5: Vulnerable

I let them know who I was.
 
For weeks, they had known me as Rat, or some variation of it. Arathis Vanderbilt was a decent enough pseudonym when out and about, even if I possessed no cognomen with that upon it. But then, out in the middle of nowhere on a mining planet, who would care?
 
But I had seen them in combat. I had seen their true selves.
 
We had faced down the enemy; first a squad of chaos-worshipping nobles and their private PDF entourage. Veck struck first. I had not expected that, but Marya had identified the enemy's affiliation and there was no hesitation. Whatever it is they programmed into those Skitarii nerve implants kicked into full gear and he had his combat blade buried up to the hilt in one of the guardsmen. Marya herself also took pot shots at the nobles, using Veck as cover.
 
It was as that time that I also took out one of the other guardsmen from behind. A knife across the neck, and a handful of throat for punctuation. Corporal Knox has demonstrated that for me that on Eftis. We were setting about establishing a nest in the Aiurvian mountains so that we could observe the local troop formations. Little did we know that it was already occupied. It was as swift as it was silent; barely a last exhale and a gurgle. But back on Luggnum, I caught the collapsing guardsman and used him as a shield even as I grabbed his las rifle. One of the other guardsman turned to fire at me, but his shot was knocked wide by a precise kick from none other than Braxton. I had previously pegged him for someone more suited to others using weapons for him. But ever the enigma, he engaged with complete conviction of his actions. The off-balance guardsman was an easy target for my just-borrowed rifle. I looked over at the crew, and the enemy had been swiftly eradicated, leaving only one of the cultist nobles alive and being interrogated. I do not recall what was asked, but it appeared that the answer was unsatisfactory and he ended up with a knife through the eye.
 
Our escape from Luggnum was equally eventful, and I saw more of my compatriots' expressions of themselves. Equal parts compassion, determination, ruthlessness, and a will to do the Emperor's bidding, even as we argued precisely what that was on the return journey.
 
And so, I had seen enough. I am Lt. Thaddius Cromwell, 57th Loian Recon. It has been four long years since I put my las rifle down and left the Guard. I was lost, but it is clear to me now that the Emperor willed that I should broaden my horizons and see a different aspect of life before recalling me to Him. I take up arms once again in His service.