Winging the Way

[Theofonias]

One of the few Thunderhawks left in the 4th Company's armory lifts off under the binaric muttering of its crew. In the troop compartments the lights are dim and only punctuated brightly with the flash of some diode or actualization-glimmer from one of the servitors.

Sitting stern faced and applying holy unguent to his bolter and chainsword, "Growler". Muttering prayers to himself he stops himself and looks up to the surrounding Aspirants.

"We Omega Marines of my old Assault squad had a prayer we adopted as our own. I would pass it on to you, this new generation. When I say something, you say, "We have purpose." When I mention the Emperor you say, "And we would have no purpose."

"Without the Dark, there can be no Light,""

We have purpose

Without the Lie, there can be no Truth,

We have purpose

Without the War, there can be no Victory,

We have purpose

Without the Death, there can be no sacrifice,

We have purpose

Without the Hope there can be no Future,

We have purpose

Without the Loyalty there can be no one chapter,

We have purpose

Without the Emperor, there is nothing,...

And we would have no purpose

"Remember that you are Omega Marines and you are the end of everything the Emperor lays before you."

[Isadius Arenis]

Isadius looked up as he constantly checked and re-checked the magazine in his Bolter, the weapon that - he hoiped - would bring bloodshed from the enemies he would face soon enough. Brother Theofonias told the assembled Aspirants and Brothers of a prayer his Assault Squad had adopted. The rumble of the Thunderhawk's engines as it flew rattled the troop compartment, causing the few Aspirants that had not experience a Thunderhawk flight before to retch slightly, 'Rookies musn't have had all the implants...' Isadius thought to himself.

"Without the Dark, there can be no Light,"

Isadius joined in the prayer, his eyes closed as he found meaning in the words,
"We have purpose."

"Without the Lie, there can be no Truth,"

"We have purpose."

"Without the War, there can be no Victory,"

"We have purpose."

"Without the Death, there can be no sacrifice,"

"We have purpose."

"Without the Hope there can be no Future,"

"We have purpose."

"Without the Loyalty there can be no one chapter,"

"We have purpose."

"Without the Emperor, there is nothing..."

"And we would have no purpose."

"Remember that you are Omega Marines and you are the end of everything the Emperor lays before you."

Isadius' lips curled into a half-smile, the scar twisting on his cheek, he beat the chestplate of his Carapace Armour with his clenched fist,
"For the Emperor!"

[Kraytirous Shalluat]

Shalluat's eyes were lowered on the massive rocket launcher on his lap. He was shining the weapon's thick launching tube, the scriptures engraved on its metallic barrel shining up into his eyes. Forever remember the past, yet do not let it hinder you. Let the past launch you into the future, for that is where your attention is most needed. The scripture had been added to the weapon after the campaign on Armageddon. This weapon was used by the last survivor of a tactical squad from before the Chapter had been cut down. They had all been killed, he had survived simply because he had been told to sit back and fire this weapon. As soon as they charged out of cover, an enormous, explosive shell took out the entire squad. Scraps of black and white armor bounced off of his own power armor. The Marine had since ascended to being a veteran sergeant of a squad of Devastators. Now the weapon remained as a constant reminder of the past.

He glanced up at the prayer and thudded his own gauntlet against his armored chest. "For the Emperor," he echoed.

[Tiberius Valerius]

Tiberius grimaced as he adjusted the new sights on his bolter. Behind him, Fireteam Zerulas checked their weapons, first citing the litany of repair, before pulling at the bolt. Such an action had been repeated, and would be repeated several more times, in order to insure a perfect performance when combat was joined.

Tiberius looked over his bolter, taking in every nick and dent that had marred the surface of the weapon. A relic, now handed down into the care of Tiberius, the bolter was marked by several blows, each one a testament to the situations that Tiberius had lived through.

As the Specialist of Squad Tiberius tested his weaponry, Tiberius recited his squad's over the private channel.
++ Death comes in many forms, but the weapon matters not.
We are the righteous sword of the Emperor. By bolter, by chainsword or by flamer, cleanse the enemy, purge the tainted and kill the heretic. ++

The cries of 'For the Emperor!' filled the compartment, and Tiberius lifted his voice with the rest.

For the Emperor!