'Do you want to live forever my brave men? Do you want these chaos scum to have your wives and children? Do you want to fail the Emperor? Then for honor! For Home! And for the Emperor!'
'For the Emperor!'
The cry went up through the battered ranks of the Ogalla 12th Mountain Horse Regiment as they spurred their steeds into a frenzied charge across the frozen shell-holed tundra towards the cloudy sunset. They had a ragtag appearance with many wearing pilfered cold weather infantry kit such as gray coats and round helmets, while others still wore the red kepis of the regiment and fur lined brown cavalry jackets. They sat proud and high atop their mounts despite their look, however, and charged in perfect formation with their las carbines strapped to their backs, sabres strapped to their hips and explosive lances leveled at the enemy lines.
The first casualty of the charge was taken a hundred meters from they enemy trench system. The lead rider exploded in a geyser of fire, mud and gore. An anti-armor mine.
'Serpentine!' Shouted the closest rider into his vox bead. I
Hundreds of riders spread out and began weaving back and forth across the frozen ground to avoid the mines but several riders were simply unlucky and another dozen riders stepped on the mines before they reached the trenches.
The next threat was the entrenched infantry that began to fire on them with a mixture of projectile and las weaponry. Dozens of riders fell dead off their mounts and dozens of mounts fell dead under their riders. Chosen riders, designated sharpshooters, opened up with their las carbines against the infantry. Dismounted riders took cover behind their fallen horses and covered the charge as well. By the time the charge reached the trenches the enemy infantry was either dead or hiding in cover.
The charge pushed past the trenches without breaking pace but leaving nearly a hundred riders dead or wounded behind them. The next target was the artillery, the main goal.
The riders drove hard at the artillery emplacements before they could turn to face the charge but they were too late. As the charge crested the small rise overlooking the guns they were met with bursting grapeshot fired from the mouths of the artillery. The riders were cut down in droves as they pressed to reach their prize. Nearly a hundred riders were killed with the initial salvo but the charge didn't lose its momentum. The first line of artillerymen, lacking time to reload, began to shoot at the charge with their sidearms and throw grenades to disperse them. The roughly two hundred remaining riders rode through the grenade shrapnel and small arms fire to finally reach their destination. The front riders lanced the artillery and crews then unslung their las carbines to cover the advancing riders. Chaos erupted in the gun pits as the charge finally stopped and the artillery crews fought back. Several riders were pulled off their mounts or had mounts shot out from under them. Close range brawls broke out through the battle as crews attacked riders with knives or blunt tools and riders fought back with sabers and fists. A massive explosion rocked the battlefield as a misthrown grenade set off an ammo cache in the middle of the gun pits sending up fire and smoke into the already confusing fray.
And then it was over. All the artillerymen were either dead or dying and the riders emerged victorious from the smoke and blood. Without hesitation the riders turned and prepared to defend themselves from the infantry that would be coming from the trenches but no assault came, instead a runner from the Ogalla infantry approached with orders to stand down. The day had been won.
