Commissar Ciaphas Cain, HERO OF THE IMPERIUM!, has a couple as well.
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For the Emperor
- Near the beginning of the first book, Cain notes that one measure he instituted to expediate the merging of the two halves of the 597th was a weekly reward of an afternoon's leisure and an extra ale ration to the most efficient platoon in the unit. His subsequent lines are one of the few times he doesn't second-guess or deride one of his actions, a rare hint of true pride from him, and also hints at just how important he becomes to the regiment:These days, I'm told, "Cain's Round" is still a cherished tradition of the 597th, and the competition for the extra ration of ale still hotly contested. All in all, I suppose there are worse things to be remembered for.
- Nearly a century later Cain can still recall every detail of his first sight of Amberley Vaill in holographic detail. He calls her the most fascinating woman he's ever met, and even says her companionship made the incidents of bowel clenching terror she got him into worthwhile. But he doesn't believe in Love at First Sight, oh no!
- Furthermore, if you're paying attention, Cain more-or-less gives up his playboy ways in every (chronologically) subsequent novel after meeting Amberley. Who'd have thunk he'd end up being the kinda guy who settled down once he met the right girl? Not Cain himself!
- To be fair, Amberley does have the Assassinarium on speed dial...
- Jurgen proving his loyalty to the Commissar by volunteering for a suicide mission."I'd like to go with you, sir. I wouldn't trust any of those frakheads further than I could throw a Baneblade, if you don't mind me saying so, and I'd feel a lot better if you'd let me watch your back"
I was touched and I don't mind admitting it. We'd been campaigning together for the best part of thirteen years by that point, and faced innumerable perils together, but his loyalty never ceased to amaze me. Probably because the nearest I've ever got to the concept myself is looking it up in a dictionary.- When you consider that Jurgen, as a blank, naturally creates a sense of mistrust and dislike in others—and then there's his infamous odor—Cain's simple kindnesses were probably the first time in his life anybody treated him like a person. And despite any number of opportunities where Cain could have thrown Jurgen to the wolves (or tau, tyranids, necrons, cultists...), he never does. This time, methinks the commissar really doth protest too much...
- Later in the same book, after an escape tunnel made with Jurgen's melta gun collapses with Jurgen still on the other side and surrounded by Purestrain genestealers, Cain immediately tries to dig his way through the rubble before Amberley pulls him away, and spends the next few hours gripping his laspistol so tightly that he later discovered it left a nasty bruise on his hand. Amberley's footnotes determine that Cain was suffering shellshock from Jurgen's supposed death.
Caves of Ice
- Cain's closeness with the command staff of the 597th and how highly the regiment as a whole thinks of him. It's pointed out several times that Cain's inclusion in operation planning and command briefings is actually very unusual, so much so that his camaraderie with Kasteen and Broklaw actually leaves other Commissars shocked. It goes so far that the troopers treat him like a member of the command staff. His suggestions, orders, and requests all get treated as if given by a well respected superior officer. Cain, of course, brushes this off by attributing it to his ability to simply shoot anyone who doesn't listen, but Amberley points out how unusual it is for soldiers to trust their Commissar as much as the 597th trusted Cain.
- From their perspective, the Valhallan 597th places an immense degree of faith in Cain because he placed his faith in them first, taking a regiment split into two violently hostile factions after being thrown together in the aftermath of a traumatic battle that destroyed both of their parent regiments and shaping them into one of the best regiments in the Imperial Guard. He went the extra mile for them when other Commissars would have decimated the regiment for less.
- His decision to send back the wounded with an escort even though it means cutting his available forces in half in Caves of Ice. He might rationalize it with believing that the threat was over, but considering that the average Commissar would have just executed the injured for being dead weight, it's a welcome touch of human decency in a universe so often lacking it.
- Magot and Grifen make it through the Necron tomb where grizzled veteran Stormtroopers didn't, with it HEAVILY implied that their relationship is what gave them the strength to manage it.
The Traitor's Hand
- Cain wipes out Slaaneshi cultists who crash an aircar into the conference room. General Zyvan, who's familiar with Cain after several campaigns says he's a hero and Cain comments on risking his life to save a Lord General:Cain: The Imperium has a lot of commissars.
