"Did you ever wonder if the person in the puddle is real, and you're just a reflection of him?" - Calvin and Hobbes
The chatter of autorifle, and lasgun fire broke through the cavernous expanse of city 34 as the Randon troopers began their distraction. We waited until the few rebels guarding our particular side entrance filtered away toward the sounds of battle. Then we made our move, crossing the distance as quickly as we could in a low crouching run so as to avoid any stray weapons fire.
The entrance led into the dank interior of the manufacturing plant; from here it was really guess work. Best case scenario would have us find the ammunition stockpiles, blowing that to keck would definitely take out a good chunk of the plant. If not that than any supporting structure of the building, or at least automated manufacturing equipment would do. Our vox channels were set to receive updates from the other teams and to coordinate our exfiltration. The main hope was that we would go unnoticed until the charges went off.
We went through the halls of the plant as quietly as possible. Xavier and Cain fairing better than S-1050 and I, they didn't have carapace armor to keep from clinking, and clacking. The halls were oddly barren of enemy activity, so the Randon troops must be giving the rebels a hell of a show. If the sounds of the fighting were anything to go by then that would be a sound guess.
"Kinda quiet for an important enemy position eh?" Cain muttered from the rear position. I barely heard him from point, not to mention I was on the lookout for those enemies who weren't there at the moment.
"You would think they would protect this plant a little better." Xavier supplied. S-1050 shushed them as quietly as she could manage and we pressed on, the corridors of the facility seemed to be pressing in on us as we went deeper. We were nearing our destination… I could feel it. A squelch came from our vox links.
"This is B-80, squad three. We've come across a main support column of the plant and are in position to set our charge when ready, over and out." The news was good, now all that was left was for our team to find one of the objectives. Not minutes after the first message came through another followed. Squad four had just run into a few stray rebels. They reported the situation was resolved and continued on. Watchmaster B-63 sent out a message to be wary for further enemy contact, not that we really need him to say so.
Finally the corridors opened up into a vast room in which supplies were being stockpiled via rebel muscles and machine. It seemed like one huge ammunition dump. I held my hand up and motioned for everyone to stay low and out of sight, there were about half a dozen rebels in the room. Luckily most seemed to be unarmed, probably former workers who didn't necessarily want to fight on the front lines to support the cause. Still there were a few armed guards up on catwalks surrounding the area.
Not good for us, being that they held the high ground. Not to mention one errant shot and the ammunition dump may go up in a brilliant blaze along with us.
"Jackpot," said Cain with some enthusiasm.
"Yeah, but those damn guards up on the catwalks are a problem. Not to mention any of these floor workers could have a sidearm we may not be able to see, so their all one major problem." Xavier replied, thoroughly killing Cain's short-lived merriment.
"Way to be a downer Xavier," Cain muttered back.
I cut in quietly but with purpose in my tone, "This trooper counts about four up on the catwalks. It and S-1050 will take care of them. Our Lucius pattern lasguns are more accurate and the charge more powerful, so we can't fire upon any of the rebels working with the ammunition, too much of a risk that the lasfire will go through them and set off the piles."
Xavier nodded, "Alright then Cain and I will take care of the rebels on the ground then." He turned to Cain, "We should also turn the charge of our lasguns down a bit to cut down on the chance of penetration." Cain nodded in response and they began to fiddle with the mechanisms of their lasguns.
"Remember what Sarg said, double tap for each man. Low charge means we can't take the chance for one shot to work." Cain replied, his tone very serious, and thus very unlike his usual self.
"Yep," Xavier responded quietly back.
"Okay then, on this troopers mark." I pause for a brief moment, letting everyone get ready for action, "three, two, one, mark!"
We all spring into action quickly, S-1050 and I firing up at the catwalk rebels. I take out one with two shots to his chest, but adjusting my aim I find that S-1050 has already taken care of the rest. Shaking off my slight surprise I adjust aim toward any rebels on the floor while S-1050 continues to scan the catwalks.
Xavier and Cain have taken care of the most of the rebels on the floor, or so the bodies with autorifles in their grasp would have me believe. Scanning the floor I see a few rebels with their hands up in surrender, Xavier and Cain paused on them.
