Part One: From Ranged Warfare To Close Combat
Mortar gunner Freyer diverted his attention from the dark night sky and spat into the waterlogged trench, he grasped his laspistol in his right hand firmly. The World Eaters Chaos Space Marines and rebel guardsmen from the 9th Dabec Regiment had been attacking the loyalists for the past week virtually non-stop. The Imperial guardsmen were worn down and battered head to toe, plus now it looked like it was going to rain.
"Yeah another fine day in Dabec city" Freyer thought to himself whilst he checked his las clip.
He and his fellow mortar crewman Straugen were tired and exhausted from non-stop bombardment of the enemy lines, they had only just got chance to stop after their hard nut Commissar Bradvt told them to preserve ammo. Although Freyer and Straugen would rather blow the hell out of the traitors they would not refuse a direct order, after all they did not want to be executed.
Freyer was from the planet Tallarn, a rugged man of thirty and he had a rag tag look about him. He wore a headscarf like the traditional Tallarn soldiers wore during desert warfare and his clothes were tattered, like most of the Imperial troops in the Dabec campaign.
Straugen was different; he grew up on Catachan and was a fairly built man, late forties. He did not let people know too much about him as he felt it was irrelevant. He also had a headscarf, one that Freyer had given him after his best friend was ripped to shreds by Genestealers in a previous campaign.
They were Mortar crew 7, deployed behind the 4th Dabec Rifles and in front of the wreckage of Basilisk 691 which had only a few minutes ago been struck by a rebel Mortar shell.
"Frigging traitors" grunted Freyer as he winced when another shell exploded to the left hand side of his trench, killing the few Cadians of platoon 9 who were huddled around a bleak fire trying to keep warm.
Straugen un-slung his lasgun from his back and aimed over the trench. He glimpsed down the weapons sight and murmured "Looks like the rebels are ready for another push, the Rifles are pretty rigid and look nervous" he glared at one of the Cadians who was throwing up into his mess tin. "We might have to expend the last of this ammo drum" he indicated to a large metal box after he replaced the lasgun on the floor.
"We only have 3 left after that, if the Rifles and armoured company are going for the push later we will be out of ammo" Freyer sighed grimly, he had no ammo for his own lasgun and his pistol was only good if the combat was up close and personal. And close combat with a World Eater berserker is not usually preferred to the average Imperial guardsman.
Freyer glanced behind him as the wreckage of basilisk 691 blazed away; the corpses of her crew lay burning around the vehicle. Dead where they tried to flee and put themselves out. "Poor buggers" Freyer said gruffly.
"They were scum anyway Julian, I swear one of them stole my pocket watch yesterday" Straugen grunted.
"Yeah, well you can get it back later then eh? Whoever it was will not be needing it any time soon"
"True…I guess his time was up" Straugen put special emphasis on the word time and chuckled.
Freyer shook his head at the lame attempt of a joke and returned his gaze to the basilisk before turning to face the Rifles. "Oh here we go, I hear a vehicle approaching"
The vox commlink crackled to life and the voice of Commissar Bradvt was heard over the system "Mortar team 7 you have an enemy Rhino headed towards platoon 3's and the Dabec 4ths position, I want it neutralised is that understood?"
" Yes sir" Freyer acknowledged and nodded to Straugen in a silent way to say "Load the damn thing"
Straugen marked the rhino at 20 degrees and wiped the mortars tube he then removed a round from the ammo drum and slid it into the mortar before covering his ears "20 degrees left, 2500 metres, FIRE" he yelled.
Freyer clicked the automatic firing device in his left hand and the mortar sprang to life launching the shell at the oncoming Rhino.
Soon as this happened the enemy lines opened up with their own salvo of mortars, which smashed around the Imperial lines sending men to their deaths and collapsing buildings with devastating effect.
The Imperial shell however landed to the right of the rhino killing a few rebel guardsmen who must have been supporting it, but the rhino just tilted slightly and still drove on the corrupt tracks making a groaning metallic noise like a thousand souls screaming to escape.
"Shit, again closing in now at 1500 yards, reload" Freyer urged quickly as Straugen reloaded the weapon.
"FIRE" yelled Straugen as Freyer clicked the switch yet again.
The mortar launched another explosive shell at the Rhino. This time it took a direct hit and the crew cockpit blew apart, bits of shrapnel from the vehicle sprayed the rebels who were nearby and several fell to the floor, one clutched his jugular gurgling as he drowned in his own blood. The ramp of the transport however lowered and out poured a squad of Khorne berserkers who immediately charged towards the 4th Rifles.
The 4th Dabec Rifles opened up with their lasguns and few heavy weapons, killing a few rebels but none of the World Eaters.
In a few seconds both sides engaged in melee combat and screams along with cries of agony filled the air. Straugen removed the sight from his rifle and watched the carnage from the trench.
A Cadian with bayonet attached lunged at a chainaxe wielding traitor, who casually sidestepped left before decapitating the unfortunate soldier, a chilling noise penetrated Straugens ears as the Chaos Marine cackled evilly. The beast then blasted his bolt pistol into another soldier before two more Cadians bayoneted him from behind, his armour finally giving way as he succumbed to the blades that cut him down.
A rebel swung a crude looking knife at a missile launcher crewman and was received with a las round to the face from the other crewman. A wounded Cadian was howling on the floor clutching his chest whilst a berserker charged towards his victim raising a whirring chainsword for the killer blow. A loud shot deafened Straugen and when he next looked at the battle the berserker had begun to charge at his position!
The source of this was that Freyer had picked up Straugens rifle and shot at the traitor. Freyer aimed another shot at the berserker, gently squeezing the trigger and the round impacted with the Marines armour, but was deflected.
"Son of a..." Straugen bellowed and fell backwards as the Chaos Marine jumped into the trench. A loud explosion rocked one of the city buildings and a shell landed near the trench. Freyer dropped his firing device and drew out a notched bayonet then swung it at the traitors arm. Punching out the Chaos Warrior sent Freyer flying into the mortar tube making him lose grip on his pistol. Straugen grabbed the rifle and aimed a blow at the beasts' legs, which was taken from beneath him as he crumpled to the floor.
Freyer stumbled to his feet and kicked the chainsword out of the traitors grasp then rammed his bayonet into the things torso. Ignoring the wound the Chaos Marine fired a short burst from his pistol into Freyers right leg and arm. This must have been his last clip because no more bolts were in the chamber of the gun as he aimed a shot at Straugens head.
Freyer painfully dragged himself to his pistol and fired at the berserker until his clip emptied.
Straugen then began to smash his rifle into the traitors helmet repeatedly and with a sickening crunch the Marines head caved in which seemed to make Straugen finally believe the Warrior was dead.
Freyer groaned on the floor clutching his leg. The battlefield fell silent for a few seconds and then the screams of wounded and dying men filled the air. Buildings lay in ruins and fires blared away letting thick smoke pollute the air.
Straugen watched four men of the Dabec 4th gun down a fleeing rebel of the 9th Regiment. A few others were sweeping the trenches killing all wounded traitors and calling out for medics for their comrades. At last the brief skirmish was over.
After a short while Straugen collapsed to the ground next to Freyer a thick load of mud spattered his already dirty trousers. "When you are going to divert a big bastard like him to us next time, a warning would be nice" he said out of breath.
Freyer let out a short laugh and dropped his pistol into a puddle in the trench "Sure, but right now I could do with a medic".