"No tracks, sir. The shield breaking down caused the snow to pour in. If an astartes dreadnaught did this, we wouldn't know it." 

I pinched the bridge of my nose, stifling a sigh. Every deep breath drawn outdoors was like swallowing a lungful of ice. I hadn't known Klane or Merkaba well, but they obviously did not deserve this. During Sel's excursion I had organized a number of generators graciously provided by the lady to power small arti-cells, erecting tarps over where the squads were stationed to bring some warmth and camoflauge to the men. Anyone from the hills or the road would see just a blanket of white from the snow, and the men inside would be a bit less frigid. 

Stroking my chin, I began to think out loud, before deciding to refurbish the thought into a question: "It couldn't have been one of ours, none of us have anything crude that might be used like this, and there'd be no reason. Unless any of you know of any vendettas in the unit an officer wouldn't know about?" I inquired to the gathered squadron.

"No sir," Ruskins said, shaking his shaggy head. "Merkaba liked to gamble, might have taken someone for all their worth, or he owed hard, but I wouldn't think that'd lead to this."

"Sel, take your men and-" I started, then thought better of it. They looked frozen and tired as hell, though they wouldn't admit it in front of me. "Spade, Ruskins, er, Mills, Tandor, and Sel, get yourself some amasec when your shift is over. You earned it," I said, and the majority of them looked either relieved or ecstatic. "I'll check the perimeter. I'll see which specialist and a few grunts are available." 

"Sir!" They all remarked in unison. I gestured them at ease, and we transported the bodies back to be examined by our medic, Falstaad. Born on a feudal world and given to the imperial tithe as a boy, he often joked he was given to the gods, but he did not become an angel like those lifted up by the adeptus astartes. He was sent straight back into the mud on another plane, only this time with ways to prolong our mortal suffering. He was exceptionally cheery for how macabre he could be, but he knew his business. Once he began his examination, I directed Crispin to keep his men on alert while I gathered up a small squad for myself. 

Unfortunately for me, when I asked who Crispin recommended be my second for the shift, he said he could spare specialist Elara, alongside a few other names that were lost on me as I began to contemplate the Emperor's cruel plan.