WH40K Spec-Ops: Mission 1

[RalliX]

Bunker Battle.

The high-pitched searing of a Valkyrie airborne assault carrier's turbines blocked out most exterior noise. Logan Grimm motioned to his troopers to embark.
"Up and in, let's go!" He carried his rifle and equipment up the ramp and took a seat, securing himself with rifle between his legs.
Everyone had filed inside quickly, and were taking their seats. Logan opened his radio when the ramp was up and closed, blocking out some of the engine's beautiful scream.

He opened the command channel and spoke. "Omega 1, This is Charlie Team Actual, over."
"This is Omega 1, loud and clear Charlie Actual. " A grizzled, aged, yet friendly voice replied. "We are set for take-off to Position Alpha, over."
"Copy that, in the name of the Emperor, you are cleared for mission start, over." The experienced voice replied again. "Roger Roger, Charlie over and out."

With that, Logan notified the Pilot by radio. "Valyrie 1, you are cleared for take-off. Our lives are in your hands. Over."
The pilot laughed into the mic with glee, and replied with a, "Roger." The darkly coated War-Bird lifted up, the name 'Valyrie' emblazoned beside the cockpit.
The machine spirit harnessed her power with a rambunctious cry, eager for service as it lifted off, high into the air, side-mounted guns manned by door gunners.
Grimm turned to the Crew Chief, and asked him a question. The Crew Chief replied, and they fist-bumped.

Then Logan forced a more serious demeanor, and spoke to his team. "We've all gone over the details of the mission at least twice, but let's do it again. This Imperial missile silo is held by what's said to be an Ork element of Reinforced platoon strength. They've commandeered the position, and reports say the AA defense systems are online, so we got a couple clicks to march once we dismount. We move in and disable the Anti-Air guns by lazing for Valyrie 1's Hellstrike missiles. Then we can get direct fire support from Valyrie, and breach one of the Silo entrances.

The first two floors of the installation were not locked down quickly enough, but the missiles are deeper. However, if we give them time, the Orks may breach the lock-down. Our main objective is seizing control of both floors, and destroying the control system. We are well behind the front lines, and the Orks think they've got a boring job. However, they will call in reinforcements, definitely with more AA. Therefore, as soon as we get the job done, we will exfiltrate further away from the frontlines, and Valyrie will airlift us out.

Both floors have two main entrances, and sets of stairs on opposite sides of the installation. When you exit the stairwell, at any time, there will be a left and right hallway, on both floors. These then turn at right angles, and connect the opposite sides. In essence, two big rectangles on top of each other. There are loads of rooms branching off from the main halls, almost all of which have heavy doors, thick enough to provide good cover. On the bottom floor, in the center, is the control room. This is going to be extremely methodical close combat. Once we're inside, our enemy will never be more than 100 feet from us. Sorry Hethol."

"Anything to add?"

 

[QuailLover]

"I've got one question," said Specialist Ben Tiel, "do you think the brass could fire some artillery at another location to divert attention? Or are they too tied up with the main offensive?"

 

[2ndGrds_Ghost]

Corporal Dunnel gave his old friend Hethol a sympathetic clap on the shoulder as their Squad leader mentions Close Quarters Combat. He readied his Hellgun, and did a quick check over his gear. He murmured a quick prayer to the Emperor before asking his question. He raised two fingers, and then asked.

"Also have one. Are any other Squads getting sent in sir? Or is it just us?"

He checked over his respirator one more time, and then made sure all his grenades were where they should be. He sighed in relief upon noticing they were.

 

[RalliX]

"I've got one question," said Specialist Ben Tiel, "do you think the brass could fire some artillery at another location to divert attention? Or are they too tied up with the main offensive?"

"I wouldn't say Arty would or could help us. The battle lines are ten kilometers South of our target, and our artillery are at least five clicks further south than that. We're on the far edge of Earthshaker range. Our only fire support will be Valyrie 1. With our job, we shouldn't require artillery anyways." Logan said, plainly. He took a sip from his canteen.

"Also have one. Are any other Squads getting sent in sir? Or is it just us?"

"Command doesn't want to risk early detection, so they decided to only send one entry team. Bravo Team is on call however, can can be ferried in on Valyrie 2, if requested. They're a weapons squad, and can give us light mortar support, or enter the compound to provide back-up. This is also very good because we'll have another two Hellstrike missiles to work with, if we fail to destroy all AA positions."
Grimm noted mentally that even if there was more AA than reported, he still had Hethol and the mortar to rely on if the Hellstrikes failed.

"Two minutes ETA." he said, making sure everyone heard.

 

[A_Mustang]

Sergent Hethol Stermuth grunted, hefting a Krak missile into his light pack after inspecting it. A glace down showed another two missiles in an otherwise empty pack; ammunition was the only reason he carried it. Giving that the mission would be a quick raid, nothing else really was needed. Besides his own load, and that of his assistant, he very well carried a half dozen missiles into combat. Mostly for the outside, of course, firing a rocket inside a building was retardedly suicidal.

