-XXXIX-
Morning started with an artillery barrage.
Several hundred rokkits and one-shot shells have been launched when the dawn was breaking.
"They were working hard at night." Achagon said taking cover in a dug-hole.
"And now we reap the consequences." Julius said covering in another.
"Artillery units respond." voxed in Ioras.
They had connected the combat vox frequencies to coordinate the combat.
"Matan Heka, sir, reporting in."
"Shakeed Tamir, loud and clear."
"Adir Ilan 7th, my lord."
Reported the remaining artillery forces. They had lost several artillery in the cluster when it was overran by Orks, and they haven't got a whole lot to begin with.
"Lieutenant Matan." said Ioras.
"Yes, my lord." came a reply over the roaring basilisk engine sound.
"Do you have the range?"
"No, we need to get in closer."
"Coordinate a counter barrage and cripple those rocket platforms." said Ioras.
Ork rokkit platforms were crude metallic launch-ways built over the night. Some had dozens of launch-tubes melded together and was filled with cone shaped rokkits.
They fired in a mess, some flying over the Red River while others plunged into it. Some didn't fire at all remaining in their tubes. Grots had to remove these and throw away.
Several dud rokkits decided to launch when the loader grot was in front of them and crushed their skulls launching directly into their face.
Some platforms were built faulty and their rokkits didn't even reach the Imperial side exploding on the Ork side. One unfortunate Ork group was obliterated when their barrage platform misfired and one rokkit landed in their ammo stash, creating a big boom and killing at least ten.
Despite all the short-comings the barrage was terrible for the Imperials. Hundreds of rokkits landed all over them, most exploding between the trenches. Some however found their mark and ripped apart the guardsmen in their hiding holes. Huge dust clouds rose as the trenches were bombarded.
Basilisks marched forward, 1st and 7th group rolled over the trenches and came in closer. They stopped just before the range of the rokkit barrage.
"Returning fire, take this greenskin scum!" shouted Division leader Matan Heka.
His group, Honour Above fired their first volleys. The sound of the basilisks were like thunder being unleashed.
7th group, Death Drop joined in the fire. Explosions erupted in the Ork side and several columns of dust rose.
"Adir, three clicks to the left, you're too off." voxed Lieutenant Matan.
"Yes, sir." replied Adir Ilan.
Matan's guardsmen heaved the heavy shell into the breach with the aid of a small lifter.
"Locked!" announced one of the loader guardsmen.
He waited for the other two Basilisks of Honour Above. When he received the confirmation he gave the order.
Artillery fired again rocking under his feet. He grabbed onto the railing as he looked through his binoculars.
When the shaking ended he sighted the Ork barrage platform they had destroyed.
Several platforms were in ruins and the Orks were running away from their broken weapons.
Death Drop fired as Adir gave the order and three thundering basilisk rounds flew over the Red River.
Explosions took out the platforms on the left before they had a chance to reload.
"Keep it up, Lieutenant." came in Ioras' voice over the vox.
"Yes, sir." replied Matan.
"Lord Ioras, shall we move forward and lay down fire?" came in Lieutenant Zeevka's voice.
"No Lieutenant, stay put." voxed Ioras.
Zeevka was not pleased. After so long fighting a retreating battle with the streets he finally had the chance of vengeance but instead his tank division was stuck waiting while the artillery traded blows.
"Damn this. I hate to be left out." he said.
"I'm content with it." said gunner Chava watching the horrible display of two artillery sides fighting off.
Imperial basilisks had laid down significant fire lobbing shells one after the other but the Orks were tenacious.
Their barrage weapons kept laying fire onto the Imperial trenches.
Naphtali infantry at the front trenches didn't had time to retreat so they hunkered down and waited for the death storm to pass.
"Keep your eye on the range-finder, I want us to be ready in case we got the order to move in." Zeevka told her.
"Aye, aye." she said putting her eye back onto the visor.
"How does it look?" asked Shumel their dependable loader.
"Bad. I pity the infantry when these things happen." replied Zeevka.
Vox crackled "Orders?" came in Sergeant Liorit's voice.
