-=-Party Hard in Hard Vacuum-=-
MEANWHILE, IN SPACE
Part 21
Taking into account your precious charge, you carefully place yourself and the majority of the squad directly around the Captain. Any enemy of the Imperium would have to chew through you in order to get at him, though against Tyranids that's not much of a challenge. You also send a pair of unfortunates out ahead to scout around corners, well aware of the danger of ambushes in this environment. Though the Captain is their commanding officer, he's happy to defer to your Commissariat authority and tactical knowledge.
As you traverse the grimy, ichor-and-blood-stained halls of the ship, you lead the crew in a common marching litany. They seemed quite happy already, but better safe than heretical. It's not just for keeping up regular battlefield morale though, as you can already feel an oppressive miasma about the ship. Without access to shipboard scans it's not clear what is happening, but you could bet your boltpistol that it is at least one of two things: The xenos are tainting the atmosphere with their poisonous vapours, or the malevolent will behind them is attempting to subvert the minds of the faithful. Regardless of the cause, it is more important than ever to get rid of these beasts before they are able to overwhelm the ship.
In a turn of good fortune, the corridors are devoid of hostile xenos. You can only assume that with the majority of crew in this area dead, the beasts have turned their focus to richer food supplies. This blessing continues as you take the elevatus down to the tramways, finding it pleasantly safe despite the mangled giblets scattered about from the unfortunate and foolish. A suitable railcar is already sitting vacant at the platform, and the Captain is easily able to gain access to the control cabin. It was only designed for a maximum of two, so you join him up front while the security detail sets up a position in the passenger car behind it.
Glancing about the tiny compartment, you are struck by memories of long hours playing your favourite instructional holo-game,
Imperial Civil Infrastructure Administrator and Military Logistical Officer 40,000. Good times. It gave you a love of all rail-based conveyances.