You wake from your coma and open your eyes.
Your sense of smell detects the disgusting, horrible stench again. You suddenly feel dizzy and try to adapt for a long time before you can barely feel better.
There's something wrong with your sense of smell and taste. They've failed completely.
Your unexpected behavior seems to attract someone's attention.
A middle-aged officer wearing the uniform of an Imperial Commissar and possessing outstanding appearance walks out of the shadows and approaches you.
"Why do I remember there were only Jurgen and I in the escape pod?" The middle-aged officer stares at you intently and says slowly.
The wide-brimmed hat on his head is slightly tilted, apparently because the temperature in the escape pod is too high. He casually tears open the collar of his uniform, revealing a clump of dense, vigorous chest hair.
You regain your composure after your sense of smell fails. You tell him that everything was arranged by the Emperor. You are loyal to the Imperium and willing to offer your loyalty to the Emperor.
The middle-aged officer looks you over repeatedly, then puts away the laspistol in his palm. He shows you a brilliant smile and chooses to believe your words.
"Strange young man, there's good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?" The middle-aged officer's smile doesn't diminish.
You hesitate for a moment and decide to listen to the bad news first.
"The bad news is that we're surrounded by endless greenskins. Because Comrade Jurgen's old fear of flying relapsed, the escape pod he personally piloted sent us directly to the rear of the ork defense line... More importantly, we don't have many weapons or ammunition, and even food supplies are running out."
The middle-aged officer introduces the current situation to you without hiding anything.
You agree. This is indeed very bad news.
Because the middle-aged officer maintains an expression of indifference even when delivering bad news, you can't help but gradually raise hope. You can't wait to ask about the good news.
"Huh? Good news? In such a terrible situation, we now have at least three people to face it all!" The middle-aged officer's outstanding face finally reveals a long-hidden smirk.
You suddenly understand, and at the same time can't help shaking your head and sighing.
Having one more hand to face the greenskins is probably the real reason he's willing to believe you. Even Chaos forces are unwilling to face a large horde of greenskin orks crying for a fight alone.
You gradually comprehend the current situation.
You demonstrate some combat capabilities to him, and you win the middle-aged officer's recognition.
You try to ask the middle-aged officer's name.
"Ciaphas Cain, Commissar of the 597th Valhallan Regiment... Young man, no matter where you came from in the past, now, welcome to the 597th Regiment, soldier... For the Emperor!" The Commissar named Cain says to you sincerely.
You choose to join the 597th Regiment and become a soldier under Commissar Cain.
After Cain's introduction, you meet the real owner of that terrible stench again. He's Cain's aide.
Gunner First Class Jurgen is a crude man who has been troubled by foul odor and severe skin disease for many years.
You try to communicate with Jurgen, but he's very resistant to you, with your mysterious origin. Commissar Cain assures him that you're a trustworthy Imperial warrior.
Comrade Jurgen seems to listen to Cain's explanation and reluctantly accepts your existence.
On the first day, you follow Comrade Jurgen, who looks unfriendly, to gather all the supplies in the escape pod.
After careful sorting, you and Jurgen discover that the supplies originally enough for two people to last about half a month can only last a week because of your unexpected joining.
Comrade Jurgen expresses dissatisfaction with this. You say you can appropriately reduce your food portion.
Commissar Cain immediately rejects the proposal. He believes the three of you cannot sit and wait for death, and waiting for the Imperium's rescue is unrealistic.
The only way for you to survive now is to cross the greenskin orks' defense line and enter the Imperium's control area.
On the second day, before departure, Comrade Jurgen carries all the food supplies and his heavy melta gun. Even though it's overweight and difficult to move, Comrade Jurgen is unwilling to share the extra weapons with you. After Commissar Cain persuades him, Comrade Jurgen reluctantly gives you a lasgun, but only provides one energy cell.
You have no grudges about this. The lasgun is much better than facing screaming greenskins with bare hands.
On the third day, you enter a forest for a brief rest and unexpectedly encounter a small group of wandering greenskins. You make Commissar Cain look at you with admiration through your accurate shooting skills and the ruthlessness you display when executing the greenskins.
Even the stubborn Jurgen has to admit your excellence. He, who is always stingy, actually gives you two more energy cells.
On the fourth day, because of Jurgen's poor sense of direction, you enter a plain area and are once again chased by a large number of greenskins. Cain recognizes these as greenskins from the Evil Sunz Clan through the clan insignia and the red vehicles they drive. They're obsessed with speed and engine roar, believing that painting vehicles red increases speed threefold.
You, Commissar Cain, and Comrade Jurgen flee in a hurry, running until exhausted. You barely shake off the greenskins behind you. After a short rest, you discover that because you were only concerned with escaping, the few energy cells you carried are completely lost. Even Jurgen's food rations have lost a day's worth.
On the fifth day, your stomach is extremely hungry. You can only use precious fresh water to suppress your appetite.
Cain gives you half of the food Jurgen gave him. You want to refuse, but Commissar Cain says he doesn't have the habit of letting his soldiers fight on empty stomachs. You need to maintain your combat ability.
At night, Comrade Jurgen comes to you shyly and stuffs you with a few precious candies. At the same time, he expresses regret for the lost supplies.
You laugh it off and try to comfort the stubborn Jurgen. The Emperor will bless the three of you.
On the sixth day, under Cain's leadership, you don't encounter any harassment from greenskins along the way. Perhaps it's the Emperor's mercy—you even find a place where you can replenish fresh water, and there's no trace of a greenskin around.
In the first week, you've lost considerable weight. Because of the abundant fresh water, you're still in high spirits. Cain and Jurgen are obviously much more haggard.
Your food supply has been completely exhausted.
You accidentally raise a bold question: whether the meat of greenskin orks can be eaten.
Cain and Jurgen look at each other. They don't object to your question but seem eager to try.
In the second week, the three of you ultimately fail to sample the local specialty, greenskin barbecue.
On the verge of collapse, you accidentally encounter a small group of defeated local defense forces. Cain, tortured by hunger, immediately reveals his identity as an officer of the Imperial Commissariat and temporarily takes over command of the entire group.
You find piles of ant-bull cans and combat rations in a Chimera infantry fighting vehicle. You can't suppress your excitement and share abundant joy with Cain and Jurgen.
However, just as you're about to fall asleep after a full meal, Cain with a serious expression finds you.
"Be careful. They may be rebels!" Commissar Cain lowers his voice.
You sigh and pick up the lasgun again.