Chapter 1: New faces, old enemies

The guardsman turns back to Trip, Diego and the other members of 4th, confusion evident in his voice.

"I don't understand. I told Holt to signal base for reinforcements, and he did. Then you turned up. Obviously you're the reinforcements, right?"

It had almost been a massacre. Viktor pulled the last dog tag from from the dead of his squad, the trooper had been split from shoulder to almost his groin by some orc blade. The majority of the rest of his squad similarly butchered. His first engagement with the enemy the orc, they were poor shots he grimly noted as only one of his squad had been killed by gun fire.

It had been quite frankly horrific.

Upon reaching the farm between the mountains it had become quickly apparent to Viktor that they had walked into a trap. He hadn't expected orcs to be cunning, that wasn't in the manual. The enemy approached from both ends of the valley, trapping his men at the farm. Knowing other squads were nearby he'd sent Holt up the mountain slope to try and warn approaching units. A system of improvised flags was all Viktor could think of, they'd used some bed sheets from the farm house. It was probably the reason Holt was alive.

Viktor pockets the last dog tag and turns to address the remains of 4th squad, two troopers; Arkandi and vox tech Oblonsky. Holt hadn't yet returned from his vantage point, he hoped he survived. He felt a failure and it was a moment before he raised his head and spoke. "We need to move out quickly, focus on that. To get out of this we need to link up with a unit spotted to the south of this farm." he tried to keep it simple his people were in shock, all of them green. Viktor stabs his arm in the direction they need to go for emphasis. "Move out troo..."


"Sarge look" Oblonsky interrupted pointing back up the trail.

Damn not a second attack Viktor thought as he turned. They were still a hundred or so metres out but they were clearly not orcs, no the 'cavalry' had arrived and they had an ogryn which would surely even cause an orc to pause for thought. Turning back to his remaining troops he was about to order them to straighten up and look smart, but looking at them he really didn't have the heart at this point. "Well spotted." he said to Oblonsky. "Right, looks like help is on its way. I want eyes on either side of the farm in case we need to provide covering fire." It took a moment for his words to get through the shock so he added a helpful "Snap to it."

With his troops deployed he stands waiting to greet the new squad as they moved in, he'd heard 2nd squad had an ogryn so he assumed it was them. While he waited he tried to smarten his beard down but it was flecked in green orc blood, he was only making it worse. Damned it he thought giving up.

Trip stared at the trooper for a moment. "What. Do. The. Gukking. Different Colors. Of the Gukking Flags. Mean, chief? We were not briefed, and if we have to keep gukking using them, it would be nice to know."

Bigguns could read Trip's tone, even if he didn't quite follow the dialogue. It's not that he was too stupid to follow it, but more than his mind was preoccupied on the best way to pile orks. Should one do it like a fire, stacked and touching in the middle? Or perhaps like a log cabin? They would burn faster that way, and he remembered that burning Ork bodies was realllllly important. Couldn't remember why, but knew it had to be done.

So, when he heard the tone change, he gave the trooper a hard look to back up Trip. It wasn't as threatening as say, "I am going to kill you slow enough for you to watch," but it did give the vibe of, "speak soon, friendo."

Torch rests her arms on her flamer as she watches Trip and the other guardsmen go back and forth. She wondered if these grunts waved their flags at the orks as they charged too. She wanted to know what was up with the flags, so was half-listening, but had a curious feeling the guardsmen wasn't going to divulge that information just yet.

"Doesn't seem like anyone's in a rush to tell us that, do they trip?" She says it a low voice, probably loud enough for the guardsmen to hear but she doesn't care.

Pak rested his hand on his sling and was squinting, staring absent-mindedly into a nearby forest. Torch let out a sigh and looked to sarge.

"Can we set up a perimeter or something? We are sitting ducks on this road here."

She shifts the flamer in its sling uncomfortably, scanning the treeline and mountains for any sign of more greenskins...

Holt looks at the flag in each hand, one white the other red "Red means danger right, its what sergeant Ivanov said, tried to warn you there are orcs about." the trooper looks back at the figure standing at ease, waiting patiently a short distance away. "We've been hit pretty bad" he adds quietly.

+++++++++++++++++++

Viktor squints against the glare of the snow as he watches the other squad, they had paused and were speaking to a trooper with flags... Holt. A small smile touches his lips, he was glad he didn't need to retrieve another dog tag. This was no time for chatting out in the open though. Las-carbine at the ready Viktor jogs up the path, closing the distance until he could speak without overly shouting.

"Holt, fall in. I want eyes on the route on the other side of the farm." he commands with a voice that expected to be obeyed "Arkandi and Oblonsky have the other sides"

With Holt running back to the farm he looks over 2nd squad "I'm sergeant Ivanov, 4th Squad." he scans the mountains on either side of the valley as he speaks "Suggest you set up a perimeter at the farm ASAP and I can fill you in as we go".

"Well met, sergeant. I'm Tamara, but you can call me Torch."

She flashes a wide grin. It was good to see a friendly face after their encounter with the orks. Besides she got a sense that Ivanov might - juuust might, if they were lucky - know what the shit he was doing.

Torch raises her voice and turns to the rest of the squad.

"C'mon you dirt-napping hee hee boys, you heard the man, let's move!"

She didn't usually bark orders, but she had a feeling Alek was just gonna sit there looking pretty until someone did. She felt awfully eager to get a perimeter set up...

Trip takes a deep breath and nods. This kid didn't have the slightest understanding about these flags either, but knowing that was some condolence.

