Chapter 9 Part 8

Chapter 9: Storm-front

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Part 8

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Morriah Coast

Kronus

The Morriah Coast was a deceitful name. While pleasantly hot golden beaches covered the actual coast of the region, inland it was quite different. Technically cooler jungles and wet forest bisected by rivers and salty lakes made for a particularly treacherous and unpleasant area, one which accounted for most of the region.

As far as the Imperial forces in the area were concerned, the place was perfect for their purposes. It did help that they were either Astartes, Stormtroopers, or the small detachment of Kasrkins on Kronus, and every single one of them enjoyed the benefits of properly sealed armors complete with more or less efficient environmental control. Not sweltering in their armors was a pleasant side-effect of the primary function of said systems – to keep them alive in hostile environments and when practical, decrease their thermal profiles as much as possible. Depending on the enemy they faced, that feature occasionally came in useful.

The primary downside of making the ambush in the jungle was the fact that the enemy had spread soon after entering it, moving more like a mob heading into the same direction than a proper military formation on the march. This meant that the explosives Victus placed on what passed for a road through the forest would be less effective than usual. On the other hand, the amorphous blob of traitors would be hard-pressed to properly apply for their numbers.

The heavy-weapon specialists were the first to open fire. Several Astartes carrying missile launchers and meltas moved out of cover with inhuman precision, aiming in one smooth motion and firing before the traitors could even register the threat. Stream of intense heat struck heavily modified Sentinels or APCs, burning through their armor. Three walkers went up in flames when their ammunition or fuel cooked off, while a fourth fell down like a puppet with its strings cut. Even as missiles streaked through the jungle's twilight, more Tactical Marines left cover and aimed at the infantry, prioritizing Officers and NCOs. Single Bolter shots turned heads into fine red mists or blew apart torsos, letting the legs to fall on the ground or slide back into vehicles in a shower of gore.

Two APCs ground to a halt after missiles defeated their armor and turned their interiors into slices of hell. A Leman Russ tank became the personal crematorium of its crew as a Krak warhead sliced straight into its ammo storage.

As soon as the onslaught began, a mix of melta and fragmentation charges detonating, bathing the leading elements of the traitor Regiment in fire and steel. The enemy's reaction was varied. Some cried in shock and fear, while many more roared in exhilaration, forgetting most of their training and charged into the jungle, thirsting for blood. The Astartes threw enhanced smoke grenades and retreated behind cover.

"Begin the bombardment." Brother-Sergeant Whent ordered the only regular Guardsmen to take part in the ambush. It was an unnecessary order really, however it was always nice to cover your bases. The mortar teams were two kilometers away, set up in small clearings, which provided nice firing sites for their weapons. They went to rapid-fire as soon as they heard Victus' charges go off, using a mix of fragmentation, promethium, and Krak warheads.

A handful of seconds later, mortar rounds shrieked through the air and the second part of the ambush went into effect. Stormtroopers and Cadian commandos struck from their camouflaged positions, hitting the distracted traitors in the opposite flank. It was telling that whatever training and discipline those troops once had, it was now nearly non-existent. Only a handful of them kept their vigil and continued to cover their own sectors once the shooting started. Almost everyone else turned in the direction of the fighting, with many abandoning their dis-orderly advance so they could race towards the fight.

The loyalists naturally singled out those who remembered their training for their particular attention. Hot-Shot Lasguns and snipers scythed through the alert traitors like a Power Blade cleaving through mere flesh. Plasma guns and meltas struck the vehicles on the flank, boiling armor and turning fighting compartments into ovens. More Sentinels died before they could unleash their significant armaments, while a tank slid to a halt, throwing mud and half-melted tracks in all directions. Its right sponsor gun was gone, it's engine was a burning ruin, yet the tough machine was still able to turn its turret at those who dared damage it and opened fire, it's battle cannon sending shell after shell into thick clouds of sparkling smoke.

The mortars struck then, explosions blossoming throughout the traitor's "formation". Corrupted Guardsmen went down screaming, others ran without directions, howling in agony while burning promethium did it's best to cleanse them. Others were luckier – they were far enough from the blasts or only Krak warheads detonated nearby, so they had just enough time to properly figure out what was happening, and in some cases, actually remember their training. The traitors roughly redressed their lines in something that might actually pass for a proper formation if you squint hard enough, and launched a ragged counter-attack, all the while mortar shells did their best to break their cohesion. Their vehicles led the way, auto-cannons, multi-lasers, Heavy Bolters and Battle Cannons shaking the jungle, shredding trees and bushes alike.

They struck only smoke and two particularly unlucky Stormtroopers. A handful of shots glanced off Astartes armor, in one case, barely causing the super-soldier to stagger, before he threw a second smoke grenade and legged it to safety.

When the dust settled and the furious counter-attack ran out of steam, the traitors found only a single enemy body, a ravaged jungle, and not a single Corpse-worshiper willing to stand and fight. Some laughed or roared in derision, furious that there was no blood to spill. A few, who managed to keep most of their wits after receiving their new gods' blessings, took stock of the situation and were even less pleased. More than two infantry companies, butchered to a man. Multiple vehicles were taken out, their advance to the objective slowed down, enemies lurking in the jungle, undoubtedly preparing another ambush, and there was nothing to show for it.

Their new commanders wouldn't be happy about this turn of events...