Planetfall

[jammi]

Sterile corridor after corridor stretched away into the distance. The Pile consisted of several subterranean tiers, each an expanding web of passages, halls and cells. The Grenadiers were stationed on the highest tier, just below the surface, on top of which was Malborough Core and the concealed Starport that supplied the base and moved personnel in and out.

Captain Nole was now marching down one of the many bland passages with an accompanying guard consisting of RSM Green and two other Grenadiers. The briefing he had just received from Colonel Lewis was weighing heavily on his mind. Whitehall had made provisions for a Kusari landing on the planet prudent, yes, but he still found it disturbing to think that the Navy would fail to hold the invaders at bay. After a short while they emerged into a far less oppressive, more open space which was filled with the clatter of cutlery and the general aroma of food.

There was the scraping of a chair, followed by the bark of the room NCO. Room! Roo-oom shun! A Sergeant who had noticed Noles arrival called the room to attention and snapped off a brisk salute. Nole returned the compliment.

Thank you Sergeant. At ease. The sergeant nodded and returned the rooms occupants to their prior state. Nole almost laughed at the sight of fifty men attempting to eat as fast as they could, but respectfully, due to the fact that they were in the presence of their CO.

After a few moments chatting with some of the men unfortunate enough to be nearby, about how they were finding the deployment and how they felt about the prospect of fighting for their House, the party moved on.

The actual reason the Captain was out was because he was meeting with A Platoon to aid with a patrol. Nothing was expected to happen the Kusari were still in Tau 31 at any rate. This would just be a stunt for the men to raise moral. His time at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst had taught him the merits of leading by example, a sentiment that he had not left in the classroom.

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