"Red mean 'dead.' Got it. Thanks, Holt." He caught the kid's name from the approaching NCO. Trip had already decided that he liked Holt a whole lot more than whoever the fuck this unit was - Sergeant Ivanov, apparently - and in that moment he realized he liked Segeant Ivanov a lot more than Alek and the idiot.

"Roger that, Torch," he said with a nod to Bigguns. He would gladly follow Torch instead of any of the NCOs he was sure would get them all killed.

Bigguns, upon hearing Ivanov's rank, immediately hit a crisp salute. It didn't matter that one did not salute non-commissioned officers. Those niceties were lost on Bigguns.

"Sergeant Ivanov, you in charge now? Sergeant Alek goin' on break, sir?" Oh, it also didn't matter that one did not refer to an NCO as "sir." Cut Bigguns a break though, all right?

Diego sighs and puts the pack of lhos back in his pocket. He scratched at his neck a bit, the urge to thrill riding high into his mind. He shook it off as best he could for the time being. Combat had a way of giving him the adrenaline rush he needed, but it was getting harder and harder to quench the urge.

"I'll get my eyes up front as usual. Moving out," Diego said, picking up his rifle and slinging it over his shoulder.

Pascal tags along behind him, patting him on the back.

"You alright, amigo? Not lookin' so hot, huh?"

"I'm fine, just fine. Worry about yourself a bit more Pasky. We are in the middle of a shit sandwich, pendejo. I know when to keep it in check."

Gear jogs up to walk by Tamara, Giggles follows him but stays back a few feet.

"Hey...so uh..." he says as he puf out another breath of lho.
"Its kinda cold here. You got any activities to warm up here? Im privy to steaming up the back of a chimera cab."
He smiles at his tactless come on.

"I guess killing orks works too, not as fun though." he says with a dumb smile.

For the time being, it seemed as though the orks would remain quiet as the group didn't hear any roaring coming from any direction. That felt odd, considering the orks were pressing down recently. Why would they just sit back?

It wasn't long before the group spotted a runner from the same direction they'd just come from. He sprinted through the trees as speed, jumping over frozen logs and weaving in and out with the agility of a fox. Comms being in the shape that they were meant they were sending runners and waving flags. Not the best given the circumstances.

He came up the group panting and put his hands on his knees. It was a while before he spoke, but eventually he looks up and searches around the group, finally finding the person he'd been looking for.

"Sergeant Ivanov, new orders from the LT. Attacks have been a diversion. Real target was the promethium factory in Sector 12. Straight shot on the other side of the forest."

He panted in between words and then took a drink from his canteen.

"Sergeant Alek, you're needed back at base. Ivanov's in charge here now."

He handed a paper to the Sergeant and then nodded his head to the group. Turning around, he sprinted off back towards the base of operations, scurrying through the trees once again at speed.

Sergeant Alek looked stunned at the news. He'd just been linked up with this new lot and now he was to just go back? He shook his head and put his face into his palm.

"Those higher-up feths. No clue what they are doing. A wonder this place hasn't been taken completely by the Orks. Feth me," he said, looking out at the others. He took out a lho and lit it.

"Thanks for the short pleasure, ladies and gents. Guess this is where we part ways. Come on, Blunder. Get ready to get on back to base."

Trip didn't say anything as Alek made his exit. He was too busy wondering what in the hell feral orks were doing employing such a grand strategy.

"Ferals hitting us with diversionary tactics to take out a promethium factory? That sound right to anyone?" Something felt off.

Nearby, Bigguns laughed. "Heh, yeah. Because country orks are dumb. Not smart orks like the ones what fly in space. You know, I had a thought. I think it might be close to lunch time."

As Bigguns decided it was time to take a snack break, Trip called out to the runner. "So, what are the new orders then?"

The runner stops short before heading back the way he'd come. He scratched his head and looked up.

"Ah, right. Well get to the promethium factory. That's where they are sending units now. Straight shot through the forest."

He points one way and then changes course, pointing his finger a different way.

"That way."

Ivanov frowned unhappily; these orcs were cunning beyond measure, they were now using diversions. He’d read his infantry primer manual multiple times from cover to cover; the orc foe were supposed to be simple savages. He wondered what else was incorrect for whatever reason in the book.

He raised an eyebrow as Aleks’ was given his new orders and he gave a quick eye across his new unit to see their reaction to this unexpected change. For himself Ivanov took it in his stride, he was used to new students coming his way every year, this was really no different. It was just a new bunch of faces and names for him to remember and personalities for him to work with. Water off a ducks back he thought.

“No it does not Denisovich.” Invanov replies to Trip using his surname. “Orc’s being cunning certainly isn’t in my manual. Just goes to show we need to stay on our toes and not underestimate the enemy.” Ivanov stamped his feet to keep the cold out “Right you are Bigguns, good idea. Holt, Arkandi keep watch while someone gets a brew on. We’ll move out in 15.”

He lights up another Lho stick, forgetting that he had finished the last not 30 seconds prior.

"By brew you mean some brewski's? or recaf."
After a second of awkward stares, he follows it up with "Its important."

The runner sprinted off after any other questions given by the squad, back in the direction of the base. He was just passing along orders, but things were beginning to seem off. Clever orks? Seemed too much like a paradox. Everyone was able to grab a little rest and relaxation even if it was only for a short 15 minutes.

Before long though, it was time to head off into the forest, the simple patrol mission scrapped for something going on at one of the promethium factories on the other side of the forest. Orks weren't good with diversionary tactics, but they'd been able to do stranger things before. The squad found themselves quickly surrounded on all sides by the bit of flora on the ice world of Guchov. The trees had adapted well to the climate and actually had leaves on them despite the frigid cold. Things unseen skittered around the forest, insects and animals making way for the squad as they trudged through the ever-thickening forest.