At full frown encompassed his face at the mention of CQB. The heavier and larger then usual powerpack on his back was a constant reminder of the oncoming task, unpleasant as it was. He was actually dreading the prospect of engaging orks in indoor close combat, something that the orks where naturally good at.

He raised an hand, tentatively and with a smile. "Sir, Can I just sit outside for this one and shoot it with rockets? Two minutes!" His hand brandished two fingers in the air, as the sign was repeated and passed down.

 

[QuailLover]

"Right lets hope we don't have to ***** out and call them in."

"Two minutes!" cried out the Sergent.

Ben looked over at Sergent Stermuth as he was caressing his rockets, he smiled and winked as he cocked his underslung shotgun. "I've got this for close encounters, sarge. I'm sure we can find some use for a your rockets. Like a makeshift breaching explosive."

 

[2ndGrds_Ghost]

"Yeah, hate to waste their time." Corun rolled his eyes, chuckling lightly. He joined in on the ribbing, "Yeah Sarge, cheer up! We could probably use the rocket launcher as a makeshift grenade, or a bomb! Perhaps a battering ram?"

 

[A_Mustang]

Hethol smiled. "Well, I could always fire it indoors and killed everything involved. Nah, I'll just blow the **** out of it outside." He glanced at the crew chief, now giving the '30 secs' thumb and forefinger signal. "Thirty SECONDS!" He repeated the hand signal.

Funny, how the last few minutes of a whipped by you're head, yet now, with action immediate, these last few seconds would drag on.

 

[RalliX]

The howl of the engines softened as the pilot down-throttled the engines, beginning a VTOL maneuver.
A convenient clearing, pre-scouted, is where the craft placed herself over. The transition from travel to landing was smoothly executed, as the ramp of the craft was lowered to little over a meter from the ground.

"Out! Out! Move!" Logan hurried his men, who hopped down the short distance to the grass. He himself disembarked at last, and the team had their rifles up, scanning around the woods already. "LZ clear?" He asked with what was almost a smile. If he knew Orkz, they'd already be shootin' if they detected the Imperials, unless they were lead by an extra cunning boss.

"Let's get moving. Northwards. Target is 2.1 clicks. March should take about ten minutes." He said, taking a look at his compass.
The only thing Logan was worried about right now was an ambush, but he trusted his men to scan carefully as they moved.
"They've seen enough **** to not let their guard down." His mind said.

"Column on me, let's go." This he said, and started moving, brushing aside the leafy limbs of a bush.

 

[A_Mustang]

The steady sergeant moved swiftly in the middle of the formation, low and fluid, relying on the accuracy of his fellow squad members to keep him alive. Although they hadn't met the enemy in combat yet, the useless, unarmed and unloaded missile launcher meant that most of the time he was completely defenseless. 

But it wasn't long before he stopped, taking a knee and barked a single word to the assistant gunner tailing close behind him. "Load."

The man didn't hesitate; one swift movement saw a Kark missile loaded in the tube, before he raised his hellgun and continued to provide cover.

The squad took up a tactical column formation. He grunted as he quickly took formation while doing initial preps of the rocket. Aiming systems slid smoothly into line, and although he did not actually arm the missile, it would be ready to fire in a matter of a few moments when the veteran sergeant needed it. "Rocket's up." He said calmly.

 

[QuailLover]

After a few quiet minutes, Ben decided to take no chances and whisper towards Major Grimm.

"Major. What does the auspex tell us?"

The scanner may reveal if there are any hidden or hiding enemy contacts, and knowing that may defeat any ambush.

 

[RalliX]

"Rocket's up." Hethol said calmly.

"Roger." Logan replied in similar tone.

After a few quiet minutes, Ben decided to take no chances and whisper towards Major Grimm.
"Major. What does the auspex tell us?"

Grimm tugged on the sleeve of his left arm, and examined the little wristwatch-like display. "Nothing in its 50 meter range, Specialist."
The Major slogged on in his now somewhat muddied boots. He could hear the faint running of a natural stream ahead, where before was only the chirps and calls of indigenous fowl. They were at least halfway to the target.

 

[2ndGrds_Ghost]

The Corporal glanced around, Hellgun at the ready as he followed his comrades. His boots plodded through the mud, and he was at Hethols back as usual, covering the man. "No contacts so far, thank the Emperor. I hear birds though." He commented, tapping one of the prayer seals on his armor. He murmured a quick prayer and continued following.

"Stream ahead Major."

 

[A_Mustang]

"Streams." Muttered Hethols uncomfortably. Memories of almost drowning while trying to lug the heavy missile launcher through a stream popped to mind; it wasn't the water that almost drowned him. It was the thick mud that had almost swallowed him whole. If it was a normal stream he didn't mind... if it was a swamp it was another matter.

A quick glance showed a thin trickle of water, surrounded on either bank by allot of mud. It would be easy to cross, provided they didn't sink waist deep.

That would just suck.

