Guards turn

"move now!" an officer shouted as more men ran down the devastated street. "Why in hell are these fanatics guarding that little building so fiercely?" the officer asked himself as more men charged forward only to face against heavily armed and motivated militants.

"Tanks coming in now!" a voice over the vox announced and soon enough a leman russ tank began to roll down the street quickly crushing opposition. Several other tanks soon followed it.

"and what is with that black obelisk down there? It just is sitting there perhaps that is some sort of religious point for them; well mother always said that the emperor wanted me to tear heretics down." The officer mused as the tanks passed him allowing his force to move forward.

"for the emperor!" some of the soldiers shouted as the charged the slowly dwindling enemy. This cry made the officer smile as more heretics died under las-fire.

"In the name of Kane we will hold!" a voice broke above the din of battle. The officer quickly located the source of the voice, another one of the black armored leaders. "let the purifying light of Kane bring an end to this!"

"Die heretic and end your worthless babbling!" the officer replied.

"Behold your first and last glimpse of the obelisk of light!" the enemy leader shouted gesturing towards the large black spire behind him before a tank round destroyed him.

"Obelisk of light, what the hell is wrong with these people?" the officer muttered, before noticing a change in the obelisk. "What the hell it's top is glowing!"

Then the obelisk fired. A red beam of light swept through the imperial lines on the devastated roadway, slicing numerous men and the lead tank in half.

Two tanks behind the lead quickly advanced firing rounds at the obelisk but doing nearly no damage to the structure. "god emperor help us." The officer prayed as the obelisk charged for a second shot. Then it fired, the beam cut through the officer in a instant severing his head from his body before sweeping through the imperial lines and killing many more men and another one of the tanks.

*****

"It is as the data directed confessor, enemy forces have encountered the obelisk as the specified point and are now held. We apologize for the delay in obelisk activation charging was less effective than we had hoped." One of the technicians informed Lunimaria.

"The data is amazing, it's more precise than anything the imperial computers could have computed, however I still don't trust this machine spirit, I mean how is LEGION supposed to manage the entire Nod network?" a technician asked another thinking Lunimaria would not notice.

"He will work! He was Kane's creation, Kane's ultimate child. They say that it was LEGION who found it best to bring the truth here to use, so be thankful that we no longer live in fear as the imperium would have us and understand that we are freed because this 'questionable' machine are you call him!" Lunimaria shouted as she slapped the officer numerous times.

*****

Lurral, oh god Lurral what should I put in my letter, well one I'd put that I freaking hate shredder turrets. Cheep bastereds are the only people who would use these. Automated weapons that fire round buckshot larger than bolter rounds. However these things are pretty weak otherwise, so I guess I shouldn't complain I mean I should have known that joining the imperial guard would have been difficult. However I never thought that just being away from you would have made this so uninteresting. I mean I miss the way you make grim situations seem well amazing. Lurral I really…

"hay stop staring at that blank piece of paper and get the hell over here! Or do you want the sergeant to come over here and threaten us?" a soldier, Tommy, demanded from Anthony.

"Sorry!" the former pilot replied before putting the paper away and crawling over to Tommy's position. "so what is our situation."

"they've one tank outside, what they call a scorpion, also they have several militants and a unit of strange armored men who appear to be carrying heavy flamers." Tommy replied.

Why…why me? "right well then the flamers are more of a problem than the tank, we'll have to kill them first. After that I guess we will take the tank out next." Anthony suggested.

"Hmm, good suggestion, but I ask you why not kill them all at once?" a voice asked from behind the two crouching soldiers. Both quickly turned to see whom had spoken.

"S-Sheena!" Anthony gasped.

"errrr…"

"I-I mean Sergeant Sheena mam!" Anthony quickly corrected and snapped a salute.

"We're in the middle of a battle." She then growled.

"Yes mam, we know."

"Obviously you don't! you do not identify your commander by saluting or using hand gestures that will give away your commander to the enemy!" she nearly shouted at the two.

"Sorry mam!"

"errr…w-we attack in one half hour."

*****

"So boring! This is so damn boring! Why did they have to organize it… it was so wonderful at first, if I could have taken form on this planet I could have easily taken the artifact. The four would have been so pleased with me, now what. I couldn't steal it from that other world, and these mortal idiots are too impatient and stupid to understand." Tadench whined as he watched the battle from afar.

"Tadench, Tadench you sniveling coward show yourself!" a voice roared through the warp.

"ah, if only I could offer these idiots up to the gods." Tadench sighed before accepting the mortal's sacrifices and coming to the side of the iron warriors chaoslord, well whatever those worthless mortals called themselves inside the iron warriors faction.

*****

"What? What do you mean that one fourth of the Demican 51st has been eliminated? And what the hell happened to the commander of the tank support we gave them?" Lord Solar Chesknov demanded of the information teams aboard his ship.

"milord, an enemy structure in the aria contains a laser weapon stronger than the majority of field used beam weaponry. And the structures armor is impressive. Our forces are also trapped engaging elite forces in the aria and support forces are currently unable to surround the enemy." A tech-priest informed.

