Brothers of Kovnia

Sergeant Hake of the Kovnian 7th hussars slumped further into his corner, his greatcoat weighed heavy on his shoulders, his re-breather hung round his neck, it seemed strange to him that they should wear them in a clean atmosphere, but his peak cap was in perfect condition, they had been holed up in the remains of this hab for five days, food was scarce and the attacks frequent. They had been part of a combined push into the city with the Tanhelian 211th until they where air lifted out for duties elsewhere. But years of experience had left its mark on Hake, while the others looked to a relief force he took time to appraise the situation, he laid his kit out and began to take stock, his dusty copy of the imperial infantry mans uplifting primer given to every solider at the regiments founding, was in a state that could warrant his execution but out here, non of that mattered.

Having checked and double checked he was confident that all his equipment was present and moved on to weapons maintenance. His chain sword lent against the wall, its thick metal bulk crisp with dry blood, this was no elegant blade, it was a mechanised battering ram. Lying beside it was his lasrifle. He had unscrewed the barrel and removed the stock and used it as a pistol, by sacrificing accuracy it was fully automatic and twice as powerful as a normal issue las pistol. His tired eyes gazed over the remnants of his squad, 2nd squad 5th platoon 1st company 7th Kovnian hussars. Was he really the only one who considered that a bit long winded? No matter. Of the ten men he set of with nearly a month ago only seven remained, trooper Lysander fell on the first day due to a stray krak grenade, troopers Davis and Olding fell in a close engagement clearing out a bunker. He saw them fall and thanked the Emperor for the extra setting on Kovnian re-breathers, at the touch of a button a Kovnian trooper could fill his senses with morphine and lose all sense of pain.Those that remained where tired but not broken.

Trooper Hains and his brother 'titan' as the men knew him to save confusion, where practicing speed deployment of there heavy bolter, over and over, each time faster than the next, as he watched Hake wondered how the nickname titan came into being, although he had a feeling it may be to do with his large build!. His eyes then passed to trooper Hinks, he sat slumped on the ground in a pool of his own blood, he was certainly dead and they all new it. The men needed some sport. "hey , Hudson." The sergeant was getting tried of everyone's name beginning with 'H'. "Sarge?" called back the rodent like man in the opposite corner. "Still got your scope?" the trooper smiled at such a question. "Damn right!" a smile broke the troopers face as realisation dawned. "Well maybe its time to use it!" he moved over to the dead form of trooper Hinks and propped him up against the window and pulled in the sand bags. "Come on Hinks, look alive!" mild laughter briefly filled the room suddenly there was a loud crack and Hinks's insides became his outsides. That was all Hudson needed, he saw the mussel flash and fired one precision round, and the enemy sniper collapsed and fell from his vantage point with a satisfying thud. Cheers erupted throughout the room but Hake was already replacing the sand bags.

Over the next few hours the troops continued to pass the time in suitably inventive ways. Hains and his brother where playing cards with a deck with rather inappropriate pictures, apparently he had met a Cadian on his last planet leave and acquired them. Trooper Marvin or 'Mad Marvin' was tinkering with the promethium canisters on his flamer, probably not the cleverest thing to do but know one questioned Mad, but by the Emperor he could fight! Finally there was the comms officer, trooper Dawson, he was the closest thing to a second commander in this damn squad, before long he'd have his own squad of misfits.

Lieutenant Gaynor of the Kovnian 209th pathfinders and his platoon pushed down the ava imperator, the main highway through the hive, they where a day in front of the main force and where cautious for signs of the enemy. Since the Tanhelian 211th lifted out the 7th hussars have been severely compromised, it was there jobs to fill the gaps. His auspex officer was twenty feet in front scanning the high way; it was strange that for days they had seen no action, "sir I've got a signal!" the lieutenant sprung into action signalling a flanking manoeuvre, all his men began to hug the ground and advance slowly, "sir, there friendly's" a smile broke the comms officers face as he desperately began scouring the frequency's, "Emperors oath, I've got them".

