Just as Minerva expected, she did not like this at all.
Minerva Antioch: Sir, I'm honored that you thought of me for this mission, but I request another officer be placed in command of the detachment instead.
The Colonel raised his eyebrows at the lieutenant's request and asked.
Colonel Domitius Faustus: Why's that Lieutenant, I thought all you young junior officers would like some adventure.
Minerva Antioch: With all due respect sir, I can be of more use helping to prepare the Regiment for combat than talking to some locals and taking pictures of the scenery.
Domitius sighed at her answer and looked her in the eyes before speaking.
Colonel Domitius Faustus: You want to be some real action, I get it Lieutenant, I was just like you when I first joined the Army and so was your brother.
Her eyes widened at the Colonel's last words.
Minerva Antioch: You met my brother sir.
The Colonel nodded and continued.
Colonel Domitius Faustus: I was a lieutenant myself then in another Cthonian regiment, your older brother was already a captain in the original 31st at the time. "He smiled at the memory" Your brother was always itching for battle and was always on one of the first dropships down, but Lieutenant, he knew his duty was to the Emperor, the Imperium and to mankind and even when he was given mundane tasks, he never shirked his duty.
Silence fell over the scene for a moment, then the Colonel began speaking again.
Colonel Domitius Faustus: Tell you what Lieutenant, I'll let you think over it for the rest of the day, just give me your answer by next morning, if you don't show or refuse, I'll assign someone else.
"Yes sir", was all the reply Minerva gave before they saluted one another, and she left the tent. Walking back to her own tent she sat down on her army "bed" and thought over what the Colonel said to her.
A little while later, her tent mate, another female second-lieutenant named Caria Draven came in and sat down on her bed as well. Seeing her thinking she asked.
Caria Draven: Hey Minerva, what's got you all quiet.
Looking at Caria, she replied.
Minerva Antioch: The Colonel wanted me to lead one of the reconnaissance detachments being set up to explore this planet and make contact with any local civilians in the region.
Caria smiled and said enthusiastically.
Caria Draven: That's great you must be stoked.
Minerva just shook her head and looked down, once again lost in thought. Caria frowned and signed, speaking again she said.
Caria Draven: Minerva, I know you wanted to get stuck in with the xenos and heretics, but there's more than one way of being a soldier, the Emperor certainly agrees or the Great Crusade would have never even started.
Minerva had an epiphany upon hearing Caria's words. She was right, there was more than one way of being a soldier, her brother had been rejected for service in the Legions, but he didn't let that bring him down. He found another way to serve, even if it wasn't as glorious or how he originally dreamed it to be, he still pushed forward. Standing up, she knew what she should do.
Minerva Antioch: Thanks Caria, I needed to hear that.
Walking straight to the Colonel's tent, she entered, snapped a salute and said, "Sir, I'm ready".
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
——————————————————————
Next Morning-Command Tent with Arik Taranis, Ghota and Count Formal
Ghota: Sir, I think you're going to want to see this.
Taking the data-slate from his equerry's hand Arik Taranis looked over the report sent by the returning scout aircraft. With a rare look of surprise, he said.
Arik Taranis: Am I seeing this right?
Nodding Ghota explained.
Ghota: The flyers found what looks to be another Gate on a hill local maps identify as Alnus Hill, this one surrounded by only a few thousand Saderans.
Arik looked to Count Formal, but he had a clear expression of astonishment on his face.
Count Formal: That's impossible, no more than one Gate has ever appeared at any one time.
Arik Taranis: You did not know of this Gate until now?
Count Formal: Correct my lord, it must have appeared after the Gate on Arnus Hill manifested.
Author's note: I know the JSDF only went through the Gate on Alnus Hill in force after quite some time, but to get this story moving along, I'm going to make the JSDF appear sooner rather than later,
"Hmm", Arik pondered on what next course of action to take, this was a completely unexpected development with no precedent. The situation was becoming increasingly complicated. Mumbling, he said.
Arik Taranis: It seems the powers playing on this world have gotten bored with only one Gate and sent another.
