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Post by Kaikelx on May 24, 2010 20:09:05 GMT -5
Captain Atal was having a very horrible day.
His company had managed to dig in, but he noticed that some of the 701st were giving dirty looks at his fortifications. He didn't really care. For the tenth time in the past few hours, he wondered what caused High Command to think it was a good idea to send an Assault Regiment to defend.
When he first arrived, he thought he was going to be leading the first men into the breach, clearing out the Orks, establishing a permanent foothold, then continue the attack while the 701st held the green zone, and the 15th supported the rest of the Guard's offensives.
But no, apparently the PDF couldn't handle the business of holding onto a coastline by themselves. Typical.
The 1st Assault Corp was dug into a series of curving trench lines, with several gun pits stationed at intervals, and a second line of that, ready for the order to surge and attack.
If they allowed the Orks to gain a minor foothold in their sector, they could switch gears and turn it into an offensive operation, one that the assault corp excel-
"Sir! Ork boats, 5 clicks off!"
Taking up a pair of viewfinders, Atal zoomed in on the ragtag fleet. PDF artillery fire was shooting into the ocean, mostly doing nothing except getting the Orks wet. Heavy weapons fire started lancing out, and Atal let it ring. After all, they had plenty of ammunition, and they might take down the boats before they even arrived.
"Missile emplacements, target the lead boats, Heavy bolters, surpressing-"
Before he could finish, heavy calibre rounds struck Atal's position. On instinct, he, and the others in the fire pit with him ducked down. One trooper was not so lucky, and he fell backwards, a bloody crater in his face.
What kind of species was this? As he cautiously peered over the rim, he noticed that almost every boat had enthusiastic Orks firing wildly into the air, almost like they just enjoyed the sound.
He also noticed their were not thousands, but millions of them, crowded into assault boats, and some were even swimming towards them.
Let them come. The 1st Bethalt Assault Corp would beat them back.
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Post by Happyorange on May 25, 2010 3:49:38 GMT -5
Major Ferras, marched along the front line, attempting to give words of encouragement to his troops as he walked.
He was awful at it. He'd had three Commissars following him around all day, but they were nowhere to be seen now, where they were needed. Probably still on a drop ship.
To his right lay the dark green ocean, the wind frothing the tops of the waves. To his left lay several fields. Each field had around fifty metal tubes sticking out of the ground. Although he couldn't see them, he knew the 41st were crouching in the dug-outs as well. Most mortars had only one operator, as some of the troops had been sent here to bolster the PDF's defence.
They had spent most of their time securing ammo for the mortars and digging the dugouts. As such, they had only one line of defence, Emperor help us if the green-skinned...
"Major, there are reports of incoming hostiles up north." "Acknowledged, we wait till they are within one click. Then may the Emperor himself guide our downpour."
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Post by Laughing Man on May 25, 2010 3:50:17 GMT -5
Captain Sellion Falv pressed his macrobinoculars to his eyes and stared out to the sea. He heard his subaltern begin to speak to him, "Sir we've sighted them multiple landing craft, your orders."
Sellion grinned. "All sections are to begin feeding ranging data to the rest of the regiment. we'll paste the tideline with artillery to try and discourage the enemy"
Sellion looked at he heard his Subaltern and another officer begin to speak into speaker phones, less than 30 seconds later a series of loud bangs followed by high pitched whistling began to fly over the imperial lines. Sellion new his regiment was only a light artillery unit, but against orks the relative accuracy and speed to load of the Griffon mortar carrier would be excellent. The first barrage landed in a large vehicle. Several rounds fell short churning the ocean around the craft but enough landed within the craft.
They detonated spray shrapnel into the waiting orks, the landing craft kept coming, although the massive plume of smoke and rapidly increasing water line made Sellion doubt if it would make it to shore.
"Good shot gentlemen, remember it's artillery that wins wars"
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Post by Happyorange on May 25, 2010 4:10:54 GMT -5
Ferras heard the artillery start up from somewhere in-land, and dark smoke rising from the north.
"Sir, I think I see them" "Nonsense, that's just one of the suns reflecting off the water" "But both of them are behind those clouds" Ferras was about to discipline the young trooper for insolence, but realised the implication of his words. A huge force as wide as the horizon was making its way towards them. And they were presumably only a few clicks away.
