Archive of Our Own

The quiet of the habitation block they walked through felt out of place amongst the distant activity of war. A hollow, empty shell without its around a million inhabitants bustling through the dark and narrow streets. All that remained of the inhabitants that lived there were decaying corpses, burned out hives with piles of bone and ash within and scattered possessions that had been stomped, burned and smashed. Mira shuddered against her will as she felt the heavy weight of the dead lying around the place. She looked around her but all was still, no children shouting and laughing, no adults calling and exchanging pleasantries while trying to control eager kids. No street marketers trying to sell small and nice looking trinkets that, while looking fancy, served no function. There was nothing moving but the loose debris that the wind could shift or the movement of her Guardsmen and Titus around her. She moved the weight of her lasgun to better relieve the tension in her right arm. She let out a slight groan as the muscles that had been taught against the stock and trigger of her lasgun relaxed.

"Are you alright Mira?" Titus asked.

"I'm fine. Just relieving some cramps." She brushed it off.

A scuffling nearby caused her to tense once more. She spun to catch a Gretchen crouched over the remains of a household pet. Before the foul greenskin could notice her, she raised her lasgun and promptly blew off its head. The headless remains dropped like a rock with the cauterised stump where its head should have been falling in plain view. Despite seeing these things countless times before, Mira shivered again. The shot did not go unnoticed by her company and they swiftly raised their guns to counter an incoming threat. Though when none came, they relaxed a little and turned to the Captain and looked for her call.

"Gretchen." She spoke. "Where there is one, there are many. Be on your guard. Titus, have you got anything?"

The large platoon went silent, allowing the super human to listen for even the slightest of movement.

"Nothing, Captain. We are alone."

The guardsmen visibly relaxed against their wills but it was welcome.

"Alright, I want four teams. Jarex, take your squads to the northwest corner. Horley, you and your squads are going to the northeast corner. Coaxer, you've got southwest."

"What about you ma'am?" Coaxer asked.

"Titus and I will go to the hab-tower in the southeast corner."

"Alone ma'am?" He questioned.

"Don't worry Coaxer, you've got the busiest corner. We've got the quietest. We can't spare the troops for the quiet if you're going to need them."

"All right ma'am." Coaxer finished.

"We will reconvene here at 18:00 hours local time. Set chronos and move out Guardsmen."

The three sets of squads moved in their separate directions.

"Are you sure about this Mira?" Titus asked when the Guardsmen were out of earshot.

"You're the equivalent of all of those Guardsmen put together. So I'm not worried about that."

"Not us, them."

"How do you think they'd feel if I sent you to basically baby sit them?" Mira asked. "They're Cadian Guardsmen. They will look after themselves. And I've sent them out in big enough groups they could out gun any orks they might encounter."

"I see. Are they likely to encounter large numbers of orks then?" Titus asked.

"Possibly. The information relayed by the recon Valkyries said that the most of the movement was in the southwest of the hab-district. Whether the orks are still there or not, we don't know. But there was a large Conscript garrison building there so it is more likely that orks went there for that stuff and stayed there."

“That is true. I apologise for doubting them.” Titus said.

“Don’t worry about it, Titus.” Dismissing the issue, “We have bigger things to worry about.” She said, gesturing to the hab-tower that rose above them.

“We only need to enter each floor and you can hear anything there so we can move quickly and quietly.”

“Agreed Mira.” Titus said covering the door as the Captain roughly shouldered the door in. He had to admit, she was stronger than she looked. Mira brought her gun up the second she was in and was sweeping the room in large arks with her flashlight but nothing but dust caught the beam.

“Clear?” She said quietly and looked to Titus for confirmation.

“Indeed.” Was his reply. The odd pair moved toward the large stairs that lead up to the levels above. They climbed carefully and on each level they stopped and listened. Nothing other than rodents made any noise that the marine could hear and everything else was silent and still. By the eighteenth floor barely a quarter of the way up, Mira huffed and sighed after Titus called clear.

“Are you alright Mira?” Titus inquired. He was such a worrier.

“I’m fine Titus, just a little bogged down is all.” He turned to her.

“You are in perfect fitness, you could not be out of brea-“ but Mira cut him off.

“Not physically, mentally. This isn’t my first hab-block clear out.” She said, trying to brush the matter off but she couldn’t. Titus was a worrier.

“This is your first clear out after an Ork invasion. I understand.” Titus said, trying his superhuman best to comfort her.

“Do you, though?” She asked somewhat riled up, “I’ve cleared eight hives in my career.” She straightened feeling proud, but could only sink further as she spoke her feelings, “The first three were a Necron tomb world uprising and they leave no bodies. Just ash and silence. The following three were Eldar where all of the bodies were killed neatly and almost with care, which would have been disturbing if not for the simple humanity of a quick painless death making it weigh less on your consciousness. The last two were chaos.” She shivered as she recalled, “How all the bodies had been strung up and defiled, marked with symbols of heresy and the chaos gods but most of the bodies were gone. And it wasn’t as depressing as it was angering. Really it was just the ones who had resisted who had been brutalised and they were few and far between. But this!” She passed her arms over the broken, twisted and bloody bodies, “This is-” she struggled for the work, “barbaric! Nothing but slow agonising pain etched on every face for all eighteen floors in children not even old enough to hold a gun let alone fight back.” She shook her head and her posture slouched as her head dropped to examine the body of a five year old on the floor at her feet.

