Alpha team consists of the following Brothers:

 

Veteran Scout Sergeant Nathan. Member of the Deathwing, Power sword, Bolt pistol, Frag grenades.
Senior Scout Tribeaudu. Sniper rifle, Frag grenades.
Scout Sorenson. Bolter, Frag grenades
Scout Tanaka. Close combat sword, Bolt pistol, Frag Grenades.
Scout Vanerson. Close combat sword, Bolt pistol, Frag Grenades.
Scout Salenger. Close combat sword, Bolt pistol, Frag Grenades.
Scout Alber. Close combat sword, Bolt pistol, Frag Grenades.
Scout Misher. Shotgun, Frag grenades.
Scout Franklin. Shotgun, Frag grenades.

The opposition is an Imperial Guard platoon. Lieutenant Khan is commanding.


Sergeant Nathan was first to step off of the Valkyre. He quickly scanned the area then signaled for the rest of the team to disembark and disperse. In less than ten seconds the ship was climbing away and the scouts had disappeared into the surrounding brush. A clean insertion was a good omen.


Lieutenant Khan of the Amicusican 2nd infantry saw the lone Valkyre climbing out of the shallow valley. It was his understanding that Valkyres operated in pairs. This was something he should look into. He ordered his platoon to move toward the trail he knew led out of that valley.


+Alpha team to command. Team on the ground. Moving to first objective. Nathan out.+

Sergeant Nathan moved through the low brush with ease. The team was as silent as he was. They were the best trained scouts in the command. They made good time and reached the hill top ahead of schedule.

As he scanned the next ridgeline a glint of sunlight caught his attention. The scanner zoomed in on the location with the few keystrokes on the viewer. Sergeant Nathan saw an Imperial Guard patrol leader scanning the area his team was in. By their manner it was apparent they had not been seen. But still Nathan took precautions. The team attached their silencers to their pistols and checked the close combat weapons. Then they moved out, slower and even quieter.

+Alpha team to command. Possible enemy presence in area. Continuing to objective.+

They were still making good time and arrived at the next checkpoint on schedule. There was no sign of the Guard patrol but the team remained cautious and alert. Ahead of them the terrain was flat without much cover. They would lose valuable time going around. Nathan decided to chance it.

Just as he started to rise up a Guardsman stepped into the clearing. He was not acting very cautious. Two more guardsmen appeared behind him. He turned to them and they talked for a few minutes. Then they moved off to the right. They appeared to be searching for something. As they moved back into the bush Nathan moved his team to his left, keeping the clearing between his team the Guardsmen.

+Alpha one to team. Enemy in close proximity. Spread out and prepare for close action. Alpha team to command. Contact with enemy eminent. Proceeding.+


Lieutenant Khan couldn’t reach his HQ by the commlink, this area was notorious for bad comms. So he deployed his men per the manual, 3 to a team. They were noisy, clumsy and poorly trained but he hoped that would work to his advantage. His trusted sergeant and his ADC went with him. They would use the others to drive anyone out there to them.

He worked his squads down the rim towards a clearing he saw. All his men would converge there and then he would decide on a course of action. Maybe he was being tested? It was not unusual for the Colonel to drop in unexpectedly.


Sgt. Nathan and his men moved across the clearing quickly and quietly. Just as the last man slipped into the bush another group of Guardsmen burst out into the clearing. Then another and another moved into the area, gathering toward the center. Nathan watched as an officer type strutted into the clearing. But the short, stocky man beside him worried him more. His had the mark of experience on him. As the rest of the Guardsmen stood around with their weapons slung or in other positions showing their inexperience this man, obviously the platoon sergeant, is warily looking around. He looks down, and then begins to walk toward Nathan.

+Alpha team, move out. Enemy is behind us. Keep your eyes open.+

Nathan signals his squad to move out. Just then the sergeant points toward the area Nathan is in and the Officer directs his men to move toward them. Nathan’s trained infiltrators quickly outdistance the clumsy Guardsmen but he knows there are more of them ahead of him.

+Alpha team to command. Enemy on our trail. I am moving to secondary site. Inform Gamma team to prepare for drop.+

 

The Comms Lieutenant walked into the ward room where Alacanon and Claudius were in deep discussion. He stood quietly at attention until Alacanon looked up and noticed him. He barks out “Report” and the Lieutenant jumps.

“We have been monitoring all communication traffic from the planet, as you ordered Captain-Brother Alacanon. The scout team landing has gone undetected and no additional units are being deployed to the area. We have detected no other unusual traffic.”

Claudius dismissed the officer with a wave, “Very good Lieutenant. Continue with you duties.”

Once the officer was gone he turned to Alacanon. “You see, there is little to worry about here. Nathan is a good man, he will find this disturbance and then we will deal with it. I will go prepare for the landing. Maybe you should speak with Brother Sariel about how he wants to be included?”

“You’re right, as usual. I’ll speak to Sariel. He seems to have an affinity for the jump pack. He’s young, probably never crashed” laughed Alacanon. Claudius smiled and left the wardroom.