Looking overhead, the squad saw a Valkyrie heading back towards base. The sound of its engines roars for a moment. And then out of the forest, a rokkit screams through the air, smashing into the side of the Valkyrie. Thankfully, it didn't outright explode, but it did begin to go down, faster and faster, breaking into the trees and coming to a rest in a cacophony of twisted metal and splintering trees.

By estimates, it came down some 500 meters to the west of the squad's current position. It hadn't outright exploded into a million pieces, but there was still no telling if anyone aboard had survived.

Navigation Roll:

[Farm]

After the short break for a ‘brew’ which Ivanov sternly told Blonsky was of course for recaf he ordered his new unit to fall in. He walked the line taking names and any special training any of the troopers had. He ignored any nick names that were given and started addressing everyone by their surname. “Ok, we move out in a moment.” Ivanov looks over his people “We’ll take up a patrol line, 10m spacing. Point will be rotated, Blonsky you’re up first. Bigguns and Volkov you have the centre.” He gives a haunted look about the farm and his previous dead unit one last time “Ok, lets move out, Blonsky you’re up“

Sergeant Ivanov was almost lecturing in his tone, but he came across confident and sure of his orders.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Enroute to Promethium Plant]

Ivanov considers what he’d just seen for a moment as the Valkyrie fell from the sky, working it quickly through. The craft had crashed nearby, he’d have thought the crew were likely dead or severely injured. He also thought whatever enemy had shot it down were also likely close and that it would be tardy to leave such an enemy alone to shoot down more of pdf aircraft. Perhaps the orcs would try and loot it?

He holds up his arm to halt the patrol and snaps his arm out in the direction the craft went down “We check the crash site, try and find the rocket team that shot it down.” If the orcs were looting he hoped to ambush them so best to arrive after them “Keep it slow moving in and stay alert.”

[Farm]

Trip preferred Ivanov refer to him by his last name. They weren't friends after all - he was a stranger, and a non-com to boot. He definitely would have taken offense otherwise. He nodded at the orders and stayed back to check his weapons and gear. He also made sure to check Bigguns gear as well.

Emperor knew the Ogryn wasn't going to remember to do it. After that, he got a quick bite and some caffeine and relieved himself against a farm house. So did Bigguns.

...it sounded like a pressure hose was hitting the side of the farm house. Bigguns made sure to stand right near Trip and laughed a bit when his stream took some of the paint off the wall.

When they were good to go, they fell into their marching orders. Not before Trip made his way to Torch, though.

"I don't like this shit at all. Pig hunt turned into an assault on a Prom-factory. Two non-comms in the time it took to sneeze. Right now, I am looking to you to keep our six secure. Me and the Big Guy got yours."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Moving Out]

Trip watched as the Valkyrie fell from the sky. Feral orks with rockets? Right. Things had changed in a BIG way and they all knew it now.

He listened for the new orders and nodded. Meanwhile, Bigguns was deep in thought. It looked like... well, it almost looked like he was having a flash of insight. He seemed to be retracing the path of the Valkyrie with his index finger and moving it to where he thought the crash site was.

"I bet I can find that flyer, Trip. I think I know where it went. I can save the little'uns in it, sir." The last bit was directed at Ivanov.

Ivanov looked up at Bigguns, he had no experience of ogryns other than seeing them afar under their own training regimes at boot camp. He could not help but be slightly intimidated by the slab of muscle that dwarfed him. He had heard that they were loyal to the extreme, clearly suited to war but not the brightest. As Biggun's seemed eager to go in the direction the sergeant also thought the craft had come down in he didn't see a problem with the ogryn leading the way. If it kept the beast happy Ivanov was all for it until he worked out how the ogryn ticked.

Ivanov addressed the whole squad but kept glancing with emphasis at the ogryn to make sure he was on board "The orcs will likely plunder, we move in slow and hopefully they arrive first and we ambush them is what I hope. If the enemy aren't there we form a perimeter as though we expect them to be in short order. Either way we need to take out that missile team, stay alert." he turn to Biggun's with an air of gravity "Ok trooper, lead on."

Bigguns took the lead as the squad moved gingerly through the ever-thickening forest. The big ogryn might not have been the sharpest tool in the shed, but he saw exactly where the Valkyrie had gone down. Everyone falls in line behind the big guy, with the ratlings taking up a spot close to the front.

"Dis shit don't make no sense, esse," Diego said, scratching his head. "Ferals? Nah, no way jose, not even a little bit."

Pascal checked their equipment as they walked, making sure everything was ready. Likely a team shooting down aircraft would have a big target to aim at. The spotter wanted to be ready.

"Just keep your eyes open, no? No telling what we are going to see."

+++++

Eventually, the squad begins to edge closer and closer to the site of the downed ship. It was easy to see because of the snapped branches and broken trees. It had made quite a clear path through the trees, but still the squad was cautious. There was no telling where the orks that took the bird down would be located.

(OOC: Need +20 Awareness Tests from everyone.)

Bigguns looked confused when Ivanov ordered him on point. He looked as though he was about to point to himself for clarification, but Trip stepped up and slapped him on the forearm. "Not a problem, Git. We got this. Just head where you think they are. We got your back. And remember, try and stay quiet all right?"

Bigguns nodded back without speaking. That was the best way to stay quiet, after all.

After a while, he spots the wreckage and looks back at the squad with a huge smile on his face. Still, he says nothing. One word from him, even a whisper, would probably give away their position. But they took in the scene.

