War is the unending sacrifice of untold billions to keep the imperium afloat. The time has come to take on the offensive once more and eradicate the eldar's presence. Commissar Ironfang has made the preparations set in stone. The guard are now marching towards the valley, designated as Primoris Valle. This large Valley is important for a reason, it's the only quick passage to the eldar's (real) HQ. It's mountains were soared high majestically, the valkyrie gunship would reach maximum its limit.
Col. Trajan ordered the 1st heavy infantry company to march within the valley. To counter any potential ambush, Commissar Ironfang instructed the catachan jungle fighters to go ahead of the 1st company. To set up traps for the eldar and has specific orders to not engage the eldar base camp. If they however spotted any eldar rangers then the catachans are free to hunt their enemy.
Castor came out of the erected medicinal tent. Walking while stretching his new mechanical arm for better maneuverability. That giant bird cutted through the sinewed muscle fibers of his arm. Rendering it unusable for the majority of the campaign. Hence, they ordered the mechanicus, techpriest to replace it with a new, lobotomized cybernetic arm.
Wandering around the encampment of soldiers, busy with mandatory drills. The many troops parading themselves looks like a procession as they march to their chimeras. Catachan jungle fighters sharpening theirs to prepare the inevitable guerrilla fight with the eldar. Strolling around to find his squad.
A wonderful pungent smell that caught my attention and followed where it resonate. Once I've reached to where the fragrance come from, I find myself in a line of guardsman waiting for the chef to give them a freshly warm grox burger. Castor hasn't ate a decent meal since he arrived at Achilles. I took the grox burgers when it came to my turn. Slurping in delight, I paused for a minute and and the first thing that Castor remembers is an old friend who would die and eat 10 of these. Then takes a big bite from it — finishing as fast as he can while savouring its taste.
Upon finishing the burger he quickly realized that he was under 2 minutes late. He hurriedly dash towards the armory and dresses himself in cheap flak camouflage armor. All while getting a lasgun, a scope, two frag grenades and 3 battery packs including a las pistol in case he the lasgun was damaged. Before he could leave the armory, a catachan caught me by the shoulder and offered me a combat knife. At first I was quite baffled that a catachan would seemingly give me his knife.
So I asked "Is it for canned rations?" Castor jokingly said.
"No, It's somethin' to keep your skin safe in case you got yourself another handicap." The catachan fellow replied. He puts it in my hand and left with a lasgun on his back.
Castor unsheathed the knife and by the emperor it looks shiny. Fiddling the edges with the tip of my fingers, I can tell that this small knife is sharp as if it could cut an orks thoat. He lost his previous knife when the giant bird attacked him, satisfied and grateful that the God-Emperor has bestowed him a useful utility.
Sheathing it back and placed it at the thigh of his leg, Castor makes a run for it. He had been already late for his squads orientation and would have Commissar Ironfang pissed if he didn't make in time. When he reached to his squad's tent though, all he saw was Domitian lounging with his helm covering his face.
As well as 5 other guardsman that were sitting around erected tent they've set up — doing activities at their own accord. Searching around my surroundings, I walk to Domitian who was sound asleep in a chair bend slightly for better elevation. His entire tent seemed empty and they only have 40 minutes left for departure.
"Domitian, where is the rest of the squad and who are these scrubs?" Castor asked Domitian who was now awake.
"*Snort* Oh well these are the new members of the squad. They were sent here by Commissar Ironfangs orders. Hey fellas, come and introduce yourself to Cpl. Lorr. The second in command." Domitian responded and yells at the other guard.
"My names Brodrick Nesin." The man who was shaving his beard was the first to introduce himself. He seems well built for a newcomer, although he is technically new since he was serving the guard for only 1 month.
"I'm Frohock Louvina... Nice to meet you Corporal." A girl shyly spoke after Nesin. Judging from her age, she must be around 18-19 years old.
"Staton." Then a man who was doing push-ups only uttered his name and proceeded to mind his own business.
"Imperial Guard Medic, Rawne Bookmiller at your service." A man with round glasses saluted to Castor. Judging from the book he was holding — along with a medi-kit. He still seems to be a newly recruited guard like Nesin and Louvina. It was a good thing that we have a medic on our squad.