Zyvan: Not like you, Ciaphas.- Notable in that he calls an Imperial Guard Commissar by his first name, and also because really there AREN'T a lot of commissars like Cain. Unfortunately for the Imperium.
- Also notable is that Cain actually slips in his narration of the event. Specifically after the initial Slaaneshi attack, Cain notes that one of conference room attendants is down and about to bleed out from a lost arm, while not far from him is a civilian administrator who's overcome with shock. Without thinkingnote , Cain immediately snaps the administrator out of his shock so that he may help the wounded man. Though it's a very minor and easily overlooked part of the event, it's very telling all the same (especially given the spontaneity of it) and serves as an additional hint that Cain isn't the uncaring bastard he paints himself as.
- Cain and a PDF detachment run into a Slaneeshi sorceress using an enchantment that makes everyone who looks at her see someone they care deeply about to make her opponents drop their guard. The person Cain sees (Until Jurgen arrives) is Amberley.
- It's quite subtle, but being responsible for the reconciliation between an estranged father and son.General Kolbe swelled a little with paternal pride. I was to learn later that his youngest son's decision to join the praetors rather than the military had rankled for some time, and that the incident at the bridge had initiated a reconciliation that both would have been too stubborn to try for under other circumstances, so at least some good had come out of it. (Other than a pile of dead heretics, of course, which always brightens the day.)
- The 597th's regard to Cain is especially emphasized in this book. When another Commissar (a hated rival of Cain's no less) shows up to have Cain arrested on (obviously baseless) charges of treason, the squad Cain was with immediately rallies around him and draw beads at both the adversary Commissar and the Tallarn squad sent to perform the arrest! In other words, not only were they willing to face down a standard Commissar and potential charges of treason toward themselves for Cain's sake, but they did so without hesitation. And for all of his Dirty Coward and selfishness claims, Cain quickly returns the favor when said Commissar attempts to have them all executed, taking aim with his laspistol in their defense and stating in plain Gothic that only he gets to make that call with his troops and that he would drop the other Commissar if he even tries to enforce that order.Cain: Oh put it away, you absurd little man! No one executes my troopers unless it's me! And if you even think about pulling that trigger, I guarantee you'll be dead before she hits the ground!
- Near the end of the book Tomas Beije insults Colonel Kasteen in her absence. Cain's response? Challenging him to a duel."You can accuse me of anything you like," I said, playing to the emotions of the troopers with me with the ease of long practice. "But you will not disparage Colonel Kasteen in my presence. She's one of the finest soldiers I've ever had the privilege to serve with, and the regiment she leads is among the best in the galaxy."
I holstered my pistol with what I considered to be a suitably theatrical gesture. "No doubt this farcical situation has warped your judgment, along with your manners. When you calm down I'll expect an apology on her behalf. Failing that, I'm sure we can settle the matter quite amicably on the dueling field."- It doesn't hurt that Cain is fairly certain that his opponent is comically outmatched against him. Cain is considered to be one of the best chainsawswordsmen in the Imperium. His opponent, not so much. On the other hand, Cain mentions that he hadn't intended to challenge Beije to a duel over the issue, so it just slipped out naturally. When Kasteen hears of what he did, she's very touched.
Duty Calls
- A good demonstration of how much his core group of contemporaries in the 597th care about Cain on a personal level beyond just respect is seen in this book. When Cain is nearly killed via an RPG blowing up his vehicle during an assassination attempt, a hazy Cain notices that this is the first time in a long time he's seen Jurgen look rattled and so visibly concerned, Sulla herself drops what she's doing to hoist Cain onto her shoulders to help Jurgen get him out of the fire zone all the while alternatively raging that someone on their side took a shot at him or worrying about his health, and his descriptions of Kasteen and Broklaw afterwards make it clear that they're essentially hovering over him when he drags himself back to the command center, and are both visibly relieved when he (falsely) agrees to take it easy while he recovers from his concussion. Cain being himself, he rationalizes this as them all being concerned with the assassination attempt itself and its implications, and the thought of getting a more strict commissar if he dies, but Amberly notes that there's really no other way to interpret it other than his friends being worried for his health after he was hurt.
