Hug-Rab Git-stomp sneered out at the ruined city as his trukk transport sped along the ruined roads. The city that Hug-Rab had attacked was known to the local populace as New Lettucin, but to Hug-Rab it was just another nameless stomping ground for him to further his goals and show off his combat prowess. The only reason the infamous warboss had come to this city in the first place was to weed out the last remnants of the human company stationed here and link up with the Big Mek known as Bogrok da sparky in the settlement north of here. The company in New Lettucin however had managed to stave off countless Ork advances in the past, but now that Hug-Rab was actually here he couldn't believe that they had survived one of the past engagements. There was little to no challenge in the assault against the first platoon he and his retinue had come across, none of his troupe had been killed and he was now driving deeper and deeper into the city.
The sounds of battle that had filled the air not two minutes earlier had now ceased, albeit for a couple of sporadic bursts somewhere within the city limits. Hug-Rab glared and turned to the front of the trukk.
"Oi! Kutrag!" His booming voice was easily audible over the ridiculously loud engine of the vehicle.
"Yes boss?" Kutrag, his right hand Nob replied.
"Wot gives? Where's da fightin at?"
"I dunno, Boss. Maybe the oomies all dead."
"If dat bunch of grots are anyfin to go by I'd say dey were, boss." Morgob said, his power klaw cutting the air around him.
"Dey'd better not be!" Hug-Rab roared, "I'm not impressed!"
"Boss!" The trukk's driver suddenly yelled out, "oomies!"
Hug-Rab's eyes lit up and the mechanical joints in his neck armour clicked and whirred as he turned to look over the front of the trukk. Thirty metres ahead of them were indeed a group of four or so Imperial Guardsmen all spread out and moving briskly across the street. They looked filthy and their uniforms were covered in blood, they were obviously retreating from an attack.
"Run e'm down!" Hug-Rab yelled as he quickly pushed to the front of the trukk, the vehicle's suspension crying out and adjusting as he moved.
Hug-Rab saw the human's ahead start turning their heads towards the noise of the trukk, and immediately after, they started to run away.
"Har har har! Kill them all!" Hug-Rab started talking in the radio system built into his armour, "To the centre of town boyz! We found da Imperial guard!"
"ORKS!"
The cry that echoed down the street caused Nathaniel look up from the wounded man he was helping across the street and made his eyes drop. He recognised several of the men from his squad who had remained behind at their original position, as well as Luciano who he had sent to get them, running from the end of the street towards him, the loud throaty sounds of a trukk engine not far behind them.
"Deffensive positions!" Nathaniel yelled as loud as he could. The men around him mobilised immediately, either running to the sides of the street to make use of the cover available or hurrying the wounded into the nearest building.
Nathaniel carried the injured man who had been burnt in the bombing run a couple of days previous into the building ahead of him and handed him off to another Guardsman within.
"Sergeant Hersem." A weak voice spoke out, Nathaniel turned and saw the withered form of Sergeant Debra Keeli sat up against the wall. He crouched down next to her.
"I can fight." She said through gritted teeth, "Give me a weapon and help me up."
Debra's voice shook when she spoke, and she did so through gritted teeth. Nathaniel shook his head and handed her his laspistol and a grenade.
"Hold this room." He ordered, "These wounded must not fall into the cruel hands of the Orks." Nathaniel put pressure on the hand that Debra took the grenade with, "They must not."
Debra looked into Nathaniel's eyes and realised what he meant, she nodded and reluctantly relaxed back against the wall.
Nathaniel hurried out of the building and back out onto the street, there were dozens of men lining the buildings on the opposite side of the street to those he housed the wounded in and a couple in the CP building. Bryant and Matthews from second squad had taken up the heavy bolter position that was situated on the first floor window of the CP, the large weapon arced out to face the incoming Trukk.
"Where's Arashi?!" Nathaniel yelled out.
"I'm in the CP, Sergeant!" Arashi's voice replied.
Nathaniel glanced up the street and saw that his men were no more than twenty metres from his position now and further back down the street he spotted the Trukk racing after them. His eyes widened as he saw the humungous form of the armoured warboss, towering above the Nobz who rode with him. Nathaniel unholstered the bolt pistol that the Commissar had given him and gripped it tightly.
"Hold this street!" He yelled out to all who could hear him, "Don't fire until the vehicle is upon us! For the Emperor!"
"For the Emperor!" The men replied in unison.
