Tales of the Amber Vipers Chapter 50

The Thunderhawk lurched as something struck it hard, sending Ferrac crashing into the side of his restraint cage. Poisoned Fang was filled with the hammering of heavy bolters and the high-pitched whine of the vectored engines. In the troop bay three squads of Primus waited for deployment, in a normal battle they would be a potent force against any foe but in this fight they were reduced to mere cargo, unable to confront the attackers outside their hull. Ferrac was galled to be standing impotently whilst under attack and he would be damned if he was going watch it play out through remote pict-feeds.

The Battle-Captain shoved his cage up with a frustrated snarl and as he stepped out announced, "I'm going to the cockpit."

Two places down Sergeant Excelsium spoke up, "What are you going to do?"

"Something violent," Ferrac muttered as he stomped down the narrow space between the packed ranks.

The weapons continued to hammer as he reached the ladder to the cockpit and he heard Excelsium's footsteps following him. He ignored the Sergeant as he heaved himself up the ladder and reached the narrow cockpit. In the cramped space a pilot and co-pilot were struggling to control the Thunderhawk, hands blurring as they passed over the controls. Brothers Larin and Curtal, they were first-generation Amber Vipers, in scout armour and they were the best pilots the Chapter could produce. Ferrac knew they were already stretched to the limit so did not interfere, instead gazing out the angular windows, taking in the fight. As far as the eye could see battle raged, the lumbering Valkyries beset by dashing wings and snapping maws. Multi-hued animals flew circles about the Huscarls, while lithe figures on their backs lashed out with bows and whips and spears. It should have been a one-sided slaughter but the Eldar were preternaturally agile and accurate, their weapons finding every chink in the defence and men were toppling out of side doors with foot-long arrows buried in their chests. Here and there the Vulture gunships flew through the melee, breaking up knots of resistance and blasting Eldar from the air, but they were few and the enemy numbered in the hundreds.

With a glance Ferrac saw the humans were failing to hold back the attack, confused and dazzled by the swirling madness under the treetops. Behind him Excelsium gasped, "It's a shambles out there."

Ferrac agreed and made a snap decision. He linked his armour's vox to the Thunderhawk and broadcast to all, "This is Battle-Captain Ferrrac to all pilots. The Xeno filth are trying to lead you, get your arses back into line and present a wall of guns!"

Panicked yells came back, the human pilots confused by the swirling madness filling their eyes but Ferrac barked, "I don't care where the enemy are, get back into formation immediately or I will come over there and personally rip your tongues out!"

Under the Battle-Captain's tender encouragement the Valkyries formed up, creating a solid wall of defence. Heavy bolters presented their barrels on both sides and the gunners fired ceaselessly, unleashing a solid wall of shot. The Eldar attack had relied on sowing confusion in the lines but the Imperial defence was holding, and sheer numbers were denying the Xenos the chance to get in close and wreak carnage. Ferrac smiled evilly as winged beasts were blasted from the sky in droves, then his vox lit and Coluber's voice came over the link, "Nicely done Ferrac, now would you care to join me in a counter-charge?"

Ferrac laughed, "It would be a genuine pleasure. Pilots: forward!"

Poisoned Fang lurched as the pilots fed more power into the engines and the Thunderhawk surged forward, Viper's Bite by her side, bearing the Chapter Master. Together the two gunships broke formation and charged into the midst of the fray, their heavy bolters tracking and firing independently. The Astartes vessels were far superior to the Valkyries and they blasted Eldar from the air, sending them tumbling away in clouds of blood and broken wings. The Eldar reeled under the counter-attack and tried to dash in closer but the gunships were too much for them and sent them scurrying away in desperation.

"More," Ferrac growled as the death toll mounted, "More!"

But then Excelsium yelled, "Look out!"

In their window a silver beast was climbing before them, the glittering charge of some Xeno lascannon flaring on its back. The weapon flared and Poisoned Fang lurched in the air as it was struck. Ferrac felt the craft heave around him and snarled as he was slammed into the bulkhead, the whole gunship dropped six feet as its vectored thrust was knocked out of alignment but the pilot's hands blurred over the controls, feeding compensating power to the thrusters. In moments the Thunderhawk was stable again and Ferrac roared, "All guns, target that filth!"

The heavy bolters swung about to lock on to the silver beast but it was already too late. The Eldar had seen the failure of their champion to bring down the gunship and determined that they could not beat the Astartes in a straight-up fight. Before his eyes they broke and ran, scattering in every direction to avoid being cut down. Poisoned Fang swivelled in mid-air, trying to target some of them with the dorsal battlecannon and lascannons but they were too swift and agile, skipping through the air, rising or falling randomly and darting behind the mighty trees for cover.

Ferrac smashed a fist into chairback, making the pilot jerk in surprise as he voxed, "Request permission to pursue and finish them off!"

Coluber's voice came back, "Permission denied: hold formation."

Ferrac watched the fleeing shapes of the Eldar disappearing and snarled, "Let them go?! We can kill them all right now!"

However Coluber's voice was steel as he admonished, "That is exactly what they want. You know the Eldar, you know how fast they manoeuvre, even this feral breed can run rings around us. They seek to pull apart our formation and then they will double back and pick us off one by one. Our only defence is a strong line and relentless firepower. As long as we hold our nerve, this fight is over."

