Post by Aeon on Mar 22, 2013 9:29:38 GMT -5
Hello brothers (and some sisters) of the IGMB
I feel the need to be posting on here again. This forum kept me sane all throughout 9th, 10th and 11th grade.
So what i've decided to do, since I no longer play tabletop 40k, is keep a fluff log written in 1st person from my Only War character that i'm playing in Reds' OW campaign. Updates will hopefully come around every Tuesday after we've had a session and I've had a day to write about what we experienced in a more narrative way.
The game hasn't started yet, but I'll be writing the first few journal entries of Trooper 2nd Class Johan Crowley, my character.
I hope someone gets some enjoyment out of it, and I hope I'll have a fun time writing it.
Anyway, I guess i'll start
--------------------------------------------------------------
Entry 1
455.M41
Well, i'm starting my journal up out of boredom. There's not much to write about out here on the farmland, but I guess it's not for anyone else to read, it's just for me. Something to pass the time.
I'm 16 years old, going nowhere with my life. I've lived on the farm my entire life, barely even seen the city. The harvest season keeps me real busy, and even during the winter there's always things out here that need getting done, like maintaining the machinery. Takes lots of work.
I can't say I hate it, it's just...not exciting. I want my life to mean something. I've been thinking about joining the PDF come summer when I turn 17, but I don't know if father would let me. How dangerous could it be? Who would want to attack this planet? This place is worthless.
I'm no scholar though, and certainly no tactician, so I guess I could be wrong. Anything could happen at any time.
P.S.: I wittled myself a fife today out of a hollow piece of wood. Has good tune.
Entry 2
455.M41
Haven't had time to write lately. The auto-plows broke last week, and I must have spent hours praying to the machine spirits and applying the sanctified oils. I tried doing some handy work on it, even though father told me not to. I almost got it running. Tomorrow i'm going to have to drive it into town and take it to the temple to have one of those Mars priests look at it.
Never liked them. Always gave me the creeps. My friend Garik calls them the 'metal men' but I don't think it's too safe to insult them.
Entry 3
455.M41
Father broke his leg!
He was out on the border of our land and stepped in a gakking hole and fell. Doctors say he'll be out for the entire rest of the harvest, so that means i'm going to be doing all the work. Good bye, Journal!
Entry 4
456.M41
I almost forgot I had a journal. What was the point of writing it again?
Anyway, i'm 17 now. I spoke to mother about joining the PDF. She was, as expected, horrified with the idea. Haven't told father yet. Too scared.
Entry 5
456.M41
Told father a few days ago. He wasn't pleased with the notion of running off and becoming a 'glory seeker' he called it, but he didn't freak out like mother did. I think he may come around!
Maybe I can convince Garik to join up with me! Maybe we could become heroes! Fight the mutants, defend the planet from invasion!
Entry 6
456.M41
Well, father decided that glory seeking isn't for me. I am sick of this. I grew up working my arse off on the farm, tilling the land all throughout the harvest, repairing the machines in the winter, running all the errands...I think it's time for me to stand up for myself. I'm going into the city tomorrow whether they like it or not. I'm joining the PDF.
P.S.: Spoke to Garik. He's too chicken to join. Who needs him? I'll do this myself
Entry 7
456.M41
Father caught me trying to steal one of the horses to ride into town. He tried to ground me, but I snuck out! I'm in a tavern in the big city right now. I'll be seeing the PDF recruiter tomorrow at noon.
I'm excited! But scared. I wish Garik had come with me.
Entry 8
456.M41
That recruiter was quite possibly the meanest looking sonofabit*h I've ever laid eyes on.
He had a pair of scars running side by side diagonally across his face, and he was blind in his left eye! It was all...milky looking. And nasty! His breath smelled like lho sticks, like father, and my teacher back in school.
I didn't have the guts to ask him how he earned it...but something told me that he didn't get those huge scars from serving in the Planetary Defense Force.
Maybe the Imperial Guard? Oh, Emperor, I hope I never have to leave home to serve as a Guardsman. Here is just fine for me.
Anyway, i'm on a long train ride to PDF basic training. He let me pick my job. Wasn't expecting that!
I picked cook! haha. Maybe i'll get adventure, but it will be the safe kind!
Entry 9
456.M41
This place is hell! No time to write. Day 3 of processing. Head shaved. Uniform issued. Lasgun issued (serial # 10569398). The gear is heavy. The instructors terrify me. I already saw one kid around my age get punched so hard they had to call the medics and he got moved back to day 1...for an entire week.