Nathaniel poked his head out of cover and observed his men coming towards them. He recognised Trevor Boros and Eli Coldby whom had only just been let out of the CP that day. Trevor's face was covered in blood emanating from a deep cut in his forehead and his uniform was severely battered and bloody alike. The five men coming towards them were all similarly injured and sprinted clutching their rifles. The Trukk suddenly sped up gaining ground on the men and Nathaniel realised that the Orks had been toying with these men so that they would lead them right to the rest of the Guard forces.
"Emperor protect us." Nathaniel muttered as he clicked off the safety on the large pistol.
Suddenly a burst of clunky sounding gunfire split the eerie quiet of the street as the Warboss started firing his weapon with one hand at the men ahead. The shots were for the most part inaccurate but several met their mark. A chunky bullet ripped through the side of Luciano's head and caused a large portion of his skull to spill over the street, he dropped without so much as a whimper, another bullet striking Trevor in the back, he fell and was quickly run over by the incoming Trukk. The rest of the Guardsmen were ten metres from the CP building now and were crying out for help, Nathaniel could wait no longer.
"Light them up! Fire! Fire! Fire!"
The Heavy bolter in the CP opened at the trukk, high velocity bolter rounds tearing into the side of the vehicle and striking one of the Orks inside. The large Ork Nob fell off the back of the Trukk with a yelp and slammed into the broken concrete. The rest of the Guardsmen all revealed themselves and opened fire at the Trukk as well, las rounds pinging off of the metallic plates and striking those inside with little effect.
The Warboss roared out in defiance and ordered his driver to keep going while still firing his primitive weapon out at the Guardsmen around him. The remaining Guardsmen whom the Trukk
"Take it down!" Nathaniel roared over the gunfire, the heavy bolt pistol in his hands making his arm shudder with every shot he loosed off. The Trukk quickly sped through the street and out of the Guard's killing zone. Nathaniel looked into the back of the Trukk and saw that two of the Nobz within were slumped against the side of the transport and were bleeding profusely. The Warboss looked back and raised his claw before letting out a rage filled roar.
"Emperor hold us, they're coming back!" Eli cried out, and sure enough he was right. The Trukk skidded around and began to speed backtowards them.
"Prepare for close assault!" Nathaniel yelled, not taking his eyes off of the monster in the back of the Trukk, "Arashi be ready!"
"Aye Sergeant!" Arashi's voice came back.
The two remaining Nobz and the massive Warboss had now moved to the back of the Trukk, the Warboss yelling orders and pointing towards the company CP. The Trukk suddenly turned and began driving straight towards the front of the CP, where half a dozen men including Arashi and Greghor were positioned.
"Get back!" Nathaniel yelled desperately, "Get away from the front-" His cries were interrupted as the Warboss and the two Nobz jumped from the back of the Trukk, landing just across the street from Nathaniel. The Trukk carried on and slammed straight into the front of the CP, caving in the battle weakened wall and crushing several of the men within.
The Warboss roared out and let loose a burst from his shoota into the window where their heavy bolter turret was set up. The two guardsmen manning it quickly jumped away from the window and took cover, which was enough time for the Warboss to fire yet another burst but this time at his own Trukk. Nathaniel barely had enough time to turn away before the fuel canisters hanging below the trukk exploded in a torrent of bright flames. He cringed as he saw a second explosion go off within the building, signifying Arashi's flamer canister doing the same thing.
The entire front of the building was in flames, the fire lighting the maddened eyes of the hulking monster in front of him.
"The Commissar is in there!" One of the Guardsmen next to Nathaniel cried out.
"Worry about what is in front of you, private!" Nathaniel leveled his bolt pistol towards the warboss and fired a round at the creature's head. The bolt round struck the side of the Warboss' chinguard and exploded, causing the beast to stumble slightly to the side. It turned to face Nathaniel and bared its teeth at him.
"Fire! Kill them all!" Nathaniel roared as he began to loose off more shots. The remaining Guardsmen around him also opened fire on the Orks, their las-rounds doing little damage. The two Nobz charged off into separate groups of Guardsmen, their large axes swinging down in horrendously quick arcs, whereas the Warboss continued to stare at Nathaniel.
"Foight me oomie!" It bellowed before charging towards Nathaniel's position. It took every ounce of Nathaniel's bravery and willpower to stand his ground. He pumped round after round towards the incoming Warboss. The men around him seemed to have been inspired by his bravery, for they too stood their ground, firing their rifles and screaming obscenities at the xenos beast.
