Marsh Silas IIS: Squad Stories

Chapter 22

The pilot of the rigid infiltration craft decreased speed. Although still a nautical mile away from the target, it was a quiet night on the Torium Sea. Without strong prevailing winds, the water was very calm. No breakers disturbed the flotilla of watercraft on their smooth journey. Another boon was the overcast sky—no moon to reflect off the water. But, without wind or choppy seas, there was little to mask the sound of the engines or disguise their white wakes.

Navis Maritimum special operations personnel were wiley fellows, however. Combatant-craft operators utilized a muffled engine that minimized noise output. It was a perfect tool for nighttime actions. Although their mission-set often involved stealth, their boats were not very small. Despite their size, they possessed a low and stable freeboard, allowing them to ride lower in the water. Wide amidships, less stocky aft, but thin in the bow, it sliced carefully through the water. At minimal speeds, such craft hardly left a wake. Camouflaged hulls made them all but invisible in darkness and by day they were a gray smear on the water. These nimble boats did not lack firepower either; a pintle-mounted Storm Bolter was mounted on the bow with a Saber Turret fixed in the stern.

Staff Sergeant Metcalfe trusted the Cadian NMCC operators. It was not the first time Bloody Platoon pulled operations alongside them. In some areas across the planet, terrain often dictated their method of infiltration. There simply were some places the rugged Taurox Prime could not go nor could a Valkyrie deploy safely. But, there was often a winding river or a cozy inlet near the target and thus the Kasrkin were spirited to their destination by the reliable NMCC.

He stood beside the pilot's hutch amidships. In the green vision of his Night Eye goggles, the sea was a sheet of black. Other boats maintained the formation as they glided quietly across the water. Lights glittered and twinkled on the coast. Far off, the running lights of other ships sailed along.

Metcalfe's eyes fell on Marsh Silas, standing alongside the bow gunner. The back of his helmet turned slowly from left to right and back again. It had nearly been thirty-six hours since anyone in Bloody Platoon had slept yet the commander appeared as alert as ever. Everyone's veins were swimming with energy stimms but it appeared the Cadian hero did not need any.

Beside him in white and blue armor was a Sergeant-at-Arms of the Navis Imperialis. In thanks for their assistance, Captain Rhodes had dispatched a Breacher team from his Exorcist-class Grand Cruiser Gatekeeper to assist in the rescue operation. Unlike the NMCC operators, he had not worked with them before. Their shotguns were ferocious and their void armor was impressive but he did not like the look of their leader, Sergeant Tanzer. She was too prim and proper looking, with a narrow triangular face, pouty pink lips, and her neat towheaded hair pulled back into a small knot.

"That woman belongs in a court, not a Militarum operation," Metcalfe said over 4th Squad's net. "A surface infiltration against a battleship? How could she recommend such a thing when fast roping from a Valkyrie would be more applicable?"

"Valkyries draw too much attention at this altitude. Besides, those manual anti-air batteries would shred them," Lance Sergeant Effelman said. The volley-gunner of the squad, he was one of the Bloody Platoon old hands who served in the 1333rd, unlike men such Metcalfe and Crazy Stück. The experienced NCO had been crouched in prayer by the starboard gunwale and now rose to speak to the squad leader.

"Perhaps, but why does Marsh Silas let this lowborn sergeant dictate to us? Does she mean to steal our glory? These Breachers belong in orbit, not on a planet's surface."

"Careful, Staff Sergeant; you sure our comms are secure."

"I can handle my communications just fine."

"Well, it ain't about glory. There are lives endangered upon this sea."

"Yes, more lost lambs for us to bring back to the pasture," Metcalfe grumbled. "Endlessly saving imperiled personnel—what does Marsh Silas think this will do? Hear me, for I do not wish any harm to come to our brothers and sisters no matter the uniform. But there comes a time when warriors must give up their lives. Tis natural for the Emperor's warriors."