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The Garrison
Chapter 2
"Bring up the Armageddon pattern basilisks!" Vladimir yelled over blowing whistles, the roar of tank engines, and the thump of feet on hard rockcrete. It had been four days since Halle, Andrew, and Kialie had spotted the new threat. They had dug in is fast as they could, the trenches were crud, but they would hold. It was the middle of the night. "Move into position! Hurry now!" Anatoly said amongst the mix of the five regiments. "Be lively now! Douse those lights!" The guardsmen nearest to the lamps turned off the illuminating sources. They heard a battle cry and a red flares were shot in the air, giving the night an uneasy glow. "Here they come! The first waves are just to taunt us, so don't let up!" The first wave came out of the forest, cultists! They charged through the thick snow, weapons raised. "Get ready guys," said a female sergeant. Her name was Terra, a Kasrkin to them, she was a Verghastite, and a well trained Verghastite. "Light 'em up!" The cultists had been slowing down because they thought there would be no resistance, for there was no lighting and no movement. The cultists were caught off guard as they met a wall of lasers. "Damn cultiztz. Are zey veally zat zstupid?" Andrew exclaimed, still gazing through his scope. "Yeah, those idiots would do anything for the chaotic gods." Halle said as she reloaded her long las. "Next wave approaching!" Terra yelled. Tanks. "Fire all ordnance! Destroy those tanks before they reach the trenches!" Qin yelled. The scream of basilisk shells and the roar of battle cannons sent the 2nd wave's infantry scrambling for cover on the flat plain between the forest and city.
"14th wave, get ready!" Terra yelled with a tired tone. "Damn, vhy to zey keep charging? Don't zey know it is hopeless!" Andrew said, "I'm down to tree las-packs!" The worn out guardsmen again took position in the trenches, "Obliterators and Terminators!" One of the guardsmen said in fear. They looked over at the hulking machines built for destruction. "Hold the line Dammit!" Yelled a sergeant of the 45th. Las fire filled the air. Soon the sky was dark; it smelt of metal and of leaking gas. Most of the guardsmen had dawned their gas masks because the smell was so unbearable. It began to rain, slowly at first, but it then became a downpour. The trenches they had manned became flooded; the water reached to their knees. Andrew sloshed through the water to grab more munitions for his station, 328. "Damn, were the hell did I put those heavy bolter belts." 2nd officer Jose said out loud. He dunked his masked face into the murky water and emerged with a box of heavy bolter rounds. "Sorry that's all you're gettin'. We're starting to run low on ammo." He gave the box to the awaiting guardsman. Andrew walked up. "What do you need Andrew?" Jose asked. "I need more Las-packs, ve're running out at tree tventy eight." Jose handed him a box of only ten, "Sorry bud, but that's all I can give you." Andrew walked away, 'Shit, I need more zan zis; I've got tventy people to zupport.'
When Andrew returned to station 328, the others were gearing up. "Vat is going on?" Andrew asked. Halle tossed him his equipment which was already sorted out. "We were ordered forward to scout ahead, Svencin, Ricardo, you, and me." Andrew checked his war-knife, it had been a gift from Ricardo; 30 centimeters of pure silver alimite-steel. Ricardo and Andrew were best friends for as long as they could remember, they lived in the same sector back on Valhalla. They were both conscripted into 608th; they stuck together like brothers until Ricardo was moved to Tonya's platoon. The four met at the far end of the line where the action was the least. "Scout ahead and see what we're up against, like that'll be easy!" Svencin said sarcastically. "Ya up for this, Andrew?" Ricardo asked. Andrew just nodded his head. "Let's get going guys we only have a few hours." Halle said as she hopped out of the trench and into the darkness.
"Ok, guys this is were we split up, meet back here in an hour and keep constant contact with each other." Svencin said as he put the com-bead into his ear. Andrew went north he fixed his scope. He hid in a nearby bush as he watched the chaos offer one or there own to their gods, it was a horrible site, it was unspeakable. "Have you guys taken a head count of your area?" Andrew whispered into his head piece. "Yeah, I counted 246." Halle said. "There's too many to count on my side." Andrew heard Svencin say. "I can't find any infantry just armor." Ricardo called, "No, wait. Oh SHIT!" Andrew's heart sank, "Vreport, Ricardo!" Andrew said on Ricardo's frequency. "Multiple hostiles, I-I…" Ricardo's radio grew silent. "We lost his signal!" Halle yelled through the com. "Vell, get it back dammit!" Andrew called to the others, "I'm going to get him!" Andrew said as he attached his war-knife to his bayonet lug. Halle grasped him by the shoulder, "No we can't! It's almost dawn!" Andrew gazed at the light, which was slowly growing. Andrew reluctantly walked back with the other two; he hated how he was to abandon his comrade. The sad truth of a guardsman; is duty comes before brotherhood.