luck is so bad that I get placed in another ruthless fleet.
I look around and see the others also look resigned at the fate that falls on their shoulders.
I take a deep breath and brace for whatever is thrown at me as the carrier lands inside the ship. As the door opens up and we leave the carrier, I blink for a second. Instead of feeling gloomy or dread, I feel at peace.
Not only that, instead of looking at people in constant fear like the one in the 13th Fleet, I see people who talk with each other with a smile on their faces. They are happy to be here, and it is a show.
I snap from my shock when I hear the sound of heavy footsteps walking toward us. I know that sound. I am familiar with that sound. It is the sound of an Astartes. I look to the side and freeze once again.
Instead of the usual stench, my nose picked up a fresh smell coming from the Astartes. Instead of feeling dread from standing near him, I feel hope and safety when I am standing near him.
This is the feeling that I formed in my mind in the past. This is what I thought would appear when I first met with an Astartes. I thought that it was just a dream, but it is not. The man in front of me is someone who deserves the title of Angel and Sword of Mankind.
He is wearing simple white clothes that cover his massive body. However, I know that clothing is not something cheap, but rather made of something expensive, as it glistens under the low light of the ship.
He does not wear any armor, but I know that he is a weapon and someone who can destroy anything on his path, even without his armor, and only with the 'small' sword on his hip.
He is wearing a kind smile, the smile that makes my heart skip a beat. It is handsome. His jaw is sharp, and his blue eyes make my heart beat even faster. This is the perfect picture of Astartes. This is truly someone who deserves to be called an Angel.
"Greetings and welcome to the Eternal Light. I am Lieutenant Barius Jarkul, and I will be the one taking you to your assigned room. Follow me and listen carefully."
His voice is loud, but not unpleasant. It is beautiful and soothing, even with the loudness. I don't mind hearing him all day long, and I wonder if he is willing to sing a song I wrote in the past. No. Those songs are not worthy of him. I need to create something worthy of him before I ask him.
We follow him, and it is very different from what I saw in the 13th Fleet. Instead of the smell of rust, oil, and incense, it is a smell akin to brimstone. It is that soothing smell that you get from burning expensive synthetic wood. It is nice.
The lieutenant takes us to our rooms. He takes me to a room called C-34-B. After registering my identity, the door opens up, and I can see what is inside. It is a large room with five beds, and I can see my roommates already inside. They are eating some kind of nutrient bar. It smells nice and makes me hungry.
I can eat later. For now, I need to gather information.
"Greetings, friends. My name is Vanessa Nur-Kalles, and I am Remembrancer."
They look at me, and one by one, they introduce themselves.
"High-Class, eh? The name is Endri. I am the 25th Gunnery Captain in the Imperial Army."
"Niu Jer-Hyan, Pilot of the Valkyrie in the 15th Air Support. It is nice to see another woman in this room. These two are an unpleasant sight."
"Frak off, Niu. I am Hunta, and I am the 12th Gunnery Captain in the Imperial Army."
I shake their hands one by one and say.
"Can I ask a few questions regarding the Void Stalker?"
"Ah," Niu nods her head and looks at me with an understanding nod. "You are hearing of the bad rumor regarding them, huh? About how they eat babies and will eat the injured, right?"
"Nothing to that extreme, no. However, I hear of them being people who bring dread even to allies."
"Oh, they bring dread, alright, not to allies, but to enemies. They are kind and easy enough to talk to, but when it is time for battle, you will see the reason why they are called the Sword of Mankind. They move faster than our eyes can see, and they can even take a missile to the face."
"What about their leaders? The captains and such. Are they cruel to the mortals?"
"Oh, no. They will talk to you and are even willing to listen to your plea. However, make sure to give them the respect they deserve. They might be easygoing, but they are still a Demigod."
"You should not say that. The Imperial Truth will punish you."
"Right, my bad. However, they do deserve such a title, you know? Anyway, they are respected not only for their strength but also for their kindness. They are not pushovers, however. One time, a Commander thought he was some kind of big shot and dared to give orders to them. Well, let's just say that we need a new commander. Also, you need to be careful when you talk among the lower-ranking people. Most of them come from planets liberated by the Void Stalkers and are very grateful to them. They are more than willing to stab you and throw your corpse into the incinerator."
"I see."
I look at the others and keep asking questions. After 30 minutes of talking, they need to leave because we are about to depart, and they need to attend the briefing. With me alone in the room, I take out my dataslate and write what I found.
When I am done, I lie on the bed and feel the soft fabric touch my face. I smile a little and feel that this expedition will go well for me. I wonder if I can witness them on the battlefield. I want to witness their prowess with my own eyes.
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