Nathaniel drew his chainsword a moment before the Warboss made contact with him and his men. The nearest Guardsman to the Warboss was sent flying backwards, blood streaming from his mouth and nose, slamming promptly into the wall behind him. The next two attempted to stick the beast with their bayonets, the blades made a clanging noise as they impacted the infernal mechanical armour that protected the warboss. The boss turned and swung his claw in a downwards arc, the two heated prongs atop it digging down into one of his men's ribcage and coming out the other side.
"Aim for its head!" Nathaniel ordered as he fired his pistol, the round yet again striking the creature's jaw guard.
"So he's your boss, ay?" The Warboss asked the impaled Guardsman before swinging the man into the Guardsman next to him. It was down to just Nathaniel, Solomon and a man from second squad now. The rest of the forces were engaged in combat with the other Nobz or had been entrapped within the ablaze CP building. Nathaniel hazarded a glance over at the other fights and saw that one of the Nobz was swinging at the quickly retreating Guardsmen around it, whereas the other Nob had Guardsmen jumping on its back in an attempt to overwhelm it. He wished them the Emperor's blessing, but he feared he would not live to see his wish delivered.
The Warboss advanced slowly towards him and his two men, the armour whining and clanking, his footsteps sending small tremours through the floor.
"I only need you, oomie." The Warboss said looking Nathaniel dead in the eyes.
"Well you have us too, beast." Solomon stepped in front of Nathaniel, glaring at the Warboss.
The Warboss laughed and a second later aimed its shoota and loosed off a burst into Solomon. The radioman shuddered and fell backwards. The Guardsman from second squad turned and began to run, the Warboss gunned him down as well, stopping just in front of Nathaniel.
"Now den." The Ork sneered down at Nathaniel; "Put up yer sword and give me the foight I've been lookin for!"
Nathaniel looked down at the chainsword that he held in a vice like grip with his left hand. The weapon was still stained with the blood of the Orks he had killed around second squad's position and the teeth looked sharp as ever. Yet no matter how sharp they might seem, they had no hope of cutting through the Warboss' infernally thick armour. He imagined how many lives of his fellow Guardsmen this beast had taken in its lifetime, how many massacares it had committed against the civilian population in the early days of the war and what level of mercy it had shown them.
Nathaniel clenched his hands around each the bolt pistol and his chainsword, then positioned himself in the standard Imperial guardsman's defensive stance.
The Warboss chuckled and his eyes glared down at Nathaniel.
"I'd ask you your name, oomie, but I just don't care."
And with that, Nathaniel fired his pistol at point blank range, the shot detonating into the armour, barely leaving a scratch. The Warboss surged forwards and sent Nathaniel sprawling backwards.
"They call me, Hug-Rab Gitstomp." The Warboss advanced towards Nathaniel, "Wanna see why?"
Nathaniel's eyes widened as the Warboss raised its left leg and went to stamp on him. He rolled quickly out of the way, feeling the reverberation in the ground as the freakishly heavy foot came stomping down where he had been lying moments before.
Nathaniel rolled to the side once again and got up. He once more stood in a defensive stance and waited. The Warboss moved forward and swung its enormous power claw in a downwards arc. Nathaniel stepped back and as the power claw lowered, he swung his chainsword towards the Warboss' head, which had lowered with his strike. The chainsword clipped the top of its head and the teeth tore several chunks from the beast's scalp.
"Agh!" The Warboss bellowed as he stepped backwards away from Nathaniel. It snarled at Nathaniel, its eyes full of hatred. Nathaniel gave the beast a contemptuous smile and revved his chainsword.
"Roight." The Warboss stood to its full height, "Enuff muckin about, you'z a dead'un oomie." The beast charged forwards once again. Nathaniel began to back away but the beast slammed into him with horrific speed, sending Nathaniel once again sprawling backwards landing in front of the door to the building where they housed the wounded.
His head was spinning as he stared up at the sky. His nose was broken; he could feel blood seeping from it as it ran down his face. He pushed himself up and immediately regretted it as the power claw came zooming down towards him, he barely managed to arc his head back away from the claws, only to catch the brunt force of the wrist section of it against his chest. He slammed against the floor and immediately spluttered out a goblet of blood from his mouth. He tried to move but felt a sickening sharpness in his chest, no doubt several of his ribs had been shattered with that blow. He forced his head to look over at the Warboss who now stood in front of him.
"Lemme show you why they call me Git-stomp!" The warboss cackled, it once again began to raise its foot up. Nathaniel braced himself and began to shake uncontrollably. This was it. This is how it ended.
