The night passed with little to no activity, the men where tired, and rightly so. But anyone awake would have noticed sergeant Hakes absence. "Right then get up you idle buggers!" whispered Hake in the most parade ground whisper possible. "lets ship out" under the dark of night the remnants of 2nd squad dragged their tired bodies to the objective. This planets twin moons usually provided excellent light during the night, but tonight was the beginning of the big push, so the imperial navy did their very best to block as much light as they can. Just up the road was the objective, bunker 147/4d. "right lads, about two hours ago I was here. And I've sorted an entrance." He looked over his men. They where prepared, mean and ready to go, "everyone consult their imperial infantry mans uplifting primer!" the men looked knowingly at one another. He didn't mean the real imperial infantry mans uplifting primer, he meant his 'modified' version.

In his version it says, blow a hole in the wall, run in shooting, kicking, screaming and pissing in every direction until the room is clear or you die. And that's exactly what the where going to do. Hake pulled a trigger out of his pocket, with a suitably red button to satisfy his eccentricity, slowly he pushed the button and all hell broke loose. A massive explosion illuminated the street and a massive hole was blown in the side of the bunker. Now running full tilt the men of 2nd squad stormed the breach. "Grenade!" called Dawson as he threw in a frag grenade, the blast rocked the floor as Titan and Hains set up the heavy bolter and began to clear out the next room on the left. To the right Hake shouldered the thin wall and barrelled into an enemy solider sending them both sprawling, regaining his feet first Hake thrust down with his chain sword spraying his great coat with blood. At that moment Marvin ran past and ignited his flamer, hosing the room with super heated promethium. The attack lasted a further twenty minuets until all the rooms where clear. No one died in the attack but Marvin had to be evacuated to a nearby medical facility, when his flamer erupted in his own hands.

Within an hour of clearing the bunker lieutenant Knight's platoon rode past in their chimeras, cheering and waving their great coats blowing in the breeze, Hake envied them, it hade been a week since 2nd squad had seen their chimera. One of the most trusted tanks in the imperium, a real multi purpose machine and the reason he joined the hussars. As his planets mechanised regiment he was certain of being in one, and he loved it. Literally moments later a lone chimera pulled up and lowered its rear hatch, "good to see you again sergeant!" called the driver from his hatch. "Come on lads, mount up! We've some catching up to do!" a cheer erupted from the four men left under his command. They pilled in the back and found space on the benched seating. The interior began to flash as the access ramps light began to flash and the door closed. Inside they barely felt the movement as the chimera set of and gradually increased its speed up to about eighty miles an hour. Hake loved his driver, the guy was young and by the Emperor could he drive! He could do things with that tank that made your eyes water, Hake linked himself up to the interior command display. Countless mini-screens that showed the interior of every chimera in the company, pressing some buttons Hake set it to platoon level and then focused on Knights chimera.

Transmission 284+737

"Lieutenant Knight, this is sergeant hake of second squad, name a destination"

"Hake? Any relation?"

"His first born"

"Glad to have you on board. We're heading for saint Josephine's basilica, intel suggests the rebels are massing there. "

"Confirmed, Hake out"

Hake took himself off the comm. channel but continued to examine the screens, suddenly chimera ones interior rocked violently and the men inside where thrown against the walls, chimera threes insides filled with flames, all the chimeras rocked to a stand still. Shocked men where pouring of each screen as two more went offline. "Driver! Speed up, we need to get there!" the driver scowled and shouted back "where's there?" Hake turned his attention back to the scanners desperately trying to gat a fix on there location. "about five hundred yards short of the basilica" linking up to the satellite he could see the remainder of the platoon desperately trying to reach safety, who ever supplied the intel was certainly not playing by the rules. Hake was forced to grab the console as the chimera reached full speed.

From his position in the driver's seat Vaughn was pushing the chimera to well beyond sensible limits, he could fell the bolts loosening along the outside, but se would hold. To look at a chimera and see its armoured transport section, forward turret and hull mounted heavy bolter, you would not think it capable of the speeds that Vaughn could squeeze out of it. The chimera maxed out and swerved violently to avoid a chunk of collapsed building, all around there was fighting, guard and traitors, throughout the whole city, as they thundered towards an intersection two traitors with missile launchers ran out to fire, the chimera cut across the road and through the front of a building, speeding down the line of housing, wall after wall smashing before the armoured might of a holy chimera.

