His first command

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The whirring of the powerful turbofans intensified as the matte-beige valkyrie soared into the burning skies, leaving the derelict ruins of Hive Minnasa behind. Sergeant Jev looked down at the carcass of the metropolis that once housed a billion souls, as its scale became smaller and smaller. Emperor-damn, there were still fires burning down there; pyres of war dead set ablaze, special post engagement cleanup operations headed by the 56th Savlar. Fukking savages, looting and pillaging, bet they love their job. This whole city had gone to hell.

Nobody wants me to be squad leader, not even myself, thought Jev. Had it not been with the acceptance of ex-Sergeant Vendermann into officer school, there is no need for him to be promoted as squad leader. Jev is comfortable as a corporal but in the Elysian, promotion is only a matter of time.

Clutching the dog tags of those that he could find, Jev estimated that the operation had cost 70 percent casualties in the squad, a bloody disaster. If Vendermann is still here, at least he could take the blame. Jev heart sank even lower as he remembered he was forced to leave some of his men behind, sealed within with the infected. Why? Why this? His first command.

For 3 weeks they had been fighting in Minnasa against the whole hive, infected by some nurglite virus released into the major air circulator. Division had got the shit assignment of containing the outbreak, which by the time they had dropped into Minnasa, the entire place was tainted. Jev was not ready for this, not as squad leader.
Sergeant Kevva, next to him, was quite enjoying the whole show. Word was he also received accelerated promotion but only because his NCO was killed. But damn, boy got a talent. His squad single-handedly hold an entire section till the evac came, 90 percent casualties but 2 medals on his chest for his actions and bravado. Already, he was carving kill marks on his armour even though his sergeant stripe was still wet on his helmet. "Glory hunter", Jev wished the fukker could stop showing off.

"Acceptable losses, friend" Kevva said.

Jev glared at him,"The fuk you know about command?"

Brushing dust off his armor, Kevva smirked.

"Believe me, I know. And the best thing is, I like it"

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Elysian art and redesign.

Recently, i rarely complete complex drawings, so this is a miracle.

When it comes to 40k imperial guards, they are the most human of all species in the imperium but art showing their humanity side is rare. We are just barely scratching the surface here. Yeah, we have seen lots of poster and glory shots, but that is irrelevant. How they deal with their dead, how they bury their comrades and how they cope with their losses. those are the stuff we want to see.

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A bit of Elysian redesign fluff:

there is no doubt to it that these drop troops enjoyed the most advanced doctrines compared to the rest of the guards but elite status only mean that they are often called into dangerous campaigns across the imperium. and their demand is always high amongst warmasters.

Casualties are high in the drop regiment and any troop who survived 15 drops (not counting other reason such as death of nco, bravery, medals and etc.) automatically got promoted to the next rank to make way for the replacement troops reinforced from the homefront. Or in other cases, a strike regiment may be founded with surviving members of a previous defunct regiment enjoying senior status. Auto promotions, however, ended when troops got elevated into officer school (max rank: senior Lt.), there the only way to get promoted is by calling favors and showing academic and tactical savvy and years served.

yadda yadda yadda...