Trooper Hains and his robust brother could now strip, rebuild, deploy, load and fire the heavy bolter in under thirty seconds! It was truly astounding to behold, although he thought maybe they where some cutting corners. Without warning the comms channel burst into life, "this is the comms officer of the Kovnian 209th pathfinders, we have your location, sit tight we shall be there presently, the Emperor protects, out. " finally they where going to get relieved, joy rippled through the building, trooper Marvin had pulled his fiddle from his pack and started a little ditty, the men where on there feet dancing, but not the sergeant, oh no, off all the people in the room he was the only one who knew what would happen next.

The auspex's screen began to flood with signals. "Lieutenant, the enemy are on the move," the auspex officer desperately studied the screen, "there gong to reach our friends before us." The lieutenants mind began to race "how many?" he signalled the run for his platoon and they set off. "about one hundred and a sentinel" Gaynor cringed at the news, he only had fifty lightly armed men. There was only one solution, "give me the comm. channel!" today would be a bloody one, but then again so where they all.

Just as before the comms channel erupted with activity, through the distortion they could just make out a voice. "this is lieutenant Gaynor, presently half a mile away," a hush descended and the fiddle fell silent, "but before we get there one hundred rebels and a sentinel will" Hake smiled, he could see this coming, the enemy had been to silent for anyone liking, he could see the dust floating off the speaker on there ancient comm. set, "your orders are to fan out into the road and hold them up!" the smile quickly left Hakes lips. This was a suicide job and everyone knew it, it was written plainly on their haggard faces. To be taken from your home to some shitty humid planet in the segmentum pacificus, dumped in a rebellious hive to die where and when your told, and why? To silence a minor rebellion, he didn't even understand the politics, but what he did understand was that the lieutenant was hanging them out to dry. But after everything that's happened, there's know way that was going to happen. "May the Emperor preserve you, Gaynor out!" Hake hurriedly scanned the street "shouldn't we get out there sir" asked Marvin. "You can shove that comment right back where it came from trooper!" nervous laughter answered the sergeants outburst. "I'm not getting us all killed for some wet lieutenant! Who can't even find own arse without a map!" once again his motivational approach was greeted by laughter. "no, here's what we'll do." He paused to gain the full effect, "Hains, titan I want you in that building there," he gestured to a ruined hab across the street, "focus on the infantry!" the two men nodded and sprinted across the road with their heavy bolter. "Hudson, I want you on top, focus on the officers!" Hudson nodded and began to sprint up the stairs. "What about us sir?" asked Marvin who thumbed his flamer anxiously. Too anxiously for the sergeants liking! "I want you on the door Marvin, and I want you in the window." He inclined his ad towards Dawson who instantly took up position. "Sir," the sergeant smiled before answering. "yes Dawson" Hake loved his seconds curiosity, it would make him a great sergeant. "just a couple of things sir, well three actually, firstly aren't we disobeying a direct order, secondly what about the sentinel and why are you lighting a fire?" the confusion in Dawson's voice was laughable, and sergeant Hake took full advantage. "well in order, number one, yes, number two, let me give you a lesson in las technology!" Dawson looked quizzical. "what about number three?" Hake retrieved his battered copy of the imperial infantry mans uplifting primer and smiled.

Hudson slithered to the edge of the roof and began turning his focus calibrator; he could see dust rising in the wake of the enemy. He screwed on his long las barrel with flash suppressor. Confident that all was well he inserted the magazine, and began the litany of accuracy; grant me the sight of the eagle, the calm of the breeze, the patience of a saint and the skill to smite the foe from afar. On the other side of the highway titan was loading rounds into his brother's heavy bolter, from where they where they could rake the entire highway with fire. They to could see the dust approaching.

Hake drew him self up to full height so everyone could appreciate his solid build, "page twenty part (a), and I quote, a laser power pack will last for many shots and can be recharged from a standard power source, exposing the thermal cells to light or heat will also, over time, charge up the pack. Placing the pack in an open fire will also have an effect" he slapped the book shut and threw his las cell in the fire. "But that cell's already charged!" then he realised. "ah I think you've got it trooper!" laughed Hake "I'm going to overcharge the pack" suddenly there was a crack, "get to your positions, its begun!" in the fire the las cell began to hum like a boiling kettle.