"Give me that vox. Ready to fire, I repeat, ready to fire" He gave back the vox, with its ear piece vibrating with the acknowledgments of mortar company. He looked out to sea. Emperor help us, those are definitely not reflections...
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Post by Laughing Man on May 25, 2010 4:35:23 GMT -5
Sellion sipped a cup of recaff as he watched the ork's approach the beach.
"Ah Commissar, good to see you"
Commissar Temn was a stern faced man, slightly overweight from being part of an artillery regiment. "Afternoon Captain i'm just hear to observe your company before going back to the main bulk of the regiment. Can you explain your deployment?"
"Certainly commissar, we've deployed in this position at the corner of the two beaches so we are able to range and spot for fire onto both beaches. i've set two platoons to spotting duty, 2 are on picket duty and the remain platoon is my reserve force. Our position is likely to be vulnerable..."
Sellion heard the low drone before anyone else. "Enemy aircraft take cover"
He dragged the commissar down into a small dugout as the first bombs began to land. The bombing run lasted for only a few minutes. "Casualty assessment, get men onto voxes and continue spotting. and someone get me a link to the navy."
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Post by Helmian (M.I.A) on May 25, 2010 11:28:10 GMT -5
Inside the vanquisher Vengeance sat Captain Friedrich an experienced armour commander, but never before had he been deployed to defend a beach.
I've got some of the finest tank crews in the Imperium with me, how bad can it get?
On the long range auspex scanner in front of him he saw lots of red dots appearing, that meant that it was targets about 2.5 clicks away. He shifted his focus from the scanner to the firing mechanisms of the Ryza Pattern Vanquisher cannon.
''Loader, High-Ex shells, if you please.''
''Loaded!''
He opened the hatch above him and hoisted himself up. He got a much better view of the battlefield from this position. He pressed his binoculars to his eyes and looked at the enemy force.
Emperor they're many...
But then again, the greenskins always came in great numbers. He saw a large collection of ramshackle, rusting and generally orky landing craft.
''All units this is Captain Hoch, we have, as you very well can see on your auspexes or with your own eyes, hostiles incoming. Fire upon the landing crafts as soon as they are in range. I want those boat sunk before they reach us. Remember Armageddon, make them pay for every inch.''
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Post by Commissar Augustus Corvin on May 25, 2010 17:38:42 GMT -5
Commissar Augustus Corvin walked along the line of nervous men and women. They watched him intently as he paced, trying to block out what was happening on the beach below.
'Today is the day you have trained for! Today you will repay the Emperor's gratitude in letting you vanquish the hated enemies of the Imperium! He scrutinized the soldiers, watching for signs of cowardice.
As the detonations increased he ordered the soldiers into defensive positions and to prepare arms. While they did this, he began to recite the Litany of War in a loud commanding voice and drew his laspistol and chainsword. Let them come he thought to himself.
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Post by Laughing Man on May 25, 2010 18:06:35 GMT -5
"We need some damn aircover...i can give you coordinates for bombing runs if you want them."
Sellion put down the voxcaster and turned to his subaltern. "How many dead?"
"Only 3 sir but 12 seriously wounded and we've lost a whole platoons worth of transport trucks."
"Better than expected. Tell the men to keep up the spotting, we'll try and thin the horde for the infantry."
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Post by Kaikelx on May 25, 2010 18:25:52 GMT -5
The combined firepower took down almost half of the Ork landing craft within the first few volleys alone, yet more were being launched from the Ork fleet.
Even worse, the Warboss was ordering mass warheads fired in the Imperial's general direction. While none of the missiles even made it close to the Imperial positions, they mostly detonated on the beach, clearing out landmines, barbed wire, and other fortifications.
((The Orks are coming from the east.....On the map, north is up))
"Sir! We've got more, coming from the south!"
Spinning to his right, Atal directed half of his gun positions to switch firing to that sector.
"Eastern Orks on the beach! Sh*t! They've cleared out the mines!"
Turning back Atal watched as the Orks that swam made it onto shore, and a handful of lucky transport boats. As they stormed the beach, groups were slain as the few remaining mines detonated. Soon they were at the cliff. Guardsmen from the 1st Bethalt rushed forwards and desperatly fired down, and several were cut down as the Orks reached up with their axes.