"What kind of organization are these heretics? Open defiance, battling the imperial guard in ways that make regular chaos cultists seem like un-rulely mobs. Now a weapons infrastructure?" Chesknov questioned to himself, as he watched pic-footage of the strange tower that fired rays of light capable of slicing tanks and men into pieces.

Titonas smiled at his long time friend. "It's quite simple, really the logic behind these people is similar to our own. They are really just a twisted parody of the imperium if you think of it. By combining religious and militaristic items they have created a weapon much similar to some of our own. Both a rally point and a weapon of mass death. However I would like to point out the structure beside the enemy weapon. If I were to pick a strategic point it would not have been here, but if my honor was based on something that the enemy might take…" he let his thought trail off, leaving room for the others to speculate.

"Damn, if we realized that sooner we could have used it to our advantage."

*****

"Another one dead. That makes the seventh patrol so far. Mam, do you really think that this is working…the overall strategy I mean. Just look at it, the enemy has that weird super weapon in the center lines and we don't have our artillery in place to hit it yet. Without our forces progressing in the center it seems like the enemy is just going to slowly cut down our numbers." A soldier complained to Sheena who in turn delivered a kick to his stomach.

"Weak minded fool. How dare you insult imperial artillery! They are in range; command simply wants our forces to secure the future flanks of the coming portion of this battle! Errr, not only am I in command of fresh meat but ignorant fresh meat." Sheena ranted; it seemed to Anthony that she liked to rant at her men. Perhaps it's to compensate for something.

"But mam, if that's true why not bomb the hell out of that place?" Anthony asked, sure it was stupid he figured but someone needed to stand up to Sheena.

"Stand down men…right now we have more important tasks, so shut up…or I'll have you be point man for the rest of the mission." Sheena threatened.

Anthony leaned back where he had been sitting. How long since we encountered that first group at least a day…and still we don't trust that woman. I mean if it wasn't for her then half of us would have died in that first firefight.

Anthony thought of the battle. The plan was perfect they, as per Sheena's instructions used a melta blast to signal the attack and fired support rounds into the fuel tanks of the flamer armed troopers causing many of them to explode. In fact only one did not explode. That one had then turned its attention on the unit. And began to spray it's cruel flames, fortunately thought Sheena quickly down him by leaping over the spray of his flame and using a old cavalry sword to slice the man in half. From there the C.O. had thrown herself into the remaining militants and in a dance-like beauty cut them all down singlehandedly.

"And yet here we are still questioning her." Anthony mused to himself, catching the attention of another soldier.

"Oh, shut up. This bitch is shadier than any cultist I've seen in my life." the other complained.

"And how many cultists have you spoken to in your life?" Antony countered.

"god kid you don't know a thing." The soldier sighed. "you've got to realize that officers are a dime a dozen, they always are the ones who die valiantly…even when the enemy is miles away. So we replace this bitch with some new one. Hopefully the new C.O. will be nicer."

"You'd never." Anthony began but stopped.

"Now we wouldn't but these heretics would certainly." The soldier laughed, causing Anthony to scowl. Well aren't I a proud imperial guard's man Lurral, now I'm one with the guys who kill their own C.O.s for the heck of it.

"I need to go." Anthony sighed, grabbing his rifle and leaving the room.

*****

"mam, left flank is reporting increased enemy pressure. Should we counter by altering our reinforcement strategy?" A tactician asked Lunimaria.

"Why bother, this battle is nearly over. Once we lose the city the prophet will choose our fates." Lunimaria countered, in reality thought she did not know what to do. If only a real commander where here, then these bastereds would get the real justice due to them

*****

"our right flank has passed the library check point. Left flank is still locked and enemy resistance is stiffening. Center flank is still locked with the enemy superstructure." A officer reported.

"right move our right flank to cut off enemy reinforcements…" Chesknov began only to be cut short by a officers panicked voice.

"enemy forces have appeared behind main battle line on right flank, massive casualties already reported. Sir they were waiting."

"damn who are we facing."

*****

"Library forces have begun their assault. Enemy casualties are higher than anticipated." A technician informed Lunimaria.

"oh, right, I forgot about them. Anyway, a real commander would easily be able to counteract this move so I doubt the enemy will take long. But while we have the chance we might as well engage the forces we've managed to temporarily cut off." Lunimaria sighed. I have no right commanding this, it might be the prophet's will for me to be here but he never gave me the right to command.

Lunimaria stood slowly from her command chair. "listen, I want a complete break down of command. This city will fall under the command of all confessors based off of district. Move our best confessor outside of myself to the right flank and then place all confessors in direct control of the operations. We'll let the enemy face a hundred tactical minds, they will not face mine alone." There that should make things right, no I am not claiming authority from the prophet for myself.

*****

"S-sergeant? Sergeant? Sergeant!" Anthony shouted as he walked about the burned out apartment complex the squad used for a camp. Man this building seems so familiar.

"Hay, fresh meat, the Sergeant is upstairs. She's 'observing' from above." A soldier irritably told Anthony.

"thanks Zack."

"so are you in, with Butch's plan I mean?"

"Butch?"