“Mira.” Titus said softly. When she did not reply, he placed his gauntlet on her armoured shoulder as gently as a ceramite hulk can. She let out a heavy sigh before she raised her head and steeled her expression.

“Right. Enough. Move on marine.” She ordered all signs of the internal conflict hidden behind pure professionalism. Without question, as he had seen this many, many times, Titus moved on and climbed the stairs ahead of Mira. When he reached the top of the twentieth floor he stopped again to sharpen himself and concentrate on the sounds. But there was something wrong. “Contact.” He whispered and Mira instantly tensed and assumed a defensive posture prepared for ambush. Titus tracked the sound in his head. First left, second right - There! Silently the pair reached the large doors to the communal eating hall for the twentieth floor. The breathing he could hear was confusing him, small short breaths that were panicked and aware. At first he thought it was a large hab rat, but it was too loud and the breaths were too large, though not raspy enough for a gretchen or grot. A small silent conversation happened then between the pair as they drew plans. Titus would enter first followed closely by Mira. Simple enough. She nodded for him to move. And move he did. So fast she barely saw him shoulder the doors in and sweep the room with his bolter. When Mira moved in behind his motionless figure, she shone her light over the room and there, caught right in the beam like a spike-rodent in the headlights of a hab glide, was a child. A human child, female, between eight and nine years of age judging by her height and build. Mira shook her head and shut the thoughts down. This was a child. A live child. Right here. Before Mira could react, the child bolted for the far door and she would have made it if not for the in-human reaction and speed from Titus who raced across the room and caught the child before she could get more a couple metres.

“Titus!” Mira called a little late but still before he caught her. The girl froze the moment she heard the call.

“I have her.” Titus said sternly but without any weight behind it as not to scare the child more than she already was. It was then that Titus hearing picked something new up besides the three of them. Something skittering above them. Before he could call, an Ork Gretchen dropped from the ceiling aiming to land on Mira’s head but before it landed and could deal any damage with its crude dagger, Titus had brought up and fired his trusty bolt pistol through the top half of its body. However, the weight of the falling legs still brought Mira down and as she stood the room began to flood with the devils that had clearly heard Mira’s call from a few floors up and had decided to investigate. Titus dropped the girl in favour of his bolter which barked loud and bright as he mowed down the filth. Mira stood and fired but took few with her shots as the majority fell to the rapid fire explosive bolts. After only five seconds of firing, Titus went to reload his gun only to find that no Gretchen remained. He turned to Mira, who had turned to him, though both then turned to see that the girl had run. The two set off without a word and with Titus following his hearing, they tracked the girl through the hive stem. A shrill cry sped their runs as they raced down a long corridor. Titus practically slid to halt outside a small hab room and quickly raised his gun but he had no shot. The Gretchen was between the girl and him, if he fired, he would likely kill her too. Mira clearly realised the same and wasted no time drawing her combat knife and charging the thing. Before it could turn to counter, her knife had pierced the back of its skull and severed the spinal column just above the neck. Even for an orkoid, that was certain death. With that gruesome task complete, Mira threw the corpse from the girl’s body and stooped to check the girl for injuries. But as Mira’s hands approached the girl, the girl simply threw herself at the unprepared guardswoman who, if it wasn’t for Titus supporting her back, would have fallen flat on her backside. The crying was instantaneous and the girl wept like Mira had never heard. Mira simply stood there supporting the weight (that was practically nothing) of a maybe nine year old hab daughter who was clinging to her like a mother and weeping like a newborn baby.

It was at this thought that something clicked inside Mira, some hidden instinct that she could only place as a parental one. Or was it maternal? She didn’t know, never having been a mother herself. But something about this felt natural.

Titus was utterly confused and his confusion only deepened as the professional Captain suddenly started making calming and reassuring sounds while rubbing the girl’s back. Titus’ raised eyebrow near its limit but the glare that Mira gave him silenced any questions before he could utter them. Instead, all he got was a ‘we need to leave’ look that Titus could not agree more with.

Despite Mira’s accusation, he did feel the weight of the dead more so than she could because he could hear it. Like a niggling voice in the back of his mind telling him that there was nothing here. No life. Without heartbeats like Mira’s or the child’s, a job like this on his own would be a test of his will power to not succumb to the depression of the place. His mind unwilling shifted to thoughts of the halls and chambers of the Inquisitor’s prison. There was a deathly quiet in those halls and chambers, a sound so similar to the deathly quiet of a dead hive spire. His thoughts were interrupted when his body, clearly having been acting on auto-pilot during his unwilling recollections of the years imprisoned on board Thrax’s ship, had reached a heavy pair of steel doors. He turned back to see Mira holding the hand of the wide eyed girl that she must have let walk as she could not have carried her down forty flights of stairs. Either way, he had to open these doors.

