Pulp
January 7th, 2008, 10:11 PM
Hello forum, I'm back after a little hiatus (I had growed-up Army person stuff to do). I'm starting an Imperial Guard army for the game 40k and going to have a running fiction to go with it. This is just a little teaser to loosen up the writing muscles.
(And no, this does not mean I'm giving up my novel length "Why Is the Grass Green?" story, so to the like, 5 of you who read it, don't worry, I'll be back, and MSGT Doyle will get his happy ending. Er...yeah.)
****
WELCOME TO KLATCH
There was one final jolt as Commissar Valk felt the flyer become grounded on this unfamiliar planet. He began to unfasten the bulky straps that held him to the cramped passenger compartment's bench. He was squeezed in with several other imperial overseers and their bodyguards. Six bodies filling benches designed for four.
Being closest to the exit, Valk stood up first and sidled down the short hallway until he stood facing the door to the freedom. Breathing close behind him was audible-and tactile-as the other men crowded in towards the exit behind him. After an eternity, the sound of scrapping metal could be held on the other side of the door as latches and bolts were undone. Then a slight movement of the door, and finally it violently jerked and swung open completely.
The heat and thickness of the air hit Valk like a heavy rug, and the sunlight was overwhelming to his tired eyes. But had the image of the Commissarat to uphold, and without hesitation he commanded his legs to move and carry him down the ladder and to bare ground.
Here it was, Klatch's second largest spaceport. Or what they called a spaceport, it nothing more than a patch of dirt that had been cleared, semi-glassed, and surrounded by a flimsy metal fence.
A caravan of local military vehicles were parked and the driving details assembled in formation on the edge of the landing zone.
Valk, having the most authority of the Imperial contingent (but no bodyguards, he made a mental note to look into that.) lead them towards the locals. As he approached them, an officer leading the detail snapped his men to attention, and the turned to snap a salute to Valk. Valk returned it.
"Sir, we welcome officers of the Imperialum to Klatch. Would you care to inspect the troops?" said the young officer, obviously shaken by Valk's presence.
Valk considered this, and being a honest man replied, "No."
"Uhm, oh, then what do you request, sir?" said the officer, who's eyes had found Valk's ceremonial bolt pistol.
"Get your vehicles started and show my officers, the Imperialums servants, which to board." said Valk, being especially terse. The young officer turned and immediately fell the detail out and began dishing out orders as quickly, and in as many directions, as possible. Valk was scheduled to inspect the local shocktrooper academy, and found his ride to an open topped, six wheel vehicle manned by two lower enlisted men and a mustachioed Sergeant of some variety who was, geometrically speaking, twice the man Valk was. The Sergeant and Valk climbed into the front two seats as lower enlisted men loaded Valks belongings into the back of the vehicle.
"Sergeant Copper, good to meet you Commissar." said unfazed Sergeant, infinitely more relaxed than the officer.
The attitude took Valk slightly of balance and he responded to regain some authority, "I am an embodiment of the Holy Emperor's will, and should be addressed with accompanying respect."
"Oh, right. Will remember that. Do you want a pair of loaner goggles before we get moving?" replied Sergeant Copper as he revved the engine and the two enlisted men hopped in the heavy stubber turret in the rear.
"I do not require anything, Sergeant."
"Alright." said Sergeant Copper looking at him sideways as he placed his own pair on his face. As the vehicle moved out over the landing zone, and to the road, Valk looked behind him and saw the two men on the heavy stubber mount adjust goggles and head wraps over themselves. Valk thought to himself that perhaps he had not made a wise choice.
(And no, this does not mean I'm giving up my novel length "Why Is the Grass Green?" story, so to the like, 5 of you who read it, don't worry, I'll be back, and MSGT Doyle will get his happy ending. Er...yeah.)
****
WELCOME TO KLATCH
There was one final jolt as Commissar Valk felt the flyer become grounded on this unfamiliar planet. He began to unfasten the bulky straps that held him to the cramped passenger compartment's bench. He was squeezed in with several other imperial overseers and their bodyguards. Six bodies filling benches designed for four.
Being closest to the exit, Valk stood up first and sidled down the short hallway until he stood facing the door to the freedom. Breathing close behind him was audible-and tactile-as the other men crowded in towards the exit behind him. After an eternity, the sound of scrapping metal could be held on the other side of the door as latches and bolts were undone. Then a slight movement of the door, and finally it violently jerked and swung open completely.
The heat and thickness of the air hit Valk like a heavy rug, and the sunlight was overwhelming to his tired eyes. But had the image of the Commissarat to uphold, and without hesitation he commanded his legs to move and carry him down the ladder and to bare ground.
Here it was, Klatch's second largest spaceport. Or what they called a spaceport, it nothing more than a patch of dirt that had been cleared, semi-glassed, and surrounded by a flimsy metal fence.
A caravan of local military vehicles were parked and the driving details assembled in formation on the edge of the landing zone.
Valk, having the most authority of the Imperial contingent (but no bodyguards, he made a mental note to look into that.) lead them towards the locals. As he approached them, an officer leading the detail snapped his men to attention, and the turned to snap a salute to Valk. Valk returned it.
"Sir, we welcome officers of the Imperialum to Klatch. Would you care to inspect the troops?" said the young officer, obviously shaken by Valk's presence.
Valk considered this, and being a honest man replied, "No."
"Uhm, oh, then what do you request, sir?" said the officer, who's eyes had found Valk's ceremonial bolt pistol.
"Get your vehicles started and show my officers, the Imperialums servants, which to board." said Valk, being especially terse. The young officer turned and immediately fell the detail out and began dishing out orders as quickly, and in as many directions, as possible. Valk was scheduled to inspect the local shocktrooper academy, and found his ride to an open topped, six wheel vehicle manned by two lower enlisted men and a mustachioed Sergeant of some variety who was, geometrically speaking, twice the man Valk was. The Sergeant and Valk climbed into the front two seats as lower enlisted men loaded Valks belongings into the back of the vehicle.
"Sergeant Copper, good to meet you Commissar." said unfazed Sergeant, infinitely more relaxed than the officer.
The attitude took Valk slightly of balance and he responded to regain some authority, "I am an embodiment of the Holy Emperor's will, and should be addressed with accompanying respect."
"Oh, right. Will remember that. Do you want a pair of loaner goggles before we get moving?" replied Sergeant Copper as he revved the engine and the two enlisted men hopped in the heavy stubber turret in the rear.
"I do not require anything, Sergeant."
"Alright." said Sergeant Copper looking at him sideways as he placed his own pair on his face. As the vehicle moved out over the landing zone, and to the road, Valk looked behind him and saw the two men on the heavy stubber mount adjust goggles and head wraps over themselves. Valk thought to himself that perhaps he had not made a wise choice.