Not much time to write. I'm in my bunk using my maglight to see. Better get some shut eye.
Entry 10
456.M41
So, processing week was hard, but the second week has been a hundred times worse.
We're learning how to march in a file, how to clean our lasguns and to recite the proper litanies. We've learned 3 basic ones: the Litany of Accuracy, The Litany of Courage, and the Litany of Hate.
We've also learned when to recite them, and why. Too much to write, and i'm too tired.
Haven't fired the lasgun yet, but we start on the firing range next week. I'm excited for that.
Entry 11
456.M41
Firing week was exhilerating! We all learned the proper methods to take aim and squeeze the trigger without jerking. There's no movement in the gun, like father's old solid slug hunting rifle. Just a slight vibration and a snapping sound when it fires. It feels...powerful, in my hands!
Not sure why a PDF cook would need to know how to shoot, though. I guess everyone needs to know how to work the lasgun, in case of an emergency or something.
Tomorrow we do obstacle courses. Need to get some shut eye.
Entry 12
456.M41
Another guy in our training platoon got his leg broken by the instructor for looking him in the eye. I almost cried just seeing it happen.
Basic training is changing me. I feel stronger, more confident. I was always so timid back home. Afraid to stick up for myself. I like who I am becoming.
Still not sure about some of the guys in my training platoon. They say once we graduating basic, we'll all be stationed together as one unit, regardless of jobs. Some of these guys are ex convicts who chose to come here! Some are farm hands, like me, but the ones with darker pasts outnumber us.
This one guy, Rickards, was a thief in the big city. Got caught, and opted to join the PDF. Even volunteered for the Guard! He's been hard for the instructors to control. I think they'll probably kick him out.
Entry 13
456.M41
Obstacle course was tough. Ran it at least 2 dozen times in full flak gear. Good night
Entry 14
456.M41
Haven't had the time to write at night like I usually have. I've been far too exhausted.
We've learned bayonet fighting, hand to hand techniques, knife fighting, and shooting on the move. We also learned group tactics for taking down a large mass of enemies.
I still don't know why a cook would need to know all of this, but i'll learn whatever they decide to teach me.
I hope cook school is easier than this.
Entry 15
456.M41
Bad news. Very bad news.
We had a briefing from our Company Commander today. Apparently the Departmento Munitorum (whoever they are) needs more Imperial Guardsmen, and our platoon has been selected.
I don't know what to do...my parents don't even know where I am. They say a big ship from another planet is coming to pick us up in a month, and that from this moment on, whatever job we had picked out for ourselves before basic are void. We're now all future Imperial Guard infantrymen.
They gave us a little black book called the "Imperial Guard Infantryman's Uplifting Primer", and told us to study it religiously. So we did.
The entire last week of training was spent reading our primers, cleaning our lasguns, and turning in our training gear. Soon, we'll ship out to another camp, where we'll learn more advanced infantry tactics.
I'm scared. I miss my parents. And I just wanted to be a damned cook!
Entry 16
456.M41
They've moved us to the other camp. They didn't even tell us the name of it. We were re outfitted with a brand new flak vest, backpack, pouches and other gear.
The flak vests and leather pouches and belts look, feel and smell like they just came off the assembly line at a factory! There's a number on the left shoulder pad. 45th.
So...I guess we're the 45th Regiment now. Not PDF. Imperial Guard.
When I had first heard the news, I chocked up. But now I am starting to realize, that it's my duty to the Emperor to go wherever He needs me. If that's on some far away planet...then so be it.
We'll have some down time this weekend. I'll send a letter back home and let them know where i'll be...not sure exactly where, but it's off world, I know that much.
Entry 17
456.M41
They gave me a grenade launcher! It's heavy! Way heavier than a lasgun!
Who would have thought? A year ago, I was a farm hand on my father's farm, doing the majority of the work, and too afraid to stick up for myself. Poor vocabulary, weak of body and of spirit. Even weak of faith! My faith in the Emperor has grown immensely these past weeks.
Now I understand my duty. It was a gradual transformation.
Oh, and I've started getting along with some of the men from my platoon. I guess they're not so bad after all. Just different...or misunderstood. Some of the convicts still scare me though.
I've picked up smoking. Disgusting habit, but it eases the mind during these stressful times.