The Warboss slammed its foot down onto his right leg, the pain was excruciating. Nathaniel screamed out in pain as the Warboss twisted its foot while it was planted on top of his now ruined leg. The Warboss pressed its foot down more as it leant down to Nathaniel's level. Its face was inches from Nathaniel's own bloody visage and it bellowed a roar in his face.
"Emperor, deliver me…" Nathaniel whimpered as he began to pass out. But the sudden cry of pain from the Warboss snapped him back to the present. He looked and saw the Warboss had sustained a las-shot to the eye and had arced itself away from Nathaniel, and that's when he spotted it. The Warboss' armour had a hole in the side of it with evident plasma burns surrounding it. The beast must have sustained it in the fight against first squad, as they were the only squad who had had a functioning plasma gun in the whole company aside from the command squad.
"Sergeant Hersem!" He heard Keeli's voice but paid her no heed. With the last of his strength, Nathaniel Hersem grabbed Yoren's bolt pistol from the ground and forced himself up with the other arm. The Warboss that towered over him was still too busy trying to tend to its eye and roaring obscenities to notice Nathaniel dragging himself towards it.
"Nathaniel!" Keeli's voice came again. Nathaniel threw himself to lie on his side so he could get the best angle on the vulnerable part of the armour.
He fired. The shot pinged into the armour surrounding the hole and detonated, causing the Warboss to be buffeted a bit. Nathaniel cringed in fear and fired again, and again. This time one of the shots blew away part of the burnt armour, opening up a larger weak point. Hug-Rab Gitstomp turned just in time to see through his one good eye, Nathaniel fire one last shot. The round ripped into the hardy Ork's flesh and detonated within.
The Warboss screamed out in pain as a huge portion of flesh exploded into a torrent of gore, leaking from the hole in its armour. The Warboss forced itself to stay upwards and cried out in agony. More las-rounds from Keeli distracted the Warboss and in doing so caused it to fall over onto its back.
Nathaniel wasted no time. He dragged himself towards the now prone Warboss, loosely holding his chainsword. He reached the fallen Ork and revved his sword. The Warboss' head turned and it roared in denial as Nathaniel plunged the chainsword into the creature's wound. The sword tore hungrily at the vulnerable insides of the Ork, sending torrents of blood spraying out at Nathaniel. The Sergeant screamed through the pain and held the activation rune of the sword so hard that he feared it would break. The Warboss continued crying out and convulsing for another ten seconds before finally letting itself stop. The beast's head fell back and remained silent. Nathaniel's chainsword was now jammed inside the Warboss, he let go of it and rolled onto his back, exhausted. The adrenaline was wearing off and the pain he felt in his ruined leg and torso was returning. He couldn't quite believe it. He had just killed the hulking monster that had towered over him moments before. He forced his head to the side to look across the street and just barely managed to smile when he saw the other two large Orks had also been taken down, though many of his own men had gone down with them. The survivors were jabbing their bayonets into the back of the creature's skulls.
Nathaniel heard shuffling coming from inside the building next to him and when he turned to face the noise he saw Debra Keeli crawling towards him; wincing each time she pulled herself closer. Nathaniel rolled his head back to look up at the sky once more. The murky grey clouds were moving quickly across and out of his view. How fitting, he thought to himself. He heard the shuffles of Keeli's approach coming closer and closer until she finally got to him. She lifted Nathaniel's head and rested it on her leg.
"Sergeant?" Keeli's bandaged face appeared in front of Nathaniel's, "Nathaniel, can you hear me?"
Nathaniel tried to reply but could only muster a splutter of blood, causing him to wince in pain.
Suddenly gunshots from down the street shattered the eerie silence that had taken hold over their position. Nathaniel forced himself to look in the direction of the shots and saw dozens of Orks advancing towards them. Most were sprinting and firing odd shots with their stubby pistols albeit a few who were laying down streams of gunfire with their fat shoota guns.
"Sergeant-" Debra's voice trailed off. Their position had less than ten Guardsmen left and many of those including Nathaniel were injured. The men on the other side of the street to him were yelling and moving backwards.
"You lot!" Debra's frail voice cracked as she yelled, "Defend the injured!"
"Aye Sergeant!" One of the Guardsmen ran over to her and Nathaniel.
"Good to see you're still alive and kicking, Hemm." Debra coughed, "Get Sergeant Nathaniel inside."