Placing his hands against the right hand door, he put his whole might into the door. Doors like these were locked in the event of an outbreak or invasion and the mechanisms that held them were not to be overcome by mortals or orks or very little else of the size that could fit within the confines of the hive corridors. Fortunately, Titus was no mortal or ork and with one heavy grunt, he felt and heard the taxed locking mechanism shatter inside the wall where the door was attached. The light gasp from the girl informed him that she had likely seen these doors closed and been informed of their impenetrable nature and now she had watched him shatter the lock. He heaved against the door as, with a loud grinding, the door was forced open enough for the trio to exit the dark, death filled habitation spire. It didn’t go unnoticed by the warriors that the girl's eyes lingered on the now ajar door behind them as if saying farewell to the dead she had left behind, be them family or friend. Mira’s grip on the child’s hand tightened and the child mirrored Mira’s action and gripped back. Something inside her swelled with an emotion she still couldn’t place. It filled her with a warm pride and brought a smile she couldn’t wipe from her face. After gentle consideration, she decided that she liked the feeling.

About halfway through the walk back, Mira was shaken from her thoughts and assessments of their surroundings by a gentle tug at her arm. She looked down to see the girl was looking up at her, and asking something with her eyes.

“You’re tired, aren’t you.” She said in low gothic. The girl nodded and glanced at her barely clad feet before looking up at Mira and pleaded without words for a break. A bit like a rookie on their first march, she mused. She smiled at the thought but dismissed it quickly to replace it with concern. She was, in all honesty, too tired to carry the child far and would only end up doing herself harm. Her mind lit up as a light-bulb went off inside her head.

“Titus.” She said.

“Yes Mira?” the marine replied.

“Can you carry the girl?” She asked. Titus looked doubtful.

“With the girl encumbering my arms I would be unable to effectively defend.” He said thoughtfully.

“Can’t she rest against your pauldron? In one arm?” Mira asked.

“It would be awkward for the child.” He said with concern.

“What about behind your head, on your backpack?” Mira said, eyeing the cap between the gorget and the top of the backpack.

Titus thought for a moment, clearly mulling over the geometry. “She would fit, but it would not be comfortable, the armour at that part is kept cool by the channels beneath the plating.” It was clearly said out concern rather than a aversion to carrying the child but Mira was decided. She was too tired, the girl was too tired and Titus was the only choice.

“Titus.” Mira said sternly. “You will carry the child. Or Emperor help me if I have to order you.”

Titus caved under that. He stepped over to the child who cowered behind Mira as he approached.

“Do not be afraid, child.” Titus said, “I am a son of the Emperor, and I have a duty to protect those under his light.” The child didn’t budge.

“It’s okay,” Mira comforted, “He may be made of metal, but he’s soft inside.” Titus’ eyebrow reached a new height record! The child looked at Titus’ face and he tried his best to look comforting. It worked apparently as the girl stepped out to meet him face to face.

“My name is Titus.” Titus said gently, “What might yours be?”

“I…” The girl started then stopped. “My… name?”

“Yes.” Titus said.

“Sofia.” Mira smiled. At least her name was nice. It seemed as though Titus liked it too as a small smile spread across his face.

“Would you like to rest your feet on my shoulders?” Titus asked. The girl simply nodded and Titus stood as he effortlessly lifted the thin framed girl by the waist to behind his head. It reminded Mira of a childhood antic growing up with her family. Her father used to carry her on his shoulders when she was tired after a trip to visit the family or her friends. The relation of the thoughts made her smile larger. When the girl had placed herself comfortably on Titus’ shoulders, she curled into herself against the top and front of his backpack and promptly fell sound asleep.

“Thank you Titus.” Mira said softly but the marine did not reply. When she did not say anything further Titus’ voice spoke out.

“Made of metal? Soft inside?” He questioned as they walked. Mira chuckled, making the marine turn his head to question her further when she interrupted him.

“I was thinking of a way to disarm you for her. You forget sometimes that you are a big hulk of metal armour to those not smart enough to see you past it.” She said nonchalantly.

“And you can see past my armour?” He questioned, fixing her with an amused but piercing glaze. Mira blushed involuntarily.

“Well… I…” the words failed her, “I don’t know.” She said averting her eyes from Titus’ blue eyes.

“Why Mira, did you stand by my side as the Inquisitor laid his threats upon me. Why would you try to stop me going with Inquisitor even knowing it would mean a certain condemnation of corruption and treachery?” He asked gently but there was a weight behind it.

“Titus, I’ve told you, it was my relief talking after a long and hopeless campaign that claimed too many good lives.” She said trying to dodge the question but one cannot simply dodge a question when it moves at the speed of an Astartes.

