Heresy and Rebellion

"What would you have done with shore leave anyway?  Gotten drunk?" asked Trooper Daly, obviously annoyed.

"No way!  I would have just slept for three days straight." stammered Trooper Byrne.  "Besides, it doesn't matter.  The whole ruddy planet is on leave and we're stuck up here in this damn boat."

The troopers were standing watch in one of the many docking bays on board the Imperial Cruiser Warspite, orbiting high above the planet Vendoland.  The huge bay was filled to capacity with two massive ground force drop ships, three much smaller Arvus Lighter transports and two Valkyrie Assault Carriers.  The cruiser was the main interstellar transport for the 1st Vendoland Expeditionary Force.

"What the hell does the colonel have against holidays anyways?  Any other commander would be down there having a good ol' time away from all of us,"  Byrne whined.

"Psh.  The whole damn expedition is up here, Byrne, not just the 101st.  It wasn't the colonel's call," Daly retorted.  "And there's a bright side to all this, yanno."

"Yeah?  What?" Bryne asked, rolling his eyes.

"You don't have to walk in a bloody parade."

***

It was Settlers Day on Vendoland.
Everyone in the massive capital city of Venlin was out for the festivities.  There were carnivals and celebrations going on all over the city.  Streets were crowded with people going to and from parties and get-togethers.  Nobody stayed inside on Settlers Day. 


The main event, however, was about to occur: The military parade.  The one time a year Vendoland showed off its might to the public.  Nearly every unit in the planetary defense force and expeditionary forces was lined up in perfect formation on main street, marching in perfect formation and rhythm.  Some of the units were dressed in the standard dark green on light green uniform of  the Vendoland defense force.   Others were dressed in the different fatigues of their expeditions.   Thousands of armored vehicles thundered down the streets behind the infantry formations.  Leman Russ battle tanks, Basilisk artillery batteries, Chimera APC's and even Sentinel walkers lined the street.  The sound was enourmous.  Through the cheers of the massive crowd, the stomping of millions of marching feet and the roar of engines, one could barely hear their own thinking. 


Lord Governor Marcus Sato sat and watched his military lumber on from a large balcony on the side of one of the many skyscrapers along the parade route.  His personal staff had set up a small command point on the balcony, taking and sending out vox calls to various personnel throughout the city.

"Magnificent, isn't it, mi'lord?" one of the Governor's aides said, proudly.

"Indeed it is," Sato replied, nodding.  "This is might truly worthy to heed the Emperor's call."

"Truly, mi'lord," the aide affirmed.  "Nobody dares to challenge the might of Vendoland.  The sector is safe now and will always be safe with forces like these."

Sato turned to the aide and said, sternly,  "One can only hope the universe shares your optimism."

"What do you mean, mi'lord?  Look at this might layed before us.  Who would dare to challenge this?"  the aide questioned, raising his voice slightly.

"Do you know why I keep Vendoland's conscription rates so high, even though there hasn't been major conflict in the region in centuries?" Sato inquired.

"To show your power throughout the sector, mi'lord?" the aide answered, puzzled.

Sato chuckled.  "I'm not that concerned with 'showing off my power' to our little sector, no."

"Then what?"

"Because this sector is too damn quiet.  Call it paranoia if you like, but I know something is going to happen, sometime.  Every neighboring sector is plagued by war, rebellion, or something of the sort.  Why should our sector be any different?" Sato said sternly, turning back to look at the parade below them.

"Perhaps we are just being watched over by the Emperor, mi'lord," the aide replied, raising his eyebrows.

Sato chuckled again.  "The Emperor watches over all of humanity.  That doesn't mean bad things don't happen."

The aide frowned, "I don't--" 

He was cut off as dozens of Valkyrie assault carriers and Vendetta gunships screamed overhead in their flyby formation. 

"Oh, I love this part," the aide said, turning his attention to the flyover.  Suddenly, one of the Vendettas broke formation, spinning wildly out of control and smashing into a nearby Valkyrie.  Several more aircraft followed suit, breaking formation and either slamming into other nearby aircraft or just falling from the sky. 


"By the throne, they're dropping like flies!"

Then everything went to hell.  Two Vendettas dropped right onto a formation of Basilisk artillery tanks, forming a massive fireball and sending debris everywhere.  Explosions erupted out of buildings all along the parade route, showering citizens and guardsmen alike with flame and debris.  One of the formations of guardsmen un-slung their weapons and began firing randomly into the nearby crowds.  People screamed madly, trying to get away from the barrage of fire.  Citizens were cut down by the hundreds.  Two other formations followed suit, catching the nearby marching formations off-guard and slaughtering them to the last man before they could even un-sling their weapons.  

The crowds began to disprese in every direction as fast as they could.  People were crushed as they fell underneath the feet of the crazed mobs.  More men with weapons were pouring out of other buildings, firing randomly into whatever was near them.  There was blood and flames everywhere along the parade route. It was sheer chaos.

Lord Governor Sato jumped to his feet and turned to his stunned staff.  "Vox operator, contact the Warspite in orbit.  Tell the 1st Expedition I want them planet-side, now!"