"For the Emperor" came the cry, accompanied by the pounding of thousands of feet as the Men and Women of the 129th Algolian Infantry as they rose from their trenches, bayonets gleaming in the sunlight, and charged, their Lasguns spitting bolts of deadly light towards the rebellious traitors they fought.
Captain Hansen gave a continuous stream of orders to his Vox-Man, sending his platoons left right and centre. His 4th company was on the right flank of the attack, tasked with taking out the traitors Artillery and Tec Centre, which combined, had lead to mounting casualties in the 129th. This push was only able to be made, due to the barrage of Basilisk Shells which had been raining down on the Traitors fortifications for the past 15 hours. "Lieutenant Hargrove Is to take 2nd platoon to the Pillbox emplacement to the northeast, intelligence reports artillery spotters at that location."
200 meters away, A private was straining to hear the orders coming over the Vox, against the thunderous roar of Heavy Bolters, the Pounding whistle of mortar shells, and the zip of las bolts flying through the air around him. "Lieutenant!", He shouted, drawing the attention of his superior. "Orders are to take the Pilbox to the northwest. Enemy spotters present!"
" Confirmed Private. All sergeants!", Shouted Lieutenant Hargrove", as he jammed down the activation stud of his helmet mounted Vox, "Advance to the north west. Target: Pill Box containing artillery spotters. Squad 2 and 4 pattern theta advance, Bring melta-guns to the front. Squads 3, 5 and 6 , alternating covering fire as we advance.", Turning to face the sergeant of his own command team, Squad 1, he continued the barking orders. "Squad 1 will advance along our own left flank and catch any counter attack before it reaches the assault teams.". Receiving affirmatives from the squad sergeants, shouted the cry of his regiment. "For Algolis, Imperium and Emperor. CHARGE!"
And those orders, were how Specialist Michal Disponette found himself, lasgun in hand, as he watched the front wall of the pill Pill box being atomized, by his friend, Clementina Lombardino or Clem as they called her, before he stepped into the breach she had made and tossed in a frag grenade. The dull crump of the frag signaled his moment to charge into the breach the melta had made, his Lasgun raised, ready to deliver the Emperor's justice to any who fell into his sights. All that greeted him was a mess of pulped bodies, dressed smountering uniforms. "Clear!", he shouted as he stormed inside, followed closely by the rest of his squad.
As they took up positions at the rear entrance of the bunker, the Lieutenant and the rest of his command team stormed in behind them. "Well done 4th squad, he shouted, waving squad 3 through behind him". They dashed past , and at the orders of their sergeant, took up positions outside the entrance, diggin in to the already prepared breastwork. " 5th and 6th squads, your have rear security", Said Hargrove, turning to his Vox-man to relay their situation to command.
Michal sighed, and leant back against the wall, tugging off his helmet and scratching at the fuzz which constituted his hair. "Whats the matter Disponette?", cajoled Clem. "Tired out already?".
"Well we can't all be endless streams of energy like you", he shot back. "Besides, all you've done is melt a bit of ferrocrete." Clem always seemed to be bouncing around the battlefield, vaporising enemies, tanks and fortifications with her "Baby" of death. She was the squads assault specialist, and bearing seemingly infinite amounts of frag, and krak grenades, along side her Meltagun, all who stood against her died.
A thunderous bellowing voice slammed them both out of their verbal sparring. "Disponette! Get your forsaken useless ass off the floor, and move this stubber to the rear fortifications to support 3rd squad if they need it!".
"Yes Sergeant!", he bellowed, like a good soldier. Examining the heavy weapon, he tugged it off its mountings, and hefted its weight over his shoulder. "Give me a hand here Clem", he said, kicking the ammo cans that sat next to the Sutbber's mounting. Shouldering her meltagun, the fiery tempered guardswoman hefted a pair of ammo tins, and followed him outside. In the yellow glare of the planets twin suns, the pain squinted at the fortifications 3rd squad occupied. They occupied a series of trenches, dug to serve as what appeared to be a field medic station. Boxes of medical equipment had been shoved aside to make firing positions for the guard who occupied it now. "Left flank Clem"? Asked Michal, seeing a raised hill which would allow them to cover the open terrain leading up to the fortification line. Sensing her approval, he moved in a low crouch, trying to avoid showing himself to the enemy should they be watching.
Pulling down the attached bipod, he lay down behind the weapon, and allowed Clem to feed in a belt of gleaming brass cartridges, racking the slide, and releasing it with a satisfying, clang. Activating his microbead, he reported that their covering position was ready to his sergeant, moments before all hell broke loose. Three guardsman from 3rd squad toppled over without a sound, "SNIPERS!", bellowed their sergeant, shoving his men into cover, before he himself gave a wet gurgle, and topples over, his face a charred mess, the clear sign of a high powered Las-blast. The effects of the shooting finally started to register in Michal's brain, and he swung the barrel of the stubber around, searching desperately for the source of the shooting.
"What the frag is going on out here Sergeant!"", bellowed Lieutenant Hargrove, his command squad following him out of the pillbox.
A monumental cloud of dread filled his heart, and his shouted warning dies on his lips. Michal simply watched as his Lieutenant, and his retinue exploded where they stood, the thunderclap of high explosives reaching his ears a moment later. A mortar round had been fired on their position, sending Hargrove and his command squad to the emperor's side with its vicious explosion. Gore flew through the air, the intestines, blood, bone and skin of 10 men being sent every which way, splattering across the ground, walls and surrounding the area.
Clem let out a shriek of horror as she was doused in a length of still warm intestines, covering up Michal's own cry of fear as he was sprayed with his own covering of guts and blood.
And then the screaming began. A long distant howl went up across the plain, the sound of maniacs laughing, as the gates of the distant Tec-centre opened, and a stream of insanity poured forth. Hundreds upon hundreds of traitors screamed in heathen tongues as they charged, their words reverberating in Michal's mind like a gong. Milling about in confusion, the 3rd squad peaked their heads over the tops of the trenches, just as hurriedly hiding themselves again when they saw the approaching horde. "This is Disponette! Lieutenant Hargrove and command squad are down. Enemy forces approaching! Request orders!", he roared into his microbead as a torrent of sweat threatened to break and run down his face.
The calming voice of his grizzled sergeant came over the Vox. As the senior NCO left alive, control of the remains of 2nd platoon fell to him. "The lieutenants last orders to us were to hold this position at all costs. I'm bringing up 2nd, 5th and 6th squads to reinforce the position. Yourself and Trooper Lombardino will act as heavy support. the rest of 4th squad will act as a mobile reserve. Use your discretion, and open fire at maximum effective range." Betraying no sense of fear, the Veteran NCO's voice installed a fierce confidence into the men he spoke to, a battle hardened soldier of the God emperor.
"Yes Sir!" came the triumphant bellow, as Guard began streaming from the Pillbox, the soldiers of 2nd 5th and 6th squads tearing into the relative safety of the trenches, lines of guardsman standing in perfect firing positions. The air filled with a mechanical whine, as they thumbed the activation studs of their lasguns, the power packs preparing to send their lethal shots into the rabble of traitors. "Stand firm!", came the rallying cry from squad 2's Sergeant. "Remember your duty to the Emperor. You swore an oath to defend his imperium, even unto your deaths! And by the throne, you shall do your duty. On my mark!". A heartbeat passed, the heathen screeching of the charging enemy growing louder, before the command was given.
"FIRE!"