“Mira-” He begins.

“Okay!” she hissed out, loud enough to silence him but not enough to wake the girl or gather unwanted attention. “From the minute I first held a conversation with you, I thought you were different. It was because the moment we started talking about the situation, I realised that you were not like any other figure of power I had ever met. Most came with arrogance or a lack of care for those under them. But you cared. We asked a big task of you on Graia and for the sake of me and my troops, you went out of your way to secure us our supplies and reinforcements. You showed concern to me and my guardsmen and even threw yourself at a large group of warp daemons to save a handful of guardsmen. I guess that when you have had so many Commissars and careless Generals for leaders, you tend to latch onto good leaders when you get the chance and you don’t let them go. It was like that with my last Commander back on Graia.”

“I found a servo skull with a recording of that on Graia in your bunkers when we first met.” Titus said. “At the time I thought nothing of it but now as you tell me this, I understand it. It was not unheard of to have a Space Marine chapter or company take command of guard companies and employ them on campaigns.”

“Like the battle for Coldataralia.” Mira said.

“Indeed. I guess you were hoping that for the rest of the liberation of Graia, that I would be placed in command of the operations and thus you would have the space to care for your men as I would do the same in turn.” Mira would never admit it out loud, but Titus had just hit the nail on the head.

“Titus, I am telling you that when you first walked into my command bunker back on Graia and again here on Lampridius Three, those have been the single most relieving moments of my career and that’s after being told that a large group of civilians, including lots of children, had been uncovered on Graia. It wasn’t just that you were the Emperor’s angel. It wasn’t just that you were a Captain. No. It was because I knew you cared.” I also thought you looked rather dashing. Mira muttered to herself under her breath.

“Mira.” Titus said. She turned to look at him and his face was both confused and mortified? No. Surprised? Not it either.

“What?” She asked?

“Rather dashing, Captain?” He asked with a humorous tone in his voice. Mira’s eyes widened at the implications of what he had just said.

“Did I say that loud enough to hear?” She asked, shocked that she had forgotten how sensitive his hearing is.

“I dare say you did.” He replied.

“Well I suppose I meant it in a-”

“Mira.” He said quickly.

“Okay. It means exactly what it sounds like.” She said, hanging her head.

“It is okay to have these kinds of feelings; you’re a mature lady with-”

“But I’m a soldier dammit! I shouldn’t have these feelings. There were plenty of good looking men and women in my regiment but I never felt that way about any of them.” She let out a frustrated sigh. “Trust me to be undone by an Astartes,” shaking her head she continued, “I’ve never had feelings like these. Never. Not even before I enlisted.” Suddenly conscious of what that could mean to him, she stopped discussing her romantic life and went silent.

“Mira?” Titus asked, concerned by her sudden silence. “I apologise if I said something that offended you. I just wanted to assure you that-” Mira cut him off, trying to fight the growing flush she could feel creeping up her neck to her cheeks.

“Titus. I don’t know what you got from that but this never leaves this company,” she said, “That’s an order.” Okay now it was official. She was flushed when she said it. She gave up hiding it from herself. She had romantic feelings for Titus. She was about to settle in for an awkward, silent walk for the remainder of the distance to the rendezvous point when Titus’ voice snapped her attention back to him.

“Mira,” his voice was soft, softer than she’d ever heard it before, “I could have gone back to Macragge. I could have chosen to seek the Chapter’s Librarians to help me with this resistance to the warp. But I feared that even if I had returned to Macragge, I would not have been so easily accepted. I would have been ridiculed by my brothers and they likely would not have welcomed me if I was already condemned as a heretic by the Inquisition. So instead, I chose to find you.” Titus paused in step and speech, Mira matching his pause and turning to face him as he did her. His expression was kind, open, it looked almost out of place surrounded by his armoured gorget. “I did so because I knew that you would not turn me in or away. I knew that you would not turn me in because you believed in me, you knew I was not a traitor. And for that, I thank you.”

“Titus, I…” Mira paused, the raw vulnerability in Titus’ voice forcing her to nod her head to dislodge the sudden frog in her throat. “I understand now Titus.”

Titus remained in place for several seconds, contemplating his next words. Mira waited, clearly sensing that there was more to be said but refusing to press the marine.

“Sergeant Sidonus cared not for my ability, or what it could mean, because he knew I was no heretic. But Sidonus is dead by Chaos’ hand and I swore on his dead body that I would avenge his death.” He took a deep breath before sighing, lifting his head as his eyes strayed upward, to gaze far over Mira’s head and into the distance. “When the Inquisitor condemned me, I thought I was a dead man. I let my emotions run wild and amid all the pain I felt from the tests, the interrogations, the mind probes and psychic scouring, I felt something anchoring me. When I was falling, barely conscious, with Nemeroth dead by my hands and the power source destroyed, it was Sidonous’ voice consoling me for my actions. But it was not Sidonus. Not this time. He was by the Emperor’s side, his peace found after I avenged him.” His head lowered and his eyes found hers and she found herself both pinned down and drawn in by those bright blue eyes. “Instead it was the one person I knew I could turn to. It was you, Mira. It was you who was comforting me, driving me to survive the Inquisitor’s tests, soothing the pain after each mind scourge. You who called me to kill the traitors and commandeer that ship.*(1).