Entry 18
456.M41
Training today was fun, actually. But tough. Been carrying the grenade launcher (still don't know why I got picked. One of the other Troopers suggested it was because I scored high marks on the range at basic. Who knows?) and it's a monster of a weapon. More recoil than the lasgun, and I can cause far more damage. I think I could really get used to this!
Anway, the training! We're continuing to practice our patrols. They say we'll be a Light Infantry unit: that means no heavy weapons, just smaller portable guns, like my launcher, and our armor will weigh less and we'll carry slightly less ammo than the regular line guys, but our mission is different.
We are to patrol surrounding areas that the line and mechanized guys have taken (you know, i'm really not sure what 'mechanized' means, but a good Guardsman doesn't ask too many questions), and look for remaining pockets of enemies.
Also, in support of the main bulk of the battle group, we're to set up ambushes in thick areas, like forests, or mountains. We'll be light, fast, and mobile. I'm not sure if that means 'in more danger' or...something else. We just don't know enough.
During the patrol training, we came under fire from the enemy (some PDF guys. Our lasguns were set to the lowest possible power setting, and our launchers were using chalk rounds). Using what we learned, we managed to suppress them with dummy frag rounds, and assault their position and take them out!
I think, when we get to whatever world we're going to, we'll be ok! I have hope. And I have faith that the Emperor will watch over us.
Entry 19
456.M41
We got our final gear issue, and I got a package in the mail. It was from father. He sent me his old stub revolver, told me it's reliable and powerful, and to keep it close. I don't think he realizes that we can't bring personal weapons.
I'll have to figure something out.
Entry 20
456.M41
One of the convicts helped me smuggle the weapon and the extra ammo father sent me onto the ship. It wasn't pretty, but i've got the gun with me, and i'll keep it close.
We're loading up now. The officers say we'll be grouped with our squads once we're on board, and that more training will be given to us on our way to the new planet (which we still don't know the name of)
It's a pretty awesome sight: There are hundreds of us, thousands maybe, all loading onto the ship with our weapons and our brand new gear. We look sharp. I hope that when we land, we'll be ready for whatever we're facing. I'm still terrified, and this all happened so damn quickly.
I pray to the Emperor every night before I sleep to watch over mother and father while i'm gone. I rarely pray for myself, though: I've got my brothers in arms for that
I feel the need to be posting on here again. This forum kept me sane all throughout 9th, 10th and 11th grade.
So what i've decided to do, since I no longer play tabletop 40k, is keep a fluff log written in 1st person from my Only War character that i'm playing in Reds' OW campaign. Updates will hopefully come around every Tuesday after we've had a session and I've had a day to write about what we experienced in a more narrative way.
The game hasn't started yet, but I'll be writing the first few journal entries of Trooper 2nd Class Johan Crowley, my character.
I hope someone gets some enjoyment out of it, and I hope I'll have a fun time writing it.
Anyway, I guess i'll start
--------------------------------------------------------------
Entry 1
455.M41
Well, i'm starting my journal up out of boredom. There's not much to write about out here on the farmland, but I guess it's not for anyone else to read, it's just for me. Something to pass the time.
I'm 16 years old, going nowhere with my life. I've lived on the farm my entire life, barely even seen the city. The harvest season keeps me real busy, and even during the winter there's always things out here that need getting done, like maintaining the machinery. Takes lots of work.
I can't say I hate it, it's just...not exciting. I want my life to mean something. I've been thinking about joining the PDF come summer when I turn 17, but I don't know if father would let me. How dangerous could it be? Who would want to attack this planet? This place is worthless.
I'm no scholar though, and certainly no tactician, so I guess I could be wrong. Anything could happen at any time.
P.S.: I wittled myself a fife today out of a hollow piece of wood. Has good tune.
Entry 2
455.M41
Haven't had time to write lately. The auto-plows broke last week, and I must have spent hours praying to the machine spirits and applying the sanctified oils. I tried doing some handy work on it, even though father told me not to. I almost got it running. Tomorrow i'm going to have to drive it into town and take it to the temple to have one of those Mars priests look at it.
Never liked them. Always gave me the creeps. My friend Garik calls them the 'metal men' but I don't think it's too safe to insult them.
Entry 3
455.M41
Father broke his leg!
He was out on the border of our land and stepped in a gakking hole and fell. Doctors say he'll be out for the entire rest of the harvest, so that means i'm going to be doing all the work. Good bye, Journal!
