Story 9 The Longest Short Bus. Chapter 19

Adelith took upon the duty of consecration in burning away the sigils of heresy and destroying the Deamonhost's body remaining bodily mass within holy flames. 

"Alright, Adelith, while you and the majority of the soldiers set up a FOB here, I will take a detachment to my old safehouse to collect my tech." I spoke.

The Sister of Battle frowned hearing my words and then said bluntly. "I refuse. The Emperor's-" 

I cut her off as I tilted my head backwards to the golden warrior standing behind me. "The Emperor has already sent a guardian here to protect me. I need you here to keep the soldiers in order and busy fortifying the area. Also, secure a site where I can begin fabricating more arms and armor." 

She nodded with that same frown but I didn't budge on that. So with that, I looked to Barghest and smiled saying. "Alright Barghest, let's go home and collect all my printers so the little uns here won't be so squishy and useless." 

And Barghest gave a firm nod of agreement as she looked at her fellow Ogryns and humans with an aspiring eye before she said bluntly as she followed me. "They are lesser... Is this what the Astartes feel like boss?"

I could feel a hint of amusement at the thought of a proud Astartes hearing Barghest equate herself to them... Most would be beyond pissed at her for that. But I doubted that the best Astartes in the Salamanders would be angry. Either way, her words were actually correct.

In using the Super Soldier Serum from the Marvel universe, Barghest had all the worst parts of her Ogryn DNA removed while leaving her with the best parts. Her mind was as sharp as a genius human even if she didn't have the knowledge and wisdom to take advantage of her mind. And her body... Even with my Guardian enhancement atop my own Super Soldier enhancement.

She was still physically stronger than me owing to the fact that she was literally nine feet fucking tall and that mass in genetic perfection meant something indeed.

So in comparing a base guardsman to Barghest? Yeah, there's not much difference between comparing a base guardsman and an Astartes.

I gave Barghest a pat on the arm as I smiled wryly and said. "Yeah kinda... That and how long they live and the monsters they fight is why Astartes are so distant with normal humans."

I could feel Barghest's frown from under her helmet as her voice came out tinged with honest sadness. "Thats kinda sad boss..." 

And that was the reality of Warhammer 40k. Nothing was supposed to have a happy ending as the god of fate was a fucking demon god and actively worked to piss in everyone's cheerios.

On the bright side, this world was being attacked by Nurgle which meant that via my genetic enhancements his base poxes and more insidious corruption could be dealt with. Compared to Tzeentch or Slaanesh being the ones on this world. If those two were here instead this world would be far more difficult for me to handle.

Our trip through the paths, roads, and hallways of the hive city back to our previous hab center wasn't an issue... As a Guardian in myself, a Custode's and a hulk-sized Ogryn made short work of the small crowds of Poxwalkers we came across along.

We otherwise didn't run into any Chaos Spawn, traitor guardsmen, or otherwise run into any other Nurgle entity. 

Once we got back to our hab block and I disabled the traps so we could get in and begin loading the three dozen large printers up into a large flatbed that Barghest would pull. I decided to ask the Custodes for advice... As obviously he was millennia old and had maybe even fought during the fucking Horus Heresy for all I knew.

"Do you have any advice to go after the root cause of the heresy on this planet? Any tactical movements I should make to go after the leader of the Rot?" I asked frankly.

The Custode's ruby red gem-like eyes in his helmet met mine and for a long moment there was silence before the Custodes answered bluntly. "No. I have no advice. My shield company is only here to protect you Jake Bariss, not to guide or change the path you walk."

'Reee! Why do I need to make all the decisions!?' I thought with annoyance as I held in an explosive sigh at how fucking unhelpful everything was that I wasn't dealing with on my own. 

"Alright, we got everything loaded up and we can remake the Super Soldier Processor back at the Geothermal plant. Let's get moving back to base." I announced as I rigged up some plasma grenades and other explosives to go off in a good five minutes.

But as I turned around I gave a small smile seeing Barghest grabbing the padded bedding I made for her and carefully tucking it along with her favorite blanket around the printers to make sure the printers didn't jostle around as much.

From there we backtracked our way back to the Geothermal plant with a dull rumbling slowing our steps slightly as my explosives wiped away all signs of our previous habitation.

And with our previous slaughter of the Poxwalkers, we didn't have the bad luck of running into more beyond a couple wandering small groups and a small squad of ten traitor Guardsmen that got mulched by energy sword and the Custodes spear before they could call for reinforcements.

So after the two hour something long trip back and forth as we reached the Geothermal plant I noticed that the entryways were already blocked off with metal plates welded over many entryways and Adelith had left only a single main entryway that was a killing zone with several Las turrets and even some smaller canons facing the long hallway leading into the main Geothermal Plan's entryway.

"The Commissar is back!" Guardsmen yelled who was on duty as we approached with Barghest and myself pulling along the cart carrying the printers.

The fortifications were moved aside allowing us to enter with a couple Ogryns in Guardsmen like flak armor coming over to help Barghest pull the heavy cart up the slopped incline leading into the Geothermal plant and seeing the three Ogryns pulling the cart up the metal and rockcrete ramp I wondered. 'How many horsepower is an Ogryn?' 

But I shook the idle thought as I yelled at Barghest. "Barghest stay with the printers and don't let anyone mess with them. I am going to check with Adelith to see where she set aside an area."

Barghest snapped out a salute as I walked away with more than one Guardsmen looking shocked at the female 'Astartes' who loudly said happily. "Aye aye boss I will stay with these Ogryns and no one will touch your printers."