"Greandes! Use grenades!"
Spotting what the Orks were attempting, Atal rushed forward with four men, frag grenade in hand. He was too late. The first of the Orks used his fellows' bodies as a makeshift ramp, and speared the guardsman ahead of Atal, lifting him up, and ripping him in half before a heavy bolter cut him down. Cursing, he primed the grenade and threw it down, before diving back towards the trench.
"This is the 1st Bethalt Assault, Orks have penetrated the Eastern beach!"
Switching to his command frequency, Atal moved down the trench, past some of his men, a few whom were cut down by stray gun fire.
"Heavy Armor, cease fire on the landing craft, target the beach. All other armor, suppressing fire on the cliff edge, we need to give the boys in the front trench a fighting chance. Secondary units, prepare for a counter-attack."
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Levelle Corran shook nervously and she emptied her fourth magazine into the Orks down the southern beach. Cursing all the while, she ducked down, and looked up just in to see Hirun's upper body disintegrate. Spotting a bit of flame out of the corner of her eye, she yelled a warning, and scrambled up and out of the trench line.
She was too late.
She had just started to stand, and her right leg caught on fire. Hearing screams behind her, and screaming herself, she tripped, felt hands grab at her, a few shouts, and someone smothered the flames on her foot.
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Strategic Overview:
Historians agree that this was when the battle started in earnest, and "The Beachhead Assault" grew famous. On the southern-most sector of beach, several defensive companies had been deployed, but many Guard regiments had, in their haste, accidentally sent their artillery and fire-support units into the trenches.
One regiment, had no choice but to deploy an Assault Company for defense.
The Orks on the southern beach had just made landfall, but unlike the ones on the Eastern beach, they did not have the luxury of the mines being detonated by stray warheads. Thus, the PDF and Guard forces there managed to ward off the Orks.
The Imperials on the Eastern beach were not so lucky. Although our stoic PDF, and the noble Guard managed to slay many times their number of Orks in the initial landing, and on the beaches, the Orks had a clear path towards the cliff, and used their bodies to ascend the 10 feet, occupying the Imperials at that section, allowing more of their brethren to ascend, and charge the trenches.
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Post by Hetfiltrator on May 25, 2010 18:49:59 GMT -5
Captain Io'dar Broja shouted into the vox-link "Iron Souls! Reinforce the eastern edge! Attack pattern 'Armoured Alpha'! Do not leave your Chimeras. Fire in concentrated patterns! MOVE!!! MOVE!!! MOVE!!!" Io'dar continued shouting at the Rivians. "Everyone else get behind the second barrier!! NOW!!" Io'dar loaded his bolt pistol and motioned to the 4 members of his team "Let's prep everyone." --6 minutes later-- "Captain! This is Iron valiance, vengeance, vortex we are moving in to support Iron Soul group." "Confirmed, keep your distance." "Roger that Cap! ALL RIGHT BOYS!!! Charge your plasma cannons boys!! We're going in!!!!"
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Post by shugotenshi47 on May 26, 2010 2:53:45 GMT -5
"41st Tolan Fusiliers, this is Starion Special Tactics Team-Brave, callsign Knight One. I need you to direct your fire on these coordinates. Alpha 3-2-0 Zulu 8-9-1. How copy over?" Staff Sergeant Brian Carlson lay crouched down with a set of electronic range finders in his hands.
"You get in touch with any of the remfs yet?" asked Captain Carl Miller.
"Nope, PDF don't know frak and I'm waiting on the Tolans to call me back." replied the sergeant.
"Ahh frak me, hold on a minute." Miller paused. "Saber One this is Knight One are you in position, over?"
"That is one big affirmative Knight One." replied Special Tactics Team-Delta's, callsign Saber One, commander, Lieutenant Julio Garcia. "We've linked up with Eagle Four and Six and have a good view of the first line of defenses. It is one big charlie foxtrot down here. We got PDF units scattered all over the place trying hold the line."
"Alright, do the best you can Saber One."