 

[RalliX]

Logan eased his weight onto the muddy streamside, his boot sinking an inch or two, and then settling.
He figured it was safe enough to cross, and continued a moment until the auspex bleeped.
In a very fast movement, the Major looked at his wrist, cocked his head to the left, and saw a greenskin who had just made eye-contact with him just about 50 meters away. He opened his mouth just wide enough to cuss and bare his teeth as they both raised their weapons.

They fired at near enough the same moment, the Hellgun's lase tore a hole in the Ork's abdomen, and the heavy slug of his shoota hit Grimm in the upper left arm, and tumbled through his armour. The higher rate of fire of the lasgun caught up, and seared a second hole in the creature's face. This happened in the course of about two or three seconds, and finally Logan had time to say, "9 O'Clock! Damn my negligence."

The fire of weapons was enough of a contact report in itself however, and Grimm was bleeding from the large caliber round which had exited his arm. Immediately he removed back into the concealment of the trees and hunkered down, ordering somebody to help him stop the bleeding. He grit his teeth and didn't wait to make his next order clear as more of the low velocity, heavy-weight slugs started being thrown at the trees and bushes which concealed the Imperials.

"We need to rush for the compound, and get in it! It should be about 500 meters from here. First we need to suppress any enemies in the stream clearing, cross the stream and move to the compound, destroy the AA while watching our rear for these guys, and then breach and barr the entrance." He barked over the fire.

"Emperor be praised." He said, with a wry, pained smile.

 

[A_Mustang]

The instant the rapport of the ork Shoota was heard, the veteran was on the ground, slithering low and trying to find something solid to hide behind. Soon enough, heavy slugs started whistling through the trees, much to the sergeant's annoyance.

If he had a rifle he would be peeping up and down, trying to get a clear shot at the enemy infantry. But with the heavy missile launcher, he had little choice but to take cover and let the riflemen do the work. If there was a tight cluster, perhaps, he might be able to fire a fragmentation warhead, but not with a AT Krak warhead.

Finding a small dip behind a fallen tree, he dropped pack and began to unload the rocket. He didn't bother calling for his assistant, Corun. The man's hellgun was better used to engage the enemy; killing with deadly pinpoint fire. He replaced the unloaded Krak rocket into his pack and reloaded his rocket with one of the two frag warheads the squad had. The rocket slid in smoothly, and in a few seconds was, like the warhead before, almost ready for fire.

Under the fusillade of fire, he peeked up, finding the younger corporal. "Corun! Frag's loaded!" Knowing that the experienced assistant gunner would pass word, he shoulder his pack and lifted his rocket in hand. Glancing around, he also made eye contact with the major. "Rocket frag's up!"

Until a target presented himself, he kept himself as low as possible. It was not cowardice, merely refusing to needlessly risk and expose a critical asset of the squad for no reason.

 

[QuailLover]

Ben quickly rotated towards 9 o'clock as the shots rain out. The Major dropped the foul xeno warrior, but there would most likely be one or two more. The squawking of gretchins with the booming voices of orks could be heard. They were making a collision course with the squad. Ben motion towards Logan and pointed at the direction they were coming from.

He switched to full auto on his carbine, and start laying suppressive fire. A couple shots hit, some gretchins and one hit an ork, but nothing was fatal. They kept coming.

 

[2ndGrds_Ghost]

Corun blinked for a moment as the Major was hit, then dived into cover somewhere near Hethol. He rolled and fired off in the general direction of the enemy with controlled, pinpoint bursts from his hellgun. He shouted at the enemy in a loud sort of manner, "Die in the name of the Emperor you xeno filth!"

As Hethol shouted about his missile launcher, Corun popped down and spread the word, shouting out to the man closest to him, "FRAGS LOADED!" The man nodded and repeated it to the man closest to him. Corun stayed in cover now, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

 

[A_Mustang]

A couple runts and ork Slugga boyz broke cover in front of the hidden pair. Hethols might have taken a shot if they were all clumped together in a nice mob, but they were too far spread out. Instead, he drew his hellpistol on his left hand and melted a grot.

The design of the locke-patten missile launcher was unkind to him in the way that he was a left handed shooter. It however, was designed to be fired over the right shoulder. The disadvantage had turned into a curious benefit in that he had no problem in drawing, wielding and killing with his hellpistol without dropping the rocket. Of course, there was no way he could fire accurately, load or really do much with the missile launcher without two hands.

The orkz, devoid of cover, raced towards the squad through the stream.

The professional Kasrkin opened fire.

 

[RalliX]

The Major smiled. "Predictable bastards."
Breaking cover was a critical mistake the Orks often made. Brashly assuming that they could absorb any fire thrown at them, and get into their blood-rush melee which they so loved.

"Frags out!" Logan shouted to the squad, over the racous fire. As soon as he saw one of the xenos through the bush, he planted a grenade from his underbarrel launcher at the freak's feet, followed immediately by putting down all the suppressive fire he could with one-arm.