"Finally, my time has come to serve the Emperor and to battle the enemies of the Imperium as a proud member of the Elysian Drop Troops Regiment. After five years serving the PDF, fending off the Dark Eldar pirates from our system and two grueling years in the Drop Troop training has finally paid off. I was assigned at 710th Elysian Drop Troop Regiment, 2nd Battalion, and 1st Company. In the next few days we were to arrive at a planet Noir II in the Noir System to reinforce other regiments already deployed there. Veteran Sergeant Rayn told us that the dangers that we might face could muster losses from our company would be 50 percent when the mission starts, I hope I would not be included in the 50 percent… so I hope"

Corporal Montan "Sparrow" Passer

2nd battalion, 1st company, 3rd Squad Leader

After four days of warp travel, the Imperial Navy Cruiser brought the 215th, 419th and the 710th Elysian Drop Troops; all newly graduated and will be their first combat mission. Finally arrived at the orbit of Noir II, Immediately were mustered and assigned at their designated regions. The 710th were assigned to support the 430thCadian Shock Troops battling the heretics in a dessert province of the planet, the 812 strong men and women of the 2nd Battalion were ordered to drop in the middle of the town. It lays few meters away to the foot of strategic hill, as the commanders saw a huge strategic value of the town, for direct assault at the hill would risks high casualties. The hill, strategically overlooked the battlefield 360 degrees and a perfect location for artillery observers, it houses a fortified bunker and no doubt have communications system installed. It also secures a convoy road for logistics transport which is too valuable to be dismissed by the commanders, they are also aware that it is no doubt being heavily fortified by the heretics. All officers agreed that this critical location must be captured at all cost.

And thus 77 Vendetta all fully loaded with the 2nd Battalion are closing in at the town, distant anti air guns and anti-air missiles were fired at the Vendetta's, while the latter deployed chaffs and the gunners countered with their heavy bolters. Sparrow's hand shook wildly as he felt the vibration of the hull becomes stronger, even though no stranger to danger and combat, this was his first time to be in a planet wide war. His eyes scanned at his surroundings and took a glanced at his two buddies. Both are also nervous but they try to ease their fear by chatting. While the veterans just took a deep breath and whispered some prayers. He took a deep breathe, sucking the recycled air. The stale taste neither eased his nausea. The atmosphere was tensed as every man in the Vendetta knew all of them would die, no one expects to see another day. As the saying "Never expect to come out alive for you will be the first casualty.

"You alright there" his buddy, Pvt. Harp asked

Sparrow just nodded as he lost any strength to speak, his anxiety overpowered him.

"Bet he is panic mode now, the bird who is afraid to fly." commented by Pvt. Hum his squad mate and a burst of laughter soon were heard. It was the only way to ease up the tension they felt.

"All right guys that is enough. Listen up." Sgt. Rayn chimed in and all eyes focused on him.

"In thirty seconds our squad along with ten more squads will drop into the town square and will secure a parameter. While the rest of the 1st company Vendetta's will drop off on some buildings surrounding the town square, and the 2nd company will drop off from the southern part of the town and will surround it. This will be a bloody house to house fighting. Expect heavy resistance and I know this will be difficult, and this is your first combat as a drop troop. But this is where we are good at and we will drag those bastards back to the warp. And remember that the 430th Cadian depend on us. The Emperor protects us all."

"The emperor protects" they all shouted.

The Klaxon soon chimed and the green light blinked as the ramp door of the Vendetta opened, revealing the grey skies. They formed a single file and saw traces of anti-air munitions can be seen flying in air.

"Everyone… Jump now!" Sgt. Rayn shouted as he was the first to jump off the Vendetta Gunship, soon followed by everyone onboard.

