Chapter 3
"Oof Magic"
The incoming fire from the enemy died instantly as the promethium hit the tree line, replaced by the screams of heretics and the crackle of the burning trees. Imperial positions stopped shooting as Krychec bellowed for the guardsmen to prepare to advance. Clambering out of the ditch, the 9th company advanced over the snow covered meadow, Sergeants gathering together their scattered squads as the medics began sifting through and gathering the dead and injured from the landing zone. Ursus did his best to keep up with his squad, his vox caster seeming to be getting heavier by the second as the adrenaline high faded from his system. He was surprised to see Grox appear by Bors side, he'd for forgotten about the big lumbering Ogryn after it'd bolted from the drop ship.
The whole company took cover in the ditch the over side of the road to the scorched tree line. Ursus suddenly realised how thirsty he was as Dix offered him his canteen.
"Intense isn't it Sir, the first time?" grinned Dix
"That's one way to put it" laughed Ursus, swallowing the mouthful of water and handing back the canteen.
"Thanks for that Dix, I needed it and you can drop the Sir out here, somehow seems a bit meaningless" smiled Ursus. "Might as well cal me Thom"
"Oof did!?" asked Grox as he squeezed his massive bulk into the ditch beside Ursus, pointing at the blackened, smouldering tree line.
"Yes, well sort of" replied Ursus
The Ogryn grunted. Ursus was sure he could see the cogs turning inside that tiny brain as Grox stared back at the fire damaged trees, trying to grasp how one man had done so much.
"Oof magic" whispered Grox as the rest of the Command squad joined them in the ditch. The brothers setting up their bolter and tripod while Dix relayed Krychec's orders for the support squads to dig in with 3rd and 4th Platoon in the current location, 2nd Platoon to head back to the original ditch and to set up a proper drop zone. While 1st, 5th and 6th platoon were to advance the through the trees along the road and launch the first assault on the bridge it's self.
Ursus wedged his vox caster against the bridge side of the ditch and settled himself onto the rest of his pack. Pulling up the bridge of his data slate, he double checked his grid references, noticing a few flakes of snow beginning to fall. as the first guardsmen set off towards the bridge. Happy his equipment was still working; he looked up and saw few of the guardsmen removed their bayonets from their scabbards as they drew level with the tree line, before fading into the swirling mix of smoke and fog. Waiting to hear from the next call sign of gunships due over head shortly, Ursus looked up and down the line, watching Malone working his way through the troops, patching up any minor wounds, impressed how the guardsmen never looked away from the sights of their weapons as he treated them.
Dix perked up, holding his hands to his ear phones, a puzzled look spreading across his face. He waved Krychec over.
"1st Platoon says they've reached the far end of the bridge and its empty Sir" whispered Dix, not making eye contact as he focused on the voice in his ear. "All enemy positions appear to be abandoned. He says 1st and 5th are going to dig in on the far side of the bridge while 6th probe further forward" finally looking up at the Colonel.
"Right" barked Krychec "Bors, get everyone moving onto the bridge and find us somewhere for a command post, Dix, tell 2nd platoon to move up and occupy positions on this side of the bridge with the mortars and get the bolters onto the far side. Once that's done, check in with the CO and update him "
With the vox back in his pack, Ursus joined the line of guardsmen heading towards the bridge. He felt his stomach turning as he started to smell the burnt flesh of the heretics lying in the trees, the first time he'd seen the result of his airstrikes up close. He snapped out of his stare at the charred and mangled bodies as the guardsman behind him chuckled about being at the Emperors barbeque.