—By the Emperor!

My euphoric shout was joined by the rest of my men. We did it. We had resisted long enough. He didn't know how or why the reinforcements had arrived, but this was not the time to ask questions. It was time to join the counteroffensive.

The earth shook, and our gazes turned towards our backs. Our hearts leaped with euphoria, as the horizon behind us was filled with the millions of soldiers from the main forces that had reached the front. Suddenly, thousands of boots replaced our efforts, leaving us behind to join the Emperor's angels in battle. They came... I thought we wouldn't make it... But we did.

-Commissar!

Crosta's voice quickly caught my attention, and I turned to the captain who was moving briskly towards my position, with Henry, Erik, and many others at her back. As soon as they arrived, they threw him into our improvised trench next to us, because although the front had been moved towards the Black Templar formations, a shot without a trajectory could give us unnecessary death.

"I'm glad to see you, Captain." And you guys too.

—I say the same, commissioner. —Young Henry's voice could not be contained.

—Greetings for later, soldier. Commissar. Where is the rest?

—Murphy should be further south, and Mason further north. Colonel Tiaron is several kilometers north of our position, but we lost contact with them when the repeater was destroyed.

—Medium range signals should be operational. Several radio teams wait in the rear.

—Good to hear. Preston, contact the other groups immediately.

—Yes, commissioner.

The young operator began to manipulate the controls of his radio, while various frequencies expelled that heartbreaking static. However, within a few seconds, a voice was heard from the other side of the device.

—Sector 12 speaking. Does anyone receive me?

—Good to hear it again, soldier.

—Crosta? Where are they? Is he with Harrus?

"I'm here, captain." Meet us at the center front.

-Understood. We're on our way. We have a lot of injuries, so it will take us a while.

-Understood. We are waiting for you here.

—Mason frequency found. —Preston commented when he finished fiddling with the device.

-Received. Put it to speech. —And seconds, and I hear the beep indicating that the frequency channel has been established. -Mason. Do you hear me?

-Commissar? —His voice sounded quite worried. —It's actually you.

—In flesh and blood. How is the situation regarding your position?

—It could be worse... If it hadn't been for Krieg's men we wouldn't have been able to hold out.

—I'm glad to hear it again. Come back to us.

—On the way, commissioner.

—Preston. Any luck with Colonel Tairon's frequency?

-Yes sir. I have the frequency online. But it seems to be interrupted.

—The colonel must surely be receiving orders from above. We will have to wait. Captain Crosta, take the reserves and go to the front. Look for any Astarte or member of the Astra Militarun who appears to be in charge and ask for instructions. We will reach them shortly.

—Ha... You're getting good at this, commissioner. You heard. Under way.

It was a very welcome compliment, but I still had a lot to learn before I could show off my military knowledge. For now, he just wanted to drink something and regain his strength while he waited for instructions.

We regroup behind the trenches. With the Emperor's Angels in front, the defensive line had moved enough that our position was relatively safe, and we could set up a makeshift temporary camp. Our main objective would be to regain strength and care for the wounded.

Mason arrived shortly after, as his position was not that far from ours. Many soldiers in his group had fallen, but he still had enough strength. Something I couldn't say about Murphy and his boys.

The captain arrived several minutes after Mason, with a quarter of his troops behind him, and more than half of them wounded. Murphy himself had a bandage around his arm, but appeared to be able to move it. In a quick report, he told me how they were flanked, since being the end of the formation, the orks were able to advance along their side without encountering resistance. I'm glad I sent those reinforcements in time, but I have a bitter taste in my mouth seeing so many lives lost. But we were not defeated yet.

—Commissar, Colonel Tairon is on the line. —Preston's voice quickly caught my attention.

—Let me know. Colonel. Commissioner Tairon speaking.

—I'm glad to hear it again, Commissioner.

—The feeling is mutual, colonel. Praise the Emperor for that.

—How are your troops?

—Recovering. Some of my men want to thank you for saving their butts downtown. —I look mischievously at Mason and his boys and they return the gesture.

—It has been an honor. Commissioner, I have orders from the Chaplain himself.

—I hear it.

—In ten minutes we will leave for the front. More reinforcements are on the way, but we must close the distance between our position and the capital city.

—Is there a reason?

-Affirmative. Reports say this was just the Ork outpost. The real horde is gathering to the east.

-I understand. What are my orders?

-Listen. You are too far away, and we have to mobilize immediately. Go south, and meet up with the rest of your men and Malfi's 9th Battalion. Report to Commander Hybrid and place yourself under his command.

-Understood. May the light of the Emperor protect him.

—May the light of the Emperor protect him.

The orders were given, and in ten minutes, all of us who were left behind were ready to march to the front. Behind, only the wounded and a few soldiers remained to protect the makeshift camp, Captain Murphy included. It was a few minutes of rest. Not enough. But the war was not going to wait for us.