"Wait, we're not with the rest," said a woman, her voice quavering a little.
"Yeah, the rebels just used us for labor 'cause we know how to operate the machines." Another supplied.
"Please, I have a family," pleaded a third.
The situation seemed to be getting out of hand there were about five of them and they didn't present a hostile threat. Unfortunately I wasn't really sure how to proceed, and apparently neither was anyone else around me. I did the only thing I could think of… I reported the situation to Watchmaster B-63.
I tapped into the comm channel, "S-1049 reporting, Squad two. We have non-combatants here, requesting orders on how to proceed, over." We all waited eagerly for a response. Lasguns trained on the rebels… or were they? The reply came through moments later, although it felt like an eternity.
Watchmaster B-63's response was clear and curt, "trooper, there are no non-combatants, over and out."
"Understood," was my reply.
He left no room for argument, the tone was clear and his meaning was obvious, yet Xavier and Cain still held their fire. The moments seemed to drag out with no clear sign that anything would be resolved. I hesitated, unsure what to say, Watchmaster B-63 was clear on the matter. No non-combatants.
Had we been able to without possibly setting off the ammunition—and thus a chain reaction of explosions prematurely—S-1050 and I would have already eliminated the rebels. I was about to try and remedy the situation when S-1050 beat me to the punch.
"What are you two waiting for? You heard the Watchmaster." She stated somewhat blandly. Xavier and Cain still held fire, though now the rebels were quieter and their eyes pleading toward the only two unmasked Guardsmen in the room.
"You can't be serious, Emperor, those two look like kids." Cain stated first, gesturing to the two young teenagers of the group of five. One Surris it wasn't uncommon to begin work in the manufactorums at a young age, so it wasn't a surprise that the manufactories here were the same.
"Our orders are clear." I supplied.
"Then why don't you do it." Xavier shot back.
"These troopers cannot, our weapons might set off the munitions behind the rebels." S-1050 stated in her matter-of-fact tone.
"Emperor damn it," Xavier seems to mutter through clenched teeth. "All of you move to that wall, now!" He motioned for the rebels to do it with the muzzle of his lasgun, he and Cain both tracked the rebels as they moved. The rebels complied and were now up against a nearby wall, hands still up and still unarmed.
I wasn't entirely sure what he was up to until he dropped his aim. "Right, there you go. Their not in-front of the munitions anymore, Cain and I aren't gonna kill non-combatants in cold blood. So there you go S-1049, lined up against a wall and ready. You blanks can have the honor, 'cause I'm sure as keck not doing it. Come on Cain; let's go set the damn charges." Xaiver finished and then began to walk away toward the munitions piles, Cain close behind with our two assigned melta-charges in hand.
"That's a dereliction of duty." S-1050 supplied from my left, she already had her sights trained on the rebels.
"It doesn't matter let's get this over with," my response is lacking in enthusiasm. I fully understand what Xavier is saying, but it doesn't matter, our orders come from the Emperor himself. There are no non-combatants, not in city 32. I turn and take aim with her, finger on the trigger, "I'll take the two on the right."
I find myself rationalizing this due to the fact that S-1050's is a better and faster shot than me, and can take down multiple targets faster than I'd be able to. I notice her slight nod of affirmation from the corner of my eye. We seem connected as we both ready to open fire, communication was silent but understood easily, on the count of five…
"Please," the woman pleaded. I was counting down in my head when suddenly I realized I couldn't go through with it. No non-combatants? These were just innocent people, like my family, there was no way I was going to be the cause of their deaths, worse this wasn't blind artillery fire, it was me aiming to put a lasbolt in their heads. I pointed my lasgun at the ground.
"Stop, I can't do this." I said to S-1050 clearly through a private vox-link. She turned sharply to me and gave me what I can only assume was a perplexed look.
"The Watchmaster was clear on the situation." She stated, though there was a hint of slight relief in there. She wanted me to say we didn't have to kill these people. If I said it would be all right then she would be glad to let them go, orders be damned.
"This trooper doesn't care, this is wrong," I stepped forward slightly, the civilians looking at me with frightened eyes; they couldn't hear what we were saying. "Get out of here." I shouted firmly.
