Chapter 10: Sacrificial Lamb
Weather: Moderate Snows, Light Winds:::Predicted Temperature: -37˚C
"We can't hold them much longer!" Renik said urgently, "Our tanks simply can't handle taking on baneblades! If we don't retreat, we'll lose our armor let alone the infantry casualties we'll get as well. From what I've got in front of me, we're screwed."
The building shook violently.
"That's it," Lindhoff said as an artillery shell impacted the structure, "Do we all agree on this?"
The other three colonels nodded.
"Good," The Death Korp commander said over the load echo of artillery, "Renik, start moving your tanks across the north bridge, Harris will destroy the south." The Steel Legion colonel nodded and ran out. A few moments later, the sound of explosive charges resonated throughout the streets as the southern bridge crumbled.
Before Lindhoff and Harris departed, Sugechov gathered them together, "Do you two realize how dangerous this sudden pull-out can be? If we retreat suddenly, we won't have a defense set up on the other side fast enough. There's a chance the orks well attack us, overrun us, and wipe us out." He sighed, "We need to do something to stall those xenos. I figured since the Pride is orbiting just overhead, we could call in a heavy orbital strike on top of the stadium."
"Can't we just do that on our way out?"
"No, the orks will get suspicious. We need someone to stall them. To keep them here until the strike hits."
Harris was take slightly aback, "But who would do that? It's a suicide mission!"
"Yes it's crazy," Lindhoff responded, "But they could take the majority of the ork force with them." He paused for a moment, "I'll give my boys a call. You two should do the same. It may be a sacrifice, but they wouldn't die in vain."
Halle, whose arm was healed and out of a sling, turned to Andre and Lilia with a slightly surprised and bothered look, "You're not going to believe this. Sugechov just asked if there was anyone 'willing to make a sacrifice for the Emperor.'"
The two exchanged bothered looks. Andre spoke first, "A suicide mission. What might it be?"
"The colonels believe it necessary, due to the sudden retreat," She paused, "That a detail of soldiers remain here and call in an orbital strike."
Andre sat forward in his chair, "How effective would that be, Captain?" He sighed, "I'd imagine it would have to be a broadside. That would annihilate this half of the city completely. Perhaps a few hardened buildings would survive, but I doubt it."
Halle nodded, "Exactly..."
"That would mean the one who called it in..."
Andre turned to Lilia who said, "Would be killed too. What are your order, Captain?"
The young female officer turned back to the foggy window, "Your orders are to get ready to move." She folded her arms as she turned to face them, "I'm going to need you later, I've got some plans in the future and I'm going to need all of you with me."
The stadium was alive with activity as the soldiers who were leaving prepared themselves for their mass exodus and those who were to stay behind, set themselves up for what would be their last stand.
In all a total of 167 soldiers volunteered to remain and allow their fellow guardsmen a chance to escape. In the very center of the building was a small makeshift fortress of wood and sandbags which was dotted with small gun ports and heavy weapons emplacements.
There were a number of men and women from 6th company who wanted to stay behind, but Hanna insisted on preventing them from doing so. Andre had asked her multiple times what her plans were, but she said the shoe would tell him when the time came.
On the day before the final pull-out, Andre found Halle standing on a balcony that overlooked the center of the stadium. She was leaning on the railing with both arms.
"Captain, the company is ready and awaiting your orders," Andre stood behind her quietly, hands clasped behind his back, "Captain Ulricht Venson of the 63rd and his chimeras will be taking us."
"She nodded, "Very well, Comrade Commissar, start loading them up."
The commissar couldn't help but notice that Halle was somewhat distressed. He decided to leave the issue alone.
6th company was the last to be evacuated die to the fact that they were the most complete company out of all that remained. Andre obediently waited for the captain who emerged from the entrance. He noticed that her executive officer was not with her, "Halle, where's Lilia?"
She sighed, "We had a long talk, Andre. Lilia is going to stay behind. Since there wasn't a commanding officer to lead the detail, she was able to convince me that she needed to stay." With a nod to her commissar, Halle entered the chimera.
Andre stood for a moment, said a quick prayer for the soldiers' sacrifice, and followed the captain in.