"And the names Brad Valencio but you can call me Brad cause in my hive, we address ourselves with our first names." Then a man that sounded narcissistic but friendly at the same time. He has a blond hair that is uptight. "Hey, you got yourself a nice mech-arm. What do you do with it? Jerk off at a pict to Frohock there?" He added, putting his muscular arm at me. Pointing his finger to Louvina as she withdraws her gaze. Seeing a flush of redness that appears on her face.
"Don't mess with him Valencio, unless you want a broken face." Bookmiller remarked.
"C'mon Rawne. We talked about this. Call me Brad man." Brad Valencio respond with a snarky attitude. Brad went to Bookmiller and started to rub his fist on the poor recruit.
Castor looked at Domitian with a confused and reluctant face. He returned with a smile on his gaze and grabs the small instrument with smooth curves that was next to him. Then plays it as if nothing happened.
"Domitian, where are the others?" Castor gave him a small inquiry.
"The Sarge went to the command post just to report. Czevak on the other hand, got off to the parts and service just to grab some tools to fix the sentinel while Felix... made a his way to the mess for a grox burger." Domitian explained everything in detail. Still playing that stringed instrument he was fiddling with. I take in a deep breath and dropped my things. Taking out the wooden figures he had been carving. He wants to test out the new arm if it didn't degrade his carving skills. Although the new mechanical was somewhat of an improvement, which makes him all the more anxious as he smoothly carves his way through the timbre.
1900 hours
It was the dead of night and troop are marching in single columns. Each column comprise of one squad 10 soldiers each. Escorting the machines of war, rumbling the earth as both mechanized wheels drive through the Valley. Skitarii rangers were walking among the guardsman except they are only 3-7 yards away.
Scowering their cogitators as they scan through the bark and grass to search for any eldar. Always so vigilant and ready for a potential ambushed. Castor marched his way alongside a leman russ tank beside as well as my squad. Sgt. Anya was the first and I was at the second while Czevak drives ahead of us. Sipping the recaf as he continues the symphony of the march. Hovering above us were the endless valkyrie gunship — soaring the skies as they cover the guard with their shadows. Carrying with them a multitude of elite soldiers that could withstand toe to toe with an eldar warp spider.
We've been doing this process for 2 hours, only catching our breaths when needed. The agony of just walking through a terrain of rocky roadways makes all the more unbearable to endure. Even the leman russ tanks, the basilisk artillery as well as the sentinels were almost out of promethium but alas we've finally reached our destination.
The eldar hub is merely 20 miles away and yet I still question to my as the veracity of the Colonels judgement to send their most potent of troops to be dispatch such a remote place. The intel we've received from our briefings tells us that this is the only stronghold that the eldar have from what the scouts that made it alive. Most of whom were regular guardsman such as myself while the minority of them were catachan jungle fighters. The poor bastards never made it out alive.
We've set some trenches that we could fall back to and 2 platoons were assign to dig up trenches while the rest of the army waits until the once the barb wires are in place. My platoon was one of them and we finally went to work.
While Castor was digging a hole with his hand shovel; he paused for a moment and stares blankly at the bright red lights that vehicles display at a slow pace. Wondering if they have what it takes to fight off the cunning eldar. Then the lights stop and I could hear a ear piercing noised that came from behind me.
I turn around and saw the basilisk were already raining down barrage of flames erupting within the its giant muzzle. There was brief ringing sound when I faintly heard the Lt. Korey's squawking as she holds her screams to the guards holding shovels. The ringing stopped and all I could hear was the Lt. Korey was yelling to every guardsman to hurry and finish digging the trench. I immediately started digging while the basilisk endlessly fire rounds after rounds of shells flying in the air.
*****
Eldar HQ
Autarch Frakon was scrutinizing the holo map made entirely out of crystals was in front of him while sipping to the fermented drink that he brewed to himself. Nothing was more relaxing than see the Mon'Keigh fall in his trap to eliminate their presence in order for their craftworlds survival. He then see a peculiar color that resembles an enemy that he has not encounter for many months. Out of the 2,500 years of his experience.
This one made Frakon to put his tea down as he takes a closer look at the red dot in the holo map crystal. His eyes were wide open like a swollen bruise. His heart beats uncontrollably whilst he breathing was heavy. Then the red dot drop to the ground north of their base. Far away from the approaching humans.