Cain's Last Stand
- It's touching how often he admits to thinking about Amberley. The planet he's on is in the direct path of a Chaos fleet. There are Tyranids in the asteroids and maybe Necrons but the scent of Hegentha flowers floating over a conference table reminds him that they are Amberley's favorite flower. And later after the invasion has begun the sight of a dawn sky makes him think of her eyes. Oh, yeah, he's got it BAD.
- Interestingly Cain observes in the same book than many of Amberley's other allies twitch uncomfortably when he refers to their relationship. A sign that her sweeter side isn't something everyone gets to see, for sure. One wonders if they think she's taking advantage of a HERO OF THE IMPERIUM!!!!
- By this book, Cain has become a Cool Teacher. It seems that every time his little cadets are mentioned, he leaves some hint that he cares a good deal for them (be it teaching them not to get shot in the back, or paying attention to them on an individual level). The scene in the Caf, where he picks out each kid's face after first hearing rumors of a Black Crusade, comes to mind; but by the time Donal dies, Cain's reactions have risen right into Papa Wolf territory. To top it off, for once he barely tries to belittle this side of himself.
The Emperor's Finest
- Snooty noble brat Mira (currently Cain's lover) snaps angrily at Jurgen when he brings Cain's tea in one morning (she's not a morning person herself). Cain quickly placates Jurgen's hurt feelings and as soon as Jurgen leaves the room he tactfully but firmly defends him to Mira. It's startlingly sincere, especially when you consider how people normally react to Jurgen.Cain: Please don't treat Jurgen like one of your household servants. He's an Imperial Guardsman, and the aide of a commissar, with an exemplery record of courage in the face of the enemy. He deserves a bit of respect.
- Captain Gries gives Cain the use of one of the Reclaimer's training chapels to exercise in. Cain is genuinely touched at the honor, considering that the Space Marines normally consider such places sacred.
The Last Ditch
- Someone insults Kasteen, and it only takes Jurgen mentioning the challenge from last time to get them to stand down.
- Cain taking the newly minted Commissar Forres under his wing and trying to show her some of his methods to be a better commander. It's implied the lesson sticks.
The Greater Good
- Cain risks a shot that might send the whole installation they are standing in sky-high - because Jurgen's life is at stake.
Vainglorious
- The book us set shortly before Cain's retirement to Perlia, and decades after his adventures with the Reclaimers Space Marine chapter in "The Emperor's Finest" and "The Greater Good" he meets the Reclaimers yet again. And amazingly, the Space Marines greet Jurgen and acknowledge his good work. Stating that Jurgen is known to them, to the shock of the Adeptus Mechanicus onlookers, and then remarking approvingly of Jurgen still serving the Emperor. When Jurgen asks "what else would I do?" in bafflement, the Reclaimers Brother Sergeant asks "what indeed?" while his honour squad nod to Jurgen in approval. It's pretty heartwarming to know that the often overlooked and disliked Jurgen is known and respected to a Space Marine chapter for his faithful service to the Imperium.
Unsorted
- In a sense, the entire series (or rather, the Cain Archive itself) could be considered, among other things, Cain's ultimate effort to give Jurgen his due. Throughout his career, Jurgen's presence has been forgotten, erased, or overwritten in works about Cain's various adventures for a variety of reasons (his appearance, smell, and the fact that he's a blank). But, in the unofficial memoirs Cain writes himself, he often goes out of his way to describe just how much he depends on Jurgen, often depicting Jurgen as being the more competent of the two of them at times. It shows just how much Cain values having Jurgen as his companion over the years.
- Every single time Cain slips up and reveals he's not the selfish Dirty Coward he paints himself as (feeling guilty that he doesn't remember a guy who died under him eighty years ago, thinking a victory was due to enemy error rather than the considerable morale boost caused by his presence, trying to find a way to take out a tank swarmed by allied troops instead of shooting them and the tank, infact, even BOTHERING to think of saving the troops swarming an enemy tank instead of just blasting everything away, tank and troops, as Amberley noted was what a typical commissar would do, is likely what makes Cain a Father to His Men. Oh, and the troops go through it safely. Him on the other hand....).
