Commander
“Korpsmen…”
“Stand fast.”
“Today… you will be tested.”
“Not by the strength of your enemy…”
“But by the strength of your resolve.”
“Beyond these trenches…”
“Stand those who believe…”
“That walls…”
“Can stop conviction.”
“They are mistaken.”
“You were not born to seek comfort.”
“You were not forged to seek glory.”
“You were forged…”
“To fulfill your duty.”
“Look to your left.”
“Look to your right.”
“These are not merely the soldiers beside you.”
“These are the souls who have already chosen sacrifice over fear.”
“Some among you…”
“Will not see another dawn.”
“Yet every one of you…”
“Will see your duty fulfilled.”
“Remember…”
“A man’s worth…”
“Is not measured…”
“By how long he lives.”
“It is measured…”
“By what he is willing…”
“To give.”
“When the artillery falls…”
“Advance.”
“When the smoke blinds your eyes…”
“Advance.”
“When the ground itself trembles beneath your feet…”
“Advance.”
“Should the soldier beside you fall…”
“Carry his standard.”
“Carry his memory.”
“Carry his duty.”
“And…”
“Advance.”
“The galaxy…”
“Will never know your names.”
“Your families…”
“May never know where you fell.”
“History…”
“May never record your sacrifice.”
(Long pause.)
“The Emperor will.”
“Every step you take today…”
“Repays a debt…”
“Written in the blood…”
“Of generations before you.”
“One day…”
“Others will march…”
“In your place.”
“See to it…”
“That they inherit…”
“A galaxy…”
“Still worth fighting for.”
(Three-second silence.)
“Fix bayonets.”
(Pause.)
“Korpsmen…”
(Long pause.)
“Forward.”
⸻
Silence.
One boot.
THUD.
Another.
THUD.
A distant whistle…
And then…
NO STEP BACK
Tankitall
