Title: Angelus Erroneous
Author: Spike
Chapter: Three
The day was coming to an end. Already the sun was well on it's way into setting, thus casting various streaks of red and orange across the evening sky. Already, the various bird calls the filtered through the jungle on a daily basis were coming to an end and silence began creeping its way across the jungle.
That was, until the jungle was rocked with an enormous explosion. This was followed soon after a cacophony of loud bestial roars and the sound of boltgun ammunition being fired in a random fashion.
This was an Ork world. And since when has such a thing as silence ever existed on an Ork World?
A group of the scum-suckin' greenskins were making their way through the jungle in typical Ork fashion: As loudly as possible and destroying anything in their path with a burst of boltgun fire and numerous explosions.
As with the Orks, subtly wasn't in their realm of understanding.
But for us humans, such a concept was.
The all-too orkish tactics of advancing in an incoherent fashion, with minds concentrated solely on being as raucous as possible, gave both myself and Xerxes suitable enough time and space to trail them.
As the Orks, all seven of them, blundered their way through the jungle, both myself and the Rogue Trader made our stealthy way through the foliage. We both took care to make as little noise as possible and trailed the green-skins with the most precise of movements that didn't make any betrayal whatsoever of our presence..
This was a typical plan of ours: fashioned after spending so long on this miserable rock and embodied in the name of survival.
Most of the time we would follow a default plan: We will shadow some Orks only to eventually launch an ambush. Of course, such a strike involved striking with rapid speed and getting the green-skins when they least expected it.
It was a bold plan but there were three reasons why it worked. One, the Orks not knowing of any humans being on the planet gives us a tremendously enormous element of surprise; Two, both Xerxes and myself had speed on our side as no amount of Orkish brute force can overcome pure human cunning; and three, when it came to formulating ambushes and combat strategies, we had all the time in the world to perfect them.
Other times, we would approach the green-skins and silently take them out one by one. More often that not, this would lead to the green-skins suspect each other of treachery and then tear themselves apart in the name of vengeance.
This was my favoured plan. Dammit, there was always something sweetly satisfying about watching the Orks getting stuck into each other.
That and the fact it made our task of killing them all significantly easier.
But when you consider the fact that the Orks move through this jungle by making as much racket as possible, it makes one wonder why we even bothered to utilise stealth tactics. It wasn't like they were going to notice us in amongst all the noise they were making.
It was even doubtful that they were far too preoccupied with making a ruckus that they wouldn't even notice one of their comrades dropping off.
At this thought I smiled. That doesn't sound like a half bad idea……
I looked over at Xerxes. He was concealed within the foliage, lasgun at the ready.
I motioned to him, signalling him to take one down.
Nodding, the Rogue Trader lifted his lasgun and fired.
When continually relying on stealth operations within a hostile environment such as this one, we made the most careful and intricate preparations before making one step into any conflict. And in this case, we utilised silencer for all our weapons. They weren't the highest quality products that may have been manufactured from the Imperium nor were they remnants from some alien technology. No, they were the product of some very pitiful pieces of gear - scraps of steel and some cloth!
Hey, if they could be made by amateurs some forty thousand years ago with the most limited of resources then anyone could make them.
Anyway, the lasgun bolt struck the nearest Ork in the back. Immediately, green blood started oozing out from his flesh. The green-skin immediately halted his stride, looked towards the sky in a dazed fashion, lowered both his boltgun and his axe and promptly fell over backwards.
I paused, daring not to breathe.
One down, six to go.
But the next phase of our plan is all dependent on what happens next. How will the surviving Orks react?
Amazingly, the rest seemed to carry on, roaring, firing their crude bolters and not showing one single indication of being aware of their fallen comrade.
I smiled to myself. Just as I predicated.
But then again, considering how preoccupied they were I doubt they would've noticed if they were being followed by a Space Marine dreadnought.
Let alone two desperate renegades intent solely on survival.
With silenced weapons.
Remind me again: Why were we using silencers anyway?
Oh who cares: We've started this task so we may as well get on with it.
The Orks continued on their way, deeper into the jungle. Xerxes and myself followed, several metres behind. We cleared the corpse of the freshly killed Ork and trailed them for a short while. And then, I prepared to take down the next one.
Whilst we planned to take the Orks one at a time, without them every noticing, we still had to move quickly before anyone realised that some of their comrades were missing.
Of course such a prospect seemed unlikely with these scum-suckers of destructive intent but you can't take any chances.
Especially not in this game of survival.
I cast a glance at Xerxes. He was watching the Orks intently, his mouth silent and his senses seemingly alert and ever-ready.
