Vol I | Chapter VIII

Hello, good day readers!

The holiday has set me free, and I am resuming the continuation of the remake definitive edition of Volume 1 - which I must say I find more appealing than the older version. As of now, I have done a remade of 7 chapters, overall of the 15 chapters of the whole Volume 1.

Therefore, until that is finished I will hide Volume 2 for the time being. Perhaps even consider doing a remake on it as well!

I know that there are some that would just have me continue the storyline of Volume 2, but I am now unable to get out of remaking Volume 1 before I get on to that! Otherwise, the story won't match and it will be absolutely gibberish!

Anyhow! Thank you for the continued support, especially that one guy which I will not name but I know you - I've seen your username at every notification - and know that I appreciate any form of support. Thank you, and enjoy the chapter and the more to come!

◹][◸ ~ Astra Militarum ~◹][◸

As wild speculations formulate, and the media's ferociously insane outlet and conspiracy spiraled out of control - it had the country roused and on the edge of panic and civil unrest - perhaps even the whole world.

Presented by such a situational event, the government has been forced to handle the high exaggeration of the current news. As those in the office handle and monitor gathered information about their apparent 'Human' visitors.

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As reporters belonging to each own's channels share their opinion, thoughts, and ideas on the trending topic - most certainly the subject of it just behind the fenced wire - the korpsmen had paid no attention to them. That was until only ever turning when the sounds of the camera's shutters continued to only irritate, the dark lenses would only turn to stare soullessly at the people beyond the fence - scanning them so as though producing a judgment of its own.

"Captain Mitch, senior and the officer in charge here. Glad you could make it." The man offered a hand and the woman took it and gave it a shake. "Lieutenant Sandra, this is lieutenant Nick." Sandra introduced both herself and her partner, which had left only the honorary guest, to which the man's credit he without hesitance produced the same greeting to the soldiers in great overcoats and menacingly gas masks. "Captain Mitch, the officer in charge here." As a former military, he had a knack for knowing the 'people' - those that had killed with their eyes opened to bear witness to their doing - and these were the 'people' that go beyond and above the list. The list would be the reasons for joining the army; those that need an excuse to murder, those that just want to experience an emotion, and those that were just soulless men that would kill hundreds if ordered so to be executed.

The gloved hand shook his own, and with those hollow lenses that reflected back to him - he could see himself - and that left an unnerving and intense chill down his spine. In some retrospective, it could nearly be as metaphorical.

'In a herd of sheep, there is you. Circling around, with fangs wet in hunger is a wolf.'

'You just pray that the wolf doesn't look and find you, and decide that you will be its meal.'

In a tight forced smile, he could only produce and imitate an unwavering stance as he thought. 'These soldiers are monsters.' Mitch separated them from the nutjobs he knew, as those were men that were turned into monsters, people who could have been saved and nurtured. But these two were the absolute hellhounds straight from the gates of hell itself - to chase the sinners and bring forth vengeance and all its uncaring fault upon the heathens.

"Watchmaster 057299-3287, Masha." The Hellhound replied.

◹][◸ ~ Astra Militarum ~◹][◸

"With the remaining daylight being short, we'll continue our investigation on the cathedral first thing in the morning." Sandra had announced what she and Supergirl had discussed, agreeing that trekking the mountains and making use of the short sunlight hours left would just be a waste. "That would be all. Dismissed." Although it had been brief, the korpsmen were as disciplined as if it were a ceremonial parade in the presence of the God-Emperor and gave a crisp salute at their dismissal.

Gifted the time to do their own accord, the korpsmen made their way to their designated room as they carried the bags of their possessions and equipment. Opening the door to their quarter, the room had consisted of; a double bunk bed, a desk with chairs facing each other, and with two lockers for its two occupants.

At the door's closing, the korpsmen began to fall at ease - something that had been absent since their arrival to Earth, perhaps excluding the moment of the beautiful scenery of the vibrant green nature the planet offered.

Acting first, the Watchmaster began to neatly stuff her bag into one of the two lockers, until she noticed the Grenadier still remaining where he stood when both had entered the room. "Hylric." Masha called which seemed to pull the Grenadier out of its daze. At attention, at once at being called, the Watchmaster said nothing as she inspected the Grenadier who stood at full discipline. "At ease."

For a moment, the Watchmaster sympathized with the Grenadier. As for in their barracks, compared to those in later higher ranks, there were no lockers. Just double bunk bed with only the ground for their bag possessions to be placed. As such, and being newly promoted to Grenadier, perhaps he had yet to own a locker.

"Settle your bag into the vacant locker next to mine." was all she offered until she began to retire to rest and sleep for the next day ahead on the bottom bed.

In the corner of her eyes, with her gas mask still ever unremoved from her face, she could just about see the Grenadier giving ever so seclusive glances her way as he pack his bag onto the locker until she began to feel the deprivation catch up.

◹][◸ ~ Astra Militarum ~◹][◸