-VI-
"Come in squad Tempes."
"Come in."
Vox stayed dead silent.
"No response sir." reported communications officer Zehrus.
Captain Quintus of Golema Doxia stood silent on his command throne.
Zehrus repeated the vox transmission again no to avail.
"They're cut off, my lord." concluded.
"Curses of the Warp" swore Quintus raising his head and looking ahead.
"Do not blaspheme lord Quintus." entered Chaplain Galieo into the command bridge.
"Apologies lord, but the Tempes squad are still missing after our last transmission." reported Quintus.
He continued when Chaplain gave no response, Chaplain's skull-mask hid all impressions "I would never believe a squad can disobey orders, let alone Julius."
"He is honourable and faithful. Why would he turn on the Chapter now?" asked Quintus his face puzzled with disappointment.
"Emperor delivers retribution in mysterious ways, Captain." quoted Chaplain and walked towards the front display to asset the current unit deployment.
Squad Tempes' tactical icon remained as yellow, signifying that the squad is missing.
"There it is sergeant." pointed out Decimus at the giant Imperial bastion of Wallfire and its defensive wall surrounding it for miles.
"We arrived just in time." said Aegon looking at the grim display ahead.
Ork fore-guard was attacking the Imperial defence line. Imperial guard of the 222nd Idagenia regulars was manning the forward position and gun bunkers, regulars of the 15th manned the bastion's main walls and its defensive artillery.
15th rained down long range artillery fire at the oncoming Orks and 222nd heavy weapon guns cut down stranglers at mid range. Orks were numerous but they were poorly equipped and less supported. Just the cannon fodder.
"Look sir." pointed Decimus at a distant grey cloud rising from the rubble of the city.
"Emperor bless thee." prayed Modius as they all realised what the giant cloud was.
It was the dust rising from the march of the Ork horde. Orks would number in their hundreds supported by armour and walkers.
"We must get to the bastion." said Julius.
Ork fore-guard was passing three giant bridges to assault the bastion's front defensive trenches and bunkers. The narrow bridges provided perfect kill zones for the 222nd manning the forward defences.
A fourth bridge was being assaulted by a flanking Ork group to the south, close to the Tempes' position.
The defenders of the south bridge was failing with every passing second.
"Sir, the Orks are trying to take the south bridge, if they have access to a clear bridge the bastion will be flanked." assessed Achagon with tactical acumen.
"Damnation, we must defend the bridge at all costs." ordered Julius.
A Leman Russ tank was firing on the oncoming Ork forces at the bastion side of the bridge. Guardsmen heavy weapon teams cut down Orks in droves that were crossing the bridge.
Few greenskins that made it through the south bridge were killed by the line of guardsmen laying down lasgun fire and flamer fire in disciplined fashion. The sandbag defences were holding the bastion side of the bridge for now but more Orks would mean definite failure of that defence.
Squad Tempes located at the Ork side of the bridge and moved towards to Orks to engage.
"Thin their numbers then we can pass the bridge and join the guardsmen in its defence." said Julius.
"Yes, my lord." responded the squad.
They came atop a machinery platform and took cover there for a minute. It was a deserted construction platform with giant cranes to carry construction materials.
Main Ork battalion came out of the streets and at least a thousand Ork boy started to charge towards the three bridge leading to 222nd regulars.
15th regulars laid down artillery fire towards the charging green mass and explosions flew high atop the horde killing dozens. Ork looted vehicles and poorly constructed buggies came behind the Ork horde moving slowly and firing their guns inaccurately in the general direction of the Wallfire bastion. Black painted Ork vehicles moved poorly and many of them stuck at the tank traps laid down by the 222nd a week before. As the Ork horde reached the bridges, sustained gunfire started pouring from the gun bunkers of the 222nd. 15th mortar units and bastion cannons started lopping shells on top of the Orks. Ork casualties didn't stem the tide's advance. Ork looted tanks fired on the guardsmen position, several direct hits on the line took out two gun bunkers and killed many guardsmen of the 222nd. 15th's Leman Russ division fired back on the looted tanks and their accompanying contraptions. Ork walkers came last from the ruin of the streets coming out of the dust cloud. Their shootas stayed silent as they lumbered towards the bridges.