There was one other reason why I really enjoyed this plan: It was one where the Rogue Trader kept his mouth shut.
Praise the Emperor…..
My weapons of choice took the form of a pair of bolt pistols. In combat I used one in each hand. It was useful in close combat situations but it was particularly great to use both to mow down a whole horde of green-skins. You could take down several within a matter of seconds as nothing (on this planet at least) could withstand the shell from one of these little babies.
And it was one of these bolt pistols that I carefully lifted from out of cover. I held the barrel close to my eye, ready to slug one of the sum-suckin' green-skins. Already they were moving further into the jungle and away from sight, but I had one framed firmly in my sights. He was the last one in the group formation.
Piece of cake.
"See you in hell" I murmured.
I squeezed the trigger. No sound followed but, within the space of several seconds, the Ork's head exploded. In the blink of an eye, the green-skin's skull shattered outwards, sending green flesh, scraps of bone and pieces of brain everywhere.
I blinked at this. Orks had brains? I never would've guessed.
But suddenly, things took a nasty turn.
It was then I realised something: Such was the force of the exploding Ork head that surely they would notice!
And such fears were conformed: As the body of the now headless Ork toppled over backwards, the green-skins nearest to him suddenly turned around.
No doubt prompted by the exploding head - But then again, it's not like anyone would ever miss such a thing.
The Ork glared at his fallen comrade and growled. Then he paused, sniffing the air.
I stiffened. This wasn't looking too good….
Casting a quick gaze, I saw the Rogue Trader also looked apprehensive. This situation wasn't turning out to be very promising and action, no matter how drastic, may need to be taken.
The Ork sniffing the air issued a loud growl to his comrades. A growl that had the power to stop them all in their tracks and turn their attention to him.
The sniffer Ork snarled some indistinguishable noises to the others. It seemed that he was telling his friends that he had just picked up something unexpected.
That something being two humans who really weren't meant to be there……
The other Orks exchanged some guttural growling, as if in contention with the sniffer Ork's claims.
I could feel my trigger finger growing itchy: I didn't really like the idea of the Orks finding out about our presence on this planet, right under their noses. It was our one greatest advantage in this game of survival.
And it would be best if it were kept that way.
At the moment, the Orks were exchanging growls, seemingly in debate over this odd discovery.
I felt my hands growing with sweat. Something needs to happen – each passing second that Xerxes and I remain under cover merely increases the risk of us being discovered.
I cast a gaze at the Rogue Trader. The expression on his face was wrought with lines of tension; his eyes were growing desperate and apprehensive and his teeth with ground together. All of which suggesting that he felt the horrible sense of razor-sharp strain within this situation.
And the weight of acting urgently grew…
Suddenly, one of the Orks began sniffing the air. Within seconds, he began roaring in disapproval.
Seems our discoverer has found himself a supporter.
The remaining green-skins stared at him in a curious manner (or whatever you want to call it) but it didn't take them long to follow suit: Within the space of several brief moments, the rest of the Orks were pausing to sniff the air. And it didn't take long afterwards before they were roaring with anger, all arriving to the single conclusion.
I ground my teeth
Busted.
Immediately, the Orks began looking around, trying to find any likely hiding space that any human might use. One started attacking some undergrowth with his axe. Another fired some boltgun shells into the trees.
Oh well, if they are after a human then I may as well cease keeping them waiting
My grip around my bolt-pistols tightened.
Normally, Xerxes and myself will follow any plan we make up to the letter. We take any movement exactly as it was planned without making any sudden changes or abrupt decisions in the middle of combat.
But in this case it was different.
To hell with what that Rogue Trader thinks.
I leapt out of cover. In the space of a second, I was on my feet and had my twin bolt pistols trained on the scum-sucking greenskins.
They all looked in my direction. Their faces seemed shocked (or whatever you want to call it on an Ork's face) – obviously they hadn't expected to see a human on this planet, let alone one having them all at gunpoint.
"Looking for me?" I grinned.
Without waiting for a reply, I let them have it. I squeezed both triggers.
Instantaneously, the mouth of the nearest Ork was shattered open, sending teeth and green blood in all directions. The one next to him copped a shell in the stomach, the metal tearing into his flesh with relentless precision.
I could hear a voice coming from behind me – no doubt it was Xerxes' but I couldn't exactly pick up what he was saying over the mayhem playing out before me.
Nor did I care.
One of the Orks charged towards me, his mouth wide open in a roar of bloodlust and his crude axe ready for action.
I merely answered to such a challenge by firing both pistols at him.
