"Sir! There are too many of them! Shouldn't we retreat?!"
Hundreds of Astra Militarum soldiers in green Flak Armour stood in a complex network of staggered trenches, nervously gripping their Lasguns as they watched the sea of creatures occasionally emerge from the vast clouds of dust rising not far from their position. One terrified recruit turned toward the Captain beside him and shouted his question.
"Shut up, you coward! If I hear another word of cowardice from you, I'll execute you on the spot!"
Before the Captain beside him could speak, a rebuke came from a figure descending from the position's observation tower.
His distinctive black uniform was adorned with exquisite, interwoven gold and silver patterns, with Imperial Aquila insignia on his collar and chest.
Unlike the other soldiers' helmets, the officer's cap with its red plume identified the newcomer.
"Commissar, we only have five hundred men. There are at least tens of thousands of Insects. We can't hold this position."
The Captain beside him had certainly seen the billowing dust. Although the Tyranid creatures were still two or three kilometers from the forward defenses, the tremors had already reached them.
Faced with a battle they had no chance of winning, even his loyalty to the Imperium and faith in the God-Emperor did not make him want to die pointlessly.
"I said, no retreat!" Hearing even the Captain say such things, the cold-faced Commissar furiously shouted him down.
"Actually, he's not wro—"
Bang!
"Stand your ground!"
Clang!
Hearing someone else begin urging a retreat, the furious Commissar did not turn. As he shouted his rebuke, he swiftly drew his Bolt Pistol, angled it upward to one side, and pulled the trigger.
But the sound of the shot striking and ricocheting made the Commissar turn in surprise.
The Commissar, who had