"harrr…the medic?"

"we have a medic."

"emperor above are you stupid. Even you should know him by now. I mean he was the one who was talking to you a few minutes ago…about doing you know what." The soldier hinted to Anthony.

"oh, excuse me but it is important that I talk to the Sergeant. I've got another enemy squad confirmed." Anthony excused himself. As he walked up towards where the Sergeant was Anthony heaved a sigh and wrapped his arms behind his head.

What kind of war is this Lurral? Since we broke through to the complexes the whole thing has been squad on squad battling with neither side willing to go all out. According to command enemy resistance has stiffened here. If you ask me we just can't find the bastereds. Well enough about me how are you…nah that wouldn't get her attention. Maybe, things are incredible here, the fighting is intense you never know where a enemy might show up. I miss you and wish you were here…what am I crazy. Anthony sighed again and finally reached the room Sergeant Sheena had taken as her own. God why does everything seem so familiar?

"S-Sergeant are you here?" Anthony asked slowly opening the door. Immediately following his brave act a las-round went over his shoulder causing him to duck instinctively.

"Grow a frigging spine why don't you." Sheena demanded intently listening to a head set connected to the unit vox.

"repeat, Ozzi 101st are to remove all non-engaged units to support the Demican 51st, Demican 51st regiment is reported as of being relatively surrounded by enemy forces and in immediate need of support." Sheena scowled for a moment before ripping the head set off and throwing it across the room.

"To hell with them!" Sheena growled.

"maybe-maybe I should just leave you Sergeant." Anthony suggested.

"No come in take a seat. Just stay away from the room's center and the outer edge of the building and the floor won't crumble." Sheena insisted as she went to the bunt out remains of what must have once been a kitchen. "oh I know I saw what I was looking for over here…c'mon these heretics need some way to…ah ha!"

Anthony tried to take a look at whatever Sheena was interesting herself in but a broken counter blocked his view. "Private Chesknov could you toss me that canister. The one by the vox-caster." Sheena asked in a polite tone, something which caught Anthony completely off guard.

"Yes mam." He swiftly replied lifting a large container and throwing it to the Sergeant. Immediately her hand reached up and caught the thrown canister and several seconds latter Anthony could hear the sound of flowing liquid followed by several loud gulps.

"Ah, that's the spot. Hick! Oh, looks like it's been too long my special friend." Sheena declared loudly her voice starting to slur.

"Umm, sergeant Sheena. W-what are you doing?" Anthony asked, easily recognizing the sounds of drunkenness.

"What does it look like? I'm celebrating the fact that command decided to screw us and leave us without support!" Sheena shouted in reply before the sounds of more loud gulps filled the room.

"what?" Anthony sighed.

Finally Sheena stood in one hand she held a cracked mug with a heart on it's side, in the other the container that Anthony had thrown to her. The visible part of her face now slightly discolored by her drunken state. "oh, yea t-they j-hick-just decided to fuck us over. They hick think that just by moving a few men to save summm…some wimpy no good half-hearted NO FUCKING BRAINS TWO TIMMING GUARD REGIMENT THAT THEY CAN WIN!" Sheena began shouting and cursing before throwing herself to the ground smiling at the mug with a heart on it.

"umm, sergeant where did you get that mug?" Anthony asked remembering Lurral with a similar mug.

"found it on the ground by a bunch of other broken ones over there. Why do you want a drink from IT." Sheena asked before giggling outlandishly.

Great my sergeant gets herself drunk whenever she gets mad…what the hell am I going to do? Anthony thought before answering. "no it's just that Lurral had a mug like that."

"oh, is that the name of your girlfriend? Hugh, hugh, lover boyyyy…" Sheena tried to tease before her drunken state stopped her.

"n-no Lurral…Lurral's not my girlfrie…"

"the way you stare at a blank piece of paper makes me think that she must be great in bed, so what's she like in bed hugh, hugh?" Sheena asserted, stopping Anthony mid word.

"I just said she's not my girlfriend."

"hugh, it doesn't matter anyway." Sheena sighed. "we're all gonna die anyway, one way or another I guess so…" Sheena stopped and sighed closing her eyes as she lay next to Anthony.

I can't take this. "sergeant Sheena the other men in the unit…"

"I already know, in fact I know more than you, but I doesn't matter, if I'm going to lead I need them to fear and respect me. You already do I can see that, but they don't. do you know why I can't take off my helmet? It's because a head injury I got a few years ago. Or so that's what the doctors say, apparently my skull is too soft because of it, and there may or may not be some mental instability. Not that it matters everyone is instable in one way or another, well everyone but the emperor. And you know what I don't…don't…care…I want to say…" Sheena ranted as she faded into unconsciousness.

She knows oh Lurral what the hell did I get into?

*****

AUTHOR'S NOTE: NOT MY BEST WORK...OH AND SINCE EVERYONE IS ADDICTED TO DOING THIS...I DISCLAIM OR WHATEVER THE HELL YOU DO WHERE YOU SAY YOU DON'T DO THINK OR OWN ANYTHING OR WHATEVER YOU MORTALS DO.