Ghota then spoke up to question his father.
Ghota: Sir, what are your orders for this matter.
Arik Taranis: Inform the Sigillite of this. For now, order our ground forces to avoid Alnus Hill and some of our aircraft to act as overwatch. Tell me if anything or anyone comes through that Gate immediately.
Ghota: Yes sir.
Arik Taranis: Let us hope whoever is on the other side of that Gate is more reasonable than these Saderans.
Ghota: Sir, I also wish to bring another matter to your attention.
Arik Taranis: What is it Ghota?
Ghota: Do you recall the abhuman slave I freed.
Arik Taranis: Yes, what about her?
Ghota pulled up her data-file and showed it to his Lord. For the second time today, Arik looked surprised before he smiled.
Arik Taranis: So, we have a princess in our custody.
An hour later with Lieutenant Minerva Antioch
Minerva Antioch: Reconnaissance Detachment-3, roll call!
Sergeant Juno Felix, Gender-Female, Weapon-Assault Shotgun and Laspistol, Protection-Flak Armor, Unit-31st Cthonian Wolves Combined Arms Regiment.
Corporal Aelius Helvetii, Gender-Male, Weapon-M36 Kantrael Pattern Lasrifle, Protection-Flak Armor, Unit-31st Cthonian Wolves Combined Arms Regiment.
Corporal Duilius Nerva, Gender-Male, Weapon-Achillan Mark III "Tread Fether" Missile Tube and Mark III Lascarbine, Protection-Flak Armor, Unit-31st Cthonian Wolves Combined Arms Regiment.
Private Andrew Benito, Gender-Male, Weapon-Mark III Lascarbine and Extra Missles, Protection-Flak Armor, Unit-31st Cthonian Wolves Combined Arms Regiment.
Private Calvin Daedalus, Gender-Male, Weapon-M36 Kantrael Pattern Lasrifle, Protection-Flak Armor, Unit-31st Cthonian Wolves Combined Arms Regiment.
Private Emily Grace, Gender-Female, Weapon-M36 Kantrael Pattern Lasrifle, Protection-Flak Armor, Unit-31st Cthonian Wolves Combined Arms Regiment.
Private Fen Luken, Gender-Male, Weapon-M36 Kantrael Pattern Lasrifle, Protection-Flak Armor, Unit-31st Cthonian Wolves Combined Arms Regiment.
Private Livia Torvald, Gender-Female, Weapon-M36 Kantrael Pattern Lasrifle, Protection-Flak Armor, Unit-31st Cthonian Wolves Combined Arms Regiment.
Private Paul Venis, Gender-Male, Weapon-M36 Kantrael Pattern Lasrifle, Protection-Flak Armor, Unit-31st Cthonian Wolves Combined Arms Regiment.
Private Oracio Quinden, Gender-Male, Weapon-M36 Kantrael Pattern Lasrifle, Protection-Flak Armor, Unit-31st Cthonian Wolves Combined Arms Regiment.
Along with the Cthonians were two felinids with camo-cloaks and lascarbines, two squats in carapace armor and plasma guns and two beastmen with heavy stubbers. Alongside the abhumans, there were four members of the Solar Auxilia, two with flamers and the others with melters. Last, but certaintly not least, were the pair of Night Lords in their garishly ordained midnight colored armor, jump packs and lightning claws.
There was also a remembrancer, a pretty young lady who had requested to join the group and was granted permission by the Colonel.
Deciding to speak with the gathered force of 23 warriors and one civilian, she spoke.
Minerva Antioch: Alright all of you, I know none you of know me, but I am Second-Lieutenant Minerva Antioch, and I will be commanding this detachment. We have been tasked with documenting anything that may be of interest and making peaceful contact with the locals, so don't shoot unless fired upon. Now let's move out.
The Cthonians filed into a Chimera, the abhumans into a Testudo and the Solar Auxilia and Astartes into a Dracosan. With the recon force now ready, they drove out of the base and into the unknown.
Comments would be appreciated