Chapter 18. Hammer Down.
Victory Bay
Outskirts, T+2.10 hrs
Initial attack was success. It tied up armored elements of hostile forces and cut it off from infantry support. Throughout history it was proved that tanks without support in urban environment are doomed. That is tanks that were less agile than the ones Nekron forces employed.
Out of 100 tanks caught in the ambush, 20 were crushed under the rubble along with couple dozen infantry. Another 30 were downed through panzerfausts and krak grenades. Ten more fell to the turrets before heavy destroyers return fire obliterated them.
Surprise attack decimated enemy armor, however the Nekrons still had scores more of those. In total 60 tanks was a 5 percent loss in total forces.
The sergeant in charge of this sector's defense fell as light destroyer sped up and charged through the concrete barrier pulverizing it and unfortunate NCO behind it. Another salvo of anti-tank grenades managed to eliminate five more.
Both light and heavy destroyers started to unleash barrage of guass bolts at panzergrenadiers cover systematically eliminating it and soldiers covering behind it.
Death toll slowly reached critical point and soldiers started to loose morale before they inevitably broke and started to flee towards secondary staging area.
The corporal couldn't run his leg was vaporized just below the knee. He had just enough time to see the glowing green barrel of light destroyer's cannon, before the sickly green light flashed.
And then, there was nothing.
Victory Bay
Memorial Bridge, T+2.20 hrs
Markus finished his preparation with last of his soldiers when he saw some grenadiers from first line retreating towards his position. They were nearly at the bridge before they were cut down by advancing tanks. The reminder of Nekron armor was in pursuit of the survivors. Their mission complete, they turned their optics on next Imperial position before boldly crossing the bridge.
Brandt picked up the detonator and double-clicked the trigger. The resulting explosion halved enemy hover tanks numbers, most fell into the raging river below their hover propulsion damaged beyond repair. The rest were slowly picked off by combined fire of turrets and rocket launchers.
Return fire, due to long range and decreased number proved to be less than effective, ultimately sealing Nekron tank's fate.
All was well until Nekron lord teleported right in the middle of their defensive line and summoned Flayed Ones with him. His personal guard consisting of Pariahs immediately started strike down defenders.
The Wisp in charge of bridge area turned on new threat and started unleash fully automatic fire into macabre horde.
"Hold your ground!" Markus screamed as his men were gutted, slashed apart or pummeled to the ground.
Still Flayed Ones took immense casualties from massed turret fire and sporadic suicide bomber. Soldiers who knew they were going down decided to take the bastards with them, more often than not pulling pins from their grenades and charging into largest enemy cluster.
Markus got surrounded by eight of Flayed Ones. He started to slowly step back towards the bridge, firing on the move. Soon enough his back impacted the railing, which separated him from rapids below.
That momentary distraction cost him dearly as one of advancing monstrosities swung embedding its red claws deep in Wisp's chest. Brandt managed to cough out a glob of blood before the second swing sliced his throat open and following kick sent him crashing into the river below.
It took less than a moment to mop up remaining Imperial soldiers before Nekron horde continued their assault deeper into the Victory Bay.
Tomb Spiders found a shallow waters near the bridge allowing the rest to safely cross the natural hazard.
In the river Wisp's corpse slowly started to melt and disappear in the current.
Victory Bay
Industrial District, T+2.35 hrs
Thunder looked through his scope at the advancing Nekrons. This time Pariah was leading spinter group of Warriors and Immortals with some Tomb Spiders mixed in. Overall it was 2000 strong force intent on brutalizing his men and the power grid he was defending.
Mario fired at leading Warrior taking its head off with high caliber bullet. It collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. The rest were unmoved by their companions demise and continued the march. Pariah strolled behind two Tomb Spiders safe from incoming fire.
Soon enough the hostile force was in range of bolter turrets and Crowguard rifles. Pettinelli's spotters armed with sniper rifles picked off targets of opportunity. Nekrons returned fire with guass flayers.
Some Crowguard soldiers were unlucky to take a guass bolt to the chest or head, losing life and limb. So far casualties on both sides were acceptable.
Then Nekrons stepped on first of many mines that littered their approach. Explosions dented armor and tore mechanical limbs off. Some heavier mines split Tomb Spiders in half or rent heavy armor asunder.
Unfortunately the sheer volume of numbers worked against stalwart defenders. One soldier fell then another and another. Soon enough Mario had less than five men and had to make a fighting retreat.
His spotters were long gone. Dead and gone. The five survivors from Crowguard started to fall back and provide covering fire for each other. Nekrons weathered withering fire steadily advancing.
Gearbox lost the rest of his forces by the time he reach thermal generator linked with the rest plasma generators. Standing anywhere near such installation was hazardous due to arcs of electricity spontaneously appearing and striking ground around it.
Pettinelli emptied last magazine from his sniper rifle into incoming horde before discarding it and unholstering his service pistol. Single shots pinged off black armor leaving scratches but doing little damage.
Pariah left safety of its brethren and charged the lone sniper. Guass staff was thrust and pierced Mario's gut. It also stuck him to the capacitor of thermal generator. Before the Wisp faded into the oblivion he grabbed Pariahs arm in vice grip.
Reactor overloaded raining blue arcs of death all around it. Both Wisp and his foe were struck by lightning. Mario was vaporized leaving no trace of his previous existence aside from discarded scouter eyepiece. Pariah on the other hand got turned into the charcoal briquette.
