Chapter 9

Back to the ridge.

Captain Johansson pressed the gun crew to keep up the fire. He moved forward to the rest of his men and urged them into an assault on the Marine positions. The platoon advanced slowly firing from the hip. The autocannons bark instilled confidance.

"Forward men. For the Emperor!"


Nathan had his men in position on the flank of the advancing Guardsmen. He saw the heavy gun firing on Kensie’s position and knew he couldn’t hold out long against that kind of firepower. He turned to Tanaka and the rest of the close combat scouts. He motioned them to hit the first squad they could reach.

Then he pointed out the gun to Tribeaudu and Sorenson. Tribeaudu’s first shot hit the gunner in the chest and flung him off of the weapon. Sorenson was outside effective range of his bolter but kept the crews heads down. Nathan moved to assist the assault scouts.


+ Alpha leader to Gamma leader. We have engaged. +


Captain Johansson saw the fire stop from the autocannon. He looked back to see Dark Angel scouts closing on his support squad and the crew cowering behind their gun. He turned his troops around and charged into the advancing Marines. “For the Emperor men!”


Kensie saw the Guardsmen turn away from his position. He saw Nathan’s men moving out of the brush and attacking the Guardsmen left behind. He was about to order his men back into action when he saw the other Guard platoon advancing up to the ridge. He reoriented the heavy bolter to engage the new threat and redeployed his close combat men to support it.


Captain Johansson saw his men were caught in a crossfire between the two scout teams. The support squad saw the marines coming too late. Their first hint of trouble was bolter shots hitting several Guardsmen in the back. The Guardsmen didn’t have time to get their bayonets out before the Marines were amongst them. Las rifles were no match for blades in the hands of deadly close combat specialists. Half the squad fell and the rest ran.

He moved the rest of his men to the other flank to get some distance between him and the Marines. Then he heard fire on the other side of the ridge. Khan at last!


Sergeant Kensie held his teams’ fire until the Guardsmen were within point-blank range. The first volley caught the Guardsmen by surprise and shattered the first squad. The rest went to ground. It was time to move.

“All right Marines, get to that ridge and over the top. Alphonse, you go last.”

Scout Alphonse laid down a withering stream of fire while the rest of the team fell back. The Guardsmen dare not challenge him. The rest of the team began to slip away.

+ Gamma leader to Alpha, we are on the move to your position. We have more company. +

Sergeant Nathan heard the clattering of treads before he saw the Chimera roar out of the gully. His men hit the ground immediately and gave the tank no targets. He could make out the Chimeras heavy bolters and knew this could be a problem.

+ Alpha leader to Gamma, we have another problem. They have armor support. +

Chaplain Sariel heard the transmissions from the ground. He leaned over the Thunderhawk pilot and said, “Get me down there, NOW!” The pilot pushed the throttles as far as they would go and dove towards the valley. Chaplain Sariel ran to the back of the Thunderhawk to the waiting squad of Assault Marines. “Get ready, we are jumping in.”


Khan saw the ridge was to heavily defended for his men to get over along the trail so he pushed them left. The fire slackened as he topped the ridge just in time to see the Armored Fist Chimera drive out of the gully. It was the last thing he saw as the Thunderhawk roared overhead, its heavy bolter sponsors blazing down on the ridge.


Sariel was the first one out of the door. “For the Emperor and the Lion!” He flew down behind the Chimera and dropped a meltabomb down on the deck. The rest of the squad also pelted the Chimera with melta bombs. It went up in a grand fireball.

Sariel landed among a group of scared Guardsmen. As he raised his badge of office, the Crozius Arcanum, the Guardsmen fumbled for their bayonets as the Sergeant triggered his hell pistol and chainsword. Sariel struck first, splitting the Sergeants head like a melon. He swung the Crozius right and left breaking an arm, severing a leg and finally decapitating the last man. The Assault Marines also land around the Guardsmen. The remainder threw down their weapons.


Captain Johansson saw the situation had gone from bad to worse. A Marine Chaplain was almost invincible, and this one was the best he heard of. Better to live and serve the Emperor then die uselessly.

“Lay down your weapons men.”

 

 

Chapter 10

The battle begins.

General Na’Dean of the Amicus PDF stood before Cassis Rex, the de facto Governor of the planet. “Sir, we have reports of an engagement in the southern training area. The 79th Infantry company has not reported in since 1400 hours, after reporting a force of Space Marine scouts had ambushed them. Additional forces were sent to the area but no trace of the Marines was found.”