We were about ten thousand men who were left behind. Those of us who still had the possibility to walk on our own two feet, and our souls had not been destroyed by fear and madness. I have seen men and women die equally in the face of this implacable enemy. And I know... that this bloody battle for Aten III was just beginning.

In a few minutes we arrived at the front, and while I ordered my troops to resupply, I headed towards the sector command post guided by several soldiers who were terrified when they saw me. And I soon understood why.

Once at my destination, located not far from the war zone, I came across a modest war post, with some maps and several officers giving status reports and updates. Judging from what he heard, the main conflict had not fully begun, and only some skirmishes were taking place in separate areas.

—Commander Hybrid? —I asked the guy who seemed the most important in the place.

-Who are you? —He asked me sternly, but without disrespecting me when he identified my clothing.

—Commissar Harrus of the Ultionem Militum. I was ordered to report to you.

Commander Hybrid was an upright guy. His gaze was cold, but not merciless, and the marks on his face spoke volumes of the consequences of a long life of service. A scar on his lip, probably caused by a sharp object, and a burn that covered the right side of his face from his ear to the corner of his lip. The classic mark that a laser rifle leaves when it doesn't kill you.  

—So it's true. When I was informed that a commissar was in command of an entire division of the Astra Militarun I thought it was a joke. I see I was wrong.

—Desperate times call for desperate measures.

—I agree.

That was what I needed to gauge his mettle. Just like him to measure mine. Truly, a commissioner is a force of discipline. His orders are to maintain order and punish traitors. If we must fight to the death, it is our duty to ensure that each man complies with the order. If a position must be maintained, it is our duty to ensure that no one backs down. And our punishments apply to both soldiers and officers. And therefore, we don't really have a hierarchical role in the army.

Yet there I was. A guy who shouldn't be there, and with the authority to blow each of their heads off, but who was more interested in crushing greenskins than in questioning the commanding officer's decisions. And also, waiting for your instructions.

—If what I heard is true, I trust that I can count on your help to support the central front. Right now, we are under enemy fire in several sectors, but we know that the bulk of the horde is still waiting. Go to the front, find Captain Fordo and assume command. Our mission will be to resist until the rest of the troops can disembark.

-Understood. There are Astartes in the area.

-Affirmative. But they have their own objectives. Likewise, be prepared to take orders from them if required.

-Understood. I will leave immediately.

—May the light of the Emperor guide you.

Without further waiting, I took my troops and headed to my designated position, several minutes from the command post. The front was very well positioned, with abundant coverage, trenches better prepared than our attempts at a preventive attack. As well as several defensive positions reinforced with strategically positioned tanks and anti-aircraft guns. Mostly at rest, since isolated skirmishes were not something that still required their attention. However, as soon as I arrived at the war zone, a familiar voice assaulted me from the side.

—Harrus.

-Crust?

I turn my head, and see the captain advancing towards me along with another man from the 9th.

—I thought it had been deployed to the central front.

—Change of plans. They sent the division south to support the 9th company. Meet Captain Fordo, he is in command of the forces in this sector.

Before me appeared a subject slightly younger than the commander, but with an expression as iron as steel. I couldn't identify if he was that way from birth, or if he wasn't very happy that a commissioner supplanted his responsibility in an unexpected way. However, I didn't have time to worry about such things at such a time. 

—It will be an honor to fight under your command, commissioner. —His tone of voice made me think that it was not entirely true.

—I say the same, captain. —He responded with notable indifference. —What is the situation?

—No changes. We are holding the front. Sectors nine and six are under constant attack, but we manage to keep the orks at bay.

—Any astarte in the area?

—There are several stationed in sector three. But we do not know their objectives.

—Have they given any orders?

—Nothing different from what headquarters said.

-Very good. Crosta, take half of the soldiers I brought and take them with you. Take command of sector seven through nine. Captain Fordo, you take care of four through six. I will take care of sectors one to three.

Crosta replies with a salute and a stomp, Captain Fordo, on the other hand, remained motionless, with his eyes wide open looking at me.

"Is something wrong, captain?"

—This... Didn't they order you to take command of the entire central front? —With those words, my suspicions were confirmed.

—I was ordered to hold the front. They didn't tell me how to do it. You know your troops better than I do. I hope you are up to the task, and that you contact me if something unforeseen occurs.

I already know that face. It was the same face Crosta and Murphy gave me when I said something similar. I'm not going to deny it, I still have a lot to learn, and I don't know the tactics of the 9th Regiment at all. My decisions may even just be less effective than those of someone who already knows his men. Besides... I want to have the Emperor's angels close by. They more than anyone know what really happens on the battlefield.