Cheers, it did use to be busier than this. I'm working on various projects so a bit of light fiction is always a nice distraction. I've always thought Ultramarines were given a really weak name, so Intermarines isn't THAT bad, also I was just very uncreative coming up with a suitable interventionish related Chapter name. Anyway more scene setting.
By the time Starbis entered the room all of Three Group was assembled, sat in four rows of five Space Marines. Each man was already wearing his power armour, sans helmet, and as Starbis entered the room they immediately stood to attention. He slowly walked towards the podium, as he reached it he raised his hand and said, "Be with you."
The solemn reply came, "And the Emperor," as the assembled Marines sat as one.
"Three Group, we will be deploying via the Righteous Hornet to Facility D XIII, a moon in the vicinity of the B Class world Psaris. It is a low priority communications reestablishment mission, consequently we will be arming up with Beta Seven equipment."
Each Marine was trained to give orders simply, efficiently, and to the point. In the few situations where current Doctrine was limited or did not extend to covering these areas a new Doctrine was written, with various sub-classifications and equipment lists. Despite the Intermarines represented a specialised, arguably dynamic Chapter, they were still held by the conventions of their parent Chapter, maintaining a suitable respect for the Codex.
Beta Seven equipment would see Three Group equipped with two heavy bolters carried in Squad 4, whilst every other man would carry a Decimus III Pattern Boltgun, a curious bullpup configuration with integrated sight, along with a Boltpistol. In addition the Storm Eagle would carry two large containers full of specialised cutting, hacking and support equipment beneath its wings, instead of an optional complement of Hellstrike Missiles to be deployed when they made Planetfall. Finally a two Thunderhawk Transporters would deploy two Habitation Bunkers, a Command Bunker and a Medical Bunker, prefabricated structures designed to be deployed on operations such as this.
"This Operation will be known as Operation Lightwood, and will be Categorised by the Datalog System as a Low Priority Intervention Operation for archive purposes. It is a five stage Operation, in the format as follows. Stage One - load up and check equipment. Stage Two - board the Righteous Hornet and travel to Facility D XIII. Stage Three - attain orbit, and after initial scans commence Planetfall. Stage Four - establish Base of Operations, and establish contact/gain access to the facility. Stage Five - repair communications and return to Strike Cruiser. No need to deviate from the Doctrine is expected, and the time duration is expected to be no more than five days. Any questions?" Starbis stood there as his eyes met the gaze of Sergeant Vantag, "Vantag?"
"Sir, how many magazines are we expected to take? As Beta Seven allocates between four and eight for a standard action." Vantag was one of the older Marines, at five hundred and seven years service, his face was grizzled and scarred from his long years, with only a few patches of dark grey hair left upon his scalp. Vantag had repeatedly turned down the change of promotion and specialisation so he could best serve with his Battle Brothers in the thick of the action, and was able to offer impeccable advice to those above him. Marines like him were uncommon, and were termed Elders within the Chapter, with their opinions and thoughts often weighing into any plan almost as much as a Strike Force Commander.
"I see no need for more than four. There is no Xenos activity within this sector, and any additional magazines can be requisitioned from the supply containers carried by the Righteous Hornet. If those are required then it is likely we'll have to escalate the entire Operation and request assistance - something that I am loathe to suggest is possible given the information." Starbis gestured at a projection that appeared behind his podium, showing the relation of the moon to Psaris, it appeared with Warp and conventional travel calculations between the two locations, along with a stream of technical details on the nature of craft, capabilities and various related statistics.
Vantag nodded, "Seems suitable. So traditional Low Engagement Policy is in effect?"
Starbis gave Vantag a thumbs up, "As always on friendly facilities don't blast them into oblivion before we can relay another Operation Successful communication upload. If so this'll be our sixtieth non-combat deployment, dull but essential."
The assembled Marines laughed, despite intensive training they had not seen any active combat for three years. Claris' Strike Force had repeatedly merely upheld Imperial power or acted as a deterrent. On four combat drops the enemy had surrendered rather than face Space Marine intervention, this run of monotonous good luck was bound to end, and it was rumoured that Claris had shied away from several high intensity deployments in order to preserve his Strike Force's cohesion. Skulking around the backwaters of the Imperium should have bought them into contact with a multitude of nefarious foes, but thus far they were spending far more time maintaining weapons than any meaningful actions.
"How long is the flight time, and any air defences to be concerned about?" The other senior figure in the room, Sergeant Dempsey spoke up, he held his old Mark IV helmet under his arm. Dempsey was the youngest Sergeant in the Strike Force, at a hundred and seven, he had repeatedly proven himself as a young Marine of exceptional command ability and spatial awareness.
"It'll be six hours flight time and..." Starbis did not have the chance to finish as the briefing room door opened and in came Lance-Sergeant Rhian.
"Against heavy opposition... naturally as we're tearing out with a Storm Eagle and two sluggish Thunderhawk Transporters. Opposition is non-existent of course." Rhian was the pilot of the Righteous Hornet, like many of the Strike Force's Storm Eagle pilots he had a positive can-do attitude which could often border on insubordination. Within the Intermarines command structure there was often disagreement on whether the pilots knew better than the Group Commanders how to utilise air assets and assess enemy air defences. Despite they were all part of one Chapter there was a clear divide between the pilots and commanders, the commanders saw the pilot's attitude of stereotypical, insubordinate hot shot mentality more often found in Imperial Guard formations, whilst the pilots saw the commanders as dangerously ill-informed on the limitations of their aircraft.
"Thank you Rhian. I trust Righteous Hornet is ready to go?" Starbis spoke and managed to get his leathery face to smile.
"Servitors are arming her at the moment, to make up for the lack of Hellstrikes four of the missiles are being replaced with Thermosinular Warheads, more for show than anything else. During Lightwood I will maintain a constant orbit over the planet just in case someone decided to crash our party from above," he chuckled, "In accordance with Operations Containment Protocols."
Starbis stood there for a couple more minutes, "No more questions?" the Sergeants shook their heads, "Then Assemble with your Squads and load up. We'll be boarding the Righteous Hornet in fifteen so Prep then at the very least we get the chance to stretch our legs on that moon."