"Understood, Saber One out." At Garcia's command the formation of two Scout Salamanders and two Centaurs moved towards the PDF lines. Moving with skill and precision the Special Tactic Team Operators exited their vehicles. Supported by suppressing heavy bolter, autocannon, automatic grenade launcher, and heavy stubber fire from their supporting vehicles the Operators forward and began to support the PDF.
Without regard for their own personal safety several of the Starion Operators rushed forward and began to rescue wounded PDF troopers. Team medic, Specialist Ronald Walker, rushed towards the cover the the vehicles with an injured female PDF corporal slung over his shoulders in a fireman carry. It was going to be a long day.
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Post by Lord General Armstrong on May 26, 2010 3:18:02 GMT -5
"This is Phillip Jones the commander of the 701st Corilithian staying in orbit on battleship Catlas, Oberon class. We are ready to commence orbital bombardments and bombing runs on any required positions. Over"
The Captain turned
"Phillip we have to leave the system and meet up with the rest of the fleet. We have half an hour of support to provide and then we are leaving."
"Aye sir" Phillip said with a disappointed voice. "Looks like I'm coming to ground."
...
Second in command Kail Milton was on ground always judging the others commanders movements. This man was completely by the book down to field striping a lasrifle to the digging into defensive positions.
"Trooper!" "Yes, Sir." "I want those heavy bolter emplacements up NOW!" "Yes, sir."
"Command Phillip orders are proceeding as ordered. See ground side."
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Post by Laughing Man on May 26, 2010 3:22:56 GMT -5
"Keep up the artillery fire, 3 platoon what is your status?"
The commander of the companies 3rd platoon Lieutenant Hallinger came through the vox.
"Under fire sir request counter battery fire on coordinates 203023 bearing 074 magnetic"
"understood"
He turned to his vox team in his dugout.
"call that in"
Damnit they've broke through on the eastern beach, the south is holding, but the damn monsters touched off most of the passive defenses it seems. thought Sellion.
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Post by shugotenshi47 on May 26, 2010 3:46:59 GMT -5
"Catlas, this Lieutenant Mike Kusanagi, ALO of Starion Special Tactics Team-Charlie, callsign Hammer. Requesting orbital fire on Eastern beachhead, coordinates Alpha 3-2-3 Zulu 8-9-0. Authentication code, Bravo Romeo Five-Niner-two. Foothold, imminent, I repeat foothold imminent. Over."
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Post by Happyorange on May 26, 2010 7:10:31 GMT -5
Ferras didn't look back as he ran towards the fields, sprinting through barbed hedges. As he came closer he could hear the distinctive clicks followed by the much louder thuds of the mortar teams. There were so many, the cacophony of shells sounded like it was raining rockcrete boulders, each one sending a vibration up his spine.
As crested the hill and arrived at his company, no one greeted him, everyone had been drafted in to man the mortars or go to the front-line in the south...those poor souls. Sometimes a head would poke up above the hole to get more shells; everyone had their mouths wide open to stop the drop in pressure from rupturing their eardrums. It looked like a field of ghouls, silently screaming.
"Major!... Major!" a young vox-caster came running up. "We've got a firing request on Alpha 3-2-0 Zu..." "Do it, we can hardly hit those bastard boats any way" "Yes major" replied the young lad, already voxing back his reply, "Knight One this is the 41st. Fire support incoming"
The major sent runners to each dugout, and quickly the orders spread: 79° north east, 64° elevation.
For a few seconds, the mortars were silent. Everything was blissfully quiet even though you could still hear the sounds of fighting far away. The metal tubes jerked and swivelled slowly, almost in unison.
As the major ran back south, he could hear it starting to rain rocks again.
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Post by Lord General Armstrong on May 26, 2010 8:11:43 GMT -5
" coordinates Alpha 3-2-3 Zulu 8-9-0. Authentication code, Bravo Romeo Five-Niner-two. Foothold, imminent, I repeat foothold imminent. Over."
"Captain we have coordinates over" Said the trooper "Fire for effect. Give me that vox." Demanded the Captain "Aye sir" Replied the trooper "Lieutenant Mike Kusanagi firing at your targets, over just watch the sky burn red. Trooper launch bomber squadrons for bombing run and any other remaining targets, then were heading back to fleet." said the captain
...
Phillip's vessel hit ground and the commander stepped out with heavy footsteps. "All right Corlithians lets kill these greenskins.