As Sparrow, the last person to get off the vessel felt some strong force threw him off air. Only to realize the vendetta was hit by a missile and blew off seconds after his feet were away from the ramp, now swirling mid-air as he lost control of his grav-chute. He struggled to get himself into position as the thrusters of his chute just threw him in endless turbulence. He prayed as some bullets whizzing inches from his face while others weren't so lucky, a fellow drop troop was hit by an autocannon round and shattered into pieces. While the other one was his grav-chute has hit and fell to his death. Sparrow could see blood scattered in mid-air, and some burning debris and person falling down. He could see the ground is going closer and enemies littered the area firing at them. His hands tried to reach the control mechanism of his grav-chute to shut it off, but to no avail. His heart beats faster than normal as he is hundred feet away from the ground.

"Shit" the only word sparrow could say as his body rattled in fear.

"Guess I'm in that 50 percent after all." He thought as he closed his eyes.

The shaking of his body intensifies as his fear of heights and flying overcomes him again. He wanted to die just to end his fear, he wanted it now!

His thought was disrupted as a hand smacked his helmet; he opened his eyes and saw a familiar face smiling at him.

"Rule number 1, never close your eyes" Sgt. Rayn Screamed as he reached at his grav-chute and shut it down.

He grabbed Sparrow and they descended towards a three story house, sparrow was in awe as Sgt. Rayn flew like a graceful bird as he maneuvered to dodge the bullets from the enemies firing from the window. He wondered how he could do those things as his fellow troopers couldn't imitate.

Sparrow's eyes widened as he realized what his Sergeant was planning, as they get closer to the house he let out a curse. He could see a single enemy firing frantically with his lasgun, as his surrounding seemed to slow down as they both smashed the window. It looked like a small window but surprisingly it fitted two sandwiched men, Sparrow slowly stood up while Sgt. Rayn fired a shot on the heretic's forehead.

"Even though he would not survive that impact, I would not risk any chance." He said and tossed the Lascarbine at sparrow. He signaled at the window and both of them peered at the scene outside.

Six enemies covered behind the sandbags firing at the descending troopers, Sgt .Rayn signaled sparrow to open fire.

"Three from the left is mine, the rest is yours."

"Copy that sarge."

Rapid shots were fired and the heads of the heretics were blown.

"Another four from the far left, they have heavy bolter."

"Copy that."

Another shots fired at the heavy infantry, they save the lives of their fellow troopers who landed safely at the square and took cover, while other troopers landed on top of the houses and provided covering fire for the others. This unfortunately did not go unnoticed, as some enemies who took cover at the first floor of the mansion house saw the laser coming out above them hitting their comrades. Sgt. Rayn heard footsteps and voices coming towards them.

"We got company, just help the others to land safely and I'll take care of these heretics below. And I'll sweep the house" Sgt. Rayn ordered as he readied his las carbine.

Sparrow nodded as he finished putting his fresh battery pack to his weapon. And with his scope he shot another shots and killed another two, other heretic saw his position and burst him with heavy stubbers and autoguns, he ducked from the window and crawled into another position. The firing suddenly stopped as familiar voices screamed out of nowhere, he was surprised as two figures came crashing into the windows and rolled on the floor.

Privates Hum and Harp both cursing as they struggled to take off their Grav-Chute, but they were smart enough to keep their heads from the window. Sparrow smiled as he saw his two buddies, but alarmed as he heard footsteps coming in their way. He trailed his gun on both Hum and Harp's position, much to the duo's surprise as Sparrow opened fire. Two shots fired and two long laser trails passed between Harp and Hum and bore holes into the two heretics who were hiding on the closet with improvised sharp objects in their hands. One was shot on the forehead, the other in his chest. Harp and Hum was almost breathless at what have they witnessed.

"By the Emperor, that was sick!" Harp shouted in excitement.

"You Bastard, I thought I lost my head." Hum added as he shook his head in disbelief but laughed with Harp.

The trio continued laughing but stops abruptly as bullets and lasers heading towards their direction, they ducked and crawled at the door to get out of the room. They checked the rooms and went on the first floor, they soon stumbled on Sgt. Rayn as he was kneeling and reloading his Las-Carbine, he turned his head and motioned for the three to come to him.