Trip kept his eyes peeled, looking for survivors, Orks, and any sign of a trap.

Gear followed, not really doing anything important.

Instead of looking out for enemies, he was watching Tamara's ass. It had a very nice tone to it.

"You gonna ask her out?" Giggles asks.
He nearly startles Gear, who forgot the annoying little shit was there.

"Who? Her? Feth no. Hit her up in the sack, share some quality time together. But nothing so....permanent."
He then realized what he was saying.
"You got some balls asking a complete stranger some shit like that. Get the hell away from me you annoying shit."

Giggles backs off a few steps behind the PDF soldier. He had a smile on his face but he didnt laugh for fear of reprisal.

Bigguns and Diego are the only ones to notice it in the beginning. First, there was the sound. The grunting, the laughing, the growling. From east of the clearing that the Valkyrie had made in the middle of the forested area, the biggest one and the smallest one in the group could see the flicker of movement in the trees. Then, the smell wafted into their nostrils. The same smell that they all had. A greasy scent that penetrated into your mind and made your eyes water.

"Ey, lookie der, da boss boss gonna be happie bout that eh, we gots us a little birdie come down on tha ground, now, eh?"

Through the trees and into the clearing comes a sight that many in the Guchovian defense force hadn't seen for some time, if at all. Not since Grimtoof's forces had swept through Guchov and been repelled by the IG forces with aid from the Storm Wardens. The impact from that lasting ordeal had been devastating on the defense force of the planet. They'd never fully recovered, which showed in the lack of discipline and spine from the upper command. Pushed too soon into their higher positions.

Everyone knew the spores left behind were what caused the feral orks on Guchov. But now the squad, sent on their way to see the condition of the promethium refinery, stared at the insignia that had been absent for so long on Guchov. But now, it was back.



It looked like the forces of Grimtoof were back on Guchov once again.

The image was scrawled on the roughly created armor of an ork boy carrying a rokkit launcher over his shoulder. It was loaded and ready for another shot.

Following behind him were another orkboy, a stormboy, a loota carrying a deffgun, and a Kommando leading the ragtag bunch of orks.

"Ey, lookie, der still be sum hummies alive in der. Aw, boss man gonna be real happy wit dat," the other ork boy said.

As the group takes a closer look at the downed Valkyrie, figures inside moved slowly in their seats. They probably still hadn't noticed the orks surrounding their downed aircraft.

"Aye, shut yer yaps. No tellin' what be in duh trees round here. Keep yer traps shut and yer eyes open."  

[Farm]

Iron and Metal wrote:

When they were good to go, they fell into their marching orders. Not before Trip made his way to Torch, though.

"I don't like this shit at all. Pig hunt turned into an assault on a Prom-factory. Two non-comms in the time it took to sneeze. Right now, I am looking to you to keep our six secure. Me and the Big Guy got yours."

"Yeah. Feral my ass. But if there's one thing I know about greenies..." Torch smiles dryly. "It's that theyre gukkin unpredictable."

[Moving Out]

Torch kept her eyes peeled, but felt a growing sense of unease. Visibility was too limited and the opportunities for an ambush were ripe in the woods. The only upside was that she knew her flamer would do wonders cutting through cover...

Pre-Combat

Torch draws in a deep, quiet breath when she spots the greenskins, wrapping her fingers tightly around the pistol-grip of her flamer. She gritted her teeth and glanced behind at her squadmates, making a dramatic expression of shock and frustration.

Fuck! She mouthed breathlessly.

She turned to the new sarge. This would be quite the test for him. She waited to see what orders he gave them, ready to burn the greenskies to a crisp and praying to god sarge wouldn't order anything stupid.

Giggles was saying something, not paying attention when Gear backhanded him to the ground. Giggles was about to react when he realized that Gear didn't berate him, nor did he move. He simply stood there looking into the forested tundra with his backhand still in the air.

It was then that he heard the green-speak.

Instead of asking questions, he starts to panic by readying his lasgun. He forgot he had it ready already.

Ivanov glares down the line at 'giggles' and Blonsky, he'd missed what it was about but he made a mental note to have words at a later time. A bit of banter during down time was ok, he understood he couldn't be all controlling. However tomfoolery as they moved in on a possible contact point was unacceptable.  

It looked like the rocket team consisted of a small group of orcs although he was wary there might be more nearby. The men aboard the wreck were alive though so they needed more quickly. Orders would need to be succinct.

He kept his voice down and passes his order down the line "We ambush on my mark. Rocket carrier primary. Let them come to us." Thee was more to say but he'd bark orders as needed. He thought they didn't have time to tally.

-Throne, let this go well-

To avoid any rapid movements which might draw attention Ivanov slowly raised his carbine to take aim at the orc carrying the rocket launcher. He then looked down the line to ensure everyone was ready before giving the signal to fire.

[Pre-Combat]

Bigguns stared hard at the Orks. It appeared that his instincts for finding the Valkyrie were only oversahdowed by his ability to find the enemy. He wanted to charge in, close for battle, but he knew that the sergeant wouldn't be happy if he did that. He held back.

Tripp tapped his arm and slowly gestured for him to lean down and get a bit of cover. It was ironic since Bigguns was cover, with sandbags on his arms and legs.

Trip whispered to Ivanov while taking aim. "Big guy could draw 'em in, Sergeant. Greens wouldn't turn down a challenge the size of him."

Nearby, Bigguns smiled widely and nodded once. Truly, he was a target they would not be able to resist. The perfect Ork bait.