Entry 4
456.M41
I almost forgot I had a journal. What was the point of writing it again?
Anyway, i'm 17 now. I spoke to mother about joining the PDF. She was, as expected, horrified with the idea. Haven't told father yet. Too scared.
Entry 5
456.M41
Told father a few days ago. He wasn't pleased with the notion of running off and becoming a 'glory seeker' he called it, but he didn't freak out like mother did. I think he may come around!
Maybe I can convince Garik to join up with me! Maybe we could become heroes! Fight the mutants, defend the planet from invasion!
Entry 6
456.M41
Well, father decided that glory seeking isn't for me. I am sick of this. I grew up working my arse off on the farm, tilling the land all throughout the harvest, repairing the machines in the winter, running all the errands...I think it's time for me to stand up for myself. I'm going into the city tomorrow whether they like it or not. I'm joining the PDF.
P.S.: Spoke to Garik. He's too chicken to join. Who needs him? I'll do this myself
Entry 7
456.M41
Father caught me trying to steal one of the horses to ride into town. He tried to ground me, but I snuck out! I'm in a tavern in the big city right now. I'll be seeing the PDF recruiter tomorrow at noon.
I'm excited! But scared. I wish Garik had come with me.
Entry 8
456.M41
That recruiter was quite possibly the meanest looking sonofabit*h I've ever laid eyes on.
He had a pair of scars running side by side diagonally across his face, and he was blind in his left eye! It was all...milky looking. And nasty! His breath smelled like lho sticks, like father, and my teacher back in school.
I didn't have the guts to ask him how he earned it...but something told me that he didn't get those huge scars from serving in the Planetary Defense Force.
Maybe the Imperial Guard? Oh, Emperor, I hope I never have to leave home to serve as a Guardsman. Here is just fine for me.
Anyway, i'm on a long train ride to PDF basic training. He let me pick my job. Wasn't expecting that!
I picked cook! haha. Maybe i'll get adventure, but it will be the safe kind!
Entry 9
456.M41
This place is hell! No time to write. Day 3 of processing. Head shaved. Uniform issued. Lasgun issued (serial # 10569398). The gear is heavy. The instructors terrify me. I already saw one kid around my age get punched so hard they had to call the medics and he got moved back to day 1...for an entire week.
Not much time to write. I'm in my bunk using my maglight to see. Better get some shut eye.
Entry 10
456.M41
So, processing week was hard, but the second week has been a hundred times worse.
We're learning how to march in a file, how to clean our lasguns and to recite the proper litanies. We've learned 3 basic ones: the Litany of Accuracy, The Litany of Courage, and the Litany of Hate.
We've also learned when to recite them, and why. Too much to write, and i'm too tired.
Haven't fired the lasgun yet, but we start on the firing range next week. I'm excited for that.
Entry 11
456.M41
Firing week was exhilerating! We all learned the proper methods to take aim and squeeze the trigger without jerking. There's no movement in the gun, like father's old solid slug hunting rifle. Just a slight vibration and a snapping sound when it fires. It feels...powerful, in my hands!
Not sure why a PDF cook would need to know how to shoot, though. I guess everyone needs to know how to work the lasgun, in case of an emergency or something.
Tomorrow we do obstacle courses. Need to get some shut eye.
Entry 12
456.M41
Another guy in our training platoon got his leg broken by the instructor for looking him in the eye. I almost cried just seeing it happen.
Basic training is changing me. I feel stronger, more confident. I was always so timid back home. Afraid to stick up for myself. I like who I am becoming.
Still not sure about some of the guys in my training platoon. They say once we graduating basic, we'll all be stationed together as one unit, regardless of jobs. Some of these guys are ex convicts who chose to come here! Some are farm hands, like me, but the ones with darker pasts outnumber us.
This one guy, Rickards, was a thief in the big city. Got caught, and opted to join the PDF. Even volunteered for the Guard! He's been hard for the instructors to control. I think they'll probably kick him out.
Entry 13
456.M41
Obstacle course was tough. Ran it at least 2 dozen times in full flak gear. Good night
Entry 14
456.M41
Haven't had the time to write at night like I usually have. I've been far too exhausted.
We've learned bayonet fighting, hand to hand techniques, knife fighting, and shooting on the move. We also learned group tactics for taking down a large mass of enemies.
I still don't know why a cook would need to know all of this, but i'll learn whatever they decide to teach me.
I hope cook school is easier than this.
