First time doing anything even slightly significant in this thread so....
Omake: Last transmission
The platoon was scared shitless. The sky was the wrong colour. Coms had been cut. The sanctionite had tried to kill them all, and had almost succeeded. Gunning down a comrade never helps morale.
Things got worse when the CO said this was probably to do with demons. Troopers who'd been fighting on and against Averneus for decades curled up, and started crying. They'd all thought they'd hold together against any odds, but the men and women of the unit were being overcome with dispair, not of there own minds but as a poison of the invaders, being spread around the planet.
The vox unit started screaming static, and if you'd asked the troopers, they'd have sworn they could hear demonic moans, although on the mission recording they were clearly absent. The moans cut out and through the static they heard a voice, golden, like treacle.
"Love the Emperor
for He is the salvation of mankind
Obey His words
for He will lead you into the light of the future
Heed His wisdom
for He will protect you from evil
Whisper His prayers with devotion,
for they will save your soul
Honour His servants,
for they speak in His voice
Tremble before His majesty,
for we all walk in His immortal shadow"
The terror lifted from the platoon as the instantly recognisable voice of the living saint worked his way through the prayer.
"People of Averneus. Even on this darkest of days the emperor does not desert you. Stand strong, fight hard, and remember, the emperor protects"
Lin turned to Ridcully, and nodded. The psyker took his hands off the large voxcaster, and the transmission stopped.
The gamma was exhausted, but still seemed sane. Lin had been glad they were together. One of the helltroopers started to ask Lin why he'd not communicated anything strategic.
"The message was compromised by the demons. If anyone else had tried that they'd be two large demonspawns standing here. Hell is outside. The people need to know the emperor has not forsaken them. This matters more than a handful of orders".
The trooper turned away, suddenly looking sheepish.