"Stay put Yoodan, but keep sharp." ordered Zeevka.
"Affirmative." replied Liorit back.
The 'Iron Yoodan' tank group led by Sergeant Liorit Aryeh was to their left while the other group, 'Arav Break' group led by the cocky hot-shot Zifor Yochan was to the right.
Zeevka had his group, 'Benet Strike' in the middle. His group of standard Leman Russ tanks were better suited for a frontal assault.
Iron Yoodan had two Exterminators and one Eradicator, Zeevka didn't see them suited to engage heavy armour.
Arav Break on the other hand had the Archer, the frakking glory-boy Archer.
The Vanquisher Leman Russ was designed to penetrate the heaviest armour in their own league. It's long range and strong firepower made it a nightmare for enemy armour and Zifor Yochan proved himself to be a superb tank commander. Which is why he was given the command of Archer. The tank was called Archer but the name became a synonym for Zifor himself over his service. Archer's hull sported the tank-kill marks they had. Thirty gear icons adorned the side of it's turret. On the battlefield where it's tank-eat-tank world, thirty was an epic number. He still rolled even after all these years and Zifor himself was a celebrity among the Naphtali.
Zeevka envied Zifor deep down in his heart, realising that he will never be as good as him.
His own tank 'Duty Unending' was an old but durable design. His second was 'Land Afar', a younger tank sporting a lascannon at its front. Land Afar was their own 'Archer' so to say. He was the one hitting the heavy targets in their group.
Zeevka liked to keep Liorit's group in reserve, they were kept in support laying fire and that maniac of a commander, Hadar was their attack dog. His Leman was an Eradicator fitted with a powerful Nova Cannon. Nova cannon's shells turned trenches of the enemy to their scorching tombs. Hadar himself took so much pleasure from the slaughter that he indeed dismounted from his turret and joined in on several infantry charges.
Zeevka was not even sure the man was sane anymore but sergeant Liorit used Hadar as her personal attack dog. Zeevka trusted Liorit well enough and depended on the Iron Yoodan so much that he trusted her to be their backup plan in case things get rough.
Iron Yoodan group was designed for urban combat, with rapid firing Exterminator Autocannons and a Eradicator Nova Cannon. They were the nightmare for the infantry hiding within the rubble.
Arav Break on the other hand with their famous Archer was a vehicular murder group. Archer himself was a thing by itself but the two rumbling behemoths, the 'Track Breaker' and 'Heaving Giant' was incomprehensible as well. The two standard Leman Russ tanks were old as warp. But they rumbled on beside Archer firing their turrets and their frontal lascannons. Zeevka had no idea how those two ancient 'relics' still fought on but he blamed that Chief Engineer Abalafi and his whelp Semdek for their continued existence.
If it wasn't for those two Lemans, the Archer would probably be dead by now. They formed a single unit, while Archer hunted the armour that posed a threat, Track Breaker and Heaving Giant laid the other elements low. They disabled tank hunters and light vehicles and even got into combat with heavy armour if the need rose.
Zeevka's mind wandered off to Hilaa.
"At least she wasn't at the front." he murmured to himself.
"What's that?" came out driver Kalam's voice.
"Nothing, just keep it steady." said Zeevka.
"Will do."
"Old man, are we to bombard those Orks or what?" Zifor's voice came through the vox.
Zeevka looked to his right and saw that Zifor was waiving a mocking hand to him.
"Mettavlav himlit." he cursed under his breath.
"Mind the words, sergeant." warned gunner Chava.
"Wh-" he started.
"Don't blaspheme against Him." said Chava looking at him with a frown.
"Fine, sorry." said Zeevka accepting her religious reprimand.
Pleased with the outcome, Chava turned back to her visor.
"Load!" roared Adir as his basilisk lobbed the shell away.
His crew broke into motion, one releasing the back-hatch of the Earthshaker cannon. Another manning the lifter to lead the already readied shell into the breach.
Shell disappeared behind the locked hatch and the gun was ready once again to fire.
"High, ten!" ordered Adir and the Earthshaker's angle rose upwards.