Frakon now sprung up his seat in jubilation as the joy of the enemy that has a more beast like nature has arrived at the planet. Showing off an eerie smile, Frakon puts on his Banshee mask and turns around to face Farseer Ylgard. He already knew what he was thinking and gave him a nod. The greenskins have arrived.
"If we let them fight off and not be involve whilst they battle to the death then we might win this, Ylgard!" Autarch Frakon said ecstatically as he puts his hand to the farseer's shoulders.
"Yes, and it would be a brutal slaughter on both sides..." Farseer Ylgard said expressionlessly.
"I shall order an immediate retreat. You should hurry and-" Before Frakon could finish, there was a large rock that crashed landed right at the hanger bay. Which shocked Frakon. Looking at the debris; he can tell that it destroyed most of the transport ships. This caused Frakons heart to ache as he can see his fellow eldar being slaughtered one by one from the greenskin. "Ylgard! Quickly send a transmission to the corsair fleet and order as many transport ships as they can!" He screamed.
"I am on it!" Ylgard responded as he psychically use his telepathy to connect to the corsair fleet.
Frakon Hurriedly grabs his power sword — positioning it to his waist, along with the shuriken pistol. Then jumps out of the balcony as he flies to the night sky. His swooping wings were of rainbowed colored. Descending to the ground, slashing through any ork that could move. Saving multiple eldar aspect warriors. Frakon was calm and fought efficiently as he kills greenskin after greenskin. Then sensed the presence of a warlock nearby. It was warlock Esarroth and she unleash a psychic wave of fire — burning the greenskins alive. Then all the other aspect warriors have now taken arms to fight alongside the Autarch. He felt an immense amount of pride that dwell within him. Frakon draws his blade and raises it to the sky to summon a wave of flaming fire that lights up the night sky.
****
Castor lifts the shovel and toss over a pile of dirt over. The ground was steep as I kept digging the soft soil. Bending myself to dig more dirt; at least my new arm doesn't tire out from all the work. Despite there being a large light that is reminiscent to your average street lamp — it's brightness is dim.
I barely see my feet as I effortlessly gibe the ground with my crude excavation. Then an a large meteoroid came falling down the sky as it cascade an appearance of a giant fireball. Following it is another meteor but this one crashed landed on the eldar homebase. Brad even humors it as a good shot like an easy kill.
Everyone muttering to themselves as they continue to work their way burrow the almost finished trench. Although the it may not be the imperials that destroyed the eldar base but Castor has mix feelings. Same as the first eldar base that we won.
"Lt. Korey! This is Commissar Ironfang! Order the artillery to fire!" Ironfang yelled in the vox-caster.
"Right away Commissar! *Whistling*" Lt. Korey then pulls out his whistle then orders a bombardment to the eldar base.
They have been firing the eldar for sometime in order to deplete their holo-field but thanks to the sudden arrival of the meteor. The basilisk artillery started spraying rounds monotonously. I covered my ears due to the sheer cacophony that it displays. Rubbing my ears, I vaguely see a wave coming towards us. Then one of the Skitarii bellowing to Lt. Korey.
"We have detected the presence of an ork attack. Proceed with protocol." The Skitarii said in a cold robotic voice.
"Orks?! *Whistle* Everyone to your positions! Take cover on the trenches! You there, pilot the sentinel and shoot any ork fiend that you see!" Lt. Korey
"Looks like we're going to see some real action! I've been meaning to see what these monsters look like!" Brad Valencio said in excitement.
Castor quickly picks up his lasgun and puts himself on a firing position. He calmly breathes as he aims at the darkness that the LED light could reach. But all of a sudden the LED lights were shot dead as sparks flickered and flew around it. He hears some heavy breathing next to me — it was Louvinas nervous puffing.
I reassured her by putting my mechanical arm on her shoulder. She gave me a nod as a response and I smiled back to her. Staton was already shooting — using his long las to get a headshot on the orks. The long las was the equivalent to a sniper rifle. A modified version to the average lasgun but kicks more devastating punch. Then I can see the green tide coming ever closer. When the orks were in line of sight. A wall of red lights fire upon the greenskin.
"C'mon you big green buggars! I've got plenty!" A guard who has heavy-bolter firing briskly at the Orks.