They stood there in slight disbelief, their hands lowering an inch at a time. I motioned toward an exit on the far side of the room. "Go now; you have about ten minutes to get out before this place gets blown to keck. Don't head for the main entrance, go out a side exit."
The two men ran, but the woman stayed for a moment. "We won't forget this, I promise. You did the right thing guardsman, thank you." With that she ran toward the exit.
After we let them go we found Xavier covering Cain as he went about setting the charges. We walked up to our two comrades, Xavier giving us both a look, he hadn't heard any lasgun shots, and he probably thought we stuck them.
"Is it done?" He asked with distain in his voice.
I hesitated, my voice stuttering a little, an old habit from childhood, "T-this t-trooper could not do the deed. The civilians are on their way out of the manufactory." He gave us both a slightly surprised look, and then a small smile graced his features.
"Well then, might still be somethin' under that mask then…Jericus." I shrugged; I wasn't really sure how to respond to that.
Luckily there was no time for awkward silence since Cain cut it off at the get-go. "Alright, charges are set an' ready to blow this place to keck," Cain stated brushing his hands against his fatigues.
I was thankful for his fortuitous interruption and responded automatically. "Good, this trooper will inform Watchmaster B-63, and get information on our exit plan." It took seconds to inform the Watchmaster and within moments we were exfiltrating the manufactory. We were to rendezvous with teams three and four at a main corridor junction which would supposedly lead out to a side entrance close to an adjacent structure next to the plant which would provide adequate cover for the ensuing collapse.
Once the charges went off the squads were to re-group at what would be left of the main entrance to the plant and rendezvous with the Randon strike-force. Everything was going according to plan. We took off down the corridors and like a funnel we poured into the main junction to the awaiting teams three and four.
From there we all knew our objective, get out of the manufactory before the munitions blew it to the upper levels. The remaining corridors went by in a blur, we didn't come across any resistance from rebel troops, and we were at the side exit within what seemed to be scant minutes.
Stopping for a moment at the door and stacked up without a word being passed. The two veteran grenadiers in teams three and four communicated through basic hand-signals so that everyone would understand. Once we were stacked and ready the lead grenadier gave the signal and we went through the door, covering every possible direction we could. After a moment of silent hesitation more hand signals were issued and we got into formation ready to cross the open space to the structure across from the manufacturing plant.
Again the two lead grenadiers signaled for us to cross as they covered the directions the rebels may come from. As it was it seemed the Randon strike force had them thoroughly occupied. We crossed the rockrete at a brisk pace, once we reached the opposite side S-1050 and I covered the same area the veterans had and allowed them to cross with some confidence.
Once we were on the opposite side of the street we sought cover behind the structure that was to be our haven. It seemed to be an old storage warehouse, and it seemed sturdy enough despite it seeming to have been derelict. I over heard the grenadier leading team three make contact over his vox link.
"This is B-80, teams two, three, and four accounted for and in the clear. Awaiting your arrival team one, over," he stated briskly. I heard the static filled reply faintly as he was addressed in turn, "copy team one, over and out."
Moment's later team one was within sight as they came down the street a little ways from the back of the manufactory. We made sure to cover them as they made their way over to us. Watchmaster B-63 and Sergeant Havlock jogged at the head of the squad consisting of them along with vox-operator F-920 and trooper F-888.
"Alright troopers time to get into cover. Those charges should be going off any second now." Sergeant Havlock stated, we all did as instructed and made the best use of the cover we had. "Speaking of the charges, F-920, better vox the Randon, let them know the show's about to start."
F-920 quickly relayed the message to the Randon officer. Not too long after we heard the firefight which had been raging in the distance die down a little as the Randon strike force began to get into cover in anticipation of the detonation.
B-63 was the next to speak up as he began counting down the time till detonation. "Alright troopers, in five, four, three, two, on-" He was cut off as the world erupted into heat and noise I ducked my head down and averted my gaze from the bright light, so my retina would not suffer any damage. For a moment I thought our cover had not been adequate enough as the warehouses structure and the ground trembled, but my doubt was unfounded as after a moment the heat died down and the noise abated.