Cassis stood, towering over the General. “What Marine Chapter were these invaders from? Does anyone know anything around here?” His voice boomed off of the walls of the chamber.

The General puffed up his chest in the face of this insult. “They appear to be Dark Angels from the reports we have received. Orbital scans have revealed a fleet moving into assault position. As we have no orbital defenses we will have to wait until they land to determine their objective here.”

Cassis paced the floor until he heard the name Dark Angels. He froze mid-stride and listened intently. “Are you sure they were Dark Angels? ARE YOU SURE!” he bellowed.

“Yes my Lord, there is no mistake.” The General replied, obviously shaken by the reaction of Cassis to the news.

“Then here, they will be coming here. Assemble your staff and mass your forces here, around the citadel. Go quickly!”

The General saluted crisply and strode off through the great doors at the far side of the chamber. He was worried. He had never seen Cassis Rex this agitated. He rushed to the command center and began to issue the orders mobilizing the PDF. He only hoped it would be quick enough.

Once the General was gone Cassis started becoming more measured in his response. He turned to the smaller man standing behind the General and pointed at him. “You told me this sector was safe from the False Marines. You told me you could shield us.”

The Sorcerer stood up to Cassis and spoke in the same loud voice. “My Lord, my powers are limited. You know the Master has been gathering your Brothers to this sector. With such a gathering the warpdogs of the False Emperor would detect us. It was only a matter of time.”

He backhanded the man across the face and sent him sprawling. “I’ve had just about enough of your lies Sorcerer. Go and assemble the rest of the Brothers. We will resist these followers of the False Emperor.”


Brother-Captain Alacanon watched as the last Thunderhawk lifted off. The assembled might of the company was assembled in the valley now. Alacanon stood on top of his Landraider and addressed his men. “Brothers, there is a taint of Chaos on this land. Its poison spreads through the citizens of the Emperor like snakes. We are here to cut off the head of this poisonous snake. We must move quickly and strike surely. Our objective lies at the top of that mountain.” He pointed toward a massive looking building in the distance. “Mount up.”


Cassis look out towards the valley and saw dark green Thunderhawks lift into the sky and rocket upwards until they were out of sight. It was too late for the PDF to help him now. He would use what men were here to shield him until the rest arrived.

“Colonel, I want you to place your men in the defensive positions outside the gates. I don’t know what it is the traitorous Marines want but it is the will of the Emperor that you resist them until help arrives. Do you understand?”

The Colonel saluted and said “By the will of the Emperor we will make the pay!” He climbed into the waiting Chimera and roared off toward the gates, his men and vehicles close behind.

Cassis smiled. “Fools. Their bodies will provide more blood for the Blood God. They cannot resist Space Marines.” He stalked off into the darkness of the citadel. “Bring me my armor!”


Nathan saw the Fallen standing on the balcony of his citadel. “Too far Tribeaudu, we will wait for the rest.” Tribeaudu looked away from his rifle and nodded. Nathan turned to Sergeant Kensie. “The company will be here in less than an hour. We should get into position.” Kensie nodded in agreement and moved off.

The two teams, now working as one, moved slowly and carefully towards the back of the citadel. Their job was now to cut off any escape.



The Dark Angels armored column raced up the valley. So far the Assault troops had handled all resistance, which had been minimal. Reports from the Praetorian of Caliban told that the PDF was massing in the city but would be too late to intervene in the fight. They would have to contend with the Templars.

Alacanon keyed his company wide vox. “Begin deployment. Spread out, I don’t want any of them to escape.” He switched to the Damocles. “Inform the fleet we are in position. Bombardment targets programmed.”

The company swung out into a wide line, the Bikes taking up their positions on the flanks, heavier armor in the middle with Alacanon’s Landraider in the center. The moment was upon them. They all stopped and waited for the command.

Chaplain Sariel and his squad landed in front of the massed might of Dark Angels. “Brothers, now is the time we have all prayed for. The spawn of Chaos is cowering behind those walls. It is our duty to end this blasphemy to the light of the Emperor. May he lend us his guidance and his wisdom.”

The Brothers intoned “The Emperors wisdom will guide us in our duty. We will not fail him.”

Alacanon gave the signal and the force began to slowly move forward…