Ivanov thought about what he might do if he was a cunning orc faced with Bigguns and he came to the conclusion that he’d shoot the big guy with a rocket. He assumed it was a weapon suitable for taking down an ogryn judging by the damage to the Valkyre. He'd also just had most of his previous squad almost wiped out. Caution ruled the day for Ivanov at the moment "Hold your ground solider, that rocket would do you a lot of damage"

Bigguns looked disappointed. Tripp shook his head and motioned for approval to move into a prone firing position behind the root cover of the large tree stump to the north west. He motioned for the Big Guy to do the same.


OK, let's do it your way then, chief.

Ivonov still a little rattled from the previous combat took in the large bit of cover for the first time. The orcs are certainly focused his attention. He still thought there were risks of being spotted as the moved in. He looked back down the line of men. "Give the orc with the rocket a volley then move into cover." he gestures at the large tree a short distance ahead.

Gear went prone so that he would have a steadier aim, it also provided the benefit on not being the first spotted.

Behind him, Giggles did the same and holds his lascarbine in a propped grip like Gear.

Gear's hand trembled slightly.
Prebattle jitters? Fear? he wonders at his tremble.

All he really needed was another Lho to calm his nerves, but it wasnt a good time to light one up.

The squad moves silently through the trees to the relative cover of the large stump to the northwest, with the Ork's attention remaining on the downed Valkyrie. The Kommando squints at the movement, but doesn't have time to say anything before the fun begins.

Ivanov felt nervous, but surely his second engagement since leaving boot camp couldn't be as bad as the first. He guessed if it was he'd be dead. He pushed such thoughts to one side as he raised his carbine and settled the iron sights on orc with the rocket launcher. Sure that he had his target his las carbine kicked slightly as he took his shot...

His mouth literally opens to shout out to his comrades as the las blast zips through the air and tears into the body of the one holding the rokkit launcher.

"Get ta--"

His words are drowned out as a solid round flies through the air, the sound coming a moment later. He looked back to find the rokkit launcha boy downed, a pool of ork blood forming around the lifeless form of one of his better shots.

Another volley of las fire goes off from the direction of the stump, but fails to connect with any of his boyz, but there was no time to relax.

Bigguns nodded at Sarge. The frag appeared small and delicate in his hands, even though it was easy enough for an Ogryn to handle. In fact, the boxes some of them came in had that stenciled on the side. "Easy enough for an Ogryn to handle!"

Knowing little'uns were inside the flier, Bigguns eyed a spot right in front of the closest ork. He primed the ordnance, closed one eye for aiming, and tossed it. It landed exactly where he had intended, and he let out a holler of triumph.

Simultaneously, Trip began opening up on the orks with his M36.

The Kommando looked down to a soft thumping noise in the damp ground. A nade stared back at him.

"Ah feth me--"

The words came just as the explosion rocked him back a bit from his position. Shrapnel tore into his body, causing a great deal of large bleeding wounds to form in an instant.

Torch fidgeted as her squad mates gestured back and forth and Ivanov issued a few orders. Any minute now the orks might look in their direction and this would be less of an ambush and more of a pitched battle...and she wasn't entirely confident they had the upper hand.

She wanted to open fire - immediately. Patience was not exactly her strong suit under ordinary circumstances, let alone while some dumbshit greenskin walked around with a rocket launcher in 40 meters away. Unfortunately, this was hardly ideal engagement range for her heavy flamer.

She crouched down low as she moved to the big tree, muttering a prayer to the Emperor while she did so. She didn't exactly buy into all the Ecclesiarchy's teachings, but combat had a way of making even the most jaded grunts pray.

Once into position, she levelled the flamer in the direction of the orks and got ready to unleash a torrent of fire...

Torch squats down in attempt to better hide amongst the foilage. She feels like she is just getting in good position with a clear line of sight when her finger slips and let's loose a billowing gust of flame in the direction of the orks. She yells a curse at the top of her lungs in frustration, then barks a challenge to the orks:

"C'mon shit-fer-brains, come check out the famed fiery foilage of Guchov!!!"

The Kommando finally takes notice of the flamer-wielding member of the squad, but he couldn't quite figure out what the hummie was planning. It didn't take long for something else to grab his full attention.

+++++

With the first orc down Ivanov kept the pressure up and switched fire to the next closest xeno, his carbine spitting out bolts of laser fire.

The Kommando has no time to dodge out of the way of the shot as it strikes his right leg causing a nasty compound fracture. The Kommando yells out a deafening roar and knows he won't be dancing anytime soon.  

+++++

The Kommando, previously intent on running into the fray to slice into the hummies, was overcome by rage at the damage inflicted to him. He bellows out an order before firing off a wide shot with his slugga.

"Get 'em boys! ATTACK!"

+++++

Combat had begun again. Gear tried to steady himself, he wasnt sure where the temble was coming from.

"C'mon. You killed an ork, that makes you a fethin vet." he tells himself in frustration.
As he talks himself down, he draws a bead on the nearest green skin. The iron sight was as good as it was ever going to be. He pulls the trigger again, and an incandescent beam of red lights up the cold fog to the sound of 'bew'

He wasn't sure if he hit him. If his aim was true, this guy was tougher than the runtherd he had set on fire earlier.
"Again!" Giggles urges. Gear had forgotten he was even there. It wasn't a good time to worry about his stalker anyway.

+++++

The lho stick burned down as the sniper took another puff of it.

"Pascal, get me my best shot. This little piggie's gonna die today!"

Pascal whispers the exact placement of the Kommando for Diego. Feeling the rush of combat filling his need for adrenaline, Diego laughs as he lets off another perfect shot. This one would end the Kommando.

