The burning tree lodged into Ajax's psyko-scape trembled as the power of the Warp began to be pulled in through it's leaves. A deep sense of unease and foreign power wracked Ajax, but the three flames of the tree increased in radiance and intensity, with the golden flame increasing its majesty and radiance the most of the three.
Ajax felt the same agonizing pain as when his soul had been aflame, but the deep sense of wrongness and foreign power was burned away. With an exertion of his will, Ajax forced the leaves to stop absorbing the essence of the Warp and the pain slowly dissipated. Drenched in sweat and shaking from the mere moments of agonizing pain, Ajax rose from his cot, washed himself, and shakily dressed himself in his uniform. He had a mission briefing to attend.
Echoing steps rebounded off the halls as Ajax walked through the Razor's corridors. The grey gunmetal of the deck and wall plating seemed to bounce sound with no loss, making Ajax feel like he was walking for dramatic effect across a stage. Ajax stopped at a nondescript door way, took his officers cap off, and entered.
The briefing room had tiered seating in an amphitheater-like curve around the speaking podium and large screen that dominated the room. Ajax noticed he was the first Hetman to arrive, so he took a seat in the front row off to one side. Uxor Loretta Vorn entered the briefing room, in a huff, and made her way to the podium without taking notice of Ajax.
Ajax made his way to the front of the podium and stood at parade rest, waiting for the Uxor to notice. The Uxor looked up for a half second before returning her eyes to her paper, then snapping her eyes back to Ajax exclaiming "Throne of Terra! Where did you come from?!"
Ajax stood there fighting back a grin, as he said with a deadpan voice "From the seats, ma'am". That comment drew an annoyed glower from the Uxor. "What do you want, Hetman?" asked the Uxor, placing extra emphasis on Ajax's rank. "I want 10th Company to be first into the breach from the Five-Two, ma'am." answered Ajax.
The Uxor raised her eyebrows at that. "You want your company to be first to fight in a mission you don't even have details for? After you suffered a nerve injury, no less?" questioned the Uxor Vorn. Ajax pulled out a sheaf of plas-paper from under his arm that was holding his Hetman's cap. He handed the stack to the Uxor who started leafing through the various pages.
"Why are you showing me CQC scores of some troopers?" asked the Uxor as she looked up from the pages. "Those are my scores ma'am." replied Ajax. The Uxor looked at the scores, then at Ajax, then back at the scores. "Almost as good as when you joined the regiment. Impressive. It appears your nerve injury isn't holding you back at all. I hope to see a full return to form sooner, rather than later. I have been impressed with scores coming out of 10th company's drills as of late. All right. Your lot will be first in the chuted, but don't think it will be an easy job. Xana will be tough slogging." stated the Uxor. Ajax nodded his thanks and returned to his seat.
Ajax sat down in his seat and took a deep breath, to hide the shaking in his hands. After mastering himself, he reminded himself why he had taken this course of action. "I have to take bold,decisive action. I have arrived at a great time in history to prevent tragedies. However, I am not in a position to gain the trust of the high and mighty. With my knowledge, I could prevent the heresy from ever starting, yet it would require others to trust me and take me words as truth. I am more likely to be dissected by whatever Alpha Legion counterintelligence is operating in the current time. I need to rise in rank and prestige, so that I can get my words to those positioned to do good." thought Ajax to himself. He kept his eyes closed and head slightly bowed as he ran through his mental knowledge of CQC combat, his budding swordplay, his …detailed… knowledge of the human body, and his understanding of psykanium.
Realizing he had mentally prepared himself as well as he could for the danger ahead, he began to inhale the Warp. The energy of the warp began to pour in through "Yggdrasil Aflame." Ajax was able to keep the flow open for nine seconds. Nine seconds that felt like nine years. Nine seconds in which the burning tree scorched his soul and he experienced the agony of his first rebirth again. Nine seconds where he felt like his soul would come apart at the seams and burst into a cloud of dust and ash. Nine seconds where he fought to his outward calm.
And then he released the flow. Ajax felt like a balloon slowly inflating. Each time he used his psychic powers, he let out a little of the 'air' he contained. But refilling became quicker each time. Every cycle of opening to the flow and filling himself up came quicker, but every time he did so he realized there was so much more to fill. It was like a drop of water falling into an empty Olympic sized swimming pool. Ajax shuddered at the thought of what he would have to endure to fill himself fully.
Ajax opened his eyes as other Hetmen filed in, taking seats in the little theater briefing room. The overhead lumen globes dimmed as the projector spun up and began to display a static laced image of a forge world with orbital shipyards forming rings about it's equatorial regions on the briefing room's screen. The Uxor stepped up to the podium and began to address the gathered Hetman, "Welcome gentlemen, This is the forge world of Xana. It was discovered a decade ago, joined the Imperium, and agreed to supply crusade fleets with ships after years-long negotiations. It is the home world of Legio Vulturum and Legio Kydianos of the Collegia Titanica-",a Hetman interrupted " So, what the hell do they need us for?". Uxor Vorn stared daggers at the interrupting Hetman. "I was getting to that. Long story short, Fifth Legion elements have discovered a Xenos breed marauding, by the name of the Rangda, close to this forge world,so the First Legion, and other crusade elements, have been called in to defend this strategically important world. We have received astropathic dispatches that a fleet's warp wake has been detected approaching and is expected to arrive close to the time of our fleet's arrival in system.",continued the Uxor. A collective groan rose from the Hetmen in the briefing room.
"Which is why, all companies are ordered to double their normal training, drill for zero G and ship boarding." said the Uxor expectantly, sure that a lot of moaning was about to result. And moan the Hetmen did. "We don't get paid enough to do this stupid gak!", "He's saying that when he makes double what I do!", "You guys are getting paid?", "Can't they get those bloodthirsty revenants from the 9th Legion to do this instead of us?", and other more colorful phrases surged forth from the collective Hetmen. Uxor Vorn seemed to be letting the Hetmen get their complaints out of their system before reestablishing the meeting's order.
"SHUT UP YOU GAKKING LOWLIVES!" thundered the Uxor, when she had finally had enough. The room went dead silent, multiple Hetmen sat in their seats, mouths agape. Stopped in the middle of complaining by a thunderous command that didn't seem to fit the person it had come from, the Hetmen recomposed themselves and sat ready to continue the briefing.
Looking satisfied at shutting up the group of officers, Uxor Vorn continued, "Hetman Kjarrick and 10th company have volunteered to be first in the chute. The rest of you will deploy after them, once the situation has cleared up on transition from the Warp. Who knows, this might not turn out to be a hot drop. But, we will train this week like we're walking into the gates of hell. Understood?!".
The gathered Hetmen sounded off "Yes, ma'am!". Much as they all liked to play act as scallywags and malingerers, each Hetman was an excellent soldier, selected from across the Imperial Army for their command and combat abilities. They knew when they needed to shut up and get the job done.
As the Hetmen were filing out, Ajax saw a lot of pitying glances come his way. The looks seemed to say they thought he didn't know what he was in for. That was the thing, He was the only one that had the slightest idea what was coming.