"Orks are being reinforced." said Decimus.
Three black Ork trukks came in charging out of the streets shootas firing with inaccuracy towards the guardsmen defense line. They broke free of the main column and turned towards the fourth bridge, many Ork boyz followed their lead towards the 4th bridge and not a flanking movement took shape as more and more Orks divided from the over crowded main force and divert their direction. Thankfully Ork vehicles kept moving towards the Wallfire bastion and exchanged long range fire with the guardsmen artillery.
Ork trukks came to an abrupt stop as they realised that the road leading to the 4th bridge was littered with ruined building that toppled towards the road and many shell craters pocketed the road ahead. 222nd engineering units tried to ruin the road by blowing building towards the road and blowing important segments of the road a week before.
They also tried to topple the bridge itself first but the giant bridge had powerful support columns built to withstand even a Titan's massive weight.
When the guardsmen of the 4th bridge saw the flanking Orks, their Leman russ broke off and fires a shell towards the bridge's column. The giant shell exploded at the column and raised a great dust cloud. Julius saw that there was only a small minor crater left at the powerful support columns. Guardsmen must also saw it for they made no more attempts to fire at the columns again. Instead the Russ moved to its previous position to lay down cannon and heavy bolter fire at the Ork position.
"We can't get to the bridge in time sergeant." Decimus said as he saw that the Ork trukks came to a stop.
Julius could see that there was a commotion at the Ork trukks. Several Orks were shouting at each other for some reason. Julius decided that the passengers were tring to force the driver to ride through the dangerous terrain ahead and over the bridge but the driver was resisting. In one of the trukks a fight broke off and several passengers managed to kill the driver Ork, then one of them get onto the wheel and stepped on the gas. Trukk lurched forwards slipping some Orks down from the overcrowded back. Trukk sped violently as it reached the blown out road and hit one of the craters head on. It lost several wheels as the crater shattered its chasis and it went nose dive into the next crater hitting the giant hole front first. It spilled its passengers over the top and Orks flew around and crashed around. The improvised driver was certainly dead as the front of the trukk was completely ruined as well as its chasis. When the other Orks saw the immobilized and ruined trukk they started disembarking in numbers.
Several dozen Orks disembarked from the trukks and the delay allowed the other walking Ork boyz to catch up with their embarked kin.
The whole endeavour of the trukks provided precious time to squad Tempes as the got into position and prepared from the oncoming battle. They took position at the mechanical hill of the construction platform.
Guardsmen saw the Space Marines taking position at the wrong side of the bridge and thought that marines sure are brave. In reality Tempes had no choice but to dug in and defend.
As the Ork horde started charging Leman Russ started lobbing shells towards the Ork position. A lucky direct hit at the immobilized trukk blew it apart showering the Ork horde with shrapnel killing several.
"Tempes open fire." shouted Julius and bolters roared.
Ork heads exploded, arms blew from shoulders as the explosive bolt shells embedded and exploded in Ork flesh.
Achagon shot slowly, making sure that every shot took more than one Orks. He blew kneecaps and building columns. Orks stumbled on their fallen brethren as they toppled on each other running in a hurry. Columns caused ruined walls to fell down on Orks and trap them underneath. There was no way to kill this many Orks so he might as well disable or slow them down and let the Tempes do the killing.
Decimus stayed ready, checked his flamer and prayed a chanting of protection to the Emperor. "Guide us O Lord, Let thy flamer of righteousness burn their soul as meus burn their flesh." He rest his flamer to his forehead and bowed as the bolter fire sang their wraith around him.
"Tempes use grenades." ordered Julius.
The squad lobbed their frag grenades towards the Ork mass killing a dozen. As the Ork boyz encounter heavy resistance at the construction complex they moved away from the bridge entrance and charged towards the marine position. Still many Orks tried to pass through the bridge and encounter the stiff resistance of the guardsmen. Bayonets and lasfire stopped the Ork tide barely. Leman Russ took a great toll as it's heavy bolters rang loudly and ripping apart Ork flesh.
On the far side of the bridge Tempes squad held its own against the huge tide of Orks. More and more Orks poured in at the flanking movement as the main Ork force crashed at the Wallfire's fore defence.
