[h2] Commander Stader Volger[/h2]
[b]Leader 89th LSC (Onyx-9)[/b]
[i]The Indomitus[/i]

The armor of Imperial Lancer Support Companies was a polychromatic blend; capable of adopting countless of preprogrammed patterns and colors for the vast worlds of the Imperium. Today, Volger and his company wore the striped gray and black of space assault. Geometric stripes and mottled shapes of dark and slightly darker color’s that were designed to blend with the vacuum of space or the exterior hull of a ship. 

So it was this color that the troopers of Onyx-9 rushed around their area of the ship. The embarked trooper area wasn’t as glamorous or spacious as the Lancer Bay. Same for their facilities and quarters. But it was no less busy and its equipment just as maintained. 

Volger having already donned his armor sans helmet watched the preparations from a catwalk. 

Most of the troopers were finishing their preparations; strapping into their assault frames. Exterior mounted exo-suits that hooked into hard points on their armor; zero-gee equipment, survival tanks and boosters already attached in preparation for the assault. Pouches stuffed with ammo, equipment and the much hated zero-gravity sustenance paste. 

Some troopers however had no assault frames or even armor. They wore the standard vacuum proof undersuit and a small vest with a chest rigged pistol and knife. These troopers stepped towards what looked like miniature Lancer gantries; here nine foot tall giants awaited their pilots. The “stompers” were the middle gap between infantry and Lancer. Looking like a headless man with weapons affixed to his arms; the stomper’s pilot sat safely ensconced within the layers of armor that could shrug off small arms fire like a summer’s rain. Against Lancers and armor however, stompers died fast. 

But within the confines of the [i]Venture[/i]; they would be a nice force multiplier. 

“Commander Volger. Platoons are standing by for embark.” Lieutenant Diaz reported. Her voice coming in over the command channel clear. 

Volger gave a look over his troops one more time. The milling have stopped by now. Orderly ranks of men and woman now lined the embarkation bay. Mirrored visors hid expressions that were probably too young. Rifles held in assured grips as others lugged disassembled heavy weapons or breaching equipment. 

Maybe someone else would have given a rousing speech. A final warning. Voters instead to let the silence linger.

Then he keyed the ear piece. 

“Onyx-9, embark and prep for launch.” 

Then the bay dissolved to ordered chaos as hundreds of pairs of boots stomped to their shuttles.

******

The troop commander’s seat on a MSV-36 Chariot assault shuttle was definitely a degree more padded than the standard trooper’s seat.

Volger found humor with the fact that such a small feature had been added. It was with a bemused smile that he toggled open the Lancer comm channel.

“[color=007236]Onyx-9 Actual to Lance; we are launched and standing by for escort.[/color]”