Victory Bay
Capitol Hills, T+2.55 hrs
The fighting continued despite the power going offline. Both Crowguard remnants and Lynx squad took bloody harvest for every one of their fallen. Counting wounded they were 40 people ready to brave the Nekron onslaught.
(Suggested song: Sabaton – Resist and Bite)
(Music starts)
Tracer fire and guass bolts flew through the air. Dents in the black armor were visible. Red stains on cracked concrete walls dotted the office building. Enemy force consisted mostly of Immortals and Warriors. Flayed Ones and Tomb Spiders were busy scouring the rest of the city for survivors.
"War is coming swiftly
The border is closing in"
Black tide advanced towards the main entrance losing dozens under heavy Imperial fire.
"We're a company of soldiers
We're 40 rifles strong"
Crowguard and Lynxes were peeking through windows and unloading bursts into the Nekrons.
"All alone"
A flask and bent MG 42 floats down the river
"Stand alone"
Flickering scouter sends couple sparks, flickering on and off. High caliber shells lay around it.
"Ardenner ground is burning
And Rommel is at hand"
Heavy metal door fly off their hinges as Nekron lord kicks them in. Pariahs and Warriors flood the main hall of the building.
"As the Blitzkrieg's pushing harder
The war is all around!"
A squad of Crowguard abandons windows to defend staircase leading to the next floor. Down below more and more black monsters enter the office building.
"All around"
Camera pans out, showing masses of death machines swarming all over the Victory Bay.
"Hold your ground!"
Admiral looks at the countdown until his fleet fires at the doomed city down below.
"Fight for 18 days of battles
No odds are on our side"
Camera goes back inside the besieged building. Crowguard unload their rifles into Nekrons climbing the stairs. Dozen Warriors tumble down the steps only for more to take their place.
"Few will fight for all
Until the bullets are gone"
Crowguard have spent all their ammunition and are attempting to retreat only to be cut down by Nekron fire.
"We! We will resist and bite!
Bite hard, cause we are all in sight"
Second squad of Crowguard lobs grenades into the staircase exit. Explosions shake the building and Warrior's head tumbles through broken doorframe.
"We! We take up arms and fight!
Fight hard, resist and do what's right! "
Runner distributed grenades and weapons to bedridden soldiers. Makeshift hospital is placed in some recess room. Doors are barricaded and wounded show grim determination to go down swinging.
"No matter our fighting
Their numbers will still count"
Immortals fire through the wall goring defending Crowguard and collapsing the obstacle. Pariahs jump through and pummel survivors to death.
"We're outgunned and few in numbers
We're doomed to flag or fail"
Warriors batter down barricaded door and start to slaughter wounded inside it. Some injured pull pins from their grenades.
"We fought hard"
Another chain of explosions shudder the building. Nekron squad gets wiped out while injured soldiers go out in a blaze of glory.
"Held our guard"
Nekron lord snarls as thick smoke fills the room a reminder of Imperial last stand.
"But when captured by the Axis
And forced to tell the truth"
Nekron lord picks up dying guardsman by his neck and gazes into his bloodied eyes.
"We will tell them with a smile
We will surprise them with the laugh"
The soldier grins and shows Nekron his middle finger in rude gesture before the machine snaps his neck and throws him out of the window.
"We are all"
Lynx squads blows the floor above the Warriors and Immortals crushing them.
"We were all"
Then they rappel down firing at the remaining machines. A Pariah goes down bisected at waist from sheer firepower. Two more bullets to the faceplate end its existence.
"We were told to hold the border
And that is what we did"
Lynxes continue to hold off enemy infantry while outside the building heavy destroyers line up their barrels with commando's position.
"Honoured by our orders
In despite of our foe"
Destroyers fire volley after volley into the building eliminating Lynx commandos. Blood splatters walls and ceiling.
"Gloria fortis miles
The Wehrmacht's closing in"
Blackwell pops crate open and pulls out one of the heavy weapons team minigun. Cigarette hanging from his lips is half gone. Loose bandages covering his face whip in the wind.
"Adversor et admorsus
The Boar against the Eagle"
Pariahs and Nekron lord approach Michael's location. Pariahs bust down the wooden doors.
"Gloria fortis miles
The Wehrmacht's closing in"
Hail of bullets answer Nekron's rude intrusion. One Pariah goes down instantly looking like a beehive another managed to charge through the fire and bash aside the minigun barrels.
"Adversor et admorsus
The Boar against the Eagle"
Second Pariah gets face full of powerblade for its efforts. Wisp laughs out loud before getting skewered by Lord's staff and pinned to the wall.
(Music ends)
"I… win… thief…" Nekron lord rasps out advancing towards his defeated foe.
Blackwell grits his teeth biting through the smoke. The stub falls on the floor.
Alarm clock lying on the desk starts to ring drawing Nekron's attention. Nearly at the same time Mike starts to chuckle before erupting into near maniacal laugh.
"That is where you are wrong sunshine." Wisps chuckles through pained wheezes.
Nekron looks at the Commander and sees white streaks of light raining down all over Victory Bay.
Incoherent shriek of rage is drowned out by explosion and blinding light which reduces everything to dust and ashes.
AN: Phew. Aaaand done. That is the end of second art and outro. Have fun while I search for inspiration for third arc.