Last Man Standing

[BigDunc]

"Contact right, 500 lengths, armored infantry with tank support" reported Brother Norman of Predator One, a forward scouting Landspeeder.

"Acknowledged. Prepare for contact. Recommended course of action, Predator One?" inquired Santos, the Emperor's Champion of the Kannas Crusade.

"Configuration Lima."

"This is Zitadelle, acknowledged."

"Nashorn, acknowledged."

"Stachel, acknowledged."

 

A steep hill guarded the right flank of the advancing Templars and separated them from their Tau adversaries. The nearest xeno ammunition cache was already under control of Techmarine Hanson, his Initiate escorts, and the lascannon armed Razorback Pike. Advancing along the left flank was the Crusader Squad Morder and the Emperor's Champion with his charges, as well as the Rhino Nashorn and Razorback Stachel, respectively. Advancing up the middle was the indomitable Zitadelle, the sole remaining Land Raider Crusader of the Kannas Crusade.

 

As the Zitadelle began lumbering forward around the steep hill, Brother Frigo and his fellow assault Initiates dismounted the Land Raider, squeezed their jump packs through the side doors and fell in behind the behemoth at a trot. To the right, Pike began laying down fire, no doubt targeting the Tau armored skimmers. Razorback Stachel, on the left, began firing its twin linked lascannon as well as it rounded the Zitadelle and began advancing toward another nearby cache. Farther to the left, the Rhino Nashorn disappeared into a cloud of dust and smoke. Brother Frigo couldn't help but grin as the Zitadelle's automatic weaponry began to bark in an effort to suppress the nearest Tau Crisis Suits.

 

The initial Templar volleys must have been ineffective.... because all hell broke loose.

 

First to take fire was the Zitadelle, its right track sheered off as the energized Tau round immobilized the behemoth, and nearly took an assault Initiate's jump pack with it.

"Zitadelle immobilized, continuing suppressive fire."

 

A large explosion from close to Frigo's left rocked the ground and debris began to pepper the assault Initiate's armor. It was the Stachel, ammunition charges penetrated. Most of the Initiates inside appeared to survive, including the Champion.

"Brother Santos, the Zitadelle is empty."

"Roger, moving" responded the Emperor's Champion as he moved his squad to the cover of the Land Raider. Capturing the nearby cache would have to wait.

 

"Brother Santos, Brother Hanson. Pike destroyed, maintaining position."

"Roger" acknowledged the Emperor's Champion as he closed the Crusader's hydraulic door.

 

The drone of the Zitadelle's weaponry continued as Brother Frigo glanced around the Land Raider. There was a problem. Very little cover existed between his position and the nearest Tau elites. Brief movement to the right in the distant wood line: sneaky Kroot, within jump range, but using those trees as a fortress. Wood line to the left would provide necessary cover but would take too long; within a matter of minutes any continued Templar advance wouldn't have the punch.

 

"Morder Squad dismounting, Rhino destroyed. Heavy incoming fire."

"Acknowledged, maintain advance" ordered Brother Santos.

 

Up the gut, it is. For the Emperor!

 

"Brothers.... target: drones 30 lengths. Obscured landing. Two, one, mark!"

In unison, jump packs engaged sending the Initiates arching over the Zitadelle. The Templars landed amongst the drones and flared their packs in an attempt to obscure their position. The drones... and the obscuring dust.... dissipated quickly leaving little at this point that blocked their position from the Tau line. "Cover, left." The Marines stomped into the treeline and found cover as massed Tau fire acquired their position. Shrapnel and direct fire glanced off Frigo's armor as dust, falling wood and leaves, and smoke obscured his day vision. A ball of super heated plasma impacted Brother Luft as the indicator light inside of Frigo's helmet went out. Two more lights quickly follow. "For the Emperor" hailed Brother Luki as his indicator light blinked out as well. One light remained.... Frigo's own.

 

"Tau advancing, range 50 lengths."

"Roger, advancing!" reported the lone assault Initiate. "Zitadelle?"

"Roger Brother Frigo, shifting fire."

"FOR THE EMPEROR!"

The remaining weapons of the Crusader lulled, traversed, then begin to bark in righteous anger at the advancing Crisis Suits. From out of the dust and debris of the wood line, a single Assault Marine bounded into the air. A blast of pure melta heat passed below Brother Frigo moments before the Zitadelle's bolters lifted fire and the Templar landed at a running pace. Rounds from his plasma pistol filled the wake of the Multi-Melta as he charged the nearest xeno. Among the armored suits Frigo landed three well placed chainsword attacks and continued his charge. At two lengths away from the furthest Suit, Frigo dropped his shoulder and activated his jump pack slamming into the xeno, who fell to the ground. A quick thrust at the neck decapitated the armored suits occupant as Frigo stood and turned. His previous targets seemed unphased.... physically.... but the advance of a single zealous Black Templar into the line of Tau had shaken their resolve. They turned in an effort to return to their line. Quick on the throttle, Brother Frigo dismembered the left leg of the nearest Suit before lodging his chainsword into its opposite leg. The result was an accelerated jump suit pointed toward the ground. Releasing his chainsword, the Initiate brought his plasma pistol to bear and eliminated the two fleeing Tau with well placed shots.

 

"Predator elements report sighting enemy reserves advancing on objective. Light infantry with lift equipment. Priority target."

"Zitadelle acknowledged. Target sighted, weapon systems out of range."

"This is Brother Frigo, target acquired. Engaging."

 

Frigo turned to the crashed Suit, the occupant of which was now trying to extricate itself. A jerk of the chainsword dislodged the weapon as a power armored boot popped the head of the fragile Tau pilot. Another take off and landing found Brother Frigo deep amongst the enemy gun line and directly in the midst of six xeno light infantry. His initial chainsword thrusts missed their mark but his plasma pistol disabled the enemy power lifter. If he fell, at least that might slow the extraction of the ammunition. A downward slice of his chainsword found the neck of a Fire Warrior and continued through to the torso of its neighbor as two armored Crisis Suits charged towards the fray. The xeno infantry begin to panic as Frigo turned his heated pistol towards the advancing suits who decided another day was a better one to die. The Crisis Suits and so called Warriors fled the field losing more numbers to shots from Frigo's pistol.

 

Brother Frigo turned to the south in an effort to locate the nearby ammunition cache only to stare down the barrels of a full strength unit of behemoth suits, all of which brandished very large, thin, deadly looking weaponry.... and he with no cover.

 

 

....."Brother Frigo, Zitadelle....."

....."Brother Frigo, Zitadelle....."

 

"Negative contact, Zitadelle out."