Disclaimer: Wharhammer 40K belongs to Games Workshop
"Enemy Leman Russ in front of us!" I announced pointing at the tank. The Baneblade turned its turret at the Leman Russ and fired at the enemy tank. The shell penetrated the tank and let it explode in a great fireball. ''Nice one!'' I congratulated the gunner.
''Thank you, commissar.'' He answered.
''How long until we reach the front?'' I asked the driver. Since our escape about 2 hours ago, we drove without a break through the no-man's-land. From time to time, we encountered some cultists but thanks to our tanks we were able to eliminate them quickly. ''Not so long anymore commissar. Ie can already receive some radio massages.'' He answered.
Now that I thought about it the further, we drove the more often were the encounters with the heretics. I also had some time to think. I was now sure that those heretics were worshippers of Khorn the chaos god of war and bloodshed. Also, something that was really weird were the guardsman themselves. I actually thought that they would shoot me on the spot as soon as they had their weapons back. But no, they were actually following me. Of course, they noticed my appearance but that was it. But that was a problem for later.
I opened the hatch of the main turret an began to scan the horizon. And then I saw them cultists and a lot of them. ''Alright guardsman the heretics are straight in front of us. We will brake though their forces with the use our surprise moment. We will not stop and keep pushing through their lines. Until we have reached the imperial lines or are dead. Understood!?'' I roared ''Yes sir!''
I manned the heavy bolter at the top of the main turret and made myself ready.
The effect was quite great in my opinion. The cultists weren't expecting us and weren't able to form a resistance quickly enough. So, we were able to make a quick push through. I shot on everything that moved. But suddenly something happened that I hadn't see coming.
Now before I tell you what the surprise was, I have to tell you about my thoughts about the all in all situation. Upon my arrival here I thought that this world was just struck by heresy. I mean it like this. There were heretics but no daemons so I assumed that the only foe we would face would be just crazy cultist well of course probably well-armed cultists but still cultists. An enemy who you would just have to shoot in chest, head or other vital organs and BAM! Problem solved very simple. But know the reality of the grim dark future just had to show me the finger. A big red finger with claws, teeth and a burning sword. Yes, ladies and gentlemen on the right next to me stood a Bloodletter.
It was like everything was on slow motion. I saw the blade coming from my right and ducked down. The blade swept over my head and cut through the bolter like a hot knife through butter. After that I quickly took my boltpistol and fired like a mad man at the warp creature. The bulets hit their target but it wasn't enough. With a quick motion it managed to grab my coat and yanked me out of the hatch holing me he tried to impale me with is sword but in the last moment I took my power sword and cut of the arm that was holding me in the air. I fell down on the metal tank hull and saw the Bloodletter staggering back in pain. I used that moment to strike again with the sword aiming for the left leg. With a quick strike I cut through it and the demon fell backwards in front of the Baneblade getting crushed in process.
I would have gladly taken this moment for a little rest but a bullet nearly hitting my head reminded me of my situation and I quickly jumped back in the tank and closed the hatch. Inside I looked in the face of Bratar who looked at me surprised. ''Are you alright commissar?'' That was indeed an interesting question. I mean before coming to this world I was a simple student. Except of some little schoolyard floggings and games I never gained any fighting experience. But here I was shooting at cultists and daemons lice I never did something different. That gave me an idea which I must admit came from Rick and Morty. Muscle memories. I mean the body I was in was definitely not mine, so maybe it was the instinct inside of its former owner. But it was just like the weird behaving guardsmen a problem for another time.
''We are finally through now comes the difficult part.''
If anyone had asked Joren Arnas who the most interesting person he ever met was then he would have clearly answered with one name Eric Steger. He could clearly remember the day he met that strangest of all commissars.
Back then he was just anormal PDF soldier. When he joined the PDF he expected to serve his and maybe to deal with some little uprising. After all, Kanurus was just a little world with not much importance it just some agrar world. But here he was behind the barricades and those things in front of him.