Needless to say, having multiple shells slamming into his bare chest was enough to put an end to any delusions the Ork may have of pulling me apart limb for limb. Likewise, the force of being shot by a pair of twin bolt pistols was also enough to send the green-skin off his feet and flat into his back.
Just then, out of the corner of my eye I noticed one of the remaining Orks take aim with his bolt gun.
I quickly dived out of the way. As I did so, I kept my gaze on him whilst keeping one of my pistols raised and ready to kill him first.
But the opportunity never came.
Instead, came the sound of a lasgun being fired. Seconds later, the Ork with the boltgun, toppled forward, his green flesh already streaked with blood from numerous freshly created wounds.
I looked up to see Xerxes emerge from cover, his lasgun smoking. He looked at me and frowned.
"Fine mess you've created there" he muttered.
"Just shut and keep firing!" I snapped back.
The sudden appearance of the Rogue Trader consequently gave the remaining Orks enough time to recover from the unexpected sight of seeing humans in their midst.
Now, they were readying their weapons in anticipation for the combat to come, one sharpening his axe whilst the other took aim with his boltguns.
But I had no fear: The way I saw it, if they charged they'll get shot to ribbons. And the boltguns were hardly a worry as the green-skins are the type of gunners who couldn't shoot an Eldar Wave Serpent at fifteen paces.
"Let me show you how to use that thing!" I yelled.
Got no idea why I keep saying dumb things like that in situations like these, but hey, who would care when you're standard on a planet far from the fatherland that is the Imperium.
It's not like anyone's going to hear you.
Anyway, I immediately took aim with the nearest Ork, one whom clutched his crude axe with a passion that could only come from an eagerness to spill blood.
He glared at me and thrust his axe forward, in a gesture of challenge.
I responded by firing both my pistols into his skull.
Two shells slammed into the green-skin's cranium, triggering the crunch of bone being shattered. The Ork fell down in a pool of green blood, joining his comrades.
Xerxes meanwhile fired his lasgun at the remaining Ork. The green-skin clutched his boltgun, looking ready to fire and showing no fear of being confronted with a lasgun.
I had no idea why.The Rogue Trader merely cut him down in a hail of bolts before the Ork had chance to fire.
And I had no idea why he didn't when he did.
But then again in this game of survival, it's either them or you.
And at least Xerxes provided evidence in the notion that any human-made weapon can beat any crude Ork construct any day.
All hail the Imperium of Man…..
I looked around my feet. There, lay the freshly cold bodies of seven Orks. All killed by two desperate men.
Yes, all hail the Imperium of Man…..
I looked over the bodies; there wasn't much there which we could scavenge from. The axes looked both far too crude and unwieldy to be of any use. Likewise, the boltguns were fashioned in a way that was far too alien for our comprehension.
As well as far too crude when compared to our Imperial made weapons.
Oh well, at least we survived this conflict to see another day.
You know, when I was in the Imperial Guard, I was always relieved upon emerging from a conflict alive and well. But now, such relief is nonexistent.
It's not like I have anything much to live for now…..
I looked over at Xerxes. His face showed signs of relief.
At least he seemed delighted to survive.
Unfortunately for me however, it means I have to suffer him for even longer.
Such is fate….
Just then, the Rogue Trader caught sight of me. His smile then vanished and his facial expression grew stern.
Well – it seemed to look stern. It's just with Xerxes, that facial expression looked laughably pathetic.
"What did you do just then?" he demanded "Jumping out in front of the Orks like that!"
I shrugged.
"They were looking for a human. Didn't want to disappoint them now, right?"
"You put us both in danger!" Xerxes snapped.
"Correction" I countered "I put you in danger"
Upon saying that, it kinda made me wish that I put him in even more danger. That way, he would've been out of my hair quicker than an Eldar Warp Spider.
"But…"
"I killed them all didn't I?" I said "Be grateful that I did"
"But you revealed yourself when we're trying to maintain an anonymous presence!"
"Who cares?" I countered "That was probably the last thing they ended up seeing"
"Such recklessness will get you killed!"
"So what?! It's not like anyone is going to miss me!"
This was enough the shut the Rogue Trader up. Immediately, his facial expression softened and his eyes widened. He took a step backwards and his mouth shut – all signs that he couldn't come up with a comeback neither witty nor smart enough to say to me.
Just the way I liked it…..
Satisfied with this victory, I turned around and began walking away from both the Rogue Trader and the battlefield.
"Oh well, at least we survived this conflict to see another day" I said over my shoulder.
Although I couldn't see him, I could sense the Rogue Trader blinking at me before eventually nodding his consent.
"You're right" he grinned.
"For whatever good that is" I growled.