Warzone: Borhelia - a mini-campaign on the planet Boreliah in the Esenie system!
The bell rang. Again. Pethros sighed and stopped ironing the ceremonial shirt that belonged to the person who just rang the bell. Again. He was fed up with being summoned all the time. That damned bell. When it rang, Pethros was supposed to immediately hurry to the governor of Esenie X, Lord Elphinstone, and attend to whatever the fat fool asked him to. And it was hundreds of idiotic errands every fragging day! Pehtros sighed again and put the iron on a small metal stand and moved out of the door of his work-cubicle. It had been his for several years and the place where he had ironed thousands of shirts, pressed uncountable trousers and washed zillions of clothes. All for the fat idiot of a guvernor. And the bell rang again...
-Now, now, Pethros, what kept you? When I ring the bell I expect to see you here in mere seconds, huh? Do you understand?
-Yes, my lord. In mere seconds...
Pethros couldn’t hide his discontent, which Lord Elphinstone noticed.
-Now, now, don’t get all grumpy on me, Pethros. Your work is envied by millions of people of this fine, but troubled, Imperial planet. Bless the Emperor! There are plenty of willing serfs to choose from! Don’t you forget that!
-Yes, my lord. I’m sorry...
-Now, now, Pethros... tell me now... what is this I hear about greenskins rampaging in the south? Why haven’t they been dealt with?
-I don’t know, my lord. But it seems that there is some kind of uprising...
-Uprising? Now, now... we can’t have that, can we, Pethros? What is being done about it?
-My lord, I think, at least that is what I hear by repute, that some Ork warlord has rallied troops in the desert down south. It seems they have been doing some damage...
-Damage? What damage? Why can’t my troops deal with some idiotic greenskins? Must I do everything myself? Pethros, prepare my escort and a request that I’ll be met by the commanding officer down there... who is it, by the way?
-You will go to the desert area? To a battle-zone? Do you think that’s wise, my lord?
-Of course I will, Pethros! The people of Esenie expect me to personally deal with threats that arise. I wouldn’t mind shooting an Ork myself! Filthy xenos!! Now, now, who is the commanding officer?
-Fighting the Orks! Do you think that’s wise, sir?
-Do you think that’s wise? Do you think that’s wise?
Lord Elphinstone mimicked his aide with a silly voice.
-You sound like a Tullian parrot, Pethros! Now, now... give me information about what’s going on down there!!
Pethros sighed and quickly searched his Wrist Portable Computer that was attached to his left wrist. The WPC told him that Marechal Colbert was in command. He told Lord Elphinstone the details and he knew that the idiot governor already had made up his mind and that it was nothing to do but pack their things and head out to the front, full of crazed and dangerous Orks. Pethros sighed, he would miss ironing those ceremonial shirts...
***
Marechal Colbert swore loudly. How could the governor be so impossibly stupid that he wanted to come here, in the middle of a Waaagh! A fat, slow and, probably, interfering politician in the midst of a brutal war! And, on top of that, there were Chaos forces nearby, probably just waiting to strike at the Imperial troops and Orks; when the two weakened forces least expected it. The idea of Elphinstone coming here was so insanely stupid that Colbert had to swear again. But, there was nothing to do, but picking the fat idiot up and escort him to the frontline. Oh, if only politicians could shut up, sit and play with their fake medals and leave the hard work to those who could do it best…
***
Elphinstone boarded the Taurox with Pethros close behind. Marechal Colbert felt sorry for the aide. He had certainly not asked to tag along with the governor and he really looked terrified and humbled. Not like that idiot governor. The man looked confident, arrogant and would most likely get Colbert and his Garde du Metz into trouble.
-Now, now, Colpett! Get me to the green skins! I want to see them and… perhaps gun down one or two, huh?
Elphinstone smiled and patted his holstered laspistol. Colbert couldn’t believe his ears.
-It,s Colbert, my lord! And I don’t think we should approach the Orks right now. Just let us move to Haagendasz, so we…
-Huh?! Are you disobeying my orders, Marechal? That is heresy, you know! I’ve heard about you and your regiment… half of you defected to the ruinous powers, didn’t you?
Marechal Colbert closed his eyes and counted to ten. He realized that it was a long way to clear the name of the 22eme Garde du Metz… a long way indeed.
-My lord… the Orks are ganging up by thousands. It would not be wise to go near them without proper backup. Now, if we just…
-Now, now!! Take me to the Orks, man! I want to see them for myself! The people of Esenie IX expect me to do just that. Come on! Now, now!!
Marechal Colbert sighed and gave the order to move northwest, towards Aduwa…
***
The Ork Warlord Badlakan couldn’t believe his ork eyes. He had to rub them twice and hit a unfortunate grot in the head, before he realized what he saw further down the valley. A small Imperial convoy, just a couple of tanks and a few puny human soldiers, dressed in their ridiculous blue and red clothes. This was brilliant. Tanks to loot and, more important, humans to kill. Oh, the boys would love an opportunity like this. He hit the grot again and laughed hard. It was time to organize a battle! And he was the chosen warlord to do it! Life was good!
