The relief force shows up as expected. Ironbound spends the time filling in the platoon commanders on the relay and the utter significance of the structure. The effort was wasted as plaent-wide comms had been restored and Castellan Lokk was able to coordinate between the hives.
The Enginseers scrub and clear the clogged air filters and the other influx machinations that had been damaged by the spores. It took slightly longer than expected, but it finally does.
It takes three trips total to ferry you to the Soulsmear The first took Ambrose, Makradon, the inquisitor, and Albrect. The second trip took the majority of the astartes. And the last took Ironbound, his squad, and the last few who refused to leave Curas' side as long as he was planet side.
***
Micah watches out the rear viewport. Castobel was a world in chains, her fate was still very undetermined. Mag approached him, and gave him a brief moment of silence.
"You want to stay?"
"No, but I dont like leaving a job half finished." He replied without turning around.
"Hows that sir? We held the comm station and the planet can now coordinate between the hives."
"That's just it Mag. The Hives still have to maintain a defense. The xenos are still here. Mission failed....for now."
There was a moment of tense silence. The day had taken a toll on all of Curas' group. They were all beat, and mourned the dead.
"How are the others?" he asks, though he knew the answer. Truth was he didnt like the silence.
"We'll make it boss." was all she could muster.
"You guys were tough, even before I picked your scrawny asses from the fire." he muses.
"Speaking of, is it ok for us to leave? I mean, our regiment is still down there, fighting."
"As far as they are concerned, your dead, and you have been for a while. They will never account for everyone who didnt make it back when they evacuated the drilling plains."
"What now then?" she asks hesitantly.
"This is the ordos. Im sure they can find you a job or something."
"What about you sir?"
"Depends on what his highness, the warmaster wants. I dont know."
The rest of the trip he stares out the window and she inspects him.
Micah Curas, as far as a normal man was concerned, was hard as nails. He had taken remnants of PDF, astra militarum, and simple hive scum and forged them into a ragtag guerrilla force. They had withstood several assault, even by some of the larger probing forces.
He was always there, in the tick of it, shouting orders and kicking ass as he went. he knew just what the odds were, he fought on anyway.
The man truly was, Ironbound.