When Titus had finished his small speech, he broke the eye lock and turned back toward their direction of travel. He waited for Mira to collect herself, which she did quickly, not wanting to hold up the superhuman who had just spilled his deepest thoughts to her. But even as the march continued for minutes after, the words remained fresh in Mira’s mind. The more she thought about it, the more she tried to tell herself not to look into it too much. She shook her head roughly, attempting to forcibly shake the thoughts out but she couldn’t. She kept coming back to the thought that it was her! She had been his bulwark against the pain. It made her all kinds of conflicted inside but tried to quash it. He isn’t a Captain anymore, isn’t bound by his Chapter’s rules-

“Mira. You are speaking your thoughts again.” Titus interrupted her musings, reprimanding her. “And while I am no longer a Captain of the Ultramarines, I am still a space marine. I am still guided by the Codex. It is the underpinning knowledge that every Space Marine must live with.” His voice was stern but not unkind and Mira had to fight down a guilty expression but Titus continued. “But I never followed it that closely. So I am sure I can give a little leeway, Captain.” The smile in his voice made her pause and look at him, but she could not see past his pauldron or gorget to confirm the smile she could hear.

“Sorry, for, you know...” She apologised, trailing off when the words failed her. But Titus waved her off with that same smile in his voice.

“Do not worry, the feeling is mutual, Mira.” He said. Mira nodded, not that he could have seen it, and quickly stepped a few paces to draw level with him. She glanced up at him but once again, the pauldron and gorget hid his face. She wanted to speak with him more but she could sense that he was done talking. And the silence that was settling between them, broken only by their mismatched footsteps, was comfortable. She was loathe to break it.

The two walked the rest of the way to the rendezvous point in that comfortable silence.

“Captain Mira!” Coaxer’s call caught her off guard and she shook her head free of already forgotten thoughts. She jogged the short distance up to her Lieutenant.

“Yes, Leftenant?” She replied.

“Captain, the three other blocks are cleared and all ork resistances were neutralised. We’ve been waiting for an hour over the scheduled time ma’am. What took you?”

“We had a slight distraction.” Mira said and looked round to the Space Marine who was walking up with the girl sleeping soundly on his shoulder by his head.

“Is that a child ma’am?” Coaxer asked.

“We found her alone in our hab-tower. We did have some Gretchen activity which caused minor delays because they were attracted to the girl.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t anything you couldn’t handle.” Coaxer said as he turned to address his squads.

“Any casualties Coaxer, Horley and Jarex?” Mira asked of her Lieutenants.

“I took eight casualties ma’am.” Coaxer answered.

“Five here Captain.” Horley called over.

“I took ten casualties ma’am.” Jarex said.

“Good. Only a few good soldiers were lost.” Mira sighed with relief.

“We did get a lot of supplies from the Conscript garrison though Captain.” Coaxer said gesturing to the crates stacked neatly to one side. That lifted Mira’s spirits despite the losses.

“Good work. We’ll need to get these back to HQ. Split the crates up between four and take turns to carry them. We’ll take regular breaks to stop us from getting tired too quickly.”

“Aye Captain.” Coaxer said before he turned to Titus, “Do you want a hand there my lord?”

“She is of little hindrance to me. I will look after her for now though I appreciate your offer. You have those supplies to worry about; I would not want to burden yet another weight on you.”

“Fair enough my lord.”

“Captain?” Horley said after a brief chat with his vox operator, “We’ve received work from Operator Captor that his mission was a success and the ork supply line has been cut.”

“Yes.” Mira breathed as a heavy weight lifted from her shoulders further, “Have they many wounded?”

“Aye,” He turned to the Operator who spoke quickly before a short pause.

“Seventy eight dead with forty three extra wounded on top.” That attack had cost them one hundred and twenty one good men and women, over an entire platoon of them, with more than half definitely out of the running. Some may recover but those who had fallen were with the Emperor now. There was little they could do now other than remember them and move on. The orks would not wait for them to grieve before they gave them hell.

“Inform Vantas that we have taken minor losses here and that we are returning to command. Tell him,” she paused, “tell him that he has our hopes for the wounded’s recoveries. And that we will be back at 23:00 local time.” The operator relayed all that had been said directly to Captor who received it and passed it directly to Captain Vantas, who, as this very moment, was in the process of staunching a bullet wound on his thigh and chuckled at the words Mira had sent.

“Guardsmen, we have won a victory against the horde and we have shown them that the 203rd is here to stay. We will not be backing down to them. We are Cadian Guardsmen! We have never let our enemies dictate our survival and we will never let that happen. Now grab a supply crate between four and take shifts, the command may need our strength upon our return.”