***
Elphinstone was in a fantastic mood. He felt like a general. He was so eager to see the Orks that he couldn’t sit down. He had to peek out of the Taurox vision slit. He saw the town of Aduwa further down the road and far away, smoke plumes. That must be those silly greenskins. Oh, they would get a good licking today. And, he, lord Elphinstone, would get all the credit for it. The next election was in the bag. He couldn’t help but laugh.
-Do you see something funny, my lord?
Colbert did nothing to hide his contempt for the governor. He looked at the aide, Pethros, who had sat silent all since he first entered the Taurox. Colbert was really worried. An insane politician and a terrified aide. This was a recipe for disaster. The Orks were near, but where? And, how many were they? Suddenly a large explosion rocked the Taurox. Screams and beeping sounds followed the explosion and smoke filled the cabin of the Taurox. Colbert felt disorientated, but soon assessed the situation. They had been hit by something, Surely an Ork missile. He looked around and saw the unfortunate Pethros lie still, without his head. Two other guardsmen were also dead, but the governor moaned and was alive. They had to get out now and to the safety of shelter. Aduwa was not far and they could probably ride with a Leman Russ the last bit. But it was time to move now!
-Lord Elphinstone! Get up! We need to disembark and get to the town, a.s.a.p!! Now, move!!
The governor rose slowly and looked totally out of place. Colbert sighed and slapped the governor hard in the face.
-I said, move out! Now!!
The governor looked dumbfounded at Colbert and then at Pethros.
-Pehtros! Pethros! Oh… no…
Colbert hit the governor in the face again. That woke him up and he jumped out, sobbing, and let himself get pushed towards a Leman Russ. Outside everything was chaos, but the guardsmen of the 22eme quickly organized themselves and orders were given and received and the run for Aduwa commenced. Marechal Colbert looked around him and saw approaching Orks from all directions. They had a long distance to get to Aduwa but they were fast, This would be close. Colbert called for his signalier…
-Armand! Send a distress signal and call for help! Get everything you can to Aduwa!! And it has to be quick! Clearance order: Alpha Gamma Six-Two-Two!!
Armand nodded and tampered with his radio. Would help arrive in time?
***
The 22eme Garde du Metz moved quickly into Aduwa. Colbert had no time to think, so he ordered a good old ”h-hog” defense. A hedgehog was seldom used, but this was an unusual situation. Attacked from four directions, that was not standard warfare nowadays… The 22eme took firing positions behind whatever cover they found and the armor tried to cover all four directions. The Orks were now really close and approached from all around the city.
The Orks closed in on the 22eme and very quickly rockets and shots were fired, crippling both infantry and armor. But, the Garde held firm. Colbert stood in the middle of the small city, giving orders. The governor hid by a wall, trembling with fear. It was his fault, that stupid fat idiot of a politician! Colbert spat on the ground. And then the Orks let out a terrifying howl. Their battle-cry; ”Waaagh!” rolled over Aduwa and the Garde and Colbert knew that this initiated the big attack. He nodded to Henri, the Master of Ordnance, who nodded back. Henri tapped on his WPC and gave the order to the orbiting ”Emperor’s Hammer”. Soon the missiles from space were on their way. The Orks would pay dearly for attacking the Imperial army…
Leman Russes fired and the orbital ordnance hit and guardsmen fired all they had against the oncoming Orks. They died in droves, but nothing stopped the greenskins from advancing. Colbert was hard pressed and suddenly he realized that he would very soon have to engage in hand-to-hand combat. The Orks ran into the streets of Aduwa and guardsmen fell and died. Elphinstone tried to crawl into more shelter but he couldn’t find anything that hid him. Colbert looked at the governor and felt suddenly sorry for him. The governor probably had meant well and was sincerely concerned about this planet and its inhabitants. But, it had turned into a nightmare and Colbert was more and more certain that he had come to the end of the line. The Orks closed in on him and no help was in sight…or… was it? A whining sound and bolter fire told him that Marines had arrived. There might be a chance after all? He was brutally stopped in his thoughts as a howl was heard a couple of yards away. A band of Orks charged his command squad and a bloody melee ensued. Colbert hacked and fell several Orks, but there were so many. His command retinue fell one by one and then he himself fell. He felt a strong pain in his side and everything went black…
***
The Space Wolves and the Black Wolves attacked the Orks from behind, easing the pressure on the 22eme in Adeuwa. A Stormwolf, containing Wolf Priest Thorildsen and a large unit of eager Blood Claws entered the fray, blasting its guns and then dropping the Blood Claws and Thorildsen in the midst of several Ork warbands. Meanwhile, a bit to the right the Black Wolves, led by Librarian Oriens Silva, moved in towards Warlord Badlakan and his Orks. The fight was fierce and losses were horrendous for the Black Wolves. But, they steadily gained ground and finally Silva managed to use his Force Sword on Badlakan. Badlakan and his Orks were defeated and dispersed. And, support from the Garde’s Wyvern helped get rid of the attacking Deffkoptas and bikes that attacked the eastern part of Aduwa. But, approaching from the far east was a Morkanaut…
Brother Thorildsen and his Blood Claws chopped their way through several Ork warbands towards the trembling governor. Green limbs flew as the young and bloodthirsty wanted to prove themselves. And that they did! They cut through four Ork Warbands with easy, not stopping for anything. And Priest Thorildsen was proud as a father. They were making minced meat of the Orks in no time! They were near Elphinstone, but would they get to him in time. Approaching the governor was a large Ork warband…
***
Elphinstone sat and cupped his hands over his ears. The noise was terrible and the killing so intense that he vomited all over himself. Then he was brutally grabbed by a large green hand!