"Right away." Hemm leant down and grabbed Nathaniel's shoulders but quickly let go as an explosion erupted amongst the Ork ranks. Dozens of Orks were obliterated in a second and were sent flying in different directions. A stream of heavy bolter fire followed the initial explosion and tore apart more infantry, causing the remaining Orks to quickly dive into the nearby buildings that they had been running past.
"What?" Nathaniel wheezed. Debra let out a gasp.
"Nathaniel! The emperor smiles upon us this day!"
"Wha?" Nathaniel turned his head to face up at her.
"Hemm, get him out of the street." Debra's muffled voice was full of joy and as Hemm turned Nathaniel around he saw why.
Driving quickly down the street was a battered Leman Russ battle tank, surrounding it were dozens of sprinting Guardsmen, some stopping to set up heavy weapon emplacements. Several Guardsmen were sitting on the Leman Russ, Nathaniel recognised the long assumed to be dead Sergeant Quinn and several members of Vern's team that he had taken to Pirpryt.
"H-He did it. Vern did it." Nathaniel fell limp with relief and allowed Hemm to drag him out of the street and into the building that housed the injured. Hemm lowered Nathaniel down to prop him against the wall and then quickly ran back outside to drag Keeli back in. He put the other Sergeant next to Nathaniel before returning to the door to await the reinforcements. Nathaniel watched as the Leman Russ stopped outside his building, letting off another shot with its battle cannon which sent reverberations through the building, dust falling out of the ceiling.
"Bloody good to see you lot!" Hemm called out happily. Nathaniel saw one of the Guardsmen on the tank jump off, the others assisting one of their own down from the tank as he did so.
"Sergeant Quinn." Hemm shook the man's hand, "Back from the dead, sir?"
"I'm too good looking to die, private." Quinn winked at him before proceeding through into the building, "Where's Commissar Yoren?"
"Dead, sir." Hemm grimaced, "He was inside the CP which is now aflame with a bullet in his stomach."
"Then who is in charge here?"
"He named, Sergeant Hersem leader." Hemm pointed the Nathaniel, "He lead the defenses here and lead us to save members of second squad."
Quinn turned and looked down at Nathaniel. He knelt down to his level.
"Long time no see, Nathaniel." He extended out his arm, Nathaniel attempted to lift his own to return the gesture but had not the strength. Quinn retracted his arm and gave Nathaniel's ruined leg a pained look.
"Quinn." Nathaniel spluttered, "Wh-where's Vern?"
The other Guardsmen who had ridden upon the Leman Russ entered the room, Nathaniel recognised Dab and Herax, the two of them were supporting Lyra who had bandages around her temple and left leg.
"Sergeant Vern is dead, sir." Dab said softly, lowering Lyra down to the ground "So's Urta and Mikey."
Quinn sighed and nodded.
"His last request was for me to bring the rest of our forces here to reinforce you lot."
Nathaniel smiled and winced again.
"Some timing."
Quinn grinned, stood up and turned to Dab and Herax.
"Get Gaius and then you lot wait here, I'll go find Hughes and make sure we purge the Xenos from the city for good."
"Aye Sergeant."
Nathaniel watched Quinn exit the building and cautiously advance out onto the street until he was out of sight. He leant his head back against the wall and groaned softly.
"We, we made it." Debra said.
"Yes." Nathaniel breathed, "But plenty of us did not."
And with that, Nathaniel finally allowed himself to sleep, not caring if he would ever wake again. His tired eyes closed and he allowed the still darkness to embrace him.
By the next day, the rest of the Ork forces had been repelled fully from the city. The Leman Russ had reaped a hefty bodycount and it was estimated no more than a dozen Orks escaped the city to tell the tale of their defeat. The new collection of stragglers whom had escaped Pirpryt had set about collecting the scores of dead from each position in the city, upon reaching the position that first squad had held they discovered two survivors, Sergeant Phelps and Private Dariel had been brought back to the centre of town in critical condition. Thankfully, when the CP had been set ablaze, Bryant and Matthews had abandoned their heavy bolter position at the front of the building and had gone to aid the Commissar. Unfortunately Yoren had already succumbed to his injuries and perished, though the two Guardsmen did manage to help Frastus escape the fiery building through one of the infirmary windows, where they had remained until the fire died down. Sergeant Hughes was shocked as Debra Keeli recalled how Nathaniel Hersem had taken down the Warboss in front of her building. Nathaniel had priority attention with both doc' Frastus and Hughes' personal medic, though the two could not save his ruined leg they did treat it so a prosthetic could be fitted.