It begins.

Nathan and his team moved quickly up the hill. The Guardsmen could be heard thrashing through the brush behind them, making avoidance easy. Then his point man Tanaka froze. The rest of the team instantly stopped and eased to the ground.

Not more than 5 meters away a rock tumbled down from an outcropping. Then the tip of a Lasgun peeked up over the rock. Before the Guardsman could fire Tanaka and Alber were on them. Their close combat swords easily cut through the light armor the Guardsmen were wearing. Sorenson’s Bolter smashed down on the last man of the three. There was no thought of quarter or mercy.

Missed a control roll and let them get too close!

+ Alpha Team to command. Contact! We are on the run. Will advise further. +

Lieutenant Khan finally got his men back under control and began the hunt. He knew there were several teams still uphill of his adversaries that could be of use. He looked to his sergeant to get things organized. “Sergeant, get these men moving in an orderly manner up that hill. Comms!”

The trooper with the comm unit rushed to the Lieutenant and handed him the handset. He turned the switch to the platoon setting and prayed the Voxcasters spirit cooperated.

“Khan to teams 3, 6, 7 and 9. Hold you positions, find cover and report any movement. Khan out.”

He waved his arm and the teams moved out.

“Sir, teams 3, 7 and 9 have reported. Team 6 is not answering.”

Khan muttered under his breath “Damn sloppy. I’ll break those slackers back to barracks duty.”


Nathan looked over the bodies of the slain Guardsmen. He had hoped to avoid contact. “Cover up the bodies, then move out. Those Guardsmen may be sloppy but they’ll be determined to avenge these guys. Let’s go.”



“Sir, still no report from team 6.”

“Let’s get to the top of this hill sir,” said Sergeant Wornt, “we should be able to get a clear signal up there.”

“Good thinking sergeant. Maybe we can reach HQ and find out what this is really all about.”

Just then Lasgun fire started up off to their left. It ended almost as abruptly as it started. Khan watched in horror as several of his teams stood up and started firing randomly at the top of the hill.

Lost almost all the control rolls this time!

Then Khan heard the distinctive sound of Bolter fire. Several of his men fell grievously wounded. His eyes followed the path of the rounds to the top of the hill. There he saw his adversary. The huge figures could only be one thing, Marines. Several of them were engaged with some of his men. The Bolt Pistols and swords of the Marines carved into his men and shotguns cut swaths through them. The ones who survived the initial attack turned and ran.

He saw the tallest of the Marines point in his direction. Too late he noticed the tell tale red dot of a sniper rifle targeter on his Vox man. The Adamantium sheathed dart easily pierced the chest plate of his armor. Blood sprayed out of the wound as he fell to the ground, his heart exploding as the dart blew out of his back and through the Voxcaster. Blood splattered all over Khans uniform. He stood there, stunned.

His position started being peppered with bolter rounds as he hit the ground. He heard the screams of his men as they ran past him. Sergeant Wornt grabbed his collar and dragged him to the cover of a small ditch. His first real combat was a disaster. Then all was silent.



Tanaka stopped the team again. Guardsmen were closing on his position from two sides. Nathan looked behind them and saw more closing in from there. His course was set; he would have to kill these men. He spoke quietly, “Emperor, give my men the strength to overcome these foes and bring glory to your name.”

+ Alpha team to command. Engaging enemy. Will advise. +

He looked to his men and nodded. They all stood as one, each man locked on a different Guardsman.

Tanaka and his close combat team charged up the hill at the stunned Guardsmen. The guardsmen fumbled with their weapons, bringing them up a second too late. Fragmentation grenades fell among their feet detonating instantly. The survivors stood stunned as Bolts smashed into their bodies, swords cut ghastly wounds and boots smashed into any exposed limb. The Guardsmen all went down in a before they could scream.

Their compatriots were equally surprised by the vicious assault of Misher and Franklin’s shotguns. Again grenades heralded the assault as the survivors fell into hand to hand combat with the Emperors finest. Shotguns bashed skulls and combat knives tore at exposed bellies. All together Tanaka and Misher's men saw over a dozen Guardsmen go down in the vicious assault.

Nathan saw the enemy commander across the field starting to direct his men forward. He put his hand on Tribeaudu’s shoulder and pointed to the command group. Tribeaudu triggered the targeter and whispered, “The Emperor is my shield and I am his sword. May his hand guide my aim,” and he fired. Just then the Vox man stepped in front of the Lieutenant. He watched as the man crumpled at his Commanders’ feet. Tribeaudu quickly reloaded and fired again, but the command squad took cover.

Nathan looked over the carnage. The Guardsmen were all running. It would be several hours before they could regroup. He decided it would be best to move on. He could lose them easily now.

He looked to his squad. Two of his men were hit by the Lasguns. The wounds were not severe. The team moved out in a few minutes. Time was of the essence.

+ Alpha team to command. Enemy neutralized. Moving on to point Beta. +