"Fire!"
Shells flew over the chasm and onto the Ork barrage. An ammo depot exploded killing the fleeing Orks. Another battery to the left was blown by another shell delivered from second Basilisk of the Death Drop.
"This is Shaaked of the Long Due, we got one Griffon immobile here, requesting assistance." came Shaaked's voice over the vox.
Long Due Griffon group was stationed closer to the trenches, they were the ones that had stayed with the infantry the whole time while the other squads retreated to the cluster.
A whizzing voice came in through the vox, it's mechanical pitch was far from what considered human "This is Enginseer Nuzilliad, how bad is the damage?"
"It was a near miss, left tracks stopped moving when the rocket exploded right beside it. Crew evacuated an-" said Shaaked.
"You left the precious machine to enemy barrage?" whizzed Nuzilliad, if his voice conveyed any emotion it would be anger.
"Crew can't stand around while the bombardment goes on." said Shaaked.
Nuzilliad made a sound as if he was moaning or glooming over something.
"I will ease the machine's pain then." said Nuzilliad.
"You can't come while the barrage continues, if we can use a troj-" started Shaaked.
"We shall not risk more precious machines for the lacking skills of your men." said Nuzilliad and cut the link.
Enginseer and his clanking servitors started marching through the trenches towards the bombardment.
"Keep up or I will let the rust take you!" Whizzed Nuzilliad to his slower moving servitors.
"Yes, lord Nuzilliad." said the servitors in unison without any emotion.
A figure appeared from a nearby trench.
Nuzilliad used his Wrench-staff to push the figure out of his way.
Figure hit the wall and fell on his back.
"Oi, watch it mate!" squealed Semdek.
Nuzilliad didn't paid him any attention and kept moving.
"Lord Nuz-" realised Semdek and rose up.
He started running after them, his tools dangling about his heavy belt.
Clanking servitors blocked his path but he was insistent.
He found a gap and passed the first one.
"Lord!" he shouted.
Nuzilliad kept going.
He passed the second one and slammed onto the third.
Servitor didn't register the impact and kept walking.
"Wait!" Semdek shouted as Nuzilliad disappeared in a corner.
He tried to shoulder into the servitor but the dead machine was too strong for him to force his way through.
They had reached at the barrage range and rokkits landed over the trench walls, showering them with dirt.
His chance came when the servitor stumbled upon a piece of rock. He jumped, hitting the servitor on the flight.
Stumbling servitor was knocked and landed hard on the floor, it's face was covered with dirt but it didn't register any emotions. It got up and kept walking like business usual.
Semdek had already reached the Enginseer.
"Lord, I am coming with you. I heard the call on the vox." he said trying to keep up with the untiring Enginseer.
He got no response.
"Lord, Nuzilliad." he prompted.
"Junior Engineer Semdek, why did you slowed down my servitors?" Nuzilliad asked.
"I- I was trying to get to you." Semdek said.
"I am in need of no assistance in this moment, you are being a liability to my efforts." said Nuzilliad.
"Lord, I can be of assistance. Let me come." Semdek said.
"I am not hampering your efforts to come, in fact I have no care for your efforts." said Nuzilliad his robes flapping.
"Thank you Lord, you won't regret it." said Semdek realising that this response was the best one he would get from the Enginseer.
They came upon a trench slope that allowed them passage to the top side of the trenches. The famous no-man's land. Once above ground there was nothing to protect them from shrapnel flying about and random explosions of the Ork barrage.
Servitors had reached them as Nuzilliad surveyed ahead with his bionic eye. It whirled and turned as it zoomed and scanned ahead.
Long Due's Griffons were nearby lobbing their powerful shells and destroying the Ork artillery as they were bombarded with rokkits.
Their immobile Griffon was up ahead.
Nuzilliad climbed the trench slope without any kind of caution. His servitors started marching after him and Semdek was forced to join them if he didn't wanted to stamped upon by the servitors behind him.
He stood close to Nuzilliad as if the Techpriest can protect them from the barrage.
