Moving Up
Pryvat Fyodor Bondarchuk was trembling.
He wasn't afraid, he was feeling far too excited to be afraid anymore. He had been nervous back in the Chimera; though that was mostly because he just couldn't handle confined spaces that well. But now, now his heart was racing and the only fear he had was that it might leap from his chest. He'd had a front row seat to the fire and carnage the mortars had brought to the Tau position. He'd heard the mortar company call it the Emperor's Vengeance over the vox, and if the cratered ridge and half demolished trenches in front of him weren't a testament to that sentiment, then he wasn't sure what was. A part of him was disappointed that he hadn't gotten a chance to kill a xeno, but as the primary loader he had to ensure that the belt didn't jam the heavy stubber's feed mechanism. His hands still felt hot from the friction, he'd been amazed by the rate at which the brass flew across his hand as the weapon greedily ate up the two hundred round belt. He was sure he'd never get the harsh smell of propellant out of his nostrils. He watched as the flash and thunder of the mortar fire crept further and further away from his position, the stricken tank still blazing fiercely, casting the ridge in its odd blue light.
"Alright, Kremenchug, change out that barrel before any more xenos show up. Bondarchuk, you watch what he does, and make sure to remember, hmmm?" Georgi said as he lowered his magnoculars. "We're staying put for now but that doesn't mean we're out of this fight, puyotnam?"
"Puyotnam, Efreitor," Bondarchuk chorused along with the Kremenchug and his fellow loader, Novotsinev.
The stubber was a fairly simple beast, far less complicated than Bondarchuk had thought it would be. It was a simple enough task to make the weapon safe and remove what was left of the belt. The barrel change itself was trickier. Though the carrying handle made things simpler, all one had to do was pull it towards the receiver and then twist the barrel through ninety degrees to the left and the barrel came free, getting the new barrel to slot back in proved a fiddly task. However Bondarchuk completed the whole operation without too much trouble on his try, no thanks to his still trembling hands. He was quite proud of himself, he'd never been trained for heavy weapons.
"Don't worry about it, Fyodor," said Novotsinev, patting him on the shoulder. "The adrenaline rush takes some getting used to."
"Da, at least you didn't have the problem Akhmataev had," Kremenchug chimed in with a dirty smile as he replaced the belt in the receiver and pulled back the cocking handle. "He'd never manage quick displacement because of it; fire drills always made him harder than a Leman Russ' frontal plate."
"Could have used it to demolish buildings," Novotsinev replied, chuckling as he surveyed the ridge, his lasrifle in hand.
"Or build a khekking good bridge," Kremenchug added, using the still warm barrel to graphically illustrate his point.
"You filthy sons of Groxes never heard of noise discipline?" Georgi asked, his expression stern. "We're on the frontline here."
"Sorry Efreitor," the three replied.
"I swear, sometimes I wonder about you idiots. Take no heed of these two, Fyodor; pair of filthy minded, rad brained idiots," Georgi said, his stern expression crumbling slightly as he looked through his magnoculars. "Even if it was khekking true; never needed the combat ingeneery whenever he was around. Heh, he was practically famous for it. Now watch your sectors."
Beyond the noise of the mortars and the occasional glimpse of their comrades in the trenches nothing seemed to be happening. As the four of them waited Fyodor heard the distinctive sound of engines coming from the lake behind them.
"Is that the Chimeras?" he asked, looking back towards the lake to see if he could spot them despite the mist.
"Da, probably is, Mischa said they'd be hear soon," Georgi replied, not taking his eyes from the ridgeline opposite. "Must have put the pedal to the metal when the pompoms opened up, the party will really start once Graf gets up here."
"Who's that back in the grass then?" Fyodor asked, not quite able to make out the figure that seemed to be directing someone further back in the mist.
"Probably Graf if the Chimeras are here already," Kremenchug replied, leaning back to take a gander himself.
"But the Chimeras don't sound that close," Fyodor countered as the two watched the figures emerge from the mists.
It was Fyodor who realised something was wrong first. The figures were too tall, and too many were emerging from the mist.
"Oh khekk..."
Alexei and Demitri had almost returned to Anatoly and Piotr when they heard the telltale crack of lasgun fire. However it was not coming from the trenches, the firing was coming from the ridge behind them. As Alexei tuned into Georgi's frequency he could hear the heavy stubber opening up.