"Good to see you guys, Harp and Hum you will lay suppressing fire as me and Sparrow will flank those bastards outside. They're pinning some squads in the street." Sgt. Rayne ordered as he motioned them to the window.

They see the heretics across the street, they were focused on some Elysians taking cover on rockcrete and debris, and others were shot down mid-air by stubbers and autoguns. As they observe for more enemies, with his signal Pvt. Harp and Hum opened fired at the heavy weapons team while Sgt. Rayn and Cpl. Sparrow dashed to flank the group of heretics pinned down. They both opened fired and killed seven heretics, mostly in the neck and head. As they trailed their scope of their lascarbines they spotted four more heretics charging with chain swords, they aimed at the chest and to head as they pulled the trigger. One heretic crashed on the cemented street without a head, while the other died when his chest bursts with his blood splashed at the two remaining heretic. But they neither faltered and Sparrow could see their bloodshot eyes and mouth foaming with unholy rage. With another pull of his trigger, the two went down with their heads exploded.

"Good shooting." Rayn patted at Sparrow as he motioned for Harp and Hum to regroup.

Soon the pinned Elysians came out of their hiding and rallied at Sgt. Rayn, all of them were rookies as the Sergeant could tell. He motioned them to surround him as he crouched at started to draw a map on the cemented ground with a burned out ember, he made sketches of few houses and the location of the DZ of the second company. He ordered them to sweep each houses, he soon contacted the remaining 1st company with his comm bead to regroup and pushed forward to rendezvous with the 2nd company.

"Alright let's go!" Sgt. Rayn commanded and the rest was hell for Sparrow.

It was a bitter house to house fighting, they breached the door and started shooting, some houses were booby trapped and killed few Elysians. Others were killed by snipers hiding from the windows, it was answered by melta charges thrown in the window and burned some houses, the screams of burning agony were heard around the town. Other Elysians stormed the hosues and sprayed lasers and promethium fire inside. Some breached the door and stumbled on the civvies, shaken and fearful for their lives. Sparrow leave them alone as they search for the enemies. Other civvies were not fortunate as they were burned with promethium fire.

Soon they stumbled some Weapons and Ammunition Canisters that survived and used into their advantage, they soon linked up with the rest of the veterans of the 1st company and made a push into the center of the town. Soon the street were littered by burning heretics as Accatran Patterned Melta-guns, Plasma Guns and missile launchers were used. The town was burning and the last heretic was killed when he was hit in the crotch by Sparrow who was now equipped with Accatran Patterned Modified Sniper Lasgun, his buddies were laughing at the heretics predicament. Sgt. Rayn took a worried glance at Sparrow.

"Give me a status report." Sgt. Rayn called on one of the veterans who saluted him and gave him a dataslate.

"Sir, the northern part of the town is now secured. Before you managed to link with us we have already eliminated the bulk of the defenders in this sector." Cpl. Duke said as he pointed the location. Rayn nodded as he studied the map of the town.

"The current headcount is 294, sir." Sgt. Rayn removed his helmet and sight at the dataslate and looked at in the eyes,

"112 are already lost. I'm wondering why the Vendetta did not aid us in this assault." Sgt. Rayn lamented, he really didn't understand the command.

"They were ordered to head into another location after they dropped the last person in our company sir, they were needed in other location. That was the last thing I heard from our voxcaster." replied Cpl. duke

Sgt. Rayn shook his head in disbelief as he returned the dataslate to Cpl. Duke.

"What about the Sky Talon and the Tauros? I didn't see any of them."

"Unfortunately, I saw one was shot down and landed in the southern part of the town. The rest, I have no idea." Cpl. Duke was grim.

Sgt. Rayn let out a depressing sigh, as he really needed most of the firepower to take this town. And the loss of 112 was really a high number for him.