Looking up I saw the Watchmaster and the Sergeant gazing at what was left of the manufactory, though I doubt they could see much through the smoke which had been kicked up from the pulverized structure, after a moment of consideration both the Watchmaster and Sergeant gave the signal to move-out.
As we walked through the debris and smoke I noticed that Xavier and the rest of the Hoarfell had tied the scarves which all Hoarfell had as part of their uniform around their mouths, as well as put on their goggles to help with the dust. Not as effective as a re-breather or gasmask, but it would do. I silently wondered why they didn't use their actual re-breathers, after all they did have them, and it was basic issue guard gear.
As we got near what had been the front of the manufactory we began to see the bodies of the rebels. Most were partially crushed from debris, others burnt by the heat of the explosion, a few still twitched in their death-throws and groaned. We paid them no notice; they weren't long for this world.
Then we came across a stumbling figure in the smoke ahead. From what I could tell he was missing his right arm, the stump charred and his uniform practically fused to his skin. He was clutching his stomach, where there was a jagged piece of metal embedded in his gut. Finally his eyes fell upon us, most had their lasguns raised and ready, the man…no, the boy not more than 16 groaned at us, a pained expression on his face. He held out his one good arm, his hand up in a halting gesture, as if asking, 'please, mercy.'
I was surprised when it wasn't one of the 82nd who opened fire; instead Sergeant Havlock shot the boy in the head. His already charred face mangled further by the las-bolt and the back of his head exploding outward. He fell forward hand still held out toward us and finally fell face first to the ground, the remains of his head glistening despite being cauterized by the heat of the las-bolt.
Sergeant Havlock shrugged unapologetically; the man likely wouldn't have made it with medical treatment anyway, and besides he was the enemy; at least in these circumstances.
"Halt!" A voice yelled out from the area in-front of the manufactory. "State your rank and designation or we will open fire." Her voice carried clearly over the ambient sounds of the destruction around us.
"Watchmaster B-63, 82nd Death Korps grenadiers, along with elements of Hoarfell 125th recon," B-63 responded quickly.
"Approach slowly." The voice stated clearly over the pop and crackle of debris and fire. Finally we got within visual range and the distinct bright red uniforms of the Randon came into view. Their blast-plates down, the red-mirror surface obscuring their faces—, they call us blanks?—, and their lasguns aimed at us. Another brief moment and as they recognized us the officer in charge, now easily identified as a woman, signaled her troopers to lower their weapons. They did so accordingly and the tension in the air was diminished save for the ever present threat of the enemy.
"Sorry Watchmaster B-63, can't be too cautious, you understand?" The Randon CO said with some hint of grim humor in her voice.
"Completely…" The Watchmaster paused for a moment. Luckily the Randon caught on quickly.
"Sergeant Joss," she supplied.
The Watchmaster nodded, "I suppose we are to head south to join up with the main force then?"
"Those are my orders Watchmaster B-63." Sergeant Joss replied without much enthusiasm.
"Very well then, lead on Sergeant Joss." The Watchmaster said with a slight gesture.
From there we began to form up in a loose formation. Death Korps grenadiers on the outside with their heavy weapons, Randon covering us from the middle and the Hoarfell loosely dispersed where they were needed. Their recon skills weren't needed at the moment so they stuck with the grenadiers on the outside. Their lasrifles having a bit more kick then the Randon issue carbines.
It was a ways back to the frontlines of the war. We didn't anticipate coming into contact with too many enemy troopers, most should have already fled in the wake of the advancing Imperial line. In my mind I had no doubts that our victory in this city would be swift and was in sight.
A/N: 'Nother chap up for the chopping block... if there is one, I'm starting to doubt it. Kindly review my readers, if you've been following up till this point (and I know there are a good amount of you reading each new chapter) then surely you'd want to leave a bit of feedback, even if it's just making me feel good about myself, or pointing out a flaw/inconsistancy/whatever you feel the need to comment on. Irregardless I'll see ya next week, on a side note I've been playin' Destiny in a lot of my spare time, anyone else think it's good?
300-709.