TERMINUS
07.30am local time
07.30am local time
"Two minutes out Sir"
The towers and spires of the Terminus capital shot by either side of their approach. "You stay low, or I'll have your balls" Max warned the pilot, making sure he wouldn't buckle and pull higher without him there. He had flown enough sorties himself to know that would only increase the danger.
Satisfied, he left the cockpit and stepped back through into the belly of the transport. It shifted and swayed underfoot, the sounds of battle outside audible over the roar of the engine. "Two minutes out" he barked, glaring at the few men still readying themselves. His platoon were all aboard, most of them already locked and loaded for the fight down below. Max Dram didn't tolerate mediocre in his unit.
He glanced through a port and saw the ground was racing to meet them. So far so good. The Imperial assault had seemingly caught the Terminus Defence Force off guard, at least initially. The few patrol ships encountered in orbit had scattered and Max and the rest of the invasion force had been able to launch. Even if the Terminus fleet rallied, the fox was inside the hen house now.
Their mission was straightforward enough. Seize and secure the capital's Central Registry. A cornerstone of government and administration on the planet, it fed into Terminus's vast data banks and would enable the Empire to seize control of communications and infrastructure. Together with half a dozen other key targets being hit simultaneously, its capture would force Terminus to surrender.
"You know who we are" Max said, his voice stiffening the men to silence as the transport banked low. "When we go out that door, I don't want to see forty men. I'm not going to see forty men. I'm going to see one Imperial fist". The men cheered over the creak of the landing gear. "One Empire made flesh. One force that no one can stop". They cheered again and Max hefted his sleek black helmet, turning towards the opening hatch.
"So saddle up boys and do the Empire proud!".
@Charles