"They suffered casualties though. Everything will be easy if they gave us air support." he added as he shook his head in disbelief, he wondered why it was necessary to pullout the Vendetta's. But he needed to adapt at the situation as he ordered to Cpl. Duke to muster all corporals including Sparrow, he was the only Sergeant left while other officers were killed. He wondered why the bulk of the officers of their company were packed together in one craft and get shot mid-air, but he remembered these were young officers who just graduated from the officer school. He was glad that the veterans respected him even though he was ten years younger than them and five years older than Sparrow who could be twenty two cycles, he sighed as he needed to give out all his leadership skills into this. All corporals were now around him as they devised a plan. Two groups of 147 each were mustered, as they were composed of veterans and rookies. The first group was to secure the area and gather all equipment around the perimeter, while the other 147 men will aid the 2nd company.

Sgt. Rayn with his men rushed through the southern part of the town to aid the 2nd Company, he called on the Voxcaster if she had any news to the 2nd Company.

"They were pinned down sir and took shelter in few houses, the enemy resistance was massive and they keep cursing on the command for taking away the air support." Rayn hoped he could make their way in time, as it was too late to realize that the 2nd Company stumbled on the Bulk of the enemy forces. He looked at Sparrow and motioned him to come forward, with his sniper rifle in tow Sparrow rushed towards Sgt. Rayn.

"Sparrow do you see that second tallest building?" he pointed his finger to a building northeast of their direction, Sparrow nodded.

"I need you there with Harp and Hum and become our overwatch, take out the heavy weapons team and any ambush teams while we take out the rest. Now go" Sparrow complied.

He along with Harp and Hum rushed to the building, when they reached at the door they made a tactical breach. Harp kicked at the door with Harp behind him, Sparrow rushed inside and made a sweep. No enemies were found, and then he turned his head to his buddies and nodded at them. They rushed towards the highest floor and positioned himself a meter away from the window, he placed a table under him while Harp with his binoculars. Hum lay traps on the hallway and closed the door of their room, he soon contacted Sgt. Rayn.

"Alright Sparrow, on your go we are in position." Sgt. Rayn told them from their comm beads.

Through his scope, Sparrow could see his comrades on top of hab buildings now readying their Grav-chutes. Harp soon located a heavy weapons nest, three people and a gunner. Sparrow trained his crosshair to the gunner and opened fired, the enemies head blew off which startled his comrades. Before the other could react his chest was blown making the two more to dive down, this had signaled the others to commence the assault. Sparrow shot another round when the heretic has peek his head out of cover, this made the last person in the nest to come out of cover as he tried to ran away but his back was blown off. Soon swarms of Elysian opened fire from above, killing the unprepared heretics. Sparrow spotted portable anti air missile crews, with their weapons trained on the descending Elysian Troopers. He could not kill them as fast as he could, but instead he aimed at the person carrying the extra missiles. He took a deep breath and shot at the missile, the blast made an impressive show and Harp clapped his hands in glee. This made the other heretics in the area to scamper away in confusion. While others, ran away leaving their weapons but soon picked off by the Elysians.

The 1st Company had pushed through the southern part of the town, and with their effort they had almost reached the remnants of the 2nd Company. Sparrow made his effort to kill any hard targets, but his effort was not being gone unnoticed by the heretics. Sounds of explosions and screams were heard below the floor, they cursed as their position was compromised. Sparrow scrambled at his comm bead.

"Sgt. We are compromised, repeat our location was compromised. Requesting for back up!" he almost screamed.

He heard the sounds and grunts from the bead but Sgt. Rayn's voice was incomprehensible.

"What?" Sparrow said as he exchanged worried looks with Harp and Hum. Their weapons raised on the door as the traps outside were activated, sending shocks on the floor.

"I'm sorry Sparrow, but we could not afford to send reinforcements, we are now in a push… just get the warp out of there." Sgt. Rayn replied

Sparrow's heart sank, and his heartbeat had quickened its pace again. He could not survive in a firefight with unknown numbers of heretics barging in, he only thought of one idea he hated.

"Jump off now!" Sparrow ordered as he run towards the window.

