[QUOTE="greendoor, convMessage: 1443812, member: 394"]

"I can order them to wear their jackets." Trombauer says, with a wave of his hand, as if indulging a mere uniform code change. "The rest...I will speak with my sergeants. Perhaps we have gone too long with the advises of a Commissar." The Lieutenant concedes, promising nothing.



(Charm success, 1 DoS)



You notice the other officers (Kabe especially) seem to be relieved that the officer has backed down without saying anything else stupid that'd reflect on them (or get his brains on their uniforms)

[/QUOTE]

"A wise decision, Lieutenant Trombauer," Varus says.

[QUOTE="greendoor, convMessage: 1443812, member: 394"]

"Liane...yes." Kabe says. "Our Chaplain likes to spend time amongst the locals. A White Robe affection." The Captain says, with a shrug of confusion at the Chaplain's behavior. "If anyone knows the local's customs well, it is her."

[/QUOTE]

"Really? I can't say any of the White Dawn members I know are like that," Varus mutters, brow furrowed. "Still, seems the woman to speak to then."

[QUOTE="greendoor, convMessage: 1443812, member: 394"]

The various platoon officers nod their assent to this-though of course Trombauer as if indulging you. You cannot help but notice few of them seem enthusiastic at this prospect. Kabe is nervous as ever, and though Jenson appears confident it's likely a façade. Fritz and Malsbech both seem grim at the prospect, as does Schrack. Kanta seems confident, but then the man hasn't looked anything but. Kalb too seems pleased at the prospect, but then, you suspect he will enjoy you breaking his platoon's issues down publicly.



"I'll have the report's in your Aide's hands immediately after the meeting, Commissar Varus. Everything else you might need too." Kabe says, as if distracting himself from the prospect of the coming inspection.

[/QUOTE]

"My sincere thanks, Captain," Varus says, his grateful tone covering his concern over the officers' reactions. Their worry over the coming inspection was hardly surprising, but he'd still have liked to see more than Kalb eager for a fresh start. No matter. Duty demanded, and he'd not let their lack of enthusiasm hamper what had to be done.

[QUOTE="greendoor, convMessage: 1443812, member: 394"]

"The Unchained." Kabe says, nodding. "They're typical archenemy forces-poorly organized, poorly armed, poorly trained, but vast in number." He recites, as if from memory. "They subvert the locals to their side to bulk out their numbers and reduce ours by treachery."



That sounds similar to the briefing docs that you recieved, and the teachings of many similar conflicts against Chaos.



(Lore (War) failed, 3 DoF)



"Most of the troops we've faced are natives, armed with a mix of...charmingly quaint local weaponry and whatever else they could scavenge. Laslocks and autorifles and the like. Good morale, but they can't stand against the Astra Militarum."



"Except when they can." Kanta offers, with a grunt.



"Well, yes." Kabe concedes. "We have lost battles with them-only when we are badly outnumbered, or they pulled some witchcraft or treachery."



"Like the Huntress." Fritz says, from her position. Her voice is troubled.



"A nuisance." Traumbauer spits out. "A Witch whose killed a few isolated squads." Lt. Fritz glares at him. You can't but notice that Schrack's hands are shaking.



"That 'Nuissance' slaughtered half a platoon." Fritz says. "And several more squads beside."

[/QUOTE]

"Suffer not the witch to live," Varus words come out raw, the passion behind them barely restrained. "That is the Emperor's command unto us. The Witch is not a nuisance, not an isolated problem. They are Abomination, Daemon Callers and soul thieves, that must be hunted down without relent or remorse so they may be cleansed with holy fire. "



He turned sharply to Colonel Kabe, taking in a deep breath. "I want everything on this Huntress on my desk, as well as the provenance of what other tools of the Dark Powers the enemy has to bring to bear," He allows himself to relax, before continuing with a softer tone. "If you would be so kind, Captain? I know I'm a hardly a priest of the Ecclesiarchy but nonetheless, I have my duty to safeguarding the soul of this company. Witchcraft concerns me a great deal more than stubbers and las-locks."



[QUOTE="greendoor, convMessage: 1443812, member: 394"]

"I suppose as long as we are mentioning specific figures, there is also Chief Merab." Jenson offers. You suspect she spoke as much to defuse any potential incident.