-Oi, laddies!! Look at dis stooped ’ooman!! Harr-harr! All fancy and bling-bling!! Harr-harr!! Yer say, laddies? Gerr ’im to Izlambad?? Lotsa teef for us, me reckon!! Righty, laddies?
The Orks behind the Nob yelled and laughed. They would get rich for getting the fancy human to Izlambad. Filthy rich. They bagged the terrified governor and ran back to a waiting truck.
***
-Brother Olafur, status report, please!
Wolf Priest Thorildsen saw the governor being dragged away by a large Ork war band, Things had to be done about that. The governor had information that even Orks could figure out. If they couldn’t rescue him… he had to be… taken out. Thorildsen shuddered. It wouldn’t be kindly looked upon by the Ordo, killing a Imperial politician, but firstly the Ordo didn’t like the Son f Russ from the start, and secondly, the Ordo would understand the necessity of hindering the Orks from getting information about planetarial defences and such. By Russ, the Ordo did this kind of ”removals” all the time themselves… there would be no large actions taken against him at the end of the day.
-Brother Thorildsen, Olafur responded, the western perimeter is secured. Ork resistance reduced from heavy to very light. Aduwa will be secured in minutes.
Priest Thorildsen acknowledged and then voxed the Black Wolves’ Priest, Cato:
-Brother Cato! The governor is in the custody of the Orks… can you deal with the Morkanaut? Can’t have that gunning down my Stormwolf! as I will send it after the Orks holding the governor. We must stop them from dragging him away by any means…
-Brother Thorildsen, acknowledged. I’m in a bit of a pickle, but I have my sights on the Ork contraption. Expect fireworks! Over and out!
The Wolf Priest smiled. Oh, the resourcefulness of Cato! He almost felt sorry for the pilot of the Morkanaut…
Woof Priest Cato dispatched a couple of Orks and then readied a melta bomb. He was just about to throw himself against the Ork thing when it turned al its guns towards him. Oh, bummer, Cato thought, then all hell broke lose! Rockets, Big Shoota rounds and a Skorcha hit him head on! A Grot rigger even threw his underwear at Cato, while giggling manically. Cato felt his power armor protest loudly as warning beeps and HUD readings told him that the strain was almost too much. But. His runic armor had never failed him before and did not fail him now. Somehow, protected by the Emperor, no doubt, he survived the insane amount of fire from the Morkanaut. He ignited his jump-pack and jumped up on one leg of it and pushed the meltabomb against the metallic body and then pressed the trigger and jumped away. The explosion looked like something in slow-motion at first. A strange squeaking sound then erupted into a large explosion! The Morkanaut exploded and a large mushroom cloud rose from it. The pilot, a Ork Mek, flew high while squeaking and cursing the Marines and Cato suddenly realized what the strange squeaking sound earlier was. By Russ, Cato smiled and thought, that was really some fireworks!
***
-Brother Ygg! Fly north of Aduwa and take out the truck with the governor. Make it fast! They are about to get away. Black Wolves squad Cicero, support the Stormwolf.
Ygg and the sergeant of squad Cicero affirmed and the shooting on the fleeing truck commenced. When the firing was over nothing or no-one stood. The truck was reduced to a pile of junk and broken bodies lay everywhere. Priest Thorildsen sighed. It was not his finest moment, to brutally kill one of their own, but sacrifices were made everyday and there would be another governor soon. Life, as well as politics, rolled on… Aduwa was secured and there were lots of mourning to do. Several battle-brothers had died and lots of wounded needed care. Then, Priest Thorildsen thought, the next battle would commence… and the next… There was no end. There is only war…
***
Smoke rose from the wreck and there was blood everywhere. Bodies lay on top of each other and nobody moved… except one Ork. His slowly rose and looked around him. The beeks were far away, perhaps he would get away to tell the story of the battle and to fight another day. He carefully stood up. Noone saw him. He was just about to move when a moan was heard from under a pile of dead Orks. He pushed the bodies away and saw the fat human with the bling and fancy-dress. The Ork, Grish, was not smart, but he understood that this was a ticket. A ticket to wealth and… maybe… a warband of his own. He could be a rich Nob now. Taking the fancydress human to Izlambad… yes! That was the ticket!! He grabbed the governor of Esenie X and slung him over his right shoulder, laughing quietly and slipped away from the battlefield of Aduwa. And the beeks didn’t see a thing…
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Written by Tony (Nov, 2014)