“Hoorah!” Was the response from the gathered Guardsmen as the morale skyrocketed at the news that Vantas’ company had pulled through. A gentle hum of chatter settled over the group as the Guardsmen relaxed into the walk that befell them. Mira fell in line with her Guardsmen next to Titus who still carried the child securely against his neck. To her surprise the girl had seemed to have awakened at some point during her conversation with Lieutenant Coaxer and his vox operator, as she had shifted into a position that had her arms wrapped around the superhuman’s neck and her head resting beside his even as her legs had tucked themselves. She’d tucked her legs under her to brace her against the angle of his armour, cushioned with blankets she must have been given keeping her insulated to the cold and Titus’ armour’s sharp edges. She looked so peaceful and the marine so indifferent despite the situation that she could not help herself but smile and release a small chuckle. He noticed of course but paid little attention to it and the pair lapsed into silence despite the conversation around them and few calls being shouted across ranks. Mira was inclined to quieten the shouts but since they had confirmed this area was ‘free’ of ork influence, she decided to let it be and let them boost their own morale.

“Mira.” Titus' single word caught her mid stride and she nearly stumbled. Smooth. She told herself.

“Yes Titus?” She enquired.

“What is it that you find worthy of a chuckle in my situation?” Titus asked.

She chuckled again. “It’s the way you look with her wrapped around you. An Angel of Death. An Angel for sure, but perhaps not of death. Salvation seems more fitting to the scene here.” She said with a light humour.

“Be that as it may, I am still having mixed feelings towards this child,” Titus shrugged as much as he was able to without hitting the child with his massive pauldrons, “I feel that this child will suffer more under the lack of parentage. An orphan like her will most likely be handed off to the Adeptus Administratum and would be moved to wherever is best, likely places requiring cheap labour. Or in the unlikely but best case scenario, taken in by the Scholar Progenium, and recruited into the guard or commissariat. Perhaps the Adepta Sororitas may take her in after testing her faith.” Titus had thought these things and rightfully so. Now they pressed at the front of Mira’s mind as she tried to comprehend a way to save this girl from the most likely road ahead of her; abandonment to the ever unknowable whims of the Administratum as Titus had stated.

“What if we…” She trailed off as she dismissed the idea before it could form.

“Mira?” Titus questioned.

“Nothing. It was nothing. It wouldn’t work anyway.” She shrugged it off but she couldn’t hide the idea from herself entirely.

“Mira.” Titus the same way he had before she had confessed that maybe she liked him a little more than she should as a Guardswoman.

“Damn.” She said defeated. “I was going to suggest that I oversee her personal care and development.” She said with as much conviction as she could manage despite how stupid it sounded out loud.

“You wish to adopt the child?” Titus asked. He easily managed to see through her flimsy disguise.

“Well, yes, in a way, I suppose I do.” Mira said. “It would never work; the Guard does not simply allow this kind of thing. As you said, she would just be ejected to the nearest Administratum base and allowed safe passage to wherever they willed it or worse.” She sighed.

“It will work with all the other Guardsmen, until a commander of rank greater than your own gets here. Which could still be weeks from now.” Titus said. “With Sofia under your care the Guardsmen will not question it.”

“I know they won’t, but it’s as you say. Once a commander of greater rank than I arrives, there’ll be no stopping what they decide to do with her, despite what I and those of my command plead. It’d be the same roll of the dice. I want to spare her that, but I’ve no idea how.”

“Surely they’d listen to you, you’re a Captain, a well respected and decorated one. You doubt the clout you would wield with them?” Titus seemed quite surprised by Mira’s self dismissal of her own authority. Though Mira wasn’t surprised, Titus’ chapters’ practices of rank, veterancy and authority was often based on merit and experience. Sidonus had been a Sergeant, yet Mira had often noticed that despite holding a lower official rank than Titus, Titus still turned to the Sergeant for advice. Mira’s world was not quite so free. Her world was of strict adherence to the chain of command.

Mira sighed. “I might be a decorated Captain, Titus, but even a Captain is a part of the lower officer ranks. I’m still considered an officer of the line, especially to those of Major or General. I’m still down here in the muck with my command. To them, we Guardsmen of the line, officers and all, are all expendable in the eyes of these officers of high command especially ones that don’t know us. They know it and we all know it. Perhaps if the high command we’d had when we made planetfall were still with us, they’d listen and understand. I’d probably be reprimanded and watched closely to ensure my dedication to my duties never slipped, but maybe they’d still listen.” Mira paused to catch her breath, her heart aching at the reminder of her command comrades lost. “But a high command officer that’s never met me, worked with me? They’d dismiss me and mine in a heartbeat, send us back down to front without even hearing our case. To them we’re just the leaderless thousands they’ve been brought in to command and whip back into shape. Those who they can order to do the Emperor's work without much care to how many of us could never see the next day.” The few Guardsmen within hearing range turned to face her. “My command will understand, we know the price and preciousness of life. We all know that tomorrow we may be dead and with little left behind. We’ve learned to appreciate that life, especially one with as much potential as her.” There was a general hum of agreement and a lot of nodding heads at Mira’s statement.