Las fire whipped the buildings façade, 3rd squad, 2nd platoon had been pinned down and engaged in this tit for tat gun battle for over an hour. The enemy where of comparative numbers and in a building on the opposite side of the street. All of their experience, on all those battle fields did not prepare them for what happened next. Suddenly there was a loud crash and the buildings opposite began to collapse, they heard the roar of the engine and looked up, just in time to see half the enemy go under the tracks of a chimera! It was truly amazing; the tank had just burst through the wall and crushed them.

The interior of the chimera rocked with increasing ferocity. Everyone was hanging desperately hanging on to anything solid! There was a sharp movement as the chimera rounded the corner towards its destination; already it was swerving in and out of wounded men trying to escape the gauntlet. "Right men! Prepare to disembark" everyone stood and braced them selves as the ramp lowered and the true scale of the carnage became clear. Nearly half of the platoon lay dead, as the ramp reached open position the enemy fire started. Titan took two shots to the hip and dropped to the ground and rolled off the back. "Halt" the chimera rocked to a standstill and the men of 2nd squad charged into the light to save there own. The sky was grey with the dust, they where inside some sort of courtyard, there where shattered buildings on three sides and the basilica behind them. Enemy fire was coming from all around except from the basilica. Running Hake got down behind the flaming wreck of chimera three, smoke billowed from its top hatch and flames engulfed its interior. Titan was just ten yards away. Screaming Hains ran out to pull his brother to safety. "cover him" shouted Hake but it as too late. One round passed through his comrade destroying his left kidney.

Pain, that was all Hains new now, he could feel his ruptured organs and craved for sweet release. In sheer agony he pulled his hand to his re-breather and pushed the button, the last thing he saw was sergeant Hake grabbing his arms and dragging him. Tears ran down Hakes mouth piece of his Re-breather, his men, his brothers men he had fought and bled with, drooping like flies. Everything seemed to slow down and blur, all around there was fire and confusion, everywhere men where dying. Chimera five flipped into the air in a fireball, the enemy missile launchers seeing to that. Hake and his remaining men dragged Titan and Hains into the back of Vaughn's chimera. "get them out of here!" without even replying the chimera took of to run the gauntlet to a medical facility "everyone into the basilica!" Screamed Hake at full parade ground volume. Men ran, crawled and where dragged into the basilica, more fell under the devastating crossfire.

Slamming the ancient doors shut Hake was able to take in the grandeur of the building. The roof seemed to fade from vision it was so tall, every surface was solid marble with gold inlay. And in the very centre was the statue of Saint Josephine, one arm extended towards the door the other clutching a marble boltgun. Noise began to emanate throughout the hall. Everywhere was blood and the groans of wounded men. At the back below the statue three men where arguing.

"I am the most senior here I shall take command" shouted the one pushing his podgy finger in the others faces. "well I commanded the lieutenants own unit. I must have command!" shouted another, his face red. By now it was apparent to Hake that Knight was dead and these sergeants where arguing over who should have command. "I think we should put a hole in the back of the basilica and escape!" added the third, he had obviously suffered as hake had, to watch your men die, it breaks he hardest of hearts. But nothing would bend Hake from his duty; marching up to them Hake straightened his peaked cap. "I believe that I shall be taking command." They all stopped and took in his appearance. "By what authority!" shouted the slightly plump one, who obviously saw this as a career advancement opportunity. Hake reached inside his greatcoat and pulled out a scroll with a seal on it, slowly forcing the seal with his thumb he coughed and then read. "Buy the power vested in my family by the immortal Emperor I Augustus Hake son of high lord inquisitor Hake do here by assume command of this platoon."

The largest of the assembled sergeants grabbed the scroll to examine its authenticity, "by the Emperor! He is." Almost as one they bowed to him. "get up." He was forced to bodily drag the one up. "No one must know about this." He looked each one it the eye until he was sure they under stood. "Turn over the pews. I want firing lines every twenty yards. Leave an ally for retreat. Mass the wounded by the statue and arm them!" the sergeants saluted and set off except one "my names sergeant Connery, it's a pleasure to meet you sir!" then he like the others set about his duties.

Hake met up with the remainder of 2nd squad by the entrance, "I know where all feeling the pinch," he felt uneasy but continued "we have lost many brothers but we have to go on" he put his hands on their shoulders. "Now, I want all you grenades attached to trip wire and covering this doorway."

Hours past and the light became dark. From all over the city they could hear shelling and scattered combat. Reports where flooding the comms of skirmishes won and lost, the army had lost all coherency. But just out side the enemy where massing, that had been there plan, drive the Kovnians in doors and overwhelm them. But preparations can work two ways. Inside Hake had organised the defenders and the stage was set.