Sparrow fired at the glass window before leaping out, with Harp and Hum followed. Soon they activated their Grav-chutes and navigated their way towards the rest, as they evaded the lasers and bolter heading towards them. Sparrow fighting the urge to close his eyes from fear, but he keep himself focused as he keep his breathing to landed on the rooftop of an hab building, oversaw the scene and the 1st Company Elysians is still struggling. They provided another sniper cover that led to the advancement of Sgt. Rayn and his strike force, but abruptly stopped when an heretic Leman Russ tank had appeared. Its turret moved to find its target and opened fire at a squad, Sparrow could see the explosion and the poor Elysians were blown into pieces. One was running around as the promethium canister had leaked and burned him alive, the tank made another move as it targeted the pinned squad behind the walls.

"1st Company… Where fuck are you! Oh throne they're inside! Inside!" a voice echoed through the comm beads and vox.

Sparrow could hear Sgt. Rayn cursed as the 2nd Company was slowly being annihilated, as they needed to act quickly before they will be obliterated. Sparrow used his scope to scan for the promethium tank behind the Leman Russ, much to his dismay there was none but he caught something that might help. A melta bomb lay idle on the ground just a few feet from the tank's tracks, he quickly shot the bomb and the explosion had removed the tracks of the tank. As the burning promethium covering the hull, but it was still pack a punch as it opened fire its main cannon. Blowing a lone Elysian into pieces with his blood raining the area, Sparrow cursed under his breath. But he smiled when he saw Sgt. Rayn with a few Elysians swarming at the tank, using a breaching charge they blew the hatch cover and threw a melta grenade. The screams of heretics were heard but soon overtaken by the cheers of the 1st Company.

With a final push the Heretics ran away and the 1st Company had reached the battered 2nd Company, digging in unto what has become of a market building Hab. With only 400 remaining from the original 842 men and women, as almost all Senior Officers were dead except for one rookie Lieutenant and only Sgt. Rayn was the available NCO. They almost lost 50% of the battalion, most were rookies as expected.

Sparrow couldn't help but vomited after the carnage, the stench of death and burning flesh was too much to bear. Let alone the scene of carnage, he was exhausted as the adrenaline from his body fades. He smiled at himself that he managed his fear and anxiety as he laughed at the bickering by Pvt. Harp and Hum, but he knew this was not over yet. The thought of another battle made his hand shaken but a reassuring pat from Sgt. Rayn behind him.

The men were exhausted but still ready to kick some ass, they made a final sweep around the town and fortunately they didn't encounter any stragglers nor encounter any resistance at all. They had retreated and the 2nd Battalion of the 710th Regiment had officially taken the town, much to the delight of Sgt. Rayn as he patted again at Sparrow on his back.

"Good work Sparrow, I will make sure this will come to the books." he said. Sparrow just nodded his head as he sighed in relief.

"Hey, don't be joyful yet." Sgt. Rayn frowns as he pointed at the hill just north of the town,

Sparrow frown as he remembered their real objective, and he was aware that it was just few meters away before they could reach the foot of the hill. So fight is not over yet.

"I know sir, but well kill them all." Sparrow smiled as he finally grew confidence.

"Hey, just take some rest and don't worry too much. And thank you for saving our assess back there. I know she will be proud of you." Sgt. Rayn complimented

Sparrow frowned at the mention of "Her" and Sgt. Rayn took a hint as he apologized, but he saluted Sgt. Rayn and proceeded to the medic station to get some pain killers. He shook his head as he observed him, he have some potential but he had weaknesses that is really frowned upon by by the regiment. He exhaled as he looked at his dataslate and studied the map and layout of the bunker on top of the hill, he really needed much firepower with this. But he will adapt and he will succeed. Switching of the dataslate he rushed towards the medic station and let his wounds checked by the medicae.

A/N: This is my first attempt at Warhammer. I hope you enjoy reading my work, please feel free to review. Thanks again.