The words had barely left its' mouth before his head snaps around the other way, the hulking form of the squad leader falling down to the ground, dead before he hits it.

+++++

The other Ork Boy runs at full speed towards the group, his choppa raised high into the air.

"I'll get you fuh that!"

He is met by a burst of flame that quickly ignites him, making him now a flaming ork.

+++++

The loota opens up with a full auto burst at the group, doing his best to keep them at bay as his commanding officer falls to the ground lifeless.

+++++

The stormboy, noticing the flames, uses his rokkit pack to launch high up into the air. He comes down hard on the ground a scant 9 meters away from the group.

+++++

Trip kept up the fire. They had these bastards dead-to-rights and weren't going to let up the fight.

As the flying Ork landed in front of Bigguns, the Ogryn siezed the moment. Well, he tried to. In his excitement he started squeezing the firing stud of his arm-mounted ripper gun way too early, sending the majority of the shots into the earth around the Ork.



Torch - 11a, overwatch.
Ivanov - 11b
Kommando - 10; DEAD
Brodie - 8a; pinned
Diego - 8b; pinned
Ork Boy (Rokkit) - 7 DEAD
Ork Boy (Slugga) - 6; 6 damage; on fire; no fire damage; 1 fatigue
Loota - 6
Stromboy - 5
Bigguns - 3

Sweat beads on Torch's brow from the torrent of promethium, rolling into the black bandana on her forehead. She couldn't say she liked combat, but truth be told, she had grown to love the smell of burning fuel.

Rotating and dropping to one knee, she swings the flamer to give the stormboy a dose of heat...

Over the roar of Bigg'uns erratic gunfire, she offers a cheer of encouragement.

"Get 'em, biggs!"

+++++

Ivanov remained calm under the feeling that things would go better this time, his squad were performing well and he couldn't help but feel he was dealt a bum hand with his old squad. Time would tell. He tightens the carbines stock into his shoulder and lets off a double shot at the orcs trying to tie them down.

The sound of automatic fire stops as the ork takes cover behind the giant log next to him. The las fire grazes his arm, but it didn't look to do much of anything to him.

+++++

Gear found himself under a barrage of random-trajectory slugs. The orc towards the back was shotting a wide spread at the whole squad. He was about to scramble to his feet ant find somewhere to hide when one of his own responded in kind.

thanks he makes a mental note to give him some lho afterwards.

With his immediate safety "assured" he takes aim down at that green bastard, sticking out from the frost covered ground.
"Take it!" he yells as he squeezes off another incandescent beam of red.

The shot grazed off of the target dealing no damage to it.

+++++

Diego was ready to take the Loota out. Last thing they be needin' is to be pinned down. He lined up a shot with Pascal's help and fired off a round.

"Another one down, pendejo," he said, looking over to Pascal and taking another drag from the lho. The loota ceased all movement, a slumped over husk of dead meat.

"Don't get cocky, amigo. That big one is getting a lot closer to us, no?"

+++++

The ork boy, still on fire, turned his attention to Torch, screaming as loud as he could and running towards the flamer-touting member of their squad.

"I'll git you!"


+++++

The stormboy charged, without the aid of the rokkit pak, towards the massive form of Dorothy Bigguns. He slammed down his choppa hard, hoping to hit flesh and was slightly confused that the big guy didn't seem to flinch. Surprised and impressed.

"Oi, you a strong one, eh?"

+++++

Bigguns roared in defiance, not even feeling the attack hit his chest. Trip was already up, flanking the Ork and moving in with his bayonet. Bigguns swung the heavy ripper blade, but it flew too high and thudded into one of the heavy roots in a shower of bark.


Torch - 11a
Ivanov - 11b
Kommando - 10; DEAD
Brodie - 8a;
Diego - 8b;
Ork Boy (Rokkit) - 7 DEAD
Ork Boy (Slugga) - 6; 6 damage; 2 fire damage; 1 fatigue
Loota - 6 DEAD
Stormboy - 5; 6 damage
Bigguns - 3; 2 damage

Torch smiles as she sees the other ork charging and laughs a little under her breath. She knew damn well that if he closed the distance, he would tear her to bloody pieces with that stupidly large axe.

But on the other hand, there was something comical about him doggedly charging at her, half-charred by her last burst of promethium.

And truth be told, when she was charged by bloodthirsty xenos, sometimes laughing was what kept her from panicking.

"You want some more, huh?"

She pivoted and pulled the lever on the flamer...and felt her heart skip a beat when it sputtered and flickered impotently, cursing the finicky machine spirit.

+++++

Ivanov switched targets to the orc on fire. He had no pity for it, he felt no need to put it out of its misery but he knew from training and the manual that an orc was dangerous until it lay dead on the ground. The double shot of his carbine went wide with the orcs erratic movements as if flailed about on fire making it hard to hit.

+++++

Gear could only watch with an agape mouth as the stormboy rocketed towards bigguns.

It was only when his lho stick fell out that he regained his composure.

He looked for another target, but found that torch had already turned him into a green lho stick. He was on fire, but that was not guarantee. He switches his aim at the flailing ork and took aim.
"Giggles, aim at the lantern!" he ordered the shadow as he fired his own beam of red light.

The beam only glanced off of the ork, who was no longer on fire and looking dangerously close to closing in on Torch.

+++++

Diego knew the big guy could handle the fight with the Stormboy and there was no use risking any damage to him. Plus, he was so close, it wouldn't have made much sense to fire on the two of them. So he takes aim at the running ork on the other side of the tree.