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Post by Helmian (M.I.A) on May 26, 2010 8:37:49 GMT -5
''Roger that, all units, commence firing on the eastern beach.''
Vengeance's turret traversed towards the massing orks in the breach at the first line.
''Units in the trench this is Captain Hoch of the Vengeance, please keep your head down as I take some of the pressure of you, eh?
A moment later the co-axial heavy stubber started firing, heavy slugs ripping through the first ranks of the orks.
The other Leman Russes started their relentless slaughter of the orks on the beach. The explosions of the battle cannon shells mixed with the sounds of autocannons, heavy bolters and stubbers tearing through the massed orks. The ork losses were tremendous, but even then they couldn't hold them all back. They were simply to many.
The Armoured Fist units started to advance towards the first trench line ready to counter attack at a moments notice.
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Post by Commissar Augustus Corvin on May 26, 2010 12:55:50 GMT -5
Using his commissarial override code Commissar Corvin listened intently to the vox chatter building a map of the battle in his head.
'Get those Heavy bolters firing on the eastern beach! Provide cover fire!'
The troopers hurried to follow his orders with desperation and fear evident in their awkward attempts. Soon the clamour of heavy weapons assaulted the ears, the clouds of ignited cordite invaded the nose and stung the eyes. The auto cannon was not yet firing, the crew struggling with a jammed belt feed and the lascannons abandoned entirely in their efforts to inflict as much damage to the Orks themselves. As they became more familiar with their weapons the soldiers began to make their marks on the horde, but for every one that fell, at least ten more took its place.
Listening to the cacophony, Commissar Corvin spotted something he was all too familiar with - the sight of a coward fleeing. Drawing his weapon with a smooth practiced motion, he leveled his laspistol at the fleeing soldier and fired. The limp body collapsed to the ground inspiring the rest of the company to redouble their efforts.
'Hold the line you dogs!' Corvin bellowed; 'Retreat is not an option!' Looking down on the beach, an expression close to envy crossed his features. He longed to be fighting with courage and honour but he couldn't risk leaving the company in their current state. His frustrations manifested as a savage snarl, such that none of the company would meet his gaze.
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Post by Laughing Man on May 26, 2010 13:10:33 GMT -5
"keep up the fire rate onto the beach it doesn't matter what rounds just keep up the rate Colonel, the infantry needs it..."
A loud bang went off near to Sellions head and a section of wall fell down near him, Sellion looked over and saw a grinning ork trying to load another rocket into his crude launcher. Sellion grabbed a lasgun, and squeezed the trigger stitching the ork up to his neck, the creature fell just as he loaded the rocket. The beast's body fell upon the firing trigger and the round shot off back out to sea.
"Damn that was lucky," Sellion picked up a vox horn.
"Sellion to HQ the orks are breaking towards my spotting points, request assistance."
He turned to his Subaltern.
"Order the other platoons to pull in tighter, we'll need to shorten our own line until help arrives."
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Post by Hetfiltrator on May 26, 2010 20:07:17 GMT -5
Iron valiance's stride matched that of the Chimera's. He felt the plasma cannon warm up and let loose a blast. He saw from the sensors a clump of Orks vanish. "Bulls-eye!"
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Post by Lord General Armstrong on May 27, 2010 3:52:53 GMT -5
Phillip had little experience fighting the greenskins. But not saying he has never thought them would be a lie. The first time back on Sypon 12 he lost half of his regiment when he ordered a unsuccessful bayonet charge. He won the battle in the end by gunning down the orks with his regiments remaining reserves and heavy weapons. He would not forgive himself for that. It was a good thing a commissar was not present at the time as he could of been executed for lacking in the line of duty.
He shook his head and returned to the battle. "Platoon one concentrate heavy weapon fire on the east beach. Platoon one lascannon teams concentrate fire on all boats in the same vicinity."
"Yes, sir." Those brave men replied. "I will keep these men in check sir. They won't retreat on my watch." Said there local commissar Phillip gave the man a pat on the back and a brief smile. "Don't execute to many of my men commissar." Replied the young commander. Phillip gave a salute and turned away.