The traitor officer slumped onto his knees with a hole in his neck, crimson spray coating the man behind him who quickly became the snipers next prey. With a roar they rippled forward, screaming blasphemy they broke into a run and at about two hundred yards the voice of the Emperor rang out. Hains's heavy bolter spoke divine retribution as the high explosive rounds began to cut down the first wave of this rolling mass of scum. One traitors torso exploded and scattered his limbs across the highway, the surface began to slick under the traitors feet but they came on like mad dogs. Then the sentinel made its self known, swivelling its lascannon from right to left if fired at Hains, the front of their building was completely destroyed and they where forced back.

Gaynor could here the sound of fighting just up ahead; he prayed that they would be there on time. "Dig deep men, push!" he could only hope.

From his vantage point Hudson could watch the flow of the battle, it was a snipers heaven, the enemy had become so compact in an attempt to overrun the positions that he didn't even have to aim.

The hum of the las cell had reached a crescendo and was screaming with the power it desperately tried to contain. Hake ran over and pulled the cell out, the heat searing his flesh. He quickly clipped it into his 'las pistol' striding to the window, disregarding the whip of las fire that assailed it, he lent out, aimed and fired. The recoil was shocking and drove the pistol out of his hands; the bolt of pure white that came out went straight through the armour of the sentinel slaying the pilot instantaneously, the sentinel's petrol went up causing it to fireball and collapse into the street crushing two unsuspecting rebels.

Titan regained his conscience it time two men come at him with bayonets, he drew his hunting knife, twenty inches long with a serrated edge and blackened steel. One step to the left one quick swipe and the first man fell. The second came on with renewed ferocity; titan rolled forward and severed the traitors' tendons right behind the knee cap. Gaynor turned the corner and was instantly set upon by a rebel, the sergeant had failed to hold up the enemy and instead cowered inside, to his left and right Gaynors men where dying, by las and by bayonet, the lieutenant parried the blow an put his las pistol in his adversary's gut and fired. "las guns to full auto!" the noise of his platoons weapons charging was immensely satisfying, but not nearly as much as when they fired! The noise was deafening and he wouldn't have it any other way, one step at a time the platoon advanced down the highway cutting down all comers in a wall of solid las.

The tide shifted and the traitors sensing defeat tried to rush sergeant Hakes position. The doors swung open violently, only to be filled with fire from Marvin's flamer, the stench of burning flesh filled the room as more traitors flung themselves into the flames. Hake cycled up his chain sword as one enemy forced his way through the window. Hake slammed his sword into his enemy's shoulder, the glinting teeth pulling him bodily into the floor. Suddenly the flamer stopped and the enemy rushed in.

Hains had now also regained his consciousness and was desperately firing the heavy bolter at point blank. This battle was now won of the one hundred that started only four remained, and they where locked in a room with the sergeant. From down the street Gaynor could hear the sergeants' chain sword, even above the screams of the wounded and dieing it was clear.

The final traitor slumped to the ground, a las round had passed through his side. Hake turned off his chain sword and walked out into the suns ruddy glow, this was the first time in five days. "Everyone present for role!" shouted Hake and surely enough every man in his unit was present. He looked at the line and smiled, they where free. Dawson nodded to Hake who turned round to face Lieutenant Gaynor, a very angry lieutenant Gaynor "you coward!" shouted Gaynor his face red, "I should execute you right here!" shock rippled through the men of Hakes unit, from their position behind their sergeant all they saw was him loosen his great coat. "Well I'm truly sorry" blurted Gaynor with the look of someone who had just made a career ending cock-up!

"no need" smiled Hake who returned to his men.

Dawson stood aghast, how could he have got out of that, more importantly why did the lieutenant apologise? "sir, how did you get out of that?" he asked, finally giving into curiosity. "its not who you are its who you know." Smiled Hake. "that makes absolutely no sense!" Dawson had had enough riddles for one day but the sergeant is a completely different story. "You never said it had to!" there was an increase in activity as Gaynor set out pickets and addressed his men. "Sir there's something on the comm. channel" "this is Colonel Evans of the 1st company 7th Kovnian hussars to the 2nd squad 5th platoon. Tomorrow at dawn you are to take bunker 147/4d and clear the way for Lieutenant Knight's platoon. Then a chimera will pick you up and you will be attached to his platoon. May the Emperor guide you. Colonel out" "ok lads, get some sleep, we rouse at five." Hakes man started to make sleep arrangements when Gaynor came over "which one is bunker 147/4d" Hake looked at his map and pointed to a dominant structure in the distance. "its that big bastard."