“You know, ma’am, back on Graia, when we pulled those children from the boiler and they went on to survive the Ork invasion, it was one of the single happiest times of that deployment.” The troopers around the speaker, a Corporal, nodded along with accompanying murmurs of agreement. “Not to mention having a commander that cared for her troops. If you’d spent our lives willy-nilly, we may never have had a chance to get those children out. We’d have never saved those lives. Yeah, it's life we appreciate all right. Ain’t that right?!” A louder chorus of whoops and laughs echoed through the group confirming the answer was right. Mira blushed at the comment that had been made of her and how that had made the Guardsmen feel. Smiling, Titus chuckled and looked around at the dozing girl on his shoulder. He still couldn’t make his mind up about her. Something seemed… off. Shaking his head, he dismissed the thoughts.

“Settle down now people,” Mira said, hands raised as to quieten them, “We’ve still got a small way to go to reach the command post and there may still be Orks around. Never can be sure with the damn things.” The mood calmed but remained cheerful. ‘Just a little more on the alert side’, Mira thought. It was times like this, surrounded by good men and women with sure fire aim, that she knew they stood the best chance. The troops knew it too and she could see it in their faces. They weren’t afraid because they were with their friends and knew that they would have each other’s backs.

They kept up the pace, taking only short regular pauses to change the hands carrying the crates, until at last, a trooper near the front of the column called back to Mira.

“Captain! Command in sight! Looks like Vantas’ companies beat us home!”

“Okay Guardsmen,” Mira started, “All those who are carrying supplies take them round to the loading bays and we can get them up into the store. Everyone else, take a rest and make sure your gear is clean and ready.” She needn’t have said that because all the Guardsmen had that in mind.

The march lasted another twenty minutes with another five being taken up with the logistics of moving all the supplies inside the fortress. Not to mention that Vantas’ companies were still traipsing in from their return marches and the fortress was bustling as preparations for their ongoing arrivals were underway so that the fortress was able to continue to receive the influx of both healthy and injured soldiers, vehicles and material.

Within an hour, Vantas’ companies were home and the soldiers were dispersing into the various rooms and holdings of the fortress and at Vantas’ insistence, Mira was taking a break within her office which was a small room with little more than a bed, a desk and light but it was home for the foreseeable future.

Snapped from thoughts already forgotten, Mira looked upon the door as someone knocked.

“Enter.” She said simply.

The blue bulk of Captain Titus entered the doorway and Mira relaxed a little but noticed the girl, Sofia, was behind him. Seeing the Guardswoman, the girl squeezed her way around Titus and crashed into Mira. The reaction caught both warriors completely off balance and while Titus was testing the record for the highest eyebrow rise, Mira was trying to breathe as Sofia wrapped her arms tightly around the woman’s unarmoured chest.

“Sofia, where have you been?” Mira asked, realising that since their return she had not seen her.

When the girl didn’t answer, Titus spoke up. “Amongst the activities upon our return I was so busy helping the Guardsmen move things that I completely forgot that she was still resting on my shoulders.” Titus said. “Sofia requested that she be brought to you when she woke.”

“Thank you Titus.” Mira said quietly, rubbing the child’s back comfortingly.

A light grumbling sound brought the room quiet as Mira scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. When Sofia tugged at Mira’s sleeve it became evident that the girl was hungry, likely having rarely eaten anything over the course of the invasion.

“Are you hungry Sofia?” Mira questioned and Sofia nodded shyly.

“Titus, if you would accompany us, we will get some food for Sofia here.”

“Of course Captain.” Titus said leaving the room to allow the pair to leave past him before walking slowly behind them.

The fortress’ main mess hall wasn’t too busy at this hour but the few who were there were surprised at the company Titus and Mira had but paid it no head. Greetings and casual salutes were directed to the two before those closest also offered a greeting at the child. Clearly not one used to such direct social interaction, Sofia quickly hid behind Mira’s legs. Finding this quite amusing, the Guardsmen simply laughed and winked at the Captain before walking out or remaining in their seats at their tables and laughing between themselves at other trivial things.

“Hey there kiddo.” A voice said behind Mira. Looking behind herself, Mira noticed that Sergeant Egbert was standing behind them flanked by Privates Leijon and Vox Operator Captor.

“Guardsmen.” Mira addressed them with a smile. She knew Vantas’ squad well and she knew that they were a close knit bunch. “We were just getting some food.” She stated. “Would you care to join us?” She offered.

“Yes ma’am.” Egbert grinned and crouched to face Sofia who was standing with wide eyes looking at them.

“And who might you be kiddo?” Egbert asked and he smiled warmly at her trying not to scare her.

“Sofia…” The girl said almost imperceptibly. Egbert smiled wider at the name. It was a goodn’ after all, he thought to himself. Rising he gestured to an empty table where the group could sit.