A rokkit landed close by and threw a shrapnel in their direction. It hit the Enginseer and glanced off his power armour. He didn't even react to it but Semdek felt his heart thundering. They were so close to death and yet he was here in this moment.
Nuzilliad walked fast and he tried to catch up to him. His breath was heavy, his lungs burned from the effort. On the other hand Nuzilliad seemed not to suffer any fatigue from this forced walk. It was as if he was minimally breathing or not breathing at all.
A rokkit landed in front of them throwing a heat blast in their direction.
"Anima shield us." said Nuzilliad and kept moving as the heat washed over him, heating his fleshy parts.
Semdek was not a combatant, he had seen fighting sure. But he was never under an artillery barrage on an open terrain.
He realised that he was about to piss himself if this kept going.
Possibility of a far away death and death breathing down your neck was two different things.
Thank the Emperor they reached the Griffon before he loosed himself onto his pants.
Servitors arrived at the griffon their faces was blank as death rained around them.
"So much pain." mumbled Nuzilliad caressing the hull of the Griffon with his mechanical hand.
Something started to stir in his red robes and several mechanical limbs revealed themselves, these mechadendrites were the mechanical extra arms fitted with tools and gadgets.
His mechadendrites removed several layers of hull plates with mechanical precision.
Semdek realised that it would take him several minutes to remove those plates, but it took a second for the Enginseer.
Nuzilliad started tempering with several circuits within as his servitors fitted with servo-arms started to detach several broken pieces of tracks and idler assembly from the track mechanism of the Griffon.
Nuzilliad's mechadendrites moved over the idler assembly and fixed it as best as they could, their welders and pincers moving about to repair the broken part.
Techpriest let his servitors to do the easy task of track loading. One of them produced spare tracks and started loading it.
Semdek realised that the servitor that was loading the tracks was the one he knocked down back at the trenches. It had it's head covered in mud.
And worst of all, it was loading the tracks wrong. He came upon the servitor and tried to knock it aside. But the brute didn't budge.
"Oi! Move about!" he shouted but got no response.
He unhooked his wrench and undid the leg-support of the servitor. Servitor collapsed onto it's side, trashing as it tried to get up.
"What are you doing to my servant, Junior Engineer Semdek?" came in Nuzilliad his speaker-box on full volume.
"He was doing it wrong, see?" he pointed at the wrongly loaded tracking.
Nuzilliad looked at the tracking and then back at Semdek.
His servitor managed to rose on one leg and was limping on it. Trying to continue it's duty.
Nuzilliad's mechadendrites shot out in the instant like a serpent.
Semdek's heart froze, he had no time to react, it happened so fast.
A Mechadendrite slammed onto the neck of the servitor grabbing a piece of control mechanism.
The servitor collapsed onto the mud as if dead.
"Servitors have too much flesh on them, it makes them weak and faulty." he declared.
His other servitor grabbed the offline servitor and carried it with his servo-arm.
"Junior Engineer Semdek." Nuzilliad said.
"Yes, lord?"
"You have the honour of fixing the tracks, despite your fleshy condition I think you are capable of this task, now!" ordered Nuzilliad.
Semdek fixed the tracks and waited as Nuzilliad load the partially fixed idler assembly. His mechadendrites closed the plates in under a minute and the Griffon was good to go.
However neither Nuzilliad nor his servitors moved.
Instead Nuzilliad stood at the front of the Griffon and started chanting.
"Machine God, I call upon thy blessing to cleanse the spirit of this poor machine."
"Let it's circuits flow clean."
"Let it's anima roar into life."
He burst out several lines of Lingua-technis that Semdek didn't understand. They were binary bursts of the sacred machine language.
"Sanctus spiritus mechanica ex Omnissiah." Nuzilliad concluded and Griffon roared into life.
Semdek jumped, startled, he couldn't believe the machine worked, it had no crew inside but the engines roared healthily.
"Get on." ordered Nuzilliad to Semdek and all of them mounted atop the Griffon.
Techprist brought the repaired machine despite the rokkit barrage and luckily they made it back to the garage in one piece.
Semdek wasn't even sure people would believe him if he told them what he lived today.