The 222nd's position of bunkers and trenches was nearly overrun and Ork walkers were now in firing range, they were blasting their shootas and rokkits at the guard positions to cause mayhem. Many Ork vehicles were now disabled but they managed to keep back the artillery forces and heavily damaged the bastion's walls. 222nd came to close quarter fighting with the Orks as the tide kept pouring in.
As more Orks move close in towards the Tempes' position more Orks fell to the precision fire of bolters. Squad was well positioned over the ridge and the dangerous terrain around the hill caused hazard for the overcrowded and hurrying Ork horde. Orks were firing their their sluggas and shoving each other in a hurry to reach the close bombat. Many Orks fell to their deaths over the ledge as their kin pushed them aside and many were trampled underfoot.
Achagon shot one Ork through the kneecap leveling it to the ground. Three more Orks came down trampling over him. The following horde didn't break pace and ran over their fallen kin, killing and maiming them.
Julius fired his bolt pistol at a near greenskin and blew his face out.
Aegon gave out a burst of fire that toppled several Orks down maimed.
The guardsmen of the 4th bridge was breaking as more and more Orks made it through the bridge.
"We can't stop them sergeant, they're taking the bridge." shouted Achagon.
Julius looked around searching for an answer as the Orks still assault their position. He saw the great crane that is holding one of the construction equipment.
"The beasts will outlast our ammo." claimed Aegon.
"There is just too many of them." said Herkon.
"By the Emperor's will we shall triumph" declared Modius proud and certain.
"Aye, if we can't stop them crossing the bridge it would be for nothing." said Decimus.
"Aegon, I have an idea." said Julius.
"Yes ,lord?" asked Aegon.
"See that crane? It lifts the heaviest of the equipment, if we crash it to the bridge'S main support column we could dent it enough to cause it collapse under its own weight." explained Julius.
"Understood." said Aegon and broke off, climbing the ladder into the command console of the gargantuan crane. He stopped mid climb and threw his bolt cartridges down.
"You need it more than me." he said and kept climbing the long ladder.
Brother Taarus gathered the cartridges and distributed amongst the marines.
Achagon double tapped an Ork up close blowing out his skull. He shot two more Orks that clamper upwards.
Rest of the squad was laying down fire but Ork numbers had reached their position.
"Decimus scorch the xenos." shouted Julius.
Decimus rose from cover and burned a dozen Orks charging towards their position.
"Burn." he declared as bright prometheum flew forth in a blazing arc.
Construction platform was huge and the Ork numbers was able to cover the whole sides while the squad covered only one approach.
"Spread to the right, Hekeran, Taarus, Modius. Move it." ordered Julius.
Three marines along with Julius changed position over the right flank and started killing Orks that were coming from the sides.
Achagon's precise fire and Decimus' flamer thinned the left flank while Duros, Herkon, Rufus laid down supporting fire with their bolters.
"Running dry." declared Duros as he was down to last two cartridges.
"Same here." said Herkon.
Rufus punched one of the Ork that too close then fired a burst onto his chest. "Damned Xenos filth" he said through his vox grill.
Aegon was at the command console and took a moment to learn how to operate this thing. It had many controls but he learned how to move it fairly easy.
He pulled and pushed the levels in opposite directions and the gigantic crane moved. Construction horns roared as the crane moved.
Aegon turned the crave and slammed the giant equipment loadout into the main column. A huge noise blew as tons of equipment crashed into the column.
The bridge tremored but didn't give in.
"Again." voxed Julius.
"Aye." voxed Aegon back.
Modius burst another column to scorch the Orks.
Duros stabbed one Ork with his combat knife and burst fired on another one.
Modius also dispatched an Ork with his combat knife while Achagon shot one Ork through the chest and sent him tumbling downwards taking five Orks back down the hill with him.
Orks were now at the platform and Julius ordered close combat at his squad although it was mostly just to notify them.
Aegon cycles the crane left then charged right once more to slam the equipment again. Mid path the equipment carrier gave in and dozens of construction machinery and tools dropped down into the giant canyon. The weight of the crane was lost.
"Take something else, Aegon we don't have much time." said Julius.
Aegon scoured around and found a giant container that is capable of carrying a dozen tanks. He used the crane to lift up the giant container but the crane creaked under the immense weight of it. As the crane risen in air, Aegon felt that the crane was giving in. It was too heavy and it would rip the crane from it's platform.