“I’m going to grab food then sit if you don’t mind Egg.” Nepeta said, nodding her head towards the catering hatch.

“Sure thing.” Egbert said as he shrugged.

“I’m with her.” Captor said as the pair made their way to the hatch.

The group sat and Mira stood to collect their ration packs for the evening.

“Captain!” The chef called merrily, “What can I do for you?” He asked. Sergeant Gerum was a chef before he was recruited but never did lose his touch in the kitchen despite the training and the 203rd are lucky to have him. His voluntary work make the ration packs that little bit more bearable.

“Four packs of the usual please Gerum.” Mira said, gesturing at her bunch. Gerum raised an eyebrow as he leaned over the counter of the hatch to look over at the unorthodox group sitting at the table. With Titus nearly crushing the seat and the girl sitting small beside his bulk, it made for quite the sight.

“Is that a child I see before me?” He asked curiously. Mira nodded.

“We found her in one of the habitation towers on our clear out.”

“Poor kid,” He intoned, “probably lost everything and probably really hungry.” He looked down at the four ration packs that he was about to pass to Mira when, to Mira’s surprise, he grabbed another and prepared that as well. Adding it to the four already there, he smiled warmly.

“Before you argue, Captain, it would do the boys and girls better knowing that the ration pack is going to the child so that she isn’t going to die of malnourishment or starvation.”

“Thank you Gerum.” Mira replied totally relieved and still a little shocked that the normally strict chef was giving her extras.

“Think nothing of it.” He smiled again before turning to the Guardsmen behind her.

Returning to her group, Mira set the packs on table and they disappeared quickly; even Titus didn’t hesitate to grab a pack. His suit had long run out of nourishment and had resorted to eating with the Guardsmen rather than refuelling through the suit. Even then, Mira thought, he’s still human and has to eat at some point.

The meal was eaten in silence and to Mira’s surprise Sofia had taken one mouthful of the pack before proceeding to jam the stuff as fast as she could into her face to the point where Nepeta had intervened to stop her from choking on it or getting indigestion from the filling meals. Mira gave Leijon a nod of thanks for her help and she had merely smiled a ‘you’re welcome’.

With the meal finished, Egbert, Leijon and Captor left for sentry duty as Titus retreated to his quarters and Mira her office.

“Mira?” the small voice asked.

Surprised, she turned her head down to address her. “Yes Sofia?”

“M’tired.” Surprising, as she had spent most of time asleep on Titus but she supposed that long term deprivation when in the hab tower was taking its toll on her small mind. As they continued toward Mira’s office, Mira thought it best that Sofia rest on her bed as none of the other places she could would be safe for her. Not in a ‘harm or worse’ could befall her, more of the it was full of strangers and with mind taxed as hers it would her little good to be surrounded by that many people that quickly.

“It’s okay.” Mira offered as they reached the door. “You can sleep in here.”

Opening the door, Mira stepped in with Sofia just behind her. Showing her over to the bed, Mira watched as Sofia pulled herself onto the bed and before she really thought about what she was doing, Mira was pulling the blanket over the girl and tucking it in. Strange . Mira thought. Why did I do that? She vaguely remembered her mother doing it to her when she was about this age. With Sofia drifting off, Mira sat herself behind the desk and considered the paper reports and supply status lists, etcetera etcetera, on the desk. She could deal with it later, she told herself. Leaning back against the seat she vaguely thought about going and joining Sofia for a small sleep. Dismissing it quickly, she pulled the rough sleeping pack from underneath the desk, a remnant of her times in the open field with no shelter or sleeping surface. Spreading it on the floor, Mira stripped the thick material under-armour fatigues off, leaving her in a simple body suit that was worn underneath. Sliding into the bag, she rested her head on the rough pillow beneath her head. Few thoughts drifted into her mind as she fell asleep. One thing that did drum up from out of nowhere was the conversation she had had with Titus on the walk back from the habitation tower.

What would this mean for the two of us? One of us is a condemned traitor and the other a harbourer of one. We would have a lot of explaining to do when high command catches up to us when we get reinforcements. And what of Sofia? Will she get a life worth living after she has been snapped up by the Administratum? I sure as hell won’t let them send her to the manufactorum as a worker. But then what can I do? I may be a Captain, but even then I have little to no say in anything the high command wants to do.

Sighing, Mira tried to shake the thoughts from her head so that she could rest but found herself directed back to Titus.

He’s an Astartes. I’m a Guardswoman. It can’t happen. What have I done? He said that it was me that was anchoring him to reality and from giving up entirely. He also hadn’t denied having feelings for me nor had he squashed any of mine own for him.

It was at this moment that amid the maelstrom of whirling thoughts and rogue feelings, Mira found solace in sleep and forgot the inner chaos that was her consciousness. But something new was burning in her chest. A new flame was burning anew. Stoked by the feelings for Titus and the duty of care she felt over Sofia. Mira would find new energy in the morning.