"Georgi, what by Saint Nadalya's tits is going on back there?" for a moment all he got back was the sound of Georgi shouting curses and laughing as he continued firing.
"Georgi, report dammit!" Georgi continued laughing in his ear as the stubber fire continued, the telltale thud of the Chimeras' autocannons and what sounded like a large explosion echoed to him. What in the Emperor's name was going on?
"Anyone on this frequency, report in!" he heard the excited voice of one of Georgi's loaders, Georgi himself still laughing and shouting curses.
"Farg, don't let that be what I think it is," Eloni said to himself as he counted. So far he'd identified about fifty blobs, fifty blobs that simply could not be Karelov and the first wave. The Vostroyans were a bit strange but Eloni was looking at xenos, there could be no doubt, no human looked like what he was seeing.
"Hey, sergeant, take a look at this," Eloni said, leaning out of the way so the target finder was clearly visible. The Vostroyan peered at the screen, unsure what he was seeing at first, but as realization dawned his face became granite.
"Clever khekkers, wonder how Alexei missed them?" Graf murmured as he studied the screen.
"Important thing is we're headed right for them, and I'm fairly sure we can't do a repeat performance of last time."
"Then we do it the old fashioned way," Graf replied, that oily smirk from before returning.
"Which is?" Eloni asked, not at all certain as to the Vostroyan's meaning.
"We run them over and shoot any that resist or run, the ever reliable Guard tactic. Surely you Gurends know it?"
"Oh yes, it's the main reason why my company now consists of two vehicles," Eloni replied.
Graf laughed and turned to address the passenger compartment.
"Smirna, prepare for glory, children! Shatoushkaamy!" the sound of bayonets being drawn and affixed to shouts of "Ouuurrraaahhh!" filled the vehicle. "We shall soon show these xenos what happens to those that think they can outsmart Papa Alexei."
Eloni didn't reply, he was too busy trying to identify potential trouble makers.
"Two, this is One. Confirm hostiles present at DZ. We're rolling in hot, over."
"Roger that, One. Formation?"
"Line, keep a distance of twenty metres my left. All targets between ridgeline of Hill 113 and shoreline are to be assumed hostile. We'll let the grunts out after we're clear of the soup, fire on my lead, how copy?"
"Affirmative. Any priority targets, One?"
"Confirmed, three targets with possible AT ability, as ever, keep your eyes peeled, Two. Out." Eloni switched to internal vox as he continued scanning. "Alright boys, look alive. Targets just north of our DZ, Tarriman you're cleared to engage anything below the ridgeline. Jakers, if anything gets in our way run it over, let's push this crate, lads."
The Chimera lurched forward as Jakers pushed the throttle, the vibrations from the engine causing loose gear to rattle.
Okay, here we go, Eloni thought as he brought the autocannons to bear on his first target. He'd have to make his shots count; Tarriman wouldn't be able to target anything until they were clear of the water due to the bow wave washing over the hull. He heard Graf leading what he assumed was a prayer. Even if it wasn't in Low Gothic, the tone was all too familiar.
Emperor watch over us, we fragile mortals who fight in Your name. We petty things that struggle against the dark, guided by Your light. Let me see the high spires of Therit Prime again, and if not, then let me die well, taking as many of those farging things with me as I can.
Ave Imperator.
"Estimate two minutes until we make contact, sergeant," Eloni called back to the passenger compartment.
"Very good, corporal. The Emperor protects."
"The Emperor protects," Eloni echoed, hoping the old adage was true. A moment later he noticed an odd reading on the target finder, an odd line of yellow that disappeared almost as soon as it appeared. He realized it was lasrifle fire. One of the further away blobs fell over, some of the other blobs dispering as yet more lasrifle fire flickered towards them. Soon a number of small glowing blobs moving at great speed joined the lasfire. From the looks of it someone had noticed the xenos, someone with a large calibre infantry weapon.
I suppose that's my cue, Eloni though as he turned to Gunny's frequency.
"Two, looks like the party has started without us, hostiles have been engaged by first wave. Let's get stuck in before they eat all the pies, over."
"Roger that, One. Awaiting the word."
"Roger that, Two. You start from the left and we'll work our way towards the middle," Eloni replied. "Last to twenty kills forfeits their Amasec ration."
