Post by Iris on Nov 25, 2008 17:10:19 GMT -5
This is my entry into a Warhammer story competition. The deadline for the competition is for the 6th of December, so I'm expecting my results near the 10th or so.
“Planetfall”
Operation: “Last Bastion”
The soft humming of the Valkyrie’s engines was the only sound that could be heard. Every member of the drop team sat quietly in the near darkness, they had to keep the lights down in order to prevent the enemy from seeing them, some men were praying to the Emperor, some were contemplating what would happen once the order was given but everyone on board the craft was nervous.
They had been briefed before take off; they had to secure enemy artillery positions to stop them from pounding Imperial advancements.
The vessel gave a small lurch, just some minor turbulence thought Wess, nothing to be worried about. Several previous attempts to bombard the location had failed as enemy flak was so concentrated that it was nearly impossible to hit them accurately and they were too far to be hit by Basilisk rounds.
A soft cough broke the near silence of the cabin; the sergeant motioned everyone to get ready.
“All previous attempts to destroy these positions had failed, we’ve already lost several Marauder’s to traitor anti-air.” Came the sergeant’s words from the briefing. In other words they’ll be coming down hot.
“Stand by, we are nearing the drop zone” The pilot’s voice seemed distant and numb, almost mechanical.
The men checked their black uniforms, making sure pressure helmets were fitted correctly and oxygen flowed constantly, they grabbed their choice of weapons two of them would be equipped with ‘cookers’ just as a fail safe should anything go wrong.
Sergeant Maxwell ‘Grims’ Corfex had forgone his usual lasrifle in favour for an autorifle modified with a silencer; everyone had in order to prevent them from raising the alarm once they landed.
Everyone disliked the old slug firing weapons save for Markus; the unit’s pathfinder. He was used to the old design as he was frequently armed with them as he scouted forward once he landed; it was he who suggested them to the sergeant reasoning that ‘beams of light at night, tend to get you killed.”
Red light
“Alright men get ready, all grav chutes operating?” Every member gave a mute nod to the sergeants question, they all knew what would happen if they didn’t work when they jumped.
“On the signal, Sanders will lead the way, followed by Markus, then go as normal.”
The light began to flash. “Show time everyone.” Wess silently whispered to himself.
Sanders manoeuvred to the doors, activating the doors to open.
“Get ready men, green light and go quickly do-“
The Valkryie was suddenly rocked by an explosion, it was so violent that it knocked Sander off balance and he disappeared into the inky darkness.
“GREEN LIGHT! GO GO GO!” Shouted Maxwell recollecting himself swiftly, at a moment’s notice Markus practically dived out of the ship without a word.
Within seconds it was Wess’ turn to take his leap of faith, heart pumping he shouted “FROM THE SKIES!” and jumped into the darkness.
The air rushed passed Wess, even with his helmet all the sound outside was drowned out by the wailing vortex. Through the cloud cover he could see his friends ahead of them, he could see the flashes of the enemy artillery; even now they bombarded his brothers in arms. But worse he could now see enemy flak, tracers once distant zipped passed him, he had to try and manoeuvre away from them.
With a twist of his arms he was able to spiral away from most of the danger, not all of it, all the while the darkness of the ground getting closer.
The man directly ahead of him was unexpectedly hit a by one of the shells, his body consumed by a sphere of light and smoke, something Wess was going to pass through.
Blood splatter covered his helmet; in horror Wess could see parts of the man still falling down. He couldn’t spare a thought for the man any longer, he had to activate the chute, if he didn’t he’d be injured upon landing or worse.
As he activated his chute, he felt his body slow down. The ground becoming increasingly visible and the ruined buildings of once wondrous hive city, now scarred by the war.
It had only taken him fifty seconds from the Valkyrie transport to touch the ground, ten seconds to check his position and guess where the rest of his unit was. Out of the corner of his eye he could see feint outlines of faceless traitors, activating his night vision Wess would wait, he would take his time to contact his sergeant, take his time to observe enemy movement.