"Sir" whispered Dawson, "earlier I couldn't help overhearing the whole inquisitor thing" Hake looked into his eyes and knew there was no stopping his curiosity, "well if you're his first born, why aren't you an inquisitor to?" finished Dawson. "it happened just after the quniox incursion" Hake thumbed his greatcoat "a man in my stormtrooper division came from the planet fulvar. At the time his planet was attacked and destroyed by orks. He knew he wouldn't have changed anything but he still felt the pain," "his planet was dead and he wasn't there to help. It drove him mad." Hake sighed "my farther executed him for cowardice," slowly he took his peaked cap off and ran his hand through his matted black hair, "so I joined the hussars so that if ever Kovnia was attacked I would be there." They both contemplated this thought until Dawson spoke up "well, why aren't you an officer?" Hake smiled and pulled out his macharian cross, one of many medals under his greatcoat, it's awarded to officers who have shown high levels of tactical aptitude. "My farther disowned me and stopped me getting a commission, so I lied and got in as a trooper." Taking a large gulp from his canteen Hake faced towards the door. Silence was all that passed between the two friends, or anyone else from then on, until.

An explosion ripped the door off its hinges and the enemy was in. Hake stood in full view and raised his Chain sword. "volley fire, front rank, fire," a wall of shots hit the wall of enemy flesh, the fell instantly, blood slicking the marble, the enemy began to trip over each other "second rank, fire!" again a wave of death struck the oncoming forces, one enemy was struck in the neck and collapsed onto the trip wire, the explosions from the grenades filled the doorway with shrapnel, the bodies where now two deep but still the enemy came on, "third rank, fire!" this time the effect was limited as the traitors where now using their dead as shields. "fire at will, full auto" the walls where now filled with the sound of fully automatic fire, men everywhere on both sides where dying, the man next to hake took a shot to the face and died instantly. Despite the large amounts of fire the enemy kept pushing forward. Hake could tell that the enemies moral was low and now was time for the metal to meet the meat. "Bayonets! Lets ave em lads!" a cheer erupted as the 7th hussars charged to death, glory and the chaos of close quarter combat.

Dawson dived over the barricade and swung his las gun wildly cutting down a swathe of Traitors. But there was always more, one man knocked Dawson to the ground, he was filled with las from point blank for his troubles.

Hake dodged left and right, each swipe removing a limb or head, he looked around, the only person as far in as him was Connery, they fought there way towards each other and stood back to back, every swipe a kill, every kill a mere drop in the ocean.

Hudson sat at the back of the hall calmly picking off enemy sergeants and leaders, every shot a hit and every hit a kill, he slowly sighted up for his next target and thought, let's do something a bit different.

Suddenly a Huge man in carapace armour charged into Hake and Connery, Connery was knocked out cold, Hake rounded the blow and brought his chain sword into the mans back, as the teeth dug in the man spun round, grabbing Hake by the neck. He lifted the sergeant above his head as if he where but a boy. Desperately trying to breath Hake dropped his sword, staring defiantly into his enemy's eyes. Then a crack resounded and one well placed round passed through the traitor's wrist. Hake was dropped instantly as the man grabbed his wrist in agony. Hake gaining his breath drew his combat knife and thrust it under the mans ribs. The traitor's eyes widened with surprise as his world went white. His lifeless body collapsed onto Hake and that was it. Seeing there leader dead the traitors broke and ran.

Half an hour later lieutenant Maxwell arrived with his platoon. "Quite a mess you've got here acting lieutenant!" said Maxwell addressing Hake as an equal. "not anymore," replied Hake "I'm handing command over to you. I have only two requests." The lieutenant considered this "proceed." Hake smiled and then continued. "The remainder of the 2nd and sergeant Connery's squad are to return to base, but Vaughn a few volunteers and me are going there." Hake pointed to a place on the map marked as the governor's palace. "If you kill the head, the body dies." Maxwell spent a moment taking every thing in before deciding. "No, if you're going for the governors' palace you need to be prepared. Your all going back to base. And that's final."

It was a long and quiet ride out of the hive, it was the first time in camp for over a month, and where regiments of clean ordered guardsmen once prepared for the advance there was now only the wounded and dead. The camps great barbed wire perimeter looked so out of place on the grassy field in which it stood. It seemed like years since the hussars where here. But he wasn't here to reminisce, he was here to see the top brass.