A slightly smaller Mess

"But then, they died dignity in tact, and for good cause. I, for some throne only known reason, am still alive."

Sunset over no-man’s land transforms the landscape. The dying light, and sweeping angle of the sun, play tricks on the eye. The depths of even the shallowest shell hole become inky voids. Shadows move quickly, enough to trick the cautious lookout into seeing movement, conjuring phantoms. Something out there creeping closer.

A low bush, peeking from behind a mess of wire, becomes a dozen veteran imperial guardsmen, lasrifles rested upon the edge of a shellhole, waiting for the blanket of night to attack.

he shrugs
"If you're looking for spiritual guidance I'm not your man"

"I'm asking why you didn't just let them kick me to death. I refuse to believe it was out of the goodness of your heart."

"And why's that eh?"

"Because you're a damnable heretic?"

"Could say the same o you lad, from my perspective eh?"

He looks at him like he's a complete fool "There really is no comparison there."

"Why's that?"

"Oh? Would you like the list?"

"From where I'm sitting its like this. We're both born to families and worlds that hate eachother. You didn't have nothing to do with why my people hate yours and vice verca. I weren't in the great heresy, I weren't fighting on terra. You didn't burn olympia to the ground. Sins of the father eh?"

"You may notice that you're invading my home."

"You may notice I aint got say in where I'm posted"

"Terribly sorry about that old chap, it must be awful for you."

"I aint lookin fer your forgiveness lad, I'd have asked if I was"

"Whats your game at this man? Pity? Some scheme of your own?"

he grabs a bottle of something "You just gonna stay in the doorway?"

"Until I'm convinced that i wouldn't be better walking off to cause general havok and die with some dignity, yes"

"You're barely standing lad, how much havok can you even cause?"

"My tongue works enough to get me killed. I imagine a few verses of Imperator Tempestus Dominae would do it."

"And what havoc would that cause exactly?"

"Supposedly, Pious verse should make you all fall to your knees and beg for repentance."

"Sounds like bollox to me lad. Hit me with it now, lets see if it works eh?"

“We could use this site as a rallying point for any stranded imperials, prepare a counterattack, and use the tunnels to transport men. Strike before they can react, wear the enemy down with guerilla tactics until we can strike a decisive blow”

Viktor: "Yeah we thought that, but uh... Inquisitor said that ones a no."

Theres a murmur of agreement and some nodding that goes around the room among Viktor's 'command staff'

"I would rather hit you with a las-bolt. But i seem to have misplaced my pistol."

"Then try yer holy words then, I'm curious"

He clears his throat, then, in a strong baritone, he sings the first few lines of a locally popular hymn. "Fons est Macharius' a dextra videre, sanguineum peccatores peccatoribus impiis, perdere tincta cruore inrupit"

In low gothic, the hymn's meaning is thus. "There is a fountain that I see
Filled with blood drawn from Macharius' vein
The sinners, sinners plunged beneath that blood
Are purged of guilt's red stain"

the man watches him for a moment
"Well, fraid it aint havin the intended effect" he chuckles

"Unfortunate, truly."

"Reckon it'll work on them?"

"Probably not. However it will really annoy them, which is almost as good."

"Not exactly havoc eh?"

"No, for havoc i would need a gun."

"And would need to not be hungry, tired, bleeding and bruised eh?"

"One could accuse you of enabling me."

"Maybe. You killed a couple o them 'purebloods' I wouldnt exactly cry about it"

"Purebloods? You're gonna have to bring me to speed on Heretic terminology."

"Heard of olympia lad?"

"I have not, no."

"The astartes here? Olympia's their old homeworld. So anyone with 'olympian blood' is superior apparrently. All the soldiers here are 'purebloods'. Well, save me."

"Right. Give me all your hand grenades and point me at the command dugout."

"You say that like I have any. What idiot keeps grenades in a tank? The ammunition's hazardous enough."

"A tank shell and a lasgun will do then."

"You sure youre not a commissar lad? Surprised youre still standing to be honest"

"I'm an officer."

"Aye, we share that"

"Do officer's show discomfort in the face of the enemy where you come from?"

"Incase you hadnt noticed, anyone but me round here woulda shot you or worse"

"Well, would you like me to break your nose or some such? To make it appear as if you tried to stop me?"

"I want you to sit down before you get yerself killed pointlessly"

"Pointlessly? I would say blowing up a command bunker would be rather fruitful."