He lined up the shot perfectly, the head of the ork would blow up like an overripe watermelon. A smile creeps over his face and he pulls the trigger. All he is met with is a clicking noise as the weapon jams.

"Ah, hijo de punta, Pascal get over here and help me get this weapon working, no?"


+++++

The Ork boy charged in hard towards Torch, a smile on its face despite having been burned the previous few rounds of action. He raised the choppa high and came down hard towards the flamer-wielding Guchov's head. Torch was faster than the lumbering ork though, twisting out of the way of the attack. The choppa slammed down hard, a gush of wind greeting Torch's neck as the attack missed.

+++++

The Stormboy was eager to deal some more damage, so he put all his effort into the next attack. The murderous intent was in his eyes as he slams down hard with his own choppa, sure he would hit the massive form of the Ogryn. When he hits nothing but air, a confused look comes over his face.

"You dodge that then? Eh, you pretty fast too, fuh a big one..."


+++++

Bigguns moved back as the equally clumsy attack came at him.

The ork desperately swung its choppa once more at the massive form of the ogryn, but that failed to connect as well. His already off-balance form made it easy for the ogryn's next attack.

He started to raise his massive arms, ripper cannon coming up. Trip knew what was coming and jumped back, well out of the way. There was a single blast, and it this close range it was devastating.

Bigguns roared loudly. Loud was something of an understatement. His speaking voice had the rumble of tree trunks snapping. This was a pure avalanche. A volcanic eruption. Leaves shook and fell from their branches and animals within a kilometer ran for cover.

This was Bigguns victory yell. As the ork lay on its back, Trip looked around for anymore contacts, keeping his head firmly in the game.


Torch - 11a
Ivanov - 11b
Kommando - 10; DEAD
Brodie - 8a;
Diego - 8b;
Ork Boy (Rokkit) - 7 DEAD
Ork Boy (Slugga) - 6; 6 damage; 2 fire damage; 1 fatigue
Loota - 6 DEAD
Stormboy - 5; PASSED OUT
Bigguns - 3; 2 damage

Torch stared down the boy and the massive choppa and considered her options. While the adrenaline told her to whip out a combat knife and fight, a voice whispered that the Emperor would really prefer if she lived to fight another day.

"Need backup, stat!"

She called to her teammates and began a tactical retreat, moving backwards a few paces so that she could either unjam her flamer or draw another weapon to fight again. She was brave, not suicidal.

+++++

Ivanov couldn't trust his carbine to put the remaining orc down before it brained Torch so in an act of bravery that when he reviewed the combat later would surprise him, he drew his chainsword and revved the blade at the orc "Come on you bastard!"  

+++++

The green mutherfucker charged straight at Torch-the same torch who was right next to Gear.
"Shit!'" he says as he scrambles to his feet and popping off a single shot at the ork.
"I got ya comrade!" he reassures Torch as he hits the ork with a short ranged shot. From somewhere behind him, he sees another shot and knew his shadow was doing likewise.

+++++

Diego was miffed. He wasn't gonna be able to shoot this round, and he'd lost a reload in the process. Clearing the gun was a pain, as it would take longer than most. He'd have to see what he did to anger the machine gods once they got free from the orks.

"Pascal, hurry it up! This thing ain't gonna clear itself."

He itched at his neck for a quick moment, the need for a boost creeping into his mind. He shouldn't, but he was on the edge of not being able to resist. Shooting too the edge off, killing too the edge off, but without that...

+++++

The Ork boy smiled, despite having massive burns all over his body.

"Eh, eh, you want a piece of me, too, eh? Lookie here I'll give you some of my choppa too!"

The ork flies forward with a loud battlecry, swinging a sideways slash with his choppa and missing Ivanov wildly.

+++++

Bigguns heard the challenge. He knew it wasn't for him, but he couldn't let the Sarge get hurt. Sarge was just one man in a long line of leaders that went straight up to the Emperor himself. With a much shorter roar, the giant Ogryn rushed forward, thrusting the brutal spear on the bottom of his Ripper gun outward toward the Ork's sternum.

It connects, opening up the ork's chest with a massive rend that starts to ooze immediately. The ork grunts from the force of the attack, but the bloodlust stayed with him. He was already searching for his next target.

Trip was right there beside him, bayonet swinging.



Torch - 11a
Ivanov - 11b
Kommando - 10; DEAD
Brodie - 8a;
Diego - 8b;
Ork Boy (Rokkit) - 7 DEAD
Ork Boy (Slugga) - 6; 13 total damage; 2 fire damage; 1 fatigue
Loota - 6 DEAD
Stormboy - 5; PASSED OUT
Bigguns - 3; 2 damage

Torch swore at the machine spirit of the flamer, knowing her harsh words would come back to bite her in the ass, but in the heat of the moment she needed to vent some frustration at the damn thing.

She smacked it hard on the right side and a burst of flame whooshed from its barrel. She grinned and glanced back up at the combat in front of her, hoping her teammates would forgive her for not wanting to go toe-to-toe with a greenskin with only a fethin' combat knife....

+++++

The orcs attack looked to be going wide but a nervous and inexperienced Ivanov naturally attempted to parry the orcs heavy swing as even a glancing blow from such a weapon would surely take the skin from his bones. He cursed at himself immediately at his error as his parry meant his returning attack went well wide.

+++++

Gear was torn. He had no intentions of fighting the orc with his arms and a stick (no matter how pointy it was). He looks around and spots the stormboy. He was battered and bruised and seemed to be unconscious. Maybe there was something Gear could do about that.

"Cmon" he says to Giggles. With reluctance, he leaves Bigguns and Sarge to deal with the last orc and moves towards the incapacitated one to finish him off proper.