"Merab, right. Warlord whose been leading what we think is the main body of the enemy in this area-most of their local troops." Kabe shrugs. "A barbarian and a brute, but one whom seems to have thousands of followers. The natives say something about him being a local legend of a warrior, but I've killed plenty of their Warriors." Kabe taps the hilt of his chainsword. The confidence in his fighting skills seems genuine, at the least.



Kanta holds back a snort. "Whatever he is, he's thrown us back twice." There is barely concealed frustration and dislike there. "Once with sheer numbers, yes, but the second time...well, he certainly seems to have learned quickly about artillery and snipers for a 'Barbarian'."



Jenson is glaring at the Mountaineer, but she doesn't dare say anything directly in front of you. Kabe seems struck for a moment, but concedes. "I suppose that is correct, Lieutenant. He is a threat, though one we will overcome."



"...I suppose there's also a few offworld heretics amongst the forces we've seen. Ones with real weapons, though still underequipped compared to us." Kabe continues, after a moment of shrinking under Kanta's gaze. "I don't know why they'd fight for a native warlord, or if they follow someone else, but they've been here and there."



"Always a bloody bad day we run into them." Malsbech comments. "They got real guns after all. We still win most days."



"Anyway, as you can see, we're stuck in a bit of a stalemate here." Kabe says, as if he had not just spent the last several minutes saying the enemy cannot stand before his command. "It seems for however many times we push the Unchained out of part of the woods, they slink back in. We patrol to root them out, and they ambush us." He shrugs, helplessly.



Fritz nods at that. "Speaking of, a few squads of mine should be returning from patrol soon. Hopefully they got the Mortars this time." She admirably manages to conceal her doubt that her platoon managed it.



Kabe continues. "We haven't been able to convince regimental HQ to burn down the forest, and we can't do it ourselves. Merab or whoever's in charge over there occasionally sends an assault across the bridge or in boats to push us off his hill, but we've seen them off everytime. Most of the time they don't even reach the bridge before retreating."



"We rotate squads through an old tollhouse on the other side." Malsbech clarifies. "We have no sandbags, so stone suffices."



"Thank you Lieutenant." Kabe nods to her. He continues. "Like Kanta pointed out, we've tried two large pushes that have failed, though we inflicted heavy casualties on the foe." The Captain tries to smile. "I'm sure we'll turn it around soon, especially with your help?"

[/QUOTE]

Varus takes a moment, looking over the men. They've been thrown back by a poorly equipped rabble of feudal worlders? Twice? He knew the Unchained recruited heavily from the local worlds, of course, but he'd expected it to be cultists from the worlds they had seized to be the main brunt of the enemy force with locals as auxiliaries. That the local rebels were giving the Astra Militarum so much trouble was...He decides that ignorance was a virtue and stops thinking about it. The offworlders were the real issue in any case. He'd need to find out if they spoke Low Gothic or some Chaos bastard tongue. The former would suggest traitors to the Imperium like the wider Unchained. The latter mercenaries or Malefactors or other Chaos forces of similar ilk.



He clears his throat, returning the Captain's smile. "Well, I've certainly fought worse than a Feudal World uprising before. I can't imagine I'll have much trouble," He says. He places a hand on his hip, looking over the whole of the command staff. "I'll be honest with you. The coming days won't be easy. We'll be tightening down in a whole lot of areas the company has gotten used to being slack in, and I am going to put the boot down where I see it fit. Some things, like our supply issues, may take a long time to fix. There will be adjusting pains, make no mistake. Really, I expect you'll probably end up cursing my name more than a few times," He said, keeping his tone light and chipper.



"But I can promise you this: By the time we're done, the fifth company will be a sharper and deadlier than it's ever been before, and the Unchained will be ground down beneath our boots like the dregs they are. I can promise that this company will have new glories to add to its honor roll, and new victories to thank the Emperor for. Emperor, if I can, I'll have the fifth company the envy of the entire regiment. And I can promise you, I'll give my all for the Fifth Company. You may not be Velorum like I am, but I see no less honor in serving alongside you in the God-Emperor's name. I look forward to serving alongside you all, and fighting for the glory of the 157th and the Fifth Company."



He pauses, motioning an aide to come over with his amasec. Taking a glass, Varus half raises it.



"In fact, why not a toast? For the honor of the fifth company and the glories to come!"