He took the risk and raised it high. Then he crashed it into the column and a violent stony explosion shook the bridge. Orks fell down as the bridge gave in under its immense weight and bent sideways. The column shattered and the bridge fell into the giant man-made canyon.
Cheers of the guardsmen was heard as the bridge went down and the Orks stood helpless on the other side of the bridge, many falling down to their deaths as their brethren kept pushing from behind, not realised their path was cut. As the Ork rush ended a confidence and hope was restored to the Imperials. Leman Russ gave supporting fire to the marine position and blew a dozen Orks with its shells. Guardsmen couldn't help the marines as their weapons would be ineffective at this range.
"Good job, Aegon" cheered Julius but his cheer was short lived as the base of the crane groaned and then gave up. Giant crane tore from its platform under the immense weight of the container and fell towards the canyon. Aegon had no time to get off the crane, Julius watched the whole spectacle in horror as Aegon went down with the crane.
"Aegon!" he shouted then voxed, but no reply came.
"Our duty only ends in death." mourned Decimus and stab an Ork in the eye and blocked another choppa with the body of the bolter.
"Kill them all, purge them, pierce their soul." screamed Julius mad with war fever.
His chainsword roared as it decapitated one Ork and chewed out another's shoulder. His shot an Ork in the chest three times with his bolt pistol then kicked another one and sent him falling to his death.
Achagon shot two more Orks as they overrun their position. Decimus roared his flamer but several Orks ran at him even though their flesh caught fire.
Duros shot one Ork with burst fire then shouldered another back to give himself some space.
Several Orks launched at Taarus and knock him down. He kicked one in the teeth and broke his skull, his bolter butt hit another in the eye and burst it. Orks started veiling at him with their choppas but wasn't manage to get past his power armour. He grabbed one of the Orks and threw him over. Then grabbed hilt of a choppa and wrestled it from the Orks hand to embed in back into it's owner's head.
Modius was on one knee trying to block the choppas with his greaves, shoulder pads and vambrace. Several Orks launched towards Achagon and he hit a wall breaking it.
They fell towards the other side, Achagon kept firing the whole time killing two.
Decimus was fighting a bitter combat with several Orks using his flamer and combat knife.
Time was running out for Tempes squad as Orks overwhelm them in great numbers. Julius swung his chainsword and tore through Ork flesh, then ripped a chest open with another swing.
Orks surrounded Decimus and Julius wasn't able to see him through the green mass of bodies. Ork war cried and slugga sounds filled around him as Orks surrounded his position.
He was trying to hold off at least seven Orks at back and only thing that is keeping him alive was his sacred power armour. His chainsword was nearly clogged with Ork flesh.
He also wasn't able to sight Achagon as he went through the wall with several Orks. A loud armour clank filled his ears, it wasn't a choppa hitting armour.
Julius turned to see Modius, bleeding from a wound in his chest. His breastplate was torn and he lost one shoulder pad.
"Hi, sergeant" said Modius sarcastically.
"Hold on brother, we will make it through as you said" Julius said parrying one Ork and shooting another in the face.
"About that reassignment sergeant, I don't thing you will need it after all." said Modius as he parried a choppa with his knife and kicking another Ork in the knee.
"Keep fighting brother, we will make it." said Julius occupied with several Orks attacking him.
"I didn't mean it brother, you know I didn't" Julius heard Modius faint noise on his back.
"I know brother just keep fighting, stand with me." he said without turning around but the weight of Modius wasn't on his back any more.
He risked a glance backwards and saw that Modius wasn't there any more, instead several greenskins hit his backpack with choppas.
Julius couldn't parry all of them. Choppas started raining on his chest and shoulders. Slugga rounds hit his backpack.
He raised his sword high "For the Emperor!" he shouted one last time and launched at the greenskins knocking several of them back.
He swung and chopped and parried. Endless choppas and fists hit him and he went down.
Land greeted him as greenskin kicked and chopped at him. He tasted blood. He kept fighting laying on the ground. His parries and dodges were in vain. Orks were too numerous to defeat.
"At least, the bastion will hold" he thought as he accepted that this is the end.