Entry 15
456.M41
Bad news. Very bad news.
We had a briefing from our Company Commander today. Apparently the Departmento Munitorum (whoever they are) needs more Imperial Guardsmen, and our platoon has been selected.
I don't know what to do...my parents don't even know where I am. They say a big ship from another planet is coming to pick us up in a month, and that from this moment on, whatever job we had picked out for ourselves before basic are void. We're now all future Imperial Guard infantrymen.
They gave us a little black book called the "Imperial Guard Infantryman's Uplifting Primer", and told us to study it religiously. So we did.
The entire last week of training was spent reading our primers, cleaning our lasguns, and turning in our training gear. Soon, we'll ship out to another camp, where we'll learn more advanced infantry tactics.
I'm scared. I miss my parents. And I just wanted to be a damned cook!
Entry 16
456.M41
They've moved us to the other camp. They didn't even tell us the name of it. We were re outfitted with a brand new flak vest, backpack, pouches and other gear.
The flak vests and leather pouches and belts look, feel and smell like they just came off the assembly line at a factory! There's a number on the left shoulder pad. 45th.
So...I guess we're the 45th Regiment now. Not PDF. Imperial Guard.
When I had first heard the news, I chocked up. But now I am starting to realize, that it's my duty to the Emperor to go wherever He needs me. If that's on some far away planet...then so be it.
We'll have some down time this weekend. I'll send a letter back home and let them know where i'll be...not sure exactly where, but it's off world, I know that much.
Entry 17
456.M41
They gave me a grenade launcher! It's heavy! Way heavier than a lasgun!
Who would have thought? A year ago, I was a farm hand on my father's farm, doing the majority of the work, and too afraid to stick up for myself. Poor vocabulary, weak of body and of spirit. Even weak of faith! My faith in the Emperor has grown immensely these past weeks.
Now I understand my duty. It was a gradual transformation.
Oh, and I've started getting along with some of the men from my platoon. I guess they're not so bad after all. Just different...or misunderstood. Some of the convicts still scare me though.
I've picked up smoking. Disgusting habit, but it eases the mind during these stressful times.
Entry 18
456.M41
Training today was fun, actually. But tough. Been carrying the grenade launcher (still don't know why I got picked. One of the other Troopers suggested it was because I scored high marks on the range at basic. Who knows?) and it's a monster of a weapon. More recoil than the lasgun, and I can cause far more damage. I think I could really get used to this!
Anway, the training! We're continuing to practice our patrols. They say we'll be a Light Infantry unit: that means no heavy weapons, just smaller portable guns, like my launcher, and our armor will weigh less and we'll carry slightly less ammo than the regular line guys, but our mission is different.
We are to patrol surrounding areas that the line and mechanized guys have taken (you know, i'm really not sure what 'mechanized' means, but a good Guardsman doesn't ask too many questions), and look for remaining pockets of enemies.
Also, in support of the main bulk of the battle group, we're to set up ambushes in thick areas, like forests, or mountains. We'll be light, fast, and mobile. I'm not sure if that means 'in more danger' or...something else. We just don't know enough.
During the patrol training, we came under fire from the enemy (some PDF guys. Our lasguns were set to the lowest possible power setting, and our launchers were using chalk rounds). Using what we learned, we managed to suppress them with dummy frag rounds, and assault their position and take them out!
I think, when we get to whatever world we're going to, we'll be ok! I have hope. And I have faith that the Emperor will watch over us.
Entry 19
456.M41
We got our final gear issue, and I got a package in the mail. It was from father. He sent me his old stub revolver, told me it's reliable and powerful, and to keep it close. I don't think he realizes that we can't bring personal weapons.
I'll have to figure something out.
Entry 20
456.M41
One of the convicts helped me smuggle the weapon and the extra ammo father sent me onto the ship. It wasn't pretty, but i've got the gun with me, and i'll keep it close.
We're loading up now. The officers say we'll be grouped with our squads once we're on board, and that more training will be given to us on our way to the new planet (which we still don't know the name of)
It's a pretty awesome sight: There are hundreds of us, thousands maybe, all loading onto the ship with our weapons and our brand new gear. We look sharp. I hope that when we land, we'll be ready for whatever we're facing. I'm still terrified, and this all happened so damn quickly.
I pray to the Emperor every night before I sleep to watch over mother and father while i'm gone. I rarely pray for myself, though: I've got my brothers in arms for that