Instinctively he dodged right. The explosive bolter shell meant for his head went wide and ricocheted off the large shoulder pad of his power armour. His reflexes, genetically enhanced and honed to perfection over the course of thousands of battles over hundreds of years, had saved him... this time. He dropped back into the trench to avoid further attack.
"Are you ok sir?" his fellow brother-marine's voice came through over the built in com-system of his helmet.
"I'm fine, it just glanced off my armour." He replied. "I want a report from this post every 15 minutes, and if you see anything move, shout out marine." He turned and followed the maze of trenches back to the command post. Once inside the rockrete HQ, he reached for the safety seals of his helmet, disengaged them and removed it. He placed it down on the table, and walked into the operations room.
"Update!" he barked, striding over to the cluster of marines huddled around a tactical display, and his second in command and blood brother Veteran Sergeant Wulf. They two had fought side by side in some of the most violent conflicts this galaxy had to offer, and were close friends, having saved each other's lives on numerous occasions.
"Back from the lines so soon commander?" Wulf grinned and handed him a data pad.
"It got a little too excited" he quipped back, indicating the chink in his shoulder pad. .
"The data is up to the minute." His friend stated, "No significant losses, our vanguard is at 85%. We have sufficient force to finish this once and for all."
"And the enemy has made sufficient error to allow us. When I was attacked, I was in the southern trench. Until now there has been no cultist activity in that area, so they must be spreading their lines thin in order to surround us." He moved to the map table " If we break through here, the lines will collapse, we can assault their stronghold, bring it down and leave the mopping up to the Imperial Guard. Wulf, I need you to get the assault squads prepped, they will be our first wave. Raan, do the same for the Rhino transports and the attack bikes and don't forget..."
After issuing the necessary orders to ensure the readiness of his company, he went to the armoury to ensure his own. Close combat looked inevitable, so he chose a power axe, an adamantium axe surrounded by a powerful energy field that would discharge on impact, rending the target apart. He also decided on his trusty boltgun and for his sidearm he took a plasma pistol. Lastly, a belt of frag grenades completed his arsenal. His weapons chosen, he had a Techmarine repair the chink in his shoulder pad, lest the imperfection lead to a greater one, impairing him in the battle to come.
His body was prepared and equipped, and now for his spirit. He went to the small sanctum the HQ provided and spent an hour in prayer to his Lord Primarch. As he exited, walking out onto assembly ground where the attack force was waiting, his body and soul ready to wage war, he found Wulf waiting for him.
"The men are ready. Their weapons are ready. Their armour is ready. Their spirits are ready. Is their commander?"
"Yes. I am ready"
"Then the day will be ours"
"Good hunting Wulf, Go with honour"
"You too sir."
As Wulf stepped to his side, he spoke one word into his comlink, addressing the entire force under his command.
"ATTACK!"
The bike units screeched off first, heading for the enemies flank. The assault squads with their short-range jump packs took off, in slow bounding arcs toward their targets. The Rhino troop transports raced towards the front lines to drop off their troops. Battle was about to commence.
Rexus Agmar, Captain of the 3rd Company of the Blood Angels Chapter of Space Marines, in the service of the mighty Imperium of Mankind, and power armoured warrior in defence of humanity, drew himself to his full height, mounted his personal attack bike and prepared to claim glory for his Company, his Chapter, and for the Imperium.
"TO VICTORY!"
To be continued.
"Are you ok sir?" his fellow brother-marine's voice came through over the built in com-system of his helmet.
"I'm fine, it just glanced off my armour." He replied. "I want a report from this post every 15 minutes, and if you see anything move, shout out marine." He turned and followed the maze of trenches back to the command post. Once inside the rockrete HQ, he reached for the safety seals of his helmet, disengaged them and removed it. He placed it down on the table, and walked into the operations room.
"Update!" he barked, striding over to the cluster of marines huddled around a tactical display, and his second in command and blood brother Veteran Sergeant Wulf. They two had fought side by side in some of the most violent conflicts this galaxy had to offer, and were close friends, having saved each other's lives on numerous occasions.
"Back from the lines so soon commander?" Wulf grinned and handed him a data pad.
"It got a little too excited" he quipped back, indicating the chink in his shoulder pad. .
"The data is up to the minute." His friend stated, "No significant losses, our vanguard is at 85%. We have sufficient force to finish this once and for all."
"And the enemy has made sufficient error to allow us. When I was attacked, I was in the southern trench. Until now there has been no cultist activity in that area, so they must be spreading their lines thin in order to surround us." He moved to the map table " If we break through here, the lines will collapse, we can assault their stronghold, bring it down and leave the mopping up to the Imperial Guard. Wulf, I need you to get the assault squads prepped, they will be our first wave. Raan, do the same for the Rhino transports and the attack bikes and don't forget..."
After issuing the necessary orders to ensure the readiness of his company, he went to the armoury to ensure his own. Close combat looked inevitable, so he chose a power axe, an adamantium axe surrounded by a powerful energy field that would discharge on impact, rending the target apart. He also decided on his trusty boltgun and for his sidearm he took a plasma pistol. Lastly, a belt of frag grenades completed his arsenal. His weapons chosen, he had a Techmarine repair the chink in his shoulder pad, lest the imperfection lead to a greater one, impairing him in the battle to come.
His body was prepared and equipped, and now for his spirit. He went to the small sanctum the HQ provided and spent an hour in prayer to his Lord Primarch. As he exited, walking out onto assembly ground where the attack force was waiting, his body and soul ready to wage war, he found Wulf waiting for him.
"The men are ready. Their weapons are ready. Their armour is ready. Their spirits are ready. Is their commander?"
"Yes. I am ready"
"Then the day will be ours"
"Good hunting Wulf, Go with honour"
"You too sir."
As Wulf stepped to his side, he spoke one word into his comlink, addressing the entire force under his command.
"ATTACK!"
The bike units screeched off first, heading for the enemies flank. The assault squads with their short-range jump packs took off, in slow bounding arcs toward their targets. The Rhino troop transports raced towards the front lines to drop off their troops. Battle was about to commence.
Rexus Agmar, Captain of the 3rd Company of the Blood Angels Chapter of Space Marines, in the service of the mighty Imperium of Mankind, and power armoured warrior in defence of humanity, drew himself to his full height, mounted his personal attack bike and prepared to claim glory for his Company, his Chapter, and for the Imperium.
"TO VICTORY!"
To be continued.