Because it was only a matter of time before he would deliver the Emperor’s justice.
“Planetfall”
Operation: “Last Bastion”
The soft humming of the Valkyrie’s engines was the only sound that could be heard. Every member of the drop team sat quietly in the near darkness, they had to keep the lights down in order to prevent the enemy from seeing them, some men were praying to the Emperor, some were contemplating what would happen once the order was given but everyone on board the craft was nervous.
They had been briefed before take off; they had to secure enemy artillery positions to stop them from pounding Imperial advancements.
The vessel gave a small lurch, just some minor turbulence thought Wess, nothing to be worried about. Several previous attempts to bombard the location had failed as enemy flak was so concentrated that it was nearly impossible to hit them accurately and they were too far to be hit by Basilisk rounds.
A soft cough broke the near silence of the cabin; the sergeant motioned everyone to get ready.
“All previous attempts to destroy these positions had failed, we’ve already lost several Marauder’s to traitor anti-air.” Came the sergeant’s words from the briefing. In other words they’ll be coming down hot.
“Stand by, we are nearing the drop zone” The pilot’s voice seemed distant and numb, almost mechanical.
The men checked their black uniforms, making sure pressure helmets were fitted correctly and oxygen flowed constantly, they grabbed their choice of weapons two of them would be equipped with ‘cookers’ just as a fail safe should anything go wrong.
Sergeant Maxwell ‘Grims’ Corfex had forgone his usual lasrifle in favour for an autorifle modified with a silencer; everyone had in order to prevent them from raising the alarm once they landed.
Everyone disliked the old slug firing weapons save for Markus; the unit’s pathfinder. He was used to the old design as he was frequently armed with them as he scouted forward once he landed; it was he who suggested them to the sergeant reasoning that ‘beams of light at night, tend to get you killed.”
Red light
“Alright men get ready, all grav chutes operating?” Every member gave a mute nod to the sergeants question, they all knew what would happen if they didn’t work when they jumped.
“On the signal, Sanders will lead the way, followed by Markus, then go as normal.”
The light began to flash. “Show time everyone.” Wess silently whispered to himself.
Sanders manoeuvred to the doors, activating the doors to open.
“Get ready men, green light and go quickly do-“
The Valkryie was suddenly rocked by an explosion, it was so violent that it knocked Sander off balance and he disappeared into the inky darkness.
“GREEN LIGHT! GO GO GO!” Shouted Maxwell recollecting himself swiftly, at a moment’s notice Markus practically dived out of the ship without a word.
Within seconds it was Wess’ turn to take his leap of faith, heart pumping he shouted “FROM THE SKIES!” and jumped into the darkness.
The air rushed passed Wess, even with his helmet all the sound outside was drowned out by the wailing vortex. Through the cloud cover he could see his friends ahead of them, he could see the flashes of the enemy artillery; even now they bombarded his brothers in arms. But worse he could now see enemy flak, tracers once distant zipped passed him, he had to try and manoeuvre away from them.
With a twist of his arms he was able to spiral away from most of the danger, not all of it, all the while the darkness of the ground getting closer.
The man directly ahead of him was unexpectedly hit a by one of the shells, his body consumed by a sphere of light and smoke, something Wess was going to pass through.
Blood splatter covered his helmet; in horror Wess could see parts of the man still falling down. He couldn’t spare a thought for the man any longer, he had to activate the chute, if he didn’t he’d be injured upon landing or worse.
As he activated his chute, he felt his body slow down. The ground becoming increasingly visible and the ruined buildings of once wondrous hive city, now scarred by the war.
It had only taken him fifty seconds from the Valkyrie transport to touch the ground, ten seconds to check his position and guess where the rest of his unit was. Out of the corner of his eye he could see feint outlines of faceless traitors, activating his night vision Wess would wait, he would take his time to contact his sergeant, take his time to observe enemy movement.
Because it was only a matter of time before he would deliver the Emperor’s justice.
