Three weeks on this blistering rock, it was finally time for the purified air and controlled temperatures of one of the navy's transports. Morek had packed my bags while I organized the men, and I was lucky to have an already experienced quartermaster by the name of Cromwall, the aged soldier seeing to every item being stored with a methodical precision I would have expected out of a squat. It was no wonder he and Morek got on so well, I thought to myself. 

Sel had taken to her posting as my driver fairly well, which was just as well, as I found her skills were more than adequate to make up for her unscrupulous attitude. It was by the Emperor's Grace her attitude was never towards me, and because I tended to have her back as well when I could allow, it made for an excellent partnership. I had actually made a small side comment to the colonel on granting her a promotion, but that was shot down most expeditiously. 

However, despite her being made to remain as my corporal and driver, she was allowed a break when the Salamander's arrived to ferry us to the shuttles. As Morek chewed on his beef jerky and Sel reclined on her seat like she was an inmate being transported to prison, I felt this next month in the troopship would be a far safer, more enjoyable time than the past month on this throne forsaken world. 

[hr] 
[i]3 days later, aboard the Cruiser "Argent Lance"[/i] 


"Do the platoons give you any trouble?" I asked, casually leaning against the balustrade, only granting a cursory look at 3rd squad doing their FTL drills. It was generally accepted that light to moderate exercise was needed to keep one's health and mood at acceptable levels once in the warp, and I had volunteered to keep an eye on them so as to not only take the less stringent job of signing a multitude of papers, but also to not to appear lazy whilst I was actually doing practically nothing. 

"Only if we allow them to," Warrant Officer Dahlberg said, and I caught the suggestive tone in her voice. Astrid Dahlberg was a surprisingly young officer, newly promoted from senior armsmen for halting an uprising borne of the false notion that the ship we found ourselves on, a cruiser with the designation [i]Argent Lance[/i] was to be decommissioned within the year. I had yet to meet her before now, but as I had boarded the ship two days previously, I had deemed her rump sufficiently plump and her face pretty enough for me to take immediate interest. As usual, she seemed to think the same of me, though I am unaware if my own backside had helped myself in that regard. 

"I must admit," I said, sliding a bit closer. "I am unaware of the proper protocols allowed aboard. Perhaps later you could allow me to get better acquainted with the rules?" 

I watched her face flush with satisfaction, and she smiled. To my delight, her gloved index finger pressed against the hilt of my sword as she spoke in a not-so-subtle innuendo. "It is in my purview to aid someone curious about...protocol." I felt this was going to turn out to be quite the delightful trip, after all. However, my hopes were about to be dashed as Morek strode out of the corridor and onto the overlook where Warrant Officer Dahlberg and I were standing, now moving apart to a respectable distance. 

"Corporal, can't you see I am on duty?" I asked the squat. He simply stared, and not for the first time did I wonder if he was slow or too clever. After a pregnant pause, he spoke.

"Apologies, Lieutenant, but a brawl seems to have broken out in the crew's quarters." 

"A brawl?" I asked, just as Astrid added, "how large of one?" 

"Just between four squads," Morek said, shaking his head at the warrant officer to assure her she needn't get involved. "Two of ours and two of the 74th Langeroth." 

"Excuse me As- er, Warrant Officer. We can continue our discussion soon." I assured her, and as I walked away, I swore there would be hell to pay if my men started any infraction and interrupted by rendezvous with the lady Dahlberg.