Heroes of the Empire

by Nathanael J Lilly

"Our Deaths bring Glory to the Emperor!"

Hek pressed himself into the rubble, piling chunks of concrete and rock in front of him.  Incoming fire cracked off hard cover and sank into softer surfaces with a dull thump.  Hek slowly raised his head to look at the ground before him.  Sixty meters of broken, wide-open courtyard flanked by broken, crumbling walls.  Darkened by an overhanging roof supported on scarred and pitted columns, it was impossible to tell how many cultists lay sheltered within, each eagerly awaiting their chance to end Heks life.  There! A pillar had fallen out into the courtyard and offered shelter from the entrance but remained within grenade range.

“Sergeant, that pillar...”

“I see it Vorno.”  The Sergeant had to shout over the sound of automatic weapons.  ”Alright, we make for that fallen pillar, Vorno, Tripps you're with me.  Skarpov and the rest covering fire, you know the drill, on my signal.”

Hek looked at the squad, six men.  Sgt. Caal, Ona, Tripps, Skarpov on the plasmagun, Harold and Chen; Ripper had been sent back to company HQ for orders.  Yuri had stepped on a landmine, and the Heavy weapon team had been reassigned to a heavy squad.

“Ready, NOW!”

Hek sprang forward, running as fast as he could over the uneven ground.  A rookie would have screamed while rushing, Hek knew better.  Screaming only drew the enemy’s attention to you instead of to anyone else, generally something to be avoided.  Hek dove to the shelter of the pillar smashing his knee and gashing his hand on stones.  During the rush, Hek had noticed several other squads and a squad of space marines, all attacking the gatehouse.  The Space Marines had advance to the wreck of a burning land speeder and were pouring fire into the entryway.  Furthermore the Marines seemed to be receiving most of the incoming fire.

Seconds after reaching the pillar Sgt. Caal ordered, “Covering fire.”

Hek sprang into action, firing as rapidly as the lasgun would allow, and ducked back into cover a split second before the rest of the squad reached the pillar.  With the squad gathered Sgt. Caal called for grenades.  Hek grabbed at a Grenade hanging from his LBE and armed it.

”Skarpov and Tripps covering fire.  NOW!”

Waited just long enough for Skarpov and Tripps to begin firing before he stood to throw.  As Hek and the rest of the squad stood to throw Tripps fell back in a spray of blood and lay still.  While Hek was throwing, the knee he had smashed
buckled.  The grenade went wide to the right.  With the grenades away the squad again, dove for cover; no sooner had they reached it then a dozen screaming cultists streamed out of the gateway, wildly firing their assorted weapons.  Hek watched as they were butchered in a hail boltshot.  Sgt. Caal seeing the opportunity shouted.   ”Advance right!  Watch the crater on
the far right.”

Hek and the squad rushed the last few meters without taking any more fire.  With their backs to the wall the squad chucked grenades into the gatehouse through and available hole.  Immediately following the explosion the squad rushed through the entrance, kicking weapons from prone figures and shooting the ones that moved.  The squad swept through the room and took positions at three doors exiting the room.  Hek rushed to the far doorway on the north end of the room and took up a
prone firing position.  Hek found himself with Sgt. Caal watching for a sign of activity.  But again an overhanging roof shadowed the building across this courtyard.  Hek noticed a reflecting pool running the length and sheltered alcoves along the walls.  Moments later other friendly elements entered the gatehouse and split off to advance through the doorways east west and north.

A Sgt. knelt next to Hek and asked, “Activity?”

Hek replied “Nothing” without even looking at the Sgt. who asked.  Now Hek briefly glanced at the squad about to move forward.  Immediately he noticed their weapons had not been subdued.  Fresh, Hek thought, they hadn’t realized the shinny
metal reflects light and draws attention, greatly increasing one’s chances of being killed.  The Sgt. signaled for the squad to advance in a line abreast.  They hadn’t made it halfway across the courtyard when Hek heard the unmistakable hallow metallic
thump of a grenade launcher.  Simultaneous with the explosion and geyser of water the sound of lasguns and heavy bolters erupted.  One of the soldiers made it back alive seconds later, shot through the helmet and bleeding for lacerations to his leg.  He collapsed in the doorway and Hek hauled him in by the belt and resumed his firing position.  Sounds of fighting to the east and west told Hek that the gatehouse complex was still contested.  Hek prepared for a counter-attack.