Thanks to Chat GPT for translation. Also note possible changes in names - Freyer to Frir.
The orc airfield was engulfed in flames. Explosions of shells and bombs echoed everywhere. The orcs were running in shock and confusion. They were prepared to fight enemies of flesh and blood, but not fire. The feeling of helplessness drove them mad, and many began slashing and shooting at the flames. Some even fought each other, trying to release the fear that gripped their minds and hearts.
"Madness," the word escaped my lips, for it was the only way to describe the situation.
But I couldn't admire the scene for long as an urgent call came from Frir.
"Buri, it's time to go. The orcs will regain their senses soon. We've done a great deal already; the orcs have lost most, if not all, of their air force. There's nothing more for us to do here."
"What about the infrastructure?"
"Destroyed, or at least severely damaged. It'll take them a long time to recover. It'll be easier for them to build a new airfield than to repair this one."
"Alright. All forces, prepare to retreat. The covering groups, get to work. Frir, maintain a separate communication channel with the rear guard."
"Understood. We'll monitor the enemies until the last moment, then join you. Over and out."
I switched the communication channel and called Rork.
"Rork, we're done. In two hours, you should start pulling back to our defensive line."
"Got it."
After some time, the orcs noticed that the enemy fire was waning until, suddenly, it stopped altogether. They looked around in confusion, unable to comprehend what was happening. Only when the nobz regained control did they realize that the enemy had simply fled. To say the orcs were furious would be an understatement. Their anger grew so intense that it began to manifest physically, thanks to the psykers, who unleashed uncontrolled streams of lightning and an aura of battle madness. This sparked another bloodbath, which only stopped when a heavy orc bomber, carrying the warlord, made a rough landing.
Though not particularly intelligent, the warlord had enough sense to realize that calming the rampaging orcs was futile. There was only one solution: to lead the bloodthirsty orcs into battle. With a clear goal in mind, the orcs quickly organized—if you could even use that word for the bloodthirsty orcs hungry for revenge—and soon a horde of orc vehicles emerged from the ruined airfield.
"Buri, we have a big problem," Frir's voice sounded in my earpiece.
"What happened?"
"Orcs. A lot of orcs. They've started chasing us, and even with the roughest estimates, there are many of them. Too many. Thousands, maybe even two. And that's probably just their fastest forces."
"Damn," I gritted my teeth. "Keep retreating and set up minefields. No direct combat, only quick skirmishes and fast retreats. Do you understand, Frir?"
"Buri, we are too few."
"I know. But we need to buy time, even a second could be valuable. I'll hurry Rork up. Over and out."
Switching to my group's general communication channel, I ordered everyone to speed up. Then I informed Rork that we had probably overdone it, and now a massive green wave was coming for us.
We had to make a short stop to organize another minefield and refuel the empty tanks of our vehicles. While I wandered between the machines, searching for a way out of this situation, I noticed a few regular soldiers dropping mines. A corporal quickly appeared, shouting at his subordinates. That's when I had an idea—reckless mining. Why waste time when we could just scatter the mines on the road and use the tracks made by the heavy machinery?
"Sappers, to me! Immediately!" I gave the order to the nearest officer.
The sappers quickly reached me, and I briefly explained my idea of reckless, or more accurately, outright brazen mining.
"But sir, the mines will be visible. They'll stick out on the ground like grox droppings…" one of the sappers began to protest, but his neighbor elbowed him, signaling that he should watch his language.
"That's not a problem. The orcs are furious and eager to spill our blood as quickly as possible, so we can forget about their scouting and observation. This way, we save time. Digging even a small hole for one mine takes too long. So, just use boards or make some sort of makeshift ramp for the mines. And some of you will ride on trucks alongside the main column, throwing mines as we go."
The sappers quickly made ramps, and after a few test drops, they deemed them satisfactory. We also discussed how to alternate vehicles when the mine supplies ran out. It took some time, but the delay was justified.
"Hmph. Forget about mapping the mines. When the next offensive begins, we'll need to move only after sappers clear the road. Otherwise, we'll blow ourselves up on our own mines," I shook my head and sat on top of a Rhino.
At our positions, Rork was already waiting for me, driving everyone hard, making them carry ammunition, sandbags, and heavy weapons. A quick report showed that he hadn't faced many problems—only a few scratches among the Space Marines, and a platoon of dead and about a company of wounded auxiliaries. A small price for the armageddon we had unleashed on the orcs.
My idea of reckless mining worked, judging by the fact that the fastest orc units on buggies and bikes didn't catch up to us. I received a more detailed report on the mining results when the battered orc vanguard arrived a few hours later. There weren't many of them—vehicles, I mean—and those still operational were packed with orcs to the point where they hung off the sides like grapes, holding onto anything they could.
"Fire," I gave a short command, and all those vehicles became mass graves for the orcs.
A single shot from a lascannon pierced the scrap-metal armor of the orc trucks like paper, killing two or three orcs at once. Rockets turned the enemy vehicles into moving crematoriums, and heavy bolters finished off any survivors lucky enough to live through the first volley.
The first attack was repelled with almost no losses. The packed vehicles were perfect targets. But I didn't relax. This was just the first attack, and if the reports were to be believed, many more orcs were on their way.
"Check your weapons, restock ammunition. Sappers and volunteers, get to the front. We need to reinforce the minefield," my attached signaler began relaying the orders.
"Buri, do you think we can hold here?" Rork approached me, with Frir and Shor standing beside him.
"I hope so. But I have no illusions. We did too good a job, and now, instead of a raid by a large band, it seems like all the local orc forces are attacking our defense sector. I contacted headquarters and requested air support. But the nearest Air Force units are already engaged and too far from us. There's hope that our fleet's orbital group might assist, but they're currently occupied breaking through the orc's anti-air defenses. Auxiliary reinforcements are on their way, but who knows when they'll arrive. This was a calm sector, so we had few reserves," I sighed wearily.
"It's been a long night," Rork shook his head.
"And now it'll be a long day," Frir grinned, while Shor simply bared his teeth in a bloodthirsty smile.