But suddenly something seemed to happen on the other side he could hear the faint roar of engines and suddenly two giant Banebleade super heavy tanks burst out of the enemy kines and crushing everything in their way. At first, he thought that the cultists were trying to attack them but instead of firing at them the tanks turned around front facing the enemies and began driving backwards thorewars them while shooting like there was no tomorrow.
The PDF and guardsman looked stunned as the tanks reached their lines and finally came to a halt. But that wasn't the end of the weirdness, no the weirdest part was when the hatch of one tank was opened and something or rather someone climbed out of it.
Before opening the hatch, I grabbed myself a gas mask and put it on. I also hid my tail under my coat so I wouldn't draw to much attention. The only thing I wasn't able to hide were my horns. I opened the hatch and looked at the crowd of guardsman and PDF soldiers in front of me. ''Alright, Eric don't fuck this up!'' I cleared my throat and took a deep breath rediet myself and spoke. ''Greeting's guardsmen my name is commissar Eric Steger and I would like to know what actually is going on here?''
…
They looked at me.
They slowly raised their weapons.
''Oh. Great now they act like proper guardsman. Well shit. Ok Time to improvise. Comme on Eric what do you know about soldiers?... I have to be authoritarian and confident. OK I can do that, here goes nothing.'' I took a deep breath and collected my confidence that I had left and tried to look as intimidating as possible and glared at the soldiers.
''If you don't lower your weapons at once I will execute you immediately for mutiny. I didn't survive the Warp escaped from a heretical fortress, and I defiantly haven't fought myself through miles of heretics and daemons just to get killed by a bunch of Whiteshields and PDF idiots. So, if you don't lower your weapons, you better pray to the emperor to have mercy with you, because. I. WON'T!''
And hurray! It actually worked. Don't know why or how, but it worked. Out of the crowd came a woman in Cadian uniform and saluted. ''Major Eris Serlan 342 Cadian regiment I'm sorry commissar but the nerves are very strained.'' I softened my ''I'm going to execute you right now if you don't do what I say'' glare around 20%. ''No problem I think that it is to be expected if your appearance is corrupted by the Warp. But that aside and first things first. What is planetary situation, who is in charge and can we hope that imperium will send reinforcements?'' I asked the captain. She nodded and spoke. ''I think you should come with me to the command center in the upper hive I think there your questions will be answered commissar.'' I nodded and followed her in the city.
While walking through the city I looked around and observed the situation. Soldiers walked all around, I could see Cadians but also PDF soldiers. I also could see various vehicles for an example Chimera APCs, Leman Russ MBTs, Salamander and even some Baneblades. All in all, a rather solid defense but the soldiers themselves weren't looking that confident moral was so rather low.
When we reached the command center, I was greeted by a general and his entourage. The general himself looked like someone who had seen several battles. ''Well who do we have here so you are the commissar I heard about.'' He greeted me. ''You managed it to escape with 50 soldiers and to drive through miles of no-man's-land and you even broke through the enemy lines. All in all, I must say that I am impressed.'' ''Thank you general but without the soldiers I wouldn't have been able to do it. But that aside what is the current situation?'' I asked. '' Well about that I must say our situation is not the best. About two weeks ago a whole ship full of chaos daemons and cultists crashed on the planed and since then the battle is on. We asked for reinforcements but we don't know when or if they arrive. So, for now, we are on our own.'' I nodded grimly, for the dark reality in the imperium of man was that for its size it was awfully connected. Sometimes whole worlds could be destroyed and nobody would notice it for years. Apparently, the only reason why the general and his troops were here was because they wanted to resupply on this planet. In the end this whole planet could have been overrun and nobody would have noticed it. The whole situation wasn't great either apparently the ''front'' I and the guardsmen had broken through was only the spearhead of a much larger army which would arrive in about a day.
''You and your men should rest for now.'' Said the general ''You have earned yourself that. Major Serlan will escort you to the sleeping quarters.'' I nodded and began to follow the major to the barracks. I quickly found myself a field bed at the end of the room. I kept my clothes and mask on and immediately began to sleep.
Well this is now the third chapter. Thanks to some rewiews I recognized that i made some mistakes. I hope that in future I will be able to correct them. Thanks that you rewiwed the storry.
Dealer Van Wolfenstein