This choice: Cain and Amberley's investigation begins • Go Back...Chapter #7Cain and Amberley's investigation begins by: storymaker   EDITORIAL NOTE
It seems it's that time again, and I do apologize profusely for once again forcing this on the readers of this document, but as Cain's recounting of events veers away from the surrounding events to focus, as it typically does, on events surrounding himself, I feel it becomes necessary to include some relevant context, and this is, unfortunately, one of the only sources available on the matter. For what it's worth, her prose style seems to have improved in this publication, at least in so far as she seems to have finally found one. Still though, those of you with a refined appreciation for the Gothic language are still welcome to skip it.
From Like a Phoenix Come to Roost: The Lesser Known Deeds of the Valhallan 597th by General Jenit Sulla (retired) 103 M42
The tale I now relate to you, my dear readers, is perhaps one of the most embarrassing stories among the many exploits of the Valhallan 597th, as we were faced with a devious and unprecedented threat in the form of the very victuals provided us by the planet itself12. Some perfidious machinations had afflicted the planet's plants and animals, rendering a malicious effect upon any of the women of the regiment who were unfortunate enough to consume them. As fate would cruelly have it, through the misplacement of the regiment's rations would cause this to be the case for each of us, down to the last woman. The effects of this planet's comestibles, debilitating as they were, would have rendered the regiment completely incapacitated had it not been for their restriction only to those of us of the female persuasion. The fact that we had been formed into a mixed regiment with the aid of the legendary commissar Ciaphas Cain meant that, hindered though we had been, only half of our number had suffered any true ill effects13, and as we women suffered along, the effects having spread through the entirety of the regiment within the first twenty-four hours of our deployment, I had absolute faith in my sisters' ability to carry on through the inhibition, and in our brothers' dedication to help take up any slack provided by our sudden infirmity. We would not let the taint of this planet's foodstuffs prevent our regiment from doing battle and seeing off the enemy in the name of our Glorious emperor.
In the first few days of affliction, the effects were merely an annoyance, as the women and men of the 597th made preparations for battle against the forces arrayed against us despite the status of half of the troopers in the regiment slowly growing more impeded by the meal.
Of the celebrated Commissar, I saw little during those early days, as he had been seconded to the aid of some secret task whose details had not been furnished to the likes of myself and other officers below the ranks of Major Broklaw or Colonel kasteen. No doubt he was seeking some answers as to the source of the debilitating taint afflicting our supplies, as he so often was to be found hunting down the root of each danger he found himself in. But while he was away, our first battles were to be fought against the treacherous forces of chaos and the insidious Xenos known as Eldar. Ironically, it seemed as if the planet's unique affliction was not partisan to any particular force, as I and my troopers noted that the enemy also seemed to suffer the same ill effects as we had, their women being just as debilitated, if not moreso, for they lacked the steel determination and iron fortitude of we blessed Imperial Guardswomen, and we forced the enemy back without too much difficulty, though our trials and tribulations were as yet only beginning.
Attentive readers who managed to struggle through that passage may note that, amusingly, Lady General Sulla never actually mentions what that debilitating affliction actually was. Apparently the pride of a General is somewhat more fragile than a Commissar or an Inquisitor.
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12Which almost leads one to believe that the celebrated General Sulla has never heard of the concept of poisoning.
13At least that Sulla could see. There were certainly other effects that afflicted both the men and women of the planet, as noted later in this extract.  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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