Lilia sat quietly next to the long-range vox-caster that sat on the table. She was cradling a golden Aquila that hung around her neck. It had been a gift to her from her boyfriend, who, unfortunately, died in the first few weeks of the campaign. Ironically, she had been appointed to the position he had left behind.
Lilia felt that she had suffered enough. She was ready to leave this world, but she was going to do it with a fight.
Ivan Stauffenberg entered the room, "Ma'am, we are prepped and read."
The Valhallan officer simply nodded and dismissed him.
She grabbed her sniper rifle which was leaning up against the wall and made her way outside. The sky was a brilliant white, clouds filled the sky and the sound of pounding ork feet filled the air.
The executive officer slammed a las pack into the chamber of her rifle and set the sights on the scope. She heard the orks slamming against the barricaded entrance. The thumps of the ork battering ram matched the beating of her nervous heart.
Lilia could feel the tension in the air. The soldiers that surrounded her kept straight faces, but she could tell they were just as nervous as she was.
"Stauffenberg," She said turning to the Krieg storm trooper, "Are you nervous?"
He nodded, "Yes ma'am."
"Just remember, the Emperor will have a seat for you by his Golden Throne for this sacrifice."
He nodded, raised his hellgun into the air and yelled, "Purge the xeno!"
Soon others joined him until the 167 soldiers were chanting, "Purge! Purge! Purge!"
Even in the face of death, these soldiers had undying faith...
The barricade fell and the orks rushed in.
No one talked in the chimera that bore 6th company's commanding officers. Only the steady grumble of the vehicle's engine broke the eerie silence. Andre stood quietly as the personnel carrier bumped along the road, his hand tightly grasping a handle that hung above his head.
Halle sat quietly in one of the seats.
The commissar had a small prayer book open, and he was quietly praying underneath his breath. As he paused in between each prayer, he looked around at the others.
Some had sad, disappointed looks on their faces. Others seemed determined and hard-spirited. But nonetheless, all felt the same about the loss of their executive officer. There was none like Lilia.
Andre slipped the book into his great coat pocket and took the empty seat next to the captain, "What do you and Lilia talk about, Captain, if you don't mind me asking."
She looked up at him and sighed, "It was a long talk... She brought up her family, her service, pretty much every trick in the book." Again Halle sighed, "Lilia was torn when her father was pronounced dead a year ago on Euthien. But when Vanek died, her, I guess you could say, boyfriend, died she was devastated. Although she served well as an executive officer, I could always tell she was hurting. She was able to convince me that this was her time. This moment is what the Emperor was calling her to live for. She wants to see her father again, but most of all she wants to see Vanek. But she told me she wasn't going down without a fight."
Andre slowly nodded, "Then we must make sure she does not die in vain."
"You bet, by the Golden Throne of the Emperor, that I will avenge her!"
The orks were an endless stream. Heavy bolter bullets, autocannon shells, and las bolts were mowing down greenskins left and right but it was not enough. They were gaining meter by bloody meter and in minutes they will crash against the make-shift fortress like water on rock.
Ivan was at the highest point of the fortress with a pair of magnoculars, "Ma'am I think this is it!"
Lilia nodded and grabbed the receiver of the long-range vox caster.
"Pride of Valhalla, Lilia, awaiting your orders."
"Pride, this is it. Fire at your discretion."
"Yes, ma'am. My the God-Emperor be with you..."
Lilia nodded to Ivan who nodded back, "Ma'am, it was a pleasure serving with you."
"As with you."
Ivan holstered his hellgun and screamed out loud. He rose his hands into the air and Lilia noticed the shine of a dozen rings around his fingers, "There is only one, true God-Emperor!"
He threw himself into the mass of orks and his body was engulfed in a massive explosion. He punctured a hole in the crowd which was quickly filled by more greenskins.
Lilia stood up so that all in the stadium could see her, she raised her rifle in the air and let out a loud war cry, "For Valhalla!" A ork shoota bullet punctured her neck and she fell back into a wall of sandbags.
As the feeling in her limbs began to leave her Lilia could see large las-beams puncture through the clouds. She managed a weak smile as the large stream of magnified light sped down towards her, Vanek... Dad... I can't wait to see you...