Ferrac protested, "If we let them go they will regroup and come at us again later."

Coluber however countered, "Once we land we will set up an impenetrable defence. We have their measure now, we know what we face. The Eldar will certainly come back but we will greet them with a wall of firepower, those beasts will fall from the sky in droves. If we chase them we will be isolated and divided. No, we must focus on our goal and move with confidence of victory, to second-guess our plans plays right into their hands."

Excelsium interrupted to say, "Look at that."

Ferrac turned his eyes to where the Sergeant was indicating and saw falling Valkyrie, pursued by a smaller beast. Even as he watched the Eldar rider pulled someone from the craft then soared away, fleeing the battle with a captive. Ferrac hastily cried, "They've got our Rogue Trader, I say again they've taken the Rogue Trader!"

Coluber didn't sound concerned as he said, "So?"

Ferrac blinked in surprise as he said, "You don't want us to stop them?"

Coluber was unmoved as he said, "Saffor Teliday is not vital to the success of this mission, he was merely the Chamandley's observer. We can continue without him."

Ferrac exclaimed, "You're willing to let him die under Xeno knives?"

Coluber countered, "I've never known you to be concerned for mortal lives."

Ferrac snorted, "I'm not, but it's the principle of the thing, letting Xenos take something from us feels wrong."

"Saffor's life is not mission critical," Coluber stated firmly, "We have the coordinates and the way is clear. The Eldar attempted to halt our advance but they failed. We shall continue to our objective, that is my final word on the matter."

The vox snapped off and as the Eldar finally disappeared the Imperials continued their advance. Ferrac stepped back from the cockpit as the pilots steered the Thunderhawk back onto course and the looming forest began to glide past once more. The Battle-Captain was frustrated but he had his orders, the Chapter Master had spoken and he was bound to obey. Sullenly he moved to drop back down the ladder but as he did so Excelsium's hand caught his elbow and the Sergeant hissed, "He should have listened to you."

Ferrac realised then that his vox-link had not been secure and the Sergeant had heard every word that had passed between him and the Chapter Master. He scolded himself for his sloppy error but declared, "The Chapter Master has given us our orders."

Excelsium glanced down into the troop bay to make sure they weren't overheard, then whispered, "Why do you put up with him?"

Ferrac frowned as he said, "What do you mean?"

Excelsium explained, "You are our Captain, you lead us to glory and victory. What does Coluber ever do save fret over supply chains and casualty figures? He is a quill-pusher, you should be directing our battles, not him."

Ferrac eyes narrowed dangerously as he hissed, "Chapter Master Coluber has broader concerns than we do. The entire Chapter is in his hands, he must ensure we survive. He was right to say chasing the Eldar would be fool's errand, we would be picked off one by one."

"Pah," Excelsium spat, "Caution and cowardice, we are Astartes, glory in blood and death is our fate not counting bolt shells. Coluber is a distant and uncaring lord, he doesn't have the fire to lead, but you do."

Ferrac stepped closer to Excelsium, getting into his personal space as he growled, "Is that some form of threat?"

Excelsium blinked at the dangerous tone in his voice and replied, "No, I speak not for myself but all of Primus. Your voice should be dominant in our decisions. We chafe at being held back, we want to fight as a Chapter of Astartes should. We yearn for glory and honour in battle, as do you. We've all heard you gnawing at the leash he places upon us."

Ferrac shook his head and said, "If we had the strength of a full Chapter then we would already be doing so, but we are not yet that force. Coluber is guiding us towards that goal and one day we will be such a power, but until then we must be cunning and patient. This mission takes us towards that worthy goal, once we have what we came for the Amber Vipers will be a name to be feared. My hearts ache to reap Eldar skulls as much as yours, but ultimately they are nothing to us. We are here for the armour and the Starship… nothing else matters."

Excelsium lowered his eyes as he said, "I understand, the time is not ripe… but when that day comes the Brothers will look to you to lead them."

Ferrac nodded as he said, "Rest assured when we are ready I will be glad to lead you into war. Now back to your place and speak no more of this. I'd hate to have to call you out in the fighting arena."

Excelsium grinned as he said, "Emperor forfend, I would forsake my armour first and fight Heretics naked rather than challenge you. Nobody wants to confront you in a duel."

Ferrac affected a scowl as he spat, "Is that why I am never challenged, everybody is too cowardly to face me?"

Excelsium laughed, "We're brave souls, but we're not stupid enough for that."

"Go," Ferrac ordered with a wry grin.

Excelsium turned and dropped back into the troop bay as Ferrac glanced back into the cockpit and called, "How long to the destination?"

Brother Larin replied, "We're on the move again, at current speed we should reach the objective coordinates in forty minutes."

"Good," Ferrac stated, "The sooner I get my feet on solid ground the better. I don't believe for a second the Eldar are gone for good, when they come back I want to face them with my axe in hand."

With that he departed and headed back to his restraint cage. He meant what he had said, he was certain this confrontation had only been a warm-up. The prize was in sight but in his bones he was sure it wouldn't be so easy to claim it. Iron certainty filled him that there would be bloodshed before this was over and he welcomed the prospect. Excelsium wasn't the only one chafing for a righteous fight.