Ashen Promise – Command Briefing (275.947.M30)

Date: 275.947.M30
Location: Eremus Gate System
From: Captain Varenius, Ashen Promise
With concurrence of: Sgt. Drevar Kallin, VII Legion

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To all Astartes detachments embarked aboard this vessel:

The ork boarding action has been repelled. By the valor of this crew and the steadfast arms of the Legiones Astartes, the Ashen Promise endures. Our current condition is as follows:

Ship Status

• Hull breaches from boarding pods sealed; void integrity restored.

• Starboard broadside, lance battery, power torpedoes, point-defense, and launch bays remain operational.

• Port broadside batteries destroyed or damaged, and weapon galleries open to the void; restoration will require dockyard facilities.

• Engineering strength diminished by Mechanicus and crew losses, but critical systems remain functional.

Casualties

• Auxilia: Several hundred dead or wounded. Morale shaken, but formations remain effective.

• Granite Guard: One brother gravely injured, stabilized for surgery.

• Alpha Legion: One brother lost during decompression of the port galleries. Presumed dead.

• Imperial Fists: Three dead and two critically wounded.

• Space Wolves: No losses reported.

• Emperor’s Children: One brother fallen in defense of his sergeant.

Current Disposition

• Imperial Fists: Holding the command deck.

• Granite Guard: Reassigned to guard the engineering decks. Honor to the Dragon.

• Emperor’s Children: Conducting sweeps and clearance of remaining greenskin intruders in conjunction with Auxilia troops.

• Space Wolves: Assigned to ordnance protection.

• Alpha Legion: Retained on weapons deck reserve.

Closing

The Ashen Promise is battered but sound. Our portside guns are gone, yet this vessel still fights. The greenskin threat at Eremus Gate is not yet expunged, and vigilance is demanded of all.

For the Emperor.

Signed,
Varenius
Captain, Ashen Promise
Drevar Kallin
Sergeant, VII Legion, Imperial Fists

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Comms Chatter (Intercept – Shipboard vox, redacted for record)

• Wolf-voice (Bjarki the Bold): “By Russ, Captain, we were chained to the lance and torpedo decks while the greenskins ran free! This is no duty, it is mockery.”

• Fist-voice (Kallin): “Hold your posts. Your task is the ship’s teeth, not its gut.”

• Wolf-voice (Sergeant Hrothgar): “Teeth rot if they never bite, yellow one. We hunt, or we shame the Legion.”

• [sound of locks disengaging, heavy boots moving]

• Auxilia Officer: “Space Wolves have abandoned their stations—repeat, ordnance guard has departed!”

• Captain Varenius: “Emperor preserve me… Bring them back before they set fire to the whole damned ship chasing their glory.”

• Cold snarl (Sergeant Pheron): “Captain, we will cover for the runaway wolves. Alpha Legion, on me.”