Phelps squinted at Nathaniel's unconscious form through his one good eye. The other side of his face was completely enveloped in a heavy set of bandages as was his left hand and wrist. He observed all of the wounded in the room with him, recognizing all of the now aged and withered looking faces. Next to Nathaniel was Debra Keeli, who had now taken off her bandages revealing burn damaged skin but nothing too horrific. Alongside himself was Dariel, still asleep after Frastus had performed surgery to seal up the terrible wounds he had sustained in the fight against the Nobz. But then he realised there was another young lad in the corner of the room who he didn't recognize, the Guardsman had a headcast on and a large portion of his right cheek was covered in stitches that would form a ghastly scar.
Phelps forced himself to stand and staggered over to the mystery Guardsman.
"You, lad." He said. The Guardsman slowly turned his head to face the Gunnery Sergeant, he then attempted to scrabble to his feet muttering, "Sorry Sergeant" but alas he could not stand.
Phelps crouched down and gently pushed the man so sit him back down.
"No need for protocol right now, lad." Phelps squinted at the man, still trying to recognise him, "Now here, private. Who are you?"
The Guardsman looked back at Phelps with a confused look.
"I-I'm Private Jericus Allster, Sergeant." He stammered, "Second squad."
"My word, there aren't many from second squad left." Phelps replied sympathetically.
"No." Jericus sniffed.
"Gunny." A weak voice from behind him said.
Phelps turned and saw Nathaniel pushing against the wall to sit himself up. Phelps hurried over and assisted the man.
"How are you doing, Sergeant?"
"Never better, sir." Nathaniel's voice was shaky. His face was pale and his eyes bloodshot.
"I've heard some wild stories of what you did in the battle." Phelps said, "You did your company proud, Sergeant."
"Nothing that any amongst us could do." Nathaniel said modestly.
"You avenged the death of every single Guardsmen who died under the orders of that monster Hug-Rab. You lead your men with valour and held your position until help arrived and what's more, you survived to tell the tale."
Nathaniel smiled weakly; Sergeant Keeli who had been listening nodded in agreement.
"But now what, Gunny?" Nathaniel asked, "We are still cut off from the rest of our forces."
"We got word no less than an hour ago that the assault against Naz-Grub spearheaded by the Lord general Blythe was a huge success. We hope to receive aid here soon, they'll get you out to a proper infirmary. We made it, lad."
Nathaniel looked into the aged Gunnery Sergeant's one eye before lowering his head in relief. In doing this, he saw the stump of his ruined leg and cringed.
"They'll be getting you a new one of those too." Phelps stood up as he spoke, "Those of us who still have two legs have work to do however."
"You do?" Nathaniel cocked his head.
"Aye, lad. Just because our Ork threat has been dealt with doesn't mean that the bastards whom Quinn and Hughes ran away from aren't still a threat. Still a job to be done."
Nathaniel nodded. "I wish I could be there to help, sir."
"Trust me, Hersem." Phelps rubbed the bandage covering his face, "You've done enough."
Phelps turned from the injured Sergeant and exited the building. He spotted Sergeants Quinn and Hughes stood talking with Private Hemm and Gaius next to the Leman Russ.
"Yes. Still a job to do." Phelps muttered with mirth.
Third company in its three month engagement within the city of New Lettucin had sustained nearly ninety five percent casualties. They were finally relieved when a splinter force from General Blythe's expansion force were dispatched to answer the calls for aid that had been received a month prior. On their way into New Lettucin they had discovered Sergeant Cyrus Stainton's specialist team hobbling through the wastes, they brought them back to New Lettucin where Gunnery Sergeant Phelps named them all deserters. Cyrus was executed the following morning by the acting Commissar leading the relief force.
When the Ork scourge was finally eradicated from the planet by intervention of several companies from the Strike Eagles space marine chapter. The overall victory upon the planet was credited to the Astartes who fought and died there, the Imperial Guard's contribution widely overlooked. But as normality resumed, the city of New Lettucin began to rebuild and as they did, a shrine to the brave Guardsmen who laid down their lives for the defense of it was erected. A commemorative cemetery was set up in the courtyard near third squad's position and the CP building that had burned down in the fighting was rebuilt as an Imperial Guard outpost. The men and women of third company would be remembered within the small community within the town for generations to come.
Author's note
Thank you to everyone who stuck with this story and I am terribly sorry the ending took so long to be released, I just wanted to finish it how I envisioned from the start.
As stated in the description this was based on a few actual games of the tabletop game and a warboss was taken down by a few lucky rolls and some very lucky Guardsmen.
Thanks again!