When he moved closer, Gear saw that the ork was indeed still alive, its chest moving up and down in labored motions.

+++++

Diego set his sights on the treeline in the distance, doing his best to observe the situation for those inside the downed ship and also keeping an eye out for threats that might rear their ugly heads.

+++++

The ork lashed out at the two who'd surrounded him with a hefty blow aimed at the massive leg of the Ogryn in front of him. The choppa connects solidly with the sand bag, doing nothing to the hulking form of the Ogryn. All the attack did was leave the ork wide open.

His other attack, aimed squarely for the body of Ivanov, goes well wide of the mark. The big ork shook his head unable to dodge anything that was coming his way...

+++++

Bigguns got too excited. He jumped forward instead of planting his feet and thrust his heavy ripper in the air over the Ork's head.

"Focus, Bigs! We can get this gukkin' sum'bitch!"


Torch - 11a
Ivanov - 11b
Kommando - 10; DEAD
Brodie - 8a; standing above the downed stormboy
Diego - 8b;
Ork Boy (Rokkit) - 7 DEAD
Ork Boy (Slugga) - 6; 13 total damage; 2 fire damage; 1 fatigue
Loota - 6 DEAD
Stormboy - 5; PASSED OUT
Bigguns - 3; 2 damage

Torch shivers, partly from combat nerves and partly from the frigid forest air. She watches Biggs and Ivanov with mounting anxiety and second-guesses her decision to fall back before reminding herself that there was no honor in suicide.

Need a goddamn side-arm, she thought to herself.

Glancing about and looking for some other means of making herself useful, she moves briskly over to the fallen stormboy, looking to burn him to a crisp...last thing anyone on Guchov needed was some spores taking hold.

+++++

Ivanov winced as the orc blade connected with the ogryns leg, but was then relieved when the hit came to nothing; he was sure if that blow had hit his leg he'd be dead. It was an easy strike for Ivanov on the clumsy orc, who was all offence and well open. With the orcs flank momentarily exposed Ivanov grits his teeth and plunges his reeving blade into its side.

(Ork Death IC)

+++++

Gear saw the wounded stormboy and had no pity. No for these green bastards. He puts the barrel of his lasting next to the ork's temple and overcharges the shot. Maximum damage at minimum range.
"Dos v'danya" he says without remorse as he squeezes the trigger.
That's when the lasgun had a critical failure.
"Gurochovian scrap tech!" Ge says in frustration.



Torch - 11a
Ivanov - 11b
Kommando - 10; DEAD
Gear - 8a; standing above the downed stormboy
Diego - 8b;
Ork Boy (Rokkit) - 7 DEAD
Ork Boy (Slugga) - 6; DEAD
Loota - 6 DEAD
Stormboy - 5; PASSED OUT
Bigguns - 3; 2 damage

Gear nearly chocked when his lascarbine crapped out.

A dying ork was right there, an easy kill and now the mechanism fails spectacularly.

He bangs his weapon against the frozen ground, cursing it as he does so.
"Suka suke suka!" he shouts in frustration.

The batt pack falls out of the gun, the contact points were melted to the point of working its way down the protective casing.
"Guchovian grade weapons." he says as he slams a fresh pack in.

By the time the orc real;ised it was dead the chainblade was well and truely lodged into its dense bone structure, the weight of the orc as it fell took the weapon out of Ivanovs hand.

The sergeant was breathed heavily more from the adrenalin than the exertion as the fight was brief, he put his hands on his hips and looked down at the orc, the extraction of the chainsword was going to be messy.

"Blonsky, Volkov check on the crew." he ordered without looking up from the dead orc. Sighing to himself Ivanov planted his feet and grabbed the hilt of the chainsword with both hands. As a tester he revved the weapon for a few seconds and pulled hard but it was stuck fast. Only a small amount of green blood splattered his boots. "Damn" Ivanov kept the trigger rune down on his second attempt, he pulled in every direction as he slowly teased the weapon from the orcs torso.

At last the weapon was free and Invanov steps proudly back for a moment before realising he was covered head to foot in orc gore.

Bigguns looked around at the falling Ork. When Gears' weapon failed, Trip chimed in. "Help him out, Git."

The Ogryn took a step forward, lifted a massive leg as thick as some of the tree trunks around the group, and stomped down on the ork's head with as much force as he could muster. There was a sickening wet crunch as bone came apart, acting as shrapnel that shredded the soft tissue of its face. The ork's legs spasms, kicking really fast as it defecated on itself.

Trip smiled. Gukk 'em.

Ever the professional, Trip then moved to set up a perimeter around the downed Valkyrie. "Could be more of 'em in the area." Bigguns nodded and followed.

The ork beneath Gear's feet moans and gurgles as Gear loaded a new magazine into his weapon. He was very much still alive, but that would probably be rectified quite soon.

The combat was finished and as the team looked over at the wreckage of the downed Valkyrie, there are signs of movement. With a rough push, there is the telltale sound of one of the doors opening. An IG soldier steps out of it, cracking his neck from side to side. He reaches down and feels for something in his pocket, pulling out a pack of lhos. When his arm moves, you notice he is also a Sergeant.

"Ah shit, not a good one left," he said, leaning his head inside the downed flyer. "Any of you sons o' bitches got some lhos?"

From inside the vehicle, there are only moans and groans, wounded men still reeling from the crash.

"Ah well, maybe this lot got something, then," he said. He turned towards the group and surveyed the dead orks littered all around.

"Nice work. Who do I have to thank for us not becoming an ork snack?," he said, walking over towards the carnage from the battle.