Mother Agnes ran a gauntleted hand through her unruly salt-and-pepper hair. The Cannoness had been martyred destroying the Tzeentch warlock and fellow Palatine Mother Mary had been slain earlier that day. That left her as the only authority over the Commandery. She looked down at the body of her beloved Mother Superior, her face serene in death, cradled by Sister Superior Katherine. I will do you and the Emperor proud... She vowed silently.
A drop of rain fell upon her head, and she looked up into the night skies. Several more raindrops landed on her face, and within moments the air was filled with the patter of the falling rain striking the already muddy ground. She took a few steps and laid her hand on the Sister Superior's shoulder, "Katherine, you will take the Celestians of "Cathedral Squad" and form an honor guard for the revered Mother Superior. Bring her body to Sister Harodiah for preparations for her entombment in our Necropolis on Pentateuch."
Katherine looked up, her face streaked with tears washing away the blood and gore caked on it. "Yes, Mother Agnes."
"Sister Rhoda?" Agnes called out. Rhoda had been Magdalena's adjutant, delegating whatever tasks needed to be done. "Call the Emperor's Eye. Have them prepare a message for their Astropath to send to the Preceptory on Pentateuch. Tell them I am assuming command of the Ardent Blade Commandery until the Council of Canonesses deems otherwise. I am field promoting Sister Superior Katherine to Palatine, and giving her command of Mission White, a post vacated with Mother Mary's death. I will continue to command Mission Crimson and assume the duties of Cannoness."
"As the Emperor wills, Mother Agnes," Rhoda bowed her head. "Or should I say, Mother Superior?"
Agnes gave Rhoda a sharp glance to see if she was teasing her, but the Sister's face was completely serious. "I do not have the audacity to promote myself to Cannoness, Rhoda. I will be assuming the duties, but not the rank…not until The Council should see fit to grant it to me."
Sister Rebecca, the leader of the glorious Seraphim landed with the slightest splash of muck, her golden armor splattered in the ichor of the daemons she had slain. "Mother."
"Rebecca. Our casualties?"
"Sister Leah lost one of her Seraphim to the fiends of Tzeentch. Sister Superior Ruth of "Faith" squad was martyred, along with one of her Celestians. Two more are wounded and will need to be evacuated…only Sister Jezebel remains. Two wounded in "Serenity" and one in "Chastity"…" Her face was stern and her eyes filled with righteous fury as she cast her eyes upon the bodies that surrounded them. "Of the Repentias, only three are still capable of fighting. Six more are grievously wounded, six other martyred. Sister Agatha was…we found her in two pieces, Agnes. She died valiantly fighting the warlock himself."
Mother Agnes went over the count in her head. Six Repentias, eight Lay-Sisters, eight Celestians, a Seraph, Mistress Agatha, Palatine Mary, and Cannoness Magdalena had all been martyred for the Emperor since arriving on this planet. Another six Repentias, a like number of Lay-Sisters, and five Celestians were wounded and unable to fight. They had lost one Exorcist IFV, a Repressor APC, and two Immolator APCs. She tilted her face to the sky, letting the rain wash away the grime of battle.
"Mother?" Rebecca prompted and she realized she had been silent too long.
"Seeing as the Inquisitor has seen fit to deploy his own troops elsewhere, we cannot use his Valkyries to carry the wounded. Have a dropship sent down to pick up our wounded to be placed in the care of our Sisters Hospitaller."
"They may be reluctant to land…this is still a hot zone…"
"Remind the Imperial Navy they are under Inquisitional mandate," She replied coldly. "If we are here under that ingrate, Saevitiae, we may as well use his clout." She started walking through the rapidly deteriorating mud toward her Immolator. "Get reserves to replace the Lay-Sisters lost. There are still a half dozen Repentias on the ship as well, I think. We should have five Celestians in the Reserves as well, have them brought down to reform "Hope" squad."
