Credit Where Credit Is Due

The commissar slammed the butt of his laspistol against the table. “Do not mock the court with your outlandish stories! He bellowed. “Again, the truth this time!”. Private Jardin twisted in his chair, shackles binding him to the seat. “I am telling the truth! I've told you twice now! A marine came to us, his vox was damaged, he said that he required our aid and that his task was of the utmost importance!.” The second commissar shook his head, replying. “Then did he explain what task could merit an entire company of men deserting the line? Disappearing without a word and leaving a breach in our defenses?” Jardin turned to the man and replied. “No, he refused to elaborate. He ordered us to stand back, then displayed a small object to our commander from his palm. He was convinced by whatever it was, and he ordered us to abandon our positions and follow the marine.”

“And the men followed orders like good little guardsmen” Mocked the third commissar. “All save you, and why is that?” His voice hardened. “Your actions reek of cowardice, you returned alone, and without your weapons to boot”. Jardin gritted his teeth at the words. “The marine singled me out and gave me a task. He ordered me to bear a message back to command, and to stop for nothing or no one. We offered him our vox, but he refused, stating that it was not secure.” Jardin paused. “My rifle was spent, so I discarded it for speed. The marine said that the passage was clear, and it was. I did not ask him how he knew.”

The courtroom erupted into incredulous whispers as the three commissars looked among each other. “And what became of this message?” The middle one asked. “I delivered it directly to Colonel Tollins”. Replied Jardin. The commissar turned to address Tollins herself who sat nearby. “And you believed this story of his? A deserter who returned alone, with no knowledge of what became of his comrades or where they are?”

Colonel Tollins stood to address the tribunal.”I did not believe him at first, but he bore with him Commander Dalan's scabbard. He is the most senior of my commanders and I trust his judgment. There was also this, from the marine himself.” Tollins lifted her right hand, displaying the object for the court to see. A small aquila perched above an hourglass. “And the content of this message?” The first commissar asked. “A sign and a countersign, spoken on a secure channel tuned to a specific frequency. The message itself was short. Simply, “the emperor protects, the hammer falls” and a description of the aquila charm. There was no reply, and the line cut off.” She explained, then sat. The proceedings continued at speed, the tribunal conferring among themselves, interrogating the accused, and sole witness. Cross examining his commanding officer and other members of his regiment.

After much heated debate, the proceedings drew to a close. “Colonel Tollins, is there any further witness to the events described in this hearing? Anything at all that might explain the disgraceful conduct exhibited by your men?” After a pause Tollins replied, her face burning with shame. “None save the Emperor”. The verdict was then delivered by the senior commissar. “Due to the lack of concrete evidence explaining the disappearance of an entire company of guardsmen. We are forced to find Private Jardin and the absent 6th Company of the 10th Karelian Grenadiers guilty of deserting their post”. Jardin's hands curled into fists as the man tribunal continued. “The regiment shall henceforth bear the mark of shame and its men known as cowards and-”

*CLANG*

All heads in the room turned as one to face the door. Jardin twisting in his restraints. The heavy metal panel jerked again and opened a crack. Amid the stuttered objections of the guards outside, the door retracted into the wall. Propelled by an armoured hand. Revealed was the unmistakable silhouette of a space marine as he strode forth into the light. He wore armour of the darkest black, save for the shoulders. One coloured a royal purple, the other clad in an ornate silver pauldron. As he walked the length of the room, members of the audience gasped at his appearance. For his armour was rent and torn, one side of his beaked helmet gouged by a massive impact, the damage ringed by severed wires. Hanging untouched by the storm of battle damage around it, a dreamcatcher hung under the marine's left shoulder. Its cords woven into a beautiful spiral pattern and hung with metal charms at regular intervals. Marring the perfection was a single hole, ripped threads and a missing charm marking the passage of a bullet.

The marine stopped in front of the dais and addressed the tribunal. “I am Brother Allinafe of the Emperor's Nightmare and the Deathwatch. Am I correct in assuming that Private Jardin has explained the seconding of his company and their departure from the line?”. After a stunned silence, the senior commissar spoke. “Indeed he has milord astartes. Though his explanation beggared belief and-” The marine held up his hand. “That is enough Commissar Rayes, I assure you that his story is very much the truth. I am here to set the record straight”. Rayes blinked in surprise. “How did you-” “Your name is inscribed on the grip of your laspistol”. Allinafe responded. As one Rayes and his colleagues glanced from the laspistol lying on the table, to the marine standing some twenty feet away.

Rayes coughed nervously. “Ah... yes, continue please. Describe to the court the sequence of events.” Allinafe reached into one of his belt pockets. His hand emerged training a silver chain. Raising his arm until the inquisitorial rosette was revealed for all to see, he spoke. “By order of Inquisitor Bannon of the Ordo Xenos all present are hereby sworn to silence. Should your rank permit, you will be debriefed later. Discussion of these proceedings or the events surrounding them shall be considered an act of treason.”

“Seven days ago I was operating on the western front, hunting a quarry I will not specify. My helmet was heavily damaged and the vox circuits destroyed. Unable to call for backup I was forced to enlist Commander Dalan's rifle company and report to my inquisitor by circuitous means. Dalan resisted my orders until I revealed my full authority to him. I then directed Private Jardin to bear a message back to his regimental command post with great haste. The rest of the company was placed under strict vox silence and followed me into battle.”

Allinafe paused, as the silent room digested the facts and implications. “No record is to remain of 6th Company's involvement in this matter. Save that they served with distinction and acted in the name of the Emperor. Is that understood commissar?” Rayes glanced to his colleagues who returned his look with a nod. “It shall be so”. He stated. “Good” Allinafe replied, before abruptly turning and walking to the chair in the middle of the room.

“Private Jardin, I thank you for the lending of your blade. As it was destroyed, you may have mine.” With a flick of the wrist, Allinafe drew a combat knife seemingly from midair before placing it in Jardin's hand, still shacked to the chair. Jardin gaped at the massive knife that dwarfed his forearm. Its inwardly curved blade engraved with the images of birds and stars. The marine continued walking, coming to a halt before the seated Colonel Tollins.

“Colonel, I believe you have something of mine. And I have something to return to you as well.” Tollins gaped at the marine looming above her, before recovering and offering him the aquila in cupped hands. “O-of course sir” She said. As he picked up the aquila, Allinafe moved his left hand over the table and deposited a pile of objects. The handle of a power sword, it blade terminating abruptly in a line of bite marks barely an inch above the crossguard.

And eighty one silver dogtags.

“Be proud of your men. They are very brave”.

End