Duties Done

The troops prayed they would never end up here, for many it was the last place they would ever see. Dull moans sounded from several doorways. The smell of anaethetics, blood, vomit and excrement mixed into a potent concoction that threatened to overwhelm the medicaes going about their duties.

Regimental commissar Marcus Von Petts limped down the main corridor of the simple brick building. His boots squelched in fresh patches of blood. He had to step into the doorway of a room as a gurney was rushed passed bearing a screaming trooper into the emergency room, years of experience told him that the occupant would be with the Emperor in no more than an hour. If he could of he would have put the agonised soldier out of his misery; but that would have put him up against Chief Medicae Gerai whose views were that every soldier deserved the chance of survival, no matter how non-existant the chance. An orderlie walking past gave him directions to the room he was searching for. Before entering the ward he removed his cap with his one good hand, the other tightly bound across his chest in a sling, the worst injury caused in the valkyrie crash landing. On entering the room one of the more alert troopers shouted out "Officer present"! Most of the semi-concious men tried to sit up and salute him. "As you were lads", Marcus had no wish to cause them to burst fresh stitchings or aggrivate injuries. He limped over to a bed in the middle of the room. "Corporal Hellock"? At the mention of his name the beds occupant sat up and saluted sloppily. "Sorry sir. Medicae Gerai's keeping me drugged to the hilt". Some of the words were slurred.
"I've read the report Corporal. You did a damned fine job. And from what I understand Epistolary Taeloth owes you his life". A thin smile broke on Von Petts' face. "And its not very often an Astartes says that about a guardsmen".
"Just doing my duty commissar".
"The colonel and I have been keeping our eyes on you Hellock. And now we feel you're ready to move up". He reached his good hand into his shirt pocket and pulled out a fabric square. "It's my pleasure to promote you to the rank of sergeant. You deserve it sergeant". Von Petts attached the sergeant strips to Hellocks shoulder. "We'll have a squad ready for you once you're out of here. Any issues and my door is always open".
"Thank you . . . sir", Hellocks speech was slurring badly now.
"Rest up son". But sergeant Hellock was already asleep. . . .