The orbital bombardment was giving hell to the greenskins, the sands on the beach were the bombardment was called down was blackened and scored with bodies. The bombers were also putting holes into the orks ranks on the southern beach. But Phillip knew when the Catlas was gone the orks would swamp everyone here. It would take skill, leadership and just plain brute force to defeat an enemy that 'Knows no fear'.
"Leman russ battle tanks 1, 2 and 3 use HE shells on the majority of the orks, any misses will still claim much wanted kills and when in stubber and bolter range let lose." Ordered Phillip "Yes.....S...r" Was heard over the rattle of gunfire.
"Platoon two and three defend south beach with the other guard regiments proceed suppressing fire on horde till heavy weapons entrench." Stated Phillip "Troops already on it." Bellowed their local commissar's.
Phillip turned
"Platoon four follow me to the command tent we are going to be the reserve's. Platoon four start constructing flak board barricades, raiser wire and more heavy weapon emplacements."
Phillip walked past his hard working troops and smiled he didn't want a repeat of Sypon 12. "Vox trooper open a link to all regimental commanders in my area." "Yes, Sir." Said the trooper. He turned to the command channels frequency. "All commanders located in my area, I have hit ground side and I want a sitrep and start to have some tactical discussions over and out."
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Post by Happyorange on May 27, 2010 5:17:44 GMT -5
Ferras and the defenders, including the other half of the Fusiliers, were keeping the green-skins at bay on the south beach, but they were quickly running low on ammo and will power.
Additionally, without the mortar support, the xenos were slowly advancing; for every dozen dead, they would get an extra foot of blood spilled sand. The major sent some men to collect some excess mortar shells and make some impromptu grenades.
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Post by Kaikelx on May 27, 2010 14:11:19 GMT -5
"Sellion, this is HQ," the voice sounded breathless, as if the vox operator was being bombarded with as many requests for support as the beachhead was with weapons fire.
"I just sent the last PDF reserve to assist, I'll request a detachment to break off and help you out. I'm sorry sir, I can't get anything more than 3 squads. I only had another one and a half platoons to send."
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Corran felt herself being carried away. Through hazy eyes, her head lolled, and she looked up to see aircraft over the sky. Trying to look behind her, she saw something out of the corner of her eyes.
"Ork..........Planes.....So....Many....."
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"Captain Hoch, this is Captain Atal of the 1st Bethalt Assault! We appreciate the help boys, but there's Ork planes in the-Get down!"
Atal and the vox operator dived in different directions. Whoever was strafing them decided to go after the larger target, and what had to be a few hundred high caliber rounds tore throujgh the vox and it's hapless operator, sending screeches through the system.
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Post by Helmian (M.I.A) on May 27, 2010 14:40:42 GMT -5
''Captain Atal do you copy!? Captain?''
Damnit!
Friedrich could hear the high caliber bullets ping harmlessly of the think frontal armour of the Vengeance.
In the Home Wrecker Commander Gerhardt decided he'd had enough of the damn ork planes, and hoisted himself up the hatch. He grabbed the handles of the heavy stubber and cocked the weapon.
He saw a new wave of ork planes approaching, and as soon as they were in range he opened fire. The heavy slugs clattered of the nose of a plane but as its angel descended he aimed for the cockpit and was rewarded with the glass that wasn't destroyed by the stubber bullets were sprayed red with the orks blood.
Some of the bullets must have hit the engine compartment, because the plane caught fire a moment later and then the flames touched of the plans ammo and ordnance, blowing it to smithereens, spraying the closest planes with shrapnel and debris. One of the planes started to emit smoke from it's engine compartment but defiantly flied on.
Gerhardt decided that now was a appropriate time to retreat back into the safeness of the Leman Russ, the last thing he saw before he closed the hatch was a chimera exploding and he prayed to the God-Emperor that the crew and squad inside made it out.
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Post by Laughing Man on May 27, 2010 15:24:34 GMT -5
"understood HQ a few extra boys will be greatly appreciated, we'll keep the artillery accurate for as long as possible, recommend you tell the local pieces to drop their fire shorter they keep blowing up ocean instead of orks."
Sellion put down the vox and turned to one of his command platoon's sergeants.
"Yern keep the perimeter tight, make sure we use idents properly i don't want any blue on blue fire to happen today."
The sergeant saluted smartly and strode to his squad telling them the orders.
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