Fyodor was sighting on a tall Kroot when the autocannons opened up. He was quite shocked by the noise, which easily cut through the whine of lasfire, the chatter of the stubber and Georgi's almost worrying laughter. The heavy rounds churned up earth, mud and xeno without mercy. The xenos had already been surprised by the stubber team's fire, which had quickly suppressed the advancing party through the sheer rate of fire available to them. Now their attempts to flank and set up a crossfire on the stubber team was thrown into complete confusion as the Chimeras systematically eliminated any Kroot that had stayed in close proximity to each other. Fyodor had to stop, it was just too much to take in and he'd lost his target. He watched as the Chimeras emerged from the mist, fire wreathing the barrels of heavy bolter and autocannon, the flicker of lasfire coming forth from new figures advancing almost at a run.
"It's Graf! It's khekking Alyoshin and second wave!" Kremenchug shouted excitedly as he reloaded his carbine. It was a redundant statement, who else could it be? They'd been expected after all. For the stubber team, left all alone and suddenly attacked from behind, the Chimeras came as wrathful angels visiting vengeance upon the sinful.
The stubber team watched as the Kroot were cut down, some standing and trying desperately to defend themselves, those closest to second wave actually charging the advancing Vostroyans. Those few that could recognize the situation tried to run for the long grass and the swamplands, hoping to find sanctuary there.
"Cowards! They are running! Gun them down!" Georgi shouted, bringing the stubber to bear as Kremenchug and Novotsinev continued to pick off fleeing stragglers. It was here, as Kremenchug kneecapped a fleeing kroot that Fyodor realized that something was beeping in his ear.
"Da, Sergyent, Pryvat Fyodor Bondarchuk here, we are firing at a group of Kroot, they were trying to ambush us when the Chimeras came up behind them. They are fleeing Sergyent! We are cutting them down!" Alexei looked to Demitri, who shrugged his massive shoulders, a vague grin on his face.
"That's wonderful Pryvat, now get that fool Krutschko on this line right now!" Alexei waited impatiently as Georgi stopped firing and finally made a real report, the sound of the autocannons getting closer and more lasgun fire filling in for the now silent stubber.
"Sorry Alexei, we were firing at a xeno infiltration party, they were creeping up to us as the Chimeras were approaching. When I looked back to check on the Chimeras' progress I saw a number of the little radniks getting up and running for it. It was beautiful, Alexei, I wish you could have seen it. Forty or more of the things caught between us and the Chimeras-" Georgi laughed loudly into Alexei's ear.
Alexei was about to rip Georgi a new one when he heard the telltale beeping from the Company frequency. Flipping channels to the Company frequency he could hear Graf Alyoshin shouting orders to the newly arrived squads.
"Alexei? Are you still in one piece?"
"Da, I'm still here, seems you got a hot reception from the some radnik Xenos."
He heard Graf laugh and could picture the smile on his face.
"Ha, they tried to anyway, but we're mo-" Alexei heard the sound of a struggle for a few moments until Graf came back onto the line "-stay down you khekker... sorry Alexei, we're mopping them up now. Grimenko! Make sure these bastards are down and dead before you pass them by! What do you think you have a bayonet for, uh? So what's the plan?"
"First tank is gone, we're clearing the trenches, leave a squad with the Cheveks and move up to us. After that we're playing it by ear." He heard Graf laugh.
"As we always do, eh?"
Alexei smiled at that.
"Da, as always."
Alexei returned to Georgi's frequency and verbally ripped him a new one for not alerting Alexei, as well as for not spotting the Xenos sooner. Damn it, had it not been for the Chimeras Alexei would have found himself entirely surrounded and without one of his key teams. He'd need that team all too soon. He made his way back to the first junction and looked to his squad.
"Okay, stack up on me, Viki, you and Troska are going to be watching the rear, remember the rest of the company is moving up to join us, so watch your fire and make sure your target is a xeno before you pull the trigger, eh?"
The two tank killers nodded.
"Puyotnam Sergyent" Viki said, still winded after lugging his RPG all the way from the ridgeline. Alexei gave him a proud nod, he was doing well so far, he and Troska had promise yet. They may even earn their beards this night if there were enough Xeno tanks about.
He moved up the zigzagging trench with Demitri right behind him, Anatoly, Piotr, Mischa and the tank killing duo following suit. Alexei could see the mortar fire starting to land on the far crest, it was starting outstrip his advance. That could be problematic but at least he wasn't going out like Leftenyant Tokarev; killed by friendly fire called onto his own position by mistake.
Rounding a corner he got the fright of his life when he found a Tau fire warrior not three feet from him.