The 23rd Baratarians

Joey Konyha

The booming reports of the Ork guns mingled with the dull thumps of their impact near the newly captured trenches. Soil fountained up, raining on the troops of the 23rd Baratarian Long Guns, dusting them, adding a new layer of grime to the already filthy soldiers. Leutenant Hebert mumbled a curse, and tried to sink lower into the shallow ditch, even if just to escape the noise of the bombardment. He knew that this was going to happen. The 23rd had been ordered to chase the Orks after they gave up their assault on the Imperial city, and ran headlong back to their center of opperations. The 23rd followed, right smack into the main "base" for the Waagh!. It seemed as though a million guns were holding off the 23rd, giving the Orks time to reform, and then charge the pinned Guardsmen.

Hebert wondered where all the support was. Why have self propelled guns if they can't move because they can't outpace the ammunition supplies, or be useless? Hebert wondered sometimes how the Guard did it on a daily basis, much less how they did it for the past 10,000 years. All part of being the Poor Bloody Infantry, he guessed.

Commisar Schenk strode up, completely oblivious to the fury around him. "SIR!" a voice cried out over the noise. Hebert turned. Seargent Breaux held out a com-link in his outstreched arm. "Central Command, sir!"

Hebert snorted, quietly, so Schenk would not notice. Central Command, safe in their Capitol Imperilis, very much behind the lines, rarely had good news. Holdng his helmet down, he slid over to Breaux and took the com-link. "Hebert here!" he shouted over the battle din around him.

The com-link crackled. "Titan Legion 'Legio Invidia' has landed and is sending aid. Leading elements will reach you shortly. Emperor be Praised," the voice calmly intoned, then the com-link filled with static, inviting no debate or questions. Hebert was not impressed.

"Shortly" to the Guard was either ten minutes or 10 centuries. Hebert returned the com-link. Schenk looked questioningly at Hebert.

"Why are these Guardsmen cowering here, Leutenant? The enimies of the Emperor await their destruction!" Schenk asked, waiving his chainsword at the Ork hoard. A nearby burst anounced that the Orks were in no big hurry to be destroyed. "The warriors of the Emperor will smite them!"

"We are pinned here, Excelency!" Hebert retorted. He was not offended at Schenk's implying that he was a coward. Commisars thought EVERYONE was a coward. Hebert continued, "If we leave these ditches, the Orks weapons will cut us down."

Schenk was unmoved. "No doubt casualties would be high, but a soldier of the Imperial Guard is equal to any 10 greenskins." Too bad we are outnumbered 1000 to 1, Hebert thought.

Schenk was too zealous for Hebert's continued good health.

Hebert retorted, "Soon the bombardment will cease, then the Orks will assault our lines." Hebert patted his Melta-gun. "We will meet them with Rightious Fire! We will stand here...to the last man, if need be, but this line of Guardsmen will NEVER falter." Hebert had the decorations to prove that he was indeed no coward.

Schenk's everpresent frown slackened slightly. Hebert thought he may as well be grinning ear to ear. "I have no doubt of the 23rd's bravery, Leutenant." Hebert was not so sure of that, even though Schenk was there for most of the medals Hebert had won. "And indeed, a life discarded for no gain is a victory for the foe's of the Emperor," Schenk conceded.

Hebert waited for the other shoe to drop. When it did, he was not suprised. "However," Schenk said, "I think this bombardment is mostly for show. We will prepare for an attack." Schenk unholstered his las-pistol. "Ready the men!"

Shouting from the troopers made Hebert and Schenk turn to the rear. Striding purposly forward, banners fluttering in the breeze, was a blue and black Reaver battle Titan of the 'Legio Ividia'

The shuddering of the ground started to lose the randomness of before, and was begining to match the rythmn of the Titan's strides.

Schenk turned back to Hebert. "Ready for the assault now, Leutenant! The Emperor has sent one of his Warrior-Gods to aid us! Our deaths will bring glory to the Emperor!" Schenk's chainsword buzzed to life.

Hebert shouted orders to his men. The Titan's head swept left, then right, searching for a target. The towering Battle Titan passed a mere fifty meters from Hebert, the angry looking head turning its baleful gaze right, then left, close enough that he was lifted a couple of centimeters from the THUD! THUD! THUD! of the Titan's passing. He could see the huge plumes of waste heat spewing from the plasma reactor of the Titan. He could feel the heat of those plumes, too. Everything about even the smaller Titans was impressive, massive on a scale rarely achieved outside spaceship constuction. As Hebert watched, volley after volley of missles lept from the launcher located on the carapace of the Reaver. The missles arched gracefuly toward the Ork's lines. erasing whole masses of them in the bursts of their warheads. The next weapon to speak was the Plasma Blast Gun, on its right side. An Ork vehicle wih huge tires disappeared in the blast of white hot fury. The Guardsmen, erupting from the trenches, cheered, then laughed as a burning tire smashed another vehicle, and sent Orks scattering. The Titan began to flash and spark, as the void shields began to bear the brunt of the Ork's weapons. Green flashes and shimmers anounced each shield overloading and failing. The left side weapon spoke next, announcing the deaths of scores of Orks. The Vulcan Mega-Bolter sounded like a vast sheet of canvas being torn in two. Spent casings cascaded out of the weapons rear, testiment to the weapons volume of fire. The Titan stood motionless for a few seconds, alowing its weapons to wreak their havoc.

Finaly, as it neared the Ork line, a brilliant green flash, and a burst of sparks announced the end of the last void shield. Ork ordinance impacted directly against the adamantium armor of the Titan. Suddenly, a large burst sent debris flying from the Titan. It seemed to sway, then fell on its right knee. The Blastgun swung out at the last second, sending a plasma shell straight into the ground. The attempt to right itself failed, and with an absurd grace, the Titan toppled over on its side. Small flashes at its rear alowed Hebert to shout a warning, barely. The Titan disappeared in a white ball of billowing plasma. Hebert hit the dirt, shielding his eyes. When the heat from the blast faded, he stood again. As he gazed out at the smoldering wreckage, no trace of emotion was betrayed on his face. The laughing, braying chants of the Ork's reached his ears. He turned to Breaux, who's eyes were wide with terror. They destroyed a Titan! One of the Machine-God's prime achievments! His mouth worked like a beached